Telecom
Digital Innovation will Boost Education Sector -DG NITDA
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has said that continued investment in Digital Innovation will boost the education sector and the economy as a whole. The agency promised to continue it’s effort at supporting and collaborating with all higher institutions of learning across the country.
The NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, represented by the Director, IT Infrastructure Solutions, Dr. Abdullahi Gambo Usman, stated this when receiving the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Federal University Dutsen Ma, Katsina state, Professor Mary Agbo, Thursday, in Abuja.
He said, “the Agency will continue to interact and listen to active and vibrant higher institution of learning with a view of discussing the challenges facing them especially in the Area of IT and Innovation.”
As the prime Agency for e-government implementation, internet governance, and overall IT development in Nigeria, NITDA is poised to actualize its mandate by providing flourishing atmosphere in Digital space.
He said it is Important to seek to explore the benefits of innovations and creativity in order to bring about functional education system for the country.
He further emphasized that there is need for mutual understanding between stakeholders and the Agency in developing Standards, Capacity building, Research and Development .
He added that IT sector played a pivotal role in getting the country’s economy out of recession, and recorded the highest growth rate in Q1 of 2020 as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
He maintained that, with the positive growth of IT in Nigeria, being the only double digits growth rate sector, which made it to lead in the year 2020 and Q1 of 2021, is what prompted the need to provide support and guidelines in all sectors of development and innovation to Nigerian.
Responding to the plea and request from the visiting university, as outlined by the DVC, especially in the area of security challenges in visualisation of the Optic Fiber Cable that links the 2 campuses which where donated to the university by professor Pantami through NCC.
The DG recommended some technologies that can be deployed to ensure security which include ‘autonomous drones’ that can cut back human involvement in these often-dangerous situation. It can also help cut cost while bolstering safety at the same time.
“By using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to interpret satellite images, NITDA experts have long been able to tap into satellite images to help in preventive and response efforts,” he said.
Stating further that with the availability and quality of these images, they increasingly offer an even more valuable resource for security.
He explained that, “NITDA always emphasizes on how important it is to know how to use modern technology, not just as an enabler but as a strategic design for your strategy in general which will inspire you to do more.”
NITDA Strategic Roadmap and Action plan (SRAP 2021-2024)is built on seven pillars with their respective goals and objectives, which are; Developmental regulations, Digital literacy and skills, Digital transformation, Digital innovation and Entrepreneurship, Cyber security, Emerging Technologies and Promotion of indigenous content, he said.
Inuwa noted that the Agency’s focus is improving how things are being done using technology and innovation by creating an enabling environment and innovation ecosystem that will allow all universities to key in.
The DVC Administration, Federal University Dutsen Ma, Professor Mary Agbo, in her remarks, noted that the university appreciated the kind gesture and laudable project from the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy for the giant projects executed in the university. She also appreciated and solicited further support from NITDA in capacity building and training for staff of the CBT centre of the University.
Prof Agbo commended NITDA for the various IT intervention deployed across the country towards the growth and development of IT, which she said plays a critical role for the advancement of the country and also towards the Educational Sector.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecommunications operators to make dedicated budgetary provisions for cybersecurity as part of efforts to strengthen the resilience of Nigeria’s communications infrastructure against the growing wave of cyber threats.
The directive forms part of the Commission’s Cyber Resilience Framework for the Nigerian Communications Sector (CRF-NCS), which introduces new governance, risk management and operational requirements aimed at safeguarding the country’s critical telecommunications infrastructure from increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.
Under the framework, all licensed telecom operators are expected to establish formal cybersecurity governance structures, dedicate adequate financial resources to cyber resilience programmes, and integrate cybersecurity into their enterprise-wide risk management processes.
The Commission said operators must ensure cybersecurity investments are no longer treated as optional operational expenses but as strategic business priorities necessary to protect network infrastructure, customer information and the country’s digital economy.
According to the NCC, licensees are expected to allocate sufficient budgets to support cyber risk assessments, security technologies, staff training, incident response capabilities, continuous monitoring and compliance with regulatory requirements.
