Telecom
CSO Scrutinises Akwa Ibom Government for Alleged Internet Signals Jamming
Akwa Ibom State has come under scrutiny by Paradigm Initiative over alleged flagrant jamming of internet signals during football matches.
According to PI, “On October 7, 2017, thousands of Nigerians and football lovers of all hues thronged the Uyo stadium in Akwa-Ibom state to watch the anticipated World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Zambia.
“For the thousands of Nigerians who did make it to the Stadium, their euphoria was unlimited as they watched their beloved Super Eagles become the first team in Africa to reach the world cup finals in Russia.
“However, this sweet experience was blighted by a dangerous action of the state. Fans who wanted to share the historical moments with friends and loved ones on social media discovered to their surprise that they could not access Internet services within the stadium.
“Phone calls also became virtually impossible. For people who had only accessed these services just a few meters from the stadium, this sudden situation suggested the presence of a telecommunications jammer within the stadium premises.
“We have received credible reports that for the past five years, state governments in the region have been jamming internet signals inside any stadium where the Super Eagles play. This has been the case especially when the big-name politicians are in attendance.
“Lolade Adewuyi, a journalist who writes for The Guardian and goal.com, reported that internet service jamming has been going on for five years since the time Super Eagles began playing international games in Calabar.
“When the Uyo Stadium became the main home of the Super Eagles two years ago, the service denial during football game also moved to Uyo, according to Adewuyi and other football fans who spoke to us.
“Arriving at the stadium about 30 minutes before the game was scheduled to start, I made an attempt to upload the video of fans who had been injured in a stampede a few minutes earlier on my social media channels. However, I was unable to connect to the internet. It was to be another frustrating game after all. It turned out to be a similar story. Since my first World Cup qualifying game coverage in Calabar in 2012, there has always been an issue with the internet signals”- Lolade Adewuyi
“Adewuyi lamented that the internet outage affected his work as a journalist who works primarily online. His and his colleagues’ ability to update content online was rendered useless.
“Covering Nigeria senior men’s national team matches has become a terrible headache. You can work with your internet-enabled mobile phones until a few minutes to the beginning of the game when the governor of the host state (Akwa Ibom) arrives into the arena. Once he is in, the data network signals become jammed and one is unable to make any meaningful contributions to social media discussions during that period,” Adewuyi added.
“While journalists have reportedly petitioned Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) on the jamming internet services and other telecommunications signals in Uyo stadium, the state government has apparently not bulged and continues to deny thousands of football fans internet services. This is undoubtedly a great abuse of the rights of the citizens who attend these events and who are forcefully disconnected from the world.
“What remains unclear is why the Akwa Ibom state government under Udom Gabriel Emmanuel is engaging in what is tantamount to flagrant abuse of citizens’ rights. We are aware that severing telecommunications services was a tactic used in the fight against Boko Haram in the northeast, in a bid to prevent the remote detonation of bombs.
“However, Uyo is a peaceful and calm city, and there can be no basis for this service disruption, which is a denial of the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens. Relevant security agencies and the state government must come to terms with the fact that an important developmental service like the Internet cannot just be turned off at will. World Cup Qualifiers where Nigerians have simply come out to enjoy the beautiful game of football, should never be a venue for freedom of expression denials such as internet disruption.
MTN Foundation hosted its annual Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) Conference on July 9, 2025, at the MTN Rooftop in Ikoyi, Lagos, bringing together stakeholders from government, healthcare, education, security, civil society, and the private sector to address the growing challenge of drug abuse among Nigerian youth.
L-R: Tobe Okigbo, Chef Corporate Services Officer, MTN Nigeria; Archieabia Ibinabo, Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, representative of Brig. Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa, Chairman/CEO, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA); Barrister Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Secretary to the Lagos State Government, (representative of His Excellency, Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu); RT. Honourable Princess Lasbat Mojisola Meranda, Deputy Speaker, Lagos State Assembly; Dr. Mosun Olusoga, Chairman, MTN Foundation; Odunayo Sanya, Executive Director, MTN Foundation, and Dr. Tolu Ajomale, Head of Special Projects and Mental Health, Lagos State Ministry of Health (representative of Prof. Akin Abayomi, Commissioner for Health, Lagos State) during the MTN Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) Lagos Conference held in commemoration of World Drug Day at the MTN Rooftop, Ikoyi, Lagos on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
Prominent attendees included Dr. Mosun Olusoga, Chairman of MTN Foundation; Barrister Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Secretary to the Lagos State Government; and Dr. Tolu Ajomale of the Lagos Ministry of Health, among others. Also present were representatives of NDLEA, UNODC, academia, psychologists, recovery advocates, and youth leaders.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Salu-Hundeyin reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment to safeguarding its youth and fostering a future free from substance abuse. Dr. Olusoga emphasized that drug addiction extends beyond health, touching families, communities, and national well-being, calling for proactive, united action.
