In the rapidly evolving world of sports betting, Dotun Ajegbile, the visionary founder of Betland, has proven that business success and social responsibility can go hand in hand. As a Nigerian-American entrepreneur, Ajegbile has utilized his platform not only to revolutionize sports betting but also to drive transformative initiatives that uplift communities across Nigeria.

Under his leadership, Betland has spearheaded numerous corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs aimed at tackling unemployment and fostering youth empowerment. One of the standout projects is the “Betland Future Stars Initiative”, a nationwide program providing financial grants, training, and mentorship to young entrepreneurs in underserved areas. This initiative has enabled over 2,000 youths to launch their own businesses, creating a ripple effect of job creation and economic growth.

Ajegbile’s commitment to sports development is equally remarkable. Betland sponsors grassroots tournaments in football, basketball, and athletics, offering young athletes opportunities to showcase their talent on larger platforms. Many participants in these tournaments have gone on to secure scholarships and professional contracts, demonstrating the power of combining sports with community building.

Collaboration has been central to Ajegbile’s philanthropic strategy. Betland frequently partners with NGOs and government agencies to amplify its impact. Through a partnership with the EmpowerNG Initiative, Betland has distributed scholarships to underprivileged students, ensuring that education remains accessible despite economic challenges.

Speaking about his philanthropic vision, Ajegbile says, “As a company, we believe in more than profit. Betland is committed to building a future where every young person in Nigeria has the tools to succeed, whether through sports, education, or entrepreneurship.”

Ajegbile’s philanthropic efforts highlight his deep-rooted belief in giving back to the society that helped shape his journey. By bridging the gap between corporate success and community impact, he is not just redefining sports betting in Nigeria but also inspiring a new wave of socially responsible entrepreneurship.

Global spending on telecommunications and pay-TV services will reach $1,544 billion in 2024, representing an increase of 2.4 per cent year-on-year, according to the Worldwide Semiannual Telecom Services Tracker published by International Data Corporation (IDC).

The latest prediction is 1.0 percentage points higher than the version published in the May edition of IDC’s Tracker.

If that forecast becomes reality, the above-mentioned annual growth rate would be the highest recorded in the last twelve years.

The above-average positive revisions of the forecast apply to the regions of the Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Latin America.

This is mainly a consequence of hyperinflation in countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria and Argentina, in which it has become usual to see average revenue per user (ARPU) figures growing by more than 50 per cent on a yearly basis.

Conversely, the outlook for the markets of Europe and Asia Pacific has been slightly downgraded, mainly due to the deteriorating economic climate in key countries such as Germany and China.

The expectations for the North America have not changed much between the two tracker updates, apart from a minor positive revision in Canada’s market.

The analysis by type of telecom services confirms that the well-known trends persist despite the changes in top-line forecasts.

Mobile remains the largest segment, driven by the growth in mobile data usage and M2M applications, which is offsetting declines in spending on mobile voice and messaging services.

The fixed data services segment will continue growing, driven by the need for higher bandwidth. Spending on fixed voice services will be dropping over the forecast period as the rapidly declining TDM voice revenues are not being offset by the increase in IP voice.

The traditional pay-TV market will decline slightly over the forecast period due to the growing popularity of VoD and OTT, but these services will remain an important part of the multi-play offerings of telecom providers across the world.

The global connectivity services market is expected to maintain a positive outlook over the next five years, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2 per cent.

The overall economic climate is expected to improve as the key central banks in the US and Europe will continue decreasing their reference interest rates.

Inflation will continue declining, which will have a positive impact on the purchasing power of the population.

The negative elements of the forecasting puzzle will include saturation of the telecom services markets in major countries, as well as the unstable political situation in some regions, particularly Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Additional risks are related to the potential shifts of economic policies related to the new US government that might lead to the rebirth of protectionism.

IDC’s latest forecast is more optimistic than its previous one. However, even in this scenario, the growth of the connectivity services market is expected to remain sluggish, prompting operators to seek additional revenue streams.

“There are quite a few promising areas in which operators could expect solid returns. These include fibre optics, IoT, UCaaS, SD-WAN, digital services, LEO satellite services, cloud services, IT security services, network APIs and network sharing, and 5G-advanced,” commented Kresimir Alic, research director with Worldwide Telecom Services at IDC.

“These companies should also increase the pace of digitalisation and software-isation of their business processes, create new go-to-market strategies based on data and intelligence, and deploy innovative business models based on telco-as-a-platform and co-creation within ecosystems.

“Essentially, telecom operators should aim for a complete transformation — from traditional commodity service providers to modern, full-stack technology suppliers. This transformation should position them as leaders in the digital transformation revolution, potentially securing a central role in the new digitalised world,” Alic concluded.

This week, three top football players of Nigerian origin who have played in the National Football League (NFL), also known as the American Professional Football League, will be guests on the Glo sponsored Cable News Network magazine show, African Voices Changemakers.

Three football players, Christian Emeka Okoye, Kenneth Odumegwu, and Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi, are featuring in the personality interview program.

Okoye was born on August 16, 1961, and was known as “the Nigerian Nightmare” while he was a fullback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL from 1987 to 1992.

He had an NFL rushing champion title in 1989, first-team All-Pro honours in 1989 and second-team All-Pro honours in 1991, two Pro Bowl appearances in 1989 and 1991, and three post-season appearances during his successful six-season NFL career. He was well-known for his explosive running abilities and ability to break tackles.

He mentored Ndubuisi and Odumegwu, among others, and is credited with helping to shape the future of many professional American football stars. In 2000, he was admitted to the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame.

Odumegwu, on the other hand, is a Nigerian professional linebacker who plays defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. He was born in Lagos on November 29, 2000.

Before attempting American football in 2022, he played basketball and soccer while attending the National Open University of Nigeria.

He started his professional career with the Green Bay Packers in 2023 as a member of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program (IPPP).

Ndubuisi, the NFL’s defensive lineman for the Washington Commanders, turned 24 on October 15.

He joined the NFL through the International Player Pathway (IPP) program and has played for the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL), the Denver Broncos, and the Arizona Cardinals.

Scouting for gifted athletes to teach American football skills, the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program has been at the forefront.

The programme airs on Saturday 8.30a.m. on CNN Channel 401 with repeats at 12.00p.m. same day; Sunday 4.30a.m., 7.00p.m and Monday 4.00a.m. The same edition will be repeated on Saturday 8.30a.m., 12 noon and on Sunday at 4.30a.m., 7.00p.m. and 4.00a.m. on Monday.