Telecom
ALAT by Wema Encourages Strategic Financial Decisions in Relationships
Fostering a healthy work-life balance is one of the many concerns of young professionals across the world, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic persists.
L-R: Akah Nnani, Actor; Claire Nnani, Artist; Hannah Jonathan (Soul Spice), Sex Therapist and Funmilayo Falola, Head of Marketing Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank will speak at the third edition of the ALAT Talk Series.
On Thursday, October 28, 2021, a diverse group of Nigerian professionals – Gbemi O, media personality; Claire and Akah Nnani, YouTube content creators and creatives; Funmilayo Falola, head, Marketing Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank; Hannah Jonathan, Clinical Sexuality Coach – gathered to discuss balancing a healthy relationship and a hectic workload, while ensuring financial stability.
This discussion was held during the third edition of the ALAT Talk Series, a platform for the exchange of ideas and insights about life, relationships, technology, and finance. The virtual series themed ‘Relationship, Love and Work: How To Juggle It All’ was held via teleconferencing application, Zoom.
The latest edition of the series was aimed at providing young Nigerians with the skills and knowledge required to combine a hectic work lifestyle with a healthy sex/love life. Media personality and co-host of the OffAir Show, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, moderated the 90-minute session. Comments and questions poured in from the eager audience who watched on the Zoom app and via ALAT’s Facebook page.
Akah and Claire Nnani’s session was brutally honest as they shared their experiences as a couple, their transition into parenthood, and how they thrived as business partners while managing their demanding careers. Akah emphasised the need for trust, “trust is important in all our dealings. We trust each other in setting boundaries and understanding each other’s perspectives while managing our business together.” Claire buttressed Akah’s point with her take on the need for couples to reach an understanding, “It is hard not to see each other as competition, especially when you are working in the same space, but understanding your strengths is key.”
During the event, Funmilayo Falola, head, Marketing Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank, reiterated the objective of the ALAT Talk Series and the importance of addressing key financial decisions from the onset: “At ALAT we are committed to improving financial literacy among young Nigerians by providing them with the tools and services to make the right financial decisions in any situation even marriages and relationships.
This is why we advise the need to address the seemingly difficult financial decisions from the onset. Investment plans, yearly and monthly budgets, individual and joint financial goals, allowances and childcare plans, are some of the important conversations to have in any relationship,” she added.
Speaking on the sexual status of many relationships in Nigeria, Sex Expert, Hannah Jonathan spoke about boundaries and influence, “Most couples do not set boundaries early in their relationship and are easily influenced by work, friends and family, which leads to stress. This stress causes frustration that can cause further issues in the future.”
Over the years, ALAT has developed several youth-focused initiatives to support Nigerians across the country in building sustainable relationships and a healthy lifestyle – and this third edition of the ALAT Talk Series is one of such initiatives.
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.
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