Telecom
Encomiums as Okodu Bows out of NCC
Durojaiye Anthony Okodu is an unusually calm, friendly, stylish and very considerate staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). A man without negative airs, yet he carries himself with the avuncular grace.
His physical persona is marked by an exceptional gait that matches his physique. A man of naturally tall framing devoid of excessive fat that makes him able to move swiftly and magisterially. Importantly, Okodu’s humility and affable disposition easily endear him to everyone.
So, expectedly, last Friday, April 8, 2022, staff of NCC gathered at the imposing auditorium of the Commission’s Head Office Annex at Mbora District, Abuja, to honour Okodu, also known as “Baba Naira”, as he bowed out of NCC having reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 years and after 28 years of meritorious service.
Okudu began his career at the Commission in July 1994, as a cashier on transfer from the erstwhile Ministry of Communications, where he was headhunted by a former director of the Commission, Felicia Onwuegbuchulam. From then on, he had risen through the ranks, before eventually retiring as a Principal Manager, Projects, at NCC.
At the well-attended valedictory session, staff, friends, and well-wishers of Okudu, paid glowing tributes in torrents to the man who can aptly be described as man of the people. Many were nostalgic and poignant while others were joyous, optimistic and tellingly introspective that Okodu would thrive in the next phase of his life.
In her remark, the NCC’s Director, Projects, Iyabode Solanke, who is Okodu’s last supervisor before his retirement, and who was Okodu’s head of Department while they both worked at the Commission’s Department of Financial Services, extolled the retiree for his dedication, as well as his dressing code and excellent work ethics, which she said are worthy of emulation. Sholanke was represented by a Deputy Director in the department, Philip Eretan, who also attended the valedictory session in his own capacity as a friend of Okodu.
In the same vein, NCC’s Director, Zonal Operations, Amina Shehu, in her goodwill message, stated that in every interaction she had with Okodu, she had observed his stellar qualities, such as empathy, kindness, and gentleness. She added that he was also consistent in everything he did.
For Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, who also attended the valedictory party, anyone would be easily impressed by Okodu’s level of dedication to duty, which has become a mark of Okodu’s outings and career at the Commission. Adinde said that Okodu was not merely ever-present whenever he was needed most, he also, every so often, displays emotional intelligence, and never lost his temper no matter the level of provocation. “I am also impressed by Okodu’s social networking skills which had enabled him to remain connected with every staff,” Adinde emphasised.
The Director, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, at the Commission, Ephraim Nwokonneya, profoundly recalled the attributes exhibited by Okodu that are so quite distinctive when he had the opportunity of working with Okodu in the Financial Services Department of the Commission.
Nwokonneya said when he was assigned to the Department of Financial Services of the Commission as a Principal Manager, he had worked closely with Okodu, who characteristically was full of zeal and energy. He said Okodu was very efficient and easily endeared himself to everyone. Nwokonneya encouraged him to look at retirement as a time of rejuvenation, reflection and prosperity.
A longtime companion and friend of Okodu, who was so evidently elated at Okodu’s befitting retirement, Olatokunbo Oyeleye, a Deputy Director at the New Media and Information Security Department of the Commission, said Okodu made her beginnings at the Commission a wonderful experience.
“To Oyeleye, Okodu is more than a colleague, “he is a brother,” she said and proceeded to recall with gratitude when she joined the Commission as a fresh graduate, “Okodu and his wife accommodated me, taking me under their wings”.
This humane side of Okudu was underscored by Hafsat Lawal, Head, Consumer Policy Development and Monitoring, who asserted that Okudu was a mentor and a friend in need.
“He is reliable and dependable, exuding high level of understanding in all matters and he would go out of his way to ensure everyone was comfortable,” Lawal said.
Former staff of the Commission were also not left out of the celebration. Among them, who attended and poured encomiums on Okodu, are Felicia Onwuegbuchulam, who retired from NCC as Director Consumer Affairs two years ago, and Abubakar Yakubu, a former Director at the Commission who voluntarily retired in 2019.
Onwuegbuchulam, a noted friend and confidant of Okodu who influenced Okodu to join the Commission 28 years ago, said she had no regrets in recommending Okudu to the Management of the Commission at the time.
She said she was gratified that Okodu did not only had a chequered career at the Commission, he also excelled remarkably.
Yakubu, in a goodwill message he sent to the valedictory programme which was read on his behalf, praised Okodu for his dedication to the Commission.
