Telecom
NGO Unveils Website to Fund MSMEs
MSME Crowd Funding Foundation, a non-profit making organisation on Thursday unveiled a new donation based website built specifically to raise funds and grants to support start-up, micro, small and medium sized enterprises.
Mr Magnus Nmonwu, a Trustee of the foundation, said the website was owned and operated by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Crowd Funding Foundation.
Nmonwu said at the official launch in Lagos that crowd funding was the practice of raising funds, capital or money for a project, business in small amounts from a large number of people, especially through the internet.
He said that it was also an alternative means of raising funds without going to the bank or financial institution.
“In Nigeria, the potential for crowd funding are untapped, inexhaustible and yet to be fully embraced, in spite of its successes as funding alternative in other countries.
“We, however, believe that with huge investment in education and stronger regulations in crowd funding activities, Nigeria would be on the path to crowd funding revolution, like in other notable fields of the economy.
“It is a known fact that MSMEs are the drivers or backbones of world economies.
“There are about 50 million SMEs, 100 million internet users and 120 million mobile phone users in Nigeria.
“MSMEs employ about 60 million people as at January 2014 which contributed to about 48 per cent or N38 trillion of Nigerians GDP and seven per cent of export earnings,’’ Nmonwu said.
He said that with all the natural resources that abound in Nigeria, it has yet to meet the basic needs of the citizens.
Nmonwu said that with the recent ratings of Nigeria as one of the poorest countries in the world, it was high time to start supporting one another in the little way to eradicate poverty.
He said that the platform would not only provide funds for start-ups, small and growing business, but also change the way Nigerians and the world support business operations.
“We plan to build the biggest network of entrepreneurial hub and act as the voice needed to change the landscape (policies and regulation) and challenge the status quo in favour of MSMEs.
“Our mission through www.fundanenterprise.org is to lighten the burden of doing business in Nigeria and help build, as many as possible, thriving enterprises or businesses in and beyond.
“By doing this, we believe we will support jobs creation and help improve the standard of living of Nigerians and the economy by extension.
“MSMEs in Nigeria are confronted with a number of issues, which include funding or access to funds to start or scale.
“www.fundanenterprise.org is a bridge to this gap and is here to serve as an alternative funding source for start-up, micro, small and medium enterprises,’’ Nmonwu said.
He urged the MSMEs and initiators of creative ideas to look at the alternative sources of funding and consequently, tap into the internet to solicit donations to sustain and expand their ideas.
Mrs. Chukwunonso Onny-Ezeh, Founder and CEO, Assist 2 Sell Properties Limited, speaking at the launch call on Nigerians to propagate the platform so that the visions of the trustees are achieved.
She urged Nigerians who invested in the collapsed MMM pyramid scheme to embrace this Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Crowd Funding project, noting that this will help to build the biggest network of entrepreneurs in the country.
She added that beneficiaries should be properly mentored in order to ensure that the grants given to them are used for the purpose for which it was intended.
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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