Telecom
MTN, VDT, Zoracom, Digital Realty Back 2026 Girls in ICT Campaign
Dominant Telecommunications firm, MTN Nigeria, has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the gender disparity in the ICT career sector is bridged.
International Girls in ICT Day
This statement was made with the backing of the 2026 edition of the International Girls in ICT Day campaign being organized by eBusiness Life Communication Limited.
The event, which will be held at the Lagos Oriental Hotel on June 25, 2026, is part of an annual campaign initiated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to sensitize and encourage young women and girls to delve into ICT and related careers, which are seen to have been dominated by the male gender. The 2026 theme is “AI For Development: Girls Shaping The Digital Future”.
MTN Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest providers of communications services, connecting over 87 million people in communities across the country with each other and the world. Guided by a vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world, MTN Nigeria has been at the forefront of this campaign to build human capacity in Nigeria.
Alongside MTN Nigeria, Broadband communication service provider VDT Communications Limited has also indicated interest in being part of this year’s campaign.
VDT is a licensed Private Network service provider specializing in the provision of Enterprise Wide Area Network (WAN) and Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) link connectivity using Fibre Optic and Wireless Communication infrastructure and access networks.
VDT is a leading Broadband communication service provider to corporate organizations with leased Fiber Optic trunks to the thirty-six (36) states in Nigeria and the FCT, with 145 Points-Of-Presence (POP) and counting with localized technical support staff.
Technology company and fast-growing provider of network and service management solutions, Zora Communications Limited (Zoracom), and leading provider of carrier-neutral data center, co-location infrastructure, Digital Realty Nigeria, have also joined in partnership with the organizers.
Zoracom manages heterogeneous network infrastructure through innovative solutions that offer end-to-end visibility into complex digital infrastructure.
Digital Realty West African hub unites connectivity, enterprise, and financial services. Empowering businesses in Lagos, Nigeria, with access to undersea cables.
The company operates one of the world’s largest data center platforms, with 300+ data centers spanning 55+ metros across 6 continents. From single racks to multi-megawatt AI deployments, delivering the flexibility, global reach, and open ecosystems needed to power innovation.
Zoracom is a technology company for Observability, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure management, offering solutions that include a unified network & services management solution for Telco, Miro, Zmart & Fortrex.
Both multiple award winning technology firms have in the past, demonstrated their support towards ensuring gender balance and youth engagement in the technology ecosystem.
According to the CEO of eBusiness Life Communication Limited and convener of the event, Mrs. Ufuoma Emuophedaro, the annual event underscores the important role women are meant to play in the future of innovative technology.
While appreciating the companies and institutions that have supported the campaign over the years, Mrs. Emuophedaro called on other forward-looking organizations to join hands with eBusiness Life to sensitize young girls on the need to strategically position themselves for the careers of the future by latching on to the provisions of technology today.
She noted that the campaign is premised on the fact that society has unconsciously relegated the female gender and delegated careers in technical fields, especially in ICT, to their male counterparts.
According to her, efforts should be made to introduce young girls to career opportunities in technical fields in both the public and private sectors to help them have a wider range of options and contribute their quota in the industry and in the development of the economy.
She said: “We need to equip the girls with transferable and lifelong skills such as critical thinking, creativity and digital awareness.
“Having role models will also be critical, especially in the sciences and other fields where the presence of women is sparse.”
The 2026 International Girls in ICT celebration event will feature different competitions among female students from widely selected private and public secondary schools. These include STEM Quiz and practical tech competitions.
Other features of the day will include the Student’s Roundtable Discussion, interactive and motivational talk from renowned women ICT professionals.
Awards and gift prizes will be given to winning schools and students of the Quiz and Tech competitions. Also, awards will be given to deserving women who have exemplified themselves in the ICT industry.
The International Girls in ICT Day is an initiative launched through ITU Resolution 70 with the idea of creating a global environment that will empower and encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the field of information and communication technologies.
At the end of the event, it is expected that the young students should be able to introspect and pursue any desired career path in ICT, technical or not, without bias or being gender conscious.
This year’s event will have top government and private sector executives in attendance.
MTN Nigeria has raised the bar for corporate disclosure in Africa after publishing its 2025 sustainability report in full compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards S1 and S2.
Dr. Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria,
The report, independently assured by Ernst & Young, marks the telecom operator’s seventh consecutive annual sustainability publication and third year as an early adopter of the global framework ahead of its mandatory implementation.
Dr. Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, said, “strong governance and ethical conduct are foundational to our sustainability strategy. We reinforced compliance through our Conduct Passport Framework and robust internal controls.”
He added that “in May 2025, we became the first telecommunications company in Nigeria to publicly present a sustainability report on the Nigerian Exchange Group platform, an important milestone in our commitment to IFRS S1 and S2- aligned disclosure and accountability.”
The company also secured Carbon Disclosure Project ratings of ‘B-’ for climate change and ‘C’ for water security.
