Telecom
Credible Journalism can Influence Credible Elections – Danbatta
As the campaigns and build-up to the 2023 general elections thicken, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has said that the media holds the ace in making a difference in promoting credible elections in Nigeria.
Danbatta told the gathering of the cream of Nigerian editors at the 18th All-Nigeria Editors Conference, organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) at the Concord Hotels in Owerri, Imo State, with the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma in attendance, where he reiterated the importance of the roles of the journalists, before, during and after the 2023 elections.
In Danbatta’s goodwill to the conference, delivered by the Director, Public Affairs of the Commission, Reuben Muoka, he expressed the confidence that the vibrant Nigerian media, credited with its sterling performance from the history of struggle for the country’s political independence, where Nigerian nationalists, who were good journalists made “brilliant and courageous outing”, will work in the interest of the nation.
Speaking to the theme of the conference, “2023: Political Landscape, Credible Elections and the Role of the Editors”, Danbatta declared that good journalism is critical to sustainable democratic culture as political stability is enhanced by conduct of successful elections.
He said he “believes the editors will leave the conference with resolutions setting clear, unambiguous and very robust parameters to guide the role of the media in the forthcoming elections in a fair, objective and balanced manner.”
“Beyond and above the traditional routine role of the media in information-sharing, education and entertainment, the media is a social agency constitutionally charged to watch those of us in public office from derailing from the pursuit of the social contract and the social good. No other agency of the civil society is so positioned to influence social progress,” he declared.
He also informed the gathering that the Commission is dedicated to the implementation of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020-2025), and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020-2030), among other regulatory instruments, with a view to enhancing connectivity and social cohesion in the land.
Hence, he said befitting infrastructure, including the upcoming 5G spectrum auction, are all aimed at improving availability and accessibility and affordability.
He said there is no doubt that the availability of telecommunications infrastructure will enhance credibility of elections.
Danbatta specifically expressed gratitude to the Nigeria media for trusting the NCC and supporting its efforts to fulfil its mandate right from the beginning of the transition from “state-dominated telecommunication operations to a deregulated, more liberalised market.”
The EVC recalled that NCC’s friendship and partnership with the media have been very mutually-fruitful, as the Commission has leveraged on the media for increased awareness by the public of NCC’s activities, programmes and achievements.
Danbatta also commended the journalists covering the telecom sector as well as other communication professionals for supporting the Commission all the way by giving adequate and prominent coverage to its successes in consumer protection, improvement in infrastructure, adoption of new technologies, most recently, the launch of the Fifth Generation (5G) networks, and reportage of challenges facing the telecom industry.
Osa Director, Lagos-based lawyer and veteran journalist, has asked a federal high court to dissolve the board of MTN Nigeria, accusing the telecom giant of industry capture, undue dominance and influence peddling.
Osa Director, Lagos-based lawyer and veteran journalist,
In suit No. FHC/L/CS/1413/24 filed at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, Osa, via an originating summons, is seeking the court to dissolve the board of MTN.
He is accusing the telecommunications company of industry capture, undue dominance and influence peddling with the way and manner it cleverly filled its board with men and women with regulatory agency experience and reach.
“The board of MTN being occupied by individuals who have a history of regulatory oversight, taxation authority and pensions will undermine the integrity of our various institutions and create room for influence peddling and regulatory capture, he averred in his affidavit.
According to the pro democracy activist and author of Suicide Journalism, he is compelled to file the suit as a corporate governance expert and for his commitment to ensuring fair play and equal opportunities for all the players in the telecommunications sector.
In the process filed at the court, Osa is seeking the court to dissolve the board of MTN because it deliberately populated it with persons that have industry regulatory experience in the telecommunications and auxiliary sector.
For example, he argued that Engineer Ernest Ndukwe, who is the current chairman of the MTN board, was the pioneer Executive Vice Chairman of the National Communication Commission (NCC) which was a licensor and chief regulator of MTN.
Also, Mrs Ifueko Omogui Okauro, another director on the board of MTN, was the pioneer Chief Executive of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) between 2004 and 2012.
During the said period, MTN was found guilty of engaging in tax evasion to the tune of $ 72.5 million.
Mrs Omobola Johnson, pioneer minister of Communication Technology, is a board member of MTN.
The ministry is responsible for performing oversight functions over MTN.
Similarly, Alhaji Mohammad K. Ahmad, pioneer Director General and Chief Executive of National Pension Commission (Pencom), completes the circle of persons with regulatory agency experience who are on the board of MTN.
Such a constituted board gives undue dominance and advantage to MTN. Indeed, it amounts to influence peddling and industry capture.
Therefore, the relief sought by the Plaintiff is a declaration that the appointments of the affected officers to the board of MTN contravenes universally acceptable corporate governance practices.
Therefore, the court should grant an order nullifying their appointments. A perpetual injunction restraining the affected persons, their servants, agents and or privies from either further appointing or accepting any such appointment.
The Plaintiff is also requesting the court to mandate the affected persons to refund benefits, monetary or otherwise, already received by them by their appointments.
A cost of Fifty Million Naira is demanded to be awarded against the defendants.
The matter came for hearing on Tuesday, 11th March 2025 and has elicited the interest and attention of many Nigerians interested in corporate governance.
The Plaintiff’s lead counsel is a pro democracy activist, Prince Ademola Adewale, while MTN is represented by Fabian Ajogwu, SAN. The matter is before Justice Dipeolu.
Hayatu Hadejia and Seltrix Limited have responded to the lawsuit filed against them by Abubakar Funtua, son of the late business mogul Isa Funtua, over the ownership of 9Mobile, telecom firm.
As per report by Premium Times, Funtua filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja over the ownership and control of Emerging Markets Telecommunications Limited, which operates under the brand name 9Mobile.