He declared that Okodu was one of the few staff who would work long hours, and would even work at home. He added that Okodu’s commitment and relentlessness to delivering on his assigned duties were total and spectacular.
Okudu, who spoke at the end of the speeches, thanked the audience and all those who had honoured him with their presence and kind words. Reflecting on the occasion with philosophical calmness and thanksgiving to God, Okodu said there had to be an end to every beginning but he thanked God for the privilege to witness his retirement day alive. While expressing delight over all the goodwill messages received, he enjoined the younger staff who would be taking over the baton, to be hardworking. He also advised that Commission can only thrive if staff remain hardworking in a consistent manner, and are dedicated and loyal to the Commission.
Other contributors at the event included Ajoke Atte, Head, Procurement; Solomon Igbayue, Assistant Director, Policy Competition and Economic Analysis; Emeka Nnama, Senior Manager, Zonal Operations; and Anthony Bassey, Senior Manager, Administration, all staff of the Commission who extolled Okodu’s distinctive virtues and dedication to the aspirations of the Commission. They all wished Okodu a life of grace and bliss in retirement.
Airtel Africa’s profit after tax grew to $586 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2025, up from $248 million in the corresponding period of 2024.
According to the company’s nine-month financial results released on Friday, the higher profit after tax in the current period was driven by higher operating profit and derivative and foreign exchange gains of $99 million, as compared to $153 million in derivative and foreign exchange losses in the prior period.
It disclosed that the group’s revenues in reported currency increased by 28.3 percent to $4,667 million, with constant currency growth of 24.6 percent. Reported currency revenue growth at a premium to constant currency growth reflects currency appreciation in key markets. In Q3’26, constant currency revenue growth improved to 24.7 percent from 24.2 percent in the previous quarter (Q2’26).
“Constant currency revenue growth was supported by tariff adjustments driving a 50.6 percent growth in Nigeria and a strong performance in Francophone Africa, which saw revenues accelerate to 17.0 percent in the nine months.”
In Nigeria, revenue grew by 50.4 percent in constant currency, largely driven by continued strength in the demand for data services, further supported by the tariff adjustments. The constant currency revenue growth was driven by ARPU growth of 39.6 percent and customer base growth of 7.8 percent.
“In reported currency, revenue grew by 52.1 percent to $1,123 million, with Q3’26 revenue growth accelerating to 70.9 percent compared to constant currency growth of 52.9 percent.
“Significantly higher reported currency growth during the quarter compared to constant currency growth was due to the appreciation in Nigerian naira from a weighted average NGN/USD rate of 1,627 in Q3’25 to NGN/USD 1,456 in the current quarter,” it disclosed.
Insights from Airtel’s financials revealed that voice revenue in Nigeria grew by 35.8 percent in constant currency, driven by voice ARPU growth of 26.0 percent, reflecting the tariff adjustments earlier in the year.
Data revenue also grew by 65.4 percent in constant currency as a function of both data customer and data ARPU growth of 8.0 percent and 49.7 percent, respectively. Data usage per customer increased by 26.2 percent to 10.7 GB per month (from 8.4 GB in the prior period), with smartphone penetration increasing 4.6 percent to reach 54.1 percent. Smartphone data usage per customer reached 13.4 GB per month compared to 11.2 GB per month in the prior period.
Sunil Taldar, chief executive officer, said these results highlight the strength of our strategy, with strong operating and financial trends across the business.
He added that “During the quarter, we accelerated investment to enhance coverage and data capacity while also expanding our fibre network. Coupling this investment with innovative partnerships strengthens our customer proposition and positions us to capture the considerable growth opportunity across our markets.
Digitisation, technology innovation, and embedding AI in our processes will also optimise the customer experience with increased digital offerings and closer integration of GSM and Airtel Money services, allowing us to unlock the strong demand across our markets.
Smartphone adoption continues to increase with a penetration of 48.1 percent, and we are seeing solid progress in the development of our home broadband business, reflecting the need for reliable, high-speed connectivity across our markets.
“Our push to enhance financial inclusion across the continent continues to gain momentum with our Mobile Money customer base expanding to 52 million, surpassing the 50 million milestone.
Annualised total processed value of over $210 billion in Q3’26 underscores the depth of our merchants, agents, and partner ecosystem and remains a key player in driving improved access to financial services across Africa. We remain on track for the listing of Airtel Money in the first half of 2026.
