Telecom
MTN Foundation Hosts 2024 Scholarship Awards Ceremony in Abuja
As part of MTN’s commitment to ensuring quality education and rewarding academic excellence, the MTN Foundation hosted its annual Scholarship award ceremony in Abuja.
L-R: Dr. Othman Ibrahim, Deputy Dean of Student Affairs, University of Jos; Mr. Ohwofasa Obazenu, Senior Manager of Sales and Trade Development at MTN Nigeria; Mrs. Aishatu Sadauki, Director of the MTN Foundation; Mrs. Basirat Agbabiaka, Head of the Disability Unit at the Registrar’s Office, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB); Dr. Anwalu Danlami, Head of the Department at the Federal College of Education, Bichi; alongside numerous guests and the 2024 MTN Foundation scholarship awardees, at the 2024 MTN Foundation Awards Ceremony held in Enugu.
The Scholarship is an annual programme under the Foundation’s Youth Development portfolio, that recognizes and rewards high-performing students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses, and Blind students in Nigerian public tertiary institutions.
The Top 10 scoring candidates of the Unified Matriculation Examination (UTME) also benefit from this programme each year.
In attendance were key stakeholders including Prof. Tanko Ishaya, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, who was represented by Dr. Othman Ibrahim, Deputy Dean of Student Affairs, University of Jos; Professor Is-Haq Oloyede, the current Registrar and Chief Executive of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), who was represented by Mrs. Basirat Agbabiaka, Head of the Disability Unit at the Registrar’s Office, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB); Mrs. Aishatu Sadauki, Director of the MTN Foundation; Dr. Anwalu Danlami, Head of the Department at the Federal College of Education, Bichi; Mr. Ohwofasa Obazenu, Senior Manager of Sales and Trade Development at MTN Nigeria alongside numerous guests. Several Alumni of the MTN Foundation Scholarship scheme across various universities in Northern Nigeria were also in attendance.
Speaking at the event, the director of MTN Foundation, Mrs. Aishatu Sadauki emphasized that education is a powerful tool for shaping minds and driving societal change, urging the new scholars to leverage their scholarships to build meaningful connections and contribute positively to their communities.
“For the past 13 years, the MTN Foundation has been driven by the belief that every individual, irrespective of their socio-economic status, has the potential to be a trailblazer, problem-solver, and visionary.
“Today, we are graduating 380 scholars whose achievements are not only a reflection of their potential, but also a contribution to the development of our great nation and beyond.They have surpassed our expectations by remaining steadfast and dedicated to excellence.
“These qualities have brought them this far, and we will not relent in our commitment to supporting their education.
“To the new scholars, I urge you to take advantage of this scholarship to build meaningful connections, acquire the knowledge you need to rise and give back to our society,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, who was represented by Dr. Othman Ibrahim, Deputy Dean of Student Affairs, University of Jos emphasized that recipients should fully embrace the scholarship opportunity, as it can greatly benefit their future, while also acknowledging MTN’s continued commitment to supporting education despite rising living costs.
“I want to sincerely thank MTN for this noble cause. I took the time to see all the good works they are doing, and the results truly speak for themselves.
“To the scholarship recipients, please don’t take this opportunity lightly. Make the best use of it, as it will benefit you greatly in the long run. It is not easy for anyone to support education these days, especially with the rising cost of living, yet MTN continues to do good work.
“I promise you that more individuals will benefit from this scholarship, and to all participants, I wish you the best of luck,” he said.
The scholarships were officially presented to the recipients during the award ceremony in Abuja. The newly awarded scholars will each enjoy a scholarship grant worth N300,000 annually till graduation as long as they maintain the required Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).
The scholarship covers tuition, book allowance and stipend. To date, MTN Foundation has awarded scholarships valued at over 2.5 billion naira to Nigerian students.
MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with ONErpm and Ultima Studios, has announced Ayodeji Benson, popularly known as Ayo Benzi, as the winner of the maiden edition of the Next Afrobeats Star reality show.
L-R: Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria; Ayodeji Benson, Winner, Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1) and Emamoke Ogoro, General Manager, Brand and Communication, MTN Nigeria, at the grand finale of the Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1), held at the Ultima Studios, Lekki, Lagos on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
The grand finale, held on Sunday night at Ultima Studios in Lekki, Lagos, marked the climax of a nationwide talent search that began in September with over 15,000 aspiring musicians.
After weeks of auditions, mentorship, and rigorous training, five finalists – Ayo Benzi, Dave Cash, Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay – battled for the top prize in a high-energy showcase of performance and artistry.
