Telecom
AfreximBank Boss, ECOWAS, Diplomats and others to Speak at GAIN Youth Summit 2022

The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export Import Bank (AfreximBank) Professor Benedict O. Oramah; High Commissioner of Namibia to Nigeria, H.E Humphrey Geiseb; Ambassador of Cote D’Ivoire to Nigeria and ECOWAS, H.E Ambassador Kalilou TRAORE; Dr Tony Luka Elumelu, Ag. Director of Private Sector Development at the ECOWAS Commission, Nigeria as well as popular Nigerian business man, Mr Obinna Tochukwu Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana), Chairman, Cubana Group, Nigeria have been named the Keynote and Guest Speakers respectively at the 2022 edition of the Grand Africa Initiative – GAIN Youth Summit holding from 28th-29th October, 2022 at 10am WAT daily with the theme The Africa We Want: Nexus between the Youth, Peace and Entrepreneurship II.
The GAIN Youth Summit is an annual gathering of policy makers, diplomats, public and private sector leaders, development institutions, civil society groups and the youths from across the continent and the diaspora, focused on developing entrepreneurship, innovation, professional and employability capacities in young Africans in a way that helps tackle the menace of youth unemployment and conflict on the continent.
The Executive Director, Grand Africa Initiative (GAIN), Ms. Chinwe Okoli stated that this year’s summit will build on and further examine the key insights around the theme The Africa We Want: Nexus between the Youth, Peace and Entrepreneurship discussed at the 2021 summit which had the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN as the Special Guest of Honour.
According to Ms. Okoli, “We are excited at the level of growth in impact that the GAIN Youth Summit is making through the years. This year, we are glad that organisations and institutions such as ECOWAS Commission, AfreximBank, Embassy of the Republic of Guinea to Nigeria, High Commission of Namibia to Nigeria and Embassy of Cote D’Ivoire to Nigeria are partnering with GAIN. We are especially grateful to ECOWAS through the Youth and Sports Development Centre(EYSDC) for their financial support. We are also grateful to all those who will be sharing their thoughts with over 2000 youths from across the world”.
According to Ms Okoli, “other confirmed speakers include; Ehia Erhaboh, Executive Vice President, Operations and Technology, Interswitch Group, Nigeria; Caroline Njuki, Officer in Charge and Chief Technical Advisor Inclusive Jobs and Education, International Labour Organisation, Kenya; Eric Nges: Vice President, J.P Morgan, Germany; Hon. Emma Inamutila Theofelus(MP); Deputy Minister for ICT, Namibia; Sam Itodo, Executive Director, YIAGA Africa, Nigeria; Emmanuel Asika; Country Manager- HP Nigeria; Omni Channel Manager-HP ACE; Lennox Omondi, CEO and Founder, Eco-Bana Limited, Kenya and 2022 Winner Hult Prize; Chidi Nwaogu, Co-Founder, Publiseer/ Tech Entrepreneur and Software Developer, Nigeria; Princess Adeyinka Tenekah; Founder/CEO, Happy Coffee, Nigeria; Rapitso Mosebetsi, Co-Founder & CEO Iconics Pty Ltd, Lesotho… among others”
Over the past three years, the GAIN Youth Summit has deepened the discourse and contributed to shaping policies around strategies to unleash the economic potentials of young Africans to build sustainable prosperity on the continent. We are delighted that previous editions of the summit attracted high profile leaders such as Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, Governor, Anambra State and former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria; British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing; Ambassador of Angola to Nigeria, Dr Januario Eustaquio Quibato; The High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria, Mr Thami Mseleku; Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and sports, Hon Sunday Dare; Her Excellency, Mrs Teneng Mba Jaiteh, The Ambassador Plenipotentiary of The Gambia to Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union; H.E S. F Houmard, The President of in Global Office of the Global Union; H.E, Mr Georges R. P. Chikoti, The Secretary General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS); Mr Tomi Davies ‘TD’, Collaborator-in-Chief, TVC Labs/President, African Business Angel Network (ABAN), Mr Modise J.Motloba, The Group CEO, Tysys Capital Group, South Africa; Professor Joseph Nnanna, Chief Economist, development bank of Nigeria; Professor Ndubuisi Ekekwe,Lead Faculty, Tekedia Institute; Mrs Fati N’zi-Hassane, Supervisor, Human Capital Division AUDA-NEPAD, African Union among others
Grand Africa Initiative (GAIN) is a youth-focused pan-African non-governmental organization which comprises young Africans between 15 and 35 years drawn from within and outside the continent, who are passionate about promoting entrepreneurship as a means to reduce conflict, promote peace and economic revival of the continent. GAIN programs include training, advocacy, mentorship, and youth events, designed to help achieve sustainable development by igniting the positive energy of the greater segment of Africa’s population – the youth.
Participation:
Register to attend the summit for free via the link: http://bit.ly/GAINYS22
Telecom
MTN Nigeria Debuts Game-Changing CPaaS Platform at NextNow Forum

