Telecom
MTN Launches “See Naija” to Showcase Nigeria’s Rich Cultural Heritage
MTN Nigeria, a leading telecommunications company in Africa, has set an adventurous mission of changing the perceptions and narratives surrounding Nigerians and Nigeria through a thoughtfully curated, culturally sensational, and socio-economically intentional platform and campaign called “See Naija.”
“See Naija” aims to harness the rich diversity, culture, resilience, uniqueness, and “can-do-it” spirit of Nigerians worldwide through an individual lens while also positioning Nigeria as a viable tourism hub among the community of nations.
According to available data, Nigeria’s tourism sector could be losing between $5 billion to $10 billion annually, while the contribution of tourism to GDP is only around 1.2% to 1.5%, compared to 7-10% in other African nations. Furthermore, a significant drop in international arrivals and the potential to create over 2 million jobs remain unfulfilled. Experts estimate that investments of $1 billion to $3 billion are needed to improve travel conditions.
Speaking about the idea that birthed the “See Naija” campaign and platform, Emamoke Ogoro, General Manager, Brand and Communication, MTN Nigeria, noted that although there are many positive things Nigerians are known for, most of the information available on the internet is largely negative, thereby setting the tone for wrong perceptions about what Nigeria and Nigerians represent.
“The essence of ‘See Naija’ today is to erase all the negativity Nigeria is known for as a country. We are our brand; every Nigerian is unique. When you travel anywhere, you can spot a Nigerian easily, by the way we talk, dress, and express ourselves,” she explained.
“This platform will showcase to the world, not only to Nigerians, what we are made of: our food, our fashion sense. Even as a Nigerian, there are so many waterfalls I have never been to. We want Nigeria to be a place people search for when they want to explore tourism—where to go in Nigeria, and we want travel agencies and hotels to be part of this clarion call. At the end of the day, we aim for organized tours, with guides who can talk about Nigeria and our uniqueness.”
She recounted a personal experience: “I attended a program abroad, and we had about eight nationalities in the group. We were supposed to talk about our countries—the things that make them the best, the investment opportunities, and more. One evening, someone from Poland gave me a sneering look, likely due to the negative information about Nigeria, like corruption and so on.”
“When it was my turn to showcase Nigeria and discuss opportunities such as agriculture and oil, which is our economic stronghold, he asked where I lived. I replied I lived in Lagos, the commercial hub of Nigeria.
“He pressed further and asked me to show him Lagos on Google. Of course, I typed ‘Lagos,’ and you can guess what popped up: Oshodi, with dustbins and yellow buses—almost everything negative.”
“This was highly embarrassing to me and all the other people from Saudi Arabia and other countries who were staring at me. However, there was someone else who could relate to the better sides of Nigeria as a beautiful place. Immediately I got back home, I told my team we needed to put a program together to show what Nigeria is really about to the world because I had a very awkward experience.”
“I realized that typing my country into Google yields too much negativity. I know there are algorithms, but by flooding the internet with our good things—our resilience, our outspoken nature, and many positive attributes that distinguish us—we can change this narrative.”
Ayham Moussa, the Chief Operating Officer at MTN Nigeria, noted that MTN is leveraging its trailblazing, path-finding, and audacious approach in Africa to celebrate the “World Tourism Day” and honor the Nigerian fighting spirit, winning spirit, and progressive spirit.
“Today, the whole world celebrates tourism, and at MTN Nigeria, we cannot let that pass without recognition. We are known for making noise, for making progress, and tourism allows people to see the beauty and culture in places,” he said.
While reminiscing about his heartwarming experience joining MTN Nigeria, he stated, “When I joined MTN Nigeria a few weeks ago, the first thing I noticed was the warm welcome and acceptance. I see Nigerians as fighters, winners, and people willing to do everything it takes to progress. We at MTN Nigeria stand for Africa, but Africa is Nigeria. We stand for progress and for showcasing the amazing things about Nigeria. I am excited about what the team has put together today; they have done a lot to promote and make people ‘See Naija.’”
“See Naija” also registered a colorful display of Nigeria’s top-notch cultural elegance and artistic brilliance, offering Nigerians the opportunity to showcase beautiful and notable places in Nigeria.
Speaking, Ololade Otusanya, Manager, Digital Marketing, MTN Nigeria, said the “See Naija” campaign and platform provides opportunities for Nigerians to upload 2-minute videos on their social media handles and on [www.mtnng/see-naija](http://www.mtnng/see-naija).
“Now that you have seen Naija—the culture and the beauty in our diversity—we are calling on everyone to come together and join us in this narrative to change the story positively. There is the ‘See Naija’ challenge today, and we all need to be part of it.