The framework also requires operators to designate senior executives responsible for cybersecurity oversight.
At the same time, boards of directors are expected to provide strategic direction and ensure adequate funding for cyber resilience initiatives.
Speaking on the need for a stronger cybersecurity regime during the unveiling of the framework, Abraham Oshadami, executive commissioner, Technical Services, NCC, said, “Given the increasing digitalisation of services, the rapid growth of data exchange, and the sophisticated nature of modern cyber threats, the need for a robust, adaptive and inclusive cybersecurity framework has become more urgent.”
He added, “Both state and non-state actors are targeting essential sectors—including ours—through coordinated cyber and physical attacks. These attacks frequently target control systems and data integrity, underscoring the critical risks posed to operational technology (OT), especially in our sector.”
“As cyber threats evolve, they endanger not only system performance but also human safety, amplifying the severity and consequences of disruptions to vital communications infrastructure. Cybersecurity now encompasses human safety and must address the real risk to people’s lives when a system is attacked or compromised.”
The Commission further stated that operators are required to develop comprehensive cybersecurity implementation plans, conduct periodic risk assessments, establish business continuity and disaster recovery procedures, and regularly test their cyber defence capabilities.
In addition, the framework makes cyber incident reporting compulsory. Licensees must inform the NCC’s CSIRT of any major cybersecurity breach within four hours of discovery, and provide a thorough post-incident analysis after mitigation is complete.
Digital solution provider, Globacom has recorded the highest Internet subscriber growth among Nigeria’s major telecom companies for the month of May.
Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Nigeria’s total Internet users increased to 157 million in May, up from 154.3 million in April. That is a growth of 2.67 million users in one month.
Globacom led the market by adding about 1.2 million new Internet subscribers. This means Glo was responsible for almost half of all new Internet users in May.
The company’s subscriber base grew from 15.5 million in April to 16.8 million in May. Airtel came second with 1.07 million new users, moving from 54.8 million to 55.8 million. MTN added 382,894 users to reach 83.5 million.
T2 Mobile, formerly 9mobile, recorded no growth for the second month in a row. Its subscriber base remained at 802,534. This is despite its roaming agreement with MTN, which was approved almost a year ago to help T2 customers use MTN’s network in areas with poor coverage.
Industry experts say Glo’s strong growth is due to its ongoing network upgrade. Since last year, the company has been building new base stations, expanding its fibre network, and adding thousands of new 4G sites across cities and rural areas.
The upgrades have improved voice and data quality for customers, while Globacom remain committed to providing better network experience and affordable Internet services to more Nigerians.
MTN Nigeria’s half-year 2026 performance reflects more than revenue growth, highlighting the wider economic activity generated through tax payments, infrastructure investment and shareholder returns.
Kadri, MTN CFO
Beyond its financial results, the telecommunications operator said it continues to channel substantial resources into expanding network infrastructure, meeting statutory obligations and delivering value across its stakeholder ecosystem.
The company disclosed that it paid more than ₦600 billion in taxes, customs duties, regulatory levies and other statutory obligations over the past year.
It also invested over ₦1.6 trillion in capital expenditure since January 2025 to expand network capacity and improve service quality, while declaring an interim dividend of ₦26 per share for shareholders.
Speaking on Arise News’ Global Business Report, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Financial Officer, Modupe Kadri, explained that the company’s earnings are shared across several stakeholders before returns reach investors. “For every one naira of revenue, about 24 kobo becomes profit.
“The government receives over ₦600 billion through taxes and levies, operating costs account for a significant portion of our revenue, and every participant within the ecosystem benefits from the value we create,” he said.
According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), telecommunications remains one of the largest contributors to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, supporting digital financial services, education, healthcare, commerce and public services. Continued investment by operators has also been identified as critical to expanding broadband access and improving digital inclusion across the country.
Kadri noted that shareholder returns remain an important part of MTN’s capital allocation strategy, but stressed that they represent only one aspect of the company’s broader economic contribution.
“Even when we declare dividends, the government still receives withholding tax, while we continue investing heavily in our network because sustaining quality service requires ongoing capital commitment,” he said.
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