Telecom
ISPON Announces 2021 Edition of Simon Agu prize for Best Software Entrepreneur of the Year Award
The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria ISPON has announced readiness for the 2021 edition of the Simeon Agu Prize for the Best Software Entrepreneur of the Year.
Established in 2012 in collaboration with the family of Late Engr. Simeon Agu to keep alive his excellent contributions to the software profession and industry, the award is presented annually at the National Information Technology Merit Awards NITMA of the Nigeria Computer Society.
The award is targeted at software startups to recognize their entrepreneurship as they build a fledgling software business.
This year’s award seeks to reward startups for work done from September 2020 – September 2021.
Consideration of the award would be made based on the following criteria:
1. Idea: what is the general idea behind the startup, how good is it and how does it make the startup rank better than other existing solutions
2. Innovation: how innovative is the idea, how much of a disruption has it caused and what new trend has it led to
3. Impact: how much impact does it have on the users, businesses and the industry (where applicable)
4. Business model: how good is the business model, how scalable is it
5. Funding: how has the company thrived financially, how much has the company been able to raise and what was the financial turnover. Do note that for consideration, all investor funding must be local.
Per selection of the winner of the award this year, there will be an open process where you can nominate a startup you feel deserves the award and has fulfilled the set criteria.
The panel of judges would shortlist 3 finalists who would be voted for by the general public.
A combination of the number of votes garnered as well as points scored from the technical review of the startup by the judges would determine the winner.
For more information on the process and to make your nomination, do visit https://thesimeonaguprize.ispon.tech
Engr. Simeon Agu, who the prize is instituted in honour of, was the founding President of ISPON.
He started his career in information technology at Shell Petroleum Development Company in 1971.
He later moved to the National Electric Power Authority in 1977 as Manager, Systems Development and eventually rose to the position of Director, Computer Services.
He was founder and Chairman of Computer Systems Associates (Nigeria) Limited which metamorphosed into Neptune Software Limited, a foremost international software outfit, growing it from 3 to over 100 staff with the headquarters in Great Britain and offices in Nigeria, India, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Simeon Agu was a distinguished IT practitioner, software industry pioneer, founding President of ISPON, Fellow of Nigeria Computer Society, NCS and a member of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria CPN
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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