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Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining and Materials Engineers (NIMMME or 3M) hosts Fellowship Ceremony & Honours Illustrious Nigerians
Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining and Materials Engineers (NIMMME also called 3M), a Division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has honoured Nigerians for their illustrious contributions to the growth of Metallurgical and Mining industry in Nigeria.
The Institution bestowed the honourary award during the 2nd public lecture themed; “Ezekwe-Barberopoulos-Obikwelu (EBO) Honourary Lecture” held on Friday 1st December 2023 at the transmission company of Nigeria hall, in Abuja.
The public lecture christened after three illustrious individuals, namely Prof Gordian Ezekwe, Mr. Romeo Barberopoulos and Prof D.O.N. Obikwelu was aimed at rewarding Nigerians with stellar contributions to the industry.
The Highlights of the event came when each of these Individuals were honoured and they all had someone who spoke on their behalf.
Prof Onwue Abdulmalik Ibrahim R and Barberopoulos and Dr. Ibrahim Agava
Vassily Barberopoulos, the son of Romeo Barberopoulos, who delivered a keynote speech, spoke on behalf of his late Father.
It would be recalled that Late Romeo Barberopoulos established and ran the leading metals foundry in West Africa in 1969 after being one of the engineers to set up Africa’s first TV Station WNTV Ibadan, during his time with Leventis Group.
His Son, Mr. Oye Vassily Barberopoulos (The current MD) is more Nigerian than most of us and knows all corners of the country and has taken the company to new heights in mining, oil and gas and machine parts among others.
He is an authority in Additive Manufacturing (especially 3D printing) in Africa and took us through the opportunities and threats to existing fabrication industries, National during the 2nd Ezekwe-Barberopoulos-Obikwelu EBO Honourary Lecture. keeping the inspiration of the greats alive
Similarly, Professor Onwue Abdulmalik Ibrahim, a Research Director at NASENI, Abuja HQ spoke as Guest Lecturer for Prof Gordian Ezekwe.
Prof Onuwe started by explained how Late Prof Gordian Ezekwe hired him not caring where he came from but that he won NYSC prize as a pioneer staff of NASENI (which Prof Ezekwe founded during the IBB era).
How he worked with him closely in drafting, welding, fitting in the workshop even on Sundays, bringing innovations and ideas to life.
And how Prof. Ezekwe mentored him to a sterling career at NASENI passing through many departments and subsidiaries coming from OND and is a full Professor of Mechanical Engineering today.
Michael Orekyeh by Prof Obikwelu Banner
He talked of NASENI and its drive for local capabilities and manufacturing and its willingness to partner with 3M and NSE on research and other activities to drive technology in Nigeria.
Also, Late Prof. Gordian Obumneme Ezekwe, an illustrious son of Abagana received a post- humous award from Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining and Material Engineers during the ceremony.
The President Umuada Abagana National Association Iyom Dr. Mrs Ajia Ogugua Agagbo received the award on behalf of his family.
Late Prof. Gordian Obumneme Ezekwe was a Nigerian inventor, mechanical engineer and former Federal Minister of Science and Technology under General Ibrahim Babangida from 1989 to 1991.
He was a former Director of the Projects Development Agency (PRODA) (later renamed Institute), founder and first Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering, Infrastructure (NASENI) and founder of Science Equipment Development Institute (SEDI). Prof. Gordian Ezekwe was the first Nigerian PhD in Mechanical Engineering (1959).
Earlier, Dr. Friday I Apeh (a Director in NIBRRI) a Past National Chairman of 3M, spoke as Lecturer on behalf of Prof Daniel O.N. Obikwelu.
Prof. Obikwelu who was unavoidably not able to make the event, though he participated fully during the 1st Edition of the Ezekwe-Barberopoulos-Obikwelu EBO Honourary Lecture held in Awka, Anambra State 2022.
He is an award-winning student and researcher at the Michigan State University having done work for NASA and The US Navy. He worked in Delta Steel Company (DSC) Aladja, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) helping set up the SITP program that trained hundreds of Engineers in hands on Technology and also established Metallurgical Engineers as a distinct discipline in Shell HR and enable Metallurgy graduates work in Shell.
He worked at Nnamdi Aziliwe University, ESUT and the University of Nigeria Nsukka UNN, where with the help of the then VC, Prof Chinedu Ositadinma Nebo (Former Minster of Power) they set up the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering department at UNN. He was conferred Fellow of NIMMME.
