Telecom
NCC, ATCON Set for Nigeria ICT Festival 2014
The Nigeria ICT Festival 2014 has continued to generate positive response from regulators and operators in the nation’s ICT sector. In that respect, both the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) have indicated interest to participate actively at the event set for Thursday, October 30, 2014 in Lagos. The theme of the conference is: ‘Broadband: Path to Digital Future.’
Accordingly, Dr. Eugene Juwah, executive vice-chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is the special guest of Honour and will also deliver the keynote address at the event while Engr. Lanre Ajayi, ATCON president is one of the distinguished guest speakers.
In the same vein, Engr. Titi Omo-Ettu, immediate past president of ATCON will chair the event which promises to draw a large number of blue-chip operators in the Nigerian ICT space.
According to a statement by Prince Cookey, publisher/editor-in-chief of Business Journal magazine, the Nigeria ICT Festival 2014 is a platform to further celebrate the achievements of the sector over the years, give regulators, operators and telecom consumers the opportunity to generate Strategic Plan of Action for future growth of the industry and offer operators the opportunity to showcase their latest products and solutions to the market.
Cookey said the theme of the Festival, Broadband: Path to Digital Future aptly captures the essence of the Broadband Initiative by the Federal Government and the NCC to ensure sustainable growth of the industry via application of Broadband technology.
According to him, the Nigeria ICT Festival would be the single largest gathering of regulators, operators, consumers and the media in the telecom/IT industry under one platform to celebrate the performance of the industry in recent times and chart a credible roadmap for sustainable growth of the market.
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He expressed optimism that the event is set for successful outing given the high number of major players that have already signed on to participate.
The Business Journal publisher listed some of the conference topics to include: Broadband for the Masses: Perspective of Operators(MTN, Glo, Airtel, Etisalat, MainOne), Mobile Money in the Age of Broadband: The CBN Roadmap, Broadband: Opportunities & Challenges for Banks in Nigeria, Strategies for Deepening E-Payment System in the Age of Broadband, Strategies for Accessible & Affordable Broadband Regime in Nigeria: ATCON, ALTON,ITAN, The Future of Local Assembly of PCs in Nigeria and Broadband: Opportunities & Challenges for State Governments in Nigeria.
Mazen Mroue, a non-executive director at MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, has resigned effective February 27, 2026, to prioritise other responsibilities within the MTN Group, the company announced in a Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) filing.
MTN Nigeria
The notice, signed by company secretary Uto Ukpanah, stated: “This is to enable Mr. Mroue to focus on other priorities within MTN Group Limited. The Board wishes to express its appreciation to Mr. Mroue for his immense service to MTN Nigeria and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”
Mroue joined MTN Nigeria’s board on June 1, 2022, bringing over 28 years of telecom experience. A veteran MTN executive, he previously served as CEO of MTN Uganda and MTN Liberia, non-executive director at MTN Cyprus, and held leadership roles at MTN Ghana.
Since February 2022, he has been MTN Group’s Chief Technology and Information Officer, overseeing technology strategy and governance. Earlier, as MTN Nigeria’s COO from August 2018 to January 2022, he also sat on the MTN Nigeria Foundation board.
The exit follows MTN Nigeria’s stellar 2025 results, posting a ₦1.70 trillion profit before tax—reversing a ₦550.3 billion loss in 2024 driven by forex woes—marking one of the telco’s strongest rebounds.
Google has rolled out support for Yorùbá and Hausa languages in its AI-powered Search features—AI Overviews and AI Mode—enabling millions of Nigerians to get quick answers, summaries, and conversational web exploration in their mother tongues.
The update forms part of Google’s push to cover 13 African languages, including Afrikaans, Akan, Amharic, Kinyarwanda, Afaan Oromoo, Somali, Sesotho, Kiswahili, Setswana, Wolof, and isiZulu, selected based on high search activity across the continent.
Now, a Kano student can ask complex questions in Hausa, while an Ibadan trader seeks business tips in Yorùbá—both receiving culturally nuanced AI responses via text or voice on Android, iOS, or web.
Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s West Africa Communications Manager, said: “Building truly global Search requires nuanced local understanding. With Gemini-powered AI, we’ve made advanced capabilities relevant in Yorùbá and Hausa, so Nigerians converse naturally with Search in their mother tongues.”
To use: Open the Google app, tap AI Mode, and query in Hausa or Yorùbá for personalised guidance—breaking language barriers and making technology reflect Nigeria’s diverse identity.
MultiChoice is closing its continental streaming platform Showmax after 11 years, notifying subscribers Thursday of the board’s decision to discontinue the service in the near future to refocus on sustainable digital offerings.
MultiChoice
The email assured no immediate disruption: “You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time.” Showmax, launched in South Africa in 2015 and expanded across Africa, offered movies, series, documentaries, and sports to rival Netflix and others amid rising online entertainment demand.
The shutdown follows Canal+’s approved takeover of MultiChoice last year, with the French giant offering ZAR 125 per share for remaining stakes.
The deal mandates HDP ownership boosts, local content investment, and splitting MultiChoice’s SA broadcasting arm into an independent entity to meet regulations.
MultiChoice prioritised subscribers during the transition, promising advance notice on timelines.
Showmax’s exit signals consolidation pressures in Africa’s cut-throat streaming market, where global players dominate despite local content strengths.
MultiChoice to Discontinue Showmax Streaming Platform
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MTN Nigeria Non-Executive Director Mazen Mroue Quits to Focus on Group Role
Google Adds Yorùbá, Hausa to AI Search, Boosting Access for Millions of Nigerians
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