Telecom
Airtel Premieres Special Independence Day Video Featuring Employees, Gifts Subscribers 20% Free Data
Airtel Nigeria has premiered a widely acclaimed celebratory video to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, spotlighting its employees as the faces and voices of the nation’s resilience, optimism, and shared future.
The colourful production, launched across Airtel’s social platforms, was accompanied by a one-day nationwide giveaway that offered customers 20% extra data on every bundle purchase, underscoring the company’s commitment to celebrating and rewarding Nigerians.
The new Independence Day film captures heartfelt messages delivered by a handful of Airtel employees, weaving together moments of joy, hope, and unity that mirror the Nigerian spirit. Through statements such as “We rise because we believe,” “Our diversity is our strength,” and “Together, we build the future we deserve,” the video amplifies the shared values of perseverance, creativity, and togetherness that define the nation at 65.
Dinesh Balsingh, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, said the campaign was designed as a dual celebration: a tribute to the country and a token of appreciation to the customers who have made Airtel part of their daily lives.
“This Independence Day, we wanted to do more than just wave the flag,” Balsingh explained. “We wanted to reflect the heartbeat of Nigeria, and there’s no better way to do that than through the voices of our people.
“Beyond delivering connectivity, our employees are also living the same Nigerian story of resilience, creativity, and hope. By putting them at the centre of this campaign, we’re celebrating the human connections that make our work meaningful.”
Speaking on the customer reward initiative, Balsingh added: “We are deeply grateful to the millions of Nigerians who trust Airtel every day to keep them connected to their families, their work, and their dreams. The 20% bonus data offer is our simple way of saying thank you as we all celebrate the extraordinary journey of our nation together.”
The celebratory video and the one-day giveaway form part of Airtel’s broader tradition of marking national moments with authentic storytelling and meaningful customer experiences. From spotlighting everyday heroes to creating campaigns that foster unity, Airtel continues to align its brand purpose with the aspirations of Nigerians.
Members of the public can watch the Independence Day video across Airtel Nigeria’s official social media channels. Customers who participated in the October 1 offer enjoyed an automatic 20% bonus on all data purchases made during the Independence Day celebration.
Mazen Mroue, a non-executive director at MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, has resigned effective February 27, 2026, to prioritise other responsibilities within the MTN Group, the company announced in a Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) filing.
MTN Nigeria
The notice, signed by company secretary Uto Ukpanah, stated: “This is to enable Mr. Mroue to focus on other priorities within MTN Group Limited. The Board wishes to express its appreciation to Mr. Mroue for his immense service to MTN Nigeria and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”
Mroue joined MTN Nigeria’s board on June 1, 2022, bringing over 28 years of telecom experience. A veteran MTN executive, he previously served as CEO of MTN Uganda and MTN Liberia, non-executive director at MTN Cyprus, and held leadership roles at MTN Ghana.
Since February 2022, he has been MTN Group’s Chief Technology and Information Officer, overseeing technology strategy and governance. Earlier, as MTN Nigeria’s COO from August 2018 to January 2022, he also sat on the MTN Nigeria Foundation board.
The exit follows MTN Nigeria’s stellar 2025 results, posting a ₦1.70 trillion profit before tax—reversing a ₦550.3 billion loss in 2024 driven by forex woes—marking one of the telco’s strongest rebounds.
Google has rolled out support for Yorùbá and Hausa languages in its AI-powered Search features—AI Overviews and AI Mode—enabling millions of Nigerians to get quick answers, summaries, and conversational web exploration in their mother tongues.
The update forms part of Google’s push to cover 13 African languages, including Afrikaans, Akan, Amharic, Kinyarwanda, Afaan Oromoo, Somali, Sesotho, Kiswahili, Setswana, Wolof, and isiZulu, selected based on high search activity across the continent.
Now, a Kano student can ask complex questions in Hausa, while an Ibadan trader seeks business tips in Yorùbá—both receiving culturally nuanced AI responses via text or voice on Android, iOS, or web.
Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s West Africa Communications Manager, said: “Building truly global Search requires nuanced local understanding. With Gemini-powered AI, we’ve made advanced capabilities relevant in Yorùbá and Hausa, so Nigerians converse naturally with Search in their mother tongues.”
To use: Open the Google app, tap AI Mode, and query in Hausa or Yorùbá for personalised guidance—breaking language barriers and making technology reflect Nigeria’s diverse identity.
MultiChoice is closing its continental streaming platform Showmax after 11 years, notifying subscribers Thursday of the board’s decision to discontinue the service in the near future to refocus on sustainable digital offerings.
MultiChoice
The email assured no immediate disruption: “You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time.” Showmax, launched in South Africa in 2015 and expanded across Africa, offered movies, series, documentaries, and sports to rival Netflix and others amid rising online entertainment demand.
The shutdown follows Canal+’s approved takeover of MultiChoice last year, with the French giant offering ZAR 125 per share for remaining stakes.
The deal mandates HDP ownership boosts, local content investment, and splitting MultiChoice’s SA broadcasting arm into an independent entity to meet regulations.
MultiChoice prioritised subscribers during the transition, promising advance notice on timelines.
Showmax’s exit signals consolidation pressures in Africa’s cut-throat streaming market, where global players dominate despite local content strengths.
MultiChoice to Discontinue Showmax Streaming Platform
GCR Affirms Afreximbank’s International Scale Ratings of A, A2
SmartCash Launches ‘No Be Cho Cho Cho’ Campaign to Boost Digital Banking in Nigeria
MTN Nigeria Non-Executive Director Mazen Mroue Quits to Focus on Group Role
Google Adds Yorùbá, Hausa to AI Search, Boosting Access for Millions of Nigerians
Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation Bolsters Nigeria’s Education Drive with ₦2.7m Student Support
Kaspersky Brings more Transparency to Threat Detection with New Hunt Hub
NDPC Commits to Balancing Data Privacy, Protection Information
PwC Reveals AI Scaling Gap Slows Africa’s Digital Transformation
Firm Reviews the Evolution of Phishing Threats in 2025
E-Financial2 days agoNRS Targets N40trillion in Tax, Royalty Revenue in 2026
E-Financial2 days agoSEC Revokes Registration of Kensington Agro Trading Limited
General News2 days agoPurple Woman 3.0 Is Back, to Empower Women in Tech this IWD 2026
News2 days agoEFCC Arraigns Two FSDH Bank Officials Over $307k, €50k Fraud
Telecom2 days agoKonga Launches ‘Berekete Sales’ with Up to 50% Discounts Across Major Categories
E-Business2 days agoNDPC, 60 DPAs Collaborate on Enforcing Privacy Rights in the Use of Al
General News2 days agoNCDC Raises Alarm over Lassa Fever Ravaging 18 States in Nigeria
E-Financial2 days agoNigeria’s Net Reserves Surge 50% to $34.8bn in 2025 – CBN Governor