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Meet the 20 MTN-MIP Fellows

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Twenty media professionals across the country have been selected for the maiden Media Innovation Programme by MTN Nigeria (MTN-MIP) in partnership with the School of Media and Communications, Pan-Atlantic University.

The six-month fully funded fellowship is for innovative storytellers and media leaders that will equip them with new skills needed to function in the rapidly changing media world.

The MTN Media Innovation Programme (MTN-MIP) began on May 23, 2022 and will run until October 28, 2022.

The MTN-MIP Fellows cut across print, broadcast, online and social media.

Wondering who the 2022 MTN-MIP Fellows are? See their bios below!

1. Abidemi Diaro

2022 MTN-MIP Fellows

Abidemi Dairo is a Senior producer/reporter with Channels Television and has been reporting on the showbiz industry since November 2008.

He is a seasoned journalist with a background in traditional print media. Before transiting to broadcast, Dairo received certification in journalism and special reporting from the Timbuktu Media Training Institute.

From movies to music, fashion and general lifestyle stories, he has reported from within and outside the shores of the country and has interviewed celebrities from Nigeria and abroad.

He has displayed exemplary knowledge of the showbiz industry and has been featured as a subject matter analyst on some other media platforms. He currently produces the daily Entertainment News on Channels Television.

2. Adeyemi Adepetun

2022 MTN-MIP Fellows

Adeyemi Adepetun is the Assistant Editor, Communications and Technology Desk at The Guardian Newspaper. He holds both an MSc and BSc in Mass Communications; MBA in Finance and HND in Banking and Finance. He is also an Associate of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (ANIPR).

Adeyemi has 15 years of journalism experience and nine years specifically in the reportage of information and communications technology (ICT).

On the ICT desk, he has written several stories that have shaped the sector and equally set the agenda for government at the different levels.

He is a well-travelled journalist, within and outside Africa, for training, and coverage of telecoms, ICT and business conferences. He has also won several industry recognitions and awards.

He is currently the MTN Telecoms Reporter of the Year 2020 at the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA). Adeyemi is married with kids. He is gentle, inquisitive, helpful and loves reading and travelling.

3. Agbonkhese Oboh

2022 MTN-MIP Fellows

Agbonkhese Oboh is a hands-on and motivated team player. He is an expert communicator, writer and editor.

He is Deputy Online Editor – currently acting as Online Editor – of Vanguard Newspapers. He has a strong background in newspaper publication, networking in the media space and creating a presence in the multi-media space.

Currently, he is getting grounded in videography, video and photo editing, digital reporting, audience interaction and engagement and specific writing for a specific online audience.

He has a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication, Auchi Polytechnic; Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, both in Literature-in-English. The first is from Lagos State University (LASU), and the other, the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Agbonkhese has been commended for his emotional intelligence and enjoys learning and teaching.

4. Ameh Ejekwonyilo

2022 MTN-MIP Fellows

Ameh Ejekwonyilo is a Senior Reporter on the Judiciary, Human Rights and Anti-corruption Desk of Premium Times Newspaper. He is also a joint winner of Premium Times’ Best Story of the Year 2021.

Ameh is also a 2021 grantee of the COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Journalists, which was sponsored by the National Geographic Society, Washington, U.S.

He writes on the impacts of violent conflicts on vulnerable people.

He applied for the MTN Nigeria Media Innovation Programme (MIP) with hopes to acquire innovative skills in the telecommunications sector.  He also sought to be a part of the MIP in order to horn his journalistic skills with a view to exploring entrepreneurial opportunities in the media and technology industry.

5. Chima Akwaja

2022 MTN-MIP Fellows

Chima Akwaja is the Technology Editor of Leadership..  He elevates ICT reporting in Nigeria with major exclusives, breaking news, and incisive and carefully researched feature articles.

Popularly called “The HOD”, Chima has covered numerous ICT events across the globe. His working experiences cut across National Newspapers, International Tech Magazines and Online Media.

He was a Lead Contributor to the INVEST IN NIGERIA 2010 Handbook, a foreign investment publication for Nigerian High Commission, United Kingdom.

Chima is a winner of the 2006 AISI Media Awards of the ECA/AISI/IICD; 2009 IT Champion Award by the Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN); ICT Journalist of the Year at the Titans of Tech 2019 Awards; Most Outstanding ICT Editor 2019 and ICT Editor of the Decade 2020 at the Africa Digital Awards respectively.

