Telecom
Soludo Inks Mou with Microsoft and Wootlab to Train 20,000 Youths on Digital Skills
Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, has launched Solution Innovation District, (SID); the innovation and business incubation program of the State, starting with the Anambra Digital Tribe Program.
The SID is set up to drive overall innovation in the State including deep technology, creative talents, startups, business innovations etc.
The function which was held at Professor Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Center, Awka, featured the signing of a memorandum understanding with Anambra State Government, Microsoft and Wootlab Foundation to train 20,000 youths on Digital Skills.
Performing the function, Governor Soludo stressed that knowledge and skills are enduring forms of power.
He pointed out that the power of knowledge and skills transcends space and time and is not constrained by any boundaries because it follows an individual anywhere he or she goes.
“The demand for knowledge and skills is global. The certificate you possess doesn’t really matter to the world. They are more interested in your mental capacity and your manual dexterity. This is the game-changing moment” Governor Soludo further pointed out
“The desire to succeed and the desire to add value are the first requirements for success. Your knowledge and abilities will support you in achieving this.
“Being a Governor or President is temporary power, and after your tenure, the world continues. However, when you have knowledge and skills, you have power that lasts a lifetime.
“Those who seek knowledge and skills have a place in the future. We are continuing today with our plan to retake control of our state and put it back on the right course”, he emphasized.
“To the 0.01% of our population who are criminals cannot define who we are. This is the message we sending to them. The 99% of ndi Anambra are renowned for their entrepreneurship, diligence, fortitude, and inventiveness.
“The future starts today! Although, the past few days have been quite busy, I must thank you all for coming, especially our students and youth. I see the brand-new Anambra of our dream when I look into your faces” he added.
The Governor appreciated his Special Adviser on Innovation and Business Incubation, Ms Chinwe Okoli, for organizing the programme, as well as Microsoft and Wootlab Foundation for supporting Anambra.
“I think that this alliance will serve as the cornerstone of our future.
“The transition of Anambra from commerce; a largely informal to a formal economy, particularly in the area of digital skills, has started” Governor Soludo stated.
The Governor spoke about other things including annual training of 10,000 youths on digital skills, cascaded to primary and secondary schools, universities, Churches, and communities; access to high speed internet, expressing his belief that launching of the Solution Innovation District would bring the world to Anambra and allow them to export their skills to the rest of the world.
On his part, the Commissioner for Youth, Mr. Patrick Aghamba, recalled that Governor Soludo had launched the one youth, two skills programme in October 2022 as a pilot phase of his agenda and reported that the programme was progressing well.
The Commissioner emphasized that the opportunities that lie in digital skills are overwhelming, maintained that the task of youth empowerment is a huge task and called on all stakeholders to participate in the programme.
He expressed satisfaction that Anambra State is not falling behind in terms of digital literacy, adding that the goal is to provide more quality jobs.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Business Incubation, Ms Chinwe Okoli welcomed Microsoft and Wootlab foundation as official partners of the State Government and thanked Governor Soludo for launching the Solution Innovation District.
“This journey aims to unleash the Anambra people’s creativity and is consistent with the Governor’s goal of making Anambra State a livable and prosperous smart megacity.
“The Solution Innovation District was established in Anambra State to foster and promote skill, innovation, including digital skills. It will be a community of entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and clever artisans who will all work together to find solutions to issues in Anambra, Nigeria, and around the world”.
According to the Special Adviser, the SID components include digital skills, business incubation and SME innovations. The end result is to produce thousands of millionaires each year.
She also mentioned SMEs acceleration from Onitsha to Awka to Nnewi, will help small business owners leverage on technology and reach more markets, make more money, hire more people, and create jobs.
The Representative of the Microsoft Country Manager for Nigeria and Ghana, Olatomiwa Williams the Chief Executive Officer of Wootlab Foundation, Chioma Okoro described the initiative as a move in the right direction asserting that the fourth industrial revolution has already begun.
Every Anambra youth is welcome to apply via this link: bit.ly/LEVELUPANAMBRA.
Deadline is 4th April, 2023.
R-L: Mr Patrick Aghamba, Commissioner for Youth Development, Chioma Okoro, CEO Wootlab Foundation, Prof.Charles Chukwuma Soludo., Anambra State Governor, Chinwe Okoli,
Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Business Incubation, Olanrewaju Oyinbooke, Senior Cloud Advocate, Microsoft, during the signing ceremony held at Professor Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Center, Awka.
MTN Nigeria has raised the bar for corporate disclosure in Africa after publishing its 2025 sustainability report in full compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards S1 and S2.
Dr. Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria,
The report, independently assured by Ernst & Young, marks the telecom operator’s seventh consecutive annual sustainability publication and third year as an early adopter of the global framework ahead of its mandatory implementation.
Dr. Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, said, “strong governance and ethical conduct are foundational to our sustainability strategy. We reinforced compliance through our Conduct Passport Framework and robust internal controls.”
He added that “in May 2025, we became the first telecommunications company in Nigeria to publicly present a sustainability report on the Nigerian Exchange Group platform, an important milestone in our commitment to IFRS S1 and S2- aligned disclosure and accountability.”
