Telecom
Kate Ene David Wins 2022 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee Competition, to Act as MTN CEO for One Day

The fifth edition of the MTN mPulse Spelling Bee Competition has come to an end with Kate Ene David emerging as the winner.

L-R: Titus Schwa Bankole, Bee Master; Odunayo Sanya, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation; Ifeoluwa Oyeyipo, Acting Senior Manager Youth Segment, MTN Nigeria; Kate Ene David, Winner, 2022 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee; Ugonwa Nwoye, Chief Customer Service Officer, MTN Nigeria; Esther Akinnukawe, Chief Human Resources Officer, MTN Nigeria and Idowu Adesokan, Acting General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, at the 2022 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee Grand Finale, which held at the MTN Nigeria
Kate, a student from Intimacy with Christ International School, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, won the bee after correctly spelling the word “acquiesce” in the finale.
As a result, the 14-year-old champion will become MTN Nigeria CEO for a day and assume leadership of Africa’s largest telecommunication network.
In her opening remarks, the Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Adia Sowho, congratulated the top 20 contestants who beat out over 11,000 participants to compete in the spelling bee finale, stating that the initiative presented a platform for them to develop and maximise their potential.
“Promoting digital education is one way in which we can encourage people to embrace the digital space and enjoy the benefits and convenience that come with it.
“This is why MTN mPulse continues to engage with young people through the website, which has a vast variety of educational content, enabling them to learn, play and shine.”
Giving her closing remarks, the Chief Human Resource Officer, MTN Nigeria, Esther Akinnukawe commended the finalists for making it to the finals.
“Congratulations to Kate for emerging the champion. I want to thank and commend every participant for showing up.
“Showing up is a winning quality, and I admire your courage in standing in front of the audience to represent yourself, your parent, and your school.
“We are thrilled to have such a large turnout, and we are more confident to carry on this educative initiative.”
In addition to being MTN Nigeria’s CEO for a day, Kate has been awarded N2.5m scholarship grant, a laptop, a smartphone, and an MTN goody bag.
MTN will also present a N350,000 grant and state-of-the-art ICT devices to the winner’s English teacher and school respectively.
Sharing her excitement, Kate, who was beaming with smiles said, “I am very excited and grateful to God for giving me the opportunity.
“The journey has never been easy but I studied a lot.” When asked what to expect from her as MTN CEO for a day, she said, “I think I am more excited to learn about the position on that day.”
Alongside Kate, the first, second and third runners-up, Agbo Divine Capable from Intimacy with Christ International School, Nasarawa State, Okechukwu Rejoice representing Glorious covenant school, Rivers State, and Daniel Ann, a student of Glorious Covenant School Rivers State and other finalists were rewarded with prizes valued at over N5.7m and lots of goody bags.
MTN mPulse Spelling Bee competition is one of the many initiatives by MTN Nigeria that help promote digital literacy and academic excellence, empowering the nation’s educational sector.
Telecom
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year

The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.
The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.
These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.
Here are some of the featured talents:
- Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
- Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
- Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
- Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
- David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
- Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.
Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.
Telecom
Telcos Warn of Nationwide Telecom Blackout over Diesel Shortage

Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
Telecom
Nigerians Spend N5.3 Trillion on Telecom Services

In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.
Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.
However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.
For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.
Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023
Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs
Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network
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