Telecom
How Did MTN MoMo Hackathon Winners Create Financial Magic for Financial Inclusion
MoMo Hackathon 2023 was a stage set for innovation, collaboration, and financial brilliance. Developers, innovators, and entrepreneurs across Nigeria converged to showcase their skills, creativity, and determination to create innovative applications using MTN’s Mobile Money (MoMo) APIs. After intense competition, the spotlight shone on the winners, and they answered the $10,000 question: How did they create financial magic?
- Winner: Rova Pay
Oluwapelumi Yusuf emerged as the winner of the MTN MoMo Hackathon 2023, clinching the prestigious USD 5,000 cash prize. His invention, Rova Pay, was a testament to his innovative prowess and ability to leverage MoMo’s APIs uniquely.
Rova Pay introduces an innovative method allowing users to conduct transactions effortlessly, anytime and anywhere, using automated USSD. This technology eliminates the necessity for internet access and manual code dialling, offering enhanced convenience to customers.
Yusuf expressed that Rova Pay extends financial services to marginalized communities facing internet accessibility challenges. He aimed to ensure that individuals without internet connectivity could benefit from digital financial services.
Yusuf demonstrated how, with MoMo’s advanced APIs (V2.1 – Notification, KYC, Auth. and V2.2 – Channel as a service), one could create a mobile application that redefined financial transactions and user experiences. His solution was not just a piece of technology; it was a vision of a more accessible and efficient financial future for Nigerians and Africans.
- The Second Runner UP: MoMo Cash
While Oluwapelumi Yusuf took home the grand prize, the second runners-up, Marvis Igbokwe and Favour Ajie Divine, also made their mark, receiving USD 3,000 for inventing MoMo Cash.
Inspired by the need to create a system that awards both consumers and producers, MoMo cash is a solution that rewards consumers who perform MoMo tasks with MoMo coins that they can leverage to pay bills or run other transactions.
Their projects showed that financial magic is not exclusive to the winner’s circle. These developers demonstrated an exceptional knack for harnessing MoMo’s APIs to address real-world fin-tech challenges.
- The Third Runner UP: Clinique Plus Pay
Isaac Odinaka Franklin’s solution, Clinique Plus Pay, won third place with a cash prize of USD 2,000.
Clinique Plus Pay is a platform designed specifically for healthcare institutions. The solution enables patients to save toward healthcare, offering them the option to accumulate funds in their MoMo wallet that they can utilize when in need of medical care.
Isaac’s motivation for Clinique Plus Pay originated during his service year at a military hospital. He observed the difficulties healthcare workers encountered in accessing soldiers’ medical records. This discovery sparked his idea to develop a digital platform for storing medical histories. For Isaac, integrating the MoMo payment system was key to improving the solution, enabling patients to pay for healthcare services.
Isaac’s solution integrated MoMo APIs and illustrated the ingenuity and resourcefulness that financial technology developers can offer. Clinique Plus Pay was a standout solution at the hackathon as it addressed an important, but often overlooked sector -healthcare.
What’s Next for MoMo PSB?
The MTN MoMo Hackathon 2023 was more than just a competition; it was a celebration of innovation and a glimpse into the future of financial technology. The event underscored MoMo’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting developers in their quest to create financial solutions that make a positive impact.
MoMo PSB is fostering financial inclusion and innovation in Nigeria. By providing a platform for developers to utilize MoMo’s capabilities, the brand aims to create opportunities for growth and drive financial services to the next level.
Telecom
Fines: Meta Threatens to Shut Down Facebook, Instagram in Nigeria

Meta may shut down its Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria in protest against the substantial fines imposed by multiple government agencies.
The tech giant has been ordered to pay nearly $300 million in fines in Africa’s most populous nation, following regulatory demands which Meta described as “unrealistic.”
In July 2024, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), imposed a $220 million fine on Meta for allegedly discriminatory and exploitative practices against Nigerian consumers.
The commission stated that Meta had failed to engage a Data Protection Compliance Organisation and had not submitted a Nigeria Data Protection Regulation audit report for two consecutive years.
Similarly, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), demanded $37.5 million over unapproved advertising, while the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), announced a $32.8 million fine for an alleged data privacy breach.
Meta challenged the decisions at the Federal High Court in Abuja but was unsuccessful, as the court upheld the fines in a ruling delivered last week.
The court directed the company to comply with payment by the end of June, but Meta has indicated it may not do so, according to the BBC.
“The applicant may be forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria in order to mitigate the risk of enforcement measures,” the company stated in court documents.
Responding to the NDPC’s assertion that Meta’s data processing could expose Nigerian users to health and financial risks, the company said the agency had failed to “properly interpret the laws guiding data privacy.”
Telecom
Premier League Fever Builds as MTN Nigeria Stages Dual-City Watch Parties This Weekend

As the Premier League season enters its final stretch, MTN Nigeria is set to stage simultaneous watch parties in Abuja and Uyo on Sunday, May 4, giving football fans a shared space to experience the highs and lows of matchday.
The events, scheduled for Farm City in Wuse and Pyramid Lounge & Grill in Uyo, are expected to attract large turnouts as MTN continues to deepen its connection with football audiences nationwide.
The line-up for the day includes four Premier League fixtures, culminating in a marquee showdown between Chelsea and Liverpool. Earlier games such as Brentford vs Manchester United, Brighton vs Newcastle, and West Ham vs Tottenham will round out a packed viewing schedule. With top four ambitions, title races, and European dreams on the line, the fixtures promise high-stakes drama and entertainment.
MTN’s EPL watch parties have grown into a recurring highlight for fans who want more than just a screen, they want atmosphere. This weekend’s events will feature expansive screen setups, branded fan zones, and side attractions including live trivia and merchandise giveaways.
For MTN, the activations represent an opportunity to tap into the communal spirit of football, a sport that unites Nigerians across regions and loyalties. The brand’s involvement in football has steadily evolved from sponsorship to full-scale experiences, allowing it to build affinity with youth audiences and sports lovers alike.
In recent years, MTN has emerged as a key driver of fan engagement through its partnership with SuperSport and broader investment in Nigeria’s football ecosystem. These dual-city events reflect that strategy in motion, bringing the Premier League closer to the streets and ensuring fans are not just spectators, but participants in the global game.
With anticipation running high and bragging rights on the line, Sunday’s watch parties are shaping up to be a celebration of sport, identity, and the power of community on and off the pitch.
Telecom
Telecoms Services Resume in Kogi State as Telcos, Govt Resolve Dispute

Telecommunications services disrupted in Kogi State have resumed following a resolution of the dispute between MTN Nigeria and the state government, the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has said.
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of ALTON, told TVC News that the issues that led to the shutdown of telecom masts in the state, primarily affecting MTN, had been addressed, paving the way for service restoration.
TVC News earlier reported that businessmen and women were counting their losses as they suffered the impact of a shut down of telecommunication service in Kogi State
Over the past two weeks, telecoms connectivity had been erratic, with competing brands experiencing glitches, particularly in the Lokoja metropolis.
The State government suspended the operations of some telecom services citing unpaid taxes and fibre-related dues.
The shutdown stemmed from a compliance dispute between MTN and the Kogi State Utility Infrastructure Management and Compliance Agency, which accused the telecom giant of violating operational rules and under-declaring the extent of its optic fibre network coverage in the state.
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