General News
Schools Not Producing Quality Graduates Anymore-Okotore
Yinka Okotore is the principal partner, InterWireless Consultants, a USA and Nigeria based telecom engineering consulting company, established in 2001. His telecom experience span over 10 years and his business experience span eight years. His telecom background covers both fixed and mobile communications, in addition to wireless products development and technical sales. He attended Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada where he received his Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering.Okotore spoke to Chike onwuegbuchi on a wide range of issues
Reasons for Poor Services Provided by Operators
A wireless network is usually designed to achieve three main objectives, namely coverage, capacity and excellent voice quality.
However, the ability to attain these three key objectives can be a Herculean task especially in an operating environment such as ours.
The network operators are definitely overwhelmed with the amount of “traffic” across their networks but are also very determined to meet and exceed these demands.
In addition, the existing poor infrastructure hasn’t helped matters as well.
From a performance perspective, one of the major culprits has been power.
Lack of adequate power affects all aspect of a wireless network (from the transmitting end to the switching systems) which can impair the quality of service.
While most operators have invested significantly in mitigating these challenges, it overall effects is still probably not yet been felt by subscribers due to the growing nature of each network.
As professionals tasked with the huge responsibility of improving these networks, subscribers should be rest-assured that network operators are channeling a lot energy and effort towards the availability of qualitative services in Nigeria.
Nigeria is a key market and cannot be ignored
Outsourcing Network Design, Implementation and Optimization to InterWireless
Yes, it is best practice for most corporations to outsource non-core areas to competent organizations with pre-requisite knowledge and skillset.
As competition intensifies locally, the need for organizations to streamline processes and structure will drive the outsourcing markets.
Interwireless Consultants is well equipped to address this current and future requirement of the industry
Role in Telecommunications Industry in the Country
We are solution providers in the wireless communication and IT industry.
Our primary objective is to provide a qualitative alternative to in-house resources without sacrificing quality.
We are highly skilled professionals equipped to identify and solve problems.
We usually exist in the background; designing, building and implementing unique solutions that address pertinent needs of our various clientele.
Our solutions have helped our clients resolve network issues, improve their competitive advantage which consequently affects their “bottom-line”
Dominance of Foreign Providers and InterWireless
A lot of benefits exist for clients; a key advantage will be the ability to lower their OPEX and CAPEX costs by reducing additional investment in test equipments and also the high cost of getting a similar service from a foreign provider.
Secondly, the advent of wireless communication in Nigeria seven years ago has translated into new businesses and job creation opportunities in the industry.
At IWC, we have been able to relieve the labour market by the various career opportunities offered by the company.
Not only have we added our quota towards reducing unemployment in Nigeria but also we have been developing leaders who can impact their immediate environment positively.
Delivering Quality Network Design, Optimization and Implementation
The partners and associates in the firm have a combined industry experience of over 25 years building, implementing and optimizing wireless networks in North America and Africa.
As an organization, we have invested significantly in key assets that drive our business such as our people as well as major test equipments.
I can say, we are one of the very few consultancy firms offering at par service levels obtainable else in developed countries.
We have developed good local competence coupled with international experience that ensures we meet and exceed our clients’ expectation: Our driving philosophy is “getting the job done right the first time”.
Coping with Insufficient Skilled Manpower in the Sector
Our internal systems are designed to attract, train and retain best talents. Our industry is knowledge based therefore continuous learning is imperative in our organization.
A lot of emphasis is placed on training and retraining to stay abreast with various evolutions in wireless communication.
However, insufficient skilled manpower is still is a big challenge for the industry.
Our universities are just not producing quality graduates anymore.
This has consequently impacted the economy negatively.
Our legislators and government need to formulate and develop new policies that will address pertinent issues affecting our education sector and in particular, our universities.
Capacity and Capability
Yes we do. We have executed various projects across all major cities in Nigeria and consequently have developed a strong project team structure that allows us to deploy very quickly and efficiently to any part of Nigeria based on our client’s specific scope of work.
Police in Abuja have uncovered a criminal group making fake diplomatic and government number plates.
Ahmed Sanusi, commissioner of Police FCT, stated this during a press briefing on Friday.
He explained that criminals use these fake plates to dodge security checks and enter restricted areas.
The investigation started soon after Sanusi took office.
He noticed too many unauthorized cars driving around with official government and diplomatic tags.
