General News

Main One Cable to Drive Affordability, Access —Opeke

Published

17 years ago

June 8, 2009

Kindly share this post

Funke Opeke is iconic technologist and chief executive officer and founder of Main Street Technologies, a holding company launched to build and operate the Main One submarine cable system linking countries in West and Central Africa with each other and connecting in Europe with other existing cable systems linking the Americas and Asia. Opeke has local and international experience spanning over 25 years experience. She has served as chief technical officer, MTN Nigeria and was also executive director, Performance Assurance with the Wholesale Division of Verizon Communications, New York. She has Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Electrical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University. Opeke spoke to chike onwuegbuchi and funmi ilesanim

Undersea Fibre Optic Cable Initiative
A couple of things formed this initiative, one is the challenge we all have in our daily existence trying to get access to the internet and facilitate business communication. How difficult it is to get access, and how expensive the cost is. I have the awareness that other parts of the world that enjoy better access to high speed and broadband communications have different kinds of infrastructure that we do not have which.
Extent of Work Done in the Project
The reception we have had from the industry has been warm. In terms of where the project is, all of the engineering work has been done the marine survey where you actually have the vessel go under water and basically test the route where the cable is supposed to go on is just about completing within a few days. Next, we have the manufacturing which has already started, so work is advanced in that respect. Also, we have cable landing, where the cable actually comes in, as well as all the equipment been manufactured will be housed and connected with the cable.
We have one of those stations already in place and two that will house probably constructions will be in place by the end of the year. Once the cables are all manufactured which should take place later this year, then the cable will be installed from the end of this year till next year and we should be in service in the middle of 2010.

Reduction in the cost of Bandwidth and Access Improvement
Our project deals with the cost of international bandwidth and access to the internet. It is obviously a fibre optic based solution, it is a wired solution but only on the international backbone side. Our cost would be, depending on how much volume you buy and how long you subscribe to the service would be as low as 10-20 percent of what people are paying today for such equivalent services. Basically, if you are currently paying $100 for that international bandwidth, you will be looking at a long time subscription basis with us to pay $10 or $20. That is just an analogy, because we really do not sell in small units, we are a wholesale provider, so we would be selling capacity to operators or Internet Service Providers who would then provide services to the last mile subscribers. As you know, currently Nigeria has over 60 million wireless phone subscribers, a lot of those users have access to the internet on their devices. In addition, we have an increased number of laptops and computers where a lot of services are also delivered by wireless technology. We are not looking to replicate the access networks but we are looking to make a very big pipe for international internet connectivity available to all the providers at a very low cost. We hope that by reducing their cost, they would then pass on savings to the end consumer and that they would get a benefit of that cost reduction. We have reasons to believe that, indeed, it would be the case because as you know in the retail telecom market in Nigeria today, there are quite a good number of operators so there is healthy competition.
We think we would further drive the competition especially on the data side by bringing the entry cost for internet access down, it would make it more affordable to individuals, educational institutions, businesses and so the degree of internet access penetration we expect in the country would be much higher than we have today because the cost to get there would be much more lower.
Competition in the Market
We are quite comfortable to compete in delivering services, which clearly is my background in working with private sector telecommunications service delivery, so we are able to compete. At the end of the day, it is a value proposition to the customer. We are solely focused on providing wholesale services in this segment, we understand the needs of our market. We are borne out of this market so we know what the operators require and we know the unique challenges they face and we bring a strong management team and business plan to address their requirements, so we are quite comfortable that we are able to compete. We do believe in competition because we cannot see the results in the monopoly situation we are with Sat-3 on this market. Competition will drive more value to the consumer and as long as it is healthy, we welcome competition and we believe it is a big enough market that we can deliver superior value and services to our customers.
Extending the Service outside Wholesale
We understand that concern, but when you look at the amount of capital that has been invested in the Nigerian telecommunications industry in recent years, it looked like always efficiently nice, but clearly we believe enough investment has been made for people to pay attention and care to ensure that they are generating a good return on the investment that has already been made. Truly, we do not see ourselves having to extend the service to areas where we feel are built already and where there is adequate infrastructure.
However, if it becomes the situation that we cannot get our services to the hinter land or to the rural areas, we may be compelled into doing that. We also see the regulators taking a lot of steps to facilitate sharing to drive Wire Nigeria project and the State Accelerated Broadband initiative (Sabi). We believe these initiatives would be complementary to our effort and we truly hope that they succeed so we do not have to worry about the nationwide distribution, but we can worry about additional value added services on our wholesale basis.
In addition, as a regional project there are other countries in the region who face the same challenge of high cost and limited access to international communications, so we see the ability to work with partners to extend the reach of our services to those under-served areas across Africa. Probably an area where we are not replicating something that someone else had already done, we are adding value to what is already on ground and ensuring that we add value in a way that the end consumer can benefit from it.