At the recently concluded NextNow Business Forum in Victoria Island, MTN Nigeria electrified the business community with a live demonstration of its forthcoming Communication Platform as a Service (CPaaS), a solution engineered to redefine how Nigerian enterprises connect with their customers.

L-R: Febisola Oyeniyi, General Manager, Enterprise Sales, MTN Nigeria; Omotayo Ojutalayo, General Manager, Business Development, Enterprise Business, MTN Nigeria; Akinbulejo Onabolu, Head, Enterprise Segment, MTN Nigeria and Omowunmi Olatunbosun, Head, SME Segment, MTN Nigeria, during the MTN NextNow Business Forum.
Unlike traditional communication systems, MTN’s CPaaS is built for the realities of a mobile-first market. The platform unifies SMS, voice, WhatsApp, email, and more into a single, intuitive interface.
This approach is especially significant in Nigeria, with over 107 million internet users, 45.4% of the total population, according to Data Report. This figure underscores the necessity for businesses to meet customers where they are.
During the demo, attendees witnessed how CPaaS enables two-way, real-time conversations between brands and customers. The platform’s support for rich media, instant analytics, and seamless integration with business workflows drew particular attention.
These features are designed to empower businesses with data-driven insights and the agility to personalise every interaction, whether it’s a service notification, marketing campaign, or customer support exchange.
Akinbulejo Onabolu, Head of Enterprise Segment at MTN Nigeria, articulated the vision: “CPaaS gives enterprises the flexibility to interact with their customers on their preferred platforms; whether it’s chat, voice, or messaging, in a way that feels personal and immediate. We’re looking forward to the value this will unlock for businesses across industries once it launches.”
The fireside chat added depth to the conversation, with Omowunmi Olatunbosun, Head of SME Segment at MTN Nigeria, and Stephen Agbi of Bayobab, highlighting how digital engagement bridges the gap between businesses and audiences. They emphasised that today’s consumers demand immediacy, relevance, and ease, qualities that CPaaS is built to deliver.
The stakes for digital transformation in Nigeria are high. In a report by Punch, the country’s enterprise tech market is projected to reach $22 billion by 2027, reflecting a surge in demand for scalable, cloud-based solutions that drive efficiency and customer loyalty.
The CPAAS Acceleration Alliance have estimated that globally, the CPaaS market is expected to grow from $14.7 billion in 2025 to $72.4 billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 18.4%, a testament to the platform’s transformative potential.
The event’s closing keynote from META’s Korhan Yunak reinforced the strategic value of digital channels like WhatsApp, which are now indispensable for business communication and engagement at scale.
As MTN Nigeria prepares for the Q3 2025 launch, the anticipation is unmistakable. With its promise of flexibility, intelligence, and seamless integration, MTN’s CPaaS platform is set to become the backbone of next-generation business-customer engagement in Nigeria, enabling enterprises to not just communicate but to connect, adapt, and grow in a digital-first era.
Telecom
NCC, REA Move to Power Telecoms with Renewable Energy

