Telecom
Stakeholders Urge INEC to Partner NCC, Galaxy Backbone, Others to Improve Broadband Connectivity in Remote Areas
Stakeholders in information and communications technology have urged Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) to work closely with the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Galaxy Backbone, NigComsat, and other private internet broadband providers to improve broadband connectivity and protect robust seamless network infrastructure across the country, as well extend reliable connectivity to remote areas.
This is part of the recommendations at the end of National Workshop on Election Infrastructure organised by the Centre for Cyberspace Studies, Nasarawa State University, held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
The workshop which has the theme: Enriching the Values of Free, Fair, Inclusive, Credible and Transparent Elections was declared open by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Aliu Ibrahim Pantami.
In his speech, the Minister, who was the special guest of honour, commended the organisers for providing a strategic platform that will enhance stakeholder engagement to ensure that the digital provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 deliver the expected credible, free, fair, inclusive and transparent election in 2023.
The central objective of the Workshop was to avail stakeholders in the Nigerian electoral process an opportunity to brainstorm on the concerns, challenges, and desirable interventions needed to enhance effective preparations and delivery of successful 2023 National elections.
This is against the need to balance the benefits of digital transformation and the usual negative effects of cybercrime and cyberwarfare directed against election infrastructure. Among the dignitaries at the event were Professor Suleiman Bala Mohammed, Vice-Chancellor, Nasarawa State University; His Royal Highness, Dr David Wodi Tukura, the Aguma of Bassa Turunku Chiefdom in Nasarawa State.
Prof. Mohammed Ajiya, President DBI, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON); Prof. Yakubu Aliyu, a US-based Cybersecurity expert; Engr. Mohammed Rudman, Chief Executive Officer, of Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) and President NiRA; Dr Daniel Omofoman, Executive Director of African Electoral Integrity Initiative; DCP Uche Ifeanyi Henry, Director NPF-NCCC, Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, Force Headquarters. Others were representatives of the Chief Executive Officers of the Nigeria Communications Commission, Department of State Security Service, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Defence Space Administration (DSA), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The workshop which was conducted in a hybrid mode (in-person and virtual) had a total of 162 national and international participants and featured over thirty-five top-level resource persons from academia and industry across the globe.
The keynote address was delivered by a cybersecurity expert and pioneer Commandant of the EFCC Academy, His Royal Highness, Dr David Wodi Tukura, who is also the Aguma of Bassa Turunku Chiefdom in Nasarawa State.
Professor Tonnie Iredia, former Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) delivered the lead paper which appraised the 2022 Electoral Act.
Other resource persons include Engr. Lucky Okehigbemen (Germany); Dr Uche M. Mbanaso, Executive Director, Centre for Cyberspace Studies, NSUK; Dr Kenneth Okereafor, and Dr Steven Bassey. Professors: Francisca Ogwurleka (University of Abuja), Emmanuel Dandaura (Executive Director, Institute of Strategic and Development Communication); Mohammed Ajiya; Yusuf Yakubu (USA).
In his welcome address, the Convener and Vice-Chancellor of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof. Suleiman Bala Mohammed thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, for the boldness to reform the Nigerian electoral process to include the use of digital resources like BVAS and IReV for the first time.
He noted that “Mr. President’s intention to entrench a legacy of credible, fair, free, inclusive and transparent election in 2023 is the highest demonstration of patriotism and statesmanship”. He stated that the Workshop was primarily conceived by the “Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), to support this noble vision of Mr. President”.
The VC also commended the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu and his team, for their enthusiasm and resilience to wholesomely implement the Electoral Act 2022 without compromise.
Observations
At the end of the three-day event, the participants observed as follows:
- Currently, the nation is faced with the challenges of stable and reliable broadband internet connectivity across the country to support effective digital electoral processes;
- The interoperability challenges in synchronizing the IPv4 and the IPv6 networks remain unresolved;
iii. The cybersecurity posture of the nation has avoidable gaps, especially in the area of capacity building to create a pipeline of cybersecurity workforce that is very knowledgeable and skilled to enhance the protection of national cyberspace. Foreign interferences were raised especially, the potential for foreign supply chains to leverage on ‘vendor trust’ to infiltrate digital election infrastructure unnoticeably.