Landing Points
We have initiated the process; right now our contract is to build runs from Portugal to Nigeria and would land in Nigeria and Ghana. We are also working with Ivory Coast, Senegal, Morocco and the Canari Islands to land the cable. In particular, we want to do a phase two of our project which goes down to South Africa and that is the most challenging because the regulatory framework in South Africa is not opened at this point to operators who are not majorly owned by South African networks.
Our objective eventually is to extend the connectivity down the entire coast line on the west coast of Africa. We hope to get licensed in two or three months. Getting a license depends on the co-operation of the governments; we have been licensed to operate in Nigeria and Ghana. For the cable we are building now, we have branches that we are putting towards Ivory Coast, Senegal, Morocco and the Canari Islands. Those are on-going negotiations and discussions because we have made investments towards landing in those particular areas. We expect that in the course of the year, we will make specific announcement on it. Again, we cannot pre-judge the timing of those things happening. Going down to South Africa is another conversation that we have been engaged in and we would continue to move that along and we hope that authorities in each of these countries are responsive and indeed grant us the ability to land the cable there.

.
Funding of the Project
The project is funded by financial institutions and the goodwill of individuals who are our seed investors out of Nigeria and Ghana. We started with fundings from these individuals clearly to a point where it was viable. Then we have gone to financial institutions for further support to complete the project. The African Development Bank (ADB) recently approved a loan of $66 million towards the overall cost of the project. We have other Nigerian institutions who have approved equity investments by becoming shareholders in the company and others who have agreed to help us meet the overall cost of the project. It is a long term infrastructure project and we have worked on a structure that would allow us spend with strict guidelines to complete the project before we start generating revenue and then pay those obligations.
Manpower
So far our manpower resources have been focused on engineering, developing the project and getting it done. We have sought the best resources both locally and internationally into a unified team in the company to help us actualize the project. We are actually pleased with the progress we have made to get to where we are today. We have been able to identify the people here, they are rising up to the challenge assisted by the offshore specialists’ resources that we brought on board and we are getting the job done. It is a development process, we think as Africans we need to take ownership of our destiny and that we do have various skills.
Some of us bring international and relevant experience and are able to provide the leadership and direction to build that robust world class team. Basically, we do not want anything less in terms of our standards to deliver the service. It is a work in progress but we are confident that Nigerians with the assistance of experienced international players can indeed manage this network we are building.

Challenges
It is a complex multi-dimensional project, it is capital intensive and a large construction project across many countries, so you have a lot of legal, regulatory and all kinds of permit issues. The engineering is complex, the operation requires a certain diligent business process that must be complied with and this needs to be done efficiently.
There is a whole customer service aspect and delivering service to the customer and ensuring high availability on a regular basis. The business needs have to be met, service offering must be in line with expectations and prices must remain competitive.
There is quite a bit of work which I think is not in one specific area with respect to all the permit we need across the different jurisdictions in licenses. Being a pioneering project, we are doing the ground breaking work and configuring specifically what those are so I would say that has been an area of challenge. However, people have been very receptive to our ideas and giving us the support we need to make it happen. It is challenging but we are getting it done.

Kindly share this post

General News

Anambra Govt Bans Graduation Ceremonies in Anambra Schools

Published

15 hours ago

July 25, 2026

Ebere Melum-Nwogbo

Kindly share this post

Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, governor, Anambra State, has approved an indefinite ban on graduation ceremonies in kindergarten, primary and secondary schools across the state as part of efforts to reduce the financial burden on parents.

Anambra Govt Bans Graduation Ceremonies in Anambra Schools

Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, governor, Anambra State,

The directive was confirmed by Dr. Law Mefor, commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, in a statement issued on Friday.

According to the commissioner, the government deemed it necessary to clarify the policy following public inquiries and concerns over the scope of the ban.

Mefor explained that the directive applies to all graduation-related ceremonies in both public and private schools across the state.

He said the ban covers events described as graduation, passing-out, crossover or any other ceremony organised to mark the completion of kindergarten, primary or secondary school levels.

The government said the decision was taken to discourage unnecessary financial obligations often imposed on parents through elaborate school celebrations.

The commissioner clarified that students completing Senior Secondary School (SS3) are exempt from the directive.

However, he stressed that graduation ceremonies for SS3 students are not compulsory and may only be held without imposing any financial burden on students or their parents.

