Telecom
Girls in ICT Day: TD Africa Partners Dell Nigeria, IBM to Empower 50 School Girls
It was a rain of laptops for 50 selected school girls on Thursday, May 27, 2021 as TD Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest technology, solutions and lifestyle distributor hosted the beneficiaries to the second edition of its Girls in ICT Day event.
The event, hosted at the Tech Experience Centre, located at the imposing Yudala Heights on Idowu Martins, Victoria Island, Lagos, will go down in history as arguably one of the most potentially life-changing empowerment sessions for the Nigerian girl child.
In addition to the donation of a laptop to each participating school girl, in partnership with the Nigerian team of foremost technology brand, Dell Technologies; 10 exceptional girls from the five participating schools were also selected for enrollment in a digital skill acquisition programme by multinational technology company, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM).The visibly elated girlsexpressed their gratitude to the organizers of the event, with a promise to utilize their new gifts judiciously for personal and professional improvement.
The event was organized under the auspices of This is Me, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of TD Africa.
Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), TD Africa, Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, urged the young girls to develop a life-long learning habit, with the aim of making themselves valuable in their immediate environment and to the society.
“Never stop learning. Learning should be part of your routine now and forever. Wherever you find yourself, you must leave a footprint. All through your life, you will come across a few yeses. Be encouraged by those yeses, and be grateful for them. On the other hand, you will also come across lots of noes. However, be challenged by them, with the aim to make yourself a better version of yourself. So, even the noes have their roles. This is because the more noes you tell me, the better I become,’’ Mrs. Ekeh said.
The TD Africa boss further told the girls to be ready to pay the price for a successful life by working hard. Equally important, she counselled them to strive for professional and financial independence, noting that there are no barriers or glass ceilings that can hold back a confident woman. Mrs. Ekeh disclosedthat life would always come with its own challenges, adding that when such challenges come, they should avoid adopting a defeatist approach to solving such problems.
Her advice came as the Country Manager, Apple, Teju Ajani, also encouraged the teenage girls to embrace the STEM disciplines, with a view towards pursuing a career in technology which remains a male-dominated sector.
“It (STEM education) gives you flexibility, it gives you the room to navigate. It empowers you to make decisions that can affect your life and allows you to take your career in your hands, whether as a professional working for others or as an entrepreneur working for yourself.”
On his part, Country Lead, Dell Technologies, Mr. Abimbola Owoeye, encouraged the girls to strive to become value creators, adding that the value they bring to the table will make room for them and break down any discriminatory walls aligned to gender inequality.
Earlier, Coordinating Managing Director (CMD), TD Africa, Mrs. Chioma Chimere, statedthat there were many challenges facing the girl child.
“Our challenges are a bit different from the ones that confront the male children. Ours are more intense and more serious,” Chimere said. “Do you know why that is happening? It is because the girl child is carrying destinies with her. What the girl child is supposed to do goes way beyond her. This is because you are not just fixing things out there in the world; you are also going to shape other people’s destinies.”
She stated that such realization made TD Africa to organize the session, with the aim of empowering young girls to face the future courageously.
“That is why we consider it pertinent to bring together these female children today. This is because of how important they are. The future of your homes, communities, country and the world in general lies in your hands. We have called you here to equip you, open your eyes to those roles, to help you identify them and equip you to face them. If you fail in taking up those challenges and harnessing the available opportunities from those challenges, you would have failed yourselves and your generation,” she said.
While addressing the girls, Ekinadese Osayande, a leading independent university admission counsellor, advised the girls to become more inquisitive about the pervasive influence of technology in contemporary society, even as she noted that the participants also have a role to play in ensuring that less informed parents/wards understand the relevance of empowering the girl child.
Head of the Tech Experience Centre, Chidalu Ekeh, went down memory lane to show the girls how she overcame defeatist advices to take a successful stand on issues that would have defined her negatively. She counselled the students not allow themselves to be consumed by the fear of failure.
“We must fail and find the strength to continue,” she said. “We must dare to dream.”
Also, a University Relations Analyst with IBM, Olufunmilola Olorundare, advised the girls to develop an open mindset. “We can do whatever we want to do, as far as we have an open mindset,” she said.
This is Me, a CSR initiative bankrolled by TD Africa, has consistently engaged vulnerable and under-represented segments of the society, including the girl child, the physically-challenged and children in orphanages, among others.
The rebranding of 9mobile to T2 is a key milestone within the company’s comprehensive four-phase recovery roadmap—Stabilisation, Modernisation, Transformation, and Growth—launched following the landmark 2023 acquisition of 9mobile by Lighthouse Telecoms, led by business leader and investor, Mr. Thomas Etuh.
Since the takeover, the company has made sweeping changes, including the constitution of a revitalized board, appointment of new executive leadership, and execution of a strategic infrastructure-sharing agreement with MTN Nigeria. This agreement, the first of its kind at scale in the country, has already led to the company significantly expanding its network coverage, capacity, and resilience nationwide.
Now entering the “Transformation” phase, the brand is embracing a new name, T2, and a new ambition: to lead in innovation, customer experience, and digital lifestyle enablement. The T2 identity reflects a forward-thinking, technology-driven, and customer-centric ethos designed to resonate with Nigeria’s increasingly digital and mobile-first population.
“This is not just a logo change, it’s a total evolution of who we are, why we exist, and how we deliver value,” said Obafemi Banigbe, Chief Executive Officer of 9mobile. “T2 represents our next chapter. It is a symbol of our renewed commitment to innovation, resilience, and a deepened focus on customer experience. We are building a brand that is ready to thrive in the digital economy.”
