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The USPF Changemaker Challenge 2018 Rewards Hackathon Winners

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Team Real Media
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Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), an arm of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has rewarded winners of its 2018 Hackathon Changemaker Challenge.

 

Over 500 applications were received

 

  • 14 Teams contested

 

  • 3 Teams emerge winners

 

It is often said that the future of any economy depends on how many new businesses it can generate particularly within the small business and start-up segments.

 

This is the idea behind the establishment of the USPF changemaker challenge, a unique hackathon designed to solve a number of issues confronting us as a Nation.

Team Xavier

The 2018 USPF changemaker challenge with the theme THE FUTURE IS HERE: Disrupting Legacy Ecosystem with Technology ended on a very high note with three teams emerging as winners namely;

 

1st Prize Winner – N1,000,000

  • Team Name: Real Media
  • Product: Places and Services (placesandservices.com.ng)

Team Members:

  1. NwosuOluebube
  2. Ijaola David

2nd Prize Winner – N750,000

  • Team Xavier
  • Product: Beza X

Team Members:

  1. Ogunranti Adebayo
  2. Samson Okubanjo

Team iNeeds

3rd Prize Winner – N500,000

  • Team iNeeds
  • Product: iNeeds.ng

Team Members:

  1. NwosuIsochukwu
  2. MfonobongUmondia David
  3. JideoforOchiabutorChuka
  4. Peter Cynthia

The decision was reached by a panel of judges comprising of KolapoSolesi, Managing Partner, Abridge Consulting; Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata Jnr., Co-founder, GoDo.ng; ChiomaAgwuegbo, Founder, TechHer; AdetunjiObakeye, IT Professional; DejiOlarinre, Co-founder, Hullnet, Aisha Amoka, Founder, Makifa Network and Moses Malan Faya, Technology Lawyer, all with diverse experiences that helped guide the various teams until the winners emerged.

All teams in a group photograph

The selection was made based on a number of criteria such as marketing viability, ease of implementation, go-to-market strategy, needs analysis as well as communication skills.

 

According to the Secretary of the Universal Service Provision Fund, (USPF),Ayuba Shuaibu, the Innovative ICT Solutions and Entrepreneurship Development (IISED) project is one of the initiatives of the Universal Service Provision Fund which provides platform for ICT start-ups to create fully working prototypes of ICT solutions capable of deepening ICT penetration in Nigeria while creating employment for the young ICT entrepreneurs.

 

Over 48 hours, teams developed impactful technology driven applications by building fully working prototypes of their solutions through specific technical guidelines.

Judges

The Hackathon held from the 25thto 27th of January 2019 at Kanem Suites, Utako Abuja  afforded the teams who participated from all over Nigeria the opportunity to network and connect with brilliant, software developers, UX Designers, Data Scientists, ICT Experts, Budding Entrepreneurs, Strategists, Angel Investors, Idea Funders, Public Policy Experts, Incubation Experts and Technology Enthusiasts.

 

The USPF Changemaker Challenge 2018 has indeed lived up to expectation and paved the way for the birthing of more business ideas, which would hopefully add value to the economy.

 

 


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Airtel’s AI Spam Alert Flags 9.6m Spam Attempts

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Airtel Nigeria, telecom service provider, has announced that its AI-powered Spam Alert Service issued over 9.6 million spam alerts between March 13 and May 20, 2025.

Airtel’s AI Spam Alert Flags 9.6m Spam Attempts

As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting customers from unwanted and potentially fraudulent communications, Airtel designed the AI Spam Alert service to analyze traffic patterns and detect anomalies.

In the period since launch the AI pinpointed a total of 9,667,008 SMS as potential spam messages in the two months after its launch.

Of these, the system identified 528,080 on-net (Airtel-to-Airtel) and 9,138,928 off-net (from other networks) numbers as suspected spam messages, demonstrating the scale of the threat and Airtel’s advanced processing capability.

Airtel Nigeria is a subsidiary of Airtel Africa.

Commenting on this development, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO, Airtel Nigeria, restated Airtel`s commitment to protecting its customers.

“This milestone demonstrates the strength of our AI-driven infrastructure in combating the growing menace of spam and scam calls. At Airtel Nigeria, we are focused on connecting Nigerians and ensuring their safety and confidence while using our network.

“We understand that trust is the cornerstone of digital communication. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in intelligent systems that not only detect potential threats but also learn and evolve with data. As threats become more sophisticated, so will our solutions. As a company, we remain focused on leading the industry in innovation and customer satisfaction, ensuring that every Nigerian can enjoy a safer and smarter digital experience,” Mr. Balsingh said.

