General News
Operators Should be Transparent on Call Charges — Nwokike
Nnamdi Nwokike is executive secretary, West Africa Telecommunication Regulators Assembly (Watra), an assembly of the sub–regional regulators.
A multi-tasker and a start up expert, he has varied experiences traversing economic consultancies, marketing and customer relationship management and has worked in various capacities in various places including Multiver Systems Limited, the consulting outfit that worked on the setting up of the National Planning Commission.
Nwokike made significant contribution in the fast moving consumer group industry (FMCG) while working with AG Leventis Group and Seven Up Bottling Co PLC.
Between 1987 and 2001, Nwokike worked with Nigerian Breweries Plc, first as a district sales manger, then, appointed pioneer customer service training manager in 1994.
In 1996 promoted to area sales manger Lagos, supervising a turnover of over N4billion which represented the highest contribution to the company’s performance.
He joined Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) as a unit head officer, Consumer Affairs Bureau in 2001 and created consumer education and protection that culminated in the setting up of Telecoms Consumer Parliament in Nigeria.
With over 15 years experience in the industry, he became the head of business development in 2005, where he managed the implementation of various telecommunication projects including Nettel @ Africa, spectrum monitoring and management system.
He told Chris Alu in Abuja of efforts of the assembly in harmonizing policies in the sub-region
Watra in the Sub-Region
Watra), is an assembly of the sub–regional regulators, I mean all the ICT regulators in West Africa are members of the assembly. They came together in 2002 to form the assembly as a regional regulatory platform, where regulators can meet and discuss issues bordering on harmonization of policies. We also work towards harmonizing regulatory policies and services such as issues of roaming, seamless connectivity within the West African sub- region as well as working as at sub-regional level towards having effective and affordable ICT services.
Cross Border Connectivity
It is worthwhile calling to have cross border connectivity. I must say that the West African sub-region is not as big as United State of America including Canada in North America, if you are calling anywhere in Florida from Canada, its like a trunk call. Having such is our desire. It is our desire is to have fibre running from Nigeria all the way to Senegal down to Mauritania, so that we can have similar activities, it is a double opportunity and as I speak, there is connectivity from Nigeria running all the way to Ghana and there are different initiatives. We have several initiatives, there is one by Ecowas in the sub-region and there are other private initiatives being undertaken, so it is a laudable project even Nigerian regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is also advocating for fibre across borders so that we can have a borderless ICT environment.
Consumer Advocacy
Well, to start with in my personal capacity, I started working in telecommunication through management of consumer affairs of the regulator in Nigeria. So, I have that passion, there is this in-depth passion for me to ensure that consumer has a voice in the skim of things. Having said that, I know that there is an advocacy group that is based in Cotonou, the Open Society Initiative in West Africa (Osiwa) that is trying to coordinate all the consumer activity groups within the Africa region so that they can come together and address consumer issues. I must say that it has not really been as robust as it ought to be, one of the problems or challenges they face in consumer advocacy is the issue of funding, most of these groups do not have direct funding to be able to galvanize and harness all the opportunities, but they are doing their best. We haven’t really been able to see them come up with platform where consumer interest would become a key issue within the sub region but individually, all the regulators within the sub-region have one form of consumer advocacy programme or the other, of course you know that Nigeria have a very robust one. We have facilitated such in some countries like Gambia, Sierra Leone and Cote’d Voire to come and learn the Nigerian experience, and they are trying to replicate it which is a good development.
Regulatory Standard in West Africa
The regulatory environment in Nigeria is bright; Nigeria regulator is the foremost regulator in Africa not just in West Africa. Nigeria regulator has done well, within the last 10 years, they have set a pace in a way that if you compare the Nigeria regulator with European or American regulators, it would be at par. NCC is almost ahead of many regulators in the world, and we have also a very good regulatory environment in the sub- region, one thing we are very happy about is that all the fifteen countries in the sub- region today have independent regulators agency. The last to come up was Guinea and Benin Republic, we are very happy about that, therefore it is going to make a more pro active regulatory environment in this sub- region and Watra is very happy about it. Having said that, there are other challenges facing all the regulators, one key issues is the issues of quality of services, we haven’t been really able to achieve quality of service to the point that consumer can go to sleep and boast of getting value for their money. We are not really happy about it and its something that we are battling with, and we are hopping that, with all the infrastructural challenges, if we are able to over come that, we will beat our chest to have a very good ICT environment comparable to anywhere in the world.
