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Ernest Ndukwe Brings New Vibe to MTN, Industry

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The emergence of Ernest Ndukwe, telecom technocrat as the chairman of MTN Nigeria Plc, is a good match for his skills and experience; and fresh allure for the telecom giant.

 

Ndukwe, the father of modern telecommunications in Nigeria, is a charismatic leader who puts a lot of hard work into everything he does, and refuses to give up or take a rest.

 

A much sought after resource person both at home and abroad; Ndukwe’s work ethic is expected to rub off positively on MTN Nigeria.

 

MTN operations in Nigeria have seen both the good and ugly sides of Nigeria. And to some, the telco is a cash cow.

 

Ndukwe’s job at MTN may not be as envious considering the enormity of tasks ahead and mind-set of some Nigerians and government institutions about MTN.

 

Luckily, he has earned the reputation for doing ordinary things in extraordinary manners.

 

As a former executive vice chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Ndukwe preside over the building of an internationally respected institution.

 

Under his tenure at the NCC, the ICT industry witnessed tremendous growth and transformation, leading to what has been generally referred to as the era of Nigeria’s Telecommunication Revolution.

 

Ndukwe’s efforts have also been recognized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

 

The recognition with ITU Gold Medal Award to Ndukwe is “in recognition of his important contribution to global Information and communication technologies and to the work of ITU”.

 

Fondly called Mr. Telecoms, he is an Electrical/Electronics Engineer and a graduate of University of Ife and an alumnus of Lagos Business School.

 

A highly respected professional, and accomplished gentleman who has worked in private sector as chief executive of a notable telecoms firm; moved into government service at the helm of the industry regulatory agency as EVC of NCC and back to the private sector; and now chairman of MTN.

 

Patrick Ajudua, president, New Dimension Shareholders Association, expressed optimism, that the new MTN Board headed by Dr. Ernest Ndukwe will ensure transparency, compliance with corporate governance, and value addition to the shareholders.”

 

In a similar vein, Taiwo Oderinde, president Proactive Shareholders Association, urged the new board to shun any corporate governance lapses capable of dragging the image of the firm through the mud.

 

He noted, “The new Chairman, Dr. Ndukwe, is a man with a wealth of experience and connections in the telecommunications sector. As a one-time head of NCC, I believe with the support of other members of the board, he will bring this to bear in his new responsibility. I congratulate him and he should not let the shareholders and other stakeholders down.”

 

Nodding in agreement, Olusol Teniola, president, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), said the appointment is healthy for the industry.

 

Teniola said: “Mr Telecom has provided us with his wisdom and unbiased opinion as to the direction of the industry at large. MTN has acquired a statesman and a knowledgable practitioner to man their ship. We look forward to working with him and his board to continue to grow this industry to its fullest potential.”

 

Ndukwe, who is no stranger to local and international honours, holds the national honour of  Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR).

 

He is a good endorsement for MTN.


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Telecom

FG Plans EO to Criminalise Fiber Cable Damage Costing Telcos Billions

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Nigeria will criminalize the destruction of broadband fiber cables following repeated complaints by MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and other telecommunications companies that they are losing billions of naira, according to people familiar with the matter.

FG Plans EO to Criminalise Fiber Cable Damage Costing Telcos Billions

Federal ministry of works, which supervises federal road constructors, is finalizing the regulation that will be signed as an executive order by President Bola Tinubu, said the people, asking not to be identified as they weren’t authorized to comment.

While there are presently laws against vandalism, the authorities are aiming to regulate construction firms more closely.

The order will enforce stiff penalties on offenders, said the people, declining to provide more details or say when it will be signed.

“Telecom assets are critical backbone that supports the economy across sectors,” said Temitope Ajayi, a senior presidential aide, who noted that the Association of Telecommunications Companies (ATCON) has been demanding the classification for years.

New rules will provide “further assurance that the Nigerian government will protect their investments against vandals and criminal elements.”

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) estimates that the sector will make up more than a fifth of the country’s gross domestic product by the end of 2027, up from 13.5% in the third quarter of last year.

The move will help alleviate pressure on the telecoms sector, which is facing increased operating costs and sales pressures from a sharp depreciation in the currency and a threefold increase in energy prices.

Repairs and revenue losses from damaged cables is estimated to have cost the sector almost 27 billion naira ($23 million) last year alone, documents seen by Bloomberg show.

MTN Nigeria, the biggest wireless operator in Africa’s most-populous nation, and Airtel Africa Plc bore the brunt of the costs, the documents show.

MTN suffered more than 6,000 cuts on its fiber cable last year, the documents show. On Feb. 28, a cut on its network in three different locations by a road construction firm, an oil serving company and someone burning rubbish in a manhole meant customers faced more than five hours of data and voice outages.

The operator relocated 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles) of vulnerable fiber cables between 2022 and 2023, at a cost of more than 11 billion naira – enough to build 870 kilometers of new fiber lines to areas without coverage.

A presidential order on the matter would be welcomed, said Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria.

“When it comes to communication infrastructure, they are destroyed at will, so we are eagerly awaiting the president’s order,” he said. “It would be a great boost to the industry, and it will also encourage investment.”

 

 


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Telegram Eyes 1Bn Users amidst Political Pressures

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Telegram, the messaging giant founded by Pavel Durov and headquartered in Dubai, anticipates hitting a remarkable milestone of one billion active monthly users within the next year.

Durov’s departure from Russia in 2014, prompted by governmental pressures to stifle opposition communities on his VK social media platform, underscores Telegram’s commitment to neutrality despite geopolitical challenges.

With 900 million active users currently, Telegram stands as a beacon of free speech in the digital realm, particularly influential in former Soviet Union republics and pivotal during conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine standoff.

Durov’s staunch advocacy for freedom of expression and opposition to censorship by tech giants like Apple and Google reinforces Telegram’s status as a neutral platform.

Opting for the UAE as its base, Durov cites its neutrality and openness as conducive to Telegram’s ethos, serving both opposition groups and governments alike while maintaining impartiality.

In Durov’s vision, the pursuit of freedom eclipses material gain, shaping Telegram’s trajectory as a bastion of digital liberation.

 

 


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NITDA, NIMC Announce Collaboration To Strengthen Digital Economy

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To further strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have announced a collaboration on National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to enhance and create synergy between digital identity, payment ecosystem, and secure & seemless data exchange capabilities for Nigeria.

During the meeting between the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, and Director General of NIMC, Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, with some management staff of both organisations, they discussed various initiatives, which include building DPI stacks for a secured and seamless data exchange and forming partnerships to transform the national identity system.

This collaboration also aims to harness the potential of the innovative ecosystem and emphasise the use of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to drive digital transformation in Nigeria.

To ensure a smooth implementation, a 12-man committee was set up. This committee will play a crucial role in kickstarting and harmonising the initiatives. It is expected to deliver a comprehensive implementation report within the next 4 weeks


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