Telecom

Ovations as Ndukwe Completes Tenure at NCC

Published

16 years ago

April 12, 2010

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Engr. Ernest Ndukwe,former executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has handed over to Engr. Stephen Bello, executive commissioner and most senior staff of the regulatory agency after completion of his two-term tenure.
Engr. Bello is to hold forth until the appointment of the substantive EVC of the Commission for five year tenure.
Later at an impromptu farewell organized by the Commission, Engr. Ndukwe announced that the latest statistics has shown that as at March 25, 2010, the number of active subscriber lines in the network has grown to 78.5 Million, something to cheer about the performance of the Commission.
On a day that two different organizations visited Engr. Ndukwe to confer him with awards for his superlative performance at the Commission, he told a management meeting which he convened for the purpose of announcing his glorious exit from the Commission, that he had a meeting with the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who did not quite realize that his departure will be that soon. He said that at that meeting, it was agreed that he hands over to the most senior officer of the Commission, hence Engr Bello who joined the Commission in 2000 and rose to become an Executive Commissioner.
While recounting his efforts at making the commission a professional and humane organization, Ndukwe told those whom he must have offended to forgive. “I also want to say that during my term in the NCC it is possible that I might have offended some people, I don’t think I have offended anybody as such, but if I did just know that it is because of the course of my duty.
But later in the day at a farewell cocktail, attended by the Board members, management and staff of the Commission, including the officials of the Digital Bridge Institute, DBI, Engr Ndukwe told his audience amidst prayers, ovations and failing emotions that every staff of the Commission must be proud of the contributions they have made to the success of the organization.
“In year 2000, the number of telephone lines in this country was 400,000 and 25,000 analogue mobile lines. As at 25th of March 2010, we have 78.5 Million lines. So as far as we are concerned as a Commission, we have everything to be proud about.
“People say that we have a larger number of lines because of our population. I wish to remind them that we have always had a large population since 1960, and that after 40 years of independence we had only 400,000 lines to boast about.
So, all of you, one by one, have made great contributions to what has happened in the industry and I think you should all be very proud of yourselves”, he said.
He advised them be mindful of certain realities. “You should not forget the operating companies because we have not installed a single line. The only thing that has made the difference is that we created the right environment to make it happen.
“And, that is what I am leaving behind with you – That one statement by the regulator can actually drive all the investments out of this country. Any regulator must have this at the back of his mind because once you don’t do the right thing, or you don’t say the right thing and you don’t perform the right way, the industry can be affected and if negatively, you would have lost all the gains you have made.
“So, it is very important that you still maintain the high level of professionalism that this organization is known for. And you maintain high level of integrity which this organization is known for so that the Nigerian Communications Commission will still be regarded as the flagship organization and as a pride to the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he said.
He said his prayer is that the Commission continues to grow from strength to strength. “My prayer is that all of you will continue to grow from strength to strength and this organization will continue to tower higher and higher and I wish all of you well and God will bless all of you”.
He also commended the Board of the Commission for the support he received in the course of his duty. “I would not have asked for a better Board. These people have sacrificed all without counting the cost and I think they are worthy of the trust reposed on them and I can only wish them well.
“Luckily, our board does not get dissolved. While the three of us are leaving, another three will come in, but they will meet six people here and will continue in the tradition of the Commission”, he said while commending management and the officials of the DBI who he advised to still consider the continuation of a programmes for training of lower and medium manpower in the current move to make the institute a university.
While responding, Engr Bello told Engr. Ndukwe that the Commission is very appreciative of his efforts and will wish to “thank God for your service in the Commission, the dedication you have put into your job”. .
“The industry is just a proof, it is a result of your activities and your efforts and your input is very obvious. It can be seen by virtually every Nigerian one way or the other either with telephone in their hands or access to service and the difference that the telecom industry has made to the lives of Nigerians”, he said.
“And so it is with a lot of emotion literally that we have to say goodbye to you because definitely anything that has a beginning has an end but at least one thing we have joy with is that it is ending well, it is ending on a note of joy”, he said.
“We want to thank God that He kept you alive throughout the ten years, it’s been a great one and just as you have said everybody here has in one way had an influence on you. I believe that we also want to say that if we also have unknowingly offended you that you should also forgive us because nobody is perfect. You yourself are not perfect and that is why we make errors, we too are not perfect and we might have also made errors”, he said.

