Telecom
Nasarawa School Emerges Best in MTN ASAP Quiz Competition
PTA/NADP International College, Lafia, Nasarawa State has emerged victorious at the MTN Foundation Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) Quiz Competition for secondary schools.
L-R: Secretary, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Shadrach Usman Haruna; Teacher, PTA/NADP International College, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Jonah Basil-Eneh; Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya; Students, PTA/NADP International College, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Abdul Isa Salihu, Peace Monday and Augusta Opane Okyuwa; National Programme Officer, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Folusho Ajayi Adelekan and Associate Professor, Theatre Arts, University of Abuja at the ASAP quiz competition grand finale where PTA/NADP International College, Lafia emerged winners in Abuja on June 23, 2023.
The competition was held on June 23, 2023, following a series of elimination rounds held between June 6 and 7, 2023.
The trio, Abdul Isa Salihu, Peace Monday and Augusta Opane Okyuwa, won the keenly contested competition with 50 points.
Anglican Girls High School, Benin-City, and Government Girls Secondary School, Yola, finished second and third, with 40 and 35 points, respectively.
The winning team as well as the first and second runners-up will be presented with their prizes at the ASAP national conference scheduled to hold on June 26 at the National State House, Abuja.
The quiz competition was organized by the MTN Foundation in partnership with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to raise awareness about substance abuse among secondary school students and promote healthy lifestyle choices. Eighteen schools across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria participated in the competition, competing for the coveted prize of being crowned champions.
The event, which was held at Barcelona International Hotel, Abuja, and was attended by representatives of the MTN Foundation, NDLEA, and UNODC, students from participating schools, teachers, and other key stakeholders concerned with combating substance abuse among young people.
The competition was intense, and the participating schools had to showcase their knowledge and understanding of the dangers of substance abuse, addiction, and other related topics.
The trio from PTA/NADP International College, Lafia, Nasarawa State displayed exceptional knowledge and emerged as the winners of the competition, beating their competitors by a significant margin. They expressed their excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to participate in such an important event, describing the experience as an ‘life-changing’ one.
Speaking of her experience, Peace Monday said, “This competition has helped me to learn a good deal about substance abuse and I intend to go home and spread the knowledge I have gathered with my family and friends in school and in fact, everyone around the world.”
Speaking to the participants in the competition, the Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, encouraged them to positively influence others with the knowledge received through the competition. She said, “Every child has a sphere of influence.
Everyone here is making history today. This is an experience that should stay with you for a lifetime. When you leave here, you should become ambassadors in the fight against substance abuse and positively impact your sphere of influence.”
In addition to the quiz competition, the event featured other activities aimed at raising awareness about drug abuse and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. Members from the University of Abuja Theatre Group presented a captivating drama that highlighted the effects of substance abuse on individuals, families, and communities.
Also, representatives of the participating schools presented various speeches on the theme of the 2023 World Drug Day, which is, “People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention”.
The Country Manager, UNODC, in a speech presented by the National Programme Officer, UNODC, Folusho Ajayi Adelekan, said, “There are projections that the drug use prevalence in Africa will increase by 40% by 2030 and for a country like Nigeria with a teeming youth population, this is alarming and should be a wake up call to everyone, not just NDLEA, or other stakeholders currently working in this field. All hands must be on deck to reverse this negative trend. Our youth are our future and the current indices do not bode well for the future of the country.”
The Chairman, NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd’ OFR) in his remarks presented by the Secretary, NDLEA, Shadrach Usman Haruna said the competition is expected to improve the choices of young people on the matter of substance abuse.
He said, “It is hoped that this quiz competition will provide the Knowledge and necessary information to make healthier personal choices and avoid risky situations that can predispose one to drug use, and it is also hoped that you would teach others who did not have the opportunity of being part of the whole exercise.”
The MTN Foundation ASAP Quiz Competition is one of the many ways the Foundation is contributing to creating a healthy society. By focusing on education and awareness, the competition aims to reduce the rate of substance abuse among young people and ultimately contribute towards building a brighter future for Nigeria.