Chima holds M.A and B.Sc degrees in Mass Communications from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and Imo State University, Owerri (IMSU).

ALSO READ  Ericsson enhances 5G platform for smooth network evolution

He has attended training sessions at Pan Atlantic University, and the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), among others.

6. Damilola Fajinmi 

2022 MTN-MIP Fellows

Damilola Fajinmi is a Media & Communications Professional with a demonstrated history of over eight years working in the media production industry.  She is a radio broadcaster, content creator, voice actor, and scriptwriter, and is also skilled in marketing communications, and media buying.

Dami Faj as she is called by her faves is a family and health enthusiast. This passion led to the creation of her radio shows; Parenting Conversations with Dami Faj on Beat 97.9 FM Ibadan and Sabi Ya Health. She also co-anchors Toko Taya (Mr & Mrs ) an indigenous program on Naija 102.7 Ibadan.

She is outgoing and very energetic with strong communication and interpersonal skills. She is a well-organised professional with a track record that demonstrates self-motivation, creativity and initiative to achieve corporate and personal goals. In November 2021 she won an award for best performance in Media Plan Compliance in the southwest region.

Damilola is interested in young adults and she enjoys helping them discover who they are so they can think bigger and build better.

Damilola loves music, podcasts and checklists and loves to learn and apply. She enjoys quiet moments, reading, watching movies and spending quality time with her family.

7. Daniel Adeyemi 

2022 MTN-MIP Fellows

Daniel Adeyemi is curious about how technology is impacting the lives of Africans. As a senior reporter at TechCabal, Daniel writes mostly about big tech and high growth companies operating in Africa. He shares insights from investors in the African ecosystem through his bi-monthly column, Ask an Investor.

Before joining TechCabal, he spent the past 4 years working in the tech and consulting industry as an Accountant.

Outside work, Daniel spends his time reading, playing/watching soccer, volunteering with the TEDxLagos team and occasionally painting masterpieces.

He applied for the Media Innovation Programme in order to gain an expanded view of the media space and to become more valuable to his organisation and society.

8. Elsie Godwin 

2022 MTN-MIP Fellows

Elsie Godwin is a versatile Media Personality – TV/Radio Presenter & Producer, Blogger, Writer, Conversationalist, Content Creator, Facilitator and Marketing, Brands & Corporate Communication Specialist.

She is a Co-Anchor & Co-Producer on WAYS Show Africa showing weekdays on DSTV CH 408/Startimes Ch 308/GOTV Ch 112 and the producer and Anchor of Reviews on the Couch.

Her passion for creating content and impactful conversation led her into broadcasting where she has interviewed over 300 successful businessmen and women, across different industries in Nigeria, Africa & Beyond.

She is passionate about telling stories of and having conversations with successful people in order to help shape the Nigerian and African narrative and to mentor the younger generation.

In her capacity as a media influencer, she works closely with media agencies (BHM, Plaqad, H+K Strategies, DottsMedia, Alder Consulting, Anakle, etc) to help create and share amazing brand stories. She’s also a Google influencer affiliate.

9. Esther Ndu

2022 MTN-MIP Fellows

Esther Ndu is a News Producer currently working at Arise News. She co-produces the mid-day news, the exchange news and the entertainment news daily. In addition to her day job as a journalist, she is also a member of the board of trustees in a private primary school.

Esther believes in broadcasting authentic news in a simple and easy to understand manner. She has been named producer of the year and is reliable when given tasks.

Esther holds a BA in Classics from the University of Ibadan and a professional certificate in Basic Presentation from the National Broadcast Academy, Nigeria. She is always seeking knowledge in order to impact her generation meaningfully, as she believes that everything should be done to better humankind and honour God.

She joined the Media Innovation Programme in order to learn more about the nexus between information and communication technology and how to use these to improve the media sector in Nigeria.

She loves children and hopes to write about them. She also cherishes her quiet time.

10. Mike Okwoche

2022 MTN-MIP Fellows

Mike Okwoche is an award-winning international broadcast journalist. He is a Senior Anchor and Head of Newscasters at Television Continental (TVC) in Lagos, Nigeria.

He is a graduate of Public Administration from the University of Maiduguri in Borno State. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the National Open University of Nigeria.

He is an Associate Lecturer at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos as an instructor on Broadcast Presentation. He is the Country Director of media and communications for Mater Africa, an international NGO on humanitarian aid based in Italy and Nigeria.

He is an Alumnus of the United States International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), a program he ran in Washington DC, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina and California.

