Telecom
AfriTECH2021: NiRA Describes .NG Platform Unique for Brands Positioning
The .ng domain name has been described as a platform for unique positioning of brands and products online.
Cross section of speakers and panelists at Africa Tech Alliance Forum AfriTECH2021 held in Lagos (Nigeria) recently
Mr Muhammed Rudman, president, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), stated this at the 2021 Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH2021) held in Lagos, Nigeria recently.
Rudman represented by Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata “CFA”, a director at NiRA, said that .ng domain name enables the connection of businesses to the entire world, making it possible for you to reach out to people irrespective of where they are, and showcase your skills, products and dreams.
Similarly, the NiRA’s President emphasised the need for increased internal dependence in Nigeria through improved local investments in the startup ecosystem.
He said that while most celebrated companies in the country are funded by foreigners, there is an urgent need to balance the investment portfolios to prevent future capital flights.
“These companies are all foreign-led and foreign-dominated, which we are thankful for because if those foreigners don’t bring the money, we’d probably not have these companies so we are thankful for that,” he said.
“But how can we now make the transformation in order to start building local resources in some of these companies?”
The answer given by Rudman was simply “practical and efficient ways of doing things”.
The resource you can get from your investment is almost predictable and that’s the beauty of how you deal with technology.
“Technology is an enabler, it’s a leveller, it levels the playing field,” Rudman reiterated.
All skills can be learnt at any level. Irrespective of who you are or where you are, you have the opportunity and what you need is access to the Internet.
“The good thing is that broadband penetration is growing and so we have all the indices we’ve been working for as a country. That is why we should be more calculative in ensuring that digital transformation has come to stay.
Explaining the essence of the .ng domain, Rudman explained that it gives businesses identity online and separates them from the cluster of others, especially on social media.
“Social media is amazing but if you’re a business owner it will be wise to own your uniqueness so people can reach out to you.”
Giving an instance, he pointed out the issue encountered by Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp recently, where all the platforms were shut down due to technical issue (already resolved).
“Business owners who only rely on Instagram for their sales probably had to rethink the fact that anything can still happen in the future,” he said.
“The .ng domain is a platform for the unique positioning of your product. It enables the connection of businesses to the entire world, making it possible for you to reach out to people irrespective of where they are, and showcase your skills, products and dreams.
“The .ng domain is NiRA’s national brand and the company encourages small businesses to start with the domain so as to thrive seamlessly.
“I want to encourage everyone because we all have a collective responsibility to ensure we build the digital economy. At the end of the day, it is our responsibility to build the economy,” he told participants at AfriTECH2021.
Conclusively, he said: “A lot more is still possible, we need more collaboration and we need to be much more celebrated about what we do with the opportunities available.”
At the recently concluded NextNow Business Forum in Victoria Island, MTN Nigeria electrified the business community with a live demonstration of its forthcoming Communication Platform as a Service (CPaaS), a solution engineered to redefine how Nigerian enterprises connect with their customers.
Unlike traditional communication systems, MTN’s CPaaS is built for the realities of a mobile-first market. The platform unifies SMS, voice, WhatsApp, email, and more into a single, intuitive interface. This approach is especially significant in Nigeria, with over 107 million internet users, 45.4% of the total population, according to Data Report. This figure underscores the necessity for businesses to meet customers where they are.
During the demo, attendees witnessed how CPaaS enables two-way, real-time conversations between brands and customers. The platform’s support for rich media, instant analytics, and seamless integration with business workflows drew particular attention. These features are designed to empower businesses with data-driven insights and the agility to personalise every interaction, whether it’s a service notification, marketing campaign, or customer support exchange.
Akinbulejo Onabolu, Head of Enterprise Segment at MTN Nigeria, articulated the vision: “CPaaS gives enterprises the flexibility to interact with their customers on their preferred platforms; whether it’s chat, voice, or messaging, in a way that feels personal and immediate. We’re looking forward to the value this will unlock for businesses across industries once it launches.”
The fireside chat added depth to the conversation, with Omowunmi Olatunbosun, Head of SME Segment at MTN Nigeria, and Stephen Agbi of Bayobab, highlighting how digital engagement bridges the gap between businesses and audiences.
They emphasised that today’s consumers demand immediacy, relevance, and ease, qualities that CPaaS is built to deliver.
The stakes for digital transformation in Nigeria are high. In a report by Punch, the country’s enterprise tech market is projected to reach $22 billion by 2027, reflecting a surge in demand for scalable, cloud-based solutions that drive efficiency and customer loyalty.
The CPAAS Acceleration Alliance have estimated that globally, the CPaaS market is expected to grow from $14.7 billion in 2025 to $72.4 billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 18.4%, a testament to the platform’s transformative potential.
The event’s closing keynote from META’s Korhan Yunak reinforced the strategic value of digital channels like WhatsApp, which are now indispensable for business communication and engagement at scale.
As MTN Nigeria prepares for the Q3 2025 launch, the anticipation is unmistakable. With its promise of flexibility, intelligence, and seamless integration, MTN’s CPaaS platform is set to become the backbone of next-generation business-customer engagement in Nigeria, enabling enterprises to not just communicate but to connect, adapt, and grow in a digital-first era.
MTN Uganda is seeking input from stakeholders on a plan to structurally separate its mobile money service, MoMo, from its core telecoms business.
According to the company, the proposed change will be discussed at the upcoming extraordinary general meeting on July 2.
If approved, the telco’s fintech business will be run by a new company controlled by MTN Group Fintech Holdings B.V. and a trust benefiting minority shareholders following a merger.
Additionally, the restructuring also aligns with MTN Group’s ambition 2025 strategy which aims to unlock value, attract new investors, and strengthen regulatory compliance by creating standalone fintech entities in Uganda, Ghana, and Nigeria.
The company’s fintech division has over 13 million customers, with an 18.4% revenue increase in the first quarter of 2025, driven by 19.0% growth in mobile money services, 19.8% growth in transaction volumes, and a 31.4% increase in transaction value.
Reports say the decision is part of the telco’s compliance with the National Payment Systems Act 2020, which mandates mobile money businesses to operate as standalone entities, and to align with MTN Group’s regional fintech strategy.
MTN Uganda, which is led by CEO Sylvia Mulinge, highlighted that the implementation of the proposed transaction will be subjected to a number of conditions and regulatory procedures.
“The implementation of the proposed transaction shall be subject to a number of conditions, including the company and MTN MoMo receiving all required regulatory approvals and no-objections and complying with any regulatory conditions,” said MTN Uganda in notice.
Netflix has announced plans to invest more than €1 billion in Spanish film and television productions over the next four years, reinforcing its commitment to Spain as a key creative hub in Europe.
The announcement was made by co-chief executive Ted Sarandos at an event held at Netflix’s production studios near Madrid, celebrating the company’s 10-year presence in the country.
Sarandos emphasized that the investment would contribute significantly to Spain’s economy, create jobs, and enable the streaming platform to produce more local content. He was joined by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in unveiling the initiative.
Netflix first established its international production studios in Madrid in 2019, following the success of the Spanish-language hit series Money Heist.
Since then, its 22,000-square-meter facility has become one of Netflix’s major production centers within the European Union.
The company currently supports over 20,000 jobs in Spain, highlighting the nation’s growing influence in global entertainment.
The investment reflects Netflix’s ongoing strategy to expand its presence in European markets through original content and local talent.
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