Under the IFRS S2 framework, the telecoms operator disclosed climate-related risks linked to flooding, heat stress, regulatory changes and possible future taxes or charges on carbon emissions, following a climate scenario analysis completed in 2024.
The report also showed that MTN Nigeria now uses a digital reporting format – XBRL. This makes its sustainability and governance data easier for investors and ESG rating agencies to access and analyse through automated systems.
The Company also carried out assessments to understand how sustainability issues affect both its business operations and society at large, while measuring its overall economic, environmental and social impact from 2021 to 2024.
In addition, over one-third of MTN Nigeria’s biggest suppliers (based on spending) have committed to supporting the company’s net-zero emissions goals, although these commitments have not yet gone through an independent audit or verification process.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) have announced a new compliance requirement mandating telecommunications companies to obtain regulatory approval before effecting significant changes in their ownership structure.
The directive, jointly issued by the two agencies, requires any proposed transfer of ownership or control of shares amounting to 10 per cent or more of the total share capital of a company licensed by the NCC to secure a Letter of No Objection from the commission before such transactions can be registered with the CAC.
The agencies said the requirement was in line with the provisions of Section 90 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, Regulation 28(2) of the Competition Practices Regulations, 2007, and Regulation 42 of the Licensing Regulations, 2019.
According to the statement, the regulations empower the NCC to oversee and review transactions involving licensed communications companies and ensure fair competition within the sector.
“Effective immediately, any proposed transfer of ownership or control of shares in a licensee of the Nigerian Communications Commission amounting to 10 per cent or more of the total share capital, as well as any series of share transfers which in aggregate exceed 10 per cent of the total share capital of the licensee, shall require a Letter of No Objection from NCC in order for the changes to be effected and registered with the CAC,” the statement said.
The agencies explained that the CAC would henceforth ensure that all applications for changes in shareholding structures involving 10 per cent or more of a telecommunications company’s share capital are accompanied by evidence of prior approval from the NCC.
They noted that the measure was aimed at preserving a fair and competitive market structure within the communications sector by preventing direct or indirect anti-competitive practices.
According to the statement, the new requirement will also strengthen regulatory oversight of significant changes in ownership and control of licensed telecommunications operators.
The agencies said the initiative would enhance transparency, boost investor confidence, provide regulatory certainty and safeguard the long-term sustainability and stability of the communications industry.
The NCC and CAC reaffirmed their commitment to promoting a transparent, stable and competitive business environment in Nigeria.
They pledged to continue working closely to ensure fair market practices, strengthen regulatory certainty and support the orderly and sustainable development of the nation’s communications sector.
National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to promote locally manufactured renewable energy technologies under the Federal Government’s ‘Nigeria First Policy’.
L-R: EVC/CEO, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu; Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Abraham Adedokun; and Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), at the signing of the MoU on implementation of Nigeria First Policy for offtake of NSSENI’s renewable energy products for rural electrification projects held on Friday, June 19, 2026 at BPP’s office in Abuja.
The agreement signing was facilitated by the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Abraham Adedokun at the BPP headquarters in Abuja on Friday, June 19, 2026.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the Agency is focused on linking research, production, and commercialization to ensure that innovations are translated into market-ready products.
He said “NASENI would scale up renewable energy production, including solar panels and streetlights, through initiatives such as DefFrontier, to strengthen local manufacturing and reduce import dependence, adding that the Agency will meet the renewable energy requirements of REA.”
Instead of continuous importation of technologies, machines and equipment for producing renewable energy solutions, NASENI by this MoU will be committed to local manufacturing and domestication of the technologies, equipment and other ways and means of proliferation of renewable resource in the country and to increase the nation’s off-grid energy solutions.
The Managing Director/CEO of REA, Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, described the relationship with NASENI as a strategic partnership aimed at building Nigeria’s renewable energy ecosystem through local production and deployment.
He stated that “while NASENI provides the manufacturing and technological capacity for renewable equipment, REA will focus on deploying solutions to expand electricity across rural areas.”
Meanwhile, the Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Abraham Adedokun, said the Nigeria First Policy, exemplified by this agreement, is aimed at strengthening local content, ensuring value for money, and promoting accountability in public procurement.
He emphasized that implementation of the agreement will be performance-based, with strict monitoring to ensure compliance and measurable outcome. He added that the MoU is expected to deepen collaboration between NASENI and REA in expanding renewable energy and reducing dependence on imported technologies.
The MoU will be implemented through NASENI’s subsidiary company, NASENI Devfrontier Green Energy FZE and REA limited liability company, RAMco.The two Federal Government agencies seek to establish a strategic collaboration under which REA shall offtake PV modules, inverters, energy storage batteries of NASENI-Devfrontier Green Energy FZE directly or through its approved distribution companies/assembly and manufacturing factory.
As part of the agreement, REA shall provide institutional visibility to enable NASENI participate in electrification projects; facilitate opportunities for engagements between NASENI and eligible developers/contractors under REA programs; ensure that such facilitation is consistent with applicable procurement, local content, and transparency requirements; and also collaborate with NASENI in promoting standardized, high-quality PV technologies across its programme portfolio.
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