He has bagged the Newscaster of the Year award by the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) in 2019. He also won the Nigeria Broadcasters Merit Award (NBMA) in 2014.

He was the project coordinator of the Media Literacy campaign for the U.S. Department of State in Nigeria which was administered by AlumniTIES in Washington DC.

Mike is the President of the United States Government Exchange Alumni Association in Nigeria, an association created by the United States Mission in Nigeria to rally U.S. exchange alumni members in partnership to cause positive social change wherever they are.

He is the founder of Rewired Africa Media Network, a media content agency passionate about civic education, training,  advocacy and mentoring in Nigeria.

He is married to Emem Okwoche with two lovely daughters, Elsie and Eliana.

11. Nahimah Ajikanle Nurudeen

Nahimah Ajikanle Nurudeen

Nahimah Ajikanle Nurudeen is the Founder and Lead Strategist at TenticP Communications Nigeria Limited.

She is a seasoned journalist and media practitioner with over 14 years of experience in the Media industry. She is currently the Managing Editor, AP News published by TenticP Communications.

Nahimah has a keen history of working in the media industry with excellent skill demonstrations in Corporate Communications, Strategic Planning, Marketing Communication, News Writing and Editing as well as Advocacy/ Communication for Social Change.

Having worked previously with Daily Trust newspapers covering several sectors of the Nigerian economy, she has deep knowledge of the nation’s business environment and social, cultural and political landscape.

Nahimah holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communications from the University of Lagos and is currently a PhD student at the Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo.

She is widely travelled for both local and international workshops and training.

12. Peter Oluka 

2022 MTN-MIP Fellows - Peter Oluka

Peter Oluka Ikenna is a practicing ICT Journalist; Technopreneur, Speech Writer, amongst other Media & Public Relations interests.

He is currently running TechEconomy.ng, a digital news platform that focuses on Business-People-Platforms-Institutions leveraging technology to enhance productivity and challenge the quantum of inadequacies in emerging economies like Nigeria/Africa.

Prior to that, he worked at the Nigeria CommunicationsWeek – a medium with a penchant for ICT reportage – as a Senior Reporter.

Peter started his mainstream journalism in 2010 with the Nigerian NewsDirect Newspaper.

He also co-founded GrassRoots.ng, a news platform rooted in speaking for the global citizen.

He also superintended the launch of NewsRepublic247.com.

Peter is currently the Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Njalo.ng; an online marketplace for ‘Classified’.

He obtained PGD (Mass Communications) from NOUN in 2015 and HND (Mass Communication) from the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu in 2008.

Peter describes his quest for journalism and media practices as exceptional.

13. Rasaq Ayinla 

2022 MTN-MIP Fellows

Razaq Adesanya Ayinla is a journalist with over 15 years of practice. He has valuable experience in both Broadcast and Print Journalism.

He began his career as a Graduate Intern at Cub Reporter and graduated as Staff Reporter, Proof-Reader, Assistant Editor, Regional Editor and News Editor.

He currently prepares, collates and edits news stories and features from Southwest and Kwara States.

He edits and produces news across western Nigeria for BusinessDay and makes daily editorial contributions to the paper’s general and specialised pages.

14. Sakina Ahmed

2022 MTN-MIP Fellows

Sakina Ahmed began her career in broadcast journalism when she was employed by the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria as an Assistant Translator and posted to one of its FM stations in Yola in 2011.

She is currently working as a Reporter for Fombina FM Yola with a passion for reporting on health, the environment and women and girl child rights.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Language and Communication Arts from Modibbo Adamawa University, Yola

She applied for the MTN Media innovation program to gain the required innovative skills needed to recognize opportunities that will help her improve her career prospects and equally be an important contribution to society.

15. Samson Akintaro

SMC-PAU

Samson Akintaro is a seasoned journalist with a knack for technology reporting. Akintaro started his journalism career in 2005 at the now-defunct Financial Standard Newspaper, from where he was drafted to the ICT Desk as a young reporter.

Being a versatile reporter, he joined another special publication, Stockswatch, in 2008, where he became a Capital Market correspondent for the paper. However, his love of tech reporting saw him move to a specialised and one of the leading ICT Magazines in the country, IT & Telecom Digest, in April 2011.

At IT & Telecom Digest, he rose from the position of a reporter to become a senior editorial staff of the publication, taking responsibility for the editorial content of the Magazine, while projecting the industry to the world through his reportage.