Thomas Etuh, Chairman, Emerging Markets Telecommunications Ltd, echoed similar sentiments, describing the occasion as one that is significant in many respects for the 9mobile brand, as it represents the start of a new phase of life, a fresh start, rebirth, change or transformation, growth, reawakening, and a new order.
“Today marks a new beginning for the 9mobile business. The march has been tedious. The journey has been exhausting. It was faith and love for country that prompted my foray into the acquisition of the 9mobile business. I knew it was a tough call,” Etuh said, and thanked stakeholders like the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and 9mobile customers for standing by the brand through all its trials and challenges, including multiple litigations.
“To our amazing customers, please accept my profound gratitude for believing in us. I know our challenges have impacted you in one way or the other. But there is a resilient spirit we share with you. We are rising together again. Together, with you, we are reclaiming all lost grounds,” Etuh said.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, commended T2 for its bold move and vision to invest in the Nigerian economy and counselled that the rebranding should go beyond a change of name.
“My message to T2 (formerly 9mobile) is simple – let this rebrand be more than a change of colours or new logo, but let it be a renewed commitment to innovation, to service excellence and to the millions of Nigerians whose lives and businesses depend on your network every single day. Our government will continue to work with ecosystem players like T2 who are bold enough to invest, agile enough to adapt and visionary enough to see that the future belongs to those who embrace change before it’s forced upon them,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Barr. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, affirmed the alignment between T2’s mission and the state’s digital goals.
“T2 has come at the right time. Its focus on digital innovation aligns seamlessly with the Lagos State Government’s vision for a robust digital economy that empowers citizens, businesses, and communities. We welcome partners like T2 who are committed to driving inclusive and transformative growth in our state,” she said.
The transition will be rolled out in deliberate phases, ensuring continuity and seamless service for existing customers while gradually introducing the market to the T2 narrative. At its core, T2 will focus on four key pillars: Speed, Smart Living, Digital Lifestyle, and Trust.
With customer expectations evolving rapidly and technology redefining the rules of engagement, the T2 brand aims to serve as a bridge between connectivity and culture, telecommunications and lifestyle, infrastructure and impact.
As the Nigerian telecoms sector moves into a new decade of transformation, T2 is poised to not just participate, but to lead.
Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has released fresh prophecies regarding Nigeria’s telecommunication companies, including MTN, Airtel, and the newly reformed T2, formerly known as 9mobile.
Primate Elijah Ayodele
In a statement signed by Osho Oluwatosin, media aide to Primate Ayodele made it known that MTN will have challenges and run into a shortage.
He stated that he sees resignations from top officials in the company while warning of a potential network crisis that will affect the company negatively.
“MTN: They will have challenges that will disorganize them and make them run into a shortage. They will want to carry out expansion, but some of their major cables will be damaged, and I see some of their officials resigning due to unexpected things that will be happening. MTN needs to be careful not to see situations of customers leaving the company. They will have serious network issues in September that people will be complaining about bitterly.”
For Airtel, Primate Ayodele warned the company to be careful of the board crisis, while revealing that they will face marketing issues at the grassroots level.
“Airtel: they must be careful so there won’t be any board crisis. They will want to step up in many ways, but there will be problems in the grassroots. The company’s marketing will have lots of issues in communicating to people at the grassroots level. Airtel will also have terrible network problems in November.”
For T2, Primate Ayodele stated that the company will start on a good ground, but they will not be able to achieve what was set out to be achieved.
He urged the company to look into some issues spiritually as he foresees a struggle to meet up with other telecommunication companies.
“T2: The company will start on a good footing, but there will be a lot of things they will want to do but will face problems. The crisis of the company isn’t yet over, it will be up and down, and the organization will struggle to surpass other telecommunication company. The new devices the company will introduce will still have problems, it’s an issue to be looked to spiritually. The company is ready to improve, but attaining improvement will create problems.”
Furthermore, the cleric stated that there will be more telecommunication companies in the country, stating that there will be a form of recapitalization and a new procedure that will disqualify some of the telcos.
“Generally, there will be more telecommunication companies that will come to challenge the existing ones. I am seeing the government introducing new codes and a form of recapitalization that will disqualify some companies. I am seeing a telecommunication procedure that will also disqualify some telcom companies.”
Telecom
MTN Nigeria’s Mega Billion Promo Turns Airtime into Fortune for Thousands Amid Economic Strain
MTN Nigeria is offering a refreshing dose of optimism through its Mega Billion Promo—a nationwide campaign designed to reward customer loyalty with real cash prizes.
Launched on June 23, the 90-day promo aims to create 195 millionaires and distribute over ₦1 billion in cash via MTN’s MoMo Payment Service Bank.
So far, more than 1,500 subscribers have won a combined ₦290 million, including three jackpot winners and 20 recipients of ₦5 million each.
“In the last couple of years, it’s been a very tough time for Nigerians,” said Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, MTN’s Chief Marketing Officer.
“This Mega Billion promo is one of the ways we’re showing appreciation and making life better for our customers.”
MTN subscribers aged 18 and above can participate by dialing *900#, using the MyMTN app, or texting ‘MEGA’ to 900.
Every ₦100 recharge earns one point toward daily and Saturday draws. Recharges can be made via bank apps, VTU, MoMo, or USSD channels.
Prizes range from ₦25,000 to ₦5 million on weekdays, with a ₦10 million top prize available during Saturday’s Mega Draw.
Customers can win multiple times, and all winnings are paid directly into the winner’s MoMo wallet, which can be activated by dialing *671#.
Independent partners manage the promo to ensure transparency and fairness. Daily draws are broadcast live on MTN’s Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube pages, and winners are contacted directly via the MTN Call Center on 300.
MTN describes the initiative as part of its ongoing effort to appreciate customers and strengthen relationships.
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