General News
Nigeria to Host Landmark IEEE Summit to Bridge Africa’s Digital Divide in 2025
Nigeria will host the first-ever IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Africa Summit 2025 (CTU Africa 25) from November 27 to 28 at Baze University, Abuja. Themed “Bridging Digital Frontiers: African Solutions for Universal Connectivity,” the summit marks a historic milestone in the continent’s efforts to close the digital divide.
As a regional segment of the broader IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CTUS-EMEA) Summit, CTU Africa 25 will bring together engineers, policymakers, researchers, regulators, and business leaders to collaborate on scalable, inclusive, and context-sensitive connectivity solutions for underserved regions.
The summit will explore eight thematic tracks that address core connectivity challenges in Africa. These include infrastructure and technologies for universal connectivity, policy, regulation, and sustainable financing, rural and community-centric connectivity innovations, digital transformation in smart cities, education, health, and agriculture, regional cooperation through One Africa Network and cross-border initiatives, sustainable power and energy for connected communities, people, policy, and sustainability, and cybersecurity, data protection, and critical infrastructure. These tracks are designed to foster deep collaboration and innovation across sectors.
CTU Africa 25 holds strategic importance for Nigeria’s telecom sector. With 2.9 billion people globally still unconnected—many of them in Africa—the summit offers Nigerian Internet service providers, telecom operators, ICT entrepreneurs, and policy leaders a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and development.
Participants will gain insights into expanding connectivity in rural and underserved areas, access cutting-edge solutions to reduce infrastructure costs and improve coverage, and engage in policy discussions with regulators and funding partners. The summit also provides a platform for showcasing local innovations to a global audience and participating in regulatory and standards discussions that will shape the next decade of connectivity.
Connectivity is more than internet access—it is a gateway to education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and gender equality. In many African countries, women are 30 to 50 percent less likely than men to access the internet. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the cost of 1GB of data can reach up to 40 percent of the average monthly income.
The lack of internet access hinders e-learning, telemedicine, online markets, and precision farming. By increasing connectivity, Nigeria can unlock GDP growth, foster digital entrepreneurship, and promote social inclusion, especially in rural communities.
IEEE, founded in 1884, is the world’s largest technical professional organization. Its Nigerian chapter has been active since 1976, comprising engineers, technologists, academics, and students. CTU Africa 25 will also host the final presentations of the IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Challenge, where practical and innovative solutions will be showcased.
The event will feature thought leaders from regulatory bodies, NGOs, industry, and academia, all aligned around the shared mission to close the digital gap.
The summit will also open its doors to students from tertiary institutions across Nigeria, offering them exposure to global trends and opportunities in digital innovation.
As Nigeria prepares to host this transformative event, telecom operators, ISPs, policymakers, and technology innovators are encouraged to participate actively in summit sessions, showcase Nigerian connectivity innovations, explore partnerships and investment opportunities, and engage with regulatory and funding bodies on sustainable connectivity models. CTU Africa 25 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the future of Nigeria’s and Africa’s digital landscape.
MultiChoice, a CANAL+ company, has retained the distribution rights to 12 Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels following the signing of a new multi-year, multi-territory agreement between CANAL+ Group and Warner Bros. Discovery, marking a significant expansion of their long-standing partnership.
MultiChoice
The new deal, which spans several regions across Africa and Europe, covers the distribution of HBO Max as well as the renewal of selected Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels. It represents a major milestone in the companies’ international collaboration and strengthens content offerings across MultiChoice Group territories.
MultiChoice disclosed that this agreement builds on earlier partnerships concluded in Europe. “It builds on the landmark agreements concluded in France in 2024,including the renewal of the exclusive pay-TV window for Warner Bros. Pictures films just six months after their theatrical release in France and the integration of HBO Max within select CANAL+ group offers – as well as in Poland in 2025, with the renewal of the distribution agreement for 22 thematic channels (including TVN 24 and Eurosport) and 4 free-to-air channels (including TVN).”
