General News
Nature, Govt Can Force Collocation- Ayonote
Bruce Ayonote is group chief executive/co- founder, Suburban Telecm, an integrated telecommunications service provider based in Nigeria with operations in Europe and the USA.
His experience spans beyond communications and high technology (C & HT) to corporate finance and business development.
Ayonote has deep expertise and working knowledge with the public sector. He spoke with hilary okeke.
Suburban’s solutions to System Breakdown
Our customers are segmented. If you look at the enterprise segment, you would find that it is a more complex one to deal with. For the telco segment, their requirements are very straightforward – they require basic services which they also understand very well and are regulated by ITU, and have clear standards. But on the enterprise side, we have true ICT – a mix of information technology and communications; and there is a lot of subjectivity because you have to look at the business solution – what the person’s business is, how to help him achieve his business objectives – and a lot of businesses are modeled differently. So, there is a bit of that humanistic side that needs to be appreciated. In terms of solutions to provide to them, the solutions or the concerns we have there would be first, scoping and giving a customer a solution to his unique requirements. So, a business solution – the ability to understand what it means to the business and incorporate and merge them together is a very important value proposition to an enterprise. Secondly, like in the case of financial services, we need a lot of security. Cisco® has some very strong products around anti-virus in partnership with other OEMs and software providers. They have advanced security solutions for enterprises. Basically, providing security solution is either in partnership with some of the software providers and some of the OEMs. Also, providing hardware and middle ware in models that are beneficial to the enterprises. Sometimes you can provide managed services in such a way that a lot of capital expenditure is not burnt by the enterprise on those services; and then also flexibility and robustness of the product – giving them options like in the case of upgrade, data connectivity requirement and in the case of open source, flexible and non-proprietary solutions which would enable interoperatibility with other solutions. Basically, understanding what customers want and trying to give them that, regardless of the challenges has been our standard.
Alternatives to Sat-3
In terms of international fibre connectivity, we have built inland fibre cables across borders into multiple West African countries that have access to international fibre cables. We have been given licence by the NCC to build international infrastructure; we see the need for diversity. Basically what you find around our environment is “a fixed pie mentality” – people still see things from a fixed perspective and are not willing to alter or positively change the scenario. Everyone prefers to leave things as they are. In technology, that is not ideal. Things are continuously changing and are rapidly dynamic; and within the confines of the law, we want to be innovative with our solutions. As a solutions provider, one needs to look at how he can augment the existing status-quo and improve it towards a more quality solution. So for us, we have seen very credible alternatives to supporting the existing burden put on top of the existing infrastructure and creating diversity so that there is more resilience on our networks and services. We have built cables into neighbouring countries; we are building cables from more West African countries connecting additional West African countries. To be specific – cables have been built from Ghana into Lome, Nigeria into Benin and Ghana into Ivory Coast. We believe that we are able to also supply landlocked countries like Mali, Burkinafaso, some parts of Nigeria, Niger; and create multiple exits for even providing redundancy on existing infrastructure like Sat-3 and new infrastructure like Main One or even Glo – cables that would come into the country. For satellite, between 2002 and 2007 we did a lot of satellite transmission but the capacity that the market needs is more sustainable on a fibre infrastructure; the kinds of applications also are more sustainable on a fibre infrastructure. To be honest with you, fibre would be the number one preferred technology and satellite will play a very strategic role. But our focus right now is more on the preferred technology. Like I said, diversity is the key. You know, networks are vulnerable to general activities in the environment and sometimes they suffer intentional and unintentional damage, and the integrity of the network is compromised. So, the solution around that is diversity and not a fixed pie. If you have a fixed pie, when there is a problem, you have no alternative to fall back on. What happened to Sat-3 was quite unfortunate but it happens to networks. On the semantics side, we say it is quite a lot of unexplainable scenarios which have buttressed the need for physical redundancy. The solution now is no more how much you can build on your own. It is no longer about how much money or how much infrastructure you have; it is about how well you have partnered to solve your problems. Collaboration is very important in this aspect.
