Telecom
MTN Spearheads Intervention to Combat Substance Abuse
In furtherance of the drive to curb the increasing rate of substance abuse in Nigeria, MTN Nigeria, under the Anti Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) led a multi sectoral roundtable on the substance abuse ecosystem in Nigeria and the need for intensified collaborative action.
The forum, which held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday, February 28, 2019, was part of the Lagos state activations of the ASAP aimed at reducing the incidence of substance abuse among youth in Nigeria.
The event had in attendance notable dignitaries such as Dr. Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health, Lagos State; Mr. Agboola Dabiri, Commissioner for Youth & Social Development, Lagos State; Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, Chairman, MTN Foundation and Mr. Dennis Okoro, Director MTN Foundation.
Also in attendance were ASAP partners including United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA); Nigeria Police Force, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN); Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (CADAM); Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), and Global Initiative On Substance Abuse (GISA) among others.
Speaking at the forum, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, Chairman, MTN Foundation, explained: “The purpose of this campaign is to stimulate discourse among thought leaders, policy makers and leaders from different walks of life, to bring us much closer towards our goal of freeing our future leaders from the evil attraction of drugs and possible addiction to opioids.”
Dr. Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, while speaking at the event, opined that education on substance abuse was essential, “We all can take time to educate ourselves and others about the harmful nature of these substances.
“Education on the impact that these drug and substances of abuse have on the individual and the society as a whole should be taught and understood.”
Mr. Agboola Dabiri, Commissioner for Youth & Social Development, Lagos State, in his remark reminded the youth of their strategic place in nation building: “You are the future of Nigeria; you have a lot to give.
When we speak of the next level, you are the next level.” Speaking further on substance abuse and the ASAP initiative, he said, “The issue of drug abuse is no longer on the roads; it is now within our homes. I thank MTN for this opportunity and I commend them for a job well done.”
The State activations, which started with various activities in primary and secondary schools, motor parks, and markets, will continue with an advocacy walk that will culminate in counselling sessions for all interested persons.
A replication of all the activities under the ASAP initiative will be in five other states – Imo, Rivers, Kano, Bauchi and Abuja – in the coming months.
The overall objective is to take the ASAP initiative to the streets of Nigeria and meet the youth in their comfort zones.
MTN Nigeria continues to fulfill its CSR objective of improving the quality of life with various projects such as the What Can We Do Together Campaign, ICT and Business Skills training, upgrading of Sickle Cell and DNA laboratories and consistent support for arts and culture in Nigeria.
Standard Bank has partnered with Helios Towers to provide a $29 million Social Documentary Credit Facility. According to the financial services company, this transaction marks Standard Bank’s first Documentary Credit Facility structured in a Sustainable Finance format.
It notes that the facility will support the procurement and importation of telecommunications infrastructure and related services across Africa.
It will also provide payment certainty to suppliers, while supporting Helios Towers’ working capital requirements and infrastructure expansion programme, the bank adds.
Structured in accordance with the Loan Market Association’s Social Loan Principles, the financing is designed to promote digital connectivity and telecommunications infrastructure development in underserved markets.
This will help Helios Towers further expand its footprint and enhance mobile network coverage and connectivity across the continent.
Helios Towers operates one of Africa’s independent telecommunications tower platforms, enabling mobile network operators to extend coverage across multiple markets.
Standard Bank notes that the facility supports the expansion of tower infrastructure and services, increased network densification and improved connectivity in underserved markets and remote regions across the African continent.
It will also drive digital inclusion and tackle the digital divide while supporting economic growth and socio-economic development.
“This transaction demonstrates the power of innovation in trade finance. By combining a first-to-market Social Documentary Credit Facility with a cross-border funding solution, Standard Bank has supported Helios Towers’ growth ambitions while helping extend digital connectivity to underserved communities across Africa,” says Benoit Samouilhan, global transaction banker at Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking.
According to the bank, this facility enables positive social impact by increasing and improving network coverage and connectivity in some of the world’s most remote regions.
“Reliable digital infrastructure is fundamental to Africa’s future growth and development,” says Alex Carter, group finance director at Helios Towers.
“This facility provides us with the flexibility and certainty needed to support our ongoing infrastructure investments while advancing our mission of expanding connectivity across the continent. We value our longstanding relationship with Standard Bank and look forward to building on this partnership.”
