Telecom
Stakeholders Canvass for Concerted Effort in ICT Local Content Development
Stakeholders in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector have urged the federal government to do everything in its powers to support local content in ICT.
They stated this at the Nigeria Information and Communications Technology Reporters’ Association’s (NITRA), quarterly forum with the theme, “Local content development in Nigeria’s ICT sector: stimulant for national economic recovery” held on Thursday in Lagos.
Chris Uwaje, Director General, Delta State Innovation Hub, in his keynote address called on federal government to create national strategy on software development as well create a park where people can work and come out with productive output.
He noted that Nigerian technology space is underfunded and unprotected and thereby urged the government to ensure that 10% of its national budget is earmarked for the development of ICT sector in the country.
He explained that local content development is a topical issue in the country, stressing that local content is when a product is developed in Nigeria by Nigerians or anywhere else in the world but the product does not require foreign remittance.
Uwaje, commended Systemspec for developing Treasury Single Account for the federal government, noting that they deserve national merit award for harmonizing government accounts into one.
He called on attendees to imbibe local content in creating their passwords with local languages as these will reduce the chances of cybercrime attack to 50%.
“I call on you all to change your passwords to Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and any other Nigerian languages through this you will reduce the chances of cyber crime attacks to 50%.
“In china, Russia and other countries they do not use English to create their passwords, they use their local languages and this thereby reduced the chances of them being attacked by hackers because they may not understand local language used in creating the password”
He also called on government to build knowledge labs in our schools to ensure bottom up growth for our children in ICT development.
Speaking earlier, Emma Okonji, Chairman, Nigeria Information and Communications Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA), said that the main thrust of NITRA as an umbrella body of all practicing ICT journalists in Nigeria is to drive ICT development and ensure accurate and robust ICT reportage.
He noted that this quarterly seminar is in line with the association’s noble vision of driving ICT development and creating a platform where issues of national interest would be discussed.
He stated that the incursion of Financial Technology (FinTech) players into the country’s financial sector has led to digital disruption in the banking sector.
He decried the lack of support and patronage from government agencies and organisations towards these startups who have developed home grown technology solutions with the best of quality that are commercially viable in addressing specific and organisational challenges in the country, to foreign software and hardware solutions.
He said, “Since the incursion of Financial Technology (FinTech) players into the country’s financial sector that has led to digital disruption in the banking sector, we have witnessed the growth of several FinTechs and technology startups.
“The FinTechs and startups have developed home grown technology solutions with the best of quality and are commercially viable in addressing specific and organisational challenges, but they lack support and patronage from government agencies and organisations who still prefer foreign software and hardware solutions, to the detriment of locally developed products.
“NITRA strongly believe that if the right support is given to FinTechs and technology startups, it will not only boost local production that will enhance job creation, but will also help the federal government and the Nigerian economy to save huge revenue that would have left the country for the purchase foreign solutions and products.”
He called on the federal government to urgently formulate new policies that will ensure full implementation of polices that will protect local content in Nigeria.
He commended the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for its Local Content Guidelines initiative that seeks to help restructure and develop a strong indigenous ICT industry, adding that they should give such guidelines the utmost attention it deserves, especially in the area of implementation.
Okonji, also commended SystemSpecs for developing Remita that is driving the country’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) and other electronic payment systems in the country.
“The Association is proud of SystemSpecs, one of the leading FinTechs in the country for developing Remita, the indigenous software solution that is driving the country’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) and other electronic payment systems in the country.
“We also commend the federal government for believing in the local solution called Remita that is currently doing the country proud in the area of electronic payment system.
“We encourage other FinTechs and technology startups to develop quality solutions that can address specific, organisational and our collective national challenges, he stated.
MTN Nigeria is accelerating investments in network expansion and modernization to address rising demand for mobile and data services across the country.
The operator is deploying additional base stations, upgrading existing infrastructure, and expanding fiber connectivity to improve network capacity, coverage, and service quality.
The investments are designed to support increasing smartphone adoption, higher data consumption, and the growing use of digital services by consumers and businesses.
MTN said the expansion aligns with its long-term strategy to enhance customer experience while strengthening Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
The company expects the ongoing upgrades to improve connectivity, support economic growth, and enable broader access to reliable telecommunications services as demand for high-speed broadband continues to increase.
