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Telecom

Group Laments Senate’s delay on CNI Bill passage

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The Digital Economy Media Support Volunteers (DEMS Volunteers), a non-governmental group of media practitioners that create awareness on digital economy, have bemoaned the non-passage of the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) Bill by the National Assembly.

CNI is one of the key demands of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and telecommunication network operators to ensure a halt to rampant vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure.

The Group wondered why the Senate has not given CNI Bill accelerated passage into law as means to deter criminal elements from continued damages on telecommunication infrastructure.

Prince Stan Okenwa, director general of DEMS Volunteers, in a press statement issued by the group on Sunday, said that the country’s inability to enact laws to designate telecommunications infrastructure as critical national infrastructure is one of the challenges faced by investors in the market.

“Just recently, the issue of drop calls has been on the front burner, but have we asked ourselves why this may persist!

According to the statement signed by the Director Communications, Mr. Peter Oluka, the DG said, “Airtel Nigeria, just last week, reported that it recorded about 1022 fibre optic cable cuts in eight months.

“How do you expect them to meet up with the obligation of 100% uptime with regards service delivery?

“We understand there are lots of road construction works going on across the country and the telcos need to begin to work in partnership with the Ministry of works to show marks where these cables are laid.

“We also understand that some times, the telcos are confused as to which government agency is responsible for one fee or the other. This has to stop. Let the fees and rates be harmonised.

“If you also consider this report which notes that in 2015, the telecom industry recorded over 10,000 generating sets losses to miscreants who broke into Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) to steal diesel, batteries and others, then, what are we saying!

“The country needs to move faster to avert impending doom because telecom has become an economic enabler contributing close to 12% to our GDP”, he said.

DEMS Volunteers believes that whereas the CNI bill has been with the National Assembly for over one decade, this industry has continued to squeeze water out of rock by attracting over $70billion in FDI and more investments are coming.

“MTN has just said they will invest N600billion in three years,” Okenwa continued. “The Senate should save the soul of this industry. The rate of vandalism, especially fibre cuts has increased by 80 per cent since 2016.

“Thus, the passage of this bill alongside the enforcement of Section 4 of the Cybercrime Act, which make reference to CNI, will protect the industry and ensure the growth of the sector”, he added.

DEMS Volunteers further advised the Federal Government to consider issuing Executive Order to this effect should the NASS continue to foot drag on the CNI Bill passage.

“To show example, South Africa has gone ahead to enact a new law protecting the critical infrastructure thereby replacing the outdated apartheid-era National Key-points Act of 1980. Time is now for Nigeria to move and lead by example”, the statement concludes.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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US Bans Use of WhatsApp on Official Devices over Security Concerns

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United States (US) House of Representatives has banned WhatsApp from all official devices as a result of data privacy and security concerns.

US Bans Use of WhatsApp on Official Devices over Security Concerns

Harry Coker, acting national cyber security (ONCD) Director confirmed this via a statement issued on Monday, June 23 stating that WhatsApp’s high risk classification is attributed to the messaging app’s ambiguous data protection policies, inadequate encryption for stored data, and other potential security vulnerabilities.

He stated that staff have since been advised to utilize more secure communication platforms, with recommended alternatives including Microsoft Teams, Apple’s iMessage and FaceTime, Signal, and Amazon’s Wickr.

However, Nick Clegg, president of Global Affairs for Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, has strongly opposed the ban.

He said, “We disagree with this decision in the strongest possible terms, whatsApp provides a higher level of security than the other approved apps.”

This ban on WhatsApp is not an isolated incident, it follows previous restrictions on other applications, such as TikTok, which was removed from government devices in 2022.

The decision also comes just months after WhatsApp itself confirmed that Israeli spyware firm Paragon Solutions had targeted some of its users, including journalists and civil society figures.


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MTN Nigeria Receives UN Women Award for Empowering Women Nationwide

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MTN Foundation has received accolades from UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The recognition, presented during a profile courtesy visit by UN Women representatives to MTN Nigeria’s Head Office in Ikoyi, Lagos, acknowledged the Organisation’s profound contributions to advancing women’s empowerment across the nation.

The UN Women delegation, led by Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria, commended MTN and its Foundation for their unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive society where women thrive.

During the presentation, Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria, expressed profound admiration for MTN’s efforts. “I want to congratulate MTN for all that they have been doing,” Eyong stated, her voice resonating with appreciation. “And I want to congratulate MTN Foundation specifically, because they are leaving things better than they met them especially with their Mother and Child Initiatives.” Her remarks highlighted MTN’s focused impact, suggesting a significant improvement in the landscape of women’s empowerment due to the company’s interventions.

Odunayo Sanya, Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, received the award and further elaborated on the company’s broader commitment to societal upliftment through women’s empowerment. ” Our Y’ellopreneur program targeted at Female entrepreneurs is about creating access for our Female Entrepreneurs – access to skills, capital and markets. Our commitment is to contribute to the success of women – led businesses in Nigeria.

