Telecom
Gov. Okorocha Commends MTNF’s Blindness Prevention Programme
MTN Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility vehicle of leading ICT company, MTN Nigeria, has received glowing accolades on its implementation of the second phase of its highly successful Eyesight Restoration Intervention Scheme, MTNF EyeRIS, in Imo State.
At least 6,000 people are expected to be screened for cataract and other ocular diseases in Imo State and environs.
The initiative, which enjoys the endorsement of the Federal Ministry of Health, is being implemented in partnership with the Eye Foundation Centre for Prevention of Blindness (EFCPB) and in collaboration with the Imo State Ministry of Health.
At a colourful commencement ceremony at the Imo State Specialist Hospital, Umuguma, Owerri, Dr. Pascal Dozie, chairman of MTN Nigeria, stated that many cases of blindness and visual impairment in the country are preventable. He said the Foundation had in the last two years been actively engaged in the efforts to stop visual disabilities in country.
“MTN Nigeria takes it corporate social responsibility very seriously which is why we are perhaps the most visible Foundation in the country going to the nooks and crannies of Nigeria to implement key intervention programs in the areas of Education, Health and Economic Empowerment.”
Owelle Rochas Okorocha, governor of Imo state, commended the Foundation for availing the people of the state with free eye care and corrective surgeries.
He added that visionless is the worst thing that could ever happen to any people or society and that through MTNF’s effort, this problem would become a thing of the past.
“Early detection can prevent blindness or any other eye diseases; MTNF is joining the effort to curb blindness within the state, offering free eye care and cataracts surgeries to 6,000 patients which is a number that no other organisation has been able to impact. This intervention further demonstrates the strong partnership between the Imo State government and MTN Foundation in our shared value of assisting the poor and under-privileged in the society,” said Okorocha.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Nonny Ugboma, Executive Secretary of the MTN Foundation, said that about 4million Nigeria are estimated to be either blind or afflicted by some visual impediment.
“Under the first phase of the EyeRIS project launched in April 2013, a total of 33,364 patients in six states have been treated for cataracts and provided with drug packs to treat various ocular diseases. Some of these beneficiaries also received free surgery to remove cataract while others received glasses to treat presbyopia,” said Ugboma.
Ugboma also added that through the intervention, the Foundation hopes to contribute to increasing the cataract surgical rate from 0.1% to 0.7% in the selected states, as this is in consonance with the World Health Organization’s Vision 2020 Right to Sight initiative.
The beneficiaries, who turned out in thousands expressed gratitude for their restored eye sights and were full of praise for the MTN Foundation and the state government in making their dreams come true.
MTN Foundation currently has 341 project sites across the six geopolitical zones of the country and has spent over 10 billion on social projects in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment.
Aside from the three major portfolios, the Foundation also proactively responds to national emergencies, providing millions of naira worth of urgent relief materials to victims of such occurrences.
In the first phase of the MTNF EyeRIS project, Osun, Niger, Delta, Abia, Sokoto and Jigawa States benefitted from the intervention. Imo, Oyo and Akwa Ibom states will enjoy these free eye screenings and surgeries as well as the provision of glasses and drug packs in the program’s second phase.
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Telecom
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year
The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.
The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.
These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.
Here are some of the featured talents:
- Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
- Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
- Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
- Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
- David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
- Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.
Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.
Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.
Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.
However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.
For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.
Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023
Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs
Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network
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