Telecom
MTN & Ultima Studios Kick Off Hunt for Nigeria’s Next Afrobeats Icon

MTN Nigeria has officially launched Next Afrobeats Star (NAS), a bold new music reality competition designed to uncover and elevate the next generation of Afrobeats talent. The show was unveiled on Saturday, August 2, 2025, during a media event held at the MTN Rooftop Event Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos.

L-R: Puffy Tee, Producer and MTN Next Afrobeats Star judge; Chimdinma Maduforo, General Manager, ONErpm Nigeria; Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTNNigeria; Femi Ayeni, CEO, Ultima Studios; A’isha Umar Mumuni, Chief Digital Officer, MTN Nigeria and Andre Vibez, Producer and MTN Next Afrobeats Star judge at the media launch event for MTN Next Afrobeats Star held at the MTN Events Center, Ikoyi on Saturday, August 2, 2025.
Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, said: “Next Afrobeats Star is a bold initiative by MTN Nigeria, in partnership with Ultima Studios and ONErpm, to discover and elevate the next global icon of Afrobeats. At MTN, we believe in progress, not just as a brand stance but a purpose.
“We believe that every Nigerian, regardless of background, location, or education, deserves a chance to be connected, seen, heard, and celebrated. That is why we are taking this message to every corner of Nigeria, from the bustling cities to the most remote villages so that no youth is left behind. Because talent knows no boundaries, and neither should opportunity.
Today, Afrobeats is a global force, filling stadiums, topping charts, and inspiring millions. But the journey is far from over. The Next Afrobeats Star is our commitment to the future of this movement. It is a platform where raw real opportunity. Where the rhythm of Nigeria meets the reach of the world.”
A partnership between MTN Nigeria, Ultima Studios, and ONErpm, one of the fastest-growing music companies in the world, Ikenna-Emeka revealed that the winner will receive a $100,000 music deal made possible by a collaboration between ONErpm and U-Records. The remaining four finalists will also walk away with music deals ranging from $25,000 to $75,000.
This effort, Ikenna-Emeka explained, aligns with the Nigerian Government’s Destination 2030 strategy, which aims to position Nigeria as Africa’s leading hub for creative excellence. “Through the Destination 2030 strategy, the government is working to position Nigeria as a leading global hub for creative excellence by the year 2030. This vision is about more than economic growth, it’s about cultural pride, global influence, and national identity. It’s about creating an enabling environment for artistic brilliance, promoting diversity and creativity, and preserving the rich heritage that makes Nigeria unique.”
MTN’s partnership with Ultima Studios brings decades of production and talent development expertise to the show. Known for their work on Project Fame and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Ultima brings its expertise in audio-visual production.
Femi Ayeni, CEO of Ultima Studios, explained the standout quality of the show. “What makes this show different is because for the first time, we are having the producers, the beat-makers, actually recording original songs for the contestants for the show. So, they [the contestants] will be doing covers, but at the end of the day, their original songs are the ones that will determine how well they do on the show.” The producers have been revealed as Andre Vibez, Puffy Tee, Sarz and P. Prime.
Head of Content at Ultima Studios, Oluwabori Richards, explained that Next Afrobeats Star will feature online registration and in-person auditions. “After texting NAS to 13013, you get a text back with a link and a unique code,” he said. “That link takes you to the Next Afrobeats Star website, and then you enter your unique code and email address. Once you do that, you fill in your registration details.”
Richards added that the website hosts 10 to 12 instrumentals from the four producers. “Download any of the tracks that you want, you make music on it and then you put it back on the website. When you do that, we have A&R execs from ONErpm who will be reviewing all the entries.”
He also noted that regional auditions will be held in Jos, Enugu, and Lagos, giving applicants the option to audition either digitally or in person. “So, once we collate all the entries, both regionally and on digital platforms, 300 people will be shortlisted to come to the trial. The trial is the first round of the show, and that’s the first time you will be performing before judges,” he said.
The competition is open to Nigerians and will focus not only on discovering talent but also on nurturing it through professional development, mentorship, and access to industry-standard resources. To apply, text NAS to 13013 using an MTN line. Visit mtn.ng/NAS for more information.
Telecom
NITDA Backs NiRA’s Ambitious 2026 Plan to Drive Massive .ng Domain Adoption

As part of its commitment to fast-track Nigeria’s digital economy, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has officially approved the 2025 Annual Report and the 2026 Business Plan of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA).

