Telecom
Blakskill App: A Bridge to Solve the Challenges Organisations Face in Sourcing Verified Talents across all Sectors of the Economy – Olugbenga Omojola, CEO

Blakskill limited an indigenous talent organization has developed an app designed to give organisations global access to verified talents while also giving talents (job seekers) a platform to showcase their competencies.
The app is a robust platform designed to solve the challenges organisations face in talent sourcing as well as the ones faced by job seekers in showcasing themselves to prospective employers. Blakskill provides global access to verified talents!
Mr Olugbenga Omojola, a renowned Management Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Blakskill Limited stated this while speaking with newsmen by the side-lines of the just concluded Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas , USA.
According to him, “Blakskill Limited is a robust technological platform that we invested in to solve the problem of talent sourcing for organisations across various sectors of the economy. Of course, this includes the Oil and Gas sector along with all other sectors of the economy. And how Blakskill works is this; not only does it solve the sourcing of verified talent for organisations, it also helps job seekers to showcase themselves.
“So, it’s like a bridge where job seekers can express themselves and where talent-employers can find them. An industry report indicates that Post-pandemic labor markets have demonstrated extraordinary resilience in many countries with low unemployment and growing talent shortages.
“Today, 77% of employers report difficultly in filling roles. However, Blakskill Limited provides the real-time data and insight that companies and people need to respond to today’s trends.
“So as workforce experts, we have created a platform that provides global access to verified talents. A platform where job seekers can be discovered by talent seekers who are looking to hire and retain the best talents”.
He further noted that as the global economy steadily recovers, employers are more optimistic and hiring demand remains strong.
On the importance of the app, Omojola expressed that the app provides employers with unlimited access to verified talents. ‘’By verified talents, I’m saying – for example, a Television station looking to hire an experienced reporter who has five years related experience and some other mandatory requirements can come on the platform and type ‘Television Reporter’ in the search window.
“The platform will streamline the search and bring out the profiles of professionals who fit that bill and that are already verified across various competencies; showing their proficiency levels across the required technical and behavioural competencies – and that’s just one of the functions of the app”.
Also, he noted that Blakskill could also conduct background checks on talents for recruiting organisations. ‘’You know, the app will be projecting talents that have been passed through certain checks which will include previous employer reference, social media footprints and even criminal records, depending on the type of access the platform user has subscribed to.
“The platform shortens the recruitment curve, saves organisations a lot of money and ultimately provides access to the right kind of talent. That’s for employers.
“Now, for the talents, Job seekers get the opportunity to showcase themselves and they are ranked across varied levels.
Also, they get an opportunity to access career coaching and counselling on Blakskill as well. So, not only is Blakskill designed to solve recruitment problems for organisations, it is also a platform that helps job seekers secure employments with prospective employers.
The CEO of Blakskill said that the Blakskill app is set to revolutionize the art of talent sourcing and it can be downloaded from the Playstore and Apple Store.
He also further affirmed that it is impossible to manipulate the Blakskill system as the team is made up of renowned and tested professionals who are well known both in the Private and Public sectors in Nigeria.
In his words, Omojola said, “We are people of integrity and we’ve been in business for over a decade. As a Director and CEO at Blakskill, I assure all our current and prospective subscribers that our team is made up of professionals with impeccable integrity and character.
“Blakskill is a credibile platform. We’ve been in the business of providing talent sourcing solutions to leading and growing organisations over the years and it has never happened that we would recommend a candidate that is unsuitable or that does not meet our clients specifications.
“In addition to talent sourcing, we have also been conducting background checks services before the app was created”.
Omojola is also, the founder of First Excelsia Professional Services, a Non-Executive Director at PremiumTrust Bank and the Coordinator of ‘Friends of Jesus’, a Non-Governmental Organisation.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants, the Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria and some other prestigious professional associations.
He is an alumnus of London Graduate School and holds a first degree in Industrial and Labour Relations with professional and academic Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Organisational Behaviour respectively.
Telecom
Toriola, MTN Nigeria CEO again Defends Tariff Hikes amidst Backlash

Karl Toriola, chief executive, MTN Nigeria has defended recent tariff hikes by mobile network operators, stating they are essential for the “survival” of the telecoms industry in Nigeria, despite significant criticism.

Karl Toriola, chief executive, MTN Nigeria
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) granted mobile network operators permission to raise tariffs by up to 50% last month, a change reportedly implemented on 11 February.
The increase has sparked public outrage, as mobile connectivity has become a vital necessity in daily life across the West African nation.
In an interview with Developing Telecoms, Toriola pushed back against criticism that the price surge was excessive, arguing that tariffs should have increased by approximately 300% to reflect the naira’s sharp devaluation and the country’s soaring inflation.
Addressing the impact of currency devaluation, Toriola emphasised that MTN purchases network equipment and software in US dollars, a process that has become significantly more expensive. With the naira’s decline, operators are now receiving three times fewer dollars than they did in 2023, making operations more challenging.
In February 2023, businesses could exchange 460 naira for one US dollar, but the currency has since devalued sharply. At the time of writing, a single dollar was worth 1,510 naira.
As Nigeria grapples with the sharp devaluation, MTN has been severely affected.
The company was technically bankrupt in 2023 as its liabilities surpassed its assets—a deeply concerning issue for the wider MTN Group, as Nigeria remains one of its highest revenue-generating markets.
“Because of these factors, we’ve seen our costs rise dramatically. The cost of leasing tower space and supplying energy to cell sites increased by 120% in the first three quarters of 2024. So, in comparison, a 50% tariff increase is not that high,” said Toriola.
Telecom
IoT West Africa & Data Centre Cloud Expo 2025 Set to Boost Africa’s $180Bn Digital Economy

The IoT West Africa & Data Centre Cloud Expo 2025, co-located with Power and Water Nigeria, is poised to play a crucial role in boosting Africa’s digital economy, projected to reach $180 billion by 2025 and contribute 5.2% to the continent’s GDP.