According to him, schools choosing to organise such ceremonies must ensure that no levies, compulsory contributions or hidden charges are demanded from parents.

Mefor warned that the state government would not hesitate to sanction any school that violates the directive.

He said schools found organising prohibited graduation ceremonies or imposing illegal charges on parents risk severe penalties, including possible closure.

The commissioner urged school proprietors and administrators to comply fully with the directive in the interest of parents and the education sector.

The state government said the policy is part of broader efforts to make education more affordable and eliminate unnecessary expenses associated with school activities.

Many parents have previously complained about the increasing costs of graduation ceremonies, including compulsory levies for gowns, entertainment, souvenirs and other related expenses.

The government expressed optimism that the directive would ease the financial pressure on families while encouraging schools to focus more on academic excellence than ceremonial activities.

Kindly share this post

General News

Universities, Polytechnics Submit 169 Entries for NASENI Research Commercialisation Grants

Published

15 hours ago

July 25, 2026

Ugo Onwuaso

Kindly share this post

About 169 proposals from Nigerian institutions including universities, polytechnics, and research institutes spread across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones have entered for the NASENI Research Commercialization Grant Programme (NRCGP).

NASENI

The programme, an initiative of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), aimed at bridging the gap between research and industry, is designed to identify innovative research with strong commercial potential and support its transition from laboratories to the marketplace.

Speaking on the latest episode of the NASENI Window Podcast, recorded on yesterday at NASENI Studio, NASENI headquarters, Abuja, the Team Lead of the NRCGP and Deputy Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ms. Joy Elugbe, said the team received 169 proposals from eligible institutions across the country, including Universities, polytechnics and other research institutions.

Following the close of applications, and to ensure transparency and a rigorous selection process, NASENI engaged 21 professors with expertise across the Agency’s approved thematic areas to evaluate the originality and technical quality of the shortlisted proposals.

According to her, a rigorous preliminary screening reduced the number to 49 proposals after removing duplicate entries and submissions that failed to meet eligibility requirements while the Agency’s Innovation Hub assessed their commercial viability to determine their potential for market adoption.

“12 proposals, two from each geopolitical zone, have progressed to the due diligence stage before the final selection of six grant beneficiaries will be done. The objective is not simply to fund research but to invest in innovations that can successfully reach the market and deliver real impact,” Elugbe explained.

The NRCGP was conceived to address one of Nigeria’s longstanding innovation challenges which is the research breakthroughs that remain on the shelves due to inadequate funding.

She said the initiative, championed by the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, targets promising research proposals with the capacity to generate economic value, create jobs and contribute to Nigeria’s industrial development.

“The idea behind the programme is to identify innovative and commercially viable research outputs that have remained on the shelves because of lack of funding, and provide the support needed to transform them into products that can impact the economy,” she said.

Explaining the concept of commercialization, Elugbe described it as the process of transforming an invention, research outcome or service into a profitable product that meets market needs. The NRCGP aligns with NASENI’s strategic focus on Collaboration, Creation and Commercialization (3Cs), stressing that innovation only achieves its full value when it reaches end-users.

She disclosed that following the launch of the application portal, the Proposal Evaluation Team went on nationwide sensitization campaigns across the six geopolitical zones to educate prospective applicants on the programme requirements and application process.

The sensitization exercise, complemented by radio awareness campaigns, significantly improved participation and the quality of submissions.

She further revealed that NASENI’s support would extend beyond grant disbursement, noting that successful innovators would be linked with the Agency’s Innovation Hub for continuous technical guidance, market advisory services and commercialization support to ensure their products achieve sustainable market success.

The NASENI Research Commercialization Grant Programme was inaugurated in March 2025 to promote innovation, technological advancement and the commercialization of research outcomes in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Kindly share this post

General News

NITRA Conference: Stakeholders Seek Policy Reforms, Grassroots Innovation to Bridge Nigeria’s Digital

Published

15 hours ago

July 25, 2026

Ugo Onwuaso

Kindly share this post

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector have called for comprehensive policy reforms, stronger infrastructure investment and grassroots innovation to bridge the country’s digital divide and improve global competitiveness.

NITRA Conference

The stakeholders made the call on Thursday during the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Innovative and Scientific Conference held at Citi Height Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The conference, themed “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide With Scientific Innovation,” brought together government agencies, technology experts, regulators, telecom operators, private sector players, academics and policymakers to examine strategies for accelerating digital inclusion through science and innovation.

A panel session titled “The Place of Policy and Infrastructure in Nigeria’s Quest for Global Competitiveness through Scientific Innovation: Roles of Different Stakeholders in Grassroots Mobilisation” examined the policy, infrastructure and human capital requirements for driving Nigeria’s digital transformation.