In April 2018, he joined the New Telegraph Newspaper as ICT Editor, a position he currently occupies. His incisive and illuminating writings about the Nigerian ICT/Telecom industry earned him a nomination for the Telecom Reporter of the Year in 2019 at the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA). In 2020, he emerged as ICT Reporter of The Year, at the prestigious Africa Digital Awards (ADA).

In April 2022, he joined Nairametrics as Tech Analyst, where he continues to report and analyse issues in the ICT industry.

16. Temitayo Jaiyeola

SMC-PAU

Temitayo Jaiyeola is a technology correspondent at the PUNCH newspaper. He is interested in stories that explore the intersection between tech and human activities. He is a data enthusiast, loves numbers, and insists that he should have studied Economics.

He writes prose and poetry when he isn’t haunted by the ghost of deadlines. Some of his writings have received positive nods — he was second runner-up for the Quramo Writers Prize in 2019.

When he is not writing or reading, he often folds inwards or takes random strolls.

17. Ugo Onwuaso 

SMC-PAU

Onwuaso Ugochukwu Francis, is a tech and ICT enthusiast, working with Nigeria CommunicationsWeek as a Senior Correspondent covering ICT, Business and Logistics.

He believes that technology is at the core of our ever-changing and evolving world and has written several articles on technology since he started covering the sector.

He has received several professional and capacity trainings on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) organized by reputable companies like Google, Microsoft, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), etc.

Ugochukwu is the 2019 and 2021 winner of CommunicationsWeek’s Best Employee of the Year award.

Ugochukwu is a native of Awka, in Anambra State and is married with four beautiful children.

He holds a post-graduate degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Lagos State University, and an HND degree in Business Administration and Management from Lagos State Polytechnic, Isolo.

18. Uhuotu Omilabu 

SMC-PAU -Uhuotu Omilabu

Uhuotu Omilabu is a young, aspiring and resourceful broadcast journalist with a strong passion to stay above mediocrity as a reporter, editor and compere.

With a degree in Communication Arts, Uhuotu has contributed to the media space with reports on topical issues bothering on women and girls’ issues, health, education, agriculture etc.

She has been a part of several training sessions within her state of practice and across the nation. Uhuotu currently serves in the News Department of Inspiration FM, Uyo as a producer, reporter, editor and show host which highlights her versatility in the media profession.

Holding fast to honesty and integrity as core values, her philosophy is to treat people the way you want to be treated. She strongly believes that this will make the world a better place. Uhuotu is married with children.

19. Vanessa Obioha 

SMC-PAU

Vanessa Obioha, a writer and a journalist joined THISDAY Newspapers in 2012 as a contributing writer.

She became a staff member in 2016, covering lifestyle and entertainment. However, she has ranged broadly across the newspaper pages, reporting on politics, business, sports, tourism, human interest, and other subjects.

She has also profiled prominent personalities in the entertainment and lifestyle sector in the lifestyle section of the Sunday paper, The Glitterati.

In 2015, she was nominated for the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Awards.

Vanessa is also interested in poetry and has taken a screenwriting course with the New York Film Academy.  She is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism with distinction in Mass Communication.

With an eclectic taste in music, she enjoys listening to beautiful sounds, watching films and TV series, reading, travelling and discovering new cultures.

20. Wasilat Azeez

SMC-PAU -Wasilat Azeez

Wasilat Azeez is a finance journalist, data enthusiast and fact-checker. She holds a first-class honours bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos.

She began her journalism career as a graduate intern with the Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation (CNJF) in 2020. Upon completing the programme, she got automatic employment at The Cable, Nigeria’s independent online newspaper.

She is passionate about spotlighting women and persons with disabilities (PWDs), especially those who have made outstanding records in their respective fields by overcoming barriers and beating the odds to reach their goals.

As a budding academic in gender and development, Wasilat has co-authored a research paper on The Role of Associations of Women Journalists in Promoting the Interests of Female Journalists in Nigeria.

She believes that the MTN-MIP will help her grow in her journalism career by increasing her knowledge of the telecoms industry.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Ericsson Deepens African Agenda with Schools Project

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As Ericsson expands its #AfricaInMotion strategy, which aims to accelerate digital inclusion and adoption across the continent, the company is urging governments to play a key role in developing strategies that support internet access and digital learning.

This is according to Ayub Osman, head of sustainability and corporate responsibility for Ericsson Middle East and Africa.

In an interview with ITWeb Africa, Osman stated governments must form productive partnerships with the private sector, particularly communication service providers and technology companies, to implement these strategies by building the necessary digital infrastructure and providing reliable school connectivity.