Shitij Taneja, Vertex Next Managing Director
Organized by Vertex Next, the three-day event will take place from May 13th to 15th, 2025, at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. It will convene government leaders, industry experts, investors, and innovators to explore the latest advancements in IoT, AI, cloud computing, digital infrastructure, and energy solutions.
In a statement made available to journalists in Lagos, Vertex Next Managing Director, Shitij Taneja, stated that this influential event will significantly contribute to the continent’s digital economic growth.
He assured that the expo will feature a comprehensive conference program focused on the transformative power of IoT, AI, and digital technologies across various African industries.
According to Taneja, discussions will center on how these technologies drive economic expansion, improve connectivity, and increase efficiency in key sectors like telecom, energy, finance, and e-commerce. Government officials and business leaders are also expected to collaborate on strategies for scaling digital infrastructure and leveraging data for innovation and sustainable development.
As demand for secure, efficient, and scalable digital infrastructure surges, Africa’s data center market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12% through 2030, reaching a valuation of over $5 billion.
The expo will feature high-level discussions on critical infrastructure development, investment opportunities, cybersecurity, and AI-driven data center expansion. Thought leaders from global cloud and data center giants will share insights into building future-ready facilities that power industries and drive economic progress.
With Africa’s power sector undergoing transformation, discussions will focus on smart grids, energy storage, and sustainable power solutions to support the continent’s growing digital economy.
The African Development Bank estimates that investment in energy and utilities must increase to $70 billion annually to meet rising demand. Industry leaders will explore the role of IoT and AI in optimizing utilities, managing resources efficiently, and developing smart, connected cities.
The rise of digital banking, fintech, and e-commerce is reshaping consumer experiences and financial transactions across Africa. The fintech sector alone attracted over $3 billion in investments in 2023, and e-commerce is projected to exceed $75 billion in value by 2028.
This expo will highlight how automation, AI, and IoT are creating secure, seamless, and scalable financial solutions, ensuring that businesses stay ahead in the fast-paced digital landscape.
Taneja disclosed that the IoT West Africa & Data Centre Cloud Expo 2025 aligns with Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) and Agenda 2063 of the African Union, both of which prioritize technological innovation, digital infrastructure, and economic diversification.
By bringing together policymakers and industry stakeholders, the event aims to support regulatory frameworks for digital transformation, foster collaboration between the public and private sectors, encourage foreign direct investment (FDI) in ICT and energy, and accelerate initiatives such as Smart Cities and e-Governance.
Telecom
NITDA Pledges to Foster Innovation with Cloud Infrastructure and AI Applications

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its dedication to fostering an innovative ecosystem that balances regulation with industry growth. The agency is investing in cloud infrastructure, data classification, and AI applications to establish Nigeria as a leading digital hub in Africa.
Kashifu Inuwa, NITDA’s Director General, emphasized this commitment while speaking at the Africa Hyperscalers Digital Infrastructure Outlook 2025. The event gathered industry experts to explore Africa’s role in the expanding global AI-driven infrastructure boom.
In his remarks, Inuwa highlighted NITDA’s dual regulatory framework: rule-based regulation, involving strict compliance guidelines, and non-rule-based regulation, which allows for industry-led innovation with established benchmarks.
“Before we regulate anything, we need to be aware of the landscape, we need to be intelligent, we need to have data and make sense out of that data, we need to be dynamic because technology is fast-changing and we need to develop that agility within the regulatory framework,” Inuwa stated.
He also discussed the Cloud First Policy, introduced in 2019 to discourage excessive reliance on physical data centres. This policy encourages government agencies and private businesses to leverage cloud computing and digital solutions. Initially, businesses were granted waivers to use public cloud infrastructure, but NITDA is now pushing for local data centres to enhance their capabilities.
A major milestone for NITDA was its successful engagement with global hyperscaler providers, including Google Cloud, which pledged to collaborate with local data centres to drive cloud adoption and establish a hyperscaler data centre in Nigeria. This follows a meeting between Google CEO Sundar Pichai and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Paris, where the President shared his transformative ambition for Nigeria.
To further drive cloud adoption, NITDA is finalizing a framework that will mandate data classification, ensuring that certain data categories remain within Nigeria. This move is expected to attract more cloud service providers and bolster the country’s digital sovereignty.
Emphasizing the importance of AI applications, Inuwa disclosed that NITDA is prioritizing AI to enhance governance, regulation, and service delivery. He asserted that AI can revolutionize governance and business operations by automating processes, enhancing regulatory efficiency, and developing knowledge management systems.
Dr. Nadu Denloye, Co-founder of Telnet Nigeria Limited, also spoke at the event, highlighting Africa’s remarkable digital transformation driven by connectivity advancements, cloud adoption, data centres, AI, and a growing digital-native population. She expressed confidence in crafting solutions to drive Africa’s digital growth.
Other notable panelists included Dr. Ayaotunde Coker, CEO Open Access Data Centres and Chairman of the Africa Data Centres Association; Johnson AgboGbua, CEO of Kasi Cloud; Obinna Isiadinso, Data Centres Global Sector Lead at International Finance Corporation; Kazeem Oladepo, Chief Operating Officer at IHS; and Abibat Kazeem, Commercial Director at Bayobab.
This commitment by NITDA underlines its dedication to advancing Nigeria’s position as a digital leader in Africa through innovative solutions and strategic regulations.
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