Karl Toriola, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria and an alumnus of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, returned to his alma mater to receive an honorary doctorate during the institution’s 48th Convocation Ceremony on Saturday, December 14, 2024.

Toriola, a graduate of Electronic and Electrical Engineering from OAU’s Faculty of Technology, was recognised for his transformative leadership in Africa’s telecommunications industry and his dedication to societal progress.

The three-day convocation ceremony, presided over by OAU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simeon Bamire, saw the graduation of 7,368 students and the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees on five distinguished individuals.

Alongside Karl Toriola, the honorees included Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe, a renowned academia and entrepreneur; Daere Afonya-Akobo, a leader in the oil and gas industry; and Dr. Akinade Akanmu Ogunbiyi, Group Chairman of Mutual Benefits Plc.

The Vice-Chancellor praised the honorees for their exceptional contributions to humanity, citing their efforts to uplift the less privileged and advance societal progress through their talent, financial resources, and material support. He noted that their achievements exemplify the tenets of excellence and service that OAU instils.

Karl’s recognition reflects his remarkable journey as a business leader. Under his leadership, MTN Nigeria has solidified its position as a telecommunications powerhouse, boasting the largest subscriber base of over 78 million, fostering innovation, expanding connectivity, and driving socio-economic growth.

His leadership has also steered MTN’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives, which have significantly impacted education, health, and youth empowerment across Nigeria with over NGN30 billion in investment in Nigerian communities.

Expressing gratitude for the honour, Toriola said, “Returning to OAU, where my journey in engineering began, to receive this recognition is deeply humbling. This award is not just a personal achievement, it is a testament to the collective efforts of family, friends and the entire MTN team.”

Karl Toriola joined MTN in 2006 and has since demonstrated exemplary leadership through various senior operational roles across the Group. These include serving as CEO of MTN Cameroon and Chief Technical Officer of MTN Nigeria.

Prior to his appointment as CEO of MTN Nigeria, Karl served as Vice President for the West and Central Africa Region, overseeing operations in some of the Group’s most dynamic markets. Beyond MTN, Karl’s career highlights include his tenure as Chief Operations Officer at Airtel Nigeria and a range of roles with Ericsson in Switzerland.

A distinguished professional, Karl is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and an active member of both the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) and the Institute of Directors (IoD).

The honorary doctorate conferred on him by Obafemi Awolowo University is a recognition of his enduring legacy as a transformational leader, whose visionary leadership continues to inspire the next generation of professionals and entrepreneurs.

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has underscored the critical role of data in driving a sustainable digital economy. At the just concluded 2024 Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge, the agency emphasised the need for safe and responsible data utilisation.

NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, who was represented by the Director of Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions Department, Mr Oladejo Olawumi, highlighted the importance of data sovereignty in ensuring Nigeria’s digital future.

By prioritising data security and privacy, the agency aims to foster a thriving digital ecosystem that benefits both individuals and businesses.

The Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge, organised by NITDA’s Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), showcased the talent and innovation of Nigerian tech entrepreneurs. The event further reinforced the agency’s commitment to nurturing a vibrant digital community and empowering the next generation of tech leaders.

While stating that the event aligns with the agency’s pillars of its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2.0, Inuwa mentioned that the event underscores NITDA’s vision to position Nigeria as a leader in the global digital economy, creating opportunities for innovators to thrive in an ever-changing technological landscape.

“The issue of having something home-grown is very important because when it comes to data, you would realize that Data is the currency of the digital economy. It is what is driving us now and everything is all about data,” he added.

Speaking of the relevance of the event which speaks to pillars; Robust Technological Research Ecosystem, Foster Digital Literacy and Cultivate Talents, Nurture an Innovative and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, and Promote Inclusive Access to Digital Infrastructure and Services of the SRAP document, he urged the participants to take advantage of the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA) in promoting their solutions.

“The Nigeria Startup Act enables you to get proper funding to develop what you want to do, and it allows you to meet with angel investors to see how you can be encouraged and bring what you are ideating to the limelight,” he noted.

While stating the agency’s commitment to ensuring that Indigenous digital innovation thrives, Inuwa disclosed that “Innovation Nests” will be created by the agency in 3 states with plans to expand to 6 more by the end of year and stated that the nests are designed to inspire creativity, featuring facilities for work, leisure, and networking with investors.

“These centres will be world-class, offering spaces to relax, collaborate, and attract global investment,” Inuwa explained.

“Whether you win today or not, this platform is a step towards achieving your dreams. Nigeria has the talent, and NITDA is here to ensure that talent is nurtured and celebrated,” he concluded.

Earlier in her opening remark, the National Coordinator of the ONDI, Ms Victoria Fabunmi stated that the event was designed to spotlight groundbreaking ideas and foster collaboration in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.

While emphasising the agency’s commitment to advancing digital innovations through strategic initiatives, she averred that the innovation challenge aligns with the agency’s SRAP and fulfilling the Ministry’s blueprint pillars of Knowledge, Innovation, and Policy.

“Participants have an opportunity to showcase their ingenious ideas, as they have spent months looking through infrastructure across the country and helping us to identify areas for opportunity as well as areas for strengthening our innovation ecosystem,” she stated.

The U.N. technology agency has created a new body to boost protection for submarine cables, aiming to help shore them up against damage and accelerate repairs after a series of high-profile failures.

Sub-sea cables carry over 99% of international data, meaning people all over the world rely on them for emails and text messages as well as video streaming services while governments need them for internal communications, according to Reuters.

Ruptures can be caused by ageing infrastructure, weather, and accidents as well as acts of suspected sabotage such as the severing of two beneath the Baltic Sea in November.

“This body will identify key issues to ensure that submarine cables are built, deployed and maintained with a greater resiliency,” Tomas Lamanauskas, deputy secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) told reporters ahead of the first meeting of the new group.

“It’s definitely not just a technical issue, but an issue that can affect our economies and our societies. And however we see that this critical infrastructure is vulnerable to disruptions,” he said.

Lamanauskas said the ITU sometimes received reports of alleged sabotage but said it was not currently within its mandate to investigate such issues or assign blame.

However, he said that hoped the new body would help address disruptions, whatever the cause, by restoring services more quickly such as through expediting permits.

In 2023, around 200 cable failures were reported, according to ITU data. Overall, about 80% of cable disruptions are thought to be caused by natural hazards or human accidents, such as being pierced by a boat anchor, Lamanauskas added.

Often, data can be rerouted to other cables but in more isolated places such as the Pacific island of Tonga, damage to a submarine cable from a 2022 tsunami cut it off for a month.

The International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience is composed of 40 experts from around the world from the public and private sectors including representatives from submarine cable operators, telecommunications companies and government agencies.

A follow-up summit is planned in Nigeria in February.