In keeping with its mission to raise awareness of mental health issues, 9mobile hosted an enlightening virtual X-space event on the subject: “Navigating Mental Health in a Digital World” on X-space in commemoration of World Mental Health Day.

This year’s theme, “Mental Health at Work,” shines a spotlight on the importance of ensuring universal access to mental health care. To drive this critical conversation forward, our esteemed lineup of speakers included: Dr. Olalekan Makinde, renowned Consultant and expert in Community/Public Health, Dr. Alexandra Odiari, a distinguished specialist in mental health, Dr. Olayinka Jibunoh, a seasoned Psychologist and Mental Health Advocate and Amara Esomchi, a Certified Mental Health Therapist and Counselor.

These health experts tackled the pressing issue of mental health stigma and explored the vital role social media can play in championing mental wellness.

Commenting on the initiative, Chineze Amanfo, 9mobile’s PR Lead, stated: “We’re honored to support this vital conversation. Mental health awareness is increasingly essential in today’s digital landscape, where connectivity can sometimes mask feelings of isolation. Through platforms like X-space and beyond, 9mobile is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections and discussions.”

“One of the core pillars of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is health and we have made targeted interventions in the health sector. Looking ahead, we are committed to continuing this trajectory, leveraging every opportunity to drive meaningful impact through our direct efforts,” Amanfo stated.

Dr. Olalekan Makinde stated, “Health is a priceless asset, and it is one we cannot afford to take lightly. He emphasized that people must put a premium on their mental health. In the fast-moving tech world, caring for your mind is as important as advancing your career or business.

“Mental well-being is the foundation for lasting success and fulfillment.”

Therapist and Mental Health Advocate, Amara Esomchi, further emphasized, “Health is all-encompassing—it is not just about physical well-being but also mental and emotional balance”.

She discussed the crucial role of social connections in maintaining this balance. “On one hand, strong social bonds can provide support, encouragement, and a sense of belonging.

“On the other hand, if not carefully managed, unhealthy relationships or social pressures can lead to stress and anxiety. It is essential to build meaningful connections that nurture your well-being, both personally and professionally.”

Dr. Alexandra Odiari stressed the importance of treating mental health with the same attention as physical health. “By normalizing conversations around mental wellness and eliminating stigmatization, we create a society where seeking help is seen as a strength, not a weakness.”

Dr. Olayinka Jinunoh noted that in today’s digital age, we must be mindful of how we engage with social media and learn to practice digital hygiene. “The importance of social media detox is a way to maintain mental clarity and well-being.

“Constant online engagement can lead to stress and taking intentional breaks allows the mind to reset, stay focused, and remain mentally alert. It is essential to find balance and practice self-care in our digital habits.

The telecommunications company understands the importance of mental health in the fast-paced, technologically driven world of today, just as much as physical health.

Hence the need to raise awareness on the value of mental health among its subscribers, employees, and the larger Nigerian community by facilitating the conversations on online platforms such as X-space.

Following the completion of its award ceremony in Enugu and Abuja, MTN Foundation has hosted the final ceremony in Lagos, awarding over 1000 students with scholarships and grants.

The Scholarship is an annual programme under the Foundation’s Youth Development portfolio, that recognizes and rewards high-performing students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses, and Blind students in Nigerian public tertiary institutions.

The Top 10 scoring candidates of the Unified Matriculation Examination (UTME) also benefit from this programme.

In attendance was the Hon. Olatubosun Alake, the Honorable Commissioner of Innovation, Science & Technology in Lagos State; Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, Honorable Commissioner of Youth and Social Development in Lagos State; Dr Ogun Ayoteju, Deputy Director, Nigeria Universities Commission; Dr Benedictus Adekunle Adebiyi, Registrar, Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo State, Nigeria; Mr Ganiyu Oke Saliu, Registrar, University of Ibadan; Mrs. Babara Wey, Chairman, Anglo-Nigerian Welfare Association for the Blind (ANWAB) and a host of other notable dignitaries.

Speaking at the event, Registrar, University of Ibadan, Mr Ganiyu Oke Saliu applauded the Foundation for its efforts in the education sector.

He said “MTN’s commitment to empowering Nigeria’s youth is commendable. The Foundation’s scholarship program has positively impacted numerous students at the University of Ibadan, and we’re grateful for their support.

“Their reach extends beyond tertiary institutions to secondary schools, including my alma mater in Ikare, Ondo State, where they’ve generously donated essential infrastructure such as seats, lockers and laboratories.

“I congratulate today’s scholars and thank MTN for their unwavering dedication to Nigeria’s future”.

Expressing his support, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, emphasized the importance of the private sector’s commitment to nation-building and the Lagos State government’s dedication to quality education.

“In Lagos State, we have the ‘THEMES PLUS’ agenda, which represents an intensified focus in Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration.

“The acronym stands for Transportation and Traffic Management; Health and Environment; Education and Technology Making Lagos State a 21st Century Megacity; Entertainment and Tourism; and Security and Governance.

