Telecom
Key Into Our Strategic Pillars; NITDA DG Urges Tech Developers
In the advent of the country’s digital transformation and to further foster collaborations with key players in the technological innovation ecosystem, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has admonished local developers to key into the Agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan for an accelerated economic impact.
Inuwa made this call at the DevFest 2021, an event organized by the Lagos chapter of the Google Developer Groups at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos State.
The DevFest, an annual event brings developers, tech-companies, and awesome speakers together to discuss Google’s emerging technologies such as Google Cloud Platform, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Blockchain Technology, Machine Learning and Robotics.
The DG who was represented at the event by the Acting Head of the Agency’s subsidiary Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Mr Yakubu Musa expressed his pleasure to have been invited to the DevFest event while describing the participants as forward-thinking developers and technology professionals.
“NITDA’s participation here today at the Africa’s largest developer community event is exciting and presents an ample opportunity to build on our initiatives to support the development of thriving ecosystem that will contribute to the growth of our Digital Economy”, the DG averred.
Inuwa who expressed his excitement at seeing and relating with the young but zealous participants stated that the young demography constitutes the highest percentage of the workforce in the country and their participation was reassuring that Nigeria is gunning to significantly impact technological advancements.
The DG after highlighting the seven strategic pillars of the Agency’s SRAP stated that the pillars required extensive collaborations for its full implementation and actualization.
He further disclosed that the SRAP has been tailored to proactively facilitate the transformation of the country into a sustainable Digital Economy but required an elaborate stakeholder collaboration in the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria.
Inuwa added that developers globally are the backbone of any technology industry and therefore urged the participants to key into the SRAP to fully exploit all the potentials of their creative idea.
“Our understanding is that a highly skilled workforce motivated by a clear developmental vision and working with various stakeholders on properly aligned initiatives and processes, would be more likely to deliver on the mission and mandate of the Agency in line with the dictates of a digital economy”, the DG concluded.
Other speakers at the event include the Chief Marketing Officer of MTN, Adia Sowho, the Google Program Manager, Developer Ecosystem for Sub-saharan Africa, Mr Aniedi Udo-Obong, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Transformation, Mr Oswald Osaretin, the Special Adviser to the Lagos Government on Technology, Mr Tunbosun Alake, and many others.
Airtel Nigeria, telecom service provider, has announced that its AI-powered Spam Alert Service issued over 9.6 million spam alerts between March 13 and May 20, 2025.
As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting customers from unwanted and potentially fraudulent communications, Airtel designed the AI Spam Alert service to analyze traffic patterns and detect anomalies.
In the period since launch the AI pinpointed a total of 9,667,008 SMS as potential spam messages in the two months after its launch.
Of these, the system identified 528,080 on-net (Airtel-to-Airtel) and 9,138,928 off-net (from other networks) numbers as suspected spam messages, demonstrating the scale of the threat and Airtel’s advanced processing capability.
Airtel Nigeria is a subsidiary of Airtel Africa.
Commenting on this development, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO, Airtel Nigeria, restated Airtel`s commitment to protecting its customers.
“This milestone demonstrates the strength of our AI-driven infrastructure in combating the growing menace of spam and scam calls. At Airtel Nigeria, we are focused on connecting Nigerians and ensuring their safety and confidence while using our network.
“We understand that trust is the cornerstone of digital communication. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in intelligent systems that not only detect potential threats but also learn and evolve with data. As threats become more sophisticated, so will our solutions. As a company, we remain focused on leading the industry in innovation and customer satisfaction, ensuring that every Nigerian can enjoy a safer and smarter digital experience,” Mr. Balsingh said.
The Spam Alert Service is part of Airtel Nigeria’s broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into its core offerings to deliver smarter and safer experiences for its customers across the country.
Recall that the Spam Alert Service was launched on March 13, 2025. A groundbreaking and free solution from Airtel, it notifies users in real-time of suspected spam SMS messages by analyzing over 250 parameters.
The Airtel AI Spam Alert Service is available to all Airtel subscribers on smartphones and feature phones.
Vitel Wireless Limited, pioneer mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in Nigeria has made another history by announcing the successful completion of interconnectivity with all major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria.
Kenneth Nwabueze, Chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless
Recall that Vitel Wireless, became the first Mobile Virtual Network Operator to receive a dedicated number series (0712) from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
This breakthrough enables Vitel Wireless subscribers to make and receive calls with users on MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom (Glo), and 9mobile Nigeria.
It also marks the first time an MVNO in the country has successfully interconnected with all the major MNOs, setting a new precedent for Nigeria’s telecom sector.
Following the NCC’s licensing of 46 MVNOs, Vitel Wireless continues to lead the way in establishing a dynamic MVNO sector in Nigeria—Africa’s largest market and most populous nation.
The company has already achieved several historic firsts: the first MVNO issued a numbering plan and national and international routing codes, the first to launch a location awareness network in Africa, and the first to unveil a strategic nationwide rollout plan.
“We are gathering momentum for our big launch,” said Kenneth Emeka Nwabueze, chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless.
“We are proud to be showing what’s possible for MVNOs, while also creating a path for others to follow. By leveraging our years of experience in Nigeria’s telecom industry, we are opening up new possibilities where there used to be none.”
Interconnectivity was achieved through a combination of direct fiber connections with some MNOs and indirect routing via third-party providers.
This milestone was the result of a collaborative effort involving engineers from Vitel Wireless, Wireless Technology Labs (WTL), and Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria (ICN), working closely with engineers from MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile.
“We wish to thank the regulatory agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission, for their timely interventions and guidance, which were instrumental in achieving this interconnectivity and bringing the formal launch of the Vitel Wireless nationwide network one step closer to reality,” said Nwabueze.
The company entered a nationwide pilot phase in May 2025, with plans for a full rollout in July 2025, aiming to deliver next-generation mobile services to millions across Nigeria.
Layer3, One of Nigeria’s foremost ICT solutions providers, has once again solidified its place as a trailblazer in Africa’s technology landscape, emerging as the Enterprise Solutions Provider of the Year and Leadership Award in Cloud Services at the prestigious African Beacon of ICT Leadership and Awards held on May 24, 2025, at the Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos.
This year’s event brought together leading tech innovators, policymakers, and thought leaders to recognize organizations making extraordinary contributions to Africa’s digital transformation.
Among the many luminaries in attendance, Layer3 stood out for its 19+ years of consistent innovation, technical excellence, and client-centered service delivery.
Speaking at the event, the organizers praised Layer3’s pioneering work in delivering robust enterprise solutions across sectors, as well as its bold leadership in advancing cloud infrastructure and services across Nigeria and beyond.
“These awards are more than recognitions, they are a reminder of the fulfilment to our mission to deliver peace of mind to our customers,” said David Ita, the Head of Strategy and Business Development of Layer3.
“They speak to the impact we’ve made and the promise we hold for the future of the cloud and enterprise technology business in Africa. We dedicate this honor to our clients, partners, and the hardworking Layer3 team who continue to redefine excellence every day.”
Since its founding, Layer3 has championed a future-forward approach to ICT services offering cutting-edge solutions in enterprise networking, cybersecurity, broadband, cloud computing, managed services, and IT advisory. The company’s Layer3Cloud platform and managed service offerings continue to power the digital ambitions of Nigeria’s leading businesses.
These accolades underscore Layer3’s unwavering commitment to driving transformation and supporting digital economies through smart, secure, and scalable technology.
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