Telecom
Sidmach Graduates First Set of its AppFactory Graduate Interns
It was a joyous moment as the famous indigenous software company, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited, graduated the first set of graduate interns under its Sidmach AppFactory Program which runs like a software academy.
The Sidmach AppFactory shares same objective and value with the Microsoft AppFactory, which is to improve the state of software development in Africa.
The aim of this initiative is to improve software development through an internship program meant to take talented and passionate young people and give them the chance to harness and develop excellent software development skills.
A total of 12 fresh university graduates participated in the six months programmes; an offshoot of Microsoft App Factory initiative.
Speaking at the ceremony held at its head office in Lagos, the Managing Director of Sidmach, Mr. Peter Arogundade, said although they embraced the Microsoft initiative as part of a measure to assist young graduates to become better equipped to face the world of entrepreneurship.
Mr. Arogundade described App Factory as a wonderful platform to learn, unlearn and relearn; garner knowledge, skills and become competitive.
“Sidmach is always looking out for opportunities to add value in the lives of young Nigerians and startups.
“That is why we keyed-in to the Microsoft App Factory initiative. It is true that most Nigerian graduates lack the prerequisite practical knowledge, skills and agility to face their counterparts in other part of the world, however, it is high time, as a country, we stopped blaming them, rather provide platforms for them to get equipped to succeed.
“On the other hand, the gap between the industry and the academia is so wide, but with programmes like this it can be addressed.
“Today, the 12 interns are tested and certified in software development and other softskills that will help them succeed and they are not leaving the doors of Sidmach; they will stay back and work with us in developing solutions for different sectors like education, health, finance, agriculture, amongst others”.
Mr. Chijioke Eke, Co-founder and Chairman, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited, Expatiating on Sidmach’s interest in the App Factory programme, regretted that most universities (in Nigeria) are still trapped in the old theories and practical apparatuses thereby denying the students adequate knowledge for 21stCentury application development.
“Sidmach ventured into this internship that is practical oriented to assist the fresh graduates to overcome some constraints”, he said.
He urged the interns to make the best use of the knowledge they garnered during the six-months training. “As you match on to the future of development of solutions, professionalism and value additions lie on your shoulders.
“There must be something different between you who are now practical-oriented and those still trapped in the web of theories.
“The future of our country, the citizens and indeed the world depends on you as app developers.
“I want to re-echo the MD’s statement that you are not leaving the doors of Sidmach.
We are retaining you and will strengthen the Academy to assist more graduates,” Mr. Eke said.
The Chairman who showered encomiums on Microsoft for initiating the programme, also called for further investments in youth development as a panacea to unemployment and restiveness.
Ade Ajayi, Director Marketing and Operations, Microsoft Nigeria, Commenting about the Academy, said that Microsoft exists because it believes in the relevance of developers to impact the world economy. “We believe developers can change the world with the keyboard and their ten fingers.
“Microsoft recently acquired GitHub which is in the developer platform.
“The point is that developers will continue to change the world. So, every intern who passes through the App Factory internship programme should take it very serious,” he said.
“Sidmach bought into the idea and Microsoft is happy to have partners like Sidmach which is among the top one thousand partners we have in Nigeria”.
He hinted on Microsoft’s plans to double the commitments to App Factory.
Nigeria’s telecom operators recorded 155, 397 fibre-cut incidents between April and May 2026, and these they blame on why internet or calls suddenly stop working.
Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed fibre-cut incidents increased from 74 276 in April to a record 79 121 in May, bringing the two-month total to the highest level recorded by the industry.
This represents a 2 428% increase from the 5 934 incidents reported during the first quarter of 2026.
Vandalism remained the leading cause of fibre cuts, accounting for more than 54 000 incidents despite telecom infrastructure being designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure, a classification intended to strengthen protection of key digital assets.
Also road construction constantly damages fiber where iggers and machines tear up buried cables during road repairs or construction.
Even with all these, some state governments make it hard for companies to fix cables quickly across different areas with all manners of fees and levies.
The NCC designation provides for penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment for offenders, but operators continue to face widespread infrastructure damage.
Proposed solutions, including Nigeria’s Dig-Once policy and AI-powered fibre sensing technologies, have yet to achieve widespread adoption.
The NCC is developing a cost-based framework for shared underground duct infrastructure, while operators are exploring AI-powered fibre sensing technologies that can detect cable damage in real time and improve network resilience.
Nigeria is pursuing ambitious broadband targets under its National Broadband Plan and has expanded fibre deployment to about 35 000 kilometres.
However, infrastructure protection has not kept pace with network expansion, leaving subscribers vulnerable to unreliable connectivity despite continued operator investment.
Standard Bank has partnered with Helios Towers to provide a $29 million Social Documentary Credit Facility. According to the financial services company, this transaction marks Standard Bank’s first Documentary Credit Facility structured in a Sustainable Finance format.
It notes that the facility will support the procurement and importation of telecommunications infrastructure and related services across Africa.
It will also provide payment certainty to suppliers, while supporting Helios Towers’ working capital requirements and infrastructure expansion programme, the bank adds.
Structured in accordance with the Loan Market Association’s Social Loan Principles, the financing is designed to promote digital connectivity and telecommunications infrastructure development in underserved markets.
This will help Helios Towers further expand its footprint and enhance mobile network coverage and connectivity across the continent.
Helios Towers operates one of Africa’s independent telecommunications tower platforms, enabling mobile network operators to extend coverage across multiple markets.
Standard Bank notes that the facility supports the expansion of tower infrastructure and services, increased network densification and improved connectivity in underserved markets and remote regions across the African continent.
It will also drive digital inclusion and tackle the digital divide while supporting economic growth and socio-economic development.
“This transaction demonstrates the power of innovation in trade finance. By combining a first-to-market Social Documentary Credit Facility with a cross-border funding solution, Standard Bank has supported Helios Towers’ growth ambitions while helping extend digital connectivity to underserved communities across Africa,” says Benoit Samouilhan, global transaction banker at Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking.
According to the bank, this facility enables positive social impact by increasing and improving network coverage and connectivity in some of the world’s most remote regions.
“Reliable digital infrastructure is fundamental to Africa’s future growth and development,” says Alex Carter, group finance director at Helios Towers.
“This facility provides us with the flexibility and certainty needed to support our ongoing infrastructure investments while advancing our mission of expanding connectivity across the continent. We value our longstanding relationship with Standard Bank and look forward to building on this partnership.”
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will on Thursday convene a stakeholders’ consultative forum to review the draft business rules for Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Nigeria.
NCC
The forum, scheduled to hold at 10 a.m. at the NCC Annex Office, Mbora, Abuja, is expected to bring together telecommunications operators, industry associations and other stakeholders to provide input on the proposed regulatory framework before its finalisation.
The commission announced the event on its official social media platforms, inviting interested stakeholders to participate in the consultation process.
The engagement is part of the NCC’s efforts to strengthen the regulatory framework for MVNO operations and promote greater competition, innovation and consumer choice in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
Mobile Virtual Network Operators are telecommunications service providers that offer mobile services by leasing network capacity from licensed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), rather than owning spectrum licences or telecommunications infrastructure.
The NCC has identified the MVNO licensing framework as one of its initiatives aimed at deepening competition, expanding access to telecommunications services and driving digital inclusion across the country.
The consultative forum is expected to provide stakeholders with the opportunity to review the draft business rules, make recommendations and contribute to the development of a robust operational framework for the emerging MVNO segment.
The commission is expected to issue further details on the outcome of the consultation after the meeting.
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