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Telecom

Amazon Axes 16,000 Jobs Worldwide in Major Restructuring Push

Published

18 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Ugo Onwuaso

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Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce and cloud computing powerhouse, announced plans Wednesday to eliminate 16,000 jobs globally, escalating a restructuring drive first flagged in October with 14,000 earlier cuts.

Amazon

The layoffs, hitting corporate ranks across multiple divisions, aim to slash management layers, boost accountability, and dismantle bureaucracy, Senior Vice President Beth Galetti stated in an internal memo. Despite booming holiday sales and $21 billion quarterly profits on $180 billion revenue, Amazon seeks to redirect resources toward massive artificial intelligence investments amid slower post-pandemic growth and rising costs.

Galetti explained that while some teams finalised October adjustments, others required extended reviews, pushing total reductions toward 30,000—the firm’s largest ever. CEO Andy Jassy, pursuing leaner operations since 2021, has long signalled AI’s role in shrinking white-collar headcount, with corporate staff—about 350,000 of 1.5 million total—bearing the brunt, sparing warehouses.

The move mirrors Big Tech’s broader belt-tightening as firms recalibrate pandemic-era hiring binges against economic headwinds, AI disruption, and policy uncertainties under President Donald Trump. Amazon’s October cuts struck 2,000 in Washington state—including engineers, recruiters, analysts—and 1,500 in California, with fresh impacts undisclosed by location.

Jassy emphasised culture over pure finances in prior notes, blaming rapid expansion for excess layers after workforce doubling during COVID lockdowns fueled online shopping surges. Recent U.S. hiring slowdowns—to 50,000 jobs in December—underscore corporate caution amid AI’s job-shifting potential and tariff worries.

Analysts note the cuts free capital for AI dominance, pitting Amazon against rivals in generative tools despite no immediate financial distress. Ex-workers have decried impersonal processes, often learning via media leaks, highlighting tensions in Earth’s “best employer” shedding talent en masse.

As tech pivots to AI frontiers, Amazon’s aggressive pruning signals a new era: fewer bodies, sharper focus, betting machine smarts eclipse human scale in the post-boom landscape.

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Police Bust ₦7.7bn Telecom Hack Gang, Seize 400 Laptops in Massive Fraud Swoop

Published

18 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Ugo Onwuaso

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Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force smashed a sophisticated cybercrime ring Wednesday, arresting six suspects accused of hacking a major telecommunications company and looting airtime and mobile data worth a staggering N7.7 billion.

Police Bust ₦7.7bn Telecom Hack Gang, Seize 400 Laptops in Massive Fraud Swoop

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed in a statement that the suspects breached the telecom giant’s core billing and payment systems by compromising internal staff login credentials, enabling them to siphon off vast quantities of airtime and data for illicit resale.

Named in the arrests are Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Masa’ud Sa’ad – a mix of northern and southern names hinting at a cross-regional fraud network that preyed on Nigeria’s digital backbone.

Police swooped on the gang’s hideouts in coordinated raids across Kano and Katsina states in October 2025, with a final takedown in the Federal Capital Territory, recovering two mini-plazas masquerading as legitimate retail outlets stocked with over 400 laptops, about 1,000 mobile phones, and a Toyota vehicle.

Investigators also froze substantial sums in the suspects’ bank accounts, tracing the dirty money trail back to the diverted resources that left the unnamed telecom firm reeling from unauthorised activities reported in a desperate petition.

The breach, described by police as a “calculated assault on critical infrastructure,” allowed the hackers to manipulate the company’s systems undetected for months, offloading billions in airtime and data bundles through underground channels and raking in illicit profits.

Hundeyin vowed that the net was widening, with forensic experts combing through digital footprints and financial ledgers to expose any remaining accomplices or beneficiaries in what he called “one of the largest telecom heists in recent Nigerian history.”

Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, praised the crack team from the National Cybercrime Centre for their “relentless professionalism,” urging telecom firms to bolster cybersecurity amid a surge in digital predation.

As the suspects cool their heels awaiting arraignment under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, the case underscores Nigeria’s growing battle against tech-savvy fraudsters targeting the N1.7 trillion telecom sector that powers millions of daily transactions.

Industry watchers warn that such breaches erode investor confidence and hike operational costs, ultimately passed onto consumers already grappling with soaring data tariffs in Africa’s most populous nation

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Telecom

ASVLP 2026: Africa, MENA VCs Gear Up as Tech Funding Hits $4.1bn Rebound

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2026

Ugo Onwuaso

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As Africa and MENA’s startup ecosystems transition from post-correction resilience into a new phase of disciplined growth, the Africa Startup & VC Landscape Preview (ASVLP 2026) will convene leading founders, investors, policymakers, and ecosystem builders on January 29, 2026, for its second annual, agenda-setting virtual forum.

ASVLP 2026: Africa, MENA VCs Gear Up as Tech Funding Hits $4.1bn Rebound

Following a challenging global venture cycle, 2025 marked a notable rebound across the African ecosystem, with startups raising an estimated $3.2–$3.3 billion over the full year.

The recovery was accompanied by significant structural shifts: Kenya emerged as the leading destination among Africa’s “Big Four” markets for the first time, while Nigeria recorded a year-on-year funding decline, reflecting changing investor preferences, macroeconomic pressures, and a broader recalibration toward capital efficiency and sustainability.

Sectorally, fintech remained the most funded vertical, while climate & energy, AI-enabled solutions, healthtech, and infrastructure-adjacent businesses gained increasing attention. Across Africa and MENA, development finance institutions (DFIs) and family offices played a more pronounced role in anchoring funds, deploying catalytic capital, and supporting blended-finance structures, reshaping how early-stage and growth capital is mobilized.

ASVLP 2026 is designed to translate these data points into forward-looking strategy.

The forum will bring together venture capitalists, angel investors, LPs, DFIs, family offices, founders, corporate leaders, and regulators from Africa, MENA, Europe, and North America to assess 2025 outcomes and chart priorities for 2026.

The program will feature keynotes, fireside chats, panels, and deep-dive roundtables, including discussions on:

· The 2026 Africa & MENA FinTech Landscape, focusing on security, profitability, regulation, and growth frontiers

· Emerging Fund Managers, capital formation, and LP alignment

· Talent, operator depth, and institutional capacity as constraints to scale

· Regulatory evolution and cross-border market integration

A major highlight of ASVLP 2026 will be the Final DealRoom Pitch Session, where a curated group of high-potential startups will present to an experienced panel of investors.

• Founders can apply to pitch via: bit.ly/ASVLP-DR-Founders
• Investors seeking DealRoom access can request entry via: bit.ly/ASVLP-DR-Investors

Confirmed speakers for ASVLP 2026 include Khaled Ismail (HIMangel), Idris Ayodeji Bello (LoftyInc Capital), Zachariah George (Launch Africa), Tosin Faniro-Dada (Breega), Selma Ribica (FirstCircle Capital), Maha Mandour (COREangels MEA), Joe Kinvi (Borderless), Remi Prunier (Orange Ventures MEA), Karima El Hakim (Plug and Play Tech Center), Souheil Guessoum (President, The Confederation of Citizen Employers – Algeria (CAPC)), Remi Prunier (Partner, Orange Ventures, MEA), Maha Mandour (COREAngels MEA), Ali Hussein (President, Kenyan FinTech Association), Patrick Okebu (CIO, Interswitch Group) among other leading voices shaping capital, policy, and innovation across the region.

“The conversation has shifted,” said Uche Aniche, Convener of ASVLP. “It’s no longer about whether capital will return to Africa and MENA, but what kind of capital, deployed with what discipline, and in service of which long-term outcomes. ASVLP exists to help the ecosystem make sense of that transition.”

Participation in ASVLP 2026 is free but strictly by invitation.
Interested participants are encouraged to repost the official announcement on LinkedIn and comment #ASVLP2026 to receive a private registration link. They could also email [email protected] and request invite.

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