Sharing Cable Infrastructure and Associated Problems
Yes, there are problems and they are created more by people. At the end of the day, it is people who build and operate networks. So, when someone says he does not want to share infrastructure, there is nothing you can do to make him change his mind. Ultimately, collocation and infrastructure sharing are functions of the desires and intentions of the individuals that run the businesses, and when it is in their strategic interest to share, they tend to share and when it is not, they do not. Everyone has his reasons for doing whatever he does. For collocation to materialize in this environment, there are two ways. One is that it would take a natural course. In a free market economy, they say the functions of demand and supply determine the market. Now, when it becomes more expensive for you to keep on building infrastructure, you would now appreciate the need to share. When it becomes unattractive to keep on building and when people do not see any benefit from it, then they will share. The second way is when government exercises its power to enforce the law. Already, the law says you should share infrastructure wherever there is infrastructure to be shared according to the licences the NCC has given to telecommunication providers in Nigeria. But obviously, the regulator can only act on information or specific reports they get from the operators. I personally have gone to some operators and pitched the idea to share infrastructure in win-win situations, which I thought were very credible but they did not see the light of day. Well, I only hope it appeals to the owners of those infrastructures to share them.
Extent of Internet Penetration and Need for Improvement
The aggregate amount of the Internet in Nigeria today is around 2GB. Within West Africa, we see a total usage of about 600MB, and we still think that the penetration is very low. We think that in the next 2-3 years, we should be looking at 20-25GB of internet connection and penetration. We expect to see a huge growth in Internet penetration by 2009 and 2010. The major factors were availability of international bandwidth over fibre. Obviously, there is a difference when you use the Internet over fibre and when you use it over other technologies because of feed. When you do not get the kind of feed you want, some applications are not that effective and that then makes the users not interested. Cost is another consideration. By providing fibre bandwidth, we have noticed an increase in penetration. Before our intervention into the market, the total bandwidth in the country was below 900MB. Since we came, we have brought about 1.2GB into the market, which has also increased Internet penetration. The more bandwidth becomes available, the more penetration into the society. In terms of cost, we have also done a great job in reducing the cost of the Internet and this in turn, has been beneficial to the end-users – better quality and better cost; and our interest is to increase the capacity and reduce cost over time. So, there is more adoption of the Internet within the country and we believe that when there is more adoption, the business model can change; more value-added services being supplied, and then the basic requirement of having Internet access would be achieved. There is a significant social angle in achieving our objectives.
Challenges of Operating in Nigerian Environment
One of these challenges is high level of corruption in our environment and it manifests in various ways, and that is very contrary to my belief. That is one challenge I face a lot, which that has made me lose a lot of opportunities. Sometimes, I might have to just walk away or lose the interest I have in a prospect. The other one is the capital requirement of running an infrastructure-based business like this. Even though you can get that money from people or from banks – people in terms of high net-worth investors – a lot of people do not have that kind of capacity that we are talking about and the banks also do not understand the business; they are very short term in nature. It might be the nature of their terms with the depositors who bank with them on short term basis and that translates back to their lending style. So, we are not able to get long term financing at reasonable interest rates. The distraction in raising financing is overwhelming, it divorces you from your core responsibility of sales and developing your business and that is a major struggle. Be that as it may, we have been very lucky. Customers are another challenge; sometimes they do not like to pay for services rendered and that is a humbling experience. See, people problem is not a joke.
A recent study – Nigeria’s Credit Landscape Report 2025 – has revealed a striking paradox in the nation’s financial ecosystem, revealing that while more Nigerians are becoming financially included, only about 6% of adults currently access credit through formal financial institutions.
Published by Credit Direct in June 2026, the report highlights that although more than 64% of Nigerian adults are financially included, formal credit penetration remains significantly low. Credit to the Nigerian private sector stands at just 13.1% of GDP, well below peer African economies such as Kenya and South Africa. The findings point to persistent barriers to credit access for households, entrepreneurs and small businesses, despite improving economic conditions and growing business activity across key sectors of the economy.
The report also notes that Nigeria’s real sector recorded sustained expansion throughout 2025, with manufacturing, services and agriculture posting positive growth indicators, creating increased demand for working capital and business financing.