The competition highlights the importance of education and awareness in tackling substance abuse among young people and also reiterates the need for all stakeholders to work together to create a safer, healthier society.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has dismissed claims of a telecommunications tariff hike allegedly set to take effect in January 2025.
The Commission described the reports as false and unfounded, urging subscribers to disregard the misinformation.
A senior NCC official, emphasised that the regulatory body operates under a transparent framework guided by the Nigerian Communications Act, according to Punch Newspaper.
According to the official, this framework requires stakeholder consultations and strict adherence to due process before any tariff adjustments are approved.
“These rumours are baseless and misleading. The NCC is committed to protecting consumers and ensuring that any potential tariff changes are communicated clearly and transparently,” the official stated.
“Subscribers can rest assured that no tariff increase has been approved,” he added.
The NCC also appealed to journalists and industry stakeholders to verify information before publication, stressing the importance of accurate reporting to avoid unnecessary public panic.
Reiterating its commitment to consumer interests and the stability of the telecommunications industry, the Commission assured Nigerians that updates on tariffs or related matters would always be communicated through official channels.
The Association of Telephone, Cable TV, and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) also addressed the rumours.
Speaking in Lagos, Mr Sina Bilesanmi, national president, ATCIS, stated that the association sought clarification directly from the NCC on December 24, 2024.
“The NCC confirmed there is no truth to claims of call charges increasing to N15.40 per minute from N11, SMS charges rising to N5.60, or 1GB of data costing N1,400 instead of N1,000.
“Any changes in tariffs, if necessary, will follow due process and involve input from all stakeholders, including ATCIS. There is no cause for alarm,” Bilesanmi said.
Both the NCC and ATCIS emphasised their commitment to consumer protection and urged subscribers to rely on verified information from credible sources.
Telecom
UnoTelos and Niral Networks Forge Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Connectivity in Africa
UnoTelos, a leading telecommunications innovator in Nigeria, has announced a groundbreaking strategic partnership with Niral Networks, an advanced Private 5G and EDGE AI computing solutions provider from India.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in addressing connectivity challenges and driving digital transformation across Africa.
Transformative Connectivity Solutions
The partnership between UnoTelos and Niral Networks emerges from a shared vision to overcome critical network infrastructure limitations that have traditionally hindered technological progress in the region. By combining UnoTelos’ deep understanding of the African market with Niral Networks’ cutting-edge NiralOS 5G Core and Edge AI technology, the collaboration aims to deliver secure, low-latency, and scalable connectivity solutions.
“This partnership is more than a technological alliance—it’s about empowerment,” said Jude Egbokwu, Founder & CEO of UnoTelos. “We are not just solving connectivity problems; we’re creating opportunities for businesses to innovate, grow, and compete on a global stage.”
“Our collaboration with UnoTelos represents a pivotal moment in the digital transformation journey across Africa. By integrating Niral Networks’ advanced Private 5G and Edge AI technologies with UnoTelos’ profound system integration capabilities and market insights, we are not just deploying telecom infrastructure—we are engineering ecosystems for innovation. This partnership is strategically designed to address the continent’s most critical connectivity challenges, enabling industries from mining to oil & gas to leapfrog technological barriers and compete on a global scale,” said Abhijit Chaudhary, Founder & CEO of Niral Networks.
Strategic Focus and Initial Deployments
The initial partnership will concentrate on pilot projects across key strategic sectors, including:
- Mining
- Oil and Gas
- Manufacturing
- Shipping & Ports
- Aviation & Airports
- Logistics & Warehousing
The modular design of NiralOS Private 5G and Edge provides the flexibility to customize solutions that meet the unique requirements of each industry, ensuring efficient and targeted deployment.
Technological Innovation and Market Differentiation
By leveraging NiralOS Private 5G and Edge, UnoTelos is positioning itself at the forefront of telecommunications innovation. The partnership enables enterprises in Nigeria to access advanced connectivity solutions that were previously unavailable or prohibitively expensive.
Key technological advantages include:
- Secure and reliable private network infrastructure
- Low-latency communