Telecom
Data Management a Catalyst for Boosting Businesses- LCCI
Mr. Babatunde Paul Ruwase, President, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industries (LCCI) on Wednesday said that information and communications sector has become a catalyst for boosting business operations in Nigeria and across border trade.
He made this assertions at the 2018 Seminar on ‘Data Management: Tool for Economic and Security Change’ organised by ICT Group of Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industries in Lagos.
Ruwase stated that electronic transactions have made it possible to achieve high quality and speed in service delivery in the areas such as travels, e-commerce and e-government.
He reiterated the need for policies that will encourage and support innovation, software development and protection of intellectual property, adding that it is necessary for achieving useful collaborations with other technologically-advanced countries as well as attracting investments into the ICT sector.
He revealed that National Bureau of Statistics 2018 GDP second quarter report shows that ICT sector contributes 13.63% to GDP in a year on year growth of 11.81% from 1.58% in the first quarter of 2018.
“The statistics are a clear call for the need to identify opportunities for collaboration, sharing best practices and exploring inclusive technologies to drive Nigeria into a truly connected global community, he added.
He commended the national assembly for passing the electronic transaction bill after careful considerations of the potentials of the ICT sector.
According to him, “we acknowledge the efforts of the National Assembly in passing the electronic transaction bill after careful considerations of the potentials of the ICT sector and what an enabling and protective act can help the sector to achieve for the country.
Attendees at the Workshop
“There is therefore need for such business and investment elements that strengthen the private sector.
“The regulatory environment must also be sensitive to the ideals of a conducive business environment that can attract private sector participation and foreign direct investment.
“Let me therefore use this opportunity to call on the government to be consistent bwithg its policies and initiate platforms and waivers that will attract and support startups by the youths in Nigeria.
Mr.Zakari Usman, Chairman,ICT Group, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industries,(LCCI) in his presentation said that as the world celebrated the end of Millennium Development Goals (MDGSs) and continue to drive the more ambitious Susatainable Development framework, the importance of making timely and reliable data available across the country cannot be over emphasized.
“In this increasingly complex world, the availability of high quality data is vital in facilitating decision-making for both private and pubic sectors.
“The World is also seeing greater demands for higher levels of transparency. This has become pivotal for building trust and confidence regardless of the line and nature of business. The data community has responded to these changes thereby causing a value shift in our economic security”, Mr. Usman said.
He said that one key trend that has elevated data management to a new level is the rapid innovation and advances in information and communication technology.
Engr. Remi Adejumo, Chief Technical Officer, Comercio Ltd delivering his presentation at the event.
“It is staggering that there are 2.5 quintillion bytes of data created each day at our current pace and that pace is only accelerating with the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT). With the rapid expansion of data storage capacity, growing global connectivity and double-digit growth rates in the middle broadband market, there is no doubt that the swift pace of technological developments has not only facilitated the rapid collection of new data but also led to more effective management of the data”, he said.
The Chairman also added that the improvements in technology have also brought tremendous benefits to the private and public segments of our country today, adding that amid wider availability of data on economic planning products, households now have the potential to make better savings and investment choices.
“For the government, data is a vital is a vital source of evidence, as they provide clear and objective statistics on all aspects of the state of the nation, including the growth and characteristics of our population, economic performance, levels of health and wellbeing and the condition of our surrounding environment.
“Accordingly, the significance of data for making evidence-based decisions that guide the implementation of new policies and monitoring and evacuation of the effectiveness of policy decisions cannot be overemphasized”, he added.
Mr. Usman further admitted that as the business community moves forward, it will be more evident that without data, they cannot make well-informed decisions that will catalyse the social and economic development and transform the future.
“The changing contours of the global landscape will increase the demand for higher quality and more comprehensive data which will also need to be accompanies by sound analysis in order to draw correct inferences. From the compliers of data, to the developers of data applications and the users of data, there will be many challenges, but also immense opportunities ahead”, he intoned.
MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with ONErpm and Ultima Studios, has announced Ayodeji Benson, popularly known as Ayo Benzi, as the winner of the maiden edition of the Next Afrobeats Star reality show.
L-R: Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria; Ayodeji Benson, Winner, Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1) and Emamoke Ogoro, General Manager, Brand and Communication, MTN Nigeria, at the grand finale of the Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1), held at the Ultima Studios, Lekki, Lagos on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
The grand finale, held on Sunday night at Ultima Studios in Lekki, Lagos, marked the climax of a nationwide talent search that began in September with over 15,000 aspiring musicians.
After weeks of auditions, mentorship, and rigorous training, five finalists – Ayo Benzi, Dave Cash, Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay – battled for the top prize in a high-energy showcase of performance and artistry.
