Telecom
How MTN Foundation is Driving Youth Empowerment through Arts
The MTN Foundation has established various initiatives to support youth development in Nigeria, including ICT and Business Skills training, Employability workshops, and partnering with skilled creatives through theatre productions.
L-R; Ibukun Awosika, Chief Executive Officer, The Chair Centre Group: Dr. Omobola Johnson, Non-Executive Director, MTN Nigeria: Odunayo Sanya, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation: Bolanle Austen-Peters, Executive Producer, Death and the King’s Horseman: Yewande Zaccheaus, Chief Executive Officer, Eventful Limited and Olarotimi Fakunle, Lead Character, Death and the King’s Horseman at the command performance of the play Death and the King’s Horseman, sponsored by MTN Foundation, held at Terra Kulture Arena, Lagos
Recall that during the yuletide season, the foundation, partnered with skilled professionals to produce three stage plays in Lagos and Uyo. Ufok Ibaan, a dramatic recount of the 1929 women’s riot; Osamede the play, a story of an orphan girl who went from obscurity to the palace, and Death and the King’s Horseman, which is based on events that ensued when the chief horseman was required to commit suicide following the death of the king.
The Foundation has invested over N380 million in over 15 theatre productions including Legends the Musical, Saro The Musical, Kakadu the Musical, Fela and the Kalakuta Queens, Wakaa! the Musical, OMG the Musical, Agbarho the Musical, Emotan, Oba Esugbayi, High! The Stage Play, Jungle Story, Our Son the Minister, Five Maids of Fadaka
It is a known fact that the greatest asset of any country is its youths. They are the building blocks of a country, their energy, enthusiasm, and vibrance, enable them to learn quickly and adapt their skills to the environment. Every country requires the active participation of youths to achieve its development goals and continued progress.
Mazen Mroue, a non-executive director at MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, has resigned effective February 27, 2026, to prioritise other responsibilities within the MTN Group, the company announced in a Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) filing.
MTN Nigeria
The notice, signed by company secretary Uto Ukpanah, stated: “This is to enable Mr. Mroue to focus on other priorities within MTN Group Limited. The Board wishes to express its appreciation to Mr. Mroue for his immense service to MTN Nigeria and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”
Mroue joined MTN Nigeria’s board on June 1, 2022, bringing over 28 years of telecom experience. A veteran MTN executive, he previously served as CEO of MTN Uganda and MTN Liberia, non-executive director at MTN Cyprus, and held leadership roles at MTN Ghana.
Since February 2022, he has been MTN Group’s Chief Technology and Information Officer, overseeing technology strategy and governance. Earlier, as MTN Nigeria’s COO from August 2018 to January 2022, he also sat on the MTN Nigeria Foundation board.
The exit follows MTN Nigeria’s stellar 2025 results, posting a ₦1.70 trillion profit before tax—reversing a ₦550.3 billion loss in 2024 driven by forex woes—marking one of the telco’s strongest rebounds.
Google has rolled out support for Yorùbá and Hausa languages in its AI-powered Search features—AI Overviews and AI Mode—enabling millions of Nigerians to get quick answers, summaries, and conversational web exploration in their mother tongues.
The update forms part of Google’s push to cover 13 African languages, including Afrikaans, Akan, Amharic, Kinyarwanda, Afaan Oromoo, Somali, Sesotho, Kiswahili, Setswana, Wolof, and isiZulu, selected based on high search activity across the continent.
Now, a Kano student can ask complex questions in Hausa, while an Ibadan trader seeks business tips in Yorùbá—both receiving culturally nuanced AI responses via text or voice on Android, iOS, or web.
Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s West Africa Communications Manager, said: “Building truly global Search requires nuanced local understanding. With Gemini-powered AI, we’ve made advanced capabilities relevant in Yorùbá and Hausa, so Nigerians converse naturally with Search in their mother tongues.”
To use: Open the Google app, tap AI Mode, and query in Hausa or Yorùbá for personalised guidance—breaking language barriers and making technology reflect Nigeria’s diverse identity.
MultiChoice is closing its continental streaming platform Showmax after 11 years, notifying subscribers Thursday of the board’s decision to discontinue the service in the near future to refocus on sustainable digital offerings.
MultiChoice
The email assured no immediate disruption: “You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time.” Showmax, launched in South Africa in 2015 and expanded across Africa, offered movies, series, documentaries, and sports to rival Netflix and others amid rising online entertainment demand.
The shutdown follows Canal+’s approved takeover of MultiChoice last year, with the French giant offering ZAR 125 per share for remaining stakes.
The deal mandates HDP ownership boosts, local content investment, and splitting MultiChoice’s SA broadcasting arm into an independent entity to meet regulations.
MultiChoice prioritised subscribers during the transition, promising advance notice on timelines.
Showmax’s exit signals consolidation pressures in Africa’s cut-throat streaming market, where global players dominate despite local content strengths.
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