Telecom
Microsoft kicks off LEAP Engineering Acceleration Program with Ten Female Software Engineers

Ten female Software Engineers from Nigeria have been admitted into Microsoft LEAP Engineering Acceleration Program (LEAP).
Led by the Global Innovation Team at Microsoft (Redmond, USA), and sponsored by Kevin Scott, chief technology officer at Microsoft, LEAP is an immersive 16-week program that provides female individuals with experiences through project management and development courses.
The program combines traditional classroom learning with hands-on engineering projects.
Skills development remains at the heart of Microsoft’s mission to empower everyone to achieve more.
Through a combination of strategic partnerships, trainings, real-world experiences and online classrooms environments, we have been able to provide future skills to those entering the industry and those already in the workforce.
The LEAP finalists were selected at a hackathon hosted in June, where each participant was immersed in a one-week intensive programme comprising two-day classroom work, two-day hacking and the final day for presentation of their solutions.
Now each participant is to receive 4-weeks classroom training on Software Support Engineering and 12-weeks hands-on projects training involving real life scenarios at a partner organization.
During the training period, the participants will also be mentored by the engineering team in Nigeria (Lagos) and Redmond (USA).
“We believe that contributing to human capital development, empowering the youth, and creating opportunities for individuals and organisations will cultivate an environment that allows for growth of the knowledge-based economy,” says Akin Banuso, country manager at Microsoft in Nigeria.
The company says rapid digital transformation across industries has changed the way we work and live, as technological advancements spanning artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning have entered the mainstream – accelerating the journey to transform economies, and ultimately redesigning the future of work.
Following the LEAP program, participants will get an opportunity to take up employment at Tek Experts, a partnering company for the program.
“As a technology company, we are acutely aware of the responsibility we have to ensure all workers have a path to gain relevant skills – no matter where they are in their careers.
“For this reason, we will continue to – in partnership with non-profit organisations, government bodies, learning institutions and other entities – to empower those already in the workforce with the capabilities needed to ensure financial stability, economic prosperity and opportunities for personal growth,” concludes Banuso.
Telecom
Telcos Warns 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
Telecom
MTN Chairman, Industry Leaders Honour Late Dr. Pascal Dozie’s Legacy at NGX Tribute

Nigeria’s corporate elite gathered recently to bid farewell to one of the nation’s most influential business titans, Dr. Pascal Gabriel Dozie.
The Nigerian Exchange Group’s headquarters in Marina, Lagos, played host to an ‘Afternoon of Tributes’ that saw industry captains, financial moguls, and family members celebrate the extraordinary legacy of a man who helped reshape Nigeria’s economic landscape.
MTN Nigeria Chairman, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, captured the mood of the gathering when he described the late Dozie as “a visionary leader, a true patriot, and a trailblazer” whose impact continues to reverberate across Nigeria’s business terrain.
“Thanks to his remarkable foresight and unwavering dedication, MTN Nigeria didn’t just find its footing—it soared,” Ndukwe told the distinguished audience.
“Today, it stands not only as the largest telecommunications company in the country but also as one of the most highly valued corporations on the NGX Premium Board.”
The symbolic bell-ringing ceremony—a highlight of the event—paid homage to Dozie’s pivotal role in transforming both Nigeria’s capital market and telecommunications sector.
Speaker after speaker painted the portrait of a man whose influence transcended conventional boundaries. Beyond founding Diamond Bank and steering MTN Nigeria to unprecedented heights, Dozie was celebrated for embodying the rare combination of business acumen and ethical leadership.
Throughout the afternoon, the late business icon was remembered not merely as a successful entrepreneur but as a nation-builder whose contributions spanned critical sectors from banking and telecoms to public policy and education.
More than his corporate achievements, however, it was Dozie’s personal qualities that dominated tributes—his uncompromising integrity, innovative thinking, disarming humility, and lifelong commitment to service.
As the event concluded, it became clear that the gathering was more than a memorial—it was a celebration of possibilities, a testament to what can be achieved when purpose meets passion and when leadership is firmly rooted in service to others.
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