Under the renewed arrangement, MultiChoice Group will continue to distribute 12 Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels across its territories, with some channels offered on an exclusive basis. CNN International and Cartoon Network will remain exclusive to South Africa while being distributed non-exclusively in other markets. Cartoon Network Porto will be exclusive in Angola and Mozambique and non-exclusive elsewhere. Other channels such as Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV, Food Network, TNT Africa, Travel, ID and Cartoonito will be offered on a non-exclusive basis.
According to the partners, the deal reinforces CANAL+ Group’s channel portfolio on the continent. “This agreement enables CANAL+ Group to strengthen its entertainment, kids, news, and documentary channel offerings in African markets.”
The agreement is also expected to improve access for CANAL+ Group subscribers to Warner Bros. Discovery’s premium content through HBO Max and selected channels, including globally recognised series and films, further extending the studio’s international reach while consolidating MultiChoice’s content offering in key markets.
Nigeria Police Force has suspended nationwide enforcement of its tinted glass permit policy, hours before its scheduled rollout, in compliance with a Delta State High Court order.
Tinted glass permit
The policy, set for January 2, 2026, aimed to curb vehicle-related crimes but faced legal challenge from a private citizen against the Inspector-General of Police, the force, and Delta Police Commissioner.
An ex parte injunction issued in December 2025 restrained enforcement pending suit determination, prompting the hold announced by spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin on January 1.
Police entered appearance, filed preliminary objections, and sought injunction vacation; hearing adjourned to January 20, 2026.
The Nigerian Bar Association condemned initial police plans as “executive recklessness,” accusing disregard for rule of law, while police insisted no permanent bar existed on statutory duties.
IGP Kayode Egbetokun reiterated adherence to law while prioritising public safety via intelligence-led strategies during proceedings.
Mr. Thompson Sunday, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), has reaffirmed the Corporation’s strict compliance with fiscal and financial regulations, including the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007, noting that the NDIC has consistently remitted the required percentage of its earnings to the Federal Government.
Mr. Sunday made this known during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Dr. Armstrong Takang, as part of NDIC’s ongoing engagement with key stakeholders following his formal assumption of office in July 2025.
According to him, NDIC takes financial accountability and transparency seriously, stressing that the Corporation complies fully with statutory remittance obligations, including the payment of 20 per cent of gross earnings or 80 per cent of net surplus to the Federal Government, as applicable. He added that NDIC also submits its financial statements ahead of statutory deadlines.
The NDIC MD/CE explained that this culture of compliance aligns with the Corporation’s role as a key institution within Nigeria’s financial safety-net, charged with protecting depositors and promoting confidence in the banking system. He emphasized that adherence to fiscal discipline remains central to NDIC’s credibility and effectiveness.
Mr. Sunday further disclosed that NDIC also complies with the Federal Government’s 50 per cent cost-to-income ratio policy, although he noted that the policy poses operational constraints. He explained that the deductions affect NDIC’s ability to build a strong Deposit Insurance Fund, which is needed to respond effectively to bank failures.
He stressed that international best practices under the Core Principles for Effective Deposit Insurance issued by the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) require deposit insurers to maintain adequate funds to reimburse depositors when banks fail without recourse to government, adding that the NDIC is seeking an exemption to strengthen its capacity in this regard.
Mr. Sunday described MOFI as a critical stakeholder, noting that the Federal Government, through MOFI, holds a 40 per cent equity stake in NDIC. He said sustained collaboration with MOFI is essential to ensuring that NDIC continues to meet its obligations to government while effectively safeguarding depositors’ funds.
In his remarks, Dr. Takang commended the NDIC for its exemplary collaborative spirit and acknowledged the Corporation’s compliance with fiscal regulations. He assured that MOFI would continue to engage the Federal Ministry of Finance on NDIC’s behalf, noting that a strong NDIC is vital to sustaining confidence in Nigeria’s financial system.
Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation, transparency and accountability, with Mr. Sunday reiterating that NDIC remains focused on balancing regulatory compliance with its overriding mandate of depositor protection and financial system stability.
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