First Asset Management, one of Nigeria’s leading investment managers and a subsidiary of FirstHoldCo Plc, launches the 100 million Smart Inventors campaign.

Nigeria’s investment market has huge potential, yet it remains underutilised due to widespread distrust, misinformation, and past losses suffered through fraudulent schemes. Trillions of Naira have been lost, leaving many Nigerians fearful and excluded from real, rewarding investments and leaving them on the economic sidelines.

Reports show that less than 5% of adult Nigerians currently participate in the formal capital market, and as low as 0.25% invest in Mutual Funds, a stark contrast to participation rates often exceeding 50% in developed economies like the United States. This highlights the urgent need to restore trust and improve access to credible investment education.

In response to this critical challenge, First Asset Management has announced the launch of a landmark national movement, the “100 million Smart Investors Initiative”. The campaign is positioned as a direct strategy to rebuild investor confidence and democratise financial knowledge across the nation.

According to the firm, the initiative was conceived from the need to address the anxieties that have historically prevented countless Nigerians from participating in real wealth-building investments. Drawing on its track record of trust and market expertise, First Asset aims to cultivate a new generation of informed, confident investors.

At the heart of the initiative is a comprehensive investor education programme. The goal is to transform casual interest in investing into active participation within a supportive, well-informed community.

Beyond expanding investor numbers, the movement seeks to improve the quality of investment decisions by equipping individuals with the tools to evaluate opportunities and avoid fraudulent platforms.

For everyday Nigerians, the initiative promises simplified, practical financial education that demystifies investing. By building a strong peer network through a nationwide community platform, it seeks to reduce the isolation often faced by new investors and promote collective financial empowerment.

Ultimately, the 100 Million Smart Investors movement represents a significant investment in Nigeria’s human capital. By providing actionable steps, success stories, and sustained education, First Asset Management aims to usher in a new era of financial literacy and participation.

This initiative would not only enhance the financial well-being of individuals and families but also contribute to the broader economic prosperity of the nation by channelling dormant capital into productive sectors of the economy.

To kickstart this bold quest, the brand has planned a series of free educational bootcamps, podcasts and community engagement with industry experts and leaders. The inaugural event will take place live on 26 July 2025.

Follow @FirstAssetManagement on all social media handles to stay informed and visit https://first-assetmanagement.com/smart-investors for details on how to join the movement.

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has expressed deep concern over the increasing wave of vandalization and theft of telecommunications infrastructure across the country.

According to a statement signed by Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON, “since the Federal Government’s decisive interventions earlier this year to support industry sustainability, our members have committed unprecedented levels of investment in network optimization and capacity upgrades. New systems are being deployed, transmission equipment modernized, power systems overhauled, and thousands of kilometers of fiber optic networks currently being laid and expanded.

“Our industry has not seen this scale of investment in recent years. We are working round the clock to improve the quality of service nationwide and we cannot afford these setbacks.

“Unfortunately, between May and July, 2025, multiple incidents of vandalism were recorded across cell sites in Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Imo, Kogi, Ekiti, Lagos, Federal Capital Territory Abuja and many other states.

“These acts of sabotage have significantly disrupted network services, causing widespread connectivity blackouts leading to degradation of services and severely impacting millions of subscribers”.

He noted that, the affected infrastructure, primarily belong to ALTON members, as well as other network operators and those who depend on operators for connectivity.

He said identified critical components targeted to include; power cables, rectifiers, fiber optic cables, feeder cables, diesel generators, batteries, and solar systems are vandalized and stolen from active sites.

“These are not mere materials, but they are the backbone of our digital economy, security systems, and national communications grid.

“We are alarmed at the frequency, intensity, and geographical spread of these incidents. States such as Delta, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Lagos, Kogi, FCT, Kaduna, Niger, Osun, Kwara and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have recorded the highest number of attacks on telecom infrastructure. These attacks have led to prolonged downtimes, network congestion, widespread blackouts, and degradation of service quality.

The public he said, must be reminded that telecommunications infrastructure is classified as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) under the National Security framework. This classification is backed by Federal Government Gazette No. 133, Volume 108, dated 17th March 2021. Vandalism, sabotage, or illegal possession of these assets is a serious criminal offense with grave consequences.

ALTON expressed concerned about the rising market for stolen telecom equipment, such as:

– Power Cables, Power rectifiers, which are stolen from base station and sold into open markets

– Batteries which are stolen from base stations and sold for home and office inverters.

– Solar panels that are stripped from telecom sites and resold to unsuspecting households.

– Diesel fuel being siphoned from sites and traded on the grey market.

“We urge the public to be vigilant and refrain from purchasing suspicious items. If you buy stolen telecom equipment, you are not just complicit you are part of the crime.

