Telecom
TSSF 5.0: Industry Leaders to Address Brain Drain Challenge in Nigeria’s Telecom Industry
Leading figures in the telecommunications and information and communications technology (ICT) sectors are set to gather for the fifth edition of the Telecom Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 5.0).
The event themed “Mitigating the Effect of Talent Exodus and its Impacts on the Growth of Nigeria’s Telecommunications Industry” is carefully designed to explore and highlight one of the critical challenges facing the sustainability of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector. This conference, organised by Business Remarks, is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 19th September 2024, at CITIHeight Hotel, Opebi-Sheraton Link, Ikeja Lagos, by 10:00 a.m (WAT).
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek report that this conference will feature keynote speeches, thought-provoking discussions, innovative presentations, and networking opportunities from renowned industry experts, providing stakeholders with valuable insights, knowledge, and practical strategies to rethink the possibilities and challenges facing the sector.
Confirmed speakers include the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida; the National Coordinator, the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), Dr Olufemi Adeluyi; Chairman of ALTON, Engr Gbenga Adebayo; Digital Realty Chief Executive Officier, Engr Ikechukwu Nnamani; Open Access Data Center CEO, Dr Ayotunde Coker; Zoracom CEO, John Nwachukwu; Co-Founder, Infratel Africa, Mr Tola Yusuf among others.
Speaking about the event, the convener of the forum and Managing Editor of Business Remarks, Bukola Olanrewaju, noted that the Nigerian telecom sector is currently grappling with a multitude of challenges. These include unreliable power supply, rising operational costs, frequent call drops, poor network coverage and the high naira-to-dollar exchange rate has hampered telecom companies’ ability to invest in new equipment and infrastructure, further exacerbating these issues.
“Sadly, the sector has started to experience a huge depletion in its talent workforce, a severe brain drain,” she said.
Olanrewaju stressed that the escalating depletion of talent and skilled workforce in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy is a pressing concern. “This loss of human capital poses a significant threat to the nation’s productivity and economic growth.
“The brain drain exacerbates existing skill shortages, hindering the country’s ability to innovate and develop domestically. If left unchecked, this trend could cripple the Nigerian economy.”
According to the International Organization for Migration (UN Migration), international migration is shaped by economic, geographic, demographic, political, and other factors.
Studies have also revealed that the departure of skilled workers diminishes the productivity of various industries, ultimately impacting economic output and growth. Companies and businesses may struggle to find qualified personnel or workforce, leading to decreased efficiency and competitiveness in both domestic and international market space.
The technology and telecom sector have seen a considerable loss of talents within the last 5 years to various western countries.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics also stated that Nigeria has lost about 10 billion dollars annually due to brain drain (mass migration) since 2010. Similarly, data from the World Bank show that Nigeria’s GDP growth has been negatively affected by the migration of skilled workers.
The Telecom Sector Sustainability Forum fifth edition (TSSF 5.0) is a platform for stakeholders, experts, and policymakers to discuss the root causes, impacts, and potential solutions to this pressing issue. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, this event aims to contribute to the development of effective policies and initiatives to mitigate the effects of brain drain and promote the growth of the Nigerian economy.
Telecom
Huawei Plans Data Centre in Nigeria to Boost Local Cloud Capabilities
Huawei Technologies, a Chinese information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure provider, has unveiled plans to launch a significant new data centre in Nigeria, a move that is expected to bolster the country’s cloud infrastructure and support its growing digital economy.
This announcement was made by David Olaiya, head of Cloud Fintech Business Development for Huawei Nigeria, during Nigeria Fintech Week, in Lagos.
The new data centre is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a hub for tech innovation in West Africa.
Scheduled to become fully operational by October 31, 2024, the facility, called ‘Cloud Site’ is designed to provide comprehensive data storage and computing services.
By keeping data within Nigeria’s borders, this initiative aims to align with the country’s data protection policies, which mandate that all user data be stored locally.
This is especially critical for sectors like finance and telecommunications, where data security is paramount.
Many Nigerian businesses, particularly those that have relied on international cloud services, often face compliance challenges when it comes to storing and processing sensitive user data.
These companies have had to send their data across borders, raising concerns about data security and regulatory adherence.
The launch of Huawei’s data centre aims to directly address these issues by allowing businesses to manage their data domestically, ensuring compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
“This centre ensures data sovereignty, offering Nigerian businesses a competitive advantage by keeping sensitive information within the country,” Olaiya stated.
The launch of the data centre comes amid the growing influence of Huawei’s cloud services among Nigerian banks. Reports have emerged that major Nigerian banks including UBA Zenith Bank, Opay, First Bank and others are opting for Huawei’s cloud storage solutions, positioning it as a strong competitor to IBM, which has been a longtime leader in banking technology in Nigeria. The shift by these banks reflects the rising trust in Huawei’s cloud capabilities and its growing influence within the financial sector.
Olaiya also emphasized that the new centre will offer more than just local data storage. It is expected to significantly reduce latency, providing faster access to cloud services, which is crucial for real-time operations such as digital payments and mobile banking.
In addition to data compliance, he noted that the centre will be backed by local technical expertise, which will be key in providing timely support to Nigerian enterprises. Huawei plans to have a dedicated team on the ground, alongside its global 24/7 support infrastructure. This combination of local and global resources promises to deliver seamless service, enabling companies to troubleshoot issues more efficiently and reduce the risks associated with downtime or technical failures.
