Telecom
NCC to Scout Broadband Investors @ 2018 ITU Telecom World
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will canvas for more investor support to boost its broadband capacity at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Telecom World 2018 event scheduled for September in Durban, South Africa.
Tony Ojobo, Director for Public Affairs at the NCC said, “The theme of ITU Telecom World 2018 is ‘Innovation for smarter Digital Development’. This year’s participation will focus on attracting new investors to the much sought broadband segment of the sector. These investors will deepen Nigeria’s quest for pervasive broadband whose penetration level currently stands at 22%.”
Ojobo said the Nigerian delegation will be led by Communications Minister, Chief Abdulraheem Adebayo Shittu, NCC Board Chairman and Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, Nigeria’s Chief Telecoms Regulator and Executive Vice Chairman of NCC Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, as well as several industry stakeholders including mobile operators.
Nigeria is also competing for increased representation within the ITU as part of its Administrative Council, and has also nominated Williams Ijeh to stand for the position of Director in charge of the Bureau for Telecommunications Development (BDT).
Ojobo said the organisation will ride on the crest of successes the country recorded at the 2017 event hosted in South Korea.
At that event Nigeria was named Most Valuable Partner in recognition of the NCC’s commitment and participation at ITU Telecom World events over the years, and was awarded a certificate of appreciation from the ITU Telecom World 2017.
“Nigeria also won the government award for being the most innovative Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) included as part of the nation’s pavilion. No fewer than five SMEs/Innovators made the final ITU Global list for SMEs/Innovators awards. Three of them made the honours list,” said Ojobo.
In April Danbatta presented Nigeria’s position and canvassed support for the country during a dinner in Geneva, Switzerland attended by ITU Secretary General Houlin Zhao.
“Nigeria is one of the highest financial contributors to ITU in the African region and is a major player in ITU Telecom World activities for many years and therefore solicits for support towards its aspirations,” said Danbatta.
In January, the NCC executive revealed that the country needs 120,000km or more of urban fibre networks if it is to reach its broadband penetration targets.
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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