Reacting to the findings, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc said the report reinforces the urgent need for a more holistic approach to financial inclusion, one that combines access to finance with savings, insurance protection and long-term financial planning.
The leading insurer noted that while access to credit remains important for economic growth, financial protection mechanisms are equally essential in helping individuals and businesses withstand economic shocks.
Through its diverse portfolio of solutions, Mutual Benefits continues to provide Nigerians with tools to build, preserve and protect wealth. These include education-focused protection plans, life assurance products, savings-oriented solutions, motor and property insurance, health coverage and business protection products designed to safeguard livelihoods and future goals.
According to the Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Femi Asenuga: “The conversation around financial inclusion must go beyond opening bank accounts and accessing loans. True financial empowerment is achieved when individuals and businesses can access financing opportunities while also protecting their income, assets, families and future aspirations from unforeseen risks.
“For many Nigerian families and business owners, a single unexpected event such as a medical emergency, fire incident, business disruption or loss of income, can erase years of financial progress. This is why insurance and disciplined savings remain critical pillars of long-term financial resilience.”
The report further reveals that Microfinance Banks account for only 5.4% of Nigeria’s total loan book, underscoring the need for stronger support for SMEs and underserved communities that often struggle to access conventional bank financing.
As part of its commitment to advancing financial inclusion, Mutual Microfinance Bank continues to deliver accessible financing solutions tailored to the needs of small businesses, traders, salary earners, entrepreneurs and emerging enterprises across Nigeria. As at December 31, 2025, the Bank had disbursed loans totaling N1.372 billion, further strengthening access to formal credit for individuals and businesses across its target segments. This growth trajectory continued into 2026, with the loan portfolio rising to N1.558 billion by the end of Q1 2026, reflecting sustained momentum in supporting productive economic activity
Asenuga added: “Small businesses remain the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, yet many continue to face significant barriers in accessing affordable financing. Through Mutual Microfinance Bank, we are helping to bridge this gap by providing flexible financial solutions that enable entrepreneurs to grow, create jobs and contribute meaningfully to economic development.
“At the same time, we encourage individuals and businesses to think beyond borrowing by adopting a culture of saving, risk management and financial protection. Sustainable prosperity is built not only by generating income but also by protecting it.”
With economic activity expected to strengthen further and demand for financing projected to increase across several sectors, Mutual Benefits believes that the future of financial inclusion in Nigeria will depend on creating an ecosystem where access to credit, savings and protection work together to improve financial well-being.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigerians through innovative insurance solutions and accessible financial services that empower individuals, families, and businesses to build resilience, pursue opportunities confidently, and achieve lasting financial security.
Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc is one of Nigeria’s leading insurance companies with over 30 years of experience in providing reliable and innovative life and non-life insurance solutions to individuals, families and businesses. Through innovation, customer-centricity and a commitment to financial inclusion, the company continues to deliver value, protection and peace of mind to customers across Nigeria.
On its part, Mutual Microfinance Bank is committed to expanding access to financial services for individuals, micro-enterprises and small businesses through innovative savings products, accessible financing solutions and customer-focused banking services that promote economic empowerment and financial inclusion.
General News
Trashverse Recycling Technology Emerges Winner as MTN’s The Gathering on 100 Pitchathon Concludes with N5m Awarded in Aba
MTN Nigeria has successfully concluded the Aba leg of its youth cultural and creative movement, The Gathering on 100. The 18-hour event marks a significant milestone for entrepreneurship in Eastern Nigeria.
The event, which took place at the Prime Time Event Centre in Osisioma from June 14 to 15, 2026, transformed the venue into a tech hub for young innovators in Aba.
The Pitchathon had 10 standout startups compete for a total prize pool of ₦5 million. The competition showcased the immense potential of Aba’s youth, encouraging them to live life to the fullest through technological and creative excellence.
The participating startups, representing a cross-section of Aba’s burgeoning innovation ecosystem, impressed judges with solutions ranging from logistics to artisanal tech. Among the finalists were Trashverse Recycling Technology Limited founded by Charles Ikechukwu, Yadah Food, founded by Deborah Enyinnaya and Utytrends Global Ventures led by Utibe Akwa.
