Telecom
NCC Takes Digital Learning to 10,000 School Girls in Agege
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commissioned more projects under its Digital Access Programme (DAP) aimed at impacting digital knowledge to over 10,000 school girls drawn from five schools in Agege, Lagos State.
The DAP facilities located at Girls Senior High School, Agege Local Government Area, Lagos State, are part of the programmes which NCC introduced to bridge the digital divide existing in secondary schools in Nigeria.
The programme concept is a designation of a classroom fully equipped with computers and other ICT facilities including a generator and internet connection to enable the schools and its immediate environment to have access to the internet.
According to Dr. Eugene Juwah, executive vice chairman of NCC represented by Mr. Fidelis Onah, director, Human Capital and Infrastructure (Development) at the Commission, “Many of the secondary schools, including those in remote villages of this country have testified of how this programme have facilitated their online examination activities such as subscription to Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO), among other examinations”.
“The idea,” he said, “is to ensure that students, who are the leaders of tomorrow, are ready adaptors of ICT, especially the internet which has limitless resources. It is also designed for the surrounding communities to have access to the internet, especially when the students are not available to ensure maximum use of the bandwidth subscription for the affected school. So far, more than 200 schools have benefited from DAP and we congratulate you for being one of the beneficiaries of this programme”.
“Let me mention that apart from DAP which is designed for secondary schools, we also have the digital access programme for tertiary institutions. In ADAPTI, we provide about 110 computers to the beneficiaries to equip the lecturers with new ICT skills and to impact same on their students. So far, more than 300 institutions of higher learning in Nigeria have benefitted from the programme since its introduction in 2008.
“This is in addition to the introduction of the Wireless Cloud, a complimentary package comprising of laptops with wireless internet facilities. Another 144 institutions, including some who already have ADAPTI, have benefitted from the Wireless Cloud”.
The key objectives of these programmes, Juwah added, are to prepare the nation for digital tomorrow and equip the youth with the necessary skills to tap into the potentials of the digital age.
In the case of DAP, it is aimed at building a foundation for our young generation and to also prepare a good background for the broadband revolution that is being currently pursued by the Commission.
“You will recall that the Commission is vigorously pursuing a programme to provide pervasive broadband availability and affordability across the country. We are hopeful that some of these programmes would create a fertile ground for usage and exploitation of broadband for the benefit of our economy.
“In all these programmes, we are hopeful about their sustainability. This will only be possible if the beneficiary institutions are mindful of the critical roles they are to play in preserving what have been given to them, and in outing it to optimal use to achieve the desired objectives”.
Gladdened by the feat, Dr. Babatunde Adejare former member representing Agege Federal Constituency at the 7th National Assembly, thanked the board and management of NCC’s magnanimity and choice of the area as location of the DAP facilities.
Adejare on behalf of the State Government pledged to work harmoniously with both the Local Government and the School Authority to make judicious use of the center.
According to him, NCC has shown commitment and as a forward-looking government that bridges digital divide among Nigerians
Speaking to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, Mrs. Eunice Bosede Osadola, principal, Girls Senior High School, Agege, joined other management staff of the school in expressing gratitude to the Commission, adding that the girls will be lifted information literacy-wise.
According to her, those preparing for external examinations will find the facilities more enabling. “Yes, we are happy that NCC found the school worthy to benefit from the DAP. We are also grateful to all that worked with NCC to ensure the project see light of the day. On our part we will make sure they are put to the best use.
“Our students are already etching for the time they will be told to start learning. We have engaged competent and committed (computer appreciation) tutors who will guide them and ensure they do no start visiting immoral sites,” the principal, Girls Senior High School, Agege, said.
MTN Group has moved a step closer to taking full ownership of telecommunications tower operator IHS Towers, after shareholders of the infrastructure company approved the proposed acquisition at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM).
The telecommunications group announced that IHS shareholders voted in favour of the transaction by the required two-thirds majority at the EGM held on 4 August, satisfying one of the key conditions precedent to the deal.
