Telecom
Idea Dinner with Top CEOs: Stakeholders Urged to Form Ideas Around AI And Rural Telephony
Nigerians have been urged to form ideas around Artificial Intelligence (AI) and rural telephony as these two areas can turn around the fortune of Nigeria in terms of economy and employment, especially for the youths.
This is one of the several calls made at the ‘Idea Dinner with the Top CEOs’, which was organised by TechLife Media & Communications Limited for major stakeholders drawn from the Nigerian business community, especially those in the Information and Communications Technology industry.
Specifically, Mr. Yemi Oshodi, the Chief Executive Officer of iCSL and Coordinator of 2024 Best Ideas, said what rules the world today is an idea as every noticeable breakthrough in the world came as a result of an idea.
While urging Nigerians with great ideas to share them with government agencies like the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Yemi believes that Artificial Intelligence is a game changer that is going to do wonders in every sector with an emphasis on agriculture, security and financial services.
“My appeal to every Nigerian is to think and come up with ideas that can move the country. When you have an idea, do not hide it thinking someone may likely use it. The most important thing is it helps to move our country forward,” he said.
Also, in the area of rural telephony, Mr. Yemi believes that it is an untapped area that will massively aid the development of the digital economy that is being championed by the federal government.
According to him, even though the government has started working to get the whole country covered in terms of telephone services, many rural areas remained underserved and unserved. These areas without telephone service remained so after 23 years of liberalisation of mobile services as a result of the lack of ideas.
He argued that if Nigerians can explore the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) domiciled with the NCC by coming up with workable ideas, all 774 local government areas across the country will be covered by telephone services.
This will in turn create direct and indirect jobs, reduce rural-urban migration and ultimately, increase the industry’s gross domestic product (GDP) to the economy.
Other stakeholders who spoke at the event supported by Information Connectivity Solutions Limited, Digital Realty, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, TeamNigeria for Change, Inlaks, Coscharis Technologies and a host of others seek ideas to manufacture most equipment needed for the industry to thrive locally.
They noted that such an idea will help solve the forex challenges that Nigeria is presently grappling with.
Meanwhile, in her welcome address, Ms. Ugochi Emmanuel, Convener of the ‘Idea Dinner with the Top CEOs’ said the Idea Dinner focusing on the theme “Critical Thinking to Building a Sustainable Digital Economy” is a call to awakening the minds of Nigerians.
“We are acutely aware of the transformative power of digital technologies and their profound impact on every aspect of our lives. However, with these opportunities also come significant challenges that demand our collective attention and strategic thinking. Thus, it is important to call the meeting involving both the public and private sector players,” she said.
She noted that innovations such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things are reshaping business models, disrupting traditional industries, and creating new opportunities. Thus, staying abreast of these developments and harnessing their full potential requires not just technological prowess but also critical thinking and strategic foresight.
“Addressing the challenges of cybersecurity and data privacy demands not only robust technological solutions but also a deep understanding of risk management, ethical considerations and regulatory compliance. This is where we need ideas,” she added.
According to her, the quest for a sustainable digital economy necessitates a concerted effort to bridge the digital divide. Also, overcoming disparities in the industry requires innovative strategies, collaboration across sectors, and a commitment to ensuring that the benefits of the digital revolution are shared equitably.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that Nigeria’s internet usage reached a record 1.24 million terabytes in November 2025.
According to the latest data from the NCC, the figure rose modestly from 1.235 million terabytes in October, reflecting steady growth in digital activity across the country.
Broadband penetration in Nigeria crossed the halfway mark in November 2025, reaching 50.58 per cent, up from 45.61 per cent in January, the telecoms regulator reported.
The figure, however, falls short of the 70 per cent coverage target outlined in the National Broadband Plan 2020–2025, which expires this month.
The country had roughly 109 million broadband subscriptions by November. Growth has been uneven, hindered by infrastructure and regulatory constraints, including frequent fibre-optic vandalism that triggers 30 to 43 network cuts daily, high right-of-way fees, and declining subscriber numbers earlier in the year.
Expansion of mobile networks, particularly 3G and 4G services, alongside limited 5G rollouts in urban centres, affordable smartphones, and competitive data plans, has driven uptake.
Investments in the National Communications Backbone and private-sector initiatives have also improved access, especially in underserved areas.
While Nigeria is gradually improving digital inclusion, achieving the original broadband plan remains challenging due to high infrastructure costs, coverage limitations, and deployment hurdles.
The NCC maintains that continued investment in mobile networks and broadband infrastructure will sustain gradual growth in the sector.
Commenting on the development, some Nigerian analysts attributed the surge to the broader mobile and broadband adoption and the growing appetite for streaming, online learning and other digital services.
