Connect with us

Telecom

NASRDA Mulls Geo-Stationary Satellite to Fight Maritime Insecurity

Published

on

Kindly share this post

National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), has said that 90% of security challenges facing the maritime sector in Nigeria could be effectively addressed by Geo-Stationary Satellite.

NASRDA Mulls Geo-Stationary Satellite to Fight Maritime Insecurity

Dr Mathew Adepoju, new director general of the Space and Research Agency, stated this in Abuja, during his screening for confirmation of his appointment by the Senate Committee on Innovation, Science and Technology.

While responding to questions by the lawmakers, Adepoju also lamented the non-patronage of home-grown technology in the country by relevant authorities and Nigerians.

He told the Committee chaired by Senator Aminu Iya Abbas (PDP, Adamawa Central), that the Geo-Stationary Satellite, if embraced by all stakeholders in the maritime sector, would fill in the gap for the needed Maritime Domain Awareness for all manner of planned crimes and possibility of nipping them in the bud.

“For us at NASRDA, we are ready to collaborate and synergize with critical stakeholders in the maritime sector on the need to curb all manner of crimes in the sector.

He said: “The most important device to use is Geo-Stationary Satellite, which would help to give the required Maritime Domain Awareness for the various key players through synthetical factor reading.

“For effective use of the Geo – Stationary Satellite, cooperation and synergy are already being worked on between us and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Communication Satellite System ( NigComSat), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) etc.”

He however, lamented that home-grown technologies put forward through innovations and inventions, were seldomly patronized by relevant authorities and Nigerians.

“We have inbuilt capacity at NASRDA but the culture of not patronizing ourselves in Nigeria, make results from such capacities, uncelebrated.

“We can work together with the security agencies through our home grown solution which is not patronize.

“Aside that, the problem of acute shortage of office space for about 70 % of NASRDA staff, is also inhibiting them from giving their best because out of 5, 200 staff , less than 30% has office space,” he lamented.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, told the nominee , that when confirmed by the Senate as substantive Director General of NASRDA, he should make the Space Center, a Centre of Excellence.

“Go for talent hunting because we have not seen much in the area of human development. Develop in-house capacity. Pay attention to staff development,” he said.


Kindly share this post

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.

Telecom

MTN Nigeria Non-Executive Director Mazen Mroue Quits to Focus on Group Role

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Mazen Mroue, a non-executive director at MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, has resigned effective February 27, 2026, to prioritise other responsibilities within the MTN Group, the company announced in a Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) filing.

MTN Nigeria Non-Executive Director Mazen Mroue Quits to Focus on Group Role

MTN Nigeria

 

The notice, signed by company secretary Uto Ukpanah, stated: “This is to enable Mr. Mroue to focus on other priorities within MTN Group Limited. The Board wishes to express its appreciation to Mr. Mroue for his immense service to MTN Nigeria and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”

Mroue joined MTN Nigeria’s board on June 1, 2022, bringing over 28 years of telecom experience. A veteran MTN executive, he previously served as CEO of MTN Uganda and MTN Liberia, non-executive director at MTN Cyprus, and held leadership roles at MTN Ghana.

Since February 2022, he has been MTN Group’s Chief Technology and Information Officer, overseeing technology strategy and governance. Earlier, as MTN Nigeria’s COO from August 2018 to January 2022, he also sat on the MTN Nigeria Foundation board.

The exit follows MTN Nigeria’s stellar 2025 results, posting a ₦1.70 trillion profit before tax—reversing a ₦550.3 billion loss in 2024 driven by forex woes—marking one of the telco’s strongest rebounds.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Telecom

Google Adds Yorùbá, Hausa to AI Search, Boosting Access for Millions of Nigerians

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Google has rolled out support for Yorùbá and Hausa languages in its AI-powered Search features—AI Overviews and AI Mode—enabling millions of Nigerians to get quick answers, summaries, and conversational web exploration in their mother tongues.

Google Adds Yorùbá, Hausa to AI Search, Boosting Access for Millions of Nigerians

Google

The update forms part of Google’s push to cover 13 African languages, including Afrikaans, Akan, Amharic, Kinyarwanda, Afaan Oromoo, Somali, Sesotho, Kiswahili, Setswana, Wolof, and isiZulu, selected based on high search activity across the continent.

Now, a Kano student can ask complex questions in Hausa, while an Ibadan trader seeks business tips in Yorùbá—both receiving culturally nuanced AI responses via text or voice on Android, iOS, or web.

Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s West Africa Communications Manager, said: “Building truly global Search requires nuanced local understanding. With Gemini-powered AI, we’ve made advanced capabilities relevant in Yorùbá and Hausa, so Nigerians converse naturally with Search in their mother tongues.”

To use: Open the Google app, tap AI Mode, and query in Hausa or Yorùbá for personalised guidance—breaking language barriers and making technology reflect Nigeria’s diverse identity.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Telecom

MultiChoice Shuts Down Showmax After 11 Years Amid Streaming Wars

Published

on

Kindly share this post

MultiChoice is closing its continental streaming platform Showmax after 11 years, notifying subscribers Thursday of the board’s decision to discontinue the service in the near future to refocus on sustainable digital offerings.

MultiChoice Shuts Down Showmax After 11 Years Amid Streaming Wars

MultiChoice

The email assured no immediate disruption: “You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time.” Showmax, launched in South Africa in 2015 and expanded across Africa, offered movies, series, documentaries, and sports to rival Netflix and others amid rising online entertainment demand.

The shutdown follows Canal+’s approved takeover of MultiChoice last year, with the French giant offering ZAR 125 per share for remaining stakes.

The deal mandates HDP ownership boosts, local content investment, and splitting MultiChoice’s SA broadcasting arm into an independent entity to meet regulations.

MultiChoice prioritised subscribers during the transition, promising advance notice on timelines.

Showmax’s exit signals consolidation pressures in Africa’s cut-throat streaming market, where global players dominate despite local content strengths.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending