Young entrepreneurs took centre stage at The Gathering on 100 in Kano as the popular Pitchathon concluded after a three hour competition on Saturday, July 11, at the Meena Event Centre.

Innovator Samiat Damilola Yusuf emerged as the overall winner after competing against 10 startups for a total prize pool of ₦5 million.

The competition showcased innovative business solutions from young founders across technology, fashion, education and the creative economy. This reinforced the growing role of entrepreneurship in solving local challenges and creating economic opportunities.

Over the course of the competition, these 10 founders pitched solutions designed to address everyday problems, with entries assessed on innovation, scalability, market viability and potential impact.

The Pitchathon provided participants with an opportunity to present their businesses before a panel of judges while gaining visibility, feedback and access to valuable networks.

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At the end of the competition, Samiat Damilola Yusuf secured the first-place prize of ₦2.5 million for Aplikant, a technology AI powered platform designed to manage applications, track participants, take attendance, and generate impact reports.

Amina Jummai Mayaki, Creative Director of Vogues by Maj, claimed the second-place prize of ₦1.5 million for her fashion brand, while Abdullahi Muhammed Jamil received ₦1 million for Roomie, an application that helps university students find compatible roommates, addressing a common challenge faced by undergraduates across Nigeria.

The quality and diversity of the ideas reflected the growing confidence of Nigeria’s startup ecosystem. According to the 2024/2025 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Global Report, entrepreneurial activity continues to be a major driver of innovation, employment and economic resilience across emerging economies, with young founders playing an increasingly important role in building scalable businesses.

Reflecting on the competition, Abu-Sufyan Aliyu, Senior Manager, Sales, North-East Region, MTN Nigeria, said: “The Gathering on 100 Pitchathon brings young people together with mentors, collaborators, business partners and opportunities that can help move their ideas forward.

Beyond the grants, we want every participant to leave with new knowledge, stronger networks and the confidence to keep building. That’s what it truly means to Live It 100.”

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The Kano edition attracted more than 500 Pitchathon applications, reinforcing the competition’s growing reputation as a launchpad for young entrepreneurs.

Following the success of previous editions in Lagos, Aba and Enugu, where winning startups received a combined ₦55 million in seed funding, the initiative continues to connect promising founders with the resources and support needed to scale their ideas.

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has thrown its weight behind the upcoming Telecom Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 7.0), confirming its role as the headline keynote speaker for the Lagos event.

Over the years, the Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF) has evolved into a landmark industry convergence platform and an actionable catalyst for policy alignment, driving critical dialogue around the regulatory, economic, and infrastructural frameworks required to sustain Nigeria’s digital economy.

Taking place on 16th September, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State, the seventh edition of the Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 7.0), organised under the aegis of Business Remarks, will bring together key stakeholders driving the next phase of Nigeria’s telecommunications and digital growth.

Themed “Rethinking Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure Strategy to Attract Investment and Drive Innovation”, TSSF 7.0 will address some of the sector’s most pressing priorities, such as policies, digital infrastructure expansion, digital inclusion, good connectivity, partnerships and investments needed to accelerate Nigeria’s next wave of innovations, digital transformation and economic growth.

Organised by Business Remarks, the forum has consistently brought together policymakers, mobile network operators (MNOs), infrastructure providers, data centre operators, policy advocates and financial technology stakeholders to dissect the pressing challenges facing the telecommunications ecosystem and chart a sustainable path forward.

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Past editions have successfully addressed pivotal industry shifts, ranging from broadband penetration strategies, human capital flight, mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) sustainability and infrastructure deficit funding to the operational integration of emerging technologies. By providing a neutral, high-level platform where regulators like the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) can interface directly with private sector players, the forum plays a vital role in ensuring that regulatory frameworks evolve in tandem with market realities.

Speaking about the event, the Convener, Bukola Olanrewaju, said the Nigerian telecoms sector investment has grown to $75.6 billion as of 2025, with a planned investment of over $1.38 billion in network capacity upgrades in 2026 targeted to enhance infrastructure resilience, boost coverage and improve quality of service for subscribers nationwide.

“As the industry faces a new frontier defined by deepening 5G and 4G penetration, expanding fibre optic networks, and complex macroeconomic pressures, the need to meet the growing demands for digital services while remaining profitable has become the defining challenge of the modern telecommunications landscape.”

At a time when investment in connectivity, subsea cables, fibre networks, data centres, cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity is reshaping the country’s digital landscape, TSSF remains a vanguard of thought leadership and industry engagement, fostering the public-private collaborations necessary to safeguard the backbone of Nigeria’s digital transformation.

