Telecom
NCC Reiterates Commitment to Digital Empowerment for Young Women, Girls
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to the promotion and empowerment of young women and girls in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the country.
Tokunbo Oyeleye, Head, Internet Governance, Nigerian Communications Commission,NCC, sensitising Students of Noble Hall Academy at the event.
The Commission expressed this commitment during separate sensitization campaigns held at Government Girls’ Science School (GSS), Kuje and Nobel Hall Leadership Academy, Abuja on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, as it joined the rest of the world in marking the 10th anniversary of Girls in ICT Day 2021.
The annual event is an initiative of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), designed to raise global awareness on empowering and encouraging young women and girls to consider studies and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Aside the sensitization campaigns held in Abuja, the NCC held similar events, in its zonal offices, across the country in furtherance of its commitment to promote the empowerment of young women through ICT.
Addressing participants at Nobel Hall Academy, Head, Internet Governance, NCC, Tokunbo Oyeleye, said the annual event is a testimony to the importance the Commission places on the need to expose girls and young women to more opportunities in ICT as well as address their cybersecurity concerns.
Conveying the felicitations of the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Commission, Professor, Umar Graba Danbatta, Oyeleye said the theme of this year’s edition of the programme, “Connected Girls, Creating Brighter Futures’’ aptly underscores the growing importance of the need for an environment that encourages young women to acquire requisite digital skills to attain their future aspirations.
“The Commission aligns with the ITU’s Resolution 70, which advocates gender mainstreaming and promotion of gender equality, empowerment of women through Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
The Commission has consistently used the platform to encourage Nigerian girls to venture into ICT careers.
A cross section of students at the event
“Hence, we sensitise students in secondary schools on how the NCC, as the telecom sector regulator, is creating a safer space for girls, by raising awareness on digital skills, gender-based violence as well as developing initiatives for the protection of children and girls’ rights online,” she said.
She stated further that the annual event also resonates with the Child Online Protection (COP) drive of the Commission aimed at collectively creating measures for a safer online environment for children. The Commission through various forms of support and participation in activities that educate children on ways to keep safe online has been advancing the objective to promote and safeguard national interests, safety and security.
In the same vein, a Senior Manager at NCC, Yisa Elizabeth, who led the Commission’s team to GSS, Kuje, encouraged the young girls to take advantage of the numerous opportunities in ICT for their personal and career development.
Other locations where the Commission carried out the sensitization include Girls’ Academy Senior Secondary School, Lagos Island and Girls’ Senior Secondary Grammar School, Obalende Keffi, Lagos State; Model Girls’ Secondary School, Rumueme and Government Girls’ Secondary School Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Kano Capital Secondary School (Girls’ section), Matan Fada Road, Nassarawa and Mairo Tijjani Girls’ Science and Technical College, Kano State.
The participants commended the NCC for the elaborate enlightenment programme, which they said was very beneficial as it has stimulated their interest and dispelled the negative gender perceptions often associated with ICT.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecommunications operators to make dedicated budgetary provisions for cybersecurity as part of efforts to strengthen the resilience of Nigeria’s communications infrastructure against the growing wave of cyber threats.
The directive forms part of the Commission’s Cyber Resilience Framework for the Nigerian Communications Sector (CRF-NCS), which introduces new governance, risk management and operational requirements aimed at safeguarding the country’s critical telecommunications infrastructure from increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.
Under the framework, all licensed telecom operators are expected to establish formal cybersecurity governance structures, dedicate adequate financial resources to cyber resilience programmes, and integrate cybersecurity into their enterprise-wide risk management processes.
The Commission said operators must ensure cybersecurity investments are no longer treated as optional operational expenses but as strategic business priorities necessary to protect network infrastructure, customer information and the country’s digital economy.
According to the NCC, licensees are expected to allocate sufficient budgets to support cyber risk assessments, security technologies, staff training, incident response capabilities, continuous monitoring and compliance with regulatory requirements.
The framework also requires operators to designate senior executives responsible for cybersecurity oversight.