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will on Thursday convene a stakeholders’ consultative forum to review the draft business rules for Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Nigeria.
NCC
The forum, scheduled to hold at 10 a.m. at the NCC Annex Office, Mbora, Abuja, is expected to bring together telecommunications operators, industry associations and other stakeholders to provide input on the proposed regulatory framework before its finalisation.
The commission announced the event on its official social media platforms, inviting interested stakeholders to participate in the consultation process.
The engagement is part of the NCC’s efforts to strengthen the regulatory framework for MVNO operations and promote greater competition, innovation and consumer choice in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
Mobile Virtual Network Operators are telecommunications service providers that offer mobile services by leasing network capacity from licensed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), rather than owning spectrum licences or telecommunications infrastructure.
The NCC has identified the MVNO licensing framework as one of its initiatives aimed at deepening competition, expanding access to telecommunications services and driving digital inclusion across the country.
The consultative forum is expected to provide stakeholders with the opportunity to review the draft business rules, make recommendations and contribute to the development of a robust operational framework for the emerging MVNO segment.
The commission is expected to issue further details on the outcome of the consultation after the meeting.
Telecom
ntel Unveils ‘The Next Frontier’ Strategy to Drive Growth in Connectivity, Infrastructure, Real Estate
ntel has unveiled “The Next Frontier,” a new corporate strategy aimed at accelerating growth across digital connectivity, telecommunications infrastructure, and real estate development as it repositions itself as an integrated technology and infrastructure company.
L-R; Chairman, Natcom Development Investment Ltd, Mr. Adeleke Alex-Adedipe; Director, Natcom Development Investment Ltd, Ms. Oladele Aremu; Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo; Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Chief Idris Olorunnimbe; MD\CEO, Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr. Gbenga Alade and MD/CEO NATCOM Development Investment Ltd trading as ntel, Mr. Soji Maurice-Diya, during the relaunch of ntel business in Lagos on Monday evening
The strategy is built on the company’s BET Agenda, which is anchored on three business pillars—Beam, Eden, and Titan—designed to drive innovation, optimise assets, and create long-term value through technology, infrastructure, and property development.
Speaking at the unveiling, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NatCom Development & Investment Limited (trading as ntel), Soji Maurice-Diya, said the initiative represents a significant step in the company’s transformation beyond traditional telecommunications.
According to him, The Next Frontier reflects ntel’s commitment to building an integrated ecosystem that connects people, empowers businesses, promotes digital inclusion, and contributes to Nigeria’s economic growth.
He noted that over the past year, the company has strengthened stakeholder engagement, aligned its business strategy, held constructive discussions with creditors, pursued strategic partnerships with mobile network operators, and restructured its operations to improve efficiency while maximising the value of its infrastructure assets.
As part of the Beam business pillar, ntel launched WakaGo, a global e-SIM solution designed to provide seamless connectivity for international travellers. The company also introduced AirFibre, a high-speed fixed wireless broadband service targeted at businesses requiring reliable internet connectivity.
Under Titan, ntel showcased its expanding infrastructure business, which includes tower development, fibre-optic connectivity, duct infrastructure, colocation services, and infrastructure-sharing solutions aimed at supporting telecommunications operators, enterprises, and technology providers.
The company also unveiled Eden, its real estate development platform, which seeks to transform NatCom’s extensive property portfolio into premium commercial and residential developments.
Three flagship projects announced under the platform include Eden Place, a multi-storey commercial development in Lagos; Nova Place, a commercial complex located in Port Harcourt; and Terenna Court, a premium residential apartment development in Abuja.
According to the company, the projects are expected to unlock greater value from its real estate assets through strategic partnerships, innovative design, and sustainable development.
The unveiling attracted prominent stakeholders from government, the telecommunications sector, and the private sector, including the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of AMCON, Gbenga Alade; Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Chief Idris Olorunnimbe; Chairman of NatCom Development & Investment Limited, Adeleke Alex-Adedipe; Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo; President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere; alongside other industry leaders.
The company said the new strategy positions ntel to leverage opportunities at the intersection of digital connectivity, infrastructure development, and real estate, while supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation and economic development.
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