According to the analysts, the figures suggest that internet connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity for both business and leisure, underscoring the slow but steady expansion of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has named the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) among the top three Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government with the Best Ranking in Website Performance for 2025.
L-R: Head Special Projects, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Salamatu Andu; Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Engr. Abaraham Oshadame; Director General Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Head Customer Support Service, Galaxy Backbone, Rosemary Ehize; Secretary to the ES. Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Tahir Aminu at the BPSR award ceremony for top four MDAs in BPSR Website Performance and Ranking 2025 at the BPSR office on Tuesday, 23rd December, 2025.
This is coming barely three weeks after the telecom regulator was recognized as one of the top five best-performing Federal Government agencies for 2025 by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) – a testament to the Commission’s consistency in investment in technology for ensuring efficient service delivery.
In the BPSR 2024/2025 scorecard ranking of agencies’ websites, the NCC came second in the ranking, trailing behind Galaxy Backbone Limited, which came first while the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) clinched the third position, from a pool of 235 MDAs, whose website were evaluated.
BPSR deployed 14 evaluation criteria in include MDA’s website compliance with .gov.ng domain name, appearance and aesthetics (look and feel) of the website, content, relevance to MDAs mandate/government policy and the website’ structure.
Others include website’s responsiveness (device compatibility), security, load time, usability/ease of navigation, availability/uptime, functionality, interactivity, accessibility and capacity building.
The recognition was announced at the official release of Federal Government 2024/2025 Scorecard Ranking for MDAs’ Website held at the Federal Ministry of Finance Auditorium in Abuja on Monday (December 22, 2025) while the award presentation took place at BPSR’s Office on Tuesday (December 23, 2025).
The award, which is an important index metric of the National e-Government Masterplan for determining the Nigeria e-Government Status, was received by the Commission in recognition of its commitment to maintaining a world-class website that enhances service delivery to the citizens.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, the NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, appreciated the BPSR for the recognition, describing the award as “another encouragement for the Commission to be a better public service institution leveraging digital platforms such as our web presence to enhance public service delivery to our various stakeholders, thereby implementing the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy direction.”
While presenting the award to the NCC, alongside other two agencies, BPSR’s Director-General, Mr. Dasuki Arabi, commended the top three for their proactive decisions in maintaining world-class websites, which are compliant with the Federal Government’s policy direction in effective and efficient service delivery to the citizens.
According to the DG, the 2024/2025 MDA’s websites’ ranking represents a collective effort of federal public institutions in Nigeria to be transparent, accountable and open in governance, as well as a confirmation to align with global best practices in service delivery to the citizens.
Developed about six years ago, Arabi said as a result of the annual ranking, more public institutions have indicated readiness to embrace reforms, and align with the policy direction of the current administration’s Renewed Hope agenda on improve governance for effective service delivery, as introduced by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The ideals of harnessing and deploying technological tools for service delivery has become imperative following the COVID pandemic, and distortions of socio-economic system of nations, culminating in the evolution of competitiveness, cost effectiveness, and agile governance.
“As engine room of governance, it behoves on us in the public service to perform our statutory duties and we must put in place technological innovations and standardized websites to operate services as well as deliver service needs to citizens,” he said.
The Scorecard exercise, he said, is part of the BPSR reform broader function of conducting research on reform implementation efforts and presenting ‘best practice’ models to the entire Public Service, and to among others, improve access to government information, facilitate seamless financial transaction, eliminate corruption and cyber theft, as well as facilitate access to government services.
Speaking on the rigorous nature of the exercise that produced the top three winners, the DG said “in the past few weeks members of the Scorecard Jury drawn from inter-Ministerial Agencies, had worked tirelessly to mill websites of selected MDAs through a rigorous process of enduring criteria for the ranking and the outcome had also passed through a quality assurance mechanism to validate the outcome.”
Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, has dismissed reports that bank accounts not linked to a Tax Identification Number (TIN) will be frozen or automatically debited from January 1, 2026.
Taiwo Oyedele
Oyedele described the claims as false and misleading, warning Nigerians against panic over misinformation surrounding recent tax and financial reforms.
In a post on his X handle Tuesday morning, he wrote: “Don’t let anyone manipulate you. Your bank account is safe. Misinformation makes you panic and fear a reform that is designed to help you.
“When they tell you that your account will be frozen or automatically debited from January 2026, ask them for the evidence in the new law. Be wise.”
He stressed that no provision in the new tax laws authorises the freezing of bank accounts, adding that the rumours are part of widespread misrepresentation of the reforms.
The committee chairman reiterated that the reforms are intended to simplify Nigeria’s tax system and ease the burden on ordinary citizens, not to impose punitive measures on bank customers.
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