Telecom
MTN Nigeria Focuses on Supporting Businesses as Man in the Box, the Sequel Begin
Nigeria’s leading ICT and telecommunications company, MTN Nigeria, in May this year, erected a ‘billboard-styled office’ around the Lekki Expressway; in it was a suited man working round the clock.
This lasted for four days, inclusive of nights. Many gathered around the “box-office” to watch what would eventually happen.
On the fourth day, the man in the box, was revealed to be a representation of the company that stays up twenty-four seven to provide world class business solutions.
Ten weeks after the billboard was first sighted, the concept has transformed into a full-blown initiative.
During the ten-week period, they engaged more closely with SMEs, understanding extensively how their businesses work and function.
This was designed to foster partnerships with the SMEs in order to combat their challenges.
During this period, Two Thousand Four Hundred and Ninety two (2,492) businesses across Nigeria applied to showcase their products and services in the captivating box and the aftermath has produced impressive numbers for the business owners who were selected.
Seventy Nine (79) businesses, ranging from fashion, agriculture, child care services, among others were represented.
The benefiting businesses were spotlighted for a day in the box.
Iniye Emelife, Chief Executive Officer, Little Tulips Kids Spa, acknowledged a 50% increase in bookings and inquiries after her business was showcased in the box.
The business also experienced nearly 90% increase in followership and visibility across all social media platforms.
Mark Dibia, Co-owner, Old Testament, a male footwear label, stated that his business experienced “50-100% increase in followers and 25% increase in sales.”
Ztea Zobo Tea Bags, recorded triple increase on Instagram. The brand went from a little over 300 followers to over 1,000 followers with over 10% increase in sales.
Olufunmilayo Gombe, the owner of Event Nanny, stated that sales peaked by 10% while the social media following has increased by over 1,000.
Business for Ariela Fitness has been up by 20-25% while they recorded 500 more followers the day after going into the box.
The numbers express the sentiments of the SMEs; business has been booming.
The Man in the Box has again reinforced MTN’s commitment to providing out-of-the-box solutions for Nigerians small and medium enterprises to excel in their respective sectors and attain worldwide recognition.
In this regard the company recently partnered with Google to train SMEs on the optimization of digital offerings for business success.
Google has launched its Search Live feature globally to over 200 countries, including Nigeria, where AI Mode is available, enabling voice-and-camera conversations in users’ preferred languages.
Powered by the new multilingual Gemini 3.1 Flash Live model, it delivers natural, real-time interactions via the Google app on Android or iOS—tap the Live icon under the Search bar.
Ideal for hands-free help, users can speak queries for audio replies, follow-ups, or web links. Camera integration adds visual context, like troubleshooting a shelving unit, or pairs with Google Lens for real-world chats.
From the app or Lens, Nigerians can now explore, learn, or solve tasks instantly, boosting everyday productivity worldwide.
Clean and reliable power for telecom networks in Ethiopia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone will be expanded following a $45 million investment by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in IPT PowerTech.
The investment targets countries where limited power supply continues to slow digital connectivity and broader economic participation, the institution stated earlier this week.
To enable this expansion, the IFC is providing a $45 million corporate financing package consisting of an A-loan of $27 million and $18 million in blended finance.
The blended portion is sourced from the Canada-IFC Blended Climate Finance Programme and the IDA20 Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility.
The initiative marks the IFC’s first direct infrastructure engagement in Liberia in a decade and in Sierra Leone in six years.
It will help scale solar- and battery-based power systems that reduce reliance on diesel and support greener, more resilient telecom networks.
By improving the quality and stability of power to telecom towers, the initiative will strengthen mobile coverage and ensure that households, schools, health centres, and small businesses can depend on consistent digital services, said the IFC.
The funding supports the modernisation, operation, and maintenance of 2 235 telecom sites across the three nations. More than 90% of these are located in off-grid or weak-grid locations.
With new solar and battery systems powering these sites, mobile networks will experience fewer outages and improved service quality.
Optimising the energy mix is estimated to reduce power costs for operators by up to 30% in Liberia, 26% in Sierra Leone, and 52% in Ethiopia.
This transition is also expected to cut emissions by more than 10 624 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Furthermore, the partnership will promote gender inclusion by expanding opportunities for women in technical, operational, and leadership roles within the sector, says the IFC.
This agreement reflects a shared vision for a greener telecom industry and empowers the company to scale its innovative energy platforms, according to Nabil Haddad, CEO of IPT PowerTech Group.
Reliable and affordable power for telecom networks is a cornerstone of Africa’s digital transformation, said Nathalie Kouassi-Akon, IFC regional director for West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
Through this partnership, the institution is supporting a scalable, private sector-led solution that enables mobile operators to reach underserved and fragile communities more sustainably, added Kouassi-Akon.
The project advances the World Bank Group and African Development Bank’s Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Expedier has unveiled “Expedier for Business,” an online pro-banking platform to simplify global payments, multi-currency transactions, and financial operations for expanding companies.
Kingsley Madu
The tool centralizes payments, invoicing, payroll, and treasury into one secure dashboard, tackling challenges like fragmented systems and poor visibility that hinder international scaling.
Kingsley Madu, Co-Founder and CEO of Expedier, said: “African businesses are increasingly global… Expedier for Business was built to simplify how companies manage money across borders while maintaining visibility, control, and compliance.”
Key features include customizable dashboards for payments, invoices, and workflows; support for USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, and more; virtual cards; automated payroll/invoicing; currency swaps; and real-time tracking.
Security measures cover two-factor authentication, KYC/KYB verification, and team access controls.
As cross-border trade and remote work boom in Africa, the platform aids firms dealing with international suppliers, teams, and customers. It is now available for organizations scaling globally.
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