Telecom
New Book on Telecoms Sector for Unveiling
Telecoms industry in Nigeria in the last 15 years has witnessed successes, countered challenges and continued to exude tremendous prospects for economic development.
Chronicling these milestones forms the key contents of a new book to be unveiled later this year in the nation’s telecoms sector.
Titled: ‘Our Nigerian Story’, written by a multiple award-winning journalist Mrs. Olabisi Olaleye, recounts the experiences of the Global System for Mobile (GSM) operators in Nigeria since the sector’s liberalisation in 2001.
‘Our Nigerian Story’ , is the first of its kind in the nation’s sector, that catalogues the development of the telecoms industry, starting from 2001, when the various companies came into the country to invest, even when the Nigeria’s business climate was adjudged ‘a war zone and porous’ by the international communities.
The book highlights how the demographic dividend or the large population in Nigeria then (which is still growing), served as a critical factor that attracted telecoms investment into the country with the sector now boasting of over $32 billion from about $500 million in 2001.
“In this book, the various telcos, Agencies, retail phone dealers share their experiences, the NCC’s involvement, the Ministry of Communication Technology or Ministry of Communications support and the numerous challenges faced in a system that is not too conducive for business, while leveraging on their strengths for more improvement in the sector,” Olaleye said, while providing insight into the contents of the soon-to-be-launched book.
In addition, other providers, such as the Value-Added Services (VAS) provider, which ride on the networks of the main telecoms networks, also tell their stories.
Visafone, the ‘last man standing’ in the Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA segment of the telecoms industry, also tells its story.
Olaleye hails from Ake, Abeokuta South of Ogun State and a 1998 graduate of Mass Communication from the Ogun State Polytechnic, now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.
She has undergone several local and international trainings to enhance her career.
Currently, she works with The SUN Publishing Limited Nigeria, publishers of The Sun newspaper titles and with over 12 years experience in journalism, she has several awards in her kitty including ’Rotary International Humanitarian Report Award’(2012).
She is also a three times winner of ‘Best ICT Reporter of the Year’ awards. Olaleye is married with children.
Mazen Mroue, a non-executive director at MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, has resigned effective February 27, 2026, to prioritise other responsibilities within the MTN Group, the company announced in a Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) filing.
MTN Nigeria
The notice, signed by company secretary Uto Ukpanah, stated: “This is to enable Mr. Mroue to focus on other priorities within MTN Group Limited. The Board wishes to express its appreciation to Mr. Mroue for his immense service to MTN Nigeria and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”
Mroue joined MTN Nigeria’s board on June 1, 2022, bringing over 28 years of telecom experience. A veteran MTN executive, he previously served as CEO of MTN Uganda and MTN Liberia, non-executive director at MTN Cyprus, and held leadership roles at MTN Ghana.
Since February 2022, he has been MTN Group’s Chief Technology and Information Officer, overseeing technology strategy and governance. Earlier, as MTN Nigeria’s COO from August 2018 to January 2022, he also sat on the MTN Nigeria Foundation board.
The exit follows MTN Nigeria’s stellar 2025 results, posting a ₦1.70 trillion profit before tax—reversing a ₦550.3 billion loss in 2024 driven by forex woes—marking one of the telco’s strongest rebounds.
Google has rolled out support for Yorùbá and Hausa languages in its AI-powered Search features—AI Overviews and AI Mode—enabling millions of Nigerians to get quick answers, summaries, and conversational web exploration in their mother tongues.
The update forms part of Google’s push to cover 13 African languages, including Afrikaans, Akan, Amharic, Kinyarwanda, Afaan Oromoo, Somali, Sesotho, Kiswahili, Setswana, Wolof, and isiZulu, selected based on high search activity across the continent.
Now, a Kano student can ask complex questions in Hausa, while an Ibadan trader seeks business tips in Yorùbá—both receiving culturally nuanced AI responses via text or voice on Android, iOS, or web.
Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s West Africa Communications Manager, said: “Building truly global Search requires nuanced local understanding. With Gemini-powered AI, we’ve made advanced capabilities relevant in Yorùbá and Hausa, so Nigerians converse naturally with Search in their mother tongues.”
To use: Open the Google app, tap AI Mode, and query in Hausa or Yorùbá for personalised guidance—breaking language barriers and making technology reflect Nigeria’s diverse identity.
MultiChoice is closing its continental streaming platform Showmax after 11 years, notifying subscribers Thursday of the board’s decision to discontinue the service in the near future to refocus on sustainable digital offerings.
MultiChoice
The email assured no immediate disruption: “You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time.” Showmax, launched in South Africa in 2015 and expanded across Africa, offered movies, series, documentaries, and sports to rival Netflix and others amid rising online entertainment demand.
The shutdown follows Canal+’s approved takeover of MultiChoice last year, with the French giant offering ZAR 125 per share for remaining stakes.
The deal mandates HDP ownership boosts, local content investment, and splitting MultiChoice’s SA broadcasting arm into an independent entity to meet regulations.
MultiChoice prioritised subscribers during the transition, promising advance notice on timelines.
Showmax’s exit signals consolidation pressures in Africa’s cut-throat streaming market, where global players dominate despite local content strengths.
MultiChoice to Discontinue Showmax Streaming Platform
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