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have teamed up to develop an initiative that will reduce the $350 million annual spending on diesel by telecom operators in Nigeria.
According to a press statement by Nnenna Ukoha, acting had of Public Affairs, NCC, this collaboration will focus on deploying renewable energy solutions to support telecom infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
To that end, the two agencies have inaugurated what they called NCC–REA Collaboration Committee, aimed at deploying renewable energy solutions to power telecom infrastructure across the country.
According to the State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2025 by the Africa Finance Corporation, telecom operators in Nigeria consume more than 40 million litres of diesel every month, costing them over $350 million annually.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Communications Commission has formally inaugurated the NCC–REA Collaboration Committee, marking a pivotal step towards advancing Nigeria’s digital and energy inclusion objectives by developing modalities for the deployment of renewable energy to support telecom infrastructure in Nigeria.”
The inauguration ceremony, held on Friday, at the NCC Headquarters in Abuja, was presided over by Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman and chief executive officer, NCC.
Maida was joined by Abba Aliyu, managing director of the REA, along with senior executives and committee members from both organisations.
Speaking at the event, Maida described the collaboration as a timely and strategic alignment of national priorities.
He noted that bridging the connectivity and power gaps in rural areas remains critical for Nigeria’s growth and development.
He highlighted that the demand for digital services and connected communities creates an opportunity for renewable energy to play a crucial role.
Maida further emphasised that the partnership goes beyond infrastructure; it is aimed at driving inclusion, reducing inequalities, and fostering shared prosperity.
“Whether it is powering a base station or enabling a child to access digital learning, this partnership has the potential to transform realities and bring opportunity closer to the people.
“This initiative is about more than infrastructure, it is about driving inclusion, bridging inequalities and creating the conditions for shared prosperity,” he was quoted in the statement.
He also noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to ensure no community is left behind in Nigeria’s energy and digital transformation.
Aliyu, representing REA, expressed confidence in the transformative potential of the collaboration.
“This partnership will unlock sustainable development opportunities for millions of Nigerians, especially those in areas lacking traditional infrastructure,” he said.
He further emphasised that the collaboration would address both energy and connectivity gaps, benefiting those who are currently underserved.
The newly established NCC-REA Collaboration Committee will work to co-develop and implement integrated solutions that leverage renewable energy to power telecom sites.
The statement noted that the committee will also focus on sharing geospatial data to improve planning, aligning funding frameworks, and tracking the socio-economic impact of the project through clear performance indicators.
Telecom
NCC Approves MTN, 9Mobile Roaming Collaboration Deal

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has announced the execution of a national roaming agreement with Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (9Mobile), a move that signals a major milestone in Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry’s regulatory authority, has approved the three-year deal, which allows 9Mobile subscribers to roam seamlessly on MTN Nigeria’s extensive network infrastructure across the country.
The agreement, effective immediately, will significantly enhance connectivity and user experience for 9Mobile customers, particularly in areas where its network coverage is limited.
By leveraging MTN’s expansive infrastructure, 9Mobile can now offer improved service reach and reliability, without duplicating capital-intensive investments in network deployment.
In a notice to the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public, MTN Nigeria described the arrangement as a strategic collaboration that underscores its leadership in fostering innovation, industry cooperation, and operational efficiency.
The company emphasized that the initiative aligns with the NCC’s broader objective of promoting infrastructure sharing to improve telecommunications services nationwide.
“This agreement represents a significant step in our commitment to driving industry collaboration, improving customer experience, and supporting the NCC’s vision of a fully connected Nigeria,” said Karl Toriola, chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria.
“Delivering the scale required for telecommunications services in Nigeria requires strong collaboration between the private sector, public sector, and long-term investors. This agreement demonstrates what we can achieve when we collaborate, and we are delighted to announce it today after months of groundwork.”The national roaming deal enables subscribers from 9Mobile to access voice and data services through MTN’s network in areas where the former lacks adequate coverage.
This marks the first such large-scale, cross-network roaming arrangement between two major operators in Nigeria, setting a precedent for future cooperative efforts in the telecom industry.
MTN Nigeria highlighted that the agreement contributes to more effective use of telecommunications resources, reduces infrastructure duplication, and accelerates the expansion of mobile broadband access across underserved regions.
It also supports both operators’ sustainability objectives by maximizing existing investments and reducing the environmental impact of deploying overlapping network facilities.
“This strategic collaboration is yet another first in the country by MTN Nigeria and marks a significant milestone for the sustainability of the telecommunications industry,” the company stated.
“By enabling national roaming, MTN Nigeria is contributing to a more effective use of telecommunications resources and accelerating efforts to expand connectivity across the country.”
The agreement is expected to benefit not just subscribers and operators but also regulators and investors who have consistently advocated for policies that promote shared infrastructure and efficient capital utilization in Nigeria’s digital economy.
Uto Ukpanah, company secretary, MTN Nigeria, affirmed the company’s ongoing dedication to initiatives that create shared value.
“MTN remains committed to fostering innovation and partnerships that create sustainable value for all stakeholders while promoting digital and financial inclusion nationwide,” she noted.
With the successful rollout of this agreement, the telecoms industry is expected to see improved service delivery and expanded access to quality mobile services, especially in rural and semi-urban communities. The collaboration sets a benchmark for future inter-operator partnerships and reinforces the importance of regulatory support in advancing national connectivity goals.
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