The Spam Alert Service is part of Airtel Nigeria’s broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into its core offerings to deliver smarter and safer experiences for its customers across the country.

Recall that the Spam Alert Service was launched on March 13, 2025. A groundbreaking and free solution from Airtel, it notifies users in real-time of suspected spam SMS messages by analyzing over 250 parameters.

The Airtel AI Spam Alert Service is available to all Airtel subscribers on smartphones and feature phones.

 

 


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Vitel Wireless Completes Interconnectivity with all Major Telcos in Nigeria

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Vitel Wireless Limited, pioneer mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in Nigeria has made another history by announcing the successful completion of interconnectivity with all major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria.

Vitel Wireless Completes Interconnectivity with all Major Telcos in Nigeria

Kenneth Nwabueze, Chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless

Recall that Vitel Wireless, became the  first Mobile Virtual Network Operator  to receive a dedicated number series (0712) from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

This breakthrough enables Vitel Wireless subscribers to make and receive calls with users on MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom (Glo), and 9mobile Nigeria.

It also marks the first time an MVNO in the country has successfully interconnected with all the major MNOs, setting a new precedent for Nigeria’s telecom sector.

Following the NCC’s licensing of 46 MVNOs, Vitel Wireless continues to lead the way in establishing a dynamic MVNO sector in Nigeria—Africa’s largest market and most populous nation.

The company has already achieved several historic firsts: the first MVNO issued a numbering plan and national and international routing codes, the first to launch a location awareness network in Africa, and the first to unveil a strategic nationwide rollout plan.

“We are gathering momentum for our big launch,” said Kenneth Emeka Nwabueze, chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless.

“We are proud to be showing what’s possible for MVNOs, while also creating a path for others to follow. By leveraging our years of experience in Nigeria’s telecom industry, we are opening up new possibilities where there used to be none.”

Interconnectivity was achieved through a combination of direct fiber connections with some MNOs and indirect routing via third-party providers.

This milestone was the result of a collaborative effort involving engineers from Vitel Wireless, Wireless Technology Labs (WTL), and Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria (ICN), working closely with engineers from MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile.

“We wish to thank the regulatory agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission, for their timely interventions and guidance, which were instrumental in achieving this interconnectivity and bringing the formal launch of the Vitel Wireless nationwide network one step closer to reality,” said Nwabueze.

The company entered a nationwide pilot phase in May 2025, with plans for a full rollout in July 2025, aiming to deliver next-generation mobile services to millions across Nigeria.

 

 


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Layer3 Wins Big at African Beacon of ICT Awards 2025

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L-r: David Ita, Head, Strategy & Business Development, Layer3; Morenike Ayeni, Head, Procurement, Layer3; Ike Nnamani, CEO, Digital Realty Nigeria at the 16th edition of Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership awards held in Lagos over the weekend.
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Layer3, One of Nigeria’s foremost ICT solutions providers, has once again solidified its place as a trailblazer in Africa’s technology landscape, emerging as the Enterprise Solutions Provider of the Year and Leadership Award in Cloud Services at the prestigious African Beacon of ICT Leadership and Awards held on May 24, 2025, at the Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos.

This year’s event brought together leading tech innovators, policymakers, and thought leaders to recognize organizations making extraordinary contributions to Africa’s digital transformation.

Among the many luminaries in attendance, Layer3 stood out for its 19+ years of consistent innovation, technical excellence, and client-centered service delivery.

Speaking at the event, the organizers praised Layer3’s pioneering work in delivering robust enterprise solutions across sectors, as well as its bold leadership in advancing cloud infrastructure and services across Nigeria and beyond.

“These awards are more than recognitions, they are a reminder of the fulfilment to our mission to deliver peace of mind to our customers,” said David Ita, the Head of Strategy and Business Development of Layer3.

 “They speak to the impact we’ve made and the promise we hold for the future of the cloud and enterprise technology business in Africa. We dedicate this honor to our clients, partners, and the hardworking Layer3 team who continue to redefine excellence every day.”

Since its founding, Layer3 has championed a future-forward approach to ICT services offering cutting-edge solutions in enterprise networking, cybersecurity, broadband, cloud computing, managed services, and IT advisory. The company’s Layer3Cloud platform and managed service offerings continue to power the digital ambitions of Nigeria’s leading businesses.

These accolades underscore Layer3’s unwavering commitment to driving transformation and supporting digital economies through smart, secure, and scalable technology.

 


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