At the same time, boards of directors are expected to provide strategic direction and ensure adequate funding for cyber resilience initiatives.
Speaking on the need for a stronger cybersecurity regime during the unveiling of the framework, Abraham Oshadami, executive commissioner, Technical Services, NCC, said, “Given the increasing digitalisation of services, the rapid growth of data exchange, and the sophisticated nature of modern cyber threats, the need for a robust, adaptive and inclusive cybersecurity framework has become more urgent.”
He added, “Both state and non-state actors are targeting essential sectors—including ours—through coordinated cyber and physical attacks. These attacks frequently target control systems and data integrity, underscoring the critical risks posed to operational technology (OT), especially in our sector.”
“As cyber threats evolve, they endanger not only system performance but also human safety, amplifying the severity and consequences of disruptions to vital communications infrastructure. Cybersecurity now encompasses human safety and must address the real risk to people’s lives when a system is attacked or compromised.”
The Commission further stated that operators are required to develop comprehensive cybersecurity implementation plans, conduct periodic risk assessments, establish business continuity and disaster recovery procedures, and regularly test their cyber defence capabilities.
In addition, the framework makes cyber incident reporting compulsory. Licensees must inform the NCC’s CSIRT of any major cybersecurity breach within four hours of discovery, and provide a thorough post-incident analysis after mitigation is complete.
Digital solution provider, Globacom has recorded the highest Internet subscriber growth among Nigeria’s major telecom companies for the month of May.
Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Nigeria’s total Internet users increased to 157 million in May, up from 154.3 million in April. That is a growth of 2.67 million users in one month.
Globacom led the market by adding about 1.2 million new Internet subscribers. This means Glo was responsible for almost half of all new Internet users in May.
The company’s subscriber base grew from 15.5 million in April to 16.8 million in May. Airtel came second with 1.07 million new users, moving from 54.8 million to 55.8 million. MTN added 382,894 users to reach 83.5 million.
T2 Mobile, formerly 9mobile, recorded no growth for the second month in a row. Its subscriber base remained at 802,534. This is despite its roaming agreement with MTN, which was approved almost a year ago to help T2 customers use MTN’s network in areas with poor coverage.
Industry experts say Glo’s strong growth is due to its ongoing network upgrade. Since last year, the company has been building new base stations, expanding its fibre network, and adding thousands of new 4G sites across cities and rural areas.
The upgrades have improved voice and data quality for customers, while Globacom remain committed to providing better network experience and affordable Internet services to more Nigerians.
MTN Nigeria’s half-year 2026 performance reflects more than revenue growth, highlighting the wider economic activity generated through tax payments, infrastructure investment and shareholder returns.
Kadri, MTN CFO
Beyond its financial results, the telecommunications operator said it continues to channel substantial resources into expanding network infrastructure, meeting statutory obligations and delivering value across its stakeholder ecosystem.
The company disclosed that it paid more than ₦600 billion in taxes, customs duties, regulatory levies and other statutory obligations over the past year.
It also invested over ₦1.6 trillion in capital expenditure since January 2025 to expand network capacity and improve service quality, while declaring an interim dividend of ₦26 per share for shareholders.
Speaking on Arise News’ Global Business Report, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Financial Officer, Modupe Kadri, explained that the company’s earnings are shared across several stakeholders before returns reach investors. “For every one naira of revenue, about 24 kobo becomes profit.
“The government receives over ₦600 billion through taxes and levies, operating costs account for a significant portion of our revenue, and every participant within the ecosystem benefits from the value we create,” he said.
According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), telecommunications remains one of the largest contributors to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, supporting digital financial services, education, healthcare, commerce and public services. Continued investment by operators has also been identified as critical to expanding broadband access and improving digital inclusion across the country.
Kadri noted that shareholder returns remain an important part of MTN’s capital allocation strategy, but stressed that they represent only one aspect of the company’s broader economic contribution.
“Even when we declare dividends, the government still receives withholding tax, while we continue investing heavily in our network because sustaining quality service requires ongoing capital commitment,” he said.
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