Telecom
Girls in ICT Day: TD Africa Partners Dell Nigeria, IBM to Empower 50 School Girls
It was a rain of laptops for 50 selected school girls on Thursday, May 27, 2021 as TD Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest technology, solutions and lifestyle distributor hosted the beneficiaries to the second edition of its Girls in ICT Day event.
The event, hosted at the Tech Experience Centre, located at the imposing Yudala Heights on Idowu Martins, Victoria Island, Lagos, will go down in history as arguably one of the most potentially life-changing empowerment sessions for the Nigerian girl child.
In addition to the donation of a laptop to each participating school girl, in partnership with the Nigerian team of foremost technology brand, Dell Technologies; 10 exceptional girls from the five participating schools were also selected for enrollment in a digital skill acquisition programme by multinational technology company, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM).The visibly elated girlsexpressed their gratitude to the organizers of the event, with a promise to utilize their new gifts judiciously for personal and professional improvement.
The event was organized under the auspices of This is Me, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of TD Africa.
Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), TD Africa, Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, urged the young girls to develop a life-long learning habit, with the aim of making themselves valuable in their immediate environment and to the society.
“Never stop learning. Learning should be part of your routine now and forever. Wherever you find yourself, you must leave a footprint. All through your life, you will come across a few yeses. Be encouraged by those yeses, and be grateful for them. On the other hand, you will also come across lots of noes. However, be challenged by them, with the aim to make yourself a better version of yourself. So, even the noes have their roles. This is because the more noes you tell me, the better I become,’’ Mrs. Ekeh said.
The TD Africa boss further told the girls to be ready to pay the price for a successful life by working hard. Equally important, she counselled them to strive for professional and financial independence, noting that there are no barriers or glass ceilings that can hold back a confident woman. Mrs. Ekeh disclosedthat life would always come with its own challenges, adding that when such challenges come, they should avoid adopting a defeatist approach to solving such problems.
Her advice came as the Country Manager, Apple, Teju Ajani, also encouraged the teenage girls to embrace the STEM disciplines, with a view towards pursuing a career in technology which remains a male-dominated sector.
“It (STEM education) gives you flexibility, it gives you the room to navigate. It empowers you to make decisions that can affect your life and allows you to take your career in your hands, whether as a professional working for others or as an entrepreneur working for yourself.”
On his part, Country Lead, Dell Technologies, Mr. Abimbola Owoeye, encouraged the girls to strive to become value creators, adding that the value they bring to the table will make room for them and break down any discriminatory walls aligned to gender inequality.
Earlier, Coordinating Managing Director (CMD), TD Africa, Mrs. Chioma Chimere, statedthat there were many challenges facing the girl child.
“Our challenges are a bit different from the ones that confront the male children. Ours are more intense and more serious,” Chimere said. “Do you know why that is happening? It is because the girl child is carrying destinies with her. What the girl child is supposed to do goes way beyond her. This is because you are not just fixing things out there in the world; you are also going to shape other people’s destinies.”
She stated that such realization made TD Africa to organize the session, with the aim of empowering young girls to face the future courageously.
“That is why we consider it pertinent to bring together these female children today. This is because of how important they are. The future of your homes, communities, country and the world in general lies in your hands. We have called you here to equip you, open your eyes to those roles, to help you identify them and equip you to face them. If you fail in taking up those challenges and harnessing the available opportunities from those challenges, you would have failed yourselves and your generation,” she said.
While addressing the girls, Ekinadese Osayande, a leading independent university admission counsellor, advised the girls to become more inquisitive about the pervasive influence of technology in contemporary society, even as she noted that the participants also have a role to play in ensuring that less informed parents/wards understand the relevance of empowering the girl child.
Head of the Tech Experience Centre, Chidalu Ekeh, went down memory lane to show the girls how she overcame defeatist advices to take a successful stand on issues that would have defined her negatively. She counselled the students not allow themselves to be consumed by the fear of failure.
“We must fail and find the strength to continue,” she said. “We must dare to dream.”
Also, a University Relations Analyst with IBM, Olufunmilola Olorundare, advised the girls to develop an open mindset. “We can do whatever we want to do, as far as we have an open mindset,” she said.
