Telecom
NCC Restates Commitment to Fund Research as VCs Attend Roundtable
Prof. Adeolu Akande, chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has restated the commitment of the Commission to commit more funds to research and prototypes resulting from grants from the Commission to the academia.
This is coming at the backdrop of the recent revelation that the Commission has committed more than N500 million in funding research across the Nigerian universities.
Akande told a gathering of vice chancellors and professors from universities in the southern parts of the country at a roundtable conference at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, that the Commission acknowledges the importance of working with stakeholders to engender innovations and build indigenous technological capabilities that would strengthen the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ecosystem.
“We want to use this opportunity to assure you that the Commission will continue to give support to the educational sector in the interest of national development.
“We will also continue to encourage research and innovation in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions,” Akande said, explaining that the essence of the roundtable was to dialogue with the academia, industry and other stakeholders on how research efforts and prottotypes can be transformed into commercially-viable products that solve real-life problems.
“Consequently, the Commission will continue to allocate the requisite resources to research, development and innovations necessary for the industry to continue to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country,” Akande said.
Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, executive vice chairman of NCC, represented by Josphine Amuwa, director, Legal and Regulatory Services of the Commission, said academia is a key driver of innovation in all spheres of human endeavour.
He said this is why his leadership at the Commission is determined to not only give grants to the academia but also support the commercialisation of the prototypes developed to deepen the indigenous technological capabilities which would support the overall development of the industry.
Ubale Maska, executive commissioner, Technical Services, NCC, who was represented by Bako Wakil, director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the Commission, revealed that the Commission had, so far, awarded a total of 49 telecom-based research grants to the academia out of which 10 prototypes have been successfully developed.
“We are hopeful that these sessions will culminate in the development of common framework that would facilitate the commercialisation of the existing prototypes and future research outcomes (prototypes) for the benefit of the economy and the industry,” he stated.
Coming shortly after a similar roundtable in Kano for the northern region, the event organised by the Research prototypes and Development R&D Department of the Commission, was aimed at bringing together Resources persons, business savvy industry experts, the academia, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), entrepreneurs and renowned individuals who have successfully commercialised their inventions to brainstorm on the way forward for research output commercialisation.
MENXTT TECH NG, a Lagos-based technology company, has launched an initiative to make quality Dell laptops more affordable for Nigerians through flexible payment plans and extended warranty support.
The company said the initiative was aimed at helping students, entrepreneurs, professionals and small businesses acquire reliable computing devices despite rising technology costs.
According to the company, customers can now purchase premium pre-owned Dell Latitude, Dell Precision and Dell Inspiron laptops at competitive prices, with selected models available under staggered payment arrangements.
The laptops, it said, are designed to meet the needs of users ranging from students and office workers to architects, engineers, software developers, graphic designers and video editors.
Speaking on the initiative, the Co-Founder of MENXTT TECH NG, Mr Anthony Emeka Nwosu, said access to quality technology should not be limited by financial constraints.
“A laptop is no longer a luxury; it is an essential tool for education, business and career development.
“Unfortunately, many people are forced to settle for unreliable devices because of the high cost of new laptops.
“At MENXTT TECH NG, we want to bridge that gap by providing durable Dell business laptops at affordable prices, backed by a full one-year warranty and flexible payment plans.
“We want every student, entrepreneur, freelancer and business owner to have access to technology that helps them succeed,” he said.
Nwosu explained that every laptop undergoes comprehensive testing before delivery and comes with a one-year warranty, an original charger, a complimentary laptop bag, Windows 11 operating system and Microsoft Office Suite pre-installed.
He added that the company, an authorised Bitdefender Antivirus reseller in Nigeria, also installs genuine Bitdefender security software on every system to protect customers against cyber threats.
According to him, customers requiring additional productivity tools can also have licensed Foxit PDF software installed on their devices.
Nwosu said the flexible payment option was introduced in response to prevailing economic realities, enabling customers to spread payments over an agreed period.
He noted that the arrangement would make it easier for students, startups and growing businesses to acquire quality computers without placing excessive pressure on their finances.
Beyond laptop sales, the company provides information technology consultancy, computer repairs, software licensing, cybersecurity solutions and digital transformation services to organisations across Nigeria.
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital economy by making dependable computing devices and enterprise technology solutions more accessible to individuals and businesses.
