Telecom
Data Science Could Improve Nigeria’s Foreign Exchange – Adekanmbi
Olubayo Adekanmbi, the Convener of Data Science Nigeria (DSN) has said that data science could be a major Foreign exchange earner for the country if it’s well harnessed.
He said that data science is the fastest growing in the world and by implication has huge demand for data scientist, this means that Nigeria can become an outsourcing hub for data scientist just like India is in software.
He stated this over the weekend at the Award night for the intercampus machine learning competition and deep learning hackathon organized by Data Science Nigeria in Lagos.
According to him, “The fact is that today in the world data science is the number one carrier, it is the fastest growing in the world.
“So the implication is that demand for data science is not met in the US, in the UK and in Canada, they are all looking for data scientist.
“Interestingly it’s predicted that by 2020 US will have about two million data analytic vacancies that they cannot fill.
“Why can Nigeria not become an outsourcing headquarters, where these projects can be outsourced because these things are virtual projects, they are data projects, they are not jobs that you have to there physically.
“So we can begin to create outsourcing businesses in Nigeria that will be doing these projects for all these international companies, like what is already happening in India and as we do that we will bring more forex into Nigeria and increase our GDP as a country and the multiplier effect of that will drive massive micro economic impact that will bring incremental social welfare and actually make our country much better.”
He added that aim of Data Science Nigeria is to raise new breed of experts who will contribute to driving the Nigerian narratives as far as Artificial intelligence is concerned.
Adekanmbi explained that in a few years from now greatness of any country will be directly proportional to their use of AI.
He said “if you look at what is happening in China, UAE and America, you will realize that the future belongs to the countries that use AI.
“This is why we’ve taken time to start investing in our talents before we go through another second slavery because we failed to uplift ourselves.”
He explained that Nigeria has raw talents that need to be harnessed so as to create the effect that will drive economy impact in the country.
Speaking on the sideline, Ismael Kone, Ivorian national who came to Nigeria from morocco to participate at the boot camp, explained that his reason for participating in data science Nigeria boot camp is in line with the common goal of solving African problem by Africans using AI.
Kone commended organizers of data science boot camp for putting together such gathering that will help Africans solve African problems,
He added that if this is sustained in Nigeria in the near future the country will becoming an AI Hub in Africa.
According to him, “we have the same mindset here in Africa of using AI to solve problems and this is something that have been in phases during this boot camp.
“I met a medical student in this camp and we are thinking about how we can do something about malaria and we know that, it is a big threat in our society right now, Ivory Coast is not left behind, we have the problem.
“So I think that with this kind of gathering, it will help us to empower Africans to talk about solving our problems.
“And I see in the near future a bright future for Nigeria, with all these people that came here to just learn about AI, Nigeria will eventually become an AI Hub in Africa”.
He added that his experience at the data science Nigeria boot camp has been amazing, stressing that before he came to Nigeria he had an unpalatable image about Nigeria but now that he is here everything is different.
He noted that Nigerians are very hospitable and accommodating people.
MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with ONErpm and Ultima Studios, has announced Ayodeji Benson, popularly known as Ayo Benzi, as the winner of the maiden edition of the Next Afrobeats Star reality show.
L-R: Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria; Ayodeji Benson, Winner, Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1) and Emamoke Ogoro, General Manager, Brand and Communication, MTN Nigeria, at the grand finale of the Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1), held at the Ultima Studios, Lekki, Lagos on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
The grand finale, held on Sunday night at Ultima Studios in Lekki, Lagos, marked the climax of a nationwide talent search that began in September with over 15,000 aspiring musicians.
After weeks of auditions, mentorship, and rigorous training, five finalists – Ayo Benzi, Dave Cash, Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay – battled for the top prize in a high-energy showcase of performance and artistry.
At the end of the electrifying contest, Ayo Benzi emerged victorious, securing a ₦150 million music deal. Dave Cash was named first runner-up with ₦100 million, while Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay received ₦75 million, ₦50 million, and ₦25 million respectively.
Throughout the season, contestants were mentored by leading Afrobeats producers Sarz, Puffy Tee, P Prime, and Andre Vibez. Benzi, who was part of Puffy Tee’s team, credited the mentorship programme for sharpening his craft and stage presence.