The Ericsson senior executive discussed the progress made by the company and its global partners in supporting the International Telecommunication Union’s GIGA initiative in Kenya.

GIGA launched in 2019 as an initiative to connect all schools all over the world and has three pillars: map, model and contract.

 .   Map the location of schools and monitor school connectivity status in real-time.

 .   Model the infrastructure, policies, regulations and investments needed to deliver school connectivity.

  .  Help governments to contract connectivity for schools.

The GIGA project has already spread across Africa, being launched simultaneously in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Benin, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria and Niger.

Now, in Kenya, Ericsson has announced it is cooperating with UNICEF and GIGA to promote Kenya’s National Broadband Strategy, which aims to connect all schools by 2030.

Osman shared insights about the initiative and its progress in Kenya, noting: “We recognise that mapping the connectivity landscape is a critical first step towards connecting every school to the internet and providing each child with access to learning opportunities.

“Through our expertise in ICT, we are helping provide an understanding of where connectivity is needed the most. We have also developed Daily Check, an app that supports the GIGA initiative through the collection, validation, analysis, monitoring and visualisation of real-time school connectivity data.

“With the engagement of international partners, this initiative has achieved noteworthy advancements. By the end of 2023, a total of 546 public schools in Kenya were connected to the internet for the first time, positively impacting over 340 000 students and educators.”

Further, he said: “For students, the internet can offer access to learning material and resources at their fingertips. It serves as a repository of knowledge that is not restricted by geography and is available to anyone with connectivity.

“Meanwhile, teachers can use the internet to access assessment tools that can help evaluate students’ performance and identify their learning needs. The internet also offers a wealth of digital resources that can assist teachers in preparing lesson plans and incorporating innovative methods in knowledge delivery.

“Finally, the internet enables policy-makers to obtain real-time information on the effectiveness of their policies.”

Moving on to the continent’s need for digital infrastructure to assist connectivity initiatives, Osman stated: “Building infrastructure to enable access to the internet and digital learning for all students is the starting point. But this access also needs to be affordable and reliable.

“Governments play a key role in developing strategies that place access to the internet and digital learning at the forefront of education policies and overcome the barriers to integration, such as Kenya’s National Broadband Strategy.

“They must also forge productive partnerships with the private sector, especially communication service providers and technology companies, to implement these strategies by building the required infrastructure and providing reliable school connectivity.”


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Gwandu Urges African Countries to Unite for 600MHz Spectrum Allocations

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Dr. Bashir Gwandu, former Acting Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and former EVC/CEO, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has urged African countries to unite and work together to secure 600megahertz (MHz) band spectrum allocations.

The independent telecom expert stated this at the just concluded 9th Sub-Sahara Spectrum Management Conference 2024, held in Nairobi, Kenya on 6-7 November, organised by Forum Global on the third theme: “From WRC-23 to WRC-27- Emerging Landscapes  & Technologies and the Path Ahead.”

Dr. Gwandu who held various chairmanship positions at the both the ITU and Commonwealth including the ITU Radiocommunications Advisory Group (the RAG), The Joint Task Group, and Commonwealth ITU Group (CIG), made the call during his opening remarks on the 600MHz spectrum discussions.

While making a presentation on the session: “The shape of Post-WRC spectrum ecosystems”, he called for cooperation among African countries at the forthcoming World Radiocommunications Conference 2027 (WRC-27) to enter Footnote 5.307A, which are radio regulations used to make spectrum allocation for a country or some countries.

Dr. Gwandu who played a key role in founding the ATU (African Telecommunications Union) WRC coordination meetings had expressed disappointment that the continent’s focus on collaborative efforts was waning.

At the core of the discussions was the 600MHz (3GGP n71) band, a key frequency range that many countries worldwide are increasingly allocating for IMT to support 4G and 5G networks.  While several nations in Regions 2 and 3, as well as some in ITU Region 1, have designated this band for mobile, some African countries are not yet ready to make the switch to co-primary allocation.

Eleven African countries had sought request at the WRC-23 for primary mobile allocation of spectrum and IMT identification in the 614-694MHz band, but only Egypt was granted while countries like Rwanda, Guinea, Benin Republic, and Cameroon, blocked requests from 10 other African nations with similar aspirations.

