Telecom
COVID 19: NITDA DG Admonishes Startups To Possess Entrepreneurial Mindset
Amidst the uncertainties the novel COVID I9 pandemic is causing globally and indeterminable time the world would come out of it, the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA), has resolved to continue with its planned activities aimed at increasing the capabilities of the startups in the country by leveraging on digital technology.
The agency on Friday, in a closing ceremony of the maiden online edition of Start UP Clinic, Abuja, one of such events already slated at pre-pandemic time, the Director General of the Agency, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, delivered a motivational speech to 20 startups who have been in virtual booth camp in the last five days.
In his remark, the Director General acknowledged that, “things are not going to be the same after the pandemic and the world economic order is going to change” which he said would lead to closing down of lots of businesses, advised the Startups to possess both the entrepreneurial mindset and entrepreneurial environment capabilities in other to survive during and at the post pandemic world.
The DG stated that, to build these capabilities, the startups need to adjust their tactics, change course, and ignore the conventional wisdom that says; “go to school read hard, pass with flying colors and get a good job.
“No, there is not going to be jobs for you. I think what we need now is; you need to go to school, be a streetwise, hack the problem and be an entrepreneur.”
Mallam Abdullahi noted that by creating an entrepreneurial mindset, they would become successful startups adding that there is a significant difference between people who start their own companies and truly successful entrepreneurs.
“Many people start their own businesses but few people actually achieve the kind of success they dreamed of at the start. What is the difference between people who start up their own business and successful entrepreneurs? The answer is the entrepreneur’s mindset,” he added.
He enjoined the startups to have a mindset of creating businesses for themselves, rather than creating jobs to ensure continuity in case of their absence while the companies are still active.
According to the DG, “this means that you have been able to create a functional entity, not just a job position where you do all of the work. This is the type of mindset you must have if you want to become a truly successful entrepreneur.”
“Creating an entrepreneurial mindset starts at the beginning, before you do anything to start up your company. It means having a grand vision and passion. It means carefully considering all that you want your company to be before it even exists.
“ It means imparting your vision, your dreams and your principles into the company right from outset. You need to ask yourself meaningful questions so that you are able to focus on more than just the day to day functions of running your business. Your business must be built upon your dreams, your passions and your principles. This is the difference between a job and a business.”
He challenged them to leverage on the two capabilities to grow their start up to becoming unicorn businesses which means a privately-owned company that worth at least one billion USD.
While admonishing them on how to attain the feat of becoming a unicorn company, the DG stated that they could become Unicorn companies within short period by following the playbook of successful startups followed which are just three simple rules of beginning with a plan to disrupt an existing industry; injecting capital to grow as rapidly as possible and tolerating high risk in a rush to conquer and dominate the market segment.
Mallam Abdullahi noted that in the region, there are only three Unicorn Companies and while South Africa has two, Nigeria can only boast of one.
He however stated that our country has a competitive advantage to be among countries with many unicorn companies because of her digitally native population and untapped market.
He added that the government is creating an entrepreneurial environment for the start up to thrive.
He listed the government’s efforts to include, the culture, infrastructure and support.
Mr.Nnamidi Nwachuku, one of the participating Startups, in his remarks observed that the Online Start up Clinic as organized by the Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE) has greatly impacted on their knowledge positively.
He noted that the experienced shared by many facilitators at the five days event would provide them the impetus to survive in their respective market segment.
He said, “We have similar experience like the Jigawa edition which was physical. The impact was good as if it was physical. The evaluation form would help us to improve on our innovations. Like me, I have vision to build my business to become a unicorn without looking at the investor and I know it is realistic because I know my capabilities.”
Dr Amina Magaji Sambo, OIIE National Coordinator, urged the participants to adhere to all the guidance availed them during the period and ensure that they keep updating the office of their progresses and challenges.
Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Nigeria, has marked International Volunteer Day 2025 by celebrating the impact of the Employee Volunteer Programme (EVP), a flagship initiative by which employees volunteer their time, expertise, and personal resources to advancing the Foundation’s mission across 14 African markets.
The celebration brought together volunteers at the Airtel Nigeria Headquarters in Lagos for moments of team bonding activities, testimonials, and volunteer spotlights. The event also served as a call to action, encouraging more employees to register for EVP activities and join the volunteer community.
