Telecom
Imoke Commends Airtel’s Role in Educational Development
Senator Liyel Imoke, Cross River State Governor has commended Airtel Nigeria, leading telecommunications operator for playing a crucial role in the development of primary education across the country.
Governor Imoke who spoke during the commissioning ceremony of one of Airtel’s adopted schools in Cross River State, Presbyterian Primary School 2, Ediba in Abi Local Government Area, showered encomiums on the Telco for partnering with the state in improving the standard of education.
The Governor, who was represented by Professor Offiong E Offiong, his Commissioner for Education, specifically, thanked Airtel for the transformation of the school complex and donations to the pupils and teachers of the primary school, describing the company as a quality organization that ensures the best quality in anything it does.
His words, “The Adopt-a-School programme we all know is one laudable venture designed to impact positively on the academic lives of our children. This collaborative effort by Airtel Nigeria therefore is indeed a much cherished one that will go a long way to assist the State Government realize its vision for the Education Sector.
“We remain very grateful to Airtel and I want to urge the entire community of Ediba to ensure that adequate security is provided for the school for maximum utilization,” he said.”
Also speaking at the event, Mrs Maria Riman, head teacher, Presbyterian Primary School 2, expressed appreciation to the management and staff of Airtel Nigeria, saying the Telco Operator has restored joy, pride and dignity to the school and the entire Ediba Community.
“Today, we are joyous that the work which started in early August 2012 has been completed and is being celebrated. In addition to the renovation and transformation of the school premises, Airtel has also provided benches, tables and chairs. “It is, therefore, not surprising that today is one of the happiest days for our school. We pray that the Good Lord should continue to bless the Management and Staff of Airtel for this kind gesture,” she said.
In his remarks, Segun Ogunsanya, Airtel’s chief executive officer and Managing Director, who was represented by the company’s Regional Operations Director, South Region, Godfrey Efeurhobo, said the telecoms operator is committed to its strategic partnerships with governments and organizations to uplift the standard of primary education in the country. “We are delighted to partner with the government and people of Cross River State in their quest to chart a new course for the development of education.
“Without a doubt, quality education offers children the best opportunity in life to realise their dreams and become the leaders of tomorrow. A great environment is also critical to the development of a sound mind. It is, therefore, in recognition of the importance of education and as part our Corporate Social Responsibility initiative that we have committed to the adoption of public primary schools across Nigeria,” he said.
Airtel’s commissioning of Presbyterian Primary School 2 is coming barely two months after a similar project was commissioned in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State with Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, wife of the state Governor unveiling the commissioning plaque with support from state Government officials, education authorities and the traditional institutions.
The Presbyterian Primary School 2 was adopted last year and reconstructed to wear a modern look while pupils and teachers of the school were provided a conducive learning environment equipped with modern facilities and teaching aids.
Airtel also provided branded school bags and furniture for the pupils and members of staff. The event was attended by top local chiefs including the Ovia Usa of Ediba, Ovia G.B Egbe; Ovia Ubi William of Ediba West and representative of Abi Local Council Chairman, Comrade Ibi Eko Edu. Airtel staff at the event included Zonal Business Manager, South East, Onyekwucha Ikezu; Regional Marketing Manager, South Region, Airtel Nigeria, Dipo Jolaosho, CSR Manager, Airtel Nigeria, Chinda Manjor and Media Relations Manager, Erhumu Bayagbon.
The adopted school is part of Airtel’s umbrella CSR program which focuses on the education of underprivileged children in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of achieving universal primary education. It also aims at uplifting the standard of primary education across Nigeria.
It would be recalled that the telecoms operator, upon commencement of operations in Nigeria, flagged off the Adopt-A-School programme with the multi-million naira ultra-modern blocks of classrooms, offices and lavatory facilities at Oremeji Primary School, Ajegunle in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos.
Airtel Nigeria has restated its commitment to transparency, customer safety, and regulatory collaboration following recent regulatory enforcement by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The NCC had served Airtel Nigeria a notice of sanction over some alleged SIM infractions in Kano State and consequently slammed a fine of N104 million on the telecommunications firm.
NCC had in a letter, addressed to Airtel Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, dated May 26, 2025, signed by Chizua Whyte, head, Legal and Regulatory Services, and Mohammed Dari, acting head, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, on behalf of Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, NCC, titled: ‘Notice of Sanction: Non-Compliance with SIM Registration Directive in Kano,’ where the infractions were spelt out.
According to NCC, Airtel infractions include unauthorised SIM registrations using 198 unapproved devices, resulting in 8,275 registrations outside the 281 verified Airtel shops; premature activation of 63 MSISDNs prior to proper SIM registration, contrary to the provisions of the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 2022; failure to conduct effective eyeballing, leading to 407 fraudulent SIM registrations with multiple NINs, contrary to the provision of the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 2022 and failure to provide satisfactory explanation for SIM registrations conducted between 12.00 a.m and 6.00 a.m.
On the matter, the letter revealed that there were some letter exchanges and subsequent meetings on the infractions between the telecom regulator and Airtel, starting from January 12, 2025, March 19, 2025, March 24, 2025, and March 27, 2025, respectively.
