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Broadband Affordability, Ubiquity Resonate @ BR-Africa, Openmedia Forum

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Telecommunications experts have highlighted the importance of using sustainable, affordable models and technology to foster broadband access in the country, stressing that content creation and enhanced demand are key indices towards the drive.

These and other issues took centre stage at an international forum organized by Openmedia Communications Limited and Atlantic Telecoms and Media under the umbrella of Broadband Right Africa.

The experts urged collaborative approach to ICT development and welcomed relations among the 36 States and 774 local governments and aimed at fast tracking policies for increased broadband access and affordability.

Mrs. Omobola Johnson, minister of Communication Technology, said, although factors like funding, taxation, access and low awareness among some States Governments in the country are key inhibiting factors to broadband rollout, however, the Federal Government, through the National Broadband Policy (NBP) stamped its commitment to remove the bottlenecks.

 She re-emphasized that advocacy has become imperative in the process.

Johnson said that the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked between Lagos State Government and the industry to cut the cost of Right of Way (RoW) from N5,000 to N500 was achievable through engagement and advocacy, expressing confidence that other States will follow the trend.

“The challenges that have prevented us to achieve certain targets in terms of broadband affordability are real. But, we are not relenting. We have scaled the first phase by documenting a National Broadband Policy which is even ahead of ITU’s target of 2015.

“Part of the process is educating State Governments on the need to reduce costs on the part of the investors and operators. At a time, we had meeting with Commissioners from the 36 States and that led to the MoU between the industry and the Lagos State Government. We have targets and they are work in progress.

“We have Universal Service Provider (USP) fund of about $10b. Although, that is not enough to subsidize the infrastructural deployment in the rural areas, because statistically, about 70% of our population still live in the rural areas and they are the people we want to ensure are captured. Through that process, we can ameliorate the challenges faced by operators. For instance, Prof. Nwana (Sama) postulates that operators who set up 50% of their base stations at certain areas make 10% revenue, while reverse is the case when such infrastructure are erected in the other areas”.

She added that the recent 2.3GHZ spectrum allocation was part of the processes to unleashing robust infrastructure to drive broadband availability and affordability; hopefully with a successful digital broadcasting migration, more spectrums shall be made available. 

Earlier, Professor Sama Nwana, chief executive officer, Atlantic Telecoms & Media, lauded the NBP as a critical step to addressing the challenges, but not without stressing that the second target of achieving affordability for 5% average monthly income earners is tricky.

He urged the industry to adopt the best model that guarantees quality service and return on investment, citing study that shows different models enable operators recoup 50% revenue from circa 10% telecom sites, while 50% revenue are made by some from 30% sites and 10% others from 50% sites.

Nwana advocated for Nigeria and Africa in general to build on models of infrastructure sharing, among others while 3G, 4G and LTE infrastructures should be pursued vigorously.

On his part, Engineer Ernest Ndukwe, chairman, Openmedia Group and president of Broadband Right Africa, said that the Broadband Right Africa (BR-Africa) was borne out of the drive to make broadband truly ubiquitous and affordable.
                                      

“If all State Governors in Nigeria, for instance, become Broadband Rights Advocates, Nigeria would become a broadband enabled environment in a couple of years.

“That would be ‘free’ for the rest of Africa, if the leaders become committed advocates like Paul Kigame of Rwanda,” he said.

For Nigeria, with an estimated broadband penetration of only about 6% in 2012, Federal and State Governments initiated targeted actions to improve the accessibility and affordability of high speed broadband for both urban and rural Nigeria.

In September 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated a 12-man Presidential Committee to craft a National Broadband Strategy and Roadmap to drive accelerated increase in broadband penetration in Nigeria.

The Committee’s report was submitted on the 30th of May 2013 and was promptly approved by Mr President and subsequently launched by the Hon Minister of Communications Technology in June 2013.

A National Broadband Council for the 5-year plan was inaugurated on the 16th of July, 2013 and mandated to provide periodic progress reports on the evaluation of the plan, facilitate the coordination and collaboration of the various stakeholders during plan implementation, and ensure that relevant agencies and institutions are actively engaged and monitoring the progress of the plan and highlighting adjustment areas if any.

 


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

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E-Financial

Africa Prudential Launches Sabivest to Boost Digital Investment Access

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Africa Prudential Plc has launched Sabivest, a digital shareholder and investment management application, as part of efforts to deepen access to investment opportunities and enhance transparency in Nigeria’s capital market.

Unveiled in Lagos, the platform is designed to provide investors with a centralised system for managing shareholdings and tracking portfolio performance across multiple investment products.

At the launch, the Chairperson of Africa Prudential Plc, Christabel Onyejekwe, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to leveraging innovation to improve investor experience and participation.

“Sabivest provides a unified ecosystem that enables individuals and institutions to seamlessly access, monitor and grow diversified financial assets through a single interface,” she said, describing the platform as a significant step in advancing digital transformation within the capital market.

The Managing Director, Catherine Nwosu, noted that the application, which is available for download on both iOS and Android platforms, was developed to address structural challenges that have continued to limit investor efficiency, including fragmented investment accounts, restricted access to diverse financial instruments, and inadequate visibility into portfolio performance.

According to her, the platform aggregates multiple investment services, offering users real-time insights and control through a centralised dashboard.

She added that Sabivest features consolidated portfolio views, performance tracking, asset allocation insights, and electronic dividend management, alongside tools for monitoring, documenting, and recovering unclaimed dividends.

The launch also featured a roundtable session themed, “Building Trust and Driving Innovation in Nigeria’s Capital Market,” where stakeholders emphasised the importance of technology-driven solutions in strengthening investor confidence and expanding market participation.


