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Chris Uwaje to chair 2019 DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance, IPv6 Roundtable

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Chief Chris Uwaje, Chairman of Connect Technologies would preside over the 2019 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Africa Forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) and Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable, slated for Thursday, June 20, at the Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.

 

Affirming this on Tuesday in Lagos, the Executive Director, DigitalSENSE Africa Media, Mrs Nkem Nweke, said that Uwaje, who is acclaimed pioneer of the national information technology policy for Nigeria and founding Member of Africa Emergency Technology Response Forum, is not new to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) eco-system.

 

She said that this year, the forum which usually holds on June 6 to mark the World Internet Protocol version Six (IPv6) day in Nigeria, was moved to June 20th due to religious public holidays.

 

DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA) Media, she said, is a team of internationally reputed and award-winning Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry analysts and perception managers; professionally affiliated to African Regional At-Large Organisation (AFRALO) for shaping the future of the Internet, African Civil Society for the Information Society (ACSIS).

 

Pointing out that DigitalSENSE Africa Media, is a certified At-Large Structure (ALS) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

 

Also, she said that Uwaje who was recently appointed Africa Chair for IEEE-World Forum on Internet of Things (IoTs), is the Chief Software Architect and Chairman of Mobile Software Solutions and was Lead Consultant/conceptualized one of the foremost Nigerian Science & Information Technology Park (SIT Park) and State IT Policy for Akwa-Ibom State, as well as the co-Founder and Past-President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON).

 

Chief Uwaje, a fellow of Nigeria Computer Society and ISPON is an Information Technology (IT) veteran and commands a senior leadership position in the IT professional and industry domain with over four decades of on-the-job IT Practice as Computer Scientist across four continents, namely Europe, Africa, Asia and North America.

 

Uwaje, a specialist in IT-Strategy and Policy Consulting, Software Engineering Solutions; Research, Design and Development (RD&D) – incorporating SIT Park project conceptualization, design, implementation, project management and Technical Support. He is a Past-President of the Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN).

 

Uwaje is a Fellow of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (FISPON) and the convener of IPv6 Council Nigeria.

 

A Lead Director, Software Incubation and Software Hackathon Events in Nigeria and HackEbola Working Group in New York City, Washington DC. USA, Uwaje studied at the Control Data Institute of Information Technology, Frankfurt, Germany and majored in Computer Science at the British Institute of Engineering Technology UK.

 

He has presented numerous conference papers in Nigeria, USA and served as Panel Discussant at MIT/Boston/USA on Smart City.

 

As speaker he has presented ICT Keynote at many Corporate ICT Conferences and at Nigeria Universities.

 

Uwaje is the core promoter for the establishment of National Software Strategy for Nigeria and served as member of the National IT Policy Blueprint Formulation and drafting Committee.

 

In 2003, he served as member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on ICT Harmonization. Co-Chair: National Software Development Initiative (NSDI).

 

Uwaje has also served as Member of Council of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) respectively.

 

He served as member of the Governing Board of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Chair of NITDA e-Solve ICT Competition 2014.

 

He also served as former member of National ICT Advisory Council to the Minister of Communication Technology – Dr. Mrs. Omobola Johnson.

 

He is the Vice-Chair IPv6 Council Nigeria has won numerous ICT Awards internationally and at home, including Lifetime ICT Achievement Award 2016.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Nigeria Mulls Trust Fund to Preserve Telecom Infrastructure

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Nigeria’s telecom providers intend to establish the Telecom Infrastructure Protection Trust Fund to pay for equipment protection as the industry faces an alarming increase in infrastructure sabotage.

Nigeria Mulls Trust Fund to Preserve Telecom Infrastructure

The sector attended a meeting co-hosted by the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) and the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), where they discussed ways for safeguarding critical ICT assets in the country.

During the conference the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) warned that major mobile operators now suffer more than 1,100 fibre-optic cuts every week.

Speaking at the conference in Lagos, Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, NCC, represented by Edoyemi Ogoh, director of technical standards and network integrity, said the damage is crippling service reliability and undermining national security.

To curb the damage, the NCC is enforcing stricter infrastructure standards for fibre deployment and tower construction, launching nationwide awareness campaigns, and working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser to align with broader security frameworks.

“When vandalism occurs, it’s not just operators that lose, ordinary Nigerians feel the impact when banking, healthcare, and emergency systems fail,” Maida stressed.

Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON, reiterated the worries, criticising operators for failing to implement basic security measures such as perimeter fencing or CCTV.

He denounced the booming black market for stolen telecom components, which is frequently supported by insider cooperation.

“We need tougher prosecutions so those caught face the full weight of the law,” he urged.

In the case of NITRA, Chike Onwuegbuchi, chairman, proposed establishing a Telecom Infrastructure Protection Trust Fund to pay for preventative measures.