The EVP has become a cornerstone of Airtel Africa Foundation’s community impact, empowering employees to drive local CSR initiatives and champion causes that promote education, digital skills, environmental responsibility, and youth empowerment. Through the programme, volunteers have contributed significantly to initiatives such as the International Day of Education Essay Competition, Teacher-for-a-Day sessions, beach clean-ups, market sensitisation exercises to reduce plastic waste, and the Airtel-3MTT NextGen Fellowship for young Nigerians.
Speaking about the celebration, Dinesh Balsingh, Airtel Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, said, “International Volunteer Day reminds us that real impact begins with people who are willing to show up and serve. Today we honour the incredible dedication of Airtel employees, whose selfless commitment of time and talent is the engine behind our progress. Their contribution is the backbone of our work and the reason we continue to transform communities across Africa.”
Over the years, the EVP in Nigeria has delivered tangible outcomes through numerous impactful initiatives such as financial donations to the Lagos State Government COVID-19 control efforts. In 2025 alone, volunteers have contributed more than 200 hours of service, reaching over 100,000 beneficiaries.
Commenting on the commitment of Airtel Nigeria’s employees, Femi Adeniran, Director, Corporate Communications & CSR, said, “Volunteering is at the heart of who we are. Behind every empowered learner, every restored environment, and every connected community is an individual who believed in making a difference, and we are thankful for your participation. Our mission remains clear: to use technology, resources, and our collective humanity to build a digitally inclusive, socially responsible, and sustainable Africa.”
International Volunteer Day provides a global moment to honour volunteers whose contributions often go unseen but deliver lasting impact. As its EVP continues to grow, Airtel Africa Foundation remains committed to expanding access to education, digital literacy, environmental care, and opportunities for underserved communities across the continent.
Nigerian creators have emerged dominant at the 2025 TikTok Awards for Sub-Saharan Africa, winning six of the ten categories at the ceremony held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
TikTok Sub-Saharan Africa Awards
The awards, themed “New Era, New Icons”, celebrated outstanding creativity across the continent, with Nigeria’s victories underscoring its growing influence in digital culture and entertainment.
Raja’atu Muhammed Ibrahim, known as @diaryofanortherncook, from Sokoto, won the prestigious Creator of the Year Award, recognised for her cinematic storytelling of Northern Nigerian cuisine. Abuja-based Brian Nwana (@briannwana) clinched Storyteller of the Year, while Izzi Boye (@izziboye) was named Education Creator of the Year.
Other Nigerian winners included Belove Olocha (@beloveolocha) for Entertainment Creator of the Year, Dejoke Ogunbiyi (@noositiwantiwa_) for Social Impact Creator of the Year, and Crown Uzama, popularly known as Shallipopi (@theycallmeshallipopipp), who took home Artist of the Year.
Shallipopi, whose hit track “Laho” dominated African soundwaves in 2025, thanked TikTok for supporting upcoming artists and providing a platform to shine. “When Nigeria creates, the world moves,” he told fans during his acceptance speech.
TikTok’s Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa, Boniswa Sidwaba, praised the winners, noting that Nigerian creators had redefined what it means to be a digital storyteller. “Tonight’s ceremony was a gathering of trailblazers who turned short video clips into cultural movements,” she said.
Other winners from across the continent included Tanzania’s Fanuel John Masamaki (@zerobrainer0), who won Video of the Year, Kenya’s @tunero_animations as Rising Star of the Year, South Africa’s @malumfoodie for Food Creator of the Year, and Kenya’s @zozasportscast for Sports Creator of the Year.
The ceremony, supported by brands such as NIVEA, Coca-Cola, PEP, inDrive and Dis-Chem, will be broadcast exclusively on TikTok LIVE on Dec. 11 at 19:00 WAT via the @tiktok.africa account.
MTN Nigeria has announced the winners of the 2025 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge, a national innovation programme delivered in partnership with Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) through its local partner, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria.
L – R: Promise Ogochukwu, OneGrid Energies; Emmanuel Ezea, OneGrid Energies, Lantana Elhassan, Head of Exploration, Accelerator Lab, UNDP Nigeria; Valentine Nnamani, OneGrid Energies; trio winner of the MTN 2025 Pachipanda Challenge, held at MTN RoofTop Plaza, Ikoyi.
The competition attracted over 2000 applications from young innovators across the country and concluded with a 3-day sprint event that featured masterclasses and pitch presentations at the MTN Rooftop Event Centre, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos. Ten finalists, comprising seven individuals and three teams, competed for top honours following a rigorous multi-stage screening process.