Low Broadband Penetration
Yes, internet penetration is low in the whole of the African continent and even more pathetic for us in West Africa. One reason why internet penetration is low is basically because of the high cost of bandwidth, and that has been a very big problem, but we are seeing some light in the horizon. I predict that in the next 18 months, West Africa is going to see a revolution in internet access and penetration, in the sense that there are several initiative been put by operators to ensure that we have internet connectivity that would be seamless and affordable. Initiatives such as on the sub marine level, MainOne cable, Glo1cable, WACS, are on ground right now and as soon as they take off, we would have cheaper access towards getting enough and cheaper bandwidth, because bandwidth is like petrol for internet, if the bandwidth is affordable then internet penetration will be increased as well as telephony. Nigeria has implemented a technological neutral regulation that has resulted in huge growth of GSM and CDMA based services and made diverse services available, with operators providing services from different points thereby providing choices for Nigeria consumer and wireless services delivery. Not only in mobile sector, but also in fixed wireless space.
NCC is making effort to improve on connectivity through programmes such as the Wire Nigeria Initiative, to ensure that the country is fully connected with optics fiber cable an initiative said to have become very successful and the operators have made substantial inroad progress in connecting several cities across the country with fiber cable facilities.
Nigeria is shifting regulatory emphasis from licensing of operators to monitoring and improving quality of services and also attending to the needs of the consumers on issues of quality of services, affordability and other necessities that will become the focus of regulation in line with the dynamics of the market. We are also trying to refocus on this, in terms of structural repositioning of the regulators to delivers a good result within the ambit of time.
Current Undersea Cable Initiatives
The issued of Infrastructure and services are different and in terms of infrastructure, I am happy with the initiatives of Glo 1 and MainOne. If these projects become live then it would facilitate a lot of services in the sub-region such that internet and telephony services will be affordable and of good quality. I wish that they move faster in their operation because the market is there, people have identified that the west African sub region is a buoyant place that has the market for such business. I want to use this opportunity to emphasis that roaming services is a lucrative business, it is not a P.R. service to consumers, when you roam it would increase the number of sub-services that would go on to your network.
Zain came up with one network but I still have issues on how the network work, because the charges are not clearly transparent as they should be, MTN also has there regional collective network, which they are working on, Orange is another group that is also doing something about that. But it is something that they must do transparently, for instance, if I am using a Zain network and I move from here to Ghana, the charges are different and not really commensurable in the advertisement that we see they carry out. I expect them to come out transparently, so that consumers would know exactly how the one network works and believe in it, so that it would have the kind of integrity desirous of such level of services.
The business of telecom in Cape Verde a small country is worthy of emulation, they have invested a lot in infrastructure. It is one country with seamless network, there infrastructure is quite robust, but beside that every other country has there own challenges, the issue of quality services is general.
Challenges Facing Watra
For us in Watra, we don’t have all the enablement to pursue our objective, one of our key objectives is harmonization, another one is capacity building, these issues are things that borders on funding. Watra is not funded the way it should be, that would give us the edge to propagate and promote all our activities, but we are working toward that and we are working on several collaborations. A Memorandum of Understanding is set to be signed between Watra and Ecowas, the MoU would involve some level of funding and partnership between the two agencies. We are also collaborating with the German technical corporation, USAid, and these are our international partners, who are assisting us in one way or the other to help us promote the projects that we have in Watra. But, by and large we are forging ahead and the feature is quite bright for the assembly.
Young girls aspiring to delve into ICT careers have been advised to take advantage of the current versatility in the industry to create a niche for themselves. This was the view of participants at the just-concluded International Girls in ICT Day celebration organised by eBusinessLife Communication Limited, in Lagos.
