Telecom
9mobile Reposition with Appointment of Obafemi Banigbe as Chief Executive Officer
As part of preparation for a new phase of business transformation, the Board of Directors of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited (EMTS), operating as 9mobile, has announced the appointment of seasoned telecoms expert and technology business leader and advisor; Obafemi Banigbe as the Chief Executive Officer of the company.
He succeeds the outgoing CEO, Juergen Peschel, who will be retained as a Consultant to support the business transformation process initiated under his leadership. This transition is consistent with 9mobile’s tradition of business continuity to ease the start of the holistic business transformation for the company.
Banigbe possesses extensive experience at the C-suite level and brings a profound comprehension of the intricate African business landscape, emphasizing the critical translation of business objectives and commercial imperatives into comprehensive strategies that drive successful execution.
Banigbe commenced his career in the telecoms industry at Celtel now known as Airtel Nigeria as the Director of Operations, preceded by significant contributions at Ericsson across various roles within the Sub-Saharan Africa Market Unit, culminating in the esteemed role of Network Support Group Manager for Access and Transport Networks.
He was previously the Chief Operations Officer at Millicom Ghana, charting the operational strategy for the business in Ghana.
His journey within the Millicom Group spans pivotal positions such as Interim CEO and earlier responsibilities as Chief Technical Officer for Millicom Ghana and Millicom International Cellular Tanzania.
Banigbe’s diverse international experience transverses countries such as the United States and several African countries.
He was previously the Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Silver Rock Technology Services Ghana, a strategic advisory firm specializing in the Telecom, Media, and Technology sectors.
He also served as a Non-Executive Director at Amplitude Telecoms, a tower infrastructure provider in Nigeria. As an Advisory Board member for Telecel Group, Banigbe played a pivotal role in guiding the group’s successful acquisition of Vodafone Ghana.
He further enriches his advisory portfolio by contributing insights to Nsano Group, a leading Fintech platform operating across multiple African countries, and previously lent his expertise to the Kirusa group in New Jersey, USA, providing invaluable guidance on product development and market entry strategies.
Board of EMTS (9mobile) said, “We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and the positive impact that Obafemi will have on shaping the future of 9mobile. He brings along the vision, passion and years of experience from diverse environments, which will consolidate our priorities to provide superior customer experience and sustained network quality.
“Obafemi is expected to work closely with the Board of Directors and all stakeholders to define credible and achievable long-term business plans, through the introduction of solutions to address the evolving needs of the Nigerian telecommunication market.”
“The Nigerian telecoms industry is characterized by strong competition, but it is also an industry that provides opportunities for different stakeholders.
“I am delighted to join the 9mobile family and I look forward to using my experience and unique value propositions to lead the company in the next exciting phase of its journey. The goal is to build on the existing foundation of the company to create value that will transform the Nigerian telecoms sector. Banigbe said.”
Banigbe holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria. He augmented his expertise through the Ericsson Management Development Program, the Advanced Management Program at the London Business School, and culminated his academic journey with an MBA from Manchester Business School, U.K.
SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.
SHELT
The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.
SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.
“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”
The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.
Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.
Dina Powell McCormick
The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.
A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.
The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions
X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has suspended the @Twitter account, replacing its profile with a standard notice citing violation of platform rules.
Musk
The action, which occurred on Sunday, January 11, left users encountering the handle greeted by a bold “Account Suspended” message on a black screen, with no details provided on the specific rules broken or the duration of the suspension.
The development has sparked widespread confusion and nostalgia among users, given that Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X in July 2023, approximately six months after acquiring the platform for $44 billion in late 2022.
The @Twitter handle had remained dormant since before Musk’s takeover, serving as a legacy remnant of the platform’s original branding, and its suspension appears to mark the final erasure of the Twitter name amid X’s ongoing efforts to combat spam, impersonation, and rule violations.
X’s official statement on the suspended page simply reads: “X suspends accounts that violate our rules,” without offering an appeal process or further explanation, unlike standard user suspensions.
Public reactions on social media ranged from humorous laments of “RIP Twitter” to speculation that the move resulted from automated moderation or a deliberate cleanup of legacy trademarks.
xAI’s Grok AI described it as a purposeful retirement of outdated elements rather than a genuine infraction, while neither Elon Musk nor X spokespeople issued any comment as of Monday morning.
This incident underscores the evolving identity of the platform under Musk’s ownership, which also saw a domain shift to x.com in 2024, further distancing it from its Twitter roots.
Industry observers note that while the suspension aligns with X’s stricter enforcement policies, the lack of transparency has fueled debates on consistency in applying rules to high-profile legacy accounts.
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