The Institution executed new Membership Induction of over 110 inductees, 47 Fellows and 2 Honourary Fellows.
Such Fellows included
1) Prof Samson Duna DG NIBRRI (Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute)
2) Prof Hussaini Doko Ibrahim DG RMRDC (Raw Materials Research and Development Council)
3) Prof Chinedu Nebo form Minister of Power and current VC University on the Niger Onitsha
4) Mr. Obadiah Nkom DG Mining Cadastre Office , Abuja
5) Prof Adisa Ademola Bello Registrar COREN
6) Prof DON Obikwelu
7) Engr Jacob Titilope Adeyemo MD GeoCardinal Engineering
8) Prof AbdulGaniyu Funsho Alabi a Past National Chairman
9) Prof Aje Tokan the current National Chairman
10) Engr Michael Orekyeh of the Anambra State Ministry of Works
11) Engr Valerie Agberagba a General Manager at NDPHC
Other Fellows Conferred at the event included.
1) Engr Henry Bolarinwa
2) Prof David Esezobor
3) Engr Chinasaokwu Okorie
4) Engr Joseph Gansallo
5) Engr Sunday Agbalajobi
6) Engr Oduche Azih
7) Engr Kennedy Ibechem
8) Prof Leke Oluwole
9) Engr Ikenna Okonkwo (a Manager in NNPC)
10) Engr Fidelis Ezenwankwo MD Castmaster Ltd Kano
11) Engr Tafa Abubakar Quarry Manager BUA Cement
12) Engr Abdulraman Ottan
13) Prof Abdul Rahman Asipita Salawu of FUT Minna
15) Prof Jamiu Kolawole Odusote of Unillorin
16) Engr Ese Ochoga a Past Chairman
17) Engr Joy Ogbodo of SEDI Enugu
18) Prof Yusuf Shuaib-Banata of Unillorin
19) Engr Ayodele Mesaiyete of Lagarge Wapco
20) Engr Yahya Bukar a Director in Standards Organization of Nigeria
21) Engr Christian Onyibo a Director in Federal Ministry of Work, Abuja
The event was graced by many Dignitaries in the NSE and COREN space such as Engr Ali Rabiu MFR – immediate past President COREN, Vice President North Central Engr Joseph Adebayo, who represented the NSE President Engr Tasiu Saad Gidari-Wudil FNSE, National EXCO members, Branch Chairmen and many others.
Diran Onifade, a veteran Broadcast journalist was the Moderator of the event.
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.
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.
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.
Telecom
NCC Unveils Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap, 60 GHz License-Exempt Guidelines to Boost Broadband, Innovation
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled two pivotal regulatory draft documents aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s communications sector over the next five years and fast-tracking deployment of ultra-high-speed wireless technologies.
NCC
In a public notice dated December 19, 2025, and issued pursuant to its mandate under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, the Commission published the Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector (2025–2030) and Draft Guidelines for the Use of the 60 GHz License-Exempt Band for Multi-Gigabit Wireless Systems.
Both documents are accessible on the NCC website for stakeholder review, with the roadmap outlining strategic spectrum planning, allocation, and management to optimise utilisation, support emerging technologies like 5G and IoT, expand broadband access, and align with global best practices.
The Spectrum Roadmap emphasises four core pillars: bridging the digital divide through low-band spectrum and satellite services, attracting investments via flexible licensing models, enhancing service quality with mid-band optimisation, and fostering innovation in areas such as direct-to-device connectivity and secondary spectrum trading.
It sets ambitious targets including universal 4G coverage nationwide, 50 per cent 5G penetration in state capitals, and average broadband speeds of 100 Mbps by 2030, while addressing rising data demand through band refarming and efficient management.
Complementing this, the 60 GHz Guidelines establish a license-exempt framework for the 57–66 GHz band, enabling multi-gigabit speeds up to 10 Gbps for short-range applications like WiGig, fixed wireless access, enterprise connectivity, urban broadband, and backhaul solutions.
The rules mandate NCC type approval for equipment, site registration for outdoor use, and interference mitigation measures, while prohibiting wide-area networks to safeguard primary users.
In line with Section 58 of the NCA 2003, NCC invites comments from industry operators, equipment manufacturers, consumer groups, and the public, with submissions due by Friday, January 16, 2025, via email to [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].
The notice, signed by Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs, stresses that stakeholder inputs will refine the frameworks to drive innovation, investment, competition, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s telecoms ecosystem.
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