The event, an initiative of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), seeks to encourage young girls to take up tech careers that will see them balance the gender disparity in the industry.
In a panel session moderated by Tech Life Media CEO and organiser of Women Entrepreneurs & Executives in Technology Summit (WEETS), Ugochi Emmanuel, top female tech executives narrated their foray into technology careers and advised the young girls on requirements and need to start early in the quest to make global impact in ICT.
Narrating her experience into a tech career, Chief Administrative Officer, Digital Realty, Nigeria, Dr. Nkechi Newton Denila noted that the difficulties of the past have been lightened up and more women have opportunities to excel in the field.
“Today, the landscape is vastly different. Governments, international organizations and private institutions across the globe are intentionally creating opportunities for girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The reason we are gathered here is part of that global commitment to ensuring that more women participate in ICT and related fields.
This presents a unique advantage for young girls. Many organizations now deliberately promote gender inclusion and equal opportunities in technology. Therefore, if you discover an area within ICT that excites you, pursue it wholeheartedly. This window of opportunity may not remain open forever. Do not wait for others to decide your future for you. Identify your passion, chart your course, and remain committed to achieving your goals.”
Associate Consultant and Information Security Analyst, Digital Encode, Itunuola Aderemi, advised the young girls to begin researching various technology disciplines, including Cybersecurity, Data Analytics and Data Science for areas that align fully with their interests and strengths. And to explore and discover any field that perfectly matched my aspirations.
While admitting the existence of such challenges as persistent stereotype against the female gender, Team Lead, Retails, New Horizons Nigeria, Glory Omole, noted that fortunately, organisations such as New Horizons are actively working to change that narrative. “Our leadership recognizes the urgent need to increase female participation in ICT. Considering that women still constitute a relatively small percentage of the global technology workforce, there is a deliberate effort to encourage more girls and women to enter the field.”
She however cautioned the young girls not to see this campaign as a competition between men and women, rather, it should be seen as a partnership where everyone is given equal opportunities to contribute and excel. “We want to see more women leading innovations, conducting research, developing applications and creating solutions that address societal challenges,” she enthused.
Speaking on the need for mentorship, Asst. Manager, Product & Services, Zoracom, Mistura Salaudeen, noted that stereotypes and confidence-related challenges still exist, but one effective way to overcome them is by drawing inspiration from women who have succeeded. She observed that across government, technology, finance, healthcare and other sectors, women are increasingly occupying leadership positions, serving as Chief Technology Officers, board members and executives.
“While challenges persist, I believe our focus should shift towards opportunities rather than obstacles. Artificial Intelligence, for example, has significantly lowered barriers to entry. AI enables individuals to develop business proposals, prepare presentations and execute ideas much faster than before. Therefore, instead of being discouraged by challenges, girls should leverage available technologies and communities to accelerate their growth and maximize emerging opportunities,” she advised.
Glory Omole also noted that technology is broad and offers diverse opportunities.
“There are numerous digital skills available today, but the choice of skill should depend largely on individual interests and career aspirations.
Fields such as Data Analytics, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Web Development and User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) Design are among the high-demand skills available today. Each serves a distinct purpose.”
Corroborating this claim, Dr. Newton-Denila said: “It is important to understand that ICT now permeates virtually every profession. Whether in medicine, law, engineering, agriculture or business, technology has become an indispensable component of professional practice.
In medicine, for example, Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being used in diagnostics, telemedicine and robotic surgery. Similarly, in law, digital applications now support legal research, documentation and case management.”
The event has its theme as “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future”.
General News
Franklyn Ginger-Eke CEO The Rainbow Strategy Honoured with PR Power List 2026 Rising Voices Award
Dr Franklyn Ginger-Eke, Founder and Chief Strategist of The Rainbow Strategy, has been honoured with the PR Power List 2026 Award in recognition of his contributions to strategic communications and public relations in Nigeria.
Franklyn Ginger-Eke, CEO The Rainbow Strategy
Ginger-Eke received the award in the Rising Voices category during the fifth edition of the PR Power List organised by GLG Communications as part of activities marking the 2026 World Public Relations Day.
