General News
Funso Aina named ‘Innovator of the Year’ in Europe, Middle East and Africa

Funso Aina, MTN Nigeria’s Senior Manager, External Relations, and one of Africa’s most decorated media and public relations professionals, has been announced ‘Innovator of the Year’ in the brands category at the highly respected SABRE IN2 awards.

Funso Aina
Awarded since 2013, the SABRE IN2 awards recognise excellent work that highlights the expanding scope of the PR profession, from content creation to the evaluation process using data and analytics to inform, enhance and evaluate campaign successes across the globe.
Aina’s recognition was announced by Provoke Media on February 15, 2023.
The award was presented at the PRovoke EMEA Summit in Gesellschaftshaus Palmengarten Frankfurt, Germany on Thursday March 23, 2023.
Arun Sudhaman, CEO & Editor-in-chief, PRovoke Media, said, “The media and communications industry is in the age of convergence, with every discipline demonstrating decent impressions to be most valuable to organisations and agencies.
“The innovation SABRE awards recognises campaigns that are groundbreaking- having factual data analysis and implemented with the use of technology for evaluation by industry leaders.
“The award category spotlights professionals in agencies and brands that empower and enable reputation excellence within their organisations.”
This innovation award is a testament to Funso’s trailblazing efforts in media relations, through MTN Nigeria’s Media Innovation Programme (MIP): a six-month certificate programme for Nigerian media practitioners to increase the knowledge and skill base of the participants, help them understand the changing media landscape and how to effectively use technology to create impactful media content in the country and Africa at large.
During the study, 20 media practitioners from various media sectors engaged in capacity-building sessions to stir up their innovations and improve ways of practice to create sustainability in the industry. This was apparent in their study trip to the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, where the participants engaged in interactive sessions on creativity and innovation, explored opportunities in the media business and brainstormed on solutions to some of the challenges to successfully running media businesses in Africa.
Funso, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), and a corporate communication professional with over two decades of experience emerged top across Europe, the Middle East and the African region (EMEA). He was named ‘Most Influential Public relations professional in Nigeria’ by the industry regulator, NIPR in 2022.
Aina says:, “I am grateful for the recognition from SABRE and its dedication to acknowledging exceptional content produced by modern PR professionals.
“This award is inspiring for all of us at MTN; it emboldens our commitment to improving the media landscape and implementing our ‘Good Together’ initiative. I am convinced we still have feats to achieve in the industry, and with strategic thinking, we will cover even more grounds.”
Funso Aina has close to three decades of work experience in journalism, cultural diplomacy and telecommunications. He has various competencies and hands-on experience in public relations, corporate communications, media relations, public affairs and reputation and crisis management. He is a Fellow of the prestigious US State Department’s International Visitors Programme (IVP) and the British Commonwealth Press Union (CPU).
Prior to joining MTN Nigeria in 2009, he was Communications Manager of the British Council, Chief Correspondent at Punch newspapers, Assistant Editor with The Nation newspapers and Senior Reporter with Independent Communications Network Limited (ICNL), publishers of The News, Tempo magazines and PM newspapers.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History (University of Ilorin, 1992) and a Master’s degree in International Relations (Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 1998).
General News
Kenya Airways Pays NCAA Sanction over Passenger Rights Violation

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that Kenya Airways has paid the sanction fee imposed on the airline over the infraction on the rights of its Nigerian passenger, Gloria Omisore case and other passengers dating back to February 2025.
According to NCAA’s director of Public affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, the airline made the payment on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, after months of engagements between the NCAA, Kenya Airways, and the Kenyan High Commission in Nigeria.
According to Achimugu, the sanctions were a case-specific penalty and should not be seen as punitive, but rather a measure to ensure airlines strengthen compliance with passenger-handling protocols and safety standards.
NCAA noted, however, that while the airline has complied with payment, the time frame for resolving the underlying issues has already elapsed, stressing that fines alone do not bring such cases to a close.
The case traces back to a viral video in early February 2025, shared by the SA to the Aviation Minister, Tunde Moshood, showing a confrontation at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. In the footage, Kenya Airways staff denied Ms Gloria Omisore boarding on her connecting flight to Lagos over a visa-related dispute, while the airline later described her as unruly.
The NCAA, however, faulted the handling of the incident, leading to the sanctions now settled.
General News
LASTMA Deploys Drones to Manage Traffic in Lagos

Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has deployed state-of-the-art Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to enhance traffic management, strengthen security surveillance and reinforce public safety across Lagos metropolis.
Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, general manager of the authority, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.
Bakare-Oki, said the transition from traditional analog method to advanced digital intelligence harmonised with the visionary mandate of the state government.
He added that “this accentuates the administration’s steadfast dedication to leveraging innovation in pursuit of sustainable urban mobility, heightened safety and operational excellence.
“Through aerial reconnaissance and high-definition monitoring capabilities, the UAVs will empower LASTMA to be proactive in traffic management and control across the state.
“The deployment of device signifies a watershed moment in Lagos’ traffic management ecosystem, seamlessly elevating the authority from conventional reactive enforcement to predictive, intelligence-driven operations.”
Bakare-Oki said the drones would provide real-time aerial oversight, enabling swifter interventions, improved safety outcomes, augmented emergency response coordination, bolstered security frameworks, and the cultivation of a more disciplined motoring culture.
He reassured the public that the deployment would be conducted under stringent adherence to privacy safeguards, ethical standards and regulatory compliance, thereby reinforcing public trust in the system’s transparency and integrity.
“The authority reaffirms its unwavering resolve to continuously innovate in traffic management, reduce travel times, curtail road traffic mishaps, and preserve lives and property throughout Lagos State,” he said.
“This milestone stands as yet another resounding testament to the THEMES+ Agenda of Gov. Sanwo-Olu, wherein technology and innovation serve as indispensable drivers of a safer, smarter, and more habitable Lagos.”
The LASTMA boss maintained that this modern technological intervention would complement LASTMA’s prompt responsiveness to emergencies, accidents and other traffic-related contingencies, in addition to existing LASTMA Toll-Free Hotline — 080000527862.
General News
Why Elon Musk Halted Sales of Starlink in Lagos, Abuja

Starlink, the satellite internet provider operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has stopped taking new orders for residential kits in parts of Lagos and in Abuja after network capacity was reached, the company’s online ordering page shows.
Neighborhoods listed as sold out include Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lagos Island and Surulere.
Prospective customers in those areas can join a wait list by paying a deposit and will be notified when service space opens.
At Chevyville Estate in Lekki, one resident trying to subscribe was met with a message that read: “Starlink service is currently at capacity in your area. However, you can place a deposit now to reserve your spot on the waitlist and receive a notification as soon as service becomes available again.”
That experience mirrors what consumers in other busy districts are seeing.
A Starlink engineer who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal limits said the company temporarily closes new sales in zones where adding customers would degrade service for existing users.
“It happens when the area cannot take a new customer due to its designed capacity at the time,” the engineer said.
“This also helps preserve a steady connection for people already online.” Remedies can include adding more ground infrastructure, securing regulatory clearances, or expanding satellite coverage.
Since entering Nigeria, Starlink’s monthly fee has climbed: the service began at about N38,000 (roughly $25), rose to about N45,000 ($30) and — by 2025 — was charging roughly N56,000 ($37).
Starlink has cited naira depreciation, higher operating expenses and costs tied to meeting rules set by the Nigerian Communications Commission for the increases.
Those higher prices, and the service interruptions, appear to have affected subscription numbers. After a near eight-month pause that began in November 2024 and was tied to limited bandwidth and regulatory issues, orders resumed in late June 2025.
Still, data from the NCC show active Starlink users in Nigeria fell from 65,564 in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 59,509 in the first quarter of 2025, a decline of more than 6,000 users, or about 9 percent.
Analysts point to the price rises, service holds and economic pressure as key reasons for the drop; some customers have switched to cheaper alternatives or stopped service.
As Elon Musk maintains his position as the world’s richest individual, with a net worth of $429 billion (according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index), his commitment to global digital inclusion through Starlink remains a central focus.
Starlink’s activity in Nigeria is part of a wider push across Africa.
The company has recently moved to enter markets including Lesotho and Somalia and secured permission to operate in the Democratic Republic of Congo after earlier restrictions,
SpaceX is also working with operators such as Airtel Africa to reach rural areas where wired internet is scarce.
For many users in Nigeria, the appeal of Starlink remains clear: a reliable option where terrestrial networks falter.
But until the company expands capacity or adjusts pricing, consumers in dense urban pockets may have to wait for access or turn to other providers.
Credit excluding Headline: Pm News
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