According to him, the initiative reflects MENXTT TECH NG’s vision of combining affordability, quality products and professional after-sales support to help more Nigerians participate in the country’s expanding digital ecosystem. (NAN)
African ministers responsible for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have adopted the 2026 Abuja Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity for Africa, committing member states to accelerate internet access in rural, remote and underserved communities across the continent.
The declaration was adopted at the Seventh Ordinary Session of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), held in Abuja.
The agreement seeks to address Africa’s widening digital divide by promoting policies and investments that will improve digital infrastructure, stimulate demand for internet services and ensure equitable access to digital opportunities.
In a statement endorsed by the participating member states, the ministers noted that Africa continues to lag behind other regions of the world in internet connectivity despite rapid global digital expansion.
The declaration, signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, who assumed the role of Chairperson of the conference, highlighted the urgency of expanding digital inclusion across the continent.
According to the statement, global internet usage has reached about 68 per cent, rising to as much as 94 per cent in high-income countries, while internet penetration in Africa remains slightly above 38 per cent, the lowest among all regions of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The ministers expressed concern that the disparity continues to limit socio-economic development, innovation, education, healthcare delivery and access to digital public services for millions of Africans.
They agreed that closing the connectivity gap, particularly in underserved communities, should become a continental priority requiring coordinated action by governments, regulators, development partners and the private sector.
The declaration establishes a framework centred on expanding digital infrastructure, increasing broadband adoption, stimulating demand for digital services and promoting equitable access to connectivity.
It also encourages member states to implement policies that will improve affordability, strengthen digital skills and create an enabling environment for sustainable investment in telecommunications infrastructure.
“Affirming that closing Africa’s connectivity and usage gap, particularly in rural, remote and underserved communities, is an urgent continental priority,” the declaration stated.
The conference further called on international development partners, industry stakeholders and civil society organisations to align their investments and programmes with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa.
The ministers expressed optimism that stronger regional collaboration would accelerate digital transformation, foster inclusive economic growth and ensure that more Africans benefit from opportunities created by the digital economy.
Clydestone Ghana Plc has filed a writ of summons and statement of claim against MTN Ghana, MTN Group Limited and Mobile Money Fintech Limited, alleging unauthorized use of its intellectual property.
The company announced the court action at the Ghana Stock Exchange, confirming proceedings in the Commercial Division of the High Court of Ghana.
The case relates to work commissioned in 2007 that Clydestone alleges was later used without authorisation or compensation.
Clydestone said the claim involves proprietary intellectual property, confidential commercial information and operational methodology developed during the engagement. The company is seeking declarations, damages and equitable remedies.
In a statement, Clydestone said MTN Ghana engaged it in 2007 to develop a commercial and operational framework for a mobile money business.
“The work was developed and delivered by the company’s founder and Group CEO, Paul Jacquaye, and included a full mobile money ecosystem covering the commercial model, operational architecture, implementation methodology and business case.”
Clydestone said the work was commissioned on the understanding that a non-disclosure agreement and memorandum of understanding would be signed.
It alleges these agreements were not finalised despite repeated requests.
The company further alleges MTN Ghana later used its proprietary work and methodology without authorisation or compensation, including in MTN Mobile Money Ghana and other markets.
Clydestone said the alleged use has continued since the launch of MTN Mobile Money Ghana in 2009.
“The wrongful use of that work has been ongoing since 2009. What has changed is the availability of independently verifiable information that documents its scale and commercial significance,” the company said.
It cited the GSMA State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money 2026 and MTN Ghana’s 2025 annual report as evidence of the platform’s scale.
According to Clydestone, the reports show approximately 19.3 million active users and annual revenue of about GHS 6.0 billion ($516m).
The company said it reviewed its records following these publications and concluded there were sufficient grounds to initiate legal proceedings.
It added that it has received no payment or acknowledgement for the work since December 2007, and that pre-action correspondence in 2026 received no substantive response.
“The Board of Directors has unanimously authorised the commencement of these proceedings,” the company said.
Jacquaye said: “This case is about accountability for commissioned intellectual property.
“When independent publications in 2025 and 2026 revealed the scale of the mobile money business, we reviewed all documentation relating to the original engagement and concluded these proceedings were necessary.”
MTN Group Limited, named as a defendant, had not commented at the time of publication.
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