Telecom
Sanwo-Olu Lauds MTN for Renovating 110 Science Laboratories within a Decade
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State has commended MTN Foundation for its decade-long commitment to STEM education in Nigeria through the renovation of 110 laboratories across multiple states.
Speaking through his representative, Engr. Ganiyu Oseni, Special Adviser on Innovation, Broadband, and Technology, Sanwo-Olu expressed gratitude for MTN’s efforts, describing the initiative as “more than just infrastructure but a vital investment in the future of Nigeria’s youth.”
MTN Foundation unveiled seven newly refurbished laboratories at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Yaba, Lagos, as part of its Science & Technology Laboratory Project (MTNF STLP).
The commissioning event welcomed key attendees, including MTN Directors; Dennis Okoro, Mosun Belo-Olusoga, and Edith Ofili-Okonkwo, along with MTN Foundation Executive Director, Odunayo Sanya, Lagos State representative, Engr. Ganyu Oseni, Special Adviser on Innovation, Broadband, and Technology; and representatives from the school’s alumni association.
Through this ambitious initiative, MTN is expanding science and technology resources in public secondary schools across the country, enhancing STEM education and positively impacting students in underserved communities.
MTN Foundation’s Science & Technology Laboratory Project (MTNF STLP) is currently in its third phase, following a legacy of impact that began in 2012.
In the first phase (2012–2014), MTNF renovated 66 laboratories across 22 schools in six states.
The second phase, from 2022 to 2023, saw the refurbishment of 16 labs across four schools.
The current phase expands the project’s scope even further, with 28 new laboratories established in six schools across Nigeria.
Sanwo-Olu’s administration has been focused on transforming Lagos into a centre of innovation and opportunity, and MTN Foundation’s investments strongly support this vision.
“The work of MTN Foundation in equipping science labs not only enriches the academic experience but also positions our state as a hub for knowledge and innovation,” Oseni remarked.
Odunayo Sanya in her speech emphasised the Foundation’s focus on youth development and national priorities, explaining that Nigeria’s young demographic drives the Foundation’s investments in empowering the next generation.
“Nigeria is young, with immense potential, and it only makes sense to channel that energy toward building a brighter future.
“We are honoured to be part of this journey, empowering students with the tools they need to excel.” Sanya stated.
“Please help us make it a gift that continues to give,” she urged, noting MTNF’s dedication to not only revitalising these labs but to creating sustainable educational resources that can transform students’ learning journeys.
“We’ve done the heavy lifting, and the heavy lifting is the investment, bringing it back up to where it should be.”
The School alumni also praised MTN Foundation’s impact, noting that the modernised labs will significantly enhance students’ learning experiences in critical science subjects.
MTNF’s dedication to building a well-rounded science education infrastructure continues to reflect its resolve to support Nigeria’s next generation.
As MTN Foundation continues its commissioning events in Rivers and Plateau states, it is reinforcing its role as a leader in private-sector-driven educational support.
In the wake of increasing geopolitical tension, Cassava Technologies has unveiled its National Sovereign Cloud offering for African governments.
The solution, the company claims, will help the continent’s governments ensure data is kept on infrastructure that remains under local legal and operational jurisdiction.
According to the official announcement, made yesterday, the solution provides “secure, locally-governed digital infrastructure that enables the deployment of AI-enabled public services”.
The overarching solution encompasses cloud, cyber security, AI computing infrastructure, as well as local language AI models and skills support for governments.
The announcement comes amid increasing uncertainty over the hosting of sensitive national data on cloud services operated by foreign hyperscalers, which are subject to legal frameworks, such as the U.S. CLOUD Act. The CLOUD Act opens the door to allow American authorities to access data stored on the servers of US hyperscalers, wherever those servers are physically located.
Cassava has claimed separately that currently, “approximately 33% to 45% of the world’s data is hosted in the USA”.
The company added: “A sovereign cloud reduces exposure to extraterritorial laws, improves cyber resilience, and ensures that model weights and training data for public AI remain under national custody.”
The Africa Data Centres Association’s 2026 Economic Report states that “data sovereignty has evolved from a legal aspiration into a strategic policy lever”.
Ahmed El Beheiry, Group COO and Group Chief Technology and AI Officer, Cassava Technologies said: “Across Africa, governments are accelerating their digital transformation agendas and are increasingly focused on ensuring that data and digital infrastructure remain secure and sovereign.”
Announced at the Mobile Word Congress in Barcelona, this week, the Sovereign Cloud offering launch accompanied the launch of Cassava’s Cloud Partner programme.
The partner programme targets mobile network operators and system integrators across Africa to resell and distribute AI, cloud, and other digital services using Cassava’s infrastructure and technology platforms.
El Beheiry added: “We are expanding Africa’s sovereign AI ecosystem to build solutions that address the continent’s unique challenges while creating new opportunities for growth and digital inclusion.”
The programme offers partners access to NVIDIA Cloud Partner solutions, Cassava’s AI Factory, its own native AI solutions and its AI Multi-Model Exchange, which supports both Anthropic’s Claude and Google’s Gemini models.
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.
Police Says Victims Enable Cyber Attacks Out of Ignorance
Bank Accuses Magistrate, Lawyer of Using Fake Order to Steal N3.5m from Account
FG Launches NERD to Combat Certificate Fraud
NCDC Issues Public Advisory on Cerebrospinal Meningitis
Goodnews Naija Launches ‘Building in Nigeria’ Series on Entrepreneurs, Real Sector Builders
Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation Bolsters Nigeria’s Education Drive with ₦2.7m Student Support
Kaspersky Brings more Transparency to Threat Detection with New Hunt Hub
PwC Reveals AI Scaling Gap Slows Africa’s Digital Transformation
Kaspersky Discovers New Phishing Campaign Exploiting Google Tasks Notifications to Steal Corporate Credentials
Firm Reviews the Evolution of Phishing Threats in 2025
E-Financial2 days agoNigeria’s VAT Jumps 34%, CIT Soars 48% to ₦14trn in 9M’25 – NBS
Telecom2 days agoFG Approves GIS-enabled Digital Postcode to Tackle Logistics Gaps, Boost E-commerce
E-Business2 days agoFirm Enhances its Security Awareness Platform with SCORM and PDF Support
E-Financial2 days agoBinance Cuts Illicit Activity Exposure by 96%, Leads Global Crypto Compliance Push
E-Financial2 days agoNAICOM Signs MoU with BPP to Deepen Insurance Compliance in Public Procurement
E-Financial1 day agoSenate Targets Fintech Overreach, Vows Ponzi Crackdown After ₦1.3trn CBEX Scam
Telecom2 days agoGSMA, African Operators, Others to Launch Low-cost 4G Devices
General News2 days agoNERC Orders DisCos to Refund ₦20.33Bn Meter Costs to Customers