“We added the ‘PLUS’ to incorporate Social Inclusion, Gender Equality, and Youth Empowerment. Everything we are doing here today is part of our agenda in Lagos State. I appreciate the directors of the MTN Foundation for their efforts.

“My presence here today is a testament to our administration’s recognition of MTN’s contributions. I congratulate the scholars here today and thank MTN for being a partner in progress,” he stated.

In his remarks, Dennis Okoro, the Director of the MTN Foundation, reflected on the foundation’s impactful journey over the years. “For 20 years, MTN has been committed to fostering the well-being of the communities we operate in.

“As a testament to our dedication to corporate social responsibility, MTN is the only corporate organization in Nigeria that has an autonomous board heading its foundation and consistently drives the foundation’s initiatives with 1% of its annual after-tax profits.

“Our commitment to these deserving scholars goes beyond financial support, as we also encourage them to acquire professional certifications and acquire valuable skills during the duration of their scholarship,” he said.

The scholarships were officially presented to the recipients during the award ceremony in Lagos. Increasing the impact of this year’s award ceremony was the commitment of Women at Y’ello (W@Y), to sponsor the education of 12 scholars who are in their final year. Women at Y’ello (W@Y) is an initiative that unites all female employees of MTN Nigeria, fostering a supportive community and empowering women across the organization.

The newly awarded scholars will each enjoy a scholarship grant worth N300,000 annually till graduation as long as they maintain the required Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).

The scholarship covers tuition, book allowance and stipend. To date, MTN Foundation has awarded scholarships valued at over 2.5 billion naira to Nigerian students.

Huawei Technologies, a Chinese information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure provider, has unveiled plans to launch a significant new data centre in Nigeria, a move that is expected to bolster the country’s cloud infrastructure and support its growing digital economy.

Server racks in server room data center

This announcement was made by David Olaiya, head of Cloud Fintech Business Development for Huawei Nigeria, during Nigeria Fintech Week, in Lagos.

The new data centre is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a hub for tech innovation in West Africa.

Scheduled to become fully operational by October 31, 2024, the facility, called ‘Cloud Site’ is designed to provide comprehensive data storage and computing services.

By keeping data within Nigeria’s borders, this initiative aims to align with the country’s data protection policies, which mandate that all user data be stored locally.

This is especially critical for sectors like finance and telecommunications, where data security is paramount.

Many Nigerian businesses, particularly those that have relied on international cloud services, often face compliance challenges when it comes to storing and processing sensitive user data.

These companies have had to send their data across borders, raising concerns about data security and regulatory adherence.

The launch of Huawei’s data centre aims to directly address these issues by allowing businesses to manage their data domestically, ensuring compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).

“This centre ensures data sovereignty, offering Nigerian businesses a competitive advantage by keeping sensitive information within the country,” Olaiya stated.

The launch of the data centre comes amid the growing influence of Huawei’s cloud services among Nigerian banks. Reports have emerged that major Nigerian banks including UBA Zenith Bank, Opay, First Bank and others are opting for Huawei’s cloud storage solutions, positioning it as a strong competitor to IBM, which has been a longtime leader in banking technology in Nigeria. The shift by these banks reflects the rising trust in Huawei’s cloud capabilities and its growing influence within the financial sector.

Olaiya also emphasized that the new centre will offer more than just local data storage. It is expected to significantly reduce latency, providing faster access to cloud services, which is crucial for real-time operations such as digital payments and mobile banking.

In addition to data compliance, he noted that the centre will be backed by local technical expertise, which will be key in providing timely support to Nigerian enterprises. Huawei plans to have a dedicated team on the ground, alongside its global 24/7 support infrastructure. This combination of local and global resources promises to deliver seamless service, enabling companies to troubleshoot issues more efficiently and reduce the risks associated with downtime or technical failures.

While this is a milestone for Huawei, Nigeria already hosts data centres from global tech giants such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure.

However, Huawei’s entry into the local cloud landscape is poised to bring additional benefits.

The ‘Cloud Site’ will be part of Huawei’s extensive global network, which spans 93 availability zones in 33 regions around the world, including existing data centres in South Africa and Egypt.

The Nigerian data centre will be linked to Huawei’s other key locations, including facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Dublin, Ireland.

This global integration is expected to not only serve as a critical resource for established businesses in Nigeria, but also to support Africa’s digital transformation in broader terms, creating new opportunities for startups, especially in sectors like fintech, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence (AI), where local data processing can drive innovation.

In a related initiative, Huawei Cloud announced in April 2024 its plan to support 100 Nigerian startups over the next two years.

This commitment includes providing these startups with cloud resources and technical assistance to help them scale their operations and bring new products to market.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has also demonstrated its commitment to data infrastructure, with plans to inaugurate a national data centre by May 2024.

This facility, which will have a storage capacity of 1.4 petabytes, is intended to securely store critical national data, including biometric information of Nigerian citizens.

Overall, Huawei’s entry into Nigeria’s data centre market is set to complement these efforts, further establishing the country as a regional leader in cloud computing and data services.