“I immediately ordered a comprehensive investigation into this disturbing trend,” Sanusi said. He noted that these individuals use the plates as a cover to commit crimes and avoid arrest.
The police have already arrested several people caught using the fake plates.
They have also figured out who is making them.
The manufacturers operate outside Abuja, and police are actively hunting them down.
Sanusi kept their names secret so they would not flee.
He stressed that this is a highly profitable illegal business.
Buyers pay between N500,000 and N1.7 million for a single fake plate.
“This will tell you that they are making such huge expenditure because they have an agenda,” Sanusi explained.
“Now they will face punishment that is bigger than both the cost they incur and the agenda they are planning.”
The commissioner urged residents to report any cars with suspicious diplomatic plates.
He reminded the public that real diplomatic tags follow a very specific format.
A diplomatic number plate in Nigeria is a special vehicle identification tag issued to foreign embassies, high commissions, and accredited international diplomats.
Gavi has approved $500 million to strengthen Nigeria’s immunisation programme, primary healthcare services and long-term vaccine financing.
The move followed high-level discussions between Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, ]and Dr. Sania Nishtar, chief executive officer, Gavi in Abuja.
The funding, approved under the Gavi 6.0 programme, will support Nigeria’s efforts to accelerate routine immunisation, sustain polio eradication, expand HPV vaccination, strengthen primary healthcare services, and improve long-term vaccine financing.
Speaking during the meeting, Pate said Nigeria was strengthening its partnership with Gavi to accelerate immunisation, expand primary healthcare services, and ensure sustainable financing for vaccines.
He welcomed Gavi’s country-focused reforms, including the introduction of a predictable five-year funding envelope.
Pate said the US$500 million allocation will enable Nigeria to plan more effectively and deliver life-saving vaccines to more children and vulnerable populations.
The minister also revealed that quarterly visits to primary healthcare centreshad increased from about 10 million in 2023 to more than 45 million, reflecting significant progress in revitalising the country’s primary healthcare system.
Pate welcomed the announcement of a US$600 million pledge by the United States government to Gavi, describing it as a strong endorsement of the alliance’s leadership and the global value of vaccines.
He also commended Nishtar for prioritising Nigeria and praised the closer coordination among Gavi, World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, World Bank, Gates Foundation, and other development partners, describing it as a model that has improved efficiency and aligned support with Nigeria’s health sector reforms.
The minister expressed appreciation to Gavi and its partners for their continued technical and financial support, while calling on state governments to invest more in healthcare and immunisation to complement federal efforts.
For many women, financial independence means the freedom to provide for their families and build a better future. Yet, this remains out of reach due to limited access to opportunities, business support, and secure payment solutions.
Like millions of women in Nigeria determined to be financially independent, Pricillia started with a single PalmPay POS terminal, and as an agent, every successful transaction provided a commission which brought her one step closer to achieving her dream.
Through consistency, discipline, and support from the payment platform, she reinvested her earnings and eventually opened her own provision store.
“I started as just a PalmPay agent with one POS. The consistency of the platform gave me the confidence to expand. With the income I earned, I was able to open my own provision shop.” Priscilla said.
For Priscilla, PalmPay was more than a payment platform. Its secure payment infrastructure gave her the confidence to serve her customers, build trust, and grow her income.
Today, Pricillia has joined the statistics of SMEs powering Nigeria’s economy and PalmPay continues to support her daily operations, helping her receive payments, as she works towards her next business milestone. Her journey is a reminder that when women have access to secure financial tools and opportunities, they can build lasting economic independence.
Speaking on Pricillia’s journey, Femi Hanson, Head of Marketing, PalmPay said: “Providing a secure platform that users can trust, whether for everyday payments or high-value transactions, is central to our vision of advancing financial inclusion. Priscilla’s story reflects our commitment to supporting the ambitions of Nigerians by providing a platform they can rely on to grow their finances. After all, seamless banking begins with security, and every successful transaction reinforces the trust our users place in us.”
Priscilla stands among thousands of PalmPay agents nationwide who are helping to expand financial access across Nigeria while earning commissions to create sustainable sources of income for themselves.
Every payment tells a story. It begins with trust, the confidence that your money is secure and that financial services are accessible. And when that opportunity reaches women, it creates ripple effects that transform families, strengthen communities, and drive economic growth.
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