- Stakeholders are persuaded that owing to the expansive functions under its enabling Act, as amended, INEC is overstretched, hence unable to fully discharge its functions like effective voter education and control of election offences;
- The use of proprietary ICT products from vendors located in foreign countries as part of Nigerian election infrastructure increases the surface vulnerabilities that foreign adversaries may exploit to compromise the integrity of Nigerian elections;
- Stakeholders decry the non-utilization of the data being collected by statutory bodies like the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the National Population Commission (NPC) to evolve a seamless voter register. By her mandate, the NPC maintains a record of births and deaths so should know which citizen has come of voting age or is deceased.
Recommendations
Given the foregoing, the participants recommend the following:
- To ensure hitch-free elections, INEC should work closely with the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Galaxy Backbone, NigComsat, and other private internet broadband providers to improve broadband connectivity and protect robust seamless network infrastructure across the country, to extend reliable connectivity to remote areas;
- The NCC and NITDA should facilitate full implementation of IPv6 and ensure timely synchronization with IPv4 to enhance interoperability of digital infrastructure elements;
iii. The Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) currently in charge of Cybersecurity should designate some tertiary institutions as Centres of Excellence (CoE) in Cybersecurity to advance capacity building, research and development (R&D) as coordinated and measurable measures to improve national cybersecurity posture. This buttresses the urgent need for a pipeline of cybersecurity workforce that is very knowledgeable and skilled to enhance the protection of national cyberspace.
- Stakeholders recommend the streamlining of INEC functions into the following complimentary Election Management Bodies (EMBs) to allow INEC to focus on the conduct of elections: (a) Electoral Offences Commission to handle issues of electoral misconduct and crimes; (b) Digital Election Technology Infrastructure Commission to continuously research, design, develop and deploy homegrown digital election components to be used by INEC; (c) Voters Education and Awareness function currently under INEC should be transferred to the National Orientation Agency (NOA) which has more established structures for mass mobilization and education in all local governments areas in Nigeria. Separating these related duties in the management of Nigeria’s elections will improve efficiency and bequeath the nation a more reliable, effective, transparent and efficient electoral process.
- NITDA should be empowered to improve its local content development mandate to reduce the dependence on imported ICT products and solutions by INEC and mitigate possible foreign interferences in the nation’s digital space. NITDA can achieve this by using tertiary institutions for the domestication of Open Stack Architecture products and solutions to enhance the cybersecurity of products and solutions deployed to critical national infrastructure.
- On potential foreign interferences, there is the need for effective collaboration and synergy between the INEC Cybersecurity team, and security and law enforcement agencies in the area of cybersecurity intelligence sharing, vetting of foreign vendors, and protection of digital election infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure (CNII).
vii. Government should strengthen the NPC and NIMC (possibly merge the two organisations for effective citizens’ dada) database management systems, to produce more reliable citizens’ data which should feed the INEC voter register in the 2027 elections. Citizens that have attained the minimum voting age of 18 years could be automatically enrolled as voters, in the same way, that the database should be cleaned up regularly to deactivate deceased citizens seamlessly. This equally, will save huge costs in governance in the face of scarcity of funds.
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has intensified efforts to foster a more enabling environment for innovation by inaugurating a Technical Working Group (TWG) aimed at strengthening regulatory collaboration and advancing a coordinated sandbox framework for Nigeria’s digital economy.
Group photograph of the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, represented by the Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance, Barrister Emmanuel Edet, with the newly inaugurated members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the National Regulatory Sandbox, at the Agency’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, represented by the Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance, Barrister Emmanuel Edet, emphasised the critical need for stronger cross-agency cooperation to address structural regulatory challenges that often hinder the pace of innovation.
Inuwa noted that members of the Technical Working Group were deliberately selected based on their strategic institutional roles and capacity to contribute practical solutions tailored to the evolving realities of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
He explained that while regulatory agencies have legitimate and clearly defined mandates, the increasing complexity of digital technologies requires greater institutional alignment and collaboration to ensure regulatory frameworks support, rather than constrain, innovation.
“As government institutions, our core responsibility is to provide solutions to the challenges faced by Nigerians. The issue is not a lack of commitment, but a structural one. Regulators often operate in silos while implementing their mandates, and in today’s digital environment, that model presents significant limitations,” he said.
The NITDA Director General observed that the rapid expansion of the digital economy continues to outpace conventional regulatory systems, creating gaps that can inadvertently delay or obstruct the deployment of innovative solutions capable of improving livelihoods and driving national development.
To address these challenges, he said the Agency is championing a multi-agency regulatory framework designed to bring regulators together, foster understanding of overlapping mandates, and collectively develop adaptive mechanisms that create room for innovation while maintaining effective oversight.