Team OneGrid Energies emerged overall winner for its solution that addresses energy access in underserved communities. The team of Emmanuel Ezea, Ogochukwu Ogene, and Valentine Nnamani upcycle plastic bottles and e-waste lithium ion batteries to create affordable lanterns for households without reliable electricity. The team also introduced smart solar-powered charging stations operated by rural women, creating economic opportunities and supporting environmental impact.
Joshua Ndaman secured second place with his innovative solution, BuyScrap, a tech-driven platform that streamlines the collection and recycling of electronic waste. By ensuring that discarded electronics are ethically reused and repurposed, BuyScrap supports a circular economy and provides a reliable link between households and processors in the e-waste value chain.
Divine Peter secured third place with HopeForge Engineering, an initiative that designs and produces affordable recycling equipment for green businesses using recyclable materials. His focus on automating traditional manual equipment aims to increase productivity and make sustainable tools more accessible for small and medium-sized enterpriOlayinkases.
The winners received ₦3,000,000, ₦2,000,000, and ₦1,500,000 respectively. They will now represent Nigeria at the Africa PachiPanda Challenge where they will compete against champions from across the continent.
Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Nigeria, emphasised the importance of youth-led innovation in advancing climate action and community resilience. “Innovation should go beyond solving problems; it should be bankable and sustainable, ensuring long-term value for both society and the innovators themselves,” he noted.
Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director-General of NCF, praised the creativity of the finalists, stating, “Every finalist here is a winner, and we will continue to work with partners like MTN, UNDP, and WWF to nurture these ideas and build a better future for Nigeria.”
Representing UNDP Nigeria, Lantana Elhassan, Head of Exploration, Accelerator Lab, described the potential of the finalists’ solutions to inspire systemic change across Africa’s innovation landscape. She highlighted the role of tech tools in helping participants improve their prototypes and scale their solutions.
During the event week, finalists received tailored training through masterclass sessions that enhance their business skills and strengthened their solutions. Facilitators included Bankole Oloruntoba, CEO, Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC); Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder & CEO, Instollar; Nifemi Oluboyede, Chief Product Officer, Credit Direct; and Uche Aniche, Founder, Rebel Seed Capital & Convener, Startup South.
Judges comprised experts in sustainability and innovation including Dr. Tiwalade Adeniyi, Head of ESG, Solon; Dr. William Tsuma, Chief Innovation Officer, UNDP Nigeria; Maximus Ugwuoke, Country Director, Carbon Craft Africa; Peju Ibekwe, CEO, Sterling One Foundation; Temitope Okunnu, Founder, Fabe International; and Yewande Adeyi, Senior Manager, ESG Advisory Services, KPMG West Africa.
The Africa-wide finals will bring together leading innovators from across the continent to showcase their work to industry experts and investors.
For more information and updates on the winners’ journey, visit https://www.mtn.ng/sustainability or contact [email protected]
FG, SEC, NGX Group Agree on Capital Gains Tax Reform
Airtel Africa Foundation Celebrates International Volunteer Day, Honours Employee Volunteers
Report Reveals Half of 2025’s Compromised Passwords were Already Leaked
EFCC Arik Case: Witness Testifies on Receiver Manager Nominee’s Role in NG Eagle Shareholding
Nigeria Dominates 2025 TikTok Sub-Saharan Africa Awards with Six Wins
Kaspersky Introduces Cyber Pathways to Support Career Development in Cybersecurity
NITDA DG Tasks Youths to Drive Africa’s Digital Transformation
Firm Urges Organizations to Check Protection of their Websites Amid Search Engine Optimisation Attack Schemes
Hackers Breach Phones of Dangote and Otedola, Demand Ransom
FCCPC Sets Deadline for Digital Lending Regulatory Compliance
Telecom1 day agoNigeria Lacks AI-Ready Data Centres, Trails in Capacity – Nnamani
E-Financial1 day agoCAC to Shut Down Unregistered PoS Operators by January 2026
General News1 day agoNiDCOM Launches Diaspora Startup Challenge to Boost Nigerian Talent
Telecom1 day agoAnambra Leads Southeast in Digital Governance Under Soludo’s ICT Agenda
News1 day agoLagos Launches Tele-Vet, Nigeria’s First Veterinary Call Centre
General News1 day agoOptimus AI LABS CEO Showcases AI Breakthroughs in Nigeria’s Financial Sector
General News1 day agoPromoPrint Rekindles Nigerian Resilience @ 25th Anniversary
Telecom12 hours agoNigeria Dominates 2025 TikTok Sub-Saharan Africa Awards with Six Wins