Telecom
Tizeti Expands Leadership Team with Chief Financial Officer, Executives
Tizeti, West Africa’s pioneer solar-based internet service provider has expanded its leadership team with the appointment of Amanosi Okhakhu, Omobolaji Akinde, and Temitope Osunrinde as the Chief Financial Officer and Vice Presidents for Marketing and Business Development respectively.
Speaking about the new appointments, Kendall Ananyi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tizeti, said, “We are excited to welcome Amanosi Okhakhu, Temitope Osunrinde, and Omobolaji Akinde to Tizeti,
“Amanosi Okhakhu brings to her role, her expertise in providing financial and assurance services to corporate entities in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
“Omobolaji Akinde brings her experience in enterprise sales and business development in telecommunications to her role at Tizeti.
“Temitope Osunrinde has broad experience in marketing and the digital infrastructure sector, and this will be instrumental to the brand experience, growth, and continued success of the business, especially as we expand across West Africa.”
The new additions to Tizeti’s executive leadership come at a time when the company is entering a new phase of international growth and network expansion.
At its NextGEN conference in 2021, the company tested its next-generation WiFi technology (WiGig), capable of delivering internet speeds up to 1 GBPS – over 30X Nigeria’s average internet speed.
Tizeti also announced the expansion of its unlimited internet plans, currently available in cities in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, and Edo States to new locations in Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, and Cote d’Ivoire within the next eighteen months.
Okhakhu is a professional accountant with over 10 years of experience in risk assessment, compliance, audit, corporate governance, and accounting, among others.
She was previously a Senior Manager with the Assurance practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria and served various medium to large multinational and indigenous firms in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
She is a graduate of Accounting from the University of Benin and holds membership at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
Akinde is a sales and business development professional with over 16 years of experience across industries, including IT and Telecoms, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and FMCG.
Before Tizeti, she was the Senior Account Manager/Key Account Manager at Vodacom Business (Nigeria) Limited and previously held roles at 21st Century Technologies and Gateway Communications.
She is a Certified Project Manager and holds a degree in Accountancy from the University of Lagos.
Osunrinde enters the role with more than 12 years of experience in management consulting, technology, and telecommunications, having successfully managed regional strategic marketing for telecom companies.
He was Head, of Marketing and Communications at MainOne, with responsibilities for West Africa before a stint at Verraki (previously known as Accenture Nigeria), where he served as Head of Marketing.
He holds degrees in English, and Public and International Affairs, from the University of Lagos, and is concluding the Executive MBA program at the Lagos Business School.
He has attended courses at Yale School of Management, EGADE Business School, and the National University of Singapore.
“Tizeti’s leadership in the low-cost unlimited internet market in Nigeria and indeed West Africa provides huge opportunities to tackle digital exclusion for millions in the region.
“The company’s continued focus on providing affordable broadband access via innovative solar-powered masts will significantly inch the needle towards the continent’s digital economy and empower more Africans with the digital tools for work, education, healthcare, entertainment, and markets, among others.
“We are excited to join the Tizeti team for this next phase of growth and work with its young, energetic people bridging the digital divide”, Osunrinde said.
Telecom
MTN Nigeria to Issue N50Bn Commercial Paper
MTN Nigeria has proposed issuing up to N50bn series 11 and 12 commercial paper notes to raise funding for its operations, according to the company’s notice to the Nigerian Exchange Limited.
The notes issuance is under the company’s N250bn commercial paper issuance programme.
According to the statement signed by Uto Ukpanah, company secretary, the issuance is part of the company’s strategy to diversify its financing options with the funds being deployed towards short-term working capital requirements.
MTN Nigeria recently completed its series 10 commercial paper issuance under its upsized N250b commercial paper issuance programme.
Ukpanah, the telecom giant it sought to raise N72.1bn and the offer recorded 149 per cent subscription with N72.1bn issued.
The 266-day commercial paper was issued on 29 November 2023 at a yield of 16 per cent.
The CP issuance aligns with MTN Nigeria’s strategy of continuing to diversify its funding sources and reduce its average cost of debt. The proceeds will be applied to short-term working capital requirements.
Karl Toriola, chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria, said, “We are pleased with the support received from the investor community, having recorded a 149 per cent subscription from a broad range of investors. This reflects NTN Nigeria’s robust financial capacity, brand strength, and market leadership amidst the upward pressure on interest rates”
Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited played the role of Arranger and Dealer with ARM Securities Limited. Chapel Hill Denham Advisory Limited, Coronations Marchant Bank Limited, FCMB Capital Markets Limited, Quantum Zenith Capital &Investments Limited, Rand Marchant Bank Limited, and Vetiva Capital Management Limited played the role of Joint Dealers on the transaction.