Central to this strategy, Inuwa explained, is the adoption of regulatory sandboxes—controlled environments where innovators can test emerging technologies and solutions under the supervision and guidance of relevant regulatory authorities.
“Our guiding principle is that we learn by doing. Through these sandboxes, regulators can contribute to building safe spaces where innovation can be nurtured, tested, and scaled for the benefit of Nigerians,” he added.
He further reassured stakeholders that the initiative is not intended to weaken or override any agency’s statutory powers, but rather to improve coordination and build a more responsive regulatory ecosystem capable of keeping pace with technological advancement.
According to him, stronger inter-agency collaboration is essential to ensuring that Nigeria remains competitive in the global digital economy and fully harnesses innovation as a driver of inclusive economic growth and national prosperity.
Inuwa expressed optimism that the Technical Working Group would serve as a strategic platform for shaping forward-looking regulatory solutions while advancing NITDA’s broader vision of repositioning the Agency as an ecosystem orchestrator committed to enabling digital transformation and sustainable national development.
Presenting an overview of the National Regulatory Sandbox, the National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Victoria Fabunmi, said the initiative is designed to provide a structured, legal, and multi-agency framework that enables innovators to test emerging technologies under regulatory supervision before obtaining full market approval.
According to her, despite rapid advancements across sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, fintech, health technology, and blockchain, innovators continue to face significant challenges due to siloed regulations, fragmented approval processes, and the absence of coordinated mechanisms for testing new technologies.
Fabunmi noted that while Nigeria’s digital economy continues to witness remarkable growth, the lack of harmonised regulatory engagement has often delayed innovation and increased uncertainty for startups and technology-driven enterprises.
Describing the National Regulatory Sandbox as more than just a digital platform, she explained that it is fundamentally a governance and legal framework aimed at creating an enabling environment where innovation can thrive responsibly.
Unlike traditional sandbox models often associated primarily with financial services regulation, Fabunmi said Nigeria’s approach is intentionally sector-agnostic, allowing regulators from multiple sectors—including agriculture, digital health, mobility, clean energy, and digital public infrastructure—to collaborate in supporting innovative solutions.
Under the framework, startups and innovators will be able to engage multiple regulators simultaneously within a controlled testing environment, reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and significantly shortening time-to-market for emerging solutions.
She added that the sandbox will also generate shared, evidence-based regulatory insights, enabling participating agencies to make informed decisions collectively and develop adaptive policies that support responsible innovation.
The inauguration of the Technical Working Group marks another significant step in NITDA’s efforts to build a more agile, collaborative, and innovation-friendly regulatory environment—one that aligns with Nigeria’s broader ambition of becoming a leading digital economy in Africa.
MTN Nigeria has announced the selection of 25 media practitioners and digital content creators for the fifth cohort of its Media Innovation Programme (MIP), reinforcing its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s media industry through capacity building, innovation, and leadership development.
MTN MIP 2026
The Media Innovation Programme (MIP), implemented in partnership with the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, continues to serve as a platform for equipping journalists, broadcasters, and digital content creators with the skills, exposure, and mentorship required to thrive in today’s evolving media ecosystem.
This year’s fellows were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants across print, broadcast, digital media, and content creation, reflecting the programme’s growing reputation and influence within the industry. In commemoration of the techo’s 25th anniversary, the cohort has been expanded from 20 fellows in previous editions to 25 for the year.
Speaking on the first day of the programme, Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria, described the initiative as a reflection of the company’s commitment to innovation, partnership, and continuous learning. “At MTN Nigeria, innovation, insight, knowledge, skills, and partnership matter deeply to us.
“The Media Innovation Programme represents all these values – a partnership not just with Pan-Atlantic University, but with every fellow.
“This programme is an adventure in learning, one that challenges participants to reconsider assumptions, revise opinions, rethink ideas, and ultimately grow both professionally and personally,” he said.
Also speaking during the session, Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya, Dean, School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, encouraged the fellows to recognise the programme as more than a professional milestone, describing it as a transformative experience designed to prepare them to make meaningful contributions to the media industry and society at large.
“The media space today faces significant challenges, and this programme equips participants not just for personal development, but to make a real difference.
“Beyond skills and exposure, we place strong emphasis on values such as truth, honesty, ethics, and responsibility to society. We hope that every fellow leaves this programme better prepared to contribute significantly to the future of media,” he said.
