Telecom
MTN Says Y’ello Care 2015 Will Impact Digital Education in Nigeria
MTN, Nigeria’s telecommunications company, has commenced its annual staff volunteerism programme tagged 21 Days of Y’ello Care 2015.
This year Y’ello Care, the telecoms giant with about 61 million subscribers base in Nigeria said, will focus still on digital education with the theme: “Investing in Education for All”.
Initiated by the MTN Group in 2007, the annual programme encourages MTN staff across its 22 operations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East to volunteer their resources, time and skills to help others and the communities where they live and work.
The event, it was gathered, will have staff of MTN Nigeria engaging in a number of activities aimed at promoting an ideal learning environment as well as draw attention to the fundamental role of education in the development of the nation.
Speaking at the commencement of the three-week long progamme at MTN corporate head office in Lagos, on Monday, Mr. Michael Ikpoki, the CEO, said “This initiative is yet another way that we demonstrate our commitment as an organization to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Over the next 21 days, we will show this through various community building activities which our employees will engage in; activities which underscore our recognition of the support of various communities in which we operate and our commitment to improving and transforming these same communities”.
Ikopki explained that the focus on education over the past four years is driven by MTN’s continuing commitment to deliver lasting impact in all that they do.
“We consider it important to increase and consolidate on our efforts to contribute to our nation’s educational sector, especially in the application of digital learning,” the MTN Nigeria CEO said.
Essentially, as limited access to quality education continues to plague Africa’s growth and development, the role of digital learning in the ICT era has become more compelling, as digital learning brings to the table, immediate, diverse and customized access to world-class education and beyond that, a multiplicity of opportunities for advancement.
Therefore, MTN staff are once again presented with a unique platform over the next 21 days, to contribute to this kindof impact while also leading the delivery of a bold, new digital world to its customers.
Nodding in agreement, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, MTN Nigeria’s corporate services executive, re-emphasized the Company’s commitment to giving back to communities in which it operates, adding that the six (6) geopolitical zones shall be represented in the choice of locations to carry out the programmes.
Goodluck, therefore, described education as a means to sustain its corporate social responsibility service and a vital tool for social and economic development.
He said, “The weeks ahead are filled with various initiatives that will enable MTN, through the 21 Days of Yello Care programme, continue to contribute its quota towards improving educational standards in Nigeria, especially in supporting the new administration’s educational agenda.
He said that featuring among projects lined up for implementation is the company’s Investing in Education for All, include establishing digital learning facilities in libraries of 12 schools in the six MTN locations nationwide; book reading sessions; train-the-teacher project; Y’ello tutor project; environmental beautification project and fund-raising (Y’ello Aid) campaign.
During Y’ello Care 2014, MTN employees in Nigeria established 21 digitally equipped classrooms and visited and donated educational material to 109 primary, secondary and vocational schools across the country.
They also raised nearly 2 million Naira (over $12 000) to support the Chibok Scholarship for Girls, designed to move affected school girls from Chibok, where over 200 school girls were abducted by insurgents, to schools in other states.
Goodluck said they hope to surpass the achievements recorded during the 2014 programmes.
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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