Telecom
Microsoft kicks off LEAP Engineering Acceleration Program with Ten Female Software Engineers
Ten female Software Engineers from Nigeria have been admitted into Microsoft LEAP Engineering Acceleration Program (LEAP).
Led by the Global Innovation Team at Microsoft (Redmond, USA), and sponsored by Kevin Scott, chief technology officer at Microsoft, LEAP is an immersive 16-week program that provides female individuals with experiences through project management and development courses.
The program combines traditional classroom learning with hands-on engineering projects.
Skills development remains at the heart of Microsoft’s mission to empower everyone to achieve more.
Through a combination of strategic partnerships, trainings, real-world experiences and online classrooms environments, we have been able to provide future skills to those entering the industry and those already in the workforce.
The LEAP finalists were selected at a hackathon hosted in June, where each participant was immersed in a one-week intensive programme comprising two-day classroom work, two-day hacking and the final day for presentation of their solutions.
Now each participant is to receive 4-weeks classroom training on Software Support Engineering and 12-weeks hands-on projects training involving real life scenarios at a partner organization.
During the training period, the participants will also be mentored by the engineering team in Nigeria (Lagos) and Redmond (USA).
“We believe that contributing to human capital development, empowering the youth, and creating opportunities for individuals and organisations will cultivate an environment that allows for growth of the knowledge-based economy,” says Akin Banuso, country manager at Microsoft in Nigeria.
The company says rapid digital transformation across industries has changed the way we work and live, as technological advancements spanning artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning have entered the mainstream – accelerating the journey to transform economies, and ultimately redesigning the future of work.
Following the LEAP program, participants will get an opportunity to take up employment at Tek Experts, a partnering company for the program.
“As a technology company, we are acutely aware of the responsibility we have to ensure all workers have a path to gain relevant skills – no matter where they are in their careers.
“For this reason, we will continue to – in partnership with non-profit organisations, government bodies, learning institutions and other entities – to empower those already in the workforce with the capabilities needed to ensure financial stability, economic prosperity and opportunities for personal growth,” concludes Banuso.
Telecom
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year
The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.
The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.
These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.
Here are some of the featured talents:
- Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
- Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
- Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
- Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
- David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
- Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.
Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.
Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.
Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.
However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.
For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.
Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023
Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs
Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network
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