Telecom
Ekeh, Zinox Boss, Commends Imo Gov for Crashing Right of Way Charges

Leo Stan Ekeh, a serial digital entrepreneur and Chairman, Zinox Group has hailed Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, for crashing the Right of Way (RoW) charges in the state by over 96 per cent.
The governor had recently signed an Executive Order No. 002, 2020 which slashed the current charges from N4500 to N145 per linear meter as stipulated by a Federal Government policy.
Ekeh believes the development is a step in the right direction for the government and people of Imo state.
‘‘I sincerely think this is the best palliative citizens of Imo state and corporate organizations doing businesses in Imo state have received this season.
“We intend to roll out multi-million-dollars optic fibre infrastructure across Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia States based on our signed partnership with the Federal Government on INFRACO project.
“This will significantly alter the destiny of people living in these states and connect them to the global community in no distant time.’’
Further, the Zinox Chairman affirmed that the move by the Imo State governor will go a long way in accelerating the pace of technological and overall human capital development in the state.
‘‘I commend the Imo State Governor, His Excellency Gov Hope Uzodinma, for the uncommon courage, political will and leadership he has shown by being the first governor in the South East to reduce the Right of Way charges.
“This decision alone has the potential of encouraging more corporate organizations and strategic investors to make critical investments in the state.
“In addition, it is bound to usher in all-round development, especially by helping citizens of Imo State take their rightful places in the contemporary economy as global citizens while enhancing their businesses and lifestyle.
‘‘With this development, the average Imo citizen will, in no time, have increased access to the internet and the limitless opportunities therein.
“This will equally stimulate many other sectors of the economy including e-learning, e-Health, e-Commerce, among others and put the state at par with civilized states in other climes. I congratulate the governor for this laudable step.’’
The serial digital entrepreneur, who urged other governors in the South East to borrow a leaf from the example of Uzodinma, added that people of the South East face an uncertain future if governors do not make critical decisions or investments that would better their lot.
“Other governors in the South East can borrow a leaf from the example set by the Imo State governor.
“It is a very important development that would go a long way in positively altering the development narrative.
“Actually, the South East is in dire need of these kind of specific interventions due to the peculiar challenged faced by states in the region.
‘‘In fact, the South East region is blessed with a growing army of literate/educated, smart, very ambitious and talented youth, many of who are unemployed due to the near-absence or paucity of industries and other employment opportunities.
“This, coupled with the current harsh economic climate, may worsen the fate of these young people and push them over the edge, leading to more social problems.
“The South East, more than any other region in Nigeria today, faces the risk of an uncertain future if we – the governors, leaders and other stakeholders – do not do the right things to improve their circumstances,’’ he stated.
Equally important, Right of Way is the levy paid to state governments for the laying of optic fibre by telecoms operators.
Indeed, the issue of Right of Way charges has been a thorny issue between players in the ICT sector including the Zinox Group and state governments over the years.
Uzodinma, who communicated his decision to slash the Right of Way charges in a statement, explained that the reduction was a manifestation of the state government’s determination to spur telecommunication and other companies to further invest in broadband infrastructure and trigger ancillary on-line services, especially in the field of education.
Telecom
MTN Nigeria Commits to Ethical Conduct with IFRS S1, S2 Compliance

MTN Nigeria has raised the bar for corporate disclosure in Africa after publishing its 2025 sustainability report in full compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards S1 and S2.

Dr. Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria,
The report, independently assured by Ernst & Young, marks the telecom operator’s seventh consecutive annual sustainability publication and third year as an early adopter of the global framework ahead of its mandatory implementation.
Dr. Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, said, “strong governance and ethical conduct are foundational to our sustainability strategy. We reinforced compliance through our Conduct Passport Framework and robust internal controls.”
He added that “in May 2025, we became the first telecommunications company in Nigeria to publicly present a sustainability report on the Nigerian Exchange Group platform, an important milestone in our commitment to IFRS S1 and S2- aligned disclosure and accountability.”
The company also secured Carbon Disclosure Project ratings of ‘B-’ for climate change and ‘C’ for water security.
Under the IFRS S2 framework, the telecoms operator disclosed climate-related risks linked to flooding, heat stress, regulatory changes and possible future taxes or charges on carbon emissions, following a climate scenario analysis completed in 2024.
The report also showed that MTN Nigeria now uses a digital reporting format – XBRL. This makes its sustainability and governance data easier for investors and ESG rating agencies to access and analyse through automated systems.
The Company also carried out assessments to understand how sustainability issues affect both its business operations and society at large, while measuring its overall economic, environmental and social impact from 2021 to 2024.
In addition, over one-third of MTN Nigeria’s biggest suppliers (based on spending) have committed to supporting the company’s net-zero emissions goals, although these commitments have not yet gone through an independent audit or verification process.
Telecom
Nigeria Moves to End Solar Imports as NASENI, REA Seal Major Renewable Energy Deal

National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to promote locally manufactured renewable energy technologies under the Federal Government’s ‘Nigeria First Policy’.

