Telecom
Government Intervention Required to Attract Investments in Telecom- Teniola
The Nigerian Telecommunications industry was once referred to as one of the fastest growing in the world. The situation is, however, a lot different today as many operators are faced with loss of revenue, largely due to the economic recession, over the top players, multiple taxation, insecurity and other issues.
I was recently with Olusola Teniola, President of the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, and he spoke at length on the some of the challenges in the Telecom industry and the way forward.
Olusola stated that, the reason why investors are not investing in the Telecom industry in Nigeria for now can be looked at from both the macro and the micro economic environment within Nigeria.
Having being in recession for more than two quarters, and the low growth rate of between 0.3% and 0.8%, which is not the kind of growth rate that an investor is looking to invest in. “Investors will be looking for high single digit or double digit growth rate regime to invest in”, he maintained.
He stated that Kenya and Ethiopia are the current leaders in the Telecom industry in Africa at the moment, with Nigeria and South Africa lagging behind. The recession, he declared, has made many capital projects to be put on hold in the Telecom industry which is capital intensive.
Olusola stated that the industry needs the government to create the enabling environment, as well as create a more stable foreign exchange regime because, the multitude of forex windows we currently have, is not encouraging the investor. He also stated that the debt facility problem being faced by about two of the players in the industry.
Speaking on how all these has impacted on the quality of service provided by these Telecom companies, Olusola stated that, there are two aspects to the quality of service provided and this is where the micro economic environment comes in. He emphasized that, one of them is the technical aspect of quality.
The NCC, he said, focuses on the technical aspect of it in terms of the KPI’s set and are usually driven by the ITU standards. The other aspect, he stated, has to do with capacity management, which has to deal with investments in networks. “If you look at the actual composition of the industry to date, there has been an investment of about $68billion, right from the time the industry was liberalized in 2001 to date and that represents quite a significant amount of Dollars flowing in”, he observed.
He emphasized that, about half of the $68billion investment, so far, came in through FDI, and if it is broken down further, only one operator has contributed 50% of that, as about $16billion came from only one operator, where we have many operators.
He opined, that, the investments, so far, has not covered the whole of Nigeria, hence, the industry is still in need of further injection of investment to grow. He said that there are about 150million subscribers where the networks have, so far, deployed in Nigeria.
He made it known that, services to these subscribers, is based on the infrastructure that we have, so far, which was built, predominantly, for voice, but which now also runs e-payments, mobile money, etc.
“You can see that, the struggle to try and keep up with the congestion requires that more capacity has to be put in place and that means funding”, he observed
When asked what he recommends as steps, going forward, Olusola stated that ATCON has always advocated that its members have their equipment and investments protected, which he reiterated, is significant.
He observed that, yes, ICT has now become critical to the success of the Nigerian economy, Telecom, however, is a key factor and an infrastructure player in Nigeria at the moment because, without the infrastructure, we cannot even use our smartphones for any other thing other than to using it for making the basic calls.
On security of the Telecom infrastructure, there has been a liaison with NCC and other security outfits, like the Nigerian Police, to protect these infrastructures.
The Association, he stated, also encourages the reporting of incidences of damages to infrastructures the more instead of just repairing the damages and keeping mum over the damages.
The idea, he maintained, is to raise awareness about the negative impact on the quality of services rendered, caused by tampering with Telecom facilities
Olusola is of the opinion that, it is not about the fact that, whether Floor pricing has to go or has to stay, but it is about innovation, competition and the best consumer choice. The extinction of the CDMA’s, he observed, had to do with the management of the companies involved as well as operating on a regional basis and not on national basis, rather than about pricing.
“The forces that dictate the market chose the GSM technology for many reasons, and one of the reasons is that the SIM card can be divorced from the device and the devices, in my opinion, are actually, more smarter and lovelier in the GSM realm than in the CDMA”, he concluded.
CFA is the Founder, www.CFAtech.ng & Co-producer/Presenter,Tech Trends on Channels Television
Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) has said that sustained collaboration among African countries remains central to the continent’s drive toward digital transformation.
The organisation stressed that building secure, interoperable and inclusive digital systems across Africa cannot be achieved in isolation, calling for stronger regional partnerships to accelerate innovation and shared infrastructure development.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Head of Corporate Communications at Galaxy Backbone, Chidi Okpala.
As it prepares to host a major delegation of policymakers, technology leaders and development partners in Abuja, GBB said the engagement would further highlight the importance of cross-border cooperation in shaping Africa’s digital future.
Okpala explained that the initiative is designed to provide both dialogue and practical exposure to Nigeria’s digital infrastructure ecosystem.
According to him, the visit will allow delegates to better understand how shared ICT systems are supporting governance and service delivery in the country.
“This engagement will provide an opportunity for African stakeholders to not only discuss policy frameworks but also see firsthand how digital public infrastructure is being deployed to improve efficiency, connectivity and innovation in the public sector,” Okpala said.
He added that GBB’s hosting role reflects its growing importance in advancing digital governance and infrastructure development across the continent.
“Galaxy Backbone is increasingly positioned as a key enabler of trusted digital infrastructure, and this engagement reinforces that role within Nigeria and beyond,” he noted.
Speaking ahead of the programme, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, said the future of Africa’s digital economy depends on the ability of countries to work together in building resilient systems.