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General News

Interswitch Inducts 3rd Interns into Its Developer Academy

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Interswitch, an integrated payments and digital commerce company, has announced the induction of the third and largest cohort of developer interns into its Developer Academy, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to building world-class technology talent and strengthening Africa’s digital ecosystem.

Selected from a pool of over 20,000 applications, the new cohort emerged through a rigorous multi-stage process involving technical assessments, and interviews. Their induction into the Developer Academy highlights both the scale of interest in software engineering opportunities in Nigeria and Interswitch’s role in nurturing the next generation of highly skilled technology professionals.

Commenting on the initiative, founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe, emphasised the importance of taking a long-term, ecosystem-driven approach to talent development.

“At Interswitch, we have always believed in the capacity to see beyond the immediate challenges and focus on long-term impact. While the migration of skilled talent remains a reality, our approach is to actively shape the outcomes by building a strong and sustainable pipeline of technology professionals.

“We are therefore committed to equipping individuals with the capabilities to contribute meaningfully to the broader technology ecosystem, locally and globally, not just for our own needs at Interswitch. In doing so, we are not only strengthening the industry but also reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a source of globally competitive engineering talent,” Elegbe said.

The 9-month programme brings together talents across key engineering tracks, including Backend Development, DevOps, Mobile Development, Frontend Engineering, and Quality Assurance.

Designed as an intensive and structured learning experience, the Developer Academy combines theoretical instruction with real-world application, equipping participants with the skills required to thrive in an increasingly global and competitive technology landscape.

Also commenting, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Interswitch, Franklin Ali, said: “The Developer Academy reflects our long-term commitment to building talent at scale. We are equipping these young professionals not just with technical skills, but with the mindset, discipline, and adaptability required to thrive in diverse environments.

“Whether they build their careers within Interswitch, contribute to the local ecosystem, or explore global opportunities, they represent the strength and potential of Nigerian talent and carry forward the standard of excellence we are committed to building.”


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E-Financial

Transcorp Excites Shareholders with ₦20.3 Billion Dividend @20th AGM

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Transnational Corporation Plc (“Transcorp Group” or the “Company”) (NGX: TRANSCORP), Africa’s leading listed conglomerate with strategic investments in power, hospitality and energy, has declared a total dividend of ₦20,323,995,148, representing ₦2.00 per share to its shareholders, at its 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM), held at the new state-of-the-art Transcorp Centre Abuja.

Group Chairman, Mr Tony O. Elumelu, CFR; President/Group CEO,, Mrs. Owen D. Omogiafo, OON; and Company Secretary, Ms. Atinuke Kolade, during the 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Transnational Corporation Plc( Transcorp Group) held in Abuja at the weekend

The total dividend comprises an interim dividend payment of ₦4,064,799.030, representing 40 kobo per share, paid in August 2025, together with a final dividend of ₦16,259,196,118, equivalent to ₦1.60 per share.

At the AGM, where the shareholders approved the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, the Group Chairman of Transcorp Plc, Mr Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, restated the company’s commitment to delivering sustainable long-term value creation as shareholders commended the conglomerate and its management for sustained performance.

In 2025, the Group, with a combined market capitalisation of ₦4.78 trillion ($3.52 billion) as of May 7, 2026, recorded strong year-on-year growth across all key metrics. Revenue increased by 33% to ₦544 billion (FY 2024: ₦408 billion). Profit Before Tax rose 31% to ₦179.5 billion (FY 2024: ₦136.7 billion), while Profit After Tax surged 44% to ₦135.9 billion (FY 2024: ₦94.1 billion)

Group Chairman, Mr Tony O. Elumelu, CFR; President/Group CEO,, Mrs. Owen D. Omogiafo, OON; and Company Secretary, Ms. Atinuke Kolade, during the 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Transnational Corporation Plc( Transcorp Group) held in Abuja at the weekend

Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, Group Chairman, Transnational Corporation Plc said: “Transcorp Group remains firmly focused on strong corporate governance and the disciplined execution of its strategic priorities to deliver sustainable, long-term value. Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, the Group continues to benefit from its diversified portfolio, which has underpinned resilient financial performance in 2025.

Mrs. Owen D. Omogiafo, OON, President/Group CEO, Transnational Corporation Plc said: “FY 2025 was a year defined by disciplined execution, strategic resolve, and resilient performance. Transcorp Group is committed to resolving the energy crisis in Nigeria; we have an energy situation, and the gap between the demand and supply is still very wide. Hence, we will continue to work assiduously and tirelessly towards bridging that gap, creating value for the wider country.

In our hospitality business, the 5,000-seat capacity Transcorp Centre hosting us today is a testament to our disciplined execution, and you will see more in the coming years.

While commenting on the performance, one of the shareholders, Mrs E. O. Obideyi, commended the management of Transcorp Group, saying, “I commend the management and staff of Transcorp for sustained performance year-on-year. While we appreciate the Board, I am also extending my commendation to the members of staff of Transcorp for a job well done.”

Another Shareholder, Mr Moses Igrude, commended the Board, Management and Staff of Transcorp Plc. He said: “I appreciate the vision behind Transcorp and what it has become. When I look at the history, and how far it has come under Mr Tony Elumelu’s leadership, I am proud that the aim and objectives are being achieved. That payoff line, ‘Improving lives and transforming Africa,’ is a reality we are witnessing.

Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group) is one of Africa’s leading listed conglomerates, with strategic investments in power, hospitality and energy, driven by its mission to improve lives and transform Africa.

The Group’s power businesses — Transcorp Power Plc and Transafam Power — provide over 20% of Nigeria’s installed power capacity. Transcorp is also advancing Nigeria’s domestic energy value chain through its investment in OPL281. Its hospitality subsidiary, Transcorp Hotels Plc, owns the iconic Transcorp Hilton Abuja and the landmark Transcorp Centre Abuja.


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