Telecom
ALAT by Wema Encourages Strategic Financial Decisions in Relationships
Fostering a healthy work-life balance is one of the many concerns of young professionals across the world, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic persists.
L-R: Akah Nnani, Actor; Claire Nnani, Artist; Hannah Jonathan (Soul Spice), Sex Therapist and Funmilayo Falola, Head of Marketing Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank will speak at the third edition of the ALAT Talk Series.
On Thursday, October 28, 2021, a diverse group of Nigerian professionals – Gbemi O, media personality; Claire and Akah Nnani, YouTube content creators and creatives; Funmilayo Falola, head, Marketing Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank; Hannah Jonathan, Clinical Sexuality Coach – gathered to discuss balancing a healthy relationship and a hectic workload, while ensuring financial stability.
This discussion was held during the third edition of the ALAT Talk Series, a platform for the exchange of ideas and insights about life, relationships, technology, and finance. The virtual series themed ‘Relationship, Love and Work: How To Juggle It All’ was held via teleconferencing application, Zoom.
The latest edition of the series was aimed at providing young Nigerians with the skills and knowledge required to combine a hectic work lifestyle with a healthy sex/love life. Media personality and co-host of the OffAir Show, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, moderated the 90-minute session. Comments and questions poured in from the eager audience who watched on the Zoom app and via ALAT’s Facebook page.
Akah and Claire Nnani’s session was brutally honest as they shared their experiences as a couple, their transition into parenthood, and how they thrived as business partners while managing their demanding careers. Akah emphasised the need for trust, “trust is important in all our dealings. We trust each other in setting boundaries and understanding each other’s perspectives while managing our business together.” Claire buttressed Akah’s point with her take on the need for couples to reach an understanding, “It is hard not to see each other as competition, especially when you are working in the same space, but understanding your strengths is key.”
During the event, Funmilayo Falola, head, Marketing Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank, reiterated the objective of the ALAT Talk Series and the importance of addressing key financial decisions from the onset: “At ALAT we are committed to improving financial literacy among young Nigerians by providing them with the tools and services to make the right financial decisions in any situation even marriages and relationships.
This is why we advise the need to address the seemingly difficult financial decisions from the onset. Investment plans, yearly and monthly budgets, individual and joint financial goals, allowances and childcare plans, are some of the important conversations to have in any relationship,” she added.
Speaking on the sexual status of many relationships in Nigeria, Sex Expert, Hannah Jonathan spoke about boundaries and influence, “Most couples do not set boundaries early in their relationship and are easily influenced by work, friends and family, which leads to stress. This stress causes frustration that can cause further issues in the future.”
Over the years, ALAT has developed several youth-focused initiatives to support Nigerians across the country in building sustainable relationships and a healthy lifestyle – and this third edition of the ALAT Talk Series is one of such initiatives.
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.
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.
MTN Uganda is seeking input from stakeholders on a plan to structurally separate its mobile money service, MoMo, from its core telecoms business.
According to the company, the proposed change will be discussed at the upcoming extraordinary general meeting on July 2.
If approved, the telco’s fintech business will be run by a new company controlled by MTN Group Fintech Holdings B.V. and a trust benefiting minority shareholders following a merger.
Additionally, the restructuring also aligns with MTN Group’s ambition 2025 strategy which aims to unlock value, attract new investors, and strengthen regulatory compliance by creating standalone fintech entities in Uganda, Ghana, and Nigeria.
The company’s fintech division has over 13 million customers, with an 18.4% revenue increase in the first quarter of 2025, driven by 19.0% growth in mobile money services, 19.8% growth in transaction volumes, and a 31.4% increase in transaction value.
Reports say the decision is part of the telco’s compliance with the National Payment Systems Act 2020, which mandates mobile money businesses to operate as standalone entities, and to align with MTN Group’s regional fintech strategy.
MTN Uganda, which is led by CEO Sylvia Mulinge, highlighted that the implementation of the proposed transaction will be subjected to a number of conditions and regulatory procedures.
“The implementation of the proposed transaction shall be subject to a number of conditions, including the company and MTN MoMo receiving all required regulatory approvals and no-objections and complying with any regulatory conditions,” said MTN Uganda in notice.
Netflix has announced plans to invest more than €1 billion in Spanish film and television productions over the next four years, reinforcing its commitment to Spain as a key creative hub in Europe.
The announcement was made by co-chief executive Ted Sarandos at an event held at Netflix’s production studios near Madrid, celebrating the company’s 10-year presence in the country.
Sarandos emphasized that the investment would contribute significantly to Spain’s economy, create jobs, and enable the streaming platform to produce more local content. He was joined by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in unveiling the initiative.
Netflix first established its international production studios in Madrid in 2019, following the success of the Spanish-language hit series Money Heist.
Since then, its 22,000-square-meter facility has become one of Netflix’s major production centers within the European Union.
The company currently supports over 20,000 jobs in Spain, highlighting the nation’s growing influence in global entertainment.
The investment reflects Netflix’s ongoing strategy to expand its presence in European markets through original content and local talent.
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