“No single country can achieve the level of transformation required on its own. We must share knowledge, align strategies, and invest in systems that can serve the entire continent,” Adeyanju said.
According to the statement, the engagement will feature a continental dialogue themed “Building Africa’s Digital Foundations Together,” bringing together stakeholders from 11 African countries in Abuja.
The programme is being organised in partnership with Co-Develop, Smart Africa, and MicroSave Consulting, with discussions expected to focus on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), digital identity systems, secure connectivity, interoperability frameworks, and inclusive digital ecosystems.
GBB said delegates will also undertake a guided tour of its infrastructure and facilities in Abuja, where they will be exposed to Nigeria’s digital transformation journey and the systems supporting cloud services, cybersecurity, government connectivity, and digital platforms.
The company noted that the tour is intended to demonstrate how shared ICT infrastructure is strengthening governance and enabling more efficient public service delivery.
Participants are expected to explore practical pathways for accelerating the deployment of digital public infrastructure to support economic growth and institutional reforms across Africa.
GBB maintained that the initiative also confirms Nigeria’s position as a regional hub for digital innovation and infrastructure development, while deepening cooperation among African nations.
MTN Nigeria reinforced its commitment to supporting African storytelling and emerging creative talent at the 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Eko Hotels & Suites.
MTN Nigeria
Hosted by Bovi Ugboma and Nomzamo Mbatha, the star-studded event brought together some of the biggest names in African film, television, and entertainment for a night celebrating creativity, culture, and cinematic excellence.
As part of its participation at the Awards Night, MTN Nigeria sponsored the Best Short Film category, one of the standout moments of the evening aimed at recognising and rewarding emerging filmmakers shaping the future of African storytelling.
The award was presented by the General Manager, Enterprise Sales, MTN Nigeria, Febisola Oyeleye, alongside actor Jide Oyegbile.
The winning film, Hussaini, by filmmakers Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa, earned both the prestigious AMVCA recognition and a ₦5 million cash prize sponsored by MTN Nigeria.
Speaking during the presentation of the cash prize to the winners, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, reiterated MTN’s commitment to youth empowerment and supporting the creative industry through platforms that spotlight emerging talent.
According to her, the brand remains intentional about supporting young Nigerians who continue to push boundaries through creativity and storytelling. “At MTN, one of the things that we are so committed to is youth empowerment.
We believe that the youth of Nigeria are actually the future of the country. When we see young people being productive and coming out tops in what they do, it speaks to their commitment and ability to move beyond boundaries.
One of the ways we support the creative industry is through the short film category, and we are delighted to see deserving winners who are obviously on their way to great things,” she said.
The filmmakers behind Hussaini also celebrated the win, with one of the creators describing it as a defining moment after multiple nominations in the category.
“This is our last nomination in this category, and I’m excited we finally have it,” he said. “Next year, we are coming for Best Feature Film.”
Beyond the Awards Night, MTN’s presence throughout the AMVCA week extended to initiatives such as Young Filmmakers Day and the #MTNFilmChallenge, both designed to spotlight emerging talent and create opportunities for young creatives to tell authentic Nigerian and African stories through film and digital content.
With its continued investment in platforms that celebrate creativity and empower young storytellers, MTN Nigeria once again highlighted the important role partnerships can play in shaping the future of Africa’s entertainment industry.
MTN Nigeria strengthened its support for Nigeria’s creative economy by rewarding five emerging filmmakers through the #MTNFilmChallenge at the Young Filmmakers Day as part of the 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) week.
The event, which held at MultiChoice Studios Lagos, brought together young and aspiring filmmakers for a day of learning, collaboration, and celebration of African storytelling.
The #MTNFilmChallenge, a short-form film initiative inviting creators to share one to three-minute stories reflecting perspectives on Nigerian culture, hustle, and everyday life, drew entries from across the country. At the close of submissions, five standout filmmakers including Precious Aisa, Fitz-Williams Ochie, Ugwueze Jennifer, Anuyimika Ayomide, and Alexander Oshiame were rewarded with cash prizes worth ₦4,650,000 in total, while two other finalists received consolation prizes.
MTN reiterated its commitment to supporting Africa’s growing creative ecosystem by creating platforms that not only encourage creative expression but also expand visibility for young talents navigating the digital content space.
Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, said the company remains intentional about empowering young Nigerians and creating opportunities for emerging creatives to thrive within the entertainment industry. “At MTN, we strongly believe young people are central to Nigeria’s future, and it is always inspiring to see them pushing boundaries through creativity and storytelling.
“For us, supporting initiatives like the short film category and the #MTNFilmChallenge is about creating platforms where young creatives can be seen, encouraged, and celebrated. We are excited to see these filmmakers taking bold steps and telling authentic stories that reflect the richness of our culture and experiences,” she said.
The event also gave a platform for the next generation of storytellers to engage directly with established industry figures including Uche Jombo, Orire Nwani, Tamara Adeyemi, and Stan Eze through curated masterclasses and panel sessions.
As the opening event of AMVCA Week, Young Filmmakers Day set the tone for the celebrations ahead, reinforcing the Awards’ role not just as a platform for recognition, but as a catalyst for growth, collaboration, and innovation within Africa’s film and television industry.
With the 12th AMVCA underway, the focus remains on celebrating excellence while nurturing the next generation of storytellers shaping the future of African cinema.
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