Telecom
MTN Concludes 21 days of Y’ello Care, Rewards Hackathon Challenge Winner
MTN Nigeria has concluded the 2019 edition of its annual 21 Days of Y’ello Care, which provided an opportunity for MTN employees to participate in community projects that positively influenced the youths and society in general.
The colourful closing ceremony recently took place at the company’s head office in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The 2019 edition which was themed: “Creating a Brighter Future for the youths,” is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility initiative focused on targeted efforts aimed at youth empowerment and developing Nigeria’s burgeoning tech ecosystem for greater impact in national developmental efforts.
With Mental Health Awareness as a major part of this year’s activities, the company’s employees across major cities in Nigeria embarked on an 8km walk to create awareness for mental health.
The walk in Lagos was in conjunction with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative.
There was also a digital media training session for young Nigerians that was aimed at raising suicide prevention media advocates.
Another critical aspect of this year’s edition of the 21 days initiative was the hackathon, which challenged young software developers to create critical solutions to health problems using technology.
Presenting the cheque of one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) to the winner of the hackathon challenge, the CEO, MTN Nigeria, Ferdi Moolman urged the winner, Richard Igiriki to make the most of the opportunity that has been presented him.
He encouraged him and his team to ensure that the Bloodshare App that they have developed go mainstream so that blood donors can easily be matched with the right hospitals.
During the 21 days, MTN staff across Nigeria provided technical training for students and teachers, as well as setup e-libraries in over 22 secondary schools across Nigeria.
Career experts provided information technology trainings at select secondary schools and skill acquisition centres across the country.
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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