Telecom
Cautious Optimism over NATCOM’s Take over of NITEL/MTel
Stakeholders in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector are cautiously optimistic about news of the ratification of NATCOM Consortium as preferred bidder for Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL), and MTel, its mobile subsidiary.
Engr. Sam Adeleke, immediate past president, Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN) and chief executive officer, Steineng Ltd, expressed reservation over the ownership of NATCOM and warned that “if government has any percentage share in the consortium, that it is doomed to die, but, if it 100 percent owned by private sector, it will succeed”
He said that management is the major tool that determines success of any organization and that telecommunications being driven by technology makes it scope for the future wide.
“The areas they can focus on include broadband services provision, cheaper calls, better quality of services and land line network among others,” he said.
Adeleke stated that the two most important assets of any telecommunications operator are frequency and subscriber base.
“Their major strategy should focus on how to acquire large subscriber base. Telecommunications business is a business of numbers if they want to succeed, they can do this by reviving the cable network and broadband services,” he added.
Also Deolu Ogunbanjo, president, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMMS), said that reviving NITEL by NATCOM when the deal is completed will ensure broadening of the telecom market, citing the innovative services that Glo and Etisalat introduced when they launched which helped in deepening competition in the industry.
“Now that the industry has fully embraced co-location and operators selling off their towers to infrastructure services providers it will be easier for them to rollout GSM service. Reviving NITEL land line will be a major boost in the broadband penetration effort,” he stated.
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said that unless the new owners of NITEL are coming to the market with ideas that are not already in the market they will have to struggle to make impact.
He noted that reviving the land line is not going to be easy going by the fact that they are private investors that will go through approval process of ‘right of way’ as well as vandalization among others challenges associated with fixed network provision in the country.
“NITEL’s existing telecommunications infrastructure are obsolete and may not enhance their rollout plans,” he added.
It would be recalled that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has formally ratified the sales of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited and its subsidiary Mobile Telecommunications Limited to NATCOM Consortium.
The ratification was given at the council’s fourth meeting, presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Meta, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMCIDE), has launched the Llama Impact Accelerator Program to foster AI-driven solutions across critical sectors in Nigeria.
The eight-month program will support early-stage startups developing AI innovations using Meta’s open-source Llama models. Target sectors include Agriculture, Security & Safety, Healthcare, and a wildcard category for other high-impact applications.
Speaking at the launch, Sade Dada, Head of Public Policy, Anglophone West Africa at Meta, emphasized the initiative’s role in advancing Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. “We are thrilled to partner with FMCIDE in supporting local AI talent. Open-source AI should be accessible and relevant to national challenges,” she said.
The program will begin with a six-week incubation period, offering technical training and mentorship from industry experts, followed by six months of extended support, including access to technical resources.
Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, hailed the initiative as a “major step forward” in Nigeria’s AI development strategy. “AI will be a key driver of national growth, and this program equips innovators with the tools to tackle pressing issues,” Tijani stated.
The Llama Impact Accelerator aligns with Meta’s broader mission to democratize responsible AI access while fostering innovation in emerging markets.
In collaboration with academic and government stakeholders, the initiative is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s AI industry and drive impactful change.
Applications for the program remain open until June 27, 2025. More details can be found at llamaimpactssa.splashthat.com.
In an era where climate change, youth unemployment, and food insecurity loom large over the continent, a powerful new force is rising — young African innovators building a green future from the ground up.
At the just-concluded Africa PachiPanda Challenge 2024, organised by MTN and WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), Nigerian entrepreneur, Olabisi Rafatu Emmanuel, emerged as one of the continent’s top eco-champions, spotlighting the potential of purpose-driven innovation to rewrite Nigeria’s climate and development story.
While Moses Afopezi of Cameroon took home the top prize with AgricFresh, a smart solution combating post-harvest loss, Olabisi’s reusable menstrual products solutions as a waste transformation model earned her national applause and a seat at Africa’s sustainability table, emerging as the second-place winner.
Speaking during the announcement, MTN’s leadership underscored that this challenge goes far beyond accolades. “Together, we have the power to shape a greener, more sustainable Africa — one bold idea at a time,” Nompilo Morafo, Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, MTN, said.
The triumph comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with the environmental menace of climate change in major urban hubs like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, even as the Nigerian government is clamouring for smart innovations to address climate change issues such as climate funding, carbon trading and just energy transition.
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) recently reiterated calls for tech-based waste management solutions – making Olabisi’s innovation timely and impactful.
MTN says this is just the beginning. With plans to expand the PachiPanda Challenge to more countries and deepen support for eco-entrepreneurs, the telecoms giant is reaffirming its commitment to socio-economic development through green innovation.
As Nigeria sets its sights on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, the PachiPanda story is a timely reminder that the answers may lie not in government halls – but in the dreams and drive of Nigeria’s young changemakers.
MTN Nigeria has convened alumni of its Media Innovation Programme (MIP) for an interactive training session on digital monetisation in Nigeria’s Value-Added Services (VAS) sector.
The hybrid event, themed “Understanding Digital Monetisation: Opportunities in the VAS Space in Nigeria,” was led by A’isha Umar Mumuni, Chief Digital Officer, MTN Nigeria. Participants explored evolving digital revenue models, including mobile payments, subscription billing, and telco-backed content partnerships.
Mumuni emphasized the growing significance of digital innovation. “Innovation is the currency of the future,” she stated. She cited projections indicating Nigeria’s potential emergence as the world’s fifth-largest economy by 2075, with the digital economy at the forefront of this growth.
The session spotlighted MTN Nigeria’s role in enabling content creators through platforms such as Callertunes, MTN Play, and digital storefronts. Participants were grouped into breakout sessions where they pitched digital product ideas, fostering creativity and strategic thinking.
According to industry figures, Nigeria’s digital economy contributed 18.44 percent to GDP as of Q2 2022, with ICT revenue soaring from ₦51.3 billion to ₦594 billion over a decade. Global digital services revenue reached an estimated $2.58 trillion in 2024, driven by advertising, paid content, and internet access.
Now in its fourth year, MTN Nigeria’s MIP continues to equip media professionals with the knowledge and tools to thrive in a digital-first economy. The company reaffirmed its commitment to supporting its alumni through curated development sessions that empower media practitioners in Nigeria.
For further details on the MIP programme and upcoming alumni engagements, visit www.mtnmip.smc.edu.ng.
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