After a rigorous evaluation by judges Chiemela Anosike, Dr. Chime Chimezie-Uche, and Justina Nwokedi, the winners were officially announced. Trashverse Recycling Technology Limited, led by Charles Ikechukwu, claimed the first-place prize of ₦2.5 million.
Ikechukwu, founder of Trashverse Recycling Technology Limited, shared his excitement “Winning this pitchathon is a dream come true for our team. The support from The Gathering on 100 and MTN validates our vision and provides the financial backing we need to scale our production and serve more customers in Aba and the global stage.”
Utytrends Global Ventures secured the second-place prize of ₦1.5 million, while Yadah Food took home ₦1 million. These founders showcased solutions that blended local ingenuity with scalable technological frameworks, reinforcing Aba’s reputation as a powerhouse of Nigerian manufacturing and entrepreneurial spirit.
The Gathering on 100’s Pitchathon provided a platform for these early-stage founders to validate their business ideas before an audience of investors and industry stakeholders. For the winners, the funding serves as a catalyst to scale their operations and fulfill market demands, effectively bridging the gap between innovative concepts and industrial-scale production.
Reflecting on the Pitchathon, the Regional Manager, Operations, Southern Region, MTN Nigeria, Ifeanyichukwu Odom, said “Aba has always been a city of creators, innovators, and dreamers. Today, we witnessed young people expressing their passions across business, creativity, culture, and technology. The Gathering is about giving them a platform to be seen, heard, and celebrated.”
She noted that the Pitchathon had showcased the depth of talent and innovation emerging from the region, with participants presenting solutions capable of creating meaningful impact in their communities. “The Pitchathon winners made one thing clear, the Eastern Nigeria startup ecosystem is not waiting to be discovered. It is already forming, and it is ready when structure and support meet ambition. Through the power of connectivity and digital innovation, MTN remains committed to helping young Nigerians unlock their potential and Live It 100.”
This Aba edition built on the momentum of the Lagos edition held at the National Stadium, Surulere, in April, where eight startups received ₦45 million in funding. With its Aba execution, MTN has deepened access to opportunity and visibility for the next generation of business leaders.
Dominion Consultancy Concepts has officially announced the second edition of the KidsCook Showdown, a unique educational and creative cooking competition designed to foster leadership, teamwork, creativity and accountability among children ages 6 to 8.
Following its successful debut in 2025, this latest edition marks a significant milestone by securing the official approval of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB). For the first time, the initiative will shine a spotlight on public education, featuring 20 children within the ages of 6 to 8 years old, selected from 10 public primary schools across the Kosofe Local Government Area.
The KidsCook Showdown is far more than a typical cooking contest. Under the close guidance of professional chefs, the young participants will work in teams to tackle fun, high-energy culinary challenges.
Rather than focusing solely on the final dish, a panel of judges will evaluate the children on essential life skills: teamwork, confidence, time management, communication, and hygiene.
Speaking about the vision behind the program, Enitan Tanimowo, Director of Dominion Consultancy Concepts, emphasised the importance of introducing children to household chores early.
“Our goal is to inspire children to see cooking not just as a chore, but as a fun, creative way to develop themselves, learn discipline, and build confidence and these skills help them into the future,” Tanimowo stated.
“By expanding into our public schools with LASUBEB’s vital support, we are ensuring that children from all backgrounds get an equal opportunity to develop leadership and accountability in a structured, inspiring environment.”
Tanimowo added that the initiative directly aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—specifically SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education)—by using hands-on, practical learning to promote balanced nutrition and social development. The event is bringing together parents, teachers, and professionals to champion the next generation.
The grand scale of this edition is made possible through the robust corporate and media backing of industry-leading brands. This year’s KidsCook Showdown is proudly supported by Zuri Seasoning, Ribena, Channels TV, Integrated Indigo Limited, and other partners committed to youth development and impactful community engagement in Nigeria.
Together, these partners are helping transform the kitchen into a classroom where future leaders are shaped, one recipe at a time.
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