While this is a milestone for Huawei, Nigeria already hosts data centres from global tech giants such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure.
However, Huawei’s entry into the local cloud landscape is poised to bring additional benefits.
The ‘Cloud Site’ will be part of Huawei’s extensive global network, which spans 93 availability zones in 33 regions around the world, including existing data centres in South Africa and Egypt.
The Nigerian data centre will be linked to Huawei’s other key locations, including facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Dublin, Ireland.
This global integration is expected to not only serve as a critical resource for established businesses in Nigeria, but also to support Africa’s digital transformation in broader terms, creating new opportunities for startups, especially in sectors like fintech, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence (AI), where local data processing can drive innovation.
In a related initiative, Huawei Cloud announced in April 2024 its plan to support 100 Nigerian startups over the next two years.
This commitment includes providing these startups with cloud resources and technical assistance to help them scale their operations and bring new products to market.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has also demonstrated its commitment to data infrastructure, with plans to inaugurate a national data centre by May 2024.
This facility, which will have a storage capacity of 1.4 petabytes, is intended to securely store critical national data, including biometric information of Nigerian citizens.
Overall, Huawei’s entry into Nigeria’s data centre market is set to complement these efforts, further establishing the country as a regional leader in cloud computing and data services.
Telecom
NCC to Introduce Revised Governance Code for Sustainable Telecom Practices
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is preparing to issue a revised corporate governance code, updating the 2016 version with a key focus on the introduction of mandatory sustainability reporting for telecom operators, according to Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the commission.
Maida said that the initiative is aimed at aligning the sector with global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, promoting greater transparency and supporting sustainable development within Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape.
He, disclosed this during his address at the 2024 Annual Corporate Governance Conference in Lagos, State, themed “Corporate Survival and Sustainability: The New Face of Governance.”
The sustainability reporting involves organisations disclosing information about their ESG performance.
This practice provides stakeholders—including investors, customers, and regulators—with insights into how telecom operators manage risks and opportunities related to sustainability. Key components include reporting on carbon emissions, resource usage, labour practices, community engagement, and data privacy.
Maida emphasized the importance of sustainability in corporate governance, highlighting that “such practices are no longer optional but essential for the long-term success of telecom companies.”
He presented findings from a comprehensive NCC analysis evaluating corporate governance among telecom operators. Key indicators examined included board composition, diversity, effectiveness, ethical conduct, compliance, risk management, and corporate social responsibility.
The analysis revealed a strong correlation between effective governance and regulatory compliance, with companies not excelling in governance facing poor financial performance.
Telecom
Samsung Unveils New Galaxy A06 dubbed ‘Galaxy Wey Sabi’ Nigeria – Nigeria
Samsung Electronics has officially unveiled the latest addition to the popular Galaxy A series smartphones – the Samsung Galaxy A06.
Joining a fan favorite series and combining powerful performance with a sleek design, the Galaxy A06 offers customers and loyal A series fans unique features and premium experience at an affordable price.
The stylish Galaxy A06 is set to redefine what users expect from entry-level smartphones, offering cutting-edge technology without compromise.
Aptly, tagged “Galaxy Wey Sabi”, the Galaxy A06 stands out in the competitive category as it aims to resolve the customers’ needs in a smartphone with focus on durability, functionality, security, camera, and entertainment.
Users can enjoy capturing high-resolution photos with the 50MP rear camera, now equipped with Nightography for capturing the essence of every detail especially in low-light conditions. The 8MP front and 2MP (depth) cameras also provide crystal-clear selfies with advanced beautification features.
Spotting a slimmer design and comfortable grip, as well as a side fingerprint scanner, the new Galaxy A06 features a stunning 6.7” HD+ display, providing vivid colors and crisp clarity for an immersive viewing experience that delivers seamless visuals on the infinity-U display with enhanced brightness, especially for outdoor visibility.
Galaxy A06 – Galaxy Wey Sabi is truly a device, which understands your needs, equipped with a 5000mAh long-lasting battery, you can enjoy more device usage without worrying about battery life. The 25W Super-Fast Charging feature ensures up to 50% battery charge in just 30mins, meaning you are back in action quickly.
“The Samsung assurance is a promise, a trustworthy reliability in our Knox Security on this device, which protects your personal information by isolating your passwords and other private data within a secure environment,” said Stephen Okwara, Head Product Management, Samsung Electronics West Africa. “What also awesome about this is our promise of continuous OS upgrades and up to 4 years security update on this device. Isn’t that impressive from a brand that understands the needs of its customers?”
Also speaking at the Galaxy A06 launch event in Lagos, Oge Maduagwu, Head of Marketing, Samsung Electronics West Africa said: “We are excited to introduce the Galaxy A06, which brings together powerful performance, an advanced camera, and long-lasting battery life, all in a stylish and affordable package,” She added: “Also customers can enjoy premium support for their device with a screen damage insurance cover of just N9000.
Available in four stunning colors – Black, Blue Green, Lime and Silver – The Samsung Galaxy A06 will be available in Nigeria at all authorized Samsung Stores from 11th October 2024, with pricing starting at N146,000.
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