The selected fellows for the fifth cohort include:
1. Agbetiloye David Adekunle (Senior Reporter, Business Insider Africa)
2. Adeniyi Fatima Adetoke (Content Writer, NotJustOk)
3. Adetola Kayode (State House Correspondent/ News Anchor, Lagos Television)
4. Ajibola Tolulope (Presenter, Silverbird Television)
5. Aliyu Usman (Assistant Chief Correspondent/ Editor, News Agency of Nigeria)
6. Augoye Jayne (Arts, Entertainment and Culture Editor, Premium Times)
7. Auwal Muhammad Ibrahim (Senior Editor, Halal Reporters)
8. Collins Christopher (Programmes Producer, News Central Television)
9. Dan-Ikpoyi Veronica (Senior Anchor, TVC Communications)
10. Dike Chiamaka Patricia (Broadcast Journalist, BBC News)
11. Eluemunoh David (Digital Content Creator)
12. Eseimokumoh Denise Loliaba (Editor-in-Chief, Marie Claire Nigeria)
13. Fosudo Oluwafisayo (Digital Content Creator)
14. Godfrey Progress (Reporter, Vanguard Media Limited)
15. Itiafe Glory Ugonma (Broadcast Journalist, Diamond 88.5 FM)
16. Kasali Segun (ICT Correspondent, Nigerian Tribune);
17. Ofonedu Sarah (On-Air Personality, Inspiration FM)
18. Okamgba Justice (Reporter, The Punch)
19. Onwuka Emmanuel (Presenter & Executive Producer, Nigeria Info FM)
20. Oyesanmi Ifeduyi (Managing Editor, TechCabal)
21. Sabastine Emmanuel (Sports Commentator, Team 33 Production)
22. Taiwo Kafilat (Data Journalist, Media Trust Group)
23. Thomas-Odia Ijeoma (Editor, The Guardian Woman, The Guardian)
24. Ugwu Amarachukwu Deborah (On-Air Personality, Rhythm 93.7 FM PH) and
25. Ukachukwu Nneka (Editor/Producer, Voice of Nigeria).
Over the years, the Media Innovation Programme has grown into a leading media fellowship in Nigeria, providing participants with access to industry experts, structured mentorship, hands-on learning experiences, and global best practices in media and communication.
The six-month programme commenced on Monday, May 18, 2026. During this period, the fellows will receive intensive education focused on media innovation, digital transformation, strategic communication, storytelling, and leadership development both in Nigeria and during their one-week study visit to South Africa
MTN reiterates its commitment to supporting journalism and advancing media excellence in Nigeria, while empowering professionals who continue to shape important conversations across the continent.
Airtel Africa Plc has announced a strategic initiative in partnership with Barclays Capital Securities Limited to execute on-market share purchases totaling up to $110 million.
This initiative will be divided into non-discretionary and discretionary segments, marking a proactive step in optimizing the company’s capital structure and enhancing shareholder value.
In a statement released on the Nigerian Exchange and signed by Simon O’Hara, group company secretary, Airtel Africa described this share buyback program as a key component of its broader strategy to return cash to shareholders.
It noted that the program aims to repurchase up to one percent of the company’s issued share capital as of the date of this announcement.
“This decision by the Board reflects the organization’s strong financial position and its commitment to maintaining flexibility while continuing to invest for growth across its markets.
“The initial phase of the program will see Airtel Africa collaborating with Barclays Capital Securities to facilitate the purchase of its ordinary shares,” the statement noted.
According to Airtel Africa, the agreement features two key components operating concurrently: a non-discretionary segment allowing Barclays to purchase up to $60 million of ordinary shares independently of the company, and a discretionary segment where Airtel Africa can guide Barclays in purchasing an additional $50 million, adhering to the regulations set forth by the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No 596/2014.
“The program is set to commence today and is expected to conclude by November 27, 2026, unless terminated earlier under the agreement’s terms. Airtel Africa has signaled that as the initiative progresses, further tranches may be announced to achieve its objective of repurchasing up to one percent of its issued share capital.
“The primary aim of this buyback program is to streamline the company’s capital. Accordingly, all shares purchased will be cancelled, contributing to a more efficient capital structure. Any transactions will be performed in alignment with pre-defined parameters outlined in the agreement with Barclays and comply with the authority granted by shareholders for share repurchases.”
At the annual general meeting on July 9, 2025, shareholders authorized the company to buy back a maximum of 366.073 million ordinary shares.
Following the previous buyback program, the remaining authority now stands at a maximum of 357.042 million ordinary shares, demonstrating ongoing support from shareholders for these initiatives.
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