Telecom
MTN Nigeria Donates Medical, Digital Equipment to Lagos Primary Healthcare Centre
MTN Nigeria has donated a range of medical and digital equipment to the Obalende Primary Healthcare Centre in Lagos, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing grassroots healthcare through its annual Y’ello Care initiative.
The donation includes desktop computers, tablets, a 5G router, delivery beds, fans, chairs, and essential healthcare supplies, aimed at modernising the centre’s operations and improving patient care.
The initiative, now in its 18th year, mobilises MTN staff nationwide to support critical sectors via volunteering and targeted interventions, with this year’s theme focused on “Connecting at the Roots” and the staff chose to strengthen the primary healthcare centre which is closest to the vulnerable ones.
Medical Consultant at MTN Nigeria, Dr Idorenyin Oladiran, highlighted the challenges faced by primary healthcare centres, including staffing shortages, limited space, and inefficient manual record-keeping. She explained that MTN’s digital solutions are designed to transition centres from paper-based to electronic records, enhancing efficiency, data security, and seamless information sharing among healthcare providers. This digitisation also facilitates telemedicine, enabling specialists in urban areas to support colleagues in remote locations.
“Digitisation will empower healthcare workers, improve clinical decision-making, and help close the digital divide,” Dr Oladiran said. She acknowledged challenges such as limited connectivity and data privacy concerns but emphasised the importance of investing in infrastructure and training to ensure inclusive digital health transformation.
Team lead, MTN Nigeria, Sunday Ngegu, noted that the company dedicates 21 days in June, yearly, to community service, reflecting its corporate social responsibility ethos. “We are doing this in good spirit, not just as a telecommunications provider but as collaborators committed to the well-being of our communities,” he said.
Medical Official of Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area, Dr Akintayo Akintoba Adebayo, expressed profound admiration for the recent donation by MTN Nigeria to local healthcare centres, describing himself as “speechless” at the positive developments unfolding daily in the area.
He highlighted that Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA boasts two functional healthcare centres and emphasised the unpredictable nature of health issues, which require readily available resources for effective response.
Reflecting on the donated items, Dr Akintoba, who is also the Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics for Lagos State Health District III, noted that most were essential medical supplies poised to significantly enhance healthcare delivery in the local government.
He also referenced Lagos State’s Health Information Platform, an initiative aimed at digitising healthcare processes across the state, including primary healthcare centres.
Dr Akintoba observed a shift in perception regarding technology in healthcare, stating that while computers were once considered unnecessary in primary centres, they are now recognised globally as vital, given that primary healthcare is the cornerstone of effective medical service.
Praising MTN Nigeria’s staff for their exemplary contribution, he called for collective responsibility, urging individuals to assess their environments and contribute meaningfully to societal improvement, saying government alone cannot do it all. He always underscored the universal need for healthcare. Whether for health promotion or sustaining wellbeing, and commended MTN Nigeria’s longstanding impact, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Akintoba concluded by emphasising the importance of unity in addressing Nigeria’s critical health challenges, affirming that making a positive impact is a shared purpose and that MTN Nigeria’s recent intervention exemplifies this commitment.
MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with ONErpm and Ultima Studios, has announced Ayodeji Benson, popularly known as Ayo Benzi, as the winner of the maiden edition of the Next Afrobeats Star reality show.
L-R: Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria; Ayodeji Benson, Winner, Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1) and Emamoke Ogoro, General Manager, Brand and Communication, MTN Nigeria, at the grand finale of the Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1), held at the Ultima Studios, Lekki, Lagos on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
The grand finale, held on Sunday night at Ultima Studios in Lekki, Lagos, marked the climax of a nationwide talent search that began in September with over 15,000 aspiring musicians.
After weeks of auditions, mentorship, and rigorous training, five finalists – Ayo Benzi, Dave Cash, Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay – battled for the top prize in a high-energy showcase of performance and artistry.
At the end of the electrifying contest, Ayo Benzi emerged victorious, securing a ₦150 million music deal. Dave Cash was named first runner-up with ₦100 million, while Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay received ₦75 million, ₦50 million, and ₦25 million respectively.