Apparently, after investigations and responses from Airtel, the NCC was not satisfied and this led to the fine of N104 million, which was to be paid within seven days from the date the letter was issued.
Specifically, NCC fined Airtel N5 million, N12 million, N81.4 million and N5 million for the infractions respectively.
Reacting, Airtel, expressed appreciation to the NCC for uncovering the infractions, describing the development as a critical opportunity to strengthen internal processes and further align with national security and regulatory expectations
“We thank the NCC for its vigilance and continued support in protecting the integrity of the telecoms ecosystem. Airtel takes these findings seriously and is already implementing corrective measures,” a spokesperson for the company said.
Only recently, Airtel Nigeria’s CEO recently announced that the company is doubling its investment in the country, focusing on network expansion, fiber-to-the-street rollout, 4G/5G deployment, customer care upgrades, and digital infrastructure security.
These investments reinforce Airtel’s long-term vision of building a resilient and forward-looking telecom network that meets the evolving needs of Nigerians.
“Our systems are constantly evolving to stay ahead of scammers and malicious actors,” the spokesperson added. “This is not just about compliance; it’s about our responsibility to the millions of Nigerians who rely on Airtel daily.”
Airtel Nigeria says it will continue to work closely with the NCC and other arms of government to ensure high standards of service and safety for all telecom users nationwide.
Kenya is celebrating its regulatory ecosystem being ranked as the most progressive in Africa. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has ranked the East African country first in its most recent ICT Regulatory Tracker.
ITU’s ICT Regulatory Tracker is an evidence-gathering tool for decision-makers and regulators. It demonstrates the effectiveness of regulatory systems in the age of technology.
The ITU evaluates the design of the national regulatory authority, the scope of the regulatory mandate, the obtaining regulatory environment, and the robustness of the competition framework in member countries.
Kenya received 93 points, up from 92 in 2023, and now leads the continent in best practices for ICT regulations.
Nigeria and South Africa finished second and third, with 92 and 88 points respectively. Malawi, Egypt, Rwanda, Morocco, Uganda, Burkina Faso, and Senegal complete the top 10 list.
Globally, Kenya was ranked 20th out of 194 countries covered.Italy led the rankings, with 100 points.
The regulator, Communications Authority (CA) of Kenya, said the achievement underscored Kenya’s commitment to creating a robust, technology-neutral regulatory environment that supports innovation, affordability and access.
Steve Isaboke, permanent secretary for broadcasting and telecommunications, visited CA Centre in Nairobi following the announcement on Thursday.
“The ranking is a clear testament of the excellent work that CA has done in spearheading Kenya’s digital transformation and driving digital access for all,” he said.
“After 25 years, CA’s regulatory regime has attained maturity, and gained global recognition. This ranking shows that the CA staff and leadership are executing their work diligently.”
MTN Nigeria Communications PLC has announced a significant increase in female representation within its leadership, with women now making up 41.4% of its workforce, a notable rise from 38.7% in 2023.
This figure reportedly doubles the industry average, positioning MTN Nigeria as a frontrunner in gender diversity within Nigeria’s ICT sector.
The company’s recently released 2024 Annual Report highlights its sustained commitment to workplace inclusion and gender equality, aligning with its “Ambition 2025” strategy. Female representation within the executive management team has reached approximately 46.7%.
MTN Nigeria attributes this progress to dedicated initiatives aimed at empowering women professionally. These include the “Women in Tech” programme, which provides targeted upskilling in high-demand fields such as Cloud Computing, Software Engineering, AI/ML, Data Science, and Cyber Security.
The “MTN Y’ello Mums Internship Programme” also supports young mothers in their transition back into the corporate world after career breaks.
Odunayo Sanya, executive director of the MTN Foundation, was recognised as the CSI Personality of the Year at the Nigeria Tech Innovation & Telecoms Awards (NTITA), further underscoring the company’s impactful social initiatives.
Additionally, Uto Ukpanah, the company secretary, received the inaugural Global Corporate Secretary of the Year Award from the Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA).
Speaking at a recent conference, Odunayo Sanya, emphasised the importance of balancing profitability and sustainability equation, saying, “Businesses today need to be purpose-driven. While the soul of business is profitability, it is not profitability alone that should matter to stakeholders.”
Uto Ukpanah, added, “Showcasing our corporate values and ethos to the world opens the door for greater collaboration with other organisations, as we believe there’s a lot to learn when we all come together. Governance continues to evolve. The challenges today are not the same as they were 10 years ago. Greater accountability is expected, and companies can only continue to do better.”
The company’s broader efforts in diversity and inclusion have been acknowledged with multiple accolades, including the Corporate Responsibility Award. MTN Nigeria also received the “Employer of the Year” award at the 4th Edition of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) Employers’ Excellence Awards.
Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, in the report, reiterated the company’s commitment to building a purpose-driven organisation, emphasising that its success is intrinsically linked to its people and their dedication to a shared vision.
“Since we initiated our culture transformation journey in 2021, our culture transformation has significantly enhanced employee engagement and organisational cohesion. It’s directly strengthened our ability to deliver outstanding business performance and drive sustainable long-term value for all our stakeholders.”
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