Speaking at the event, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to youth empowerment and cultural expression.
“The Next Afrobeats Star platform is about creating real opportunities for young Nigerians and giving their talent the structure, visibility, and support it deserves.
“Afrobeats continues to place Nigeria on the global cultural map, and MTN is proud to be enabling the next generation of artists who will take this sound even further,” she said.
She added that the finale was not just a competition but a celebration of growth and readiness for the global stage.
In his acceptance speech, Ayo Benzi described the victory as a defining moment in his career.
“A big thank you to MTN. From the audition days, the treatment MTN has given us has been amazing. God bless the brand,” he said.
The finale also featured guest performances by Afrobeats stars Iyanya and Bella Shmurda, adding glamour to the night and reinforcing the show’s connection to the wider music ecosystem.
With the successful conclusion of the season, MTN Nigeria and its partners reaffirmed their role in championing youth ambition, supporting creative industries, and shaping the future of Nigerian music through platforms that turn potential into opportunity.
T2, formerly known as 9mobile, is under investigation by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Benue State for an undisclosed incident disrupting USSD, SMS, voice, and data services across nine local government areas.
T2
The affected areas include Ado, Agatu, Gwer East, Gwer West, Konshisha, Obi, Ohimini, Okpokwu, and Otukpo, as detailed in an advisory on the NCC Major Outages Portal, which tracks significant disruptions reported by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Neither T2 nor its public relations firm, Chain Reactions, has responded to inquiries on the outage’s cause or restoration efforts as of this report.
The NCC’s continued reference to the operator as 9mobile, months after its public rebranding to T2 in August 2025, has sparked questions about whether the name change was formally notified to the regulator.
This probe aligns with NCC mandates requiring operators to disclose major outages, their impacts, and timelines for fixes, with compensation obligatory for disruptions exceeding 24 hours under the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations.
Industry watchers note that such incidents, often linked to fibre cuts, power failures, or infrastructure faults, underscore ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s telecoms sector, particularly amid T2’s subscriber losses post-rebrand. NCC vows transparency via its portal to hold operators accountable and protect consumers.
Telecom
NCC Unveils Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap, 60 GHz License-Exempt Guidelines to Boost Broadband, Innovation
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled two pivotal regulatory draft documents aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s communications sector over the next five years and fast-tracking deployment of ultra-high-speed wireless technologies.
NCC
In a public notice dated December 19, 2025, and issued pursuant to its mandate under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, the Commission published the Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector (2025–2030) and Draft Guidelines for the Use of the 60 GHz License-Exempt Band for Multi-Gigabit Wireless Systems.
Both documents are accessible on the NCC website for stakeholder review, with the roadmap outlining strategic spectrum planning, allocation, and management to optimise utilisation, support emerging technologies like 5G and IoT, expand broadband access, and align with global best practices.
The Spectrum Roadmap emphasises four core pillars: bridging the digital divide through low-band spectrum and satellite services, attracting investments via flexible licensing models, enhancing service quality with mid-band optimisation, and fostering innovation in areas such as direct-to-device connectivity and secondary spectrum trading.
It sets ambitious targets including universal 4G coverage nationwide, 50 per cent 5G penetration in state capitals, and average broadband speeds of 100 Mbps by 2030, while addressing rising data demand through band refarming and efficient management.
Complementing this, the 60 GHz Guidelines establish a license-exempt framework for the 57–66 GHz band, enabling multi-gigabit speeds up to 10 Gbps for short-range applications like WiGig, fixed wireless access, enterprise connectivity, urban broadband, and backhaul solutions.
The rules mandate NCC type approval for equipment, site registration for outdoor use, and interference mitigation measures, while prohibiting wide-area networks to safeguard primary users.
In line with Section 58 of the NCA 2003, NCC invites comments from industry operators, equipment manufacturers, consumer groups, and the public, with submissions due by Friday, January 16, 2025, via email to [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].
The notice, signed by Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs, stresses that stakeholder inputs will refine the frameworks to drive innovation, investment, competition, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s telecoms ecosystem.
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