Airtel Africa’s CEO, Sunil Taldar, has announced the telco’s commitment to connecting 5,000 schools across its operating countries in Africa to the internet by 2027 through its philanthropic arm, Airtel Africa Foundation, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
So far, the $57m partnership, which was launched in 2021, has cumulatively connected 3,296 schools and provided access to over 2 million learners and about 40,000 teachers. 64 digital learning platforms have been zero-rated thereby enabling more than 11m users to access educational content at no cost.
Speaking during a visit to St. Monica’s Girls School in Lusaka, which is one of the 300 schools already connected to the internet in Zambia, the Airtel Africa CEO stated that the initiative is having a profound impact on the quality of education by expanding access to digital learning resources for African children, in collaboration with governments.
Mr Taldar added: “Students are accessing best-in-class education from the curriculum developed by UNICEF in partnership with various Ministries of Education and provided through Airtel’s connectivity.
“We are also training teachers, so that they deliver digital education effectively. We aim to continue deepening meaningful connectivity in schools by providing free internet access, zero‑rated platforms and training teachers across the continent”.
Expressing her appreciation, the Headmistress of St. Monica’s Girls’ School, Sr Matilda Soloko said: “Being among the first schools connected in the initial stage, our learners have been able to study using the learning portal and their studies have been intensified. We remain grateful to Airtel and UNICEF.”
UNICEF’s Country Representative for Zambia, Dr Saja Farooq Abdullah said: “What this partnership has brought is really bridging the equality gap and the digital divide. It is making sure that every child learns wherever they are. It was exciting and interesting to see and hear from the girls how they can learn at their own pace, how they can review the materials, and how they do their homework with comfort.
The Director of Secondary Education in Zambia’s Ministry of Education, Yvonne Mwemba Chuulu lauded UNICEF and Airtel for the partnership saying: “At the Ministry of Education, we cannot do it alone, and we are grateful for the partnership that we have today.
“Our children are able to learn in a blended fashion, where we have a teacher who is also employing digital devices. We have also heard from the learners that they are able to access the portal when they are at home, which is a good thing because our learners continue to learn in the comfort of their homes”.
The School Connection programme is expanding digital learning to learners in 13 countries: Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. By equipping these schools with internet connectivity and training teachers on using the digital tools, it is providing children, particularly in underserved and remote regions, with the digital tools and skills they need to thrive.
Airtel Africa Foundation is advancing inclusive development across four strategic pillars, Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental Sustainability and Digital Inclusion.
MultiChoice has officially become a wholly owned subsidiary of French media company Canal+, marking the completion of one of the largest acquisitions in Africa’s media and entertainment industry.
The integration brings the South Africa-based pay television operator under the full ownership of Canal+, a global media group with operations in 70 countries.
Announcing the completion of the transaction on Thursday, Chief Executive Officer of Canal+ Africa and MultiChoice, David Mignot, described the development as the beginning of a new phase of growth for the broadcaster.
“MultiChoice is now a full subsidiary of a truly international media group operating in 70 countries.
“The group was founded in France, is listed in London and Johannesburg, and has a strong African presence with operations in more than 45 countries,” Mignot said.
The acquisition combines Canal+’s international operations with MultiChoice’s extensive footprint across sub-Saharan Africa, where it serves millions of households through its DStv and GOtv platforms, as well as the Showmax streaming service.
According to Canal+, the integration will strengthen MultiChoice’s competitive position by giving it access to broader financial resources, technology, content partnerships and operational expertise.
The company said the combined business would increase investment in local content production, sports broadcasting and streaming services as competition intensifies from global platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.
The transaction is also expected to provide MultiChoice with greater access to international markets at a time when traditional pay television operators are adapting to changing consumer viewing habits and the rapid growth of digital streaming platforms.
Canal+ has expanded steadily across Africa over the past decade and now assumes full control of a business operating in more than 45 African countries, further strengthening its position in the continent’s media and entertainment sector.
The acquisition followed Canal+’s gradual increase in its shareholding in MultiChoice, which began in 2024.
After exceeding the regulatory threshold, the company launched a mandatory offer in April 2024 to acquire the remaining shares of the Johannesburg-listed broadcaster.
Following regulatory approvals and shareholder acceptance, Canal+ secured control of MultiChoice in 2025 before completing the process that has now made the company a wholly owned subsidiary.
Industry observers describe the acquisition as one of the most significant media transactions involving an African company, reflecting a broader trend of consolidation as global entertainment firms seek greater scale to compete in the streaming era.
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