MTN first announced in February that it had entered into an agreement to acquire the remaining shares in IHS, a move that would give the mobile operator full ownership of one of Africa’s largest independent tower companies.
The acquisition forms part of MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, which aims to strengthen the group’s digital infrastructure capabilities and diversify revenue streams as demand for connectivity, cloud services and artificial intelligence (AI) continues to grow across the continent.
“The approval by IHS shareholders is an important step toward completion of the transaction,” says Ralph Mupita, MTN Group president and CEO.
“Within our Ambition 2030, the three-platform strategy, towers are a critical value-creation driver that will strengthen MTN’s strategic and financial position for the future, in a world where digital infrastructure and AI are becoming increasingly essential to Africa’s growth and development.”
Tower infrastructure has become increasingly strategic for mobile network operators as demand for high-speed mobile broadband, cloud computing and AI-powered services drives the need for expanded and more efficient network capacity.
The proposed acquisition is expected to strengthen MTN’s position as it continues expanding its digital ecosystem across Africa, where it serves more than 300 million subscribers.
IHS is one of the world’s largest tower companies, with nearly 29 000 towers in Africa serving various mobile network operators in five key MTN markets.
According to the mobile operator, the proposed transaction, which follows discussions noted in February, marks an important step to unlock compelling value for MTN, and strengthen and reintegrate its ownership of critical digital infrastructure across Africa.
For IHS shareholders, MTN notes, it provides an attractive opportunity to crystalise value.
The funding for the proposed transaction of the remaining shares MTN does not already own, for a consideration of $2.2 billion (R35 billion), will be through cash of approximately $1.1 billion on IHS’s balance sheet, along with available liquidity and debt from MTN.
MTN has approximately 24.7% shareholding in IHS, and as part of the transaction, it intends to take the company private through the acquisition of all outstanding shares it does not own, pursuant to a cash merger.
By reintegrating the tower assets, MTN says it will be able to internalise the margin currently paid to IHS, benefit from current and future incremental third-party revenues, improve cost predictability and unlock significant long-term value embedded in its existing investment.
The transaction remains subject to the receipt of the necessary regulatory approvals, which MTN says are still in progress. No timeline has been provided for the completion of the acquisition.
Telecommunications services provider Airtel Nigeria has further extended its national retail footprint with the rollout of 350 out of a planned 500 premium experience centres, which are designed to bring faster, more convenient service closer to millions of Nigerians.
The new retail shops, officially unveiled at a symbolic launch at City Mall, Onikan, Lagos, mark the latest phase in Airtel Nigeria’s grand retail strategy. They significantly expand the company’s extensive network of over 9,000 exclusive shops across every local government area, more than 350 premium experience centres, and over 73,000 retailers in all top towns and cities nationwide.
Built as compact, high-efficiency touchpoints, the newly launched shops are designed to enable subscribers complete all transactions such as Home Broadband, Fiber and Outdoor Units Subscription, Postpaid Plan Subscription, Enterprise Applications Enquiry and Subscription, as well as Prepaid Product services such as SIM registration and Data Plan purchase, other enquiries and comprehensive account support.
Simultaneously, several shops commenced operations at Purple Mall, Lekki; Marina, Lagos Island; Magodo, Lagos; Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta; Trend Setter Mall, Benin; Abakaliki, Ebonyi State; Kano City Mall, Kano; Carpenters Mall, Gwarinpa, Abuja; and other parts of the country.
The rollout emphasises the company’s continued investment in customer experience and responds directly to feedback from customers seeking quicker access to everyday services without the longer waiting times that may be associated with larger retail centres.
Speaking on the company retail objectives, Joypratip Sengupta, Director, Sales and Distribution, Airtel Nigeria, explained that quality retail experience ultimately drives customer satisfaction. “Our goal is to demonstrate our dedication to exceptional quality of service, and these new shops, by their design, location, and equipment fit right within our goal to deliver superior service to every one of our customers,” he said.