He also stated that educating communities about the costs of vandalism is critical to maintaining connectivity and protecting critical services.

 

 


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MTN’s mPulse Spelling Bee Returns with Regional Competitions and ₦40M in Prizes

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MTN Nigeria has announced the commencement of the seventh edition of its mPulse Spelling Bee, a national competition that has grown into one of the most impactful youth literacy initiatives in the country. With a new structure that emphasises nationwide inclusion and physical regional competitions, this year’s edition will engage thousands of students and amplify the brilliance of young Nigerians across all six geopolitical zones.

Kicking off with a practice stage on July 28, 2025, the competition is open to Nigerian students aged 9 to 15 in primary and secondary schools. For the first time, regional competitions will be held physically in three cities: Ibadan for participants in the South-West, Enugu for participants in the South-East and South-South, and Abuja for participants in the North-Central, North-East, and North-West. This new structure reflects MTN’s commitment to giving every child, regardless of region, the opportunity to learn, compete, and shine.

The Spelling Bee competition unfolds in five progressive stages: Practice Stage, Round1 (Entry Phase), Round 2 (Regional Qualification), Round 3 (Physical Regional Competitions), and the Grand Finale. From the first round, the top 3,000students (500 per zone) will qualify for regional rounds, and the best 20spellers from across Nigeria will proceed to the Grand Finale in Lagos. Seven top finalists, each from the regional competitions in Ibadan and Enugu, and six top finalists from the competition in Abuja, will make up the Top 20 finalists for the Grand Finale in Lagos.

The total prize pool for this year’s edition is over ₦40 million, with rewards spread across students, schools, and teachers. The overall winner will be crowned MTN CEO for a Day, receive a ₦5million educational grant, and be named mPulse Face of the Year. The winner will also receive a brand-new laptop and smartphone. Their teacher will receive₦500,000, while the winner’s school will be awarded 10 laptops, 10 MTN 5G routers, and a ₦10 million flagship project.

“The MTN mPulse Spelling Bee isn’t just a competition; it’s a platform for young Nigerians to access recognition, leadership opportunities, and academic support. We are proud to be empowering the next generation of innovators and leaders,” said Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria.

Last year’s winner, Ikenna Ikechukwu, described his journey to the top as one that required determination and sacrifice. “Preparing for the competition meant sleepless nights. There were so many words to learn, and while it’s impossible to know them all,I aimed to master at least 60 to 70%. This platform doesn’t just reward winners; it gives you the confidence to aim higher and believe in your abilities. A special thanks to MTN for this amazing initiative that helps students learn, play, and shine,” he shared.

Now in its seventh year, the mPulse Spelling Bee continues to serve as a bridge between education and opportunity, empowering young minds to grow beyond the classroom. With thousands of students set to participate, this edition hopes to spark conversations, spotlight regional talent, and showcase the power of words in shaping Nigeria’s future.

Hosted on the mPulse website (https://mpulse.mtn.ng), the mPulse Spelling Bee is designed to promote literacy, strengthen comprehension and build confidence through digital learning and healthy competition.


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MTN Nigeria Launches Cloud Accelerator to Power Africa’s Startup Future

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Lynda Saint-Nwafor, Chief Enterprise Business Officer, MTN Nigeria
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MTN Nigeria has announced the launch of the MTN Cloud Accelerator, a 12-week programme designed to propel African growth-stage startups into their next phase of expansion by providing access to funding, mentorship, and MTN’s robust cloud infrastructure.

Lynda Saint-Nwafor, Chief Enterprise Business Officer, MTN Nigeria

Applications opened on July 7, 2025, and will close on August 15, 2025, with the first cohort of selected startups set to be announced on September 1, 2025. The programme will run from September 6 to December 6, 2025, offering founders a powerful platform to scale their businesses faster, smarter, and more sustainably.

“This initiative reflects MTN’s belief in Africa’s innovators and their ability to transform communities and economies,” said Lynda Saint-Nwafor, Chief Enterprise Business Officer, MTN Nigeria. “Through the MTN Cloud Accelerator, we are giving founders the tools, networks and resources they need to compete not just locally but globally.”

Targeting startups with MVPs or live products, the MTN Cloud Accelerator is designed for innovators operating in high-impact sectors, including fintech, health tech, agritech, edtech, AI and data infrastructure, cybersecurity, and retail/e-commerce.

Participants will gain access to funding opportunities, mentorship from industry experts, API integrations into MTN’s ecosystem, and go-to-market and sales support to accelerate customer acquisition and scale faster.

The MTN Cloud Accelerator builds on MTN’s ongoing investment in Africa’s technology infrastructure. This forms part of MTN’s commitment to accelerating Africa’s digital economy and positioning the continent’s startups for global competitiveness.

Applications are now open, and startups meeting the criteria are encouraged to apply by visiting www.mtnaccelerate.com before the deadline on August 15, 2025.


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