Telecom
MTN Foundation’s Odunayo Sanya Urges Private Sector to Join Forces for Better Healthcare in Nigeria
Odunayo Sanya, Executive Director of MTN Foundation, has urged stakeholders in the healthcare industry to come together to address the skills gap and improve healthcare outcomes in Nigeria. Speaking at the CLI College graduation ceremony on May 25th, 2024, where she delivered the keynote speech, Sanya emphasised the need for collective action to bridge the skills gap in the healthcare industry.
“The private sector, including individuals and institutions, must collaborate to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We need to create an environment that fosters innovation, skills development and access to quality healthcare,” Sanya said.
She commended CLI College for its commitment to equipping healthcare professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge, saying, “I applaud CLI College for its dedication to addressing the critical need for qualified healthcare professionals in Nigeria. We need more institutions like this to accelerate progress in our healthcare sector.”
Sanya also highlighted the importance of strong institutions and policy consistency in driving economic development, saying, “Clear policies and good institution building are essential for growth and progress. We need to replicate this success in other sectors, including healthcare.”
Other stakeholders at the event also emphasised the need for collaboration and collective action to improve healthcare outcomes in Nigeria.
CLI Founder, Angela Chizea, Head of Health School, CLI College acknowledged the graduates’ dedication and emphasised the importance of education in shaping their futures. She also expressed gratitude to the college staff and supportive families who played a role in the graduates’ journeys.
“We acknowledge the critical role played by our college staff, whose tireless efforts and unwavering support have helped shape your journey. And to the families and loved ones who have supported our graduates every step of the way, we extend our heartfelt gratitude.” Mrs. Angela said.
MTN Foundation has invested in several critical intervention areas in Nigeria over the past 19 years, including national priorities like women empowerment, education and healthcare.
CLI College is a leading private career college in Nigeria offering diploma and certificate programs designed to prepare students for success in healthcare, business, technology and creative. Their focus on practical skills and flexible learning options empowers individuals to launch new careers or advance in their current fields.
Nigeria’s technology company, Globacom, has extended warm felicitations to Nigerians on the occasion of the 2024 Christmas celebrations.
In a goodwill message released in Lagos, Globacom urged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of love and kindness during the festive season, especially in the face of prevailing economic challenges.
The company emphasized the importance of practicing the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly the virtues of obedience to God and loving one’s neighbor as well.
“Christ taught many virtues including obedience to God and loving one’s neighbour as oneself”, the company said, adding, “Now is the apt time to practise these teachings by sharing with the needy”.
Globacom also encouraged Nigerians to extend the conviviality of Christmas beyond the festive season by fostering love, peace, and harmony, as demonstrated by God through the birth of Jesus Christ.
Assuring its customers of uninterrupted services throughout the Yuletide period and beyond, Globacom urged them to take advantage of its innovative products and services to stay connected and share the memories of the season with loved ones.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have ordered Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators to settle the long-standing N250bn USSD debt dispute before January 2, 2025.
The CBN and NCC also directed banks to pay the pre-Application Programming Interfaces (API) debt before July 2, 2025.
They also ordered that post-API debts be settled before December 31, 2024.
The directive was issued in a joint cirular titled, “2nd Joint Circular of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission on the Resolution of the USSD Debt Issue Between Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators.”
The circular dated December 20, 2024, was signed by Oladimeji Taiwo, acting director of the Payments System Management Department, CBN, and Chizua Whyte, head of Legal and Regulatory Services, NCC.
The regulators said, “In view of the foregoing, the CBN and the NCC hereby direct DMBs and MNOs as follows: 1. That 60 per cent of all pre-API invoices must be paid as full and final settlement.
“Payment plans (lump sum or installments) must be agreed upon between a concerned DMB and MNO by January 2, 2025. Installments must be based on equal monthly payments, with full payment due by July 2, 2025.
“DMBs must pay 85 per cent of all outstanding invoices issued after the implementation of APIs (i.e., February 2022) by December 31, 2024.
“Similarly, 85 per cent of future invoices must be liquidated within one month of service.”
According to the regulators, the transition to end-user billing will be activated only for DMBs and MNOs that comply with the payment conditions cobtained in the circular.
CBN and the NCC said they would provide further guidance on public enlightenment initiatives related to the transition.
The regulators also directed MNOs to implement the “10-seconds rule” for USSD invoicing.
This implies that any session lasting less than ten seconds will not be billable.
The regulators added, “Failure to comply with the terms outlined in this directive will attract necessary sanctions, ensuring that both DMBs and MNOs uphold their obligations.”
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a draft regulatory framework aimed at addressing fraud, spam, and other challenges in the Application-to-Person messaging sector.
The telecom regulator made this announcement in a statement.
The proposed framework, which was introduced during a virtual Stakeholders’ Forum, is said to be a key step towards enhancing the sector’s integrity and ensuring a fair, transparent environment for all parties involved.
The draft framework, presented by Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, NCC, who was represented by Chizua Whyte, NCC’s acting head of legal and regulatory services, seeks to regulate the A2P messaging space.
The A2P messaging, used for notifications such as bank alerts, promotional campaigns, and government updates, has become a vital communication tool in Nigeria.
However, the sector faces significant challenges, including consumer protection concerns, fraud, and data privacy issues, as well as an unequal distribution of value within the ecosystem.
“The international A2P messaging space in Nigeria faces gaps that have led to issues such as fraud, spam, and data privacy concerns. These challenges threaten the sustainable growth of this communication tool,” the NCC said.
The proposed framework aims to address these challenges by protecting consumers, promoting fair competition, and holding service providers accountable.
“This forum marks a pivotal step towards addressing these challenges. We are here to engage with all stakeholders—operators, aggregators, businesses, service providers, and consumers—to refine the framework and ensure it meets the needs of the entire ecosystem.”
The NCC stressed the importance of inclusivity and collaboration in creating an effective regulatory environment.
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