This is Me, a CSR initiative bankrolled by TD Africa, has consistently engaged vulnerable and under-represented segments of the society, including the girl child, the physically-challenged and children in orphanages, among others.
Sunil Mittal led Bharti Airtel has crossed the 650-million customer mark globally, fortifying its position as the world’s second-largest telecom operator by mobile subscriber base, as per a regulatory filing by the telecom operator.
“According to GSMA Intelligence, Bharti Airtel is ranked second globally by mobile customer base, with operations spread across India and Africa,” the filing said.
Commenting on this milestone, Gopal Vittal, executive vice chairman, Bharti Airtel, said: “Achieving the milestone of 650 million customers to be the second largest operator globally is a great responsibility for us to serve our customers better every day,”
He added that the telco strives to raise the bar on innovation, reliability, and experience so that every customer interaction is an opportunity to earn trust and deliver value connection.
Currently, Airtel India serves around 368 million mobile customers, meanwhile over 179 million users have been plugged into its subsidiary Airtel Africa spread across 14 countries.
Its mobile money platform, Airtel Money reached more than 52 million customers.
Additionally, the telco serves around 13 million homes with high-speed internet services and over 15 million through its Digital TV offering.
With operations spanning 15 countries and network coverage reaching over two billion people, analysts say that the latest milestone is a testimony to the natural curve of evolving from a telecom operator into a broader digital services provider.
Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has insisted that telecommunications operators must compensate subscriber for poor quality of service after a facility tour of major telecommunications operators in Lagos yesterday.
The team comprises of Chief Idris Olorunnimbe the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), EVC, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and other stakeholders visited MTN Nigeria, Globacom and Airtel Nigeria.
Earlier this week, the commission directed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to provide compensation to subscribers whose network quality of service experience is below specified targets within certain locations.
In a statement signed by Nnenna Ukoha, head, Public Affairs Department, NCC, the commission noted that its position is that subscribers should not be made to bear the full burden of service disruptions where operators fail to meet prescribed standards of service delivery.
Speaking after the facility tour the EVC, said: “We are in a situation where Nigerians are yearning for better service, but better service requires infrastructure. We are not where we want to be or where we need to be, but from what I’ve seen today, I am reassured that the operators are continuing to invest. I urge Nigerians to be a little bit patient while these investments are made, so that we can address the infrastructure deficit that is required to improve service for Nigerians.
“I wasn’t expecting that a tour like this would change that directive. We looked at it and we said the fairest thing to do was for subscribers to be compensated. This is not to say that the operators have not tried. Service has improved. The data shows that our demand is also increasing at a rate faster than the infrastructure is being built. So Nigerians have to be a little bit patient. From what I’ve seen today and all the work that has been done, I’m confident that gap will be close shortly”.
Chief Idris Olorunnimbe, chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), added: “From what we have seen, and what has been done. We have been told in detail what is to come. And I mean, just like the EVC said, all we need is a bit more patience, better service, deeper penetration is assured based on everything that we’ve seen, and everything we have heard.
“It’s also important to commend our operators. The infrastructure that we’ve seen is comparable with any infrastructure from any telecom operator anywhere in the world, and Nigeria is not behind, and based on what we’ve also seen in terms of their plans for expansion, Nigeria will always be able to compete with any other country in the world.
” More so, drop calls are not deliberate. They are caused by a few things. One of it is fiber cut and attacks or vandalization of towers and other infrastructure. But now, it has reduced. We have seen they’ve shown us data today that shows a significant reduction. It will continue to reduce. As the critical national infrastructure program deepens and we’re also about to introduce an accountability framework of “when fiber is damaged, you must fix it”. That way we think that people will be more responsible with their constructions that breach telecom infrastructure. Then we can keep those incidents to the barest minimum, drop calls would also reduce.
“However, when calls drop, the networks also lose so it’s not in their interest for your calls to drop or for you to experience frustration when you use the service, because the more reliable it is, the longer you spend on it, the longer you spend on it, the more money they’re able to make. So, they are also doing their best in terms of ensuring that these incidents are reduced to the barest minimum”.
Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has underscored the importance of collaboration between government institutions and emerging startups as a catalyst for Nigeria’s digital transformation and national development.