Telecom
MTN Nigeria Receives Award for Contributions to Media Development
MTN Nigeria has received a “Media Capacity Development Support Award” for its immense contributions towards the growth and development of media practitioners across Nigeria.
The award was presented by the Media Career Development Network, at its inaugural conference held at the University of Lagos on October 31, 2024.
Held at the Biodun Shobanjo Auditorium Centre for Excellence, the Media Career Development Conference saw the coming together of seasoned media practitioners who shared insights on opportunities for growth and career advancement in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Executive Director of the Media Career Development Network, Lekan Otufodunrin noted that the conference aligns with the organization’s commitment to promoting media excellence and advancing the careers of media professionals in Nigeria.
Speaking on the award, Chief Corporate Services & Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria, Tobe Okigbo appreciated the Media Career Development Network for the initiative, while also affirming MTN’s commitment to supporting the media.
“On behalf of MTN, I’d like to extend gratitude to the network for the recognition.
“At MTN, we believe in investing in institutions that bring value to the society and this includes the media.
“Journalists and other media professionals play a crucial role in telling authentic stories and shaping the image of our nation globally.
“So we’re committed to helping them gain the requisite skills and exposure needed to thrive in their profession”, he stated.
MTN Nigeria has consistently shown dedication to training world-class media professionals in Nigeria, particularly through its Media Innovation Programme (MIP).
Since 2022, the ICT firm has partnered with Pan-Atlantic University to enable media practitioners across various platforms gain insight into the rapidly evolving media environment.
Convener and Executive Director of the Media Career Development Network, Lekan Otufodunrin acknowledged the impact of the telecommunications giant’s efforts in upskilling Nigerian media professionals.
“The 6-month Media Innovation Programme created by MTN in partnership with Pan-Atlantic University has afforded media practitioners in-depth training on the media space and even the opportunity to gain more insights in South Africa.
“We hope that MTN Nigeria will continue to champion this programme for the development of professionals”, he said.
The Media Capacity Development Support Award joins a long list of awards MTN Nigeria has received for its contributions towards institutions beyond the telecommunications sector and the general society.
Telecom
MobileCoreX Taps Wireless Technology Labs in Multi-Million Dollar Deal to Build New Mobile Core Network across Nigeria
Wireless Technology Labs (WTL) today announced that it has been chosen by MobileCoreX Ltd (MCX), Nigeria’s premier Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE), to spearhead the development of the country’s first mobile virtual network in a landmark deal valued at millions of US dollars over the next three years.
This initiative aims to enhance mobile connectivity for Nigeria’s 220+ million residents, addressing the current challenges of low broadband penetration and poor quality of service.
Nigeria’s telecom sector is predominantly dominated by four major operators—MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9Mobile – with only 29% of Nigerian’s 220+m population regularly accessing the mobile internet, (GSMA figures) due to poor coverage and a variety of other issues.
In Q2 of 2023, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) adopted a new strategy to boost coverage and adoption, it issued 43 Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) licenses to amplify service coverage, particularly in unserved and underserved regions.
Amongst the licensee’s was MCX which obtained a tier 4 MVNE license aimed at constructing new mobile network infrastructure to provide capacity for emerging MVNOs as a platform as a service.
“Coverage, poor quality of service, costs and inflexible value propositions in Nigeria have persisted for too long.
“We are committed to leveraging innovative technology to create more competitive networks that reduce costs for consumers and provides value propositions that suite that needs,” stated Mr. Habib Ahmed, CEO of MCX.
He emphasized WTL’s pivotal role in delivering the carrier-grade core systems required for a comprehensive suite of mobile services, encompassing voice, data, and value-added features to meet the diverse needs of MVNO clients.
WTL, headquartered in Belgium, with over 20 years of experience, has been active in Nigeria and across Africa, working with operators of all sizes to rollout both urban and rural networks, work which has garnered it widespread recognition and industry awards.
The company has already partnered with two of the 43 new MVNOs licensed by the NCC, showcasing its commitment to enhancing telecom infrastructure in the region.
Mr. Satya Mekala, CEO of WTL “This partnership is about empowering a new entrant to make significant impact in the telecom market.
“We are committed to supporting MCX in its journey from a newcomer to a major player in the industry.
“Our advanced Core systems will ensure that MCX can offer reliable, scalable, and innovative mobile services from day one”.
As the telecom industry in Nigeria undergoes transformative changes, this collaboration signals a promising future for mobile connectivity and digital adoption in the country.
WTL will be showcasing its capabilities at upcoming events including MVNO Nation 2024 in Valencia, 6-8 November and The Africa Tech Festival in Cape Town, 12-14 November, further reinforcing its commitment to driving digital adoption across the continent and the globe.
To learn more about how WTL can help with the rollout of MVNO/E urban and rural networks in Africa, please email [email protected]
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