The 10 countries that were blocked include Nigeria, Senegal, Mauritania, Libya, Chad, Gambia, Sudan, Namibia, Somalia, and Tanzania.  Dr Gwandu posited that fighting for status quo to remain or ‘No Change’ in this case is akin to refusing an available front seat and fighting for a back seat.

“Therefore, colleagues, something clearly went wrong at WRC23, and we as Africans need to address it. We must work together, have positive dialogue on challenges, and optimize the use of opportunities.

“Reasonable countries have always found solutions to accommodate needs of their neighbours instead of blocking them,” he said, urging African Telecommunication Union (ATU) to remain effective by following its rules.

He said the 600MHz band issue is clear: the world is moving towards IMT in this band, with some countries ready now and others later. “Eventually, most of us will adopt it. Many region 2 and Region 3 countries have taken primary allocation to mobile in the band, and even in region 1, a number of countries have already changed the use status of this band to include either primary or secondary mobile,” he said.

Dr. Gwandu urged that those not ready not to obstruct others that are prepared to move forward. Countries develop at different rates, and the ITU Resolution 26 that requires consent before amending footnotes is intended to promote harmonization, not to delay a clear direction, or block progress, he said, adding that there is need to provide regulatory certainty to different industries.

According to him, if many countries in other regions and Africa have not taken the steps to upgrade the mobile service in the band, “then yes, we can try to convince colleagues in Africa to hold, but, this is not the case. The direction is now clear – 600MHz band will be allocated on primary basis to mobile. It is almost black and white,” he added.

“When we meet as a family, we must be honest with ourselves. Some of us who helped to initiate the ATU WRC coordination meetings are disheartened by how we, as Africans, continue to fight each other in order to win the occupancy of the back seat, whilst neglecting each other’s interests.

“When making decisions, we must consider the unique circumstances of each country, such as geographical size, population and data demand, the capital expenditure required for coverage, the dispersed nature of our rural settlements, the 50 per cent urban to rural connectivity-divide in Africa and the energy costs to power the high throughput systems in rural areas,” he added.

The telecom guru said these factors differ for each country, and thus the frequency allocation solution for a smaller country like Rwanda or Benin cannot be the same for larger nations like Nigeria or Namibia.


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MTN Foundation Shines Bright at 8th Tech Innovation Awards with Multiple Wins

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MTN Foundation has affirmed its leadership in innovation through CSR initiatives, receiving the “Transformational Solutions in Education & Skills Acquisition Award” at the eighth edition of the Tech Innovation Awards, which held on November 2, 2024 at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya was recognized as the “Corporate Social Investment Personality of the Year”, while the MTN Foundation team was named “Foundation Team of the Year”.

The Tech Innovation Awards saw the coming together of executives, leaders and employees of various organizations in the ICT sector to celebrate businesses and personalities who have contributed to the transformation of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

In his opening remarks, convener and Chief Executive Officer of Instinct Wave, Akin Naphtal regarded the event as an avenue to celebrate achievements within Nigeria’s ICT industry and recognize the excellence and grit of people and institutions driving digital transformation.

“We’re not just here to celebrate the innovations and growth in our ICT sector, but also to acknowledge the tremendous resilience that keeps this industry at the forefront of transformation.

“We celebrate excellence, tenacity and audacious dreamers shaping our digital space and pushing the boundaries of what we never thought was possible”.

Commenting on the awards, Executive Director, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya appreciated the organizers of the Tech Innovation Awards, while also affirming the foundation’s commitment to impactful causes.

“I’d like to appreciate Instinct Wave for these awards and for choosing to constantly recognize those who are notably driving innovation in the country.

“Interestingly, this is coming right ahead of MTN Foundation’s 20th anniversary. We strongly believe that everyone deserves to have a great quality of life and access to transformative opportunities.

“This belief has driven us for the past 20 years and will continue to drive our vision of transforming lives and inspiring impact where it matters”.

For two decades, MTN Foundation has brightened lives and improved communities through its diverse CSR initiatives covering areas such as education, arts and culture, music and entrepreneurship.

Through its scholarship awards for undergraduates pursuing science and ICT related courses, the foundation has equipped recipients with relevant skills to aid their success in today’s digital world.

The awards received by the MTN Foundation are a testament to its reach and impact of its CSR initiatives over the past 20 years.

Other notable recognitions at the Tech Innovation Awards were “Telecom Infrastructure Provider of the Year” and “Telecom Infrastructure Team of the Year” received by IHS Towers, as well as the award for “Technology Person of the Year” presented to Chief Executive Officer of Open Access Data Centres, Ayotunde Coker.


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