Telecom
NCC Says 5G’ Holds Great Potential for Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Development”
Nigeria will derive huge socio-economic benefits from commercial deployment of the Fifth Generation (5G) Networks, which will come with great potentials that will bolster Nigeria’s socio economic ecosystem for quantifiable growth.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) stated this during a discussion with a broad spectrum of participants mostly made up of Nigerians at a special panel session sponsored and hosted by the Commission on Wednesday as part of the programmes of the ongoing Social Media Week Lagos (SMWLagos2020).
The weeklong conference is taking place at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos
.
At the NCC panel discussion which focused on, “5G Networks: Socioeconomic Benefits and Challenges”, which was also attended by the Chairman, Board of Commissioners of NCC, Prof. Adeolu Akande, participants had a lively conversation as they asked rational and piercing questions from the discussants.
Bako Wakil, director, Technical Standards & Network Integrity at NCC, and Kenneth Uzoekwe, an assistant Director in the Spectrum Administration Department of the Commission, responded to questions at the session moderated by Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, head, Online Media & Special Publications at the Commission.
The first question asked, which centred on what constitutes 5G, was so eloquently and perceptively answered by the panelists to an earn an applause from the audience.
Wakil explained that all communication possibilities within the framework of ITU’s IMT-2020 that enhance extremely accurate and near-instantaneous transfer of large quantities of data are well within the contemplation of 5G. Such technologies will also make for better experience of virtual realities, driverless cars, drone operations and a spectra of possibilities popularly called the Internet of Things (IoT).
Wakil explained that 5G is the newest generation of technology which “will bring about transformation in the country in the area of smart city, smart transportation, efficiency in medicine, a lot of automation, and 5G will control a lot of appliances and devices with respect to Internet of Things (IoT).”
In other words, “the difference between all other existing generations of technologies such as 2G, 3G and 4G lies in speed and data capacity. The 5G deployment, however, offers even faster speed, high latency and high capacity that will transform consumers and business experiences” Wakil emphasised.
A litany of follow up questions on many aspects of 5G, the key differences between 4G and 5G, and on the implications of 5G for security, speed, capacity and data consumption were also well treated by the discussants.
Responding to questions on radiation level of a 5G network, Wakil allayed the fears of the participants: “Generally, there is every reason for people to be apprehensive with respect to the radiation of a new technology such as 5G. However, the radiation from 5G is non-ionising. Non-ionising radiation cannot cause adverse health effects in humans. So, radiation in 5G is going to me minimal and not harmful,” he clarified.
Wakil identified the two major challenges to 5G network deployment as energy and infrastructure.
He noted that while the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is coordinating the NCC, the National Frequency Management Council, and the National Broadband Plan to address broadband infrastructure deficits, the poor state of electricity supply in the country needs to be addressed by other sectors of the economy because that matter is outside the purview of the NCC.
Still on broadband infrastructure, Wakil explained that the NCC, having adopted the Open Access Model for enhanced broadband infrastructure deployment, has licensed six out of seven proposed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) to deploy fibre access in all the 774 local government areas (LGAs) of Nigeria.
Speaking about NCC’s preparedness for commercial 5G, Uzoekwe said there is enough spectrum bands that have been identified and can be used for the deployment of 5G. “Six spectrum bands have been identified, so, I can say we have enough spectrum bands.
“All we need now is to finalise the re-planing and re-farming, so that those occupying certain spectra can be relocated to other bands,” Uzoekwe said.
Uzoekwe told the excited audience that the InfraCo Project will help to bridge the 200 access gaps involving some 35 million Nigerians, who have no access to telecom services, as already identified by the Commission.
It will be recalled that in November 2019, the NCC facilitated the first non-commercial Proof of Concept (PoC) trail of 5G network in Nigeria, which was undertaken by MTN, a Mobile Network Operator in Nigeria.
That trial was done to demonstrate the possibilities of 5G operations in Nigeria, preparatory to the commercial launch of the service by telecoms operators.
Therefore, the NCC panel session at the #SMWLagos2020, provided an additional opportunity for the Commission to educate Nigerians on its plan about 5G network deployment in the country.
Telecom
First Batch of Nigerian Undergraduates Emerged in Airtel Africa Foundation Scholarships Programme
Airtel Africa Foundation has inducted the first Nigerian cohort of the Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship that offers fully paid scholarships for students pursuing undergraduate courses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics across the continent.
