MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with ONErpm and Ultima Studios, has announced Ayodeji Benson, popularly known as Ayo Benzi, as the winner of the maiden edition of the Next Afrobeats Star reality show.

L-R: Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria; Ayodeji Benson, Winner, Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1) and Emamoke Ogoro, General Manager, Brand and Communication, MTN Nigeria, at the grand finale of the Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1), held at the Ultima Studios, Lekki, Lagos on Saturday, December 13, 2025.

The grand finale, held on Sunday night at Ultima Studios in Lekki, Lagos, marked the climax of a nationwide talent search that began in September with over 15,000 aspiring musicians.

After weeks of auditions, mentorship, and rigorous training, five finalists – Ayo Benzi, Dave Cash, Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay – battled for the top prize in a high-energy showcase of performance and artistry.

At the end of the electrifying contest, Ayo Benzi emerged victorious, securing a ₦150 million music deal. Dave Cash was named first runner-up with ₦100 million, while Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay received ₦75 million, ₦50 million, and ₦25 million respectively.

Throughout the season, contestants were mentored by leading Afrobeats producers Sarz, Puffy Tee, P Prime, and Andre Vibez. Benzi, who was part of Puffy Tee’s team, credited the mentorship programme for sharpening his craft and stage presence.

Speaking at the event, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to youth empowerment and cultural expression.

“The Next Afrobeats Star platform is about creating real opportunities for young Nigerians and giving their talent the structure, visibility, and support it deserves.

“Afrobeats continues to place Nigeria on the global cultural map, and MTN is proud to be enabling the next generation of artists who will take this sound even further,” she said.

She added that the finale was not just a competition but a celebration of growth and readiness for the global stage.

In his acceptance speech, Ayo Benzi described the victory as a defining moment in his career.

“A big thank you to MTN. From the audition days, the treatment MTN has given us has been amazing. God bless the brand,” he said.

The finale also featured guest performances by Afrobeats stars Iyanya and Bella Shmurda, adding glamour to the night and reinforcing the show’s connection to the wider music ecosystem.

With the successful conclusion of the season, MTN Nigeria and its partners reaffirmed their role in championing youth ambition, supporting creative industries, and shaping the future of Nigerian music through platforms that turn potential into opportunity.

T2, formerly known as 9mobile, is under investigation by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Benue State for an undisclosed incident disrupting USSD, SMS, voice, and data services across nine local government areas.

T2

The affected areas include Ado, Agatu, Gwer East, Gwer West, Konshisha, Obi, Ohimini, Okpokwu, and Otukpo, as detailed in an advisory on the NCC Major Outages Portal, which tracks significant disruptions reported by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Neither T2 nor its public relations firm, Chain Reactions, has responded to inquiries on the outage’s cause or restoration efforts as of this report.
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The NCC’s continued reference to the operator as 9mobile, months after its public rebranding to T2 in August 2025, has sparked questions about whether the name change was formally notified to the regulator.

This probe aligns with NCC mandates requiring operators to disclose major outages, their impacts, and timelines for fixes, with compensation obligatory for disruptions exceeding 24 hours under the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations.
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Industry watchers note that such incidents, often linked to fibre cuts, power failures, or infrastructure faults, underscore ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s telecoms sector, particularly amid T2’s subscriber losses post-rebrand. NCC vows transparency via its portal to hold operators accountable and protect consumers.
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Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a public notice directing all its licensees that have effected changes exceeding ten percent (10%) in their shareholding structures without prior regulatory approval to immediately regularise such infractions.

NCC

In the notice published on the Commission’s website, www.ncc.gov.ng, the NCC said the directive was issued in exercise of its statutory powers under the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

According to the Commission, affected licensees are granted a 45-day grace period from the date of publication to regularise any unapproved changes in their shareholding structures that exceed the 10 per cent threshold.

The NCC clarified that no sanctions will be imposed during the 45-day window for any previous infractions relating to unapproved shareholding changes above the prescribed limit. However, it warned that appropriate sanctions will be enforced immediately after the expiration of the grace period against defaulting operators.

The sanctions, the Commission stated, will be applied in line with the Nigerian Communications (Enforcement Processes, etc.) Regulations, 2019.

The regulator further emphasised that the notice is issued pursuant to Regulations 41, 42 and 43 of the Licensing Regulations, 2019, which require licensees to obtain prior approval from the Commission before effecting significant changes in ownership or control.

Industry observers note that the directive underscores the NCC’s renewed focus on regulatory compliance, transparency, and corporate governance within Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

Licensees have therefore been advised to promptly engage with the Commission to regularise their shareholding structures and avoid penalties once the grace period lapses.