Panelists identified multiple taxation, high right-of-way (RoW) charges, inconsistent state government policies, poor electricity supply, inadequate digital infrastructure and limited grassroots innovation support as major impediments to expanding broadband access and improving Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.

One of the speakers noted that transporting internet bandwidth from Lagos to Canada is cheaper than extending connectivity to some parts of Nigeria because of infrastructure bottlenecks and multiple charges imposed by sub-national governments.

According to the panelist, although some state governments claim to have abolished right-of-way charges, operators are still subjected to numerous levies under different names.

“When we talk about right-of-way limitation, it affects the cost of providing services in some states.

“Some states say right of way is free, but when they grant free right of way, they introduce development charges, education levies and infrastructure fees, making the so-called free right of way meaningless,” the panelist said.

The speaker called for harmonised national policies that would eliminate multiple taxation and reduce the cost of deploying telecommunications infrastructure across the country.

Another panelist representing telecommunications operators stressed that government policies should encourage fair competition rather than favour dominant market players.

According to the representative, improved collaboration between regulators and industry operators is necessary to ensure that policies support innovation, cybersecurity and sustainable sector growth.

Speaking on innovation development, a representative of a private sector innovation fund said Nigeria must begin identifying and nurturing innovators from an early age.

The representative said the organisation supports young innovators through essay competitions, grants and educational programmes aimed at exposing students to science, technology and entrepreneurship.

“We believe innovation begins from childhood.

“By helping children in primary and secondary schools think creatively, they become better positioned to seize opportunities as they grow.

“Innovators exist everywhere, including rural communities. What many of them need is exposure and opportunity,” the speaker said.

On cybersecurity, another panelist advocated greater investment in developing indigenous cybersecurity professionals through structured internship and mentorship programmes.

The panelist also suggested that young people involved in cybercrime should, where appropriate, be rehabilitated and equipped with legitimate digital skills rather than relying solely on imprisonment.

“Part of what we are known for is developing local talent.

“We recruit interns from schools and train them in cybersecurity.

“We should find ways to harness the abilities of young cyber offenders instead of simply sending them to prison,” the speaker said.

A representative from the computer society sector emphasised that Nigeria’s digital transformation should begin with reforms in basic education.

According to the representative, pupils should be introduced to coding, robotics, artificial intelligence and innovation at the primary school level.

“If Nigeria wants to become globally competitive, we must start from primary school.

“Our schools should not merely prepare students for examinations; they should become innovation clubs where children learn robotics, coding and problem-solving,” the panelist said.

The speaker also referenced the recent launch of an artificial intelligence university portal in Lagos designed to create a talent pipeline from primary education through tertiary institutions.

Addressing regulation, a media analyst cautioned against excessive government control that could discourage technological innovation.

According to the analyst, regulatory frameworks should emerge through stakeholder engagement and strike a balance between consumer protection and innovation.

“Regulation must come with dialogue.

“If regulation becomes excessive, it will stifle innovation.

“As Nigeria develops policies on artificial intelligence, there is a need to strike the right balance,” the analyst said.

On infrastructure protection, another panelist called for stronger public awareness campaigns to discourage vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure.

The speaker said community ownership and public education are essential to safeguarding digital infrastructure.

“When telecommunications infrastructure is vandalised, everyone suffers, including regulators, operators and consumers.

“People need to understand that protecting infrastructure benefits the entire society,” the panelist said.

Participants also highlighted the affordability of digital services as a major challenge to digital inclusion.

One speaker urged the Federal Government to consider subsidy mechanisms that could reduce the cost of internet-enabled devices.

“Telecommunications companies are businesses, not charity organisations.

“If government introduces subsidy policies similar to what has been done in other sectors, device prices can become more affordable,” the speaker said.

Another panelist stressed that reliable electricity remains fundamental to Nigeria’s digital competitiveness.

“The child who enjoys uninterrupted electricity and internet access cannot be compared with one who has gone months without power.

“For Nigeria to compete globally, every child should have reliable electricity, internet access and opportunities to acquire digital skills,” the speaker added.

Earlier, NITRA Chairman, Mr Chike Onwuegbuchi, said the conference was organised to provide a platform for stakeholders to examine policy options capable of strengthening scientific innovation and promoting grassroots technological development.

He noted that the Federal Government had demonstrated increasing commitment to building an innovation-driven economy through various strategic initiatives.

Founded in 2013, NITRA is the umbrella body of journalists covering Nigeria’s information and communications technology sector.

Kindly share this post