This focus on economic empowerment through skills development directly benefits women seeking to improve their livelihoods. This recognition comes as MTN Nigeria continues to champion various programmes aimed at uplifting women, from promoting gender diversity within its corporate structure to supporting women-led businesses and initiatives.

The company’s alignment with global best practices, including its recent signing on to the United Nations Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs), further solidifies its position as a leader in corporate social responsibility and gender equality advocacy.

The award serves as a testament to MTN Nigeria’s strategic and impactful investments in creating a more equitable future for Nigerian women.


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15 African Startups Using AI Selected for Google Accelerator Cohort 9

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Google today announced the selection of 15 promising tech startups for its Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa Class 9 program. These innovative startups, hailing from Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa, are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to address significant challenges across diverse sectors, including fintech, agritech, healthtech, and professional services.

In an era where startups are at the forefront of solving critical challenges across Africa, these innovators often face significant hurdles to scale their operations, particularly in securing essential support, mentorship, and funding. Programs like the Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa play a crucial role in providing these opportunities, enabling tech founders and innovators to amplify their impact. By bringing together Google’s extensive resources, including cutting-edge AI technologies and a global network of experts, the program aims to equip these startups to not only thrive but also lead in addressing both local and global challenges in this AI era.

The selection follows a highly competitive application process that began in April 2025 , drawing nearly 1,500 applications from across the continent. This cohort underscores Google’s deep commitment to fostering Africa’s vibrant tech ecosystem and supporting startups in their growth journey.

“African startups are at the forefront of solving critical challenges across the continent, and their work with AI is truly transformative,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa at Google. “This program reflects our belief that AI can be transformative when shaped by those who understand the context deeply. We are incredibly excited to support these founders who are building for impact and helping to shape an inclusive AI ecosystem across Africa.”

Over the next three months, the selected startups will participate in a hybrid accelerator program (June 23rd to August 22nd, 2025). Participants will receive dedicated technical mentorship from experienced Google engineers and industry experts , up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits , and strategic support in AI implementation, product leadership, and business growth. They will also gain access to a global network of investors, partners, and collaborators, amplifying their reach and impact.

Since its inception in 2018, the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program has supported 153 startups from 17 African countries. Collectively, these alumni have raised over $300 million in funding and created more than 3,500 jobs. Google has directly contributed $5 million through a combination of equity-free funding and product credits to support these founders.

The Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa Class 9 cohort includes:

  • AFRIKABAL (Rwanda): A blockchain and AI-powered platform helping farmers, buyers, and logistics firms trade crops securely and transparently.

  • Apexloads (Kenya): A logistics SaaS platform helping African freight brokers, forwarders, and transporters move cargo faster with verified partners.

  • E-doc Online (Nigeria): Simplifies compliance and credit checks by analyzing real-time banking data, enabling faster onboarding and smarter lending decisions.

  • GoNomad (Nigeria): Enables businesses to start and run global entities, and solopreneurs to professionally invoice and get paid globally like a local.

  • Midddleman (Nigeria): An intelligent sourcing and payment platform helping African businesses import and pay for goods from China faster, safer, and cheaper.

  • Myltura (Nigeria): An AI-powered digital health platform enabling remote care, test access, and seamless health data management in Africa.

  • Pastel (Nigeria): Offers Enterprise AI solutions, inc. AI based fraud detection and anti-money laundering solutions to financial institutions in Africa.

  • Rapid Human AI (South Africa): An end-to-end AI design-thinking platform that turns ideas into code in days, cutting development time by 80%.

  • Regulon (Ghana): An AI-powered compliance and onboarding platform designed to simplify regulatory processes for businesses across Africa and the EMEA region.

  • Scandium (Nigeria): An AI Quality Assurance suite that helps teams ship bug-free software faster with end-to-end test automation and test ops tooling.

  • Shamba Records (Kenya): An AI-powered platform that empowers 50,000+ African farmers with smart credit, market access, and climate-resilient, data-driven agriculture.

  • Smartel Agri Tech (Rwanda): Helps smallholder farmers in the Global South get ahead of crop pests and diseases early using AI-powered, solar-driven devices and SMS alerts.

  • TOLBI (Senegal): Leverages AI and satellite imagery to empower sustainable agriculture across Africa, providing precise crop yield forecasts.

  • YeneHealth (Ethiopia): An AI-driven digital health web, and mobile app streamlining access to affordable, reliable, quality medications & health care services.

  • Zerone Analytiqs (Ghana): A transformative two-pronged solution to the data scarcity in Africa, We are revolutionizing how data is sourced, analyzed, and utilized for decisions.

For further information and updates, visit the Google Africa Blog or follow @GoogleAfrica on social media.


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