The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, receives the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) Annual Report from its President, Adesola Akinsanya, after a briefing on the Association’s yearly activities, milestones, and ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s internet and digital landscape
The approval came during a meeting at NITDA headquarters where NiRA’s President, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya led his board members to present the association’s 2026 vision to NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE.
Following the approval, both organisations expressed the resolve to reinforce their collaborative efforts to ensure smooth, rapid execution of their shared goals of increasing the adoption of the .ng domain across
To actualise the business plan, the DG directed NiRA to work hand-in-hand with NITDA’s e-Governance and Digital Economy Department for effective implementation, daily updates, and project tracking.
“You have my full approval for these initiatives. Let us change our strategy, sync up more closely, and ensure everything we have agreed upon during this presentation is fully implemented by next year,” Inuwa declared.
Highlighting some of NiRA’s impressive achievements achievements over the past year, Akinsanya said 98,285 new registrations, 71,470 renewals, and 1,970 restorations were recorded in 2025, while there are 241,000 active domains.
Beyond the numbers, NiRA also implemented important security upgrades, including the Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), for a more secure and resilient internet experience for local users, as well as improvements in registrar support and engagement.
Looking into the future, Akinsanya said NiRA is intensifying action to make .ng and .gov.ng domains the gold standard across the country. He expressed gratitude for NITDA’s ongoing support, calling for joint awareness campaigns and digital capacity-building to bring more state governments, local councils, and public institutions under the secure official domain.
Also, the NiRA president added that the association is updating its internal systems, introducing automation, and revising its constitution to meet globally acceptable standards to ensure sustainable growth.
“NiRA is looking into deeper stakeholder engagement and moving into areas where we see massive possibilities. We are specifically targeting startups and aligning with tech events across the country. With stronger collaboration, we can drive widespread adoption across every tier of government’’, Akinsanya said.
Telecom
TikTok Tax Scam Exposed: Two Arrested Over Alleged £153 Million Fraud Scheme

TikTok users in UK are being warned to keep an eye out for tax scams after two men were arrested in east London over an alleged scheme involving £153 million in fraudulent claims.

TikTok
The pair, aged 22 and 25, have been accused of luring Brits into giving away their personal tax details by offering financial rewards over the app.
Investigators believe they then used those details to lodge false claims worth tens of millions of pounds, claims which were ultimately blocked by HMRC.
The tax body is now urging social media users to be skeptical of posts that promise “risk-free” rewards in return for their tax information.
That information, HMRC warned, is then used to apply for fraudulent tax repayments. Because the criminals hide their identity, it is the person whose details were used who will owe money to HMRC as a result. Similar scams are also run on apps such as Instagram and Snapchat.
TikTokers arrested in London after ?running 153,000,000 tax scam? over app
Simon Grunwell, HMRC’s head of cybercrime investigations, told users to “protect your personal tax details in the same way you protect your bank details.”
He added: “Claims of quick, risk-free cash in return for sharing your personal information are a scam. They aim to defraud you and the taxpayer.”
The two Romanian men involved in the alleged TikTok scheme were arrested in Newham on April 23.
They were accused of offences under the Fraud Act, the Serious Crime Act, the Computer Misuse Act, and the Proceeds of Crime Act. Both have since been released on bail, and the investigation is ongoing
Telecom
Glo to Improve Customers’ Digital Lifestyle with “More Data, More Value” Package

Telecommunications and digital solutions provider, Globacom, has introduced a new promotional data package known as “More Data More Value only on Glo”, aimed at enhancing the digital lifestyle of its customers across the country.

In line with the growing demand for internet connectivity in Nigeria’s increasingly data-driven economy, Globacom said the new offer reinforces its position as a customer-focused network by providing subscribers with over 10 percent additional data value on selected bundles.
According to a statement issued by the company in Lagos, the initiative was introduced to ensure that Nigerians derive maximum benefit from every Naira spent on data services, while continuing the company’s tradition of delivering affordable and value-packed telecommunications solutions.
The “More Data More Value” package features several weekly and monthly plans structured to support both daytime and nighttime browsing needs.Under the weekly category, the ₦1,000 plan offers subscribers a total of 3.7GB data, comprising 1.7GB regular data and an additional 2GB night browsing allocation.
Customers who opt for the ₦2,000 weekly package receive 9GB in total, broken into 6.5GB main data and 2.5GB for night usage.
For monthly subscribers, the ₦1,500 package provides a combined 5.2GB data volume, consisting of 2.2GB regular data and 3GB night allocation. The ₦2,000 monthly option comes with 6.25GB in total, including 3.25GB main data and 3GB night data.
Subscribers choosing the ₦5,000 monthly plan receive 16.5GB altogether, made up of 14.5GB main data and 2GB night browsing bonus. Higher-end packages are also available, including the ₦10,000 option which delivers 42GB total data volume — 38GB main data plus 4GB night data — while the ₦15,000 package provides 64GB in total, comprising 62GB regular data and 2GB night allocation.
Globacom noted that the enhanced data bundles are designed to support the increasing digital needs of students, entrepreneurs, remote workers, gamers, and social media enthusiasts who require uninterrupted connectivity for streaming, online meetings, content creation, gaming, and social interaction on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
The company added that the offer is equally beneficial to households and small businesses that depend heavily on mobile internet and hotspot connectivity for daily operations.
By increasing data value across its packages, Glo which aims to position itself as the preferred network for high-volume data users further disclosed that the offer aligns with its broader digital transformation strategy through the Glo Café app, which enables customers to subscribe to bundles conveniently and manage their bonus data seamlessly for a more rewarding user experience.
According to the company, the “More Data More Value” proposition reflects its commitment to delivering superior value and ensuring that Nigerians continue to enjoy reliable and affordable digital services without compromising their online lifestyle.
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