Telecom
66 Years On: Governor Soludo and the Quiet Digital Revolution Taking Root in Anambra
By Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata
Birthdays offer moments for celebration, reflection and gratitude. But for leaders, the more enduring measure of their journey is often not only found in the years they have lived, but in the institutions they build, the systems they strengthen and the future they inspire.
Governor Soludo
As Governor Chukwuma Soludo marks his 66th birthday, it is an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable story unfolding quietly across the state; a story of how technology is gradually becoming a defining pillar of governance transformation. It is not just a story about computers, applications and digital platforms. Rather, it is the story of a leadership philosophy that understands technology as a strategic tool for improving public service delivery, strengthening institutions, increasing transparency and bringing government closer to the people.
Since assuming office, Governor Soludo has consistently demonstrated that digital transformation is not an isolated government project; it is an essential component of building a modern, efficient and responsive state, a commitment captured in his mantra: “Everything Technology, Technology Everywhere”. His administration’s vision of a liveable and prosperous Anambra is deeply connected to the effective use of technology to solve real problems and create systems that work for Ndi Anambra.
Across the world, governments that are preparing for the future are those that recognise that technology is no longer merely a support function. It has become a foundation for governance itself. In Anambra, this understanding has driven a deliberate shift towards building a digital ecosystem where technology supports decision-making, improves access to government services and enhances the relationship between the state and its people.
This shift is becoming increasingly visible across government. The ongoing standardisation of MDA websites is creating a unified digital identity for government institutions, while the adoption of the official .anambrastate.gov.ng email domain is strengthening trust, security and professionalism in government communication. Though these may appear to be quiet institutional reforms, together they are laying the foundations of a modern public service. They may not always make headlines, but they are steadily changing how government works and how citizens experience public service in Anambra.
One of the most significant aspects of Governor Soludo’s digital agenda is the emphasis on sustainability and institution-building. Digital transformation is not simply about launching platforms. It requires the development of structures, policies, skills and systems that ensure technology continues to deliver value long after deployment. This philosophy has also shaped the work of the Anambra State ICT Agency, which has evolved into a strategic institution supporting the state’s digital ambitions.
From promoting digital standards across government institutions to strengthening cybersecurity awareness, advancing data protection compliance, improving digital infrastructure across MDAs and building the digital capacity of public servants, the ICT Agency continues to serve as an engine room for the state’s technology-driven transformation.
Behind these efforts lies a deliberate investment in governance systems rather than isolated technology projects, with one objective: building institutions capable of delivering better outcomes for Ndi Anambra. The true measure of digital transformation is not the sophistication of the technology itself, but the impact it creates in people’s everyday experiences. This is why platforms such as the SMART Anambra Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), represent an important shift in how government listens and responds. By creating structured channels for Ndi Anambra to communicate concerns and receive attention, technology becomes a bridge between citizens and government.
Likewise, the launch of SmartGov BETA, together with NORA, the AI-powered digital assistant for Anambra State Government services, demonstrates an emerging vision of a government that is available beyond office hours, responsive to citizens’ enquiries and increasingly driven by intelligent technology.
These initiatives are more than digital products; they represent a broader commitment to making governance simpler, faster and more citizen-centred. Ultimately, technology succeeds not because it is sophisticated, but because it improves everyday life.
The next phase of governance will be shaped by artificial intelligence, data-driven decision-making and intelligent automation. Governor Soludo’s vision positions Anambra to participate meaningfully in that future. Through initiatives such as SmartGov BETA and NORA, alongside the institutionalisation of digital standards and emerging smart governance initiatives, the state is not merely keeping pace with change; it is helping define what technology-enabled governance can look like in Nigeria.
The quiet digital revolution taking root in Anambra may not always generate immediate headlines, but its impact will increasingly be felt in how Ndi Anambra interact with government, access services and participate in the development of their state.
As Governor Soludo marks his 66th birthday, the most meaningful reflection is perhaps not only on the milestones already achieved, but on the enduring systems being built for generations yet to come.
Leadership is ultimately measured by what remains long after the moment has passed: the institutions strengthened, the opportunities created and the lives transformed. The digital footprints emerging across Anambra are becoming an important part of that legacy. They reflect a vision of a state where technology is not an afterthought but a foundation for progress, and where innovation is not reserved for a few but serves the collective good.
While much has been accomplished, the work of building a truly digital government continues. What has been established, however, is a clear direction; one in which technology remains central to delivering better governance and improving the lives of Ndi Anambra.
On this special occasion, the management and staff of the Anambra State ICT Agency celebrate Governor Chukwuma Soludo and express our profound appreciation for his unwavering commitment to building a digitally enabled Anambra. We are honoured to contribute to this vision and remain steadfast in our resolve to support the continued transformation of governance through technology.
Happy 66th Birthday, Mr. Governor. May God grant you continued wisdom, good health, strength and the grace to lead Anambra to even greater heights.
Clydestone Ghana Plc has filed a writ of summons and statement of claim against MTN Ghana, MTN Group Limited and Mobile Money Fintech Limited, alleging unauthorized use of its intellectual property.
