Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a draft regulatory framework aimed at addressing fraud, spam, and other challenges in the Application-to-Person messaging sector.

The telecom regulator made this announcement in a statement.

The proposed framework, which was introduced during a virtual Stakeholders’ Forum, is said to be a key step towards enhancing the sector’s integrity and ensuring a fair, transparent environment for all parties involved.

The draft framework, presented by Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, NCC, who was represented by Chizua Whyte, NCC’s acting head of legal and regulatory services, seeks to regulate the A2P messaging space.

The A2P messaging, used for notifications such as bank alerts, promotional campaigns, and government updates, has become a vital communication tool in Nigeria.

However, the sector faces significant challenges, including consumer protection concerns, fraud, and data privacy issues, as well as an unequal distribution of value within the ecosystem.

“The international A2P messaging space in Nigeria faces gaps that have led to issues such as fraud, spam, and data privacy concerns. These challenges threaten the sustainable growth of this communication tool,” the NCC said.

The proposed framework aims to address these challenges by protecting consumers, promoting fair competition, and holding service providers accountable.

“This forum marks a pivotal step towards addressing these challenges. We are here to engage with all stakeholders—operators, aggregators, businesses, service providers, and consumers—to refine the framework and ensure it meets the needs of the entire ecosystem.”

The NCC stressed the importance of inclusivity and collaboration in creating an effective regulatory environment.

Airtel Africa, a provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, has announced the commencement of a second share buyback programme that will return up to $100m to shareholders.

The share buyback reflects the Board’s confidence in the Company’s continued growth potential, the strength of its balance sheet, and the consistent cash accretion at the holding company level.

Furthermore, the buyback remains in line with the Company’s existing capital allocation policy.

According to the company, the programme will be executed in accordance with applicable securities laws and regulations.

The share buy-back programme is expected to be phased over two tranches, with the first tranche commencing today and anticipated to end on or before 24 April 2025.

The first tranche will amount to a maximum of $50m.

The Company has entered into an agreement with Barclays Capital Securities Limited (Barclays) to conduct the first tranche of the buy-back and carry out on-market purchases of its ordinary shares with the Company subsequently purchasing its ordinary shares from Barclays.

Under this agreement, Barclays will act as riskless principal and will make decisions independently of the Company.

The sole purpose of the buy-back programme is to reduce the capital of the Company.

It noted that as such, all shares purchased under the buy-back programme will be cancelled.

In a statement signed by Simon O’Hara, group company secretary, the company noted that the share repurchase process will adhere to pre-set parameters agreed upon with Barclays Capital Securities Limited (Barclays), the executing partner for the first tranche of the buyback programme.

This partnership ensures that purchases are conducted transparently and in compliance with all regulatory requirements.

The buyback will be executed under the authority granted by shareholders during the Annual General Meeting held on July 3, 2024, which permits the repurchase of up to 374,141,187 ordinary shares.

Following the completion of a prior buyback programme, the remaining authority allows for the acquisition of up to 328,842,995 shares.

Additionally, Airtel Africa confirmed its commitment to adhering to the Financial Conduct Authority’s UK Listing Rules 9.6 and the provisions of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014, as incorporated into UK domestic law.

The company also clarified that share purchases may occur during closed periods, consistent with these regulations and the agreed parameters.

In today’s fast-paced business world, writing a comprehensive business plan can feel overwhelming for entrepreneurs. However, with the advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), this process is becoming more efficient and accessible. This guide shows how to use AI tools to create a business plan for your idea.

Think of AI as your digital assistant, speeding up the first draft so you have more time to make it better. AI gives you a structure, but your own ideas and understanding of your business makes the plan unique.

Embrace AI in Business Planning – Before you begin, you should know what goes into a business plan: a summary of your business, details about your company and offerings, and information about your market and competitors. You may also consider creating plans for your business sales, management, operations, and finances.

Gather all your business details first. This makes it easier for AI to help you turn them into a plan.

Feeding Information to AI – Start by providing a general overview of your business, including its name, target market, products or services, and financial projections. GoDaddy is sharing a prompt template below that can be used to provide information:

“I’m developing a business plan for my company, [company name], a [industry] startup offering [product/service]. Please accept the information below about my company as a basis for developing a strong business plan.”

Creating Sections with AI Help – Breaking your business plan into sections and using specific prompts for each can streamline the process. AI can generate initial drafts for each part, which you can then review and edit. Here are some prompts to help guide you:

1. Summary and Company Description:

• “As a successful entrepreneur and seasoned strategist, draft an enticing executive summary and company description for [company name] in the [industry] sector.”

2. Products and Services:

•  “As an innovative product developer, provide a comprehensive description of [product/service] offered by my company.”

3. Market Analysis:

•  “As a market analyst, outline a detailed market analysis for [company name].”

4. Competitive Analysis:

•  “Compile a concise competitive analysis for [company name], highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of key competitors.”

5. Marketing and Sales Plan:

•  “Create a thorough sales and marketing plan for [company name], including a detailed growth strategy.”

6. Value Proposition:

•  “Assume the perspective of a potential customer and identify the unique selling proposition of [company name].”

7. Ownership and Management Plan:

•  “Outline the optimal structure, ownership, and management roles for [company name].”

8. Operating Plan:

•  “Craft an efficient operating plan for [company name], detailing infrastructure and risk management.”

9. Financial Plan:

•  “Develop a comprehensive financial overview and funding request for [company name], including income statements and sales forecasts.”

10. Extra Information:

•  This is where you can add any extra details like research or visuals.

Finalizing Your Plan – Once you have drafts for each part, it’s time to make it all fit together nicely. Your business plan should clearly show what your business is about and its path to success.

Getting Feedback from AI – After refining your draft, ask AI to check for any missing parts, mistakes or inconsistencies. This is a good time for AI to help create a summary, mission statement, vision, values, and value proposition to ensure alignment with your business goals.

Make a One-Page Plan – Lastly, create a simple one-page version of your business plan. It should include all the important points and be easy to understand. This step ensures clarity and focus, making it easier to communicate your business strategy to stakeholders. Remember, while AI helps a lot, it does not replace the ingenuity and oversight of human input to help ensure your unique business ideas are being reflected in your plan.

AI can be a helpful tool for creating and growing your business’ digital presence.  With GoDaddy Airo, an AI powered experience, you can embrace AI to streamline your business planning and operations, allowing you more time to focus on turning your entrepreneurial dreams into reality.