All you need to do is upload a 2-minute video on any of your social media platforms and the MTN website. Don’t forget to tag #Naija. We can’t wait to see your lovely submissions.”
In his closing remarks, Friday Okuwe, Senior Manager, Brand, Media and Sponsorships, MTN Nigeria , reiterated that the “See Naija” campaign and platform aim to showcase the good features of Nigeria to the world.
“We are the brand Naija, and as we go from here, let us begin to carry the message forward because this program already showed us that Nigeria is a beautiful place—a place to excel and where dreams and aspirations can be achieved. It is the beginning of a great journey; when it will end is not feasible or in sight, as it is like an onion that one would begin to peel and peel.”
“And if you listen to the poem’s rendition, you will discover the different dimensions of who we are, both as a people in terms of culture and everything we represent. ‘See Naija’ is both a campaign and a platform. It is a campaign because we are telling the true story of Naija, and we are going to showcase it to the world.”
“It is also a platform because we have created a digital space where everybody can not just ‘See Naija’ and what is good in Naija, but also bring their content there. It is a platform where you can showcase the best of Naija. In a way, we are all part of this project. So whatever you know about Naija, capture it and bring it to that platform and encourage others to do the same. As we do this, we begin to change our narratives.”
“One step at a time, one day at a time, and in years to come, we shall see people paying money to come on holiday in Naija because there is so much to Naija. This is not just MTN’s project; it’s your project and our project because we are the Naija that people see. So let’s take it upon ourselves and begin to showcase everything good about Nigeria.”
Modern messengers, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal and others, are often used for illicit purposes. Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence has conducted an in-depth monitoring of over 800 blocked cybercriminal Telegram channels between 2021 and 2024.
While a range of illegal activities continues to be hosted on the platform, its environment has become noticeably more challenging for sustained underground operations.
Telegram’s bot framework and other built-in features make for a low-effort ecosystem for the underworld.
A single bot can simultaneously manage queries, process cryptocurrency payments, and instantly deliver stolen bank cards, info-stealer logs, phishing kits, or DDoS attacks to hundreds of buyers per day, often without operator involvement.
Unlimited, non-expiring file storage eliminates the need for external hosting when distributing multi-gigabyte database dumps or stolen corporate documents. This frictionless automation naturally favours high-volume, low-price, low-skill offerings, such as leaked bank cards or other data, hosting malware, etc.
High-value, trust-dependent deals (for instance, zero-day vulnerability information) still remain on reputation-gated dark-web forums.
Kaspersky researchers found two clear trends related to illegal activities on Telegram. The average lifespan of shadow channels has increased, with the proportion of channels surviving over nine months more than tripling in 2023-2024 compared to 2021–2022. At the same time, Telegram’s blocking activity has risen significantly.
Monthly takedown figures recorded since October 2024 – even at their lowest – are comparable to the peak levels seen throughout 2023, and the overall pace continued to accelerate in 2025. This impedes malicious activities.
Other disadvantages of Telegram for cybercriminals include the lack of default end-to-end (E2E) encryption for chats, the inability to use their own servers for communication (due to the messenger’s centralised infrastructure), and closed server-side code, which makes it impossible to verify its functionality.
As a result, several established underground communities, including the nearly 9,000-member BFRepo group and the Angel Drainer malware-as-a-service operation, have already begun shifting primary activity to other platforms or proprietary messengers, citing repeated disruptions of their activities on Telegram.
“Fraudsters find Telegram a convenient tool for many malicious activities, but the risk-reward balance is clearly shifting. Channels are managing to stay online longer than a couple of years ago, yet the dramatically higher volume of blocks means operators can no longer count on long-term stability.
“When a storefront or service disappears overnight – and sometimes reappears only to be removed again weeks later – building a reliable business becomes much harder. We’re starting to see the early stages of migration as a direct consequence,” comments Vladislav Belousov, Digital Footprint Analyst at Kaspersky.
Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB), the Federal Government’s leading ICT infrastructure and shared services provider, will mark its 20th anniversary in June 2026 with a grand celebration that reflects two decades of innovation, resilience, and national impact.
Since its inception in 2006, Galaxy Backbone has been at the heart of Nigeria’s digital transformation journey; building the technological foundation that supports modern government operations and public service delivery. What began as a bold vision to connect government has grown into a critical national platform that drives efficiency, transparency, collaboration and innovation across the public sector.
Over the last 20 years, GBB has helped redefine how government works. By providing secure connectivity, enterprise-grade data centre services, cloud platforms, and digital collaboration tools, Galaxy Backbone has enabled Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to move from fragmented, paper-based processes to more integrated, technology-driven systems.