We appeal to every Nigerian to please join us in the fight against the vandalization of telecom infrastructure.

“These assets serve us all, they enable our banking systems, security infrastructure, emergency response, education, health services, and the very platforms that power daily communication. An attack on telecom infrastructure is an attack on our economy and our security.

“A second, recurring and deeply worrying issue is the widespread damage to underground fiber optic cables caused by road construction and related civil infrastructure projects along major highways and urban roads. These activities have led to significant service outages and financial losses,” he added.

ALTON called on: – the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Inspector General of Police, the Director General, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)

to immediately deploy the necessary resources to protect telecommunications infrastructure and prevent a total breakdown of communications across the country.

“We commend the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for its proactive efforts in safeguarding national telecom infrastructure, particularly through the creation of a dedicated reporting portal.

“This initiative empowers citizens to play an active role in protecting critical assets by reporting incidents of vandalism or suspicious activity via protect@ncc.gov.ng or by dialing 622.

“Such forward-thinking measures are vital to ensuring the resilience and security of our communications network. This is a desperate and urgent hour. The industry cannot fight this battle alone. We need coordinated national action by the security agencies, the government at all levels, regulators, the media, civil society, and the public. Our national security, economic stability, and digital future depend on it,” the statement noted.

At the unveiling of MTN Nigeria’s Dabengwa Data Centre and Cloud Launch in Ikeja, Lagos, recently, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, described the facility as an investment aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to grow Nigeria’s digital economy.

Tijani, who graced the event, commended MTN Nigeria for its continued investment in the country, noting that the new data centre – estimated to cost around $150 million – is the kind of technological infrastructure that supports the $1 trillion economy the current administration aims to build.

“An investment like this, the one we are here to launch, offers a platform for our young people to thrive,” Tijani said. He continued: “Enterprise-grade infrastructure like this, on our soil, gives startups, developers, and digital creators the ability to build and scale from Nigeria to the world. With this facility, MTN is reinforcing its position as Nigeria’s digital backbone.

The data centre, named after the late Sifiso Dabengwa, a former CEO of MTN Nigeria and later Group Chief Operating Officer before his passing in September last year is being hailed as Nigeria’s largest prefabricated modular data centre It will deliver 4.5 MW in phase 1, with an additional 4.5 MW to be delivered in phase 2, which is expected to be completed soon.

According to the Minister, the MTN Data Centre will contribute to growing Nigeria’s economy by “unlocking productivity, hiring enterprise, and driving diversification through technological innovation and inclusion.”

“For this reason, if you don’t mind,” he added, “let’s rise and give a round of applause to MTN for their consistent commitment to Nigeria. The administration of President Bola Tinubu recognises that we cannot build a modern, diversified economy without modern infrastructure – both physical and digital.”

In his welcome address, Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, thanked the Federal Government for its continued support and reiterated the company’s commitment to long-term investment in the country.

“We are committed to building locally managed, globally competitive digital platforms that will enable businesses to scale faster and engage more people in wide-ranging research and development.

“At MTN, we believe everyone, particularly Nigerians and Africans, deserves the benefits of a modern, connected life. We continue to push boundaries to make the humanly impossible, conceivable, feasible, and ultimately possible,” he said.

The unveiling ceremony drew other stakeholders, policymakers, and members of the public sector, all of whom applauded MTN’s bold move, not just as a telecom giant, but as a leader in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, providing a platform to accelerate digital transformation and innovation.

Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), represented by Engr. Babagaba Digima, Deputy Director, New Media and Information Security Department, said: “Today marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s digital sovereignty and technological independence. The infrastructure we celebrate today embodies our collective vision of a digitally empowered Nigeria.”

Commending MTN’s leadership in digital innovation, Engr. Digima noted, “The Commission remains committed to creating an environment that supports innovation while ensuring the highest standards of cybersecurity, data protection, and robust internet infrastructure. We will continue to work closely with operators to ensure that the deployment of critical infrastructure meets the high standards our digital economy deserves.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, represented by Barr. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Secretary to the State Government, said the Dabengwa Sifiso Data Centre “not only signifies MTN’s unwavering commitment to investing in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure but also reinforces the strategic importance of Lagos as a technology and innovation hub for the nation.”

“As we all know, data is the new oil, and cloud technology is the engine that drives it. With its Tier III facilities, MTN is raising the bar for secure, scalable, and efficient enterprise services, critical enablers for businesses, public services, and national as well as multinational corporations alike,” she said.

With its bold investment in infrastructure, MTN Nigeria is not only shaping the future of connectivity but also laying the foundation for a more inclusive and innovation-driven economy, one where Nigerian talent and ideas can thrive on the global stage.