Telecom
Danbatta, Others Extol Benefits of Data in Development of Digital Economy
Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Office (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that real value can only be driven from data when it is gathered completely and accurately, connected to other relevant data, and done in a timely manner.
This is a cross section of the award for the corporate organisations
He stated this while delivering a keynote address at the 2021 edition of the Nigeria ICT Impact CEO Forum held on Friday, at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.
The event themed: “Data the New Oil of the Digital Economy” had ICT policymakers and policy enablers in attendance.
The EVC noted that data when properly refined could quickly become a decision-making tool – information – that allows companies to react to market forces and be proactive and intentional in their decision-making.
He further expressed delight in the significant contributions of telecommunications sector in the development of the Nigerian economy.
According to him, “It is gratifying that in the last few years, the telecommunications sector has consistently driven the digital economy agenda of the government, as it provided the necessary impetus for the support of the Nigerian economy in the digital space.
“It is pertinent to add that the information and communication sector recorded a growth of 6.31% in Q1 2021, which was largely driven by the growth in the telecommunications sub-sector (+7.69%).
“This growth trend has rekindled the hope that economic diversification can be realised in Nigeria.
“Also one of the most dynamic developments related to the digital economy has been the rise of social network platforms which have set the stage for unprecedented social 2 interactions, dialogue, exchange and collaboration.
“These platforms have opened up multiple avenues for entrepreneurship, business connectivity and engineered several activities that support ease of doing business in Nigeria”.
Danbatta further stated that the Commission is currently working on a regulatory instrument to manage data collection and utilisation in the Nigerian communications sector.
The process, according to him, is going through the Commission’s collaborative rule making approach and will provide all stakeholders with ample opportunities to participate.
Engr Ikechukwu Nnamani, CEO – Medallion Communications Limited and President of Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), speaking on the Topic titled: “Building Blocks to a Data Based Digital Economy” said that digital economy is the network of economic activities, commercial transactions and professional interactions that are enabled by information and communications technologies.
He noted that the benefits of digital economy span across, Job creation, Rise in E-commerce, Expansion in business opportunities, Transparency, Improvement in public services, Digital delivery of goods and services and others.
He equally said that Nigeria is still far from generating the volume of data that will make data the new oil for Nigeria, noting that there is still need for more local content data generation in Nigeria for its Data to move from people and business based to machine based if we are to generate adequate data to make data Nigeria’s new oil.
According to him, “Nigeria is missing in key cloud services platform location.
“Hyperscale datacenters must be located within Nigeria to make the key cloud service platform to be located within the country.
“Edge datacenters are needed for effective storage and distribution of content across the country to ensure efficient service delivery.”
Earlier, Tayo Adewusi, editor-in-Chief of ICT Watch magazine, the organizers of the event, said that Data in the 21st Century is like Oil in the 18th Century: an immensely, untapped valuable asset.
He noted that Data is the key to smooth and efficient running of everyday life, including in both public and private sectors.
“Like oil, for those who see Data’s fundamental value and learn to extract and use it there will be huge rewards.
“We are in a digital economy where data is more valuable than ever. It’s the key to the smooth functionality of everything from the government to local companies. Without it, progress would halt”.
Oluwarotimi Arakunrin Akeredolu, SAN, Governor of Ondo State, speaking at the event via virtual platform, emphasized the importance of Data to all stakeholders in Nigeria’s economy, noting that it’s the lifeblood of any digital economy.
He said, “The importance of data cannot be overemphasised in the economy of nations because data is the lifeblood of digital economy.
“We are in digital economy where data is more valuable than ever.
“Hence, it is not surprising that data has of late been referred to as ‘the new oil’. Data is an essential resource that powers the present digital economy”.
Mr Kashifu Inuwa, the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) speaking on the topic: Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) and the Future of Data Governace, said the world has gradually evolved into a digital platform in which everything we do appears to be linked to technology in some way.
He noted that the digitalization phenomenon has now elevated digital platforms to become drivers of the economy rather than enablers.
The DG added that digital economy is highly dependent on the availability of data and the requisite skills to process such data to extract maximum economic and social value.
Abiodun Omoniyi, CEO, VDT Communications Limited, who spoke on the theme: ‘Why Data will be the New Oil in the Digital Economy’, said that data is now world’s most valuable resource.
He stated that it will not be right to say that data will be the new oil, but that it is already the new oil.
On the contributions of Telecom industry in the Nigerian economy, Omoniyi said, “Telecom is already the new oil especially in Nigeria with the highly dwindling oil fortunes.
“The fact that telecoms globally and in Nigeria are largely driven by the private sector gives it tremendous room for growth.
“However, governments around the world and including Nigeria need to create growth-oriented policies and provide enabling environments for the full potentials of data to be harnessed.
“Data has enormous potentials to displace oil in leading the global economic growth now and the foreseeable future”.
Airtel Nigeria, telecom service provider, has announced that its AI-powered Spam Alert Service issued over 9.6 million spam alerts between March 13 and May 20, 2025.
As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting customers from unwanted and potentially fraudulent communications, Airtel designed the AI Spam Alert service to analyze traffic patterns and detect anomalies.
In the period since launch the AI pinpointed a total of 9,667,008 SMS as potential spam messages in the two months after its launch.
Of these, the system identified 528,080 on-net (Airtel-to-Airtel) and 9,138,928 off-net (from other networks) numbers as suspected spam messages, demonstrating the scale of the threat and Airtel’s advanced processing capability.
Airtel Nigeria is a subsidiary of Airtel Africa.
Commenting on this development, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO, Airtel Nigeria, restated Airtel`s commitment to protecting its customers.
“This milestone demonstrates the strength of our AI-driven infrastructure in combating the growing menace of spam and scam calls. At Airtel Nigeria, we are focused on connecting Nigerians and ensuring their safety and confidence while using our network.
“We understand that trust is the cornerstone of digital communication. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in intelligent systems that not only detect potential threats but also learn and evolve with data. As threats become more sophisticated, so will our solutions. As a company, we remain focused on leading the industry in innovation and customer satisfaction, ensuring that every Nigerian can enjoy a safer and smarter digital experience,” Mr. Balsingh said.
The Spam Alert Service is part of Airtel Nigeria’s broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into its core offerings to deliver smarter and safer experiences for its customers across the country.
Recall that the Spam Alert Service was launched on March 13, 2025. A groundbreaking and free solution from Airtel, it notifies users in real-time of suspected spam SMS messages by analyzing over 250 parameters.
The Airtel AI Spam Alert Service is available to all Airtel subscribers on smartphones and feature phones.
Vitel Wireless Limited, pioneer mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in Nigeria has made another history by announcing the successful completion of interconnectivity with all major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria.
Kenneth Nwabueze, Chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless
Recall that Vitel Wireless, became the first Mobile Virtual Network Operator to receive a dedicated number series (0712) from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
This breakthrough enables Vitel Wireless subscribers to make and receive calls with users on MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom (Glo), and 9mobile Nigeria.
It also marks the first time an MVNO in the country has successfully interconnected with all the major MNOs, setting a new precedent for Nigeria’s telecom sector.
Following the NCC’s licensing of 46 MVNOs, Vitel Wireless continues to lead the way in establishing a dynamic MVNO sector in Nigeria—Africa’s largest market and most populous nation.
The company has already achieved several historic firsts: the first MVNO issued a numbering plan and national and international routing codes, the first to launch a location awareness network in Africa, and the first to unveil a strategic nationwide rollout plan.
“We are gathering momentum for our big launch,” said Kenneth Emeka Nwabueze, chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless.
“We are proud to be showing what’s possible for MVNOs, while also creating a path for others to follow. By leveraging our years of experience in Nigeria’s telecom industry, we are opening up new possibilities where there used to be none.”
Interconnectivity was achieved through a combination of direct fiber connections with some MNOs and indirect routing via third-party providers.
This milestone was the result of a collaborative effort involving engineers from Vitel Wireless, Wireless Technology Labs (WTL), and Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria (ICN), working closely with engineers from MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile.
“We wish to thank the regulatory agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission, for their timely interventions and guidance, which were instrumental in achieving this interconnectivity and bringing the formal launch of the Vitel Wireless nationwide network one step closer to reality,” said Nwabueze.
The company entered a nationwide pilot phase in May 2025, with plans for a full rollout in July 2025, aiming to deliver next-generation mobile services to millions across Nigeria.
Layer3 Limited, One of Nigeria’s foremost ICT solutions providers, has once again solidified its place as a trailblazer in Africa’s technology landscape, emerging as the Enterprise Solutions Provider of the Year and Leadership Award in Cloud Services at the prestigious African Beacon of ICT Leadership and Awards held on May 24, 2025, at the Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos.
This year’s event brought together leading tech innovators, policymakers, and thought leaders to recognize organizations making extraordinary contributions to Africa’s digital transformation.
Among the many luminaries in attendance, Layer3 stood out for its 19+ years of consistent innovation, technical excellence, and client-centered service delivery.
Speaking at the event, the organizers praised Layer3’s pioneering work in delivering robust enterprise solutions across sectors, as well as its bold leadership in advancing cloud infrastructure and services across Nigeria and beyond.
“These awards are more than recognitions, they are a reminder of the fulfilment to our mission to deliver peace of mind to our customers,” said David Ita, the Head of Strategy and Business Development of Layer3.
“They speak to the impact we’ve made and the promise we hold for the future of the cloud and enterprise technology business in Africa. We dedicate this honor to our clients, partners, and the hardworking Layer3 team who continue to redefine excellence every day.”
Since its founding, Layer3 has championed a future-forward approach to ICT services offering cutting-edge solutions in enterprise networking, cybersecurity, broadband, cloud computing, managed services, and IT advisory. The company’s Layer3Cloud platform and managed service offerings continue to power the digital ambitions of Nigeria’s leading businesses.
These accolades underscore Layer3’s unwavering commitment to driving transformation and supporting digital economies through smart, secure, and scalable technology.
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