Telecom
Johnson, Nigeria’s ComTech Minister Lauds CTO
Mrs. Omobola Johnson, minister of Communications Technology, said that the Commonwealth strengthens “cooperation in the midst of diversity, describing it as an established, independent and voluntary space at which issues that are common to all countries.
This is coming in the face of recent withdrawal from the British Commonwealth by The Gambia, the tiny West African nation bordered by Senegal, and growing concerns about the body’s relevance in contemporary international play.
She stated this at her keynote speech at the 11th Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) Forum which opened last night in Abuja.
She described the CTO as “an established, independent and voluntary space at which issues that are common to all countries, irrespective of their level of economic advancement, can be dispassionately discussed; and where realistic and realisable solutions can be proffered.”
Acknowledging that “recent events have led to some discussion on the continued relevance of the Commonwealth,” Johnson said the CTO “serves to remind us of one of the core strengths of the Commonwealth that the World appears to be losing sight of – that of cooperation in the midst of diversity.”
“Although we represent countries with diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds, at this Forum we regard each other as equal in status. We have come with a learning attitude and a willingness to co-operate in achieving the goals that we all agree are important.
“These goals relate to the ability of our populations to communicate freely and affordably with each other … an ability that is fundamental to our success in building a more tolerant and peaceful World.”
She noted that the heart of the CTO deliberations will be how to make high-speed access to the Internet more pervasive, affordable and safe to the citizens of the Commonwealth (who make up close to 30 per cent of the global population).
According to her: “Global Internet penetration rates have continued to increase and almost 40 per cent of the world’s population are now online. However, the numbers of people connected to the Internet are fewer in developing countries than in more industrialised ones.”
She expressed concerns on the growing use of the social media, especially by the youth population in Nigeria, Johnson stated that “there is no denying the increasing influence of social media.
Just as the “Big Mac Index” has developed to be the informal way of measuring the purchasing power parity between inhabitants of different countries; the number of Facebook users is becoming an informal indication of the social media activity of a country.
“Nigeria recently became the location of the largest user base of Facebook users in Sub Saharan Africa. About half of the 11 million Nigeria users are under the age of 25 (5.6million), which perhaps underscores the importance of understanding how young people make use of ICTs. However, beyond knowing who is using social media, this Forum will discuss ways in which such tools can be leveraged as a platform for development, learning and increasing communication.”
She believes the Forum is veritable avenue to “assess the different stages of broadband development and discover best practice strategies for moving forward.”
Google has launched its Search Live feature globally to over 200 countries, including Nigeria, where AI Mode is available, enabling voice-and-camera conversations in users’ preferred languages.
Powered by the new multilingual Gemini 3.1 Flash Live model, it delivers natural, real-time interactions via the Google app on Android or iOS—tap the Live icon under the Search bar.
Ideal for hands-free help, users can speak queries for audio replies, follow-ups, or web links. Camera integration adds visual context, like troubleshooting a shelving unit, or pairs with Google Lens for real-world chats.
From the app or Lens, Nigerians can now explore, learn, or solve tasks instantly, boosting everyday productivity worldwide.
Clean and reliable power for telecom networks in Ethiopia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone will be expanded following a $45 million investment by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in IPT PowerTech.
The investment targets countries where limited power supply continues to slow digital connectivity and broader economic participation, the institution stated earlier this week.
To enable this expansion, the IFC is providing a $45 million corporate financing package consisting of an A-loan of $27 million and $18 million in blended finance.
The blended portion is sourced from the Canada-IFC Blended Climate Finance Programme and the IDA20 Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility.
The initiative marks the IFC’s first direct infrastructure engagement in Liberia in a decade and in Sierra Leone in six years.
It will help scale solar- and battery-based power systems that reduce reliance on diesel and support greener, more resilient telecom networks.
By improving the quality and stability of power to telecom towers, the initiative will strengthen mobile coverage and ensure that households, schools, health centres, and small businesses can depend on consistent digital services, said the IFC.
The funding supports the modernisation, operation, and maintenance of 2 235 telecom sites across the three nations. More than 90% of these are located in off-grid or weak-grid locations.
With new solar and battery systems powering these sites, mobile networks will experience fewer outages and improved service quality.
Optimising the energy mix is estimated to reduce power costs for operators by up to 30% in Liberia, 26% in Sierra Leone, and 52% in Ethiopia.
This transition is also expected to cut emissions by more than 10 624 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Furthermore, the partnership will promote gender inclusion by expanding opportunities for women in technical, operational, and leadership roles within the sector, says the IFC.
This agreement reflects a shared vision for a greener telecom industry and empowers the company to scale its innovative energy platforms, according to Nabil Haddad, CEO of IPT PowerTech Group.
Reliable and affordable power for telecom networks is a cornerstone of Africa’s digital transformation, said Nathalie Kouassi-Akon, IFC regional director for West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
Through this partnership, the institution is supporting a scalable, private sector-led solution that enables mobile operators to reach underserved and fragile communities more sustainably, added Kouassi-Akon.
The project advances the World Bank Group and African Development Bank’s Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Expedier has unveiled “Expedier for Business,” an online pro-banking platform to simplify global payments, multi-currency transactions, and financial operations for expanding companies.
Kingsley Madu
The tool centralizes payments, invoicing, payroll, and treasury into one secure dashboard, tackling challenges like fragmented systems and poor visibility that hinder international scaling.
Kingsley Madu, Co-Founder and CEO of Expedier, said: “African businesses are increasingly global… Expedier for Business was built to simplify how companies manage money across borders while maintaining visibility, control, and compliance.”
Key features include customizable dashboards for payments, invoices, and workflows; support for USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, and more; virtual cards; automated payroll/invoicing; currency swaps; and real-time tracking.
Security measures cover two-factor authentication, KYC/KYB verification, and team access controls.
As cross-border trade and remote work boom in Africa, the platform aids firms dealing with international suppliers, teams, and customers. It is now available for organizations scaling globally.
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