During a ceremony held at Airtel Nigeria headquarters in Lagos, Airtel Africa Foundation’s Chairman, Dr Segun Ogunsanya, alongside Airtel Nigeria’s CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, presented the full-ride scholarship awards to 70 students from universities across Nigeria.
The undergraduates studying technology courses, were drawn from the University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Benin, Tai Solarin University of Education, the University of Ilorin, Ahmadu Bello University, and the University of Nigeria.
Selected from thousands of applicants through an independently managed process, which took nearly six months, these fellows are beneficiaries of Airtel Africa Foundation’s continentwide financial aid programme, which covers tuition, laptop computers, living expenses, and essential learning resources. The Nigerian cohort joins a prestigious network of Airtel Africa Foundation fellows currently studying in Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, and India.
In his address, Dr. Ogunsanya, emphasised the need for initiatives such as the Airtel Africa Foundation’s undergraduate tech scholarship for the future of the continent.
The Airtel Africa Foundation Chairman said, “True legacy is not measured by the awards we win or the volume of SIM cards we sell; it is measured by the lives we save, the people we feed, and the students we support when the line between success and failure is at its thinnest.
At the Airtel Africa Foundation, we believe that lifting people out of poverty is the ultimate benchmark of a great company. Today, we are writing that legacy by tilting the balance in favour of the brilliant but underserved, ensuring that the fourth industrial revolution, driven by AI and Data Science is built by African talent for the African continent.”
Dr Ogunsanya further revealed that this fellowship, executed through Airtel Nigeria, is designed to bridge the gap where funding, skills, and opportunity often fail to meet. In addition to the N500,000 yearly budget for the fellows’ four-year or five-year courses, each fellow would be integrated into a structured support system for academic guidance and career mentorship, intended to ultimately transition students from the classroom to the global tech workforce.
Addressing the students, Mr Balsingh emphasised that youth development is a strategic imperative for Airtel.
He said, “At Airtel Nigeria, we view youth development as essential nation-building. When young people succeed, innovation accelerates, and social stability improves. By connecting these brilliant scholars to knowledge, skills, and confidence, we are fulfilling our core mission to connect people to opportunity.
“To our recipients: you earned your place here through merit and discipline. You are now ambassadors of excellence, and we expect your leadership to be defined by your conduct as you help shape a more inclusive digital future for Nigeria.”
The initiative underscores a broader commitment to technology education, youth development, and Nigeria’s digital economy. By aligning academic excellence with industry requirements, Airtel Africa Foundation and Airtel Nigeria continue to demonstrate their dedication to skills as the new currency in a rapidly evolving global market.
Dimension Data Nigeria has formally executed its N20 billion ($15m) Bond Programme under Dimension Data SPV Funding Plc, following approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The signing ceremony, which marked the completion of the programme documentation and regulatory clearances, was held recently at the Capital Club, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Gbenga Olabiyi, Managing Director of Dimension Data Nigeria, explained that the capital raise is focused on long-term value creation. “Sustained infrastructure investment is essential to maintaining competitiveness and unlocking future growth. When deployed thoughtfully, infrastructure secures the business, future-proofs operations, and allows efficient scaling as data demand and complexity increase.”
Nigeria continues to face significant digital infrastructure gaps, including limited metro and access fiber coverage, constrained enterprise connectivity, and rising demand driven by cloud adoption, fintech, digital public services and artificial intelligence. These gaps increase costs, limit service quality, and slow the country’s digital economy.
Olabiyi said the bond programme is designed to help expand critical digital infrastructure capacity, strengthen network resilience, and support enterprise and carrier-grade services needed to meet Nigeria’s growing data and connectivity requirements.
He also expressed appreciation to the company’s advisers and partners for their professionalism and support throughout the process and signaled his intention to continue working closely with them as Dimension Data moves into subsequent phases of funding and execution.
In his comments, Shatse Kakwagh, Managing Partner, Mbavaa Partners Limited, the Private Equity company backing Dimension Data Limited, described the transaction as a watershed moment for the company and a validation of its long-term infrastructure strategy.
“This is a journey we began years ago, and it proves that the opportunities we see in the market can be realised,” Shatse said. “We believe strongly in working with partners to address the critical infrastructure deficit in Nigeria and across Africa. This programme enables us to secure the right type of capital to finance the aggressive growth we have planned.”