The award ceremony, held at the Mike Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos, attracted leading professionals and stakeholders in Nigeria’s public relations industry.
Among those in attendance were the President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku; the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), Dr Nkechi Ali-Balogun; former President of the African Public Relations Association (APRA) and Chief Executive Officer of CMC Connect LLP, Chief Yomi Badejo-Okusanya; and Executive Director of THOP and Adviser, Edelman Africa, Mr Kwame Senou.
According to the organisers, the PR Power List recognises public relations and communications professionals whose work has made significant contributions to organisations, influenced public discourse and advanced the communications profession over the past year.
Reacting to the recognition, Ginger-Eke described the award as both humbling and motivating.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition for the modest contribution we are making in shaping the public relations and communications ecosystem.
“I see it as a testament to the dedication, creativity and excellence of our team at The Rainbow Strategy.
“This is a call to do more in delivering strategic communication solutions that create impact, build trust and contribute to the continued growth of the public relations profession in Nigeria,” he said.
He dedicated the award to young and aspiring communication professionals, encouraging them to embrace innovation, professionalism and ethical practice in their careers.
Ginger-Eke also reaffirmed The Rainbow Strategy’s commitment to promoting excellence in strategic communications, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, data protection compliance and value-driven public relations campaigns across the public and private sectors.
A Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Ginger-Eke is recognised for his work in public affairs, strategic communication and data protection compliance through his Abuja-based consultancy, The Rainbow Strategy.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery is reportedly nearing completion of a $2.5 billion private placement that values the company at about $40 billion ahead of its planned public listing.
Private placement is the direct sale of company shares or bonds to pre-selected investors instead of the general public and it is used to raise money quickly while avoiding strict public reporting rules.
People familiar with the transaction said investors acquired as much as 6 per cent of the refinery, according to a BusinessDay report.
The reported terms would value the business at approximately $40 billion.
Neither Dangote Group nor the refinery has publicly announced the final amount raised, the identities of most subscribers or the precise percentage sold.
The figures should therefore be treated as transaction details supplied by unnamed sources rather than confirmed company disclosures.
The reported $2.5 billion total is nevertheless significant as it indicates strong demand for exposure to a privately controlled refinery that has rapidly become central to Nigeria’s fuel supply and an increasingly important exporter of petroleum products.
The placement was said to have attracted more demand than the available shares, allowing the company to secure substantially more than the amount initially associated with the fundraising exercise.
Femi Otedola, chairman, First HoldCo, is the only major participant publicly identified in the report.
He reportedly committed $100 million to the transaction and sold his investment in Geregu Power Plc to finance the acquisition.
Nigeria’s pension industry was also reportedly cleared to participate.
Access to more than $17 billion in retirement assets would broaden the refinery’s potential investor base beyond wealthy individuals and conventional institutional buyers.
Participation by Pension Fund Administrators would, however, require careful attention to valuation, liquidity and portfolio-concentration limits.
Retirement funds must balance the attraction of a large Nigerian industrial asset against their responsibility to protect contributors’ savings.
The implied $40 billion valuation represents investor expectations about the refinery’s future earnings rather than only the physical cost of constructing the facility.
Its ability to process 650,000 barrels of crude daily gives it a central role in supplying Nigeria and other markets, but its commercial performance remains connected to crude availability, product prices, exchange rates and regulation.
The refinery has struggled to obtain all the Nigerian crude it requires under the government’s naira-for-crude arrangement.
It has consequently purchased some feedstock internationally and recently moved local petroleum-product pricing into dollars to align sales revenue more closely with its foreign-currency expenses.
Those constraints will be important during any public offering.
Prospective shareholders will want greater clarity on crude-supply contracts, debt, operating margins, export revenue and the company’s relationship with Nigerian regulators.
It is also unclear whether the private placement involved newly issued shares, a sale by existing owners or a combination of both.
That distinction determines whether the reported $2.5 billion becomes fresh capital for the refinery or proceeds received by selling shareholders.
The transaction could provide a useful price reference for the planned initial public offering.
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