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MTN Foundation Brings Back ‘When Doves Fly’ Ancient Akwa Ibom Tale

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The MTN Foundation is partnering with the Duke of Shomolu Productions to bring the historical play, Ibiom: When Doves Fly to the Ibom Hall in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on April 30 and May 1, 2021.

This is in line with its consistent drive to bolster the efforts of stakeholders in the theatre industry with the goal to revive arts and culture in Nigeria while providing opportunities and empowerment for young creatives in the industry.

The partnership also saw to the training of 500 youths in Akwa Ibom State in a one-week youth clinic for local talents on the various rudiments of theatre, facilitated by Professor Ahmed Yerima, former Director-General of the National Theatre, at no cost to the participants.

The play, which is produced by Joseph Edgar under the Duke of Shomolu Productions, features veteran actress, Ini Edo, and the erudite Prof Ahmed Yerima and is set in ancient Akwa Ibom.

The producer gave theatre lovers a lot to look forward to when he described the play as, “A magical, deeply expounding story that is carved around the people of Akwa Ibom, but it pulls in the whole southern region in a kaleidoscope of over 54 dances that have been carefully crafted by master storyteller.”

Speaking about the role of the MTN Foundation in bringing the story to the stage and training local talent, Odunayo Sanya, the Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, stated, “As MTN Nigeria’s corporate social investment vehicle, investing in projects that promote youth development is one of our paramount goals.

“The theatre industry is one of the most viable platforms for young people to develop, find and express themselves creatively. 500 young people have received training on the rudiments of theatre in the one-week youth clinic organised as part of this project.

“In addition to this, several members of the cast and crew, as a result of this project, have an opportunity to be empowered, hone their craft and contribute to a vision bigger than them. These prospects are very rewarding to us and are some of the reasons we are always happy to support and associate with projects such as Ibiom: When Doves Fly that tell authentic Nigerian stories.”

The producer expressed confidence in the vision of the MTN Foundation to see to the renaissance of arts and culture in Nigeria and considers Ibiom: When Doves Fly a sure way to iterate the dignity of Nigeria’s past, while MTN’s vision is underway. “The idea of this project is to bring back to the front burner the dignity of our past as we prepare for the renaissance that is currently enveloping this country,” said Joseph Edgar.

In order to ensure the safety of the audience, the performances will be executed under strict COVID-19 guidelines. The producer stated that the Ibom Hall would only allow 30 percent of its usual capacity. The play will also be live streamed to a wider audience globally. Tickets can be purchased online.

“We know how important theatre is to thespians and fans. While we love and encourage the thrill of theatre performances, we will never compromise on the safety of Nigerians.

“This innovation, which allows people to enjoy the play without the risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus, is a great one. We applaud Edgar for choosing to work with a hybrid of physical and online attendance to enable people enjoy theatre while being safe,” Sanya commented.

The Duke of Shomolu Productions has received clearance from the Akwa Ibom Hospitality and Tourism Board, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Akwa Ibom State and the Ministry of Information, Akwa Ibom State.


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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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SHELT Named in Prestigious 2025 MSSP 250 List for Cybersecurity Excellence

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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 Named in Prestigious 2025 MSSP 250 List for Cybersecurity Excellence

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.


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Meta Names Ex-Trump Adviser Dina Powell McCormick as President

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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.

Meta names ex-Trump adviser Dina Powell McCormick as president

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


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X Suspends Twitter Account for Rules Violation

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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.

X Suspends Twitter Account for Rules Violation

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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