MTN Nigeria’s Chief Corporate Services Officer, Tobe Okigbo, stressed the company’s long-standing dedication to youth development through initiatives like ASAP. NDLEA’s Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, Archieabia Ibinabo, representing Brigadier General Buba Marwa, commended MTN Foundation as a vital ally in drug prevention efforts.
The conference featured personal stories of recovery in a session titled “Journeys Through the Fire,” followed by a panel discussion on multi-sectoral solutions to substance abuse. It concluded with a dramatic performance, “Just One Breath,” by LASU’s WADA Club, illustrating the personal and societal toll of drug use.
Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, closed the event with a powerful call to action, urging media, communities, and policymakers to drive sustained investment in youth empowerment and early intervention.
The Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to building resilience among young Nigerians and catalyzing cross-sector partnerships for a drug-free future.
MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, was filled with music, pride and emotion on Thursday, July 4, as the Class of 2025 of the MTN Foundation–MUSON Diploma in Music graduated in a ceremony that celebrated discipline, artistry and the power of partnership in nurturing young Nigerian talents.
The event marked the culmination of two years of intensive training for the graduating scholars, supported by the MTN Foundation–MUSON Scholarship Programme. This partnership has provided full scholarships to hundreds of talented Nigerians, giving them access to world-class music education and helping them hone their skills as professional musicians.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Mosun Olusoga, Chairman of the MTN Foundation, praised the graduates for their resilience and dedication. “Despite personal and financial obstacles, you showed up with determination, supported one another and embodied the values of excellence and empathy. You are stepping into the world as teachers, performers and cultural advocates. Nigeria and the world need your music now more than ever,” she said.
Chairman of MUSON’s Board of Trustees, Louis Mbanefo, SAN, reflected on the legacy of MUSON and the impact of its partnership with MTN. “Through the generosity of MTN and the dedication of our faculty, MUSON has produced more than 500 graduates who are making significant contributions to Nigeria’s cultural scene and beyond. As you join this vibrant alumni community, remember your responsibility to give back, uphold excellence and enrich the nation’s musical heritage,” he said.
Director of the MUSON School of Music, Princess Banke Ademola, described the graduates as ambassadors of discipline and artistry. “Today, we are not just sending graduates into the world; we are releasing ambassadors of discipline, creativity, and cultural excellence. Each of you has proven that with hard work and resilience, music can transcend challenges and inspire change. Go out there and let your music heal, connect, and transform lives.”
In her speech, Chief Mrs. Joke Chukwuma, Yeye Oba Iye of Ekiti Kingdom, encouraged them to use their music to inspire change and heal communities. “Music is the heartbeat of our culture, and today’s graduates are its future custodians. You are not just musicians; you are storytellers and architects of emotion. Carry your craft with pride and remember that your sound has the power to give voice to the voiceless and light to the world.”
As the graduates received their diplomas to loud applause, the event highlighted the impact of public-private collaboration in advancing Nigeria’s creative industries. The MTN Foundation–MUSON partnership continues to inspire hope for the future of music in Nigeria, turning dreams into reality and passion into excellence.
Nvidia has become the first publicly traded company to hit a $4 trillion market valuation, surpassing tech giants Apple and Microsoft. Shares rose 2.5% in early trading on Wednesday, July 9, lifting the chipmaker’s market cap past the historic milestone.
Nvidia’s rapid rise reflects its dominant role in powering the global artificial intelligence boom. The company’s chips run the data centers behind AI models and cloud services for Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and more. Global spending on AI infrastructure is expected to top $200 billion by 2028, driving further demand.
Nvidia’s revenue for the quarter ending in April soared 69% year-over-year to $44.1 billion. Its stock has climbed nearly 20% this year, despite facing export restrictions and fresh competition from China’s DeepSeek, which briefly rattled markets. Nvidia shares dropped as much as 37% from January to April, before roaring back to gain almost 74% since early April.
Analysts say Nvidia’s success cements it as the backbone of the AI revolution. “There is one company in the world that is the foundation for the AI revolution, and that is Nvidia,” wrote Wedbush Securities’ Dan Ives. He predicts Microsoft, currently valued around $3.77 trillion, will also cross the $4 trillion threshold later this summer.
Nvidia rose to prominence through graphics cards loved by gamers, but now leads in AI hardware, from autonomous vehicles to next-gen chips like the Blackwell Ultra, which promises to support more advanced reasoning in AI models.
The company’s surge has also made CEO Jensen Huang one of the world’s richest people, with a net worth of roughly $140 billion. Huang has met with President Trump and joined other tech leaders on trips abroad, as Nvidia partners in major initiatives like Project Stargate, a $500 billion push to expand US AI infrastructure.
Despite challenges from new players and US-China trade tensions that cost it an estimated $2.5 billion last quarter, Nvidia’s outlook remains bright. On a May earnings call, Huang said AI would become essential for “every country” and “every industry,” from software and healthcare to manufacturing and transportation.
Some on Wall Street believe Nvidia’s rise is only beginning. Loop Capital analysts recently projected the company could reach a staggering $6 trillion valuation by 2028, calling it “essentially a monopoly for critical tech” in the AI space.
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