Speaking at the Nigerian Satellite Week 2026 in Abuja, themed “Harnessing Space Technology for an Extraordinary Nigeria,” Inuwa urged stakeholders to embrace partnerships as a pathway to innovation and impact.
“Take a good step, and you can make a difference,” he said, emphasizing the need to translate ideas into tangible outcomes through collective effort.
The NITDA boss, represented by the Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Aristotle Onumo, during his presentation on “Enhancing collaboration between government agencies and emerging start-ups”, outlined four guiding principles for driving transformation: enabling the ecosystem rather than controlling it; prioritising networks over institutions; developing talent while supporting innovation and adopting practical solutions; and focusing on platforms rather than isolated projects.
To illustrate the power of digital innovation, Inuwa shared the story of a rural farmer whose productivity challenges ranging from unstable rents to failed loans were overcome through access to digital tools and networks. He explained that such incremental interventions can scale into broader economic gains, ultimately contributing to national infrastructure like satellite systems.
“This is the power of space technology, and it shows why events like this are so important,” he noted.
Highlighting the evolving role of space technology, Inuwa observed that startups are increasingly driving innovation across telecommunications, navigation, security, and cloud services. Once dominated by global superpowers, the sector is now emerging as a key economic driver, with Nigeria’s “Sunrise Packet” projected to contribute over $1.5 billion to the economy by 2030.
“Innovation without adoption is wasted,” he added, stressing the critical role of government in enabling start-ups to scale through supportive policies, infrastructure, and incentives.
According to him, developmental regulation should focus on creating markets, orchestrating ecosystems, and delivering public value rather than stifling innovation. He pointed to several initiatives supporting the growth of Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, including the Digital Start-Up Act, Idea Hatch, and the National Digital Leadership Programme, all designed to empower young innovators and connect them to global opportunities.
He further highlighted platforms such as GITEX Africa, GITEX Nigeria, and Digital Nigeria, which provide visibility for start-ups and attract investment, partnerships, and mentorship.
Inuwa concluded with a strong call for collaboration among government, start-ups, non-governmental organisations, and investors, describing Nigeria’s youth as the country’s greatest asset.
“If we are going to create a digital Nigeria, we must collaborate,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Tijani, described Nigeria’s satellite infrastructure as central to the nation’s digital future.
“Nigeria is the only West African country with its own satellite. NigComSat provides critical connectivity and resilience, benefiting not just Nigeria but the entire region,” he said.
Tijani disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the acquisition of NigComSat-2A and NigComSat-2B, a move expected to significantly enhance the country’s space capabilities.
He stressed, however, that infrastructure alone is not sufficient.
“What truly matters is how we leverage this technology to improve agriculture, education, security, and business operations,” he said.
The Minister also highlighted key government investments, including a ₦12 billion digital economy research cluster fund under Project Bridge, which will support academics and researchers nationwide. He added that Nigeria is expanding its digital backbone through 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables, nearly 4,000 telecom towers in underserved communities, and new satellite deployments to strengthen regional connectivity across countries such as Cameroon, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, and the Republic of Benin.
“The talent, ideas, and energy are all here in Nigeria. It is up to us to turn them into real outcomes for our people and the economy,” Tijani added.
The Nigerian Satellite Week continues to provide a strategic platform for collaboration among government, start-ups, academia, and the private sector, fostering innovation and reinforcing Nigeria’s leadership in Africa’s digital and space economy.
Welcoming participants, the Managing Director of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Jane Nkechi Egerton-Ideyen, said Nigeria’s space programme is entering a new phase marked by deliberate and focused growth.
She pointed to strengthened institutional capacity, expanding partnerships, and clear economic gains, noting that the agency’s revenue grew from less than $650 million in 2023 to over $2 billion in 2025. She attributed this surge to key reforms, new commercial deals, and increasing demand for satellite broadband services across the African continent.
Egerton-Ideyen also disclosed that Nigeria has launched seven space assets in just over two decades, adding that the country is shifting its focus from prestige-driven initiatives to practical outcomes—enhancing connectivity, improving livelihoods, and promoting inclusive development.
She further revealed that more than 500 young Nigerians received training in satellite technology within the past year, while over 50 startups have benefited from NIGCOMSAT’s accelerator programme.
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