“Disciplined execution on cost efficiency, alongside accelerating revenue growth, has enabled another sequential improvement in our quarterly EBITDA margin to 49.6 percent, underpinning constant currency EBITDA growth of 31 percent, and we remain focused on driving further incremental margin improvements.
“Our strategic priorities remain clear: to continue investing in best-in-class connectivity, accelerate financial inclusion through our mobile money platform, and deliver an exceptional customer experience. These results reinforce our confidence in the long-term potential of our markets and our ability to create value for all our stakeholders,” he added.
David Adeoye Abodunrin, Africa’s foremost AI transformations coach and internationally recognised futurist, has declared that the continent’s immense potential can only be unlocked when purpose is aligned with strategic intelligence.
David Adeoye Abodunrin
Speaking to ICT editors in Lagos, Abodunrin—renowned for nearly three decades of multidisciplinary expertise spanning artificial intelligence disruption, digital governance, behavioural intelligence, cybersecurity, and human capital transformation—said Africa must embrace AI as a transformational frontier rather than a mere tool.
“AI is not merely a tool, it is a transformational frontier that can unlock prosperity, resilience and leadership for Africans in the global digital era,” Abodunrin stated.
Abodunrin, widely sought after by C-suite executives, policymakers, founders and institutional boards, is recognised internationally as a foresight architect and strategic transformation coach. His mission, he explained, is to help individuals, governments and organisations engineer strategic advantage through anticipatory intelligence and ethically aligned innovation.
His work focuses on decoding emergent AI and intelligence systems that reshape markets, redefine competitive advantage, and enable sovereign digital ecosystems.
He is also a 14-time international bestselling author whose frameworks integrate behavioural psychology, foresight strategy and digital sovereignty to prepare leaders for future complexities. Through his organisations, including Cubed Integrated Consulting and Cyberfore Consulting, Abodunrin equips governments, boards, and enterprises with tools to build secure, future-ready institutions that thrive amid volatility.
He stressed that Africa’s transformation must be rooted in local contexts and values, not imported wholesale from global models.
“In Africa, transformation must not just follow global models, it must reflect our cultures, our challenges and our collective aspirations,” he emphasised. “This continent holds immense potential; we simply need to align purpose with strategic intelligence to unlock it.”
His coaching and advisory services emphasise strategic AI governance tailored for African economies, executive and leadership transformation for sustained institutional resilience, digital and cyber intelligence frameworks to protect sovereign infrastructure, and behavioural intelligence and insights for inclusive growth and innovation.
Despite his international recognition, Abodunrin insists that his philosophy centres on African solutions for African realities—developing local talent, embedding ethical AI adoption, and fostering foresight strategies that account for Africa’s unique socio-economic ecosystems.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and consumer protection with the release of its Q4 2025 Network Performance Report.
NCC
Speaking at a media engagement in Abuja, the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr. Abraham Oshadami, said the Commission’s proactive disclosure of industry data is designed to strengthen public trust and ensure service providers remain accountable to consumers.
“Transparency for us has become a guiding principle that underpins our regulatory approach. Open access to information strengthens the industry, builds public trust, and reinforces accountability among operators,” Oshadami stated.
He recalled that in 2025, the NCC partnered with Ookla to develop nationwide Network Coverage Maps, giving consumers objective tools to compare network quality across locations and operators. The Commission also began publishing quarterly performance reports, with the Q3 2025 edition released in October.
Oshadami noted that the Q4 2025 report shows measurable improvements in network performance and in the quality of experience delivered to consumers. He urged the media to critically engage with the data and help amplify stories of progress, accountability, and reform.
In her remarks, the Head of Public Affairs Department, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, described the media as indispensable partners in shaping public understanding of the telecommunications sector.
“Your reporting shapes the national narrative around telecommunications. It affects investor confidence, consumer trust, and policy direction. It influences how Nigerians understand the technologies that power their daily lives,” she said.
Ukoha stressed that the Commission’s quarterly reports provide rich material for news coverage, investigative reporting, and sector monitoring. She encouraged journalists to adopt constructive framing in their reporting—highlighting progress alongside challenges, and reflecting the investments and innovations driving industry resilience.
The engagement session, held at the Commission’s headquarters, provided journalists with access to the Q4 2025 data and contextual insights to aid accurate reporting. Both officials reiterated that the NCC’s goal is to ensure that reforms, accountability measures, and improvements in service delivery are widely understood and properly communicated to the Nigerian public.
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