L-R: EVC/CEO, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu; Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Abraham Adedokun; and Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), at the signing of the MoU on implementation of Nigeria First Policy for offtake of NSSENI’s renewable energy products for rural electrification projects held on Friday, June 19, 2026 at BPP’s office in Abuja.
The agreement signing was facilitated by the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Abraham Adedokun at the BPP headquarters in Abuja on Friday, June 19, 2026.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the Agency is focused on linking research, production, and commercialization to ensure that innovations are translated into market-ready products.
He said “NASENI would scale up renewable energy production, including solar panels and streetlights, through initiatives such as DefFrontier, to strengthen local manufacturing and reduce import dependence, adding that the Agency will meet the renewable energy requirements of REA.”
Instead of continuous importation of technologies, machines and equipment for producing renewable energy solutions, NASENI by this MoU will be committed to local manufacturing and domestication of the technologies, equipment and other ways and means of proliferation of renewable resource in the country and to increase the nation’s off-grid energy solutions.
The Managing Director/CEO of REA, Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, described the relationship with NASENI as a strategic partnership aimed at building Nigeria’s renewable energy ecosystem through local production and deployment.
He stated that “while NASENI provides the manufacturing and technological capacity for renewable equipment, REA will focus on deploying solutions to expand electricity across rural areas.”
Meanwhile, the Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Abraham Adedokun, said the Nigeria First Policy, exemplified by this agreement, is aimed at strengthening local content, ensuring value for money, and promoting accountability in public procurement.
He emphasized that implementation of the agreement will be performance-based, with strict monitoring to ensure compliance and measurable outcome. He added that the MoU is expected to deepen collaboration between NASENI and REA in expanding renewable energy and reducing dependence on imported technologies.
The MoU will be implemented through NASENI’s subsidiary company, NASENI Devfrontier Green Energy FZE and REA limited liability company, RAMco.The two Federal Government agencies seek to establish a strategic collaboration under which REA shall offtake PV modules, inverters, energy storage batteries of NASENI-Devfrontier Green Energy FZE directly or through its approved distribution companies/assembly and manufacturing factory.
As part of the agreement, REA shall provide institutional visibility to enable NASENI participate in electrification projects; facilitate opportunities for engagements between NASENI and eligible developers/contractors under REA programs; ensure that such facilitation is consistent with applicable procurement, local content, and transparency requirements; and also collaborate with NASENI in promoting standardized, high-quality PV technologies across its programme portfolio.
Telecom
TikTok, ICC Gather Nigeria’s Entrepreneurs to Drive Small Business Growth and Digital Transformation

TikTok, in collaboration with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), on Thursday convened hundreds of entrepreneurs, small business owners, digital creators and industry stakeholders in Lagos for a flagship Digital Commerce Labs (DCL) event aimed at accelerating digital skills development and economic inclusion across Sub-Saharan Africa.

TikTok
The event, supported by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), brought together participants from across Nigeria’s business and technology ecosystem to explore how digital platforms can be leveraged to scale enterprises, improve market access and drive job creation.
Speaking at the event, organisers said the initiative marks the beginning of a broader programme designed to train thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the region in digital commerce skills through both online and physical learning platforms.
According to TikTok, the partnership reflects its commitment to supporting small businesses and strengthening Africa’s growing digital economy.
“Digital commerce is reshaping how businesses grow across Sub-Saharan Africa, and Nigerian entrepreneurs are at the heart of that shift,” said Tokunbo Ibrahim, Acting Head of Government Relations and Public Policy, Sub-Saharan Africa, TikTok.
He said the initiative would ensure that small businesses benefit from emerging opportunities in social commerce and digital trade.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said digital platforms have evolved beyond entertainment and are now key drivers of economic growth and innovation.
He noted that Nigeria’s youth population and growing digital adoption position the country to benefit significantly from the expansion of online commerce and creator-led businesses.
“At NITDA, our vision is to make Nigeria a digitally enabled nation, fostering inclusive economic development through technological innovation,” he said.
The ICC Deputy Secretary General, Julian Kassum, described the programme as a strategic effort to equip small businesses with tools needed to compete in the global digital economy.
He said the Digital Commerce Labs initiative would help expand opportunities for trade, entrepreneurship and employment.
The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) also announced support for the programme through capacity-building training in financial literacy, business structuring, record keeping, taxation and legal advisory services. It said participating businesses would gain access to funding opportunities after completing the programme.
Data presented at the event showed that Nigeria’s social commerce sector is projected to reach $2.04 billion in 2025 and nearly $4 billion by 2030, while Africa’s wider market is expected to grow to $9.43 billion within the same period.
Speakers at the event noted that social media platforms have become central to business growth in Nigeria, with many SMEs relying exclusively on digital channels to reach customers and drive sales.
The programme also featured keynote presentations, business training sessions, and a creator economy spotlight where Nigerian entrepreneurs shared experiences on building brands and scaling businesses through digital platforms such as TikTok.
Organisers said the initiative is expected to strengthen digital literacy, expand market access for SMEs, and deepen Nigeria’s participation in the global digital economy.
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