This transformation has improved government-to-government coordination, strengthened engagement with businesses, and enhanced the delivery of services to citizens. Today, the digital infrastructure powered by Galaxy Backbone supports thousands of government users, hundreds of institutions, and critical national platforms that Nigerians rely on daily.
A key part of this journey has been the Federal Government of Nigeria’s investment, managed by GBB in robust national infrastructure, high-capacity and world class data centres, fibre-optic connectivity across multiple states, secure hosting services, and shared platforms that have helped government operate more efficiently and responsively. These contributions have played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s progress toward a more digital, agile and citizen-centered public service.
Galaxy Backbone’s impact has earned both national and global recognition. In 2025, the organisation was ranked first overall in the Federal Government Website Performance Scorecard, reflecting its commitment to excellence in digital service delivery. Internationally, GBB, a couple of years ago, received the prestigious United Nations Public Service Award, a testament to its leadership in promoting a whole-of-government approach to digital transformation.
As GBB celebrates two decades of service, this milestone is more than an organisational anniversary; it is a celebration of Nigeria’s digital evolution. It is an opportunity to appreciate how collaboration between government, industry partners, technology providers, and dedicated public servants has helped build a stronger, more connected nation.
The June 2026 anniversary celebration will bring together stakeholders from across the public and private sectors to reflect on the journey so far, acknowledge the partnerships that have shaped this success, and chart an ambitious course for the future. It will highlight how collective effort, shared vision, and innovation have positioned Galaxy Backbone as a strategic national asset.
Looking ahead, Galaxy Backbone remains committed to deepening digital transformation across the country; expanding infrastructure, strengthening cybersecurity, enhancing service delivery, and supporting the Federal Government’s drive for a smarter, more efficient and digitally empowered Nigeria.
At 20 years, Galaxy Backbone stands proud of its past, confident in its present, and inspired by the limitless possibilities ahead.
Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB), Nigeria’s leading federal ICT infrastructure provider, has announced its 20th-anniversary celebration for June 2026, marking two decades since unifying government’s fragmented digital landscape into a secure national platform.
Galaxy Backbone
The announcement by Head of Media and Corporate Communications Chidi Okpala follows GBB’s top ranking in the 2025 Federal Government Website Performance Scorecard by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, cementing its leadership in digital service delivery and transparency.
Managing Director Professor Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju described the milestone as celebrating Nigeria’s shift from paper-based silos to a cloud-first, integrated government. Achievements include the UN Public Service Award for 1-GOV.net, high-speed fiber deployment for G2G and G2B interactions, IPPIS payroll rollout, and pandemic-era digital support.
The June event will gather public-private stakeholders, global tech partners, and policymakers to unveil GBB’s next-decade roadmap emphasising cybersecurity, AI in public service, and rural connectivity.
GBB positions itself at the forefront of Nigeria’s 2030 digital nation drive, with 20 years of innovation signaling a smarter, connected future.
SEC Hikes Minimum Capital Requirements for Market Operators After a Decade
Study Shows Blocks in Telegram are Pushing the Underground Out
Galaxy Backbone Marks Two Decades of Powering Nigeria’s Digital Evolution
NGX Unveils Net-Zero Plan for Greener Capital Market
Galaxy Backbone Marks 20 Years, Tops FG Website Scorecard
Banks quietly move to enforce new ₦50 transfer levy from Jan. 1
FIRS says NIN, CAC Numbers to Serve as Tax IDs from 2026
Nigeria Police Arrest Okitipi, Nigerian Allegedly Linked to Microsoft 365 Hack
FIRS Declares NIN, CAC Numbers as Tax IDs from 2026
US Begins Partial Visa Ban on Nigerians January 1
E-Financial2 days agoAngst as FG Demands 7.5 Percent VAT on Mobile Bank Transfers, USSD
News2 days agoMoniepoint Launches Second Cohort of DreamDevs Initiative to Double Down on Africa’s Tech Talent Pipeline
E-Financial2 days agoNGX lists 3.156bn UBA shares, boosting capital to N513Bn
E-Financial2 days agoThe Missing Pieces in Nigeria’s Banking Recapitalisation
Telecom2 days agoGlo Unveils Immersive Gaming Experience, Travel Saga
E-Business2 days agoHalf of Global Companies Build SOCs to Enhance Cybersecurity, with a Focus on Human Expertise
General News2 days agoNITDA DG Reaffirms Nigeria–U.S. Partnership on Data Privacy, AI and Cybersecurity
General News2 days agoParadigm Initiative Condemns the Internet Shutdown and Media Restrictions in Uganda Ahead of the 2026 General Election