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Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting efficient broadband infrastructure deployment in Nigeria through collaborative implementation of the Dig Once Policy.

L-R: Prof. Olalekan Yinusa, Executive Director, Policy, Strategy and Research, Nigeria Governors’ Forum; Mr. Ayuba Shuaibu, Director, Policy Competition and Economic Analysis, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC; Engr. Nadungu Gagare, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; Dr. Helen Aderibigbe Adeniyi, Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology, Kogi State, during the 2nd Stakeholders ‘ Consultative Forum on the Study to Develop a Mechanism and Cost-Based Structure for Sharing Duct Built Under The Dig-Once Policy in Nigeria, on the 8th July 2026, at the NCC Annex Office Mbora Abuja.

The Commission gave the assurance at the Second Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum to Develop a Pricing Mechanism and Cost-Based Structure for Sharing Ducts Built Under the Dig Once Policy in Nigeria, held at the NCC Annex Office, Mbora, Abuja, on Wednesday.

The forum brought together representatives of federal and state government institutions, telecommunications operators, infrastructure companies, industry associations, development partners and other key stakeholders to deliberate on the interim findings of the study and provide input towards the development of a transparent, equitable and cost-based framework for sharing underground duct infrastructure.

Speaking at the event, NCC’s Director, Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Mr Ayuba Shuaibu, said the consultative engagement underscored the Commission’s commitment to an open, transparent and inclusive regulatory process that accommodates the interests of infrastructure providers, network operators, public institutions and consumers.

Shuaibu noted that the proposed framework is intended to encourage infrastructure sharing, improve asset utilisation, reduce the cost of broadband deployment and facilitate the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure across the country.

According to him, the study is designed to establish a fair and transparent pricing mechanism for sharing underground ducts deployed under Nigeria’s Dig Once Policy, which encourages the installation of telecommunications ducts during road construction and rehabilitation projects. He explained that this would enable future fibre deployments without repeated road excavations.

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“The Commission remains committed to a transparent, inclusive and consultative process. Our objective is to arrive at a pricing structure that balances the interests of infrastructure providers, access seekers and, ultimately, consumers, while also encouraging continued investment in broadband infrastructure.

“We encourage frank, constructive and solution-oriented contributions that will strengthen the final outcomes of this study,” Shuaibu said.
He added that observations, recommendations and contributions received from stakeholders during the consultation would be reviewed and incorporated into the final study report to ensure that the resulting framework is practical, commercially sustainable and responsive to industry realities.

Delivering the keynote presentation, the consultant, Mr Olugbenga Olabiyi, Managing Director of Dimension Data Limited, observed that passive infrastructure, including ducts, conduits, manholes and related facilities, constitutes one of the most capital-intensive components of broadband network deployment globally.

He said infrastructure sharing had emerged as an effective strategy for reducing deployment costs, improving efficiency and accelerating broadband expansion.
Olabiyi stated that Nigeria’s adoption of the Dig Once Policy presents an important opportunity to strengthen coordinated infrastructure deployment, minimise avoidable road excavations, improve utilisation of existing infrastructure and support broader broadband access across the country.

He also emphasised the importance of developing a predictable, transparent and equitable access framework, noting that inconsistent pricing models and unclear access conditions could undermine investment incentives and limit the benefits of infrastructure sharing.

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“For Nigeria, where broadband expansion remains a national priority under the National Broadband Plan, successful implementation of the Dig Once Policy could become one of the most impactful infrastructure reforms in our telecommunications history.

“However, infrastructure sharing succeeds only when access is governed by fairness, transparency, predictability and effective market oversight.
“Without an equitable access framework, owners of shared infrastructure may inadvertently or deliberately create barriers to entry through excessive pricing, restrictive commercial conditions or discriminatory access practices. Such outcomes would undermine the objectives of the Dig Once initiative and discourage investment rather than promote it.

“This is why the NCC’s initiative to develop a cost-based pricing framework deserves commendation. A transparent and objective pricing methodology will provide confidence to investors, infrastructure companies, mobile network operators, Internet Service Providers, fibre operators and all participants within the communications ecosystem,” he said.

Participants at the forum reviewed the interim findings and provided recommendations on the proposed pricing methodology, implementation considerations and cost elements. Discussions focused on ensuring that the policy supports efficient infrastructure deployment while balancing the interests of infrastructure providers, access seekers and consumers.

The stakeholder consultation builds on earlier engagements conducted by the Commission on the study. It also aligns with the NCC’s commitment to implementing regulatory initiatives that promote broadband expansion, encourage infrastructure sharing and advance Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

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