Throughout the season, contestants were mentored by leading Afrobeats producers Sarz, Puffy Tee, P Prime, and Andre Vibez. Benzi, who was part of Puffy Tee’s team, credited the mentorship programme for sharpening his craft and stage presence.
Speaking at the event, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to youth empowerment and cultural expression.
“The Next Afrobeats Star platform is about creating real opportunities for young Nigerians and giving their talent the structure, visibility, and support it deserves.
“Afrobeats continues to place Nigeria on the global cultural map, and MTN is proud to be enabling the next generation of artists who will take this sound even further,” she said.
She added that the finale was not just a competition but a celebration of growth and readiness for the global stage.
In his acceptance speech, Ayo Benzi described the victory as a defining moment in his career.
“A big thank you to MTN. From the audition days, the treatment MTN has given us has been amazing. God bless the brand,” he said.
The finale also featured guest performances by Afrobeats stars Iyanya and Bella Shmurda, adding glamour to the night and reinforcing the show’s connection to the wider music ecosystem.
With the successful conclusion of the season, MTN Nigeria and its partners reaffirmed their role in championing youth ambition, supporting creative industries, and shaping the future of Nigerian music through platforms that turn potential into opportunity.
T2, formerly known as 9mobile, is under investigation by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Benue State for an undisclosed incident disrupting USSD, SMS, voice, and data services across nine local government areas.
T2
The affected areas include Ado, Agatu, Gwer East, Gwer West, Konshisha, Obi, Ohimini, Okpokwu, and Otukpo, as detailed in an advisory on the NCC Major Outages Portal, which tracks significant disruptions reported by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Neither T2 nor its public relations firm, Chain Reactions, has responded to inquiries on the outage’s cause or restoration efforts as of this report.
The NCC’s continued reference to the operator as 9mobile, months after its public rebranding to T2 in August 2025, has sparked questions about whether the name change was formally notified to the regulator.
This probe aligns with NCC mandates requiring operators to disclose major outages, their impacts, and timelines for fixes, with compensation obligatory for disruptions exceeding 24 hours under the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations.
Industry watchers note that such incidents, often linked to fibre cuts, power failures, or infrastructure faults, underscore ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s telecoms sector, particularly amid T2’s subscriber losses post-rebrand. NCC vows transparency via its portal to hold operators accountable and protect consumers.
Telecom
NCC Unveils Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap, 60 GHz License-Exempt Guidelines to Boost Broadband, Innovation
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled two pivotal regulatory draft documents aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s communications sector over the next five years and fast-tracking deployment of ultra-high-speed wireless technologies.
NCC
In a public notice dated December 19, 2025, and issued pursuant to its mandate under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, the Commission published the Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector (2025–2030) and Draft Guidelines for the Use of the 60 GHz License-Exempt Band for Multi-Gigabit Wireless Systems.
Both documents are accessible on the NCC website for stakeholder review, with the roadmap outlining strategic spectrum planning, allocation, and management to optimise utilisation, support emerging technologies like 5G and IoT, expand broadband access, and align with global best practices.
The Spectrum Roadmap emphasises four core pillars: bridging the digital divide through low-band spectrum and satellite services, attracting investments via flexible licensing models, enhancing service quality with mid-band optimisation, and fostering innovation in areas such as direct-to-device connectivity and secondary spectrum trading.
It sets ambitious targets including universal 4G coverage nationwide, 50 per cent 5G penetration in state capitals, and average broadband speeds of 100 Mbps by 2030, while addressing rising data demand through band refarming and efficient management.
Complementing this, the 60 GHz Guidelines establish a license-exempt framework for the 57–66 GHz band, enabling multi-gigabit speeds up to 10 Gbps for short-range applications like WiGig, fixed wireless access, enterprise connectivity, urban broadband, and backhaul solutions.
The rules mandate NCC type approval for equipment, site registration for outdoor use, and interference mitigation measures, while prohibiting wide-area networks to safeguard primary users.
In line with Section 58 of the NCA 2003, NCC invites comments from industry operators, equipment manufacturers, consumer groups, and the public, with submissions due by Friday, January 16, 2025, via email to [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].
The notice, signed by Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs, stresses that stakeholder inputs will refine the frameworks to drive innovation, investment, competition, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s telecoms ecosystem.
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