At the end of the electrifying contest, Ayo Benzi emerged victorious, securing a ₦150 million music deal. Dave Cash was named first runner-up with ₦100 million, while Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay received ₦75 million, ₦50 million, and ₦25 million respectively.
Throughout the season, contestants were mentored by leading Afrobeats producers Sarz, Puffy Tee, P Prime, and Andre Vibez. Benzi, who was part of Puffy Tee’s team, credited the mentorship programme for sharpening his craft and stage presence.
Speaking at the event, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to youth empowerment and cultural expression.
“The Next Afrobeats Star platform is about creating real opportunities for young Nigerians and giving their talent the structure, visibility, and support it deserves.
“Afrobeats continues to place Nigeria on the global cultural map, and MTN is proud to be enabling the next generation of artists who will take this sound even further,” she said.
She added that the finale was not just a competition but a celebration of growth and readiness for the global stage.
In his acceptance speech, Ayo Benzi described the victory as a defining moment in his career.
“A big thank you to MTN. From the audition days, the treatment MTN has given us has been amazing. God bless the brand,” he said.
The finale also featured guest performances by Afrobeats stars Iyanya and Bella Shmurda, adding glamour to the night and reinforcing the show’s connection to the wider music ecosystem.
With the successful conclusion of the season, MTN Nigeria and its partners reaffirmed their role in championing youth ambition, supporting creative industries, and shaping the future of Nigerian music through platforms that turn potential into opportunity.
T2, formerly known as 9mobile, is under investigation by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Benue State for an undisclosed incident disrupting USSD, SMS, voice, and data services across nine local government areas.
T2
The affected areas include Ado, Agatu, Gwer East, Gwer West, Konshisha, Obi, Ohimini, Okpokwu, and Otukpo, as detailed in an advisory on the NCC Major Outages Portal, which tracks significant disruptions reported by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Neither T2 nor its public relations firm, Chain Reactions, has responded to inquiries on the outage’s cause or restoration efforts as of this report.
The NCC’s continued reference to the operator as 9mobile, months after its public rebranding to T2 in August 2025, has sparked questions about whether the name change was formally notified to the regulator.
This probe aligns with NCC mandates requiring operators to disclose major outages, their impacts, and timelines for fixes, with compensation obligatory for disruptions exceeding 24 hours under the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations.
Industry watchers note that such incidents, often linked to fibre cuts, power failures, or infrastructure faults, underscore ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s telecoms sector, particularly amid T2’s subscriber losses post-rebrand. NCC vows transparency via its portal to hold operators accountable and protect consumers.
Telecom
NCC Unveils Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap, 60 GHz License-Exempt Guidelines to Boost Broadband, Innovation
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled two pivotal regulatory draft documents aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s communications sector over the next five years and fast-tracking deployment of ultra-high-speed wireless technologies.
NCC
In a public notice dated December 19, 2025, and issued pursuant to its mandate under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, the Commission published the Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector (2025–2030) and Draft Guidelines for the Use of the 60 GHz License-Exempt Band for Multi-Gigabit Wireless Systems.
Both documents are accessible on the NCC website for stakeholder review, with the roadmap outlining strategic spectrum planning, allocation, and management to optimise utilisation, support emerging technologies like 5G and IoT, expand broadband access, and align with global best practices.
The Spectrum Roadmap emphasises four core pillars: bridging the digital divide through low-band spectrum and satellite services, attracting investments via flexible licensing models, enhancing service quality with mid-band optimisation, and fostering innovation in areas such as direct-to-device connectivity and secondary spectrum trading.
It sets ambitious targets including universal 4G coverage nationwide, 50 per cent 5G penetration in state capitals, and average broadband speeds of 100 Mbps by 2030, while addressing rising data demand through band refarming and efficient management.
Complementing this, the 60 GHz Guidelines establish a license-exempt framework for the 57–66 GHz band, enabling multi-gigabit speeds up to 10 Gbps for short-range applications like WiGig, fixed wireless access, enterprise connectivity, urban broadband, and backhaul solutions.
The rules mandate NCC type approval for equipment, site registration for outdoor use, and interference mitigation measures, while prohibiting wide-area networks to safeguard primary users.
In line with Section 58 of the NCA 2003, NCC invites comments from industry operators, equipment manufacturers, consumer groups, and the public, with submissions due by Friday, January 16, 2025, via email to [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].
The notice, signed by Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs, stresses that stakeholder inputs will refine the frameworks to drive innovation, investment, competition, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s telecoms ecosystem.
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