He added that the expansion reflects Airtel Nigeria’s belief that excellent customer experience goes beyond technology to ensuring customers can receive support whenever and wherever they need it.
“Our business at Airtel is to ensure that we bring our services closer to our customers, and everything we do is centred on putting the customer first. These experience centres are open to help customers carry out their transactions faster and with greater ease. Whether you want to replace a SIM, purchase one of our routers, recharge airtime or data, or resolve any service issue, you can now do so more conveniently and closer to where you are,” he said.
He explained that the initiative represents a significant update to Airtel’s retail strategy, placing greater emphasis on accessibility, speed, and convenience.
“These express shops are designed to reduce traffic at our larger shops while giving customers faster access to the services they need. More importantly, they reinforce our vision of building the most accessible customer service network in Nigeria. As the telecom operator with the country’s largest retail footprint, we will continue expanding into more neighbourhoods, making it easier for customers to connect with Airtel wherever they are,” Sengupta noted.
In her remarks at the launch, Lynda Amechi, Head, Shops and Retail Postpaid Business, revealed that the new retail model was born from listening to customers and reimagining how Airtel delivers its services.
She said, “At Airtel, some of our best ideas come directly from our customers. One of the recurring concerns we received was the time customers sometimes spent waiting at our larger experience centres, even when they only needed simple transactions completed. We listened carefully and realised that many of these requests could be resolved within minutes if we brought our services closer to the communities where customers live and work.”
These new shops are also integrated into Airtel Nigeria’s broader customer experience agenda, which have seen the company continue to invest in digital self-service platforms, AI-powered customer support, nationwide customer forums, and significant network expansion across the country.
With this phase of shop launches, Airtel Nigeria has expanded customer access across the country while integrating digital innovation into physical touchpoints.
The Presidential Renewed Hope Media Tour has commended the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) for its progress in advancing indigenous technology development, describing the agency as a key driver of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria’s industrial transformation.
The commendation came during a visit by the presidential media delegation to NASENI’s headquarters in Abuja, where members inspected the agency’s technology and manufacturing facilities.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Communication, Information and Strategy, described the agency’s achievements as “impressive, impressive, impressive.”
He said NASENI’s progress demonstrated the capacity of Nigerian youths to excel when provided with the right leadership and support.
Onanuga also praised the leadership of the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, for repositioning the agency to support the Federal Government’s industrialisation objectives.
In his remarks, Halilu said sustainable industrial growth does not necessarily depend on producing goods entirely from local inputs but requires strategic investment in technology development, innovation and partnerships.
He explained that the agency is focusing on commercially viable innovations capable of creating jobs, reducing production time and supporting the Federal Government’s Nigeria First Policy.
According to him, NASENI is also strengthening technology transfer, commercialisation of research outputs, mentorship programmes for innovators and the Innovate Naija Challenge, which offers a ₦500 million prize fund to support promising Nigerian innovations.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended NASENI’s achievements and urged the media to give greater visibility to the Federal Government’s programmes and accomplishments across various sectors.
Also speaking, Hadiza Bala Usman stressed the need for stronger strategic communication and increased patronage of locally developed technologies and innovations.
Similarly, Sunday Dare advocated policies that would encourage Ministries, Departments and Agencies to prioritise NASENI products and other locally manufactured goods.
Other members of the delegation, including Tunde Rahman and Otega Ogra, also commended the agency’s strategic partnerships and locally developed technologies.
During the tour, the delegation inspected facilities dedicated to drone technology, helicopter assembly, reverse engineering, precision manufacturing, renewable energy, agricultural technology and recycling systems.
The visitors also witnessed the implementation of NASENI’s 3Cs framework—Creation, Collaboration and Commercialization—which the agency said is driving indigenous manufacturing, innovation and technology transfer.
At the end of the visit, stakeholders called for sustained nationwide campaigns to promote Nigerian-made products, strengthen local manufacturing, reduce dependence on imports and accelerate the country’s industrialisation agenda under President Tinubu.
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