Telecom
PAPDAN Showcases Best of Mobile Innovation at PEN 2014 Show
The Phone and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDAN) has announced plans to showcase the best of mobile innovation at the Phone Expo Nigeria 2014 (PEN 2014) planned to gather the Nigerian mobile ecosystem next December in Lagos.
Mr. Iyke Nwosu, chairman of PAPDAN, announced in Lagos, that the influential trade group of phone dealers in the country would leverage PEN 2014 to bring the best in mobile handsets, devices and technologies “under one roof for the benefits of Nigerian consumers.”
PEN 2014 produced by Technology Times Events will feature exhibitions of latest mobile technologies and co-locate unique events at the annual gathering of the Nigerian mobile ecosystem.
PEN 2014, which takes place December 2-6, 2014 under the theme, “Next Frontiers of Connected Nigeria” will hold at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka in Yaba, Lagos.
The chairman of PAPDAN commended the PEN 2014 initiative saying that it will offer members of the association a platform to connect directly with consumers.
“We also believe that PEN 2014 will enable PAPDAN to promote the mission of the association to promote the interest of Nigerian mobile consumers”, Mr. Nwosu said.
Market information by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows growing telephony subscriptions reached 33,282,003 active lines and 94.42% teledensity across the country by August 2014.
Within the same period, Nigeria also recorded 72,566,791 Internet subscribers, according to the telecommunications industry regulator.
The Chairman of PAPDAN said that the association has become a critical catalyst in the growing mobile telephony ecosystem in Nigeria.
PAPDAN, headquartered in Ikeja Computer Village, Nigeria’s biggest technology market, now has over 5000 members employing more than 25,000 people across the mobile value chain, Mr. Nwosu said.
According to the chairman of PAPDAN, in Computer Village alone, members of the body recorded in excess of four million units of monthly sales of diverse handsets and devices to consumers coming from across states in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
“PAPDAN has been crucial to the growth of the mobile telephony market in Nigeria as our members were the first to introduce dual-SIM phones. The big brands were cynical at the time but they are all now playing catch-up to gain market share in the country”, Mr. Nwosu added.
Commenting further, he said that, “when we introduced dual-SIM phones, people were laughing but you can see that today, a lot of the established brands are also playing catch-up”
Mr. Nwosu said that insights gained from mobile phone market trends in Nigeria show that consumers needs and preference continue to grow for latest technologies and innovative products.
“One factor that drives everybody is pricing. The market is highly price-dependent and driven but consumers still want phones with lots of functionalities. Most of the consumers are looking for cheap phones and brands within the N5000 to N15000 price range are the market leaders that we have seen”, the PAPDAN chairman explained.
He said that consumer preferences are also shifting towards Android devices that “allow them to do a lot of things” while there is increasing demand for bigger screens that allow them to watch videos on the devices.
Based on market insights, the PAPDAN chairman said that consumers still ask for established global brands but several relatively newer players are recording impressive performance in Nigeria because they bundle good features and also compete on “good price points.”
According to him, brands that have been able to fit into the “affordable” device segments of the Nigerian market include Tecno, Gionee, Maxtel, G-Tide, Gowin, M-Horse, among others due to compete features and pricings.
Mr. Nwosu of PAPDAN said that Nokia is witnessing a Nigeria market rebound as the number one in the device market with growing demand for its cheaper phones like the Nokia X, which bundles Windows Phone and Android OS.
According to him, “Nokia is now doing very well and has become number one because most of their sales are coming from the low-end phones.”
Tecno is considered number two in the mobile device segment because the brand fits very well within the affordable phones category ahead of Samsung, he said.
According to him, Samsung is number three and has gained market traction with an aggressive marketing and introduction of new brands.
Mr. Nwosu believed that Gionee ranks fourth in Nigeria driven by price advantages, features and local “market consistency.”
He added that, “PAPDAN activities in the areas of combating counterfeiting has increased consumer confidence and that is part of the message that we are bring to the PEN 2014 Show.”
PAPDAN has prevailed on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to improve on the standards of phones shipped into Nigeria and establish Service Centres to provide support to consumers, he added.
“So far, PAPDAN has registered 46 brands that have met the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) standards for certification and packaging”, the Chairman of PAPDAN said.
Mr Shina Badaru, founder/group CEO of Technology Times Media Limited, producers of PEN 2014 Show said the partnership with CAPDAN aligns with the vision to create the nation’s largest marketplace of the Nigerian Mobile Ecosystem where attendees will learn about the latest technologies and market trends.
“More importantly the partnership with an influential trade group like PAPDAN will let us connect buyers and sellers under the same for five exciting days to discover and own new technologies”, according to Mr. Badaru.
He added that, “PEN 2014 will gather the mobile ecosystem across Nigeria, Africa and beyond to showcase, learn and share ideas about the next frontiers in technologies, innovation, solutions and services for today’s Connected Nigeria.
According to him, the PEN 2014 Show will bring attendees in contacts with the industry ecosystem players like:
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.
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.
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