The company also secured Carbon Disclosure Project ratings of ‘B-’ for climate change and ‘C’ for water security.
Under the IFRS S2 framework, the telecoms operator disclosed climate-related risks linked to flooding, heat stress, regulatory changes and possible future taxes or charges on carbon emissions, following a climate scenario analysis completed in 2024.
The report also showed that MTN Nigeria now uses a digital reporting format – XBRL. This makes its sustainability and governance data easier for investors and ESG rating agencies to access and analyse through automated systems.
The Company also carried out assessments to understand how sustainability issues affect both its business operations and society at large, while measuring its overall economic, environmental and social impact from 2021 to 2024.
In addition, over one-third of MTN Nigeria’s biggest suppliers (based on spending) have committed to supporting the company’s net-zero emissions goals, although these commitments have not yet gone through an independent audit or verification process.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) have announced a new compliance requirement mandating telecommunications companies to obtain regulatory approval before effecting significant changes in their ownership structure.
The directive, jointly issued by the two agencies, requires any proposed transfer of ownership or control of shares amounting to 10 per cent or more of the total share capital of a company licensed by the NCC to secure a Letter of No Objection from the commission before such transactions can be registered with the CAC.
The agencies said the requirement was in line with the provisions of Section 90 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, Regulation 28(2) of the Competition Practices Regulations, 2007, and Regulation 42 of the Licensing Regulations, 2019.
According to the statement, the regulations empower the NCC to oversee and review transactions involving licensed communications companies and ensure fair competition within the sector.
“Effective immediately, any proposed transfer of ownership or control of shares in a licensee of the Nigerian Communications Commission amounting to 10 per cent or more of the total share capital, as well as any series of share transfers which in aggregate exceed 10 per cent of the total share capital of the licensee, shall require a Letter of No Objection from NCC in order for the changes to be effected and registered with the CAC,” the statement said.
The agencies explained that the CAC would henceforth ensure that all applications for changes in shareholding structures involving 10 per cent or more of a telecommunications company’s share capital are accompanied by evidence of prior approval from the NCC.
They noted that the measure was aimed at preserving a fair and competitive market structure within the communications sector by preventing direct or indirect anti-competitive practices.
According to the statement, the new requirement will also strengthen regulatory oversight of significant changes in ownership and control of licensed telecommunications operators.
The agencies said the initiative would enhance transparency, boost investor confidence, provide regulatory certainty and safeguard the long-term sustainability and stability of the communications industry.
The NCC and CAC reaffirmed their commitment to promoting a transparent, stable and competitive business environment in Nigeria.
They pledged to continue working closely to ensure fair market practices, strengthen regulatory certainty and support the orderly and sustainable development of the nation’s communications sector.
National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to promote locally manufactured renewable energy technologies under the Federal Government’s ‘Nigeria First Policy’.
L-R: EVC/CEO, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu; Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Abraham Adedokun; and Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), at the signing of the MoU on implementation of Nigeria First Policy for offtake of NSSENI’s renewable energy products for rural electrification projects held on Friday, June 19, 2026 at BPP’s office in Abuja.
The agreement signing was facilitated by the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Abraham Adedokun at the BPP headquarters in Abuja on Friday, June 19, 2026.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the Agency is focused on linking research, production, and commercialization to ensure that innovations are translated into market-ready products.
He said “NASENI would scale up renewable energy production, including solar panels and streetlights, through initiatives such as DefFrontier, to strengthen local manufacturing and reduce import dependence, adding that the Agency will meet the renewable energy requirements of REA.”
Instead of continuous importation of technologies, machines and equipment for producing renewable energy solutions, NASENI by this MoU will be committed to local manufacturing and domestication of the technologies, equipment and other ways and means of proliferation of renewable resource in the country and to increase the nation’s off-grid energy solutions.
The Managing Director/CEO of REA, Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, described the relationship with NASENI as a strategic partnership aimed at building Nigeria’s renewable energy ecosystem through local production and deployment.
He stated that “while NASENI provides the manufacturing and technological capacity for renewable equipment, REA will focus on deploying solutions to expand electricity across rural areas.”
Meanwhile, the Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Abraham Adedokun, said the Nigeria First Policy, exemplified by this agreement, is aimed at strengthening local content, ensuring value for money, and promoting accountability in public procurement.
He emphasized that implementation of the agreement will be performance-based, with strict monitoring to ensure compliance and measurable outcome. He added that the MoU is expected to deepen collaboration between NASENI and REA in expanding renewable energy and reducing dependence on imported technologies.
The MoU will be implemented through NASENI’s subsidiary company, NASENI Devfrontier Green Energy FZE and REA limited liability company, RAMco.The two Federal Government agencies seek to establish a strategic collaboration under which REA shall offtake PV modules, inverters, energy storage batteries of NASENI-Devfrontier Green Energy FZE directly or through its approved distribution companies/assembly and manufacturing factory.
As part of the agreement, REA shall provide institutional visibility to enable NASENI participate in electrification projects; facilitate opportunities for engagements between NASENI and eligible developers/contractors under REA programs; ensure that such facilitation is consistent with applicable procurement, local content, and transparency requirements; and also collaborate with NASENI in promoting standardized, high-quality PV technologies across its programme portfolio.
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