Telecom
Meet the New NCC Board Set to Revolutionize Nigeria’s Digital Space
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has welcomed the appointment of Mr. Idris Olorunnimbe as Chairman-designate of its Board, alongside other newly appointed members of the NCC and Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) Boards.
L–R: Secretary, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Gwa Mohammed; Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Finance Incorporated, Dr. Armstrong Takang; Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida; Coordinating Director, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Mr. Titus Osawe; Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, Rimini Makama; Professor of Corporate Governance, Lagos Business School, Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, during the workshop/formal launch of Guidelines on Corporate Governance For Nigerian Telecommunications Industry hosted by the Commission in Lagos recently.
The appointments, made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, were described by the Commission as a strategic move to bolster Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, commended the President for selecting individuals of “proven competence and vast experience” to steer the communications sector.
“These appointments reflect the President’s unwavering commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusive growth through digital innovation,” Maida said.
He noted that the new board members bring a wealth of knowledge and strategic insight that would enhance the Commission’s regulatory functions and accelerate the development of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Maida assured stakeholders of the NCC’s readiness to collaborate with the new leadership and the supervising Ministry to deliver on national objectives, including broadband expansion, digital inclusion, and ICT sector growth.
The NCC also expressed optimism that the new board would provide strong governance and policy direction to support the Commission’s mandate.
The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), which aims to extend communications services to underserved and unserved areas, is expected to benefit from the renewed leadership focus.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to transparency, innovation, and stakeholder engagement in line with global best practices.
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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