Among other defendants, he sued Theophilus Danjuma, former Chief of Army Staff, along with his company, LH Telecommunication Limited.
Others joined in the suit are Seltrix Limited (named as the 1st defendant), the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Hadejia, Teleology Nigeria Limited, and Mohammed Edewor, a director at Teleology Nigeria Limited.
The plaintiff asked the court to declare he is the beneficial owner of the 43 million ordinary shares held in trust for him by the 1st defendant, Seltrix Limited, in the capital of the 3rd defendant, Teleology Nigeria Limited.
Another prayer sought by the plaintiff is a declaration that the acquisition of the 43million ordinary shares purportedly transferred or surrendered to the 3rd defendant (Teleology Nigeria Limited) in breach of the 1st defendant (Seltrix Limited)’s duty as trustee of the plaintiff and in contravention of Clause 48 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the 1st defendant (Seltrix Limited) is null, void and of no effect.
“That the purported registration of the transfer by way of surrender/gift of 43,000,000 ordinary shares held by 1st defendant (Seltrix Limited) in the capital of the 3rd defendant (Teleology Nigeria Limited) is unlawful, null and void,” the plaintiff stated.
But in a counter-affidavit sworn to and filed on behalf of Seltrix Limited, Hadejia described the plaintiff’s application as a reckless abuse of the court process.
He urged the court to dismiss the application and award substantial costs against the plaintiff.
Challenging Funtua, he demanded concrete evidence of any trusteeship arrangement involving him or Seltrix Limited concerning the alleged N43 million ordinary shares in the capital of the third defendant, Teleology Nigeria Limited, or any matter related to the suit.
Hadejia stated that the plaintiff’s motion, dated 27 January but filed on 28 January, was a fabrication designed to mislead the court.
Hadejia also denied holding in trust the controversial N43 million ordinary shares of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services (EMTS)—the holder and operator of the 9Mobile telecommunications licence—on behalf of Mr Funtua.
Similarly, Teleology Nigeria Limited, Mr Edewor, Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited, LH Telecommunication Limited), and Mr Danjuma filed a joint notice of preliminary objection calling on the court to throw out the suit.
They sought an order dismissing the suit for lack of jurisdiction and another order declaring that the plaintiff’s action constituted an abuse of court process.
Credit: Premium Times
Zoho Corporation, a global technology company, today announced the launch of Projects Plus, a flexible, collaborative new platform providing data and intelligence-driven project management for mid-sized and large organisations.
Through native integration of four key Zoho applications—Projects, WorkDrive, Analytics, and Sprints—Projects Plus enables asynchronous collaboration, seamless file management, real-time business intelligence, and Agile or Waterfall workflows.
Zoho Projects has seen rapid growth, doubling its revenue in 2024, with 55% of new users migrating from Microsoft Projects and JIRA.
Projects Plus builds on this success by focussing on better data democratisation, AI-powered insights, hybrid project management, and collaborative work management.
As 18% of enterprise customers deployed both Zoho Projects and Zoho Analytics, Projects Plus directly addresses these needs by consolidating the two, and more, into a singular, efficient solution.
“The surge in digitalisation across the nation and the hybrid work culture have necessitated project management tools to be well ingrained in the overall software architecture of an organisation. With Projects Plus, which can be easily customised and integrated with other apps, we have brought together key tools like analytics, file management and collaboration, and the option to use blended project management methodologies, creating a value-packed offering not yet available in the market.
“Furthermore, Projects Plus synthesises the latest AI-driven tools, data-first analytics, and privacy-focused protections into software that anticipates the evolving needs of international enterprise organisations, expanding Zoho’s global reach,” said Kehinde Ogundare, Country Head, Zoho Nigeria.
Business Intelligence Leading to Project Democratisation
The shift toward Data-Driven Project Management (DDPM) is transforming how organisations make decisions. Instead of relying on intuition, businesses can now leverage real-time data and analytics to drive efficiency. Projects Plus captures insights across multiple dimensions—including time tracking, budgeting, task completion, and deliverability metrics—helping teams make smarter, data-backed decisions.
Predictive analysis plays a crucial role in this approach, using historical data to forecast risks, estimate project timelines, and anticipate resource needs. By analysing past trends, businesses can proactively plan and mitigate risks before they impact project success. Progress tracking has also evolved beyond traditional static tools like Gantt charts. With real-time dashboards, project managers now have dynamic, up-to-date insights that provide a comprehensive view of project status, allowing them to identify and address bottlenecks as they arise.
Additionally, quality control analytics ensure that every stage of a project meets predefined standards. By continuously monitoring data related to project deliverables, businesses can uphold high-quality outcomes, reducing errors and inefficiencies throughout the project lifecycle. With these enhanced analytical capabilities, Projects Plus enables organisations to shift from reactive project management to a more strategic, data-driven approach that improves execution and results.
Projects Plus integrates Zia, Zoho’s AI engine, to automate complex data analysis and provide predictive insights, helping project managers focus on strategic leadership. By analysing project performance data, businesses can identify inefficiencies and optimise processes, streamlining workflows to improve productivity. AI-powered insights also enable smarter resource allocation by identifying where resources are being underutilised or overburdened. This ensures that the right people are assigned to the right tasks, maximising efficiency across teams.
Forecasting and planning are also significantly enhanced through AI-driven analysis. With more accurate predictions about project timelines, costs, and potential risks, organisations can make proactive adjustments to avoid delays and cost overruns. This results in better project outcomes, improved resource management, and higher overall efficiency.
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Projects Plus is available immediately and priced at NGN7200 per user each month, when billed annually—27% lower than combining Projects, Sprints, Workdrive and Analytics when purchased separately. For regional pricing, go to https://www.zoho.com/projectsplus/
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