The company announced the court action at the Ghana Stock Exchange, confirming proceedings in the Commercial Division of the High Court of Ghana.
The case relates to work commissioned in 2007 that Clydestone alleges was later used without authorisation or compensation.
Clydestone said the claim involves proprietary intellectual property, confidential commercial information and operational methodology developed during the engagement. The company is seeking declarations, damages and equitable remedies.
In a statement, Clydestone said MTN Ghana engaged it in 2007 to develop a commercial and operational framework for a mobile money business.
“The work was developed and delivered by the company’s founder and Group CEO, Paul Jacquaye, and included a full mobile money ecosystem covering the commercial model, operational architecture, implementation methodology and business case.”
Clydestone said the work was commissioned on the understanding that a non-disclosure agreement and memorandum of understanding would be signed.
It alleges these agreements were not finalised despite repeated requests.
The company further alleges MTN Ghana later used its proprietary work and methodology without authorisation or compensation, including in MTN Mobile Money Ghana and other markets.
Clydestone said the alleged use has continued since the launch of MTN Mobile Money Ghana in 2009.
“The wrongful use of that work has been ongoing since 2009. What has changed is the availability of independently verifiable information that documents its scale and commercial significance,” the company said.
It cited the GSMA State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money 2026 and MTN Ghana’s 2025 annual report as evidence of the platform’s scale.
According to Clydestone, the reports show approximately 19.3 million active users and annual revenue of about GHS 6.0 billion ($516m).
The company said it reviewed its records following these publications and concluded there were sufficient grounds to initiate legal proceedings.
It added that it has received no payment or acknowledgement for the work since December 2007, and that pre-action correspondence in 2026 received no substantive response.
“The Board of Directors has unanimously authorised the commencement of these proceedings,” the company said.
Jacquaye said: “This case is about accountability for commissioned intellectual property.
“When independent publications in 2025 and 2026 revealed the scale of the mobile money business, we reviewed all documentation relating to the original engagement and concluded these proceedings were necessary.”
MTN Group Limited, named as a defendant, had not commented at the time of publication.
In a development that underscores the fragile state of Nigeria’s telecommunications grid, an incident of infrastructure vandalism in Delta State has severely disrupted network connectivity, leaving thousands of subscribers stranded.
The breach, where a robber attacked the sites, occurred at an IHS-managed telecom node in the ASB region on July 8, 2026, immediately knocking 33 base stations offline across 2G, 3G, and 4G spectrums.
The situation in the region escalated drastically by morning when a separate fibre-optic cable cut severed primary transmission lines. Because the compromised node serves as a critical fibre convergence point, the secondary fibre cut triggered a cascading failure.
This secondary disruption ballooned the number of dark sites from 33 to 103, temporarily paralysing digital communications, banking, and commerce in the affected communities.
Industry sources reveal that the financial and logistical toll of such incidents is becoming unsustainable for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
Currently, network providers are utilising 20 per cent more spare parts than initially budgeted for the fiscal year.
This unpredictable depletion of technical reserves has stripped operators of their supply buffers, making inventory management and financial forecasting increasingly difficult for telecom executives.
Consequently, engineering teams have been forced to cannibalise materials originally designated for network expansion and new site rollouts just to perform emergency restorations on the damaged sites.
This diversion of resources significantly delays the rollout of new infrastructure, stifling the nation’s broader broadband penetration targets and stalling anticipated revenue generation for the telecom companies.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently noted an average of 1,744 weekly attacks on telecom infrastructure nationwide, including over 1,100 fibre cuts.
As operators endure protracted back-and-forth negotiations with insurance firms to cover these sudden hardware losses, stakeholders are intensifying calls for the strict enforcement of the Federal Government’s recent designation of telecom assets as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) to safeguard Quality of Service (QoS).
Viral rumors about a “Tesla Pi Phone” a new phone, being developed by Elon Musk, CEO and largest shareholder of Tesla and SpaceX, are entirely fake.
AI Generated Tesla Pi Phone and Elon Musk
Instead, the tech giant said on Monday it has filed an application with the US Federal Communications Commission for permission to deploy the constellation by 2028.
It said the system would provide voice, messaging, data and emergency services.
A quick fact-check revealed that Tesla Inc. has never manufactured, developed, or released a smartphone.
Videos and articles claiming a release (often priced between $150 and $800 with solar charging or satellite-only connections) rely on AI-generated concept art and recycled internet hoaxes dating back to 2021.
Musk has only mentioned a phone in hypothetical remarks, stating Tesla would build one only if major app stores completely blocked or censored essential apps like X (formerly Twitter).
On Monday however, his company said that “Amazon looks forward to delivering on the promise of D2D [direct-to-device] connectivity, including to the millions of people living, travelling and working in places beyond the reach of existing networks today,”
The filing is the first step from Amazon into satellite mobile connections, which has until now been dominated by SpaceX’s Starlink service.
Musk’s group has signed partnerships with existing operators such as T-Mobile US and the UK’s Virgin Media O2 to provide phone services for customers where their conventional networks do not reach.
Starlink operates across more than 150 countries, offering high-speed internet connections through its constellation of satellites.
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