He noted that the bond programme has received a strong vote of confidence from rating agencies. At the same time, the company’s first market issuance was heavily oversubscribed, reflecting investor belief in Dimension Data’s ability to execute and deliver at scale.
The transaction advisers on the bond programme include Pathway Advisors Limited as Book Runner; Greychapel Legal and Alliance Law Firm as Solicitors; CardinalStone Registrars Limited and STL Trustees Limited as Registrar and Trustees; Deloitte & Touche as Reporting Accountant alongside Mascot Okpori & Co as Auditors; Fidelity Bank as Receiving Bank; and Agusto & Co as Rating Agency.
In the wake of increasing geopolitical tension, Cassava Technologies has unveiled its National Sovereign Cloud offering for African governments.
The solution, the company claims, will help the continent’s governments ensure data is kept on infrastructure that remains under local legal and operational jurisdiction.
According to the official announcement, made yesterday, the solution provides “secure, locally-governed digital infrastructure that enables the deployment of AI-enabled public services”.
The overarching solution encompasses cloud, cyber security, AI computing infrastructure, as well as local language AI models and skills support for governments.
The announcement comes amid increasing uncertainty over the hosting of sensitive national data on cloud services operated by foreign hyperscalers, which are subject to legal frameworks, such as the U.S. CLOUD Act. The CLOUD Act opens the door to allow American authorities to access data stored on the servers of US hyperscalers, wherever those servers are physically located.
Cassava has claimed separately that currently, “approximately 33% to 45% of the world’s data is hosted in the USA”.
The company added: “A sovereign cloud reduces exposure to extraterritorial laws, improves cyber resilience, and ensures that model weights and training data for public AI remain under national custody.”
The Africa Data Centres Association’s 2026 Economic Report states that “data sovereignty has evolved from a legal aspiration into a strategic policy lever”.
Ahmed El Beheiry, Group COO and Group Chief Technology and AI Officer, Cassava Technologies said: “Across Africa, governments are accelerating their digital transformation agendas and are increasingly focused on ensuring that data and digital infrastructure remain secure and sovereign.”
Announced at the Mobile Word Congress in Barcelona, this week, the Sovereign Cloud offering launch accompanied the launch of Cassava’s Cloud Partner programme.
The partner programme targets mobile network operators and system integrators across Africa to resell and distribute AI, cloud, and other digital services using Cassava’s infrastructure and technology platforms.
El Beheiry added: “We are expanding Africa’s sovereign AI ecosystem to build solutions that address the continent’s unique challenges while creating new opportunities for growth and digital inclusion.”
The programme offers partners access to NVIDIA Cloud Partner solutions, Cassava’s AI Factory, its own native AI solutions and its AI Multi-Model Exchange, which supports both Anthropic’s Claude and Google’s Gemini models.
First Batch of Nigerian Undergraduates Emerged in Airtel Africa Foundation Scholarships Programme
Mojisola Sayo-Kazeem Reflects on Leadership, Opportunity, Women in Tech @ IWD
Experts Weigh Blockchain Option for Nigeria’s Elections Process
CBN Affirms Alpha Morgan Bank’s Capitalisation
Dimension Data Nigeria Seals N20bn Bond Deal to Bridge Digital Infrastructure Gap
Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation Bolsters Nigeria’s Education Drive with ₦2.7m Student Support
Kaspersky Brings more Transparency to Threat Detection with New Hunt Hub
Kaspersky Discovers New Phishing Campaign Exploiting Google Tasks Notifications to Steal Corporate Credentials
esentry 2025 Report Shows Healthcare, Financial Services and Telecoms as Staging Grounds for Increased Cyberattacks in Africa
AfDB, UNDP Launch $10Bn AI Initiative for Africa
E-Business3 days agoPolice Says Victims Enable Cyber Attacks Out of Ignorance
E-Financial3 days agoQuest Merchant Bank Achieves CBN Regulatory Recapitalisation Milestone
General News3 days agoFG Launches NERD to Combat Certificate Fraud
E-Financial3 days agoBank Accuses Magistrate, Lawyer of Using Fake Order to Steal N3.5m from Account
Telecom3 days agoCassava Launches Sovereign Cloud for Africa’s Public Sector
General News3 days agoGoodnews Naija Launches ‘Building in Nigeria’ Series on Entrepreneurs, Real Sector Builders
News3 days agoFG Can Now Track, Prosecute Visa Overstayers – Interior Minister
News3 days agoNCDC Issues Public Advisory on Cerebrospinal Meningitis