At the end of the electrifying contest, Ayo Benzi emerged victorious, securing a ₦150 million music deal. Dave Cash was named first runner-up with ₦100 million, while Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay received ₦75 million, ₦50 million, and ₦25 million respectively.
Throughout the season, contestants were mentored by leading Afrobeats producers Sarz, Puffy Tee, P Prime, and Andre Vibez. Benzi, who was part of Puffy Tee’s team, credited the mentorship programme for sharpening his craft and stage presence.
Speaking at the event, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to youth empowerment and cultural expression.
“The Next Afrobeats Star platform is about creating real opportunities for young Nigerians and giving their talent the structure, visibility, and support it deserves.
“Afrobeats continues to place Nigeria on the global cultural map, and MTN is proud to be enabling the next generation of artists who will take this sound even further,” she said.
She added that the finale was not just a competition but a celebration of growth and readiness for the global stage.
In his acceptance speech, Ayo Benzi described the victory as a defining moment in his career.
“A big thank you to MTN. From the audition days, the treatment MTN has given us has been amazing. God bless the brand,” he said.
The finale also featured guest performances by Afrobeats stars Iyanya and Bella Shmurda, adding glamour to the night and reinforcing the show’s connection to the wider music ecosystem.
With the successful conclusion of the season, MTN Nigeria and its partners reaffirmed their role in championing youth ambition, supporting creative industries, and shaping the future of Nigerian music through platforms that turn potential into opportunity.
T2, formerly known as 9mobile, is under investigation by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Benue State for an undisclosed incident disrupting USSD, SMS, voice, and data services across nine local government areas.
T2
The affected areas include Ado, Agatu, Gwer East, Gwer West, Konshisha, Obi, Ohimini, Okpokwu, and Otukpo, as detailed in an advisory on the NCC Major Outages Portal, which tracks significant disruptions reported by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Neither T2 nor its public relations firm, Chain Reactions, has responded to inquiries on the outage’s cause or restoration efforts as of this report.
The NCC’s continued reference to the operator as 9mobile, months after its public rebranding to T2 in August 2025, has sparked questions about whether the name change was formally notified to the regulator.
This probe aligns with NCC mandates requiring operators to disclose major outages, their impacts, and timelines for fixes, with compensation obligatory for disruptions exceeding 24 hours under the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations.
Industry watchers note that such incidents, often linked to fibre cuts, power failures, or infrastructure faults, underscore ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s telecoms sector, particularly amid T2’s subscriber losses post-rebrand. NCC vows transparency via its portal to hold operators accountable and protect consumers.
Telecom
NCC Unveils Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap, 60 GHz License-Exempt Guidelines to Boost Broadband, Innovation
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled two pivotal regulatory draft documents aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s communications sector over the next five years and fast-tracking deployment of ultra-high-speed wireless technologies.
NCC
In a public notice dated December 19, 2025, and issued pursuant to its mandate under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, the Commission published the Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector (2025–2030) and Draft Guidelines for the Use of the 60 GHz License-Exempt Band for Multi-Gigabit Wireless Systems.
Both documents are accessible on the NCC website for stakeholder review, with the roadmap outlining strategic spectrum planning, allocation, and management to optimise utilisation, support emerging technologies like 5G and IoT, expand broadband access, and align with global best practices.
The Spectrum Roadmap emphasises four core pillars: bridging the digital divide through low-band spectrum and satellite services, attracting investments via flexible licensing models, enhancing service quality with mid-band optimisation, and fostering innovation in areas such as direct-to-device connectivity and secondary spectrum trading.
It sets ambitious targets including universal 4G coverage nationwide, 50 per cent 5G penetration in state capitals, and average broadband speeds of 100 Mbps by 2030, while addressing rising data demand through band refarming and efficient management.
Complementing this, the 60 GHz Guidelines establish a license-exempt framework for the 57–66 GHz band, enabling multi-gigabit speeds up to 10 Gbps for short-range applications like WiGig, fixed wireless access, enterprise connectivity, urban broadband, and backhaul solutions.
The rules mandate NCC type approval for equipment, site registration for outdoor use, and interference mitigation measures, while prohibiting wide-area networks to safeguard primary users.
In line with Section 58 of the NCA 2003, NCC invites comments from industry operators, equipment manufacturers, consumer groups, and the public, with submissions due by Friday, January 16, 2025, via email to [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].
The notice, signed by Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs, stresses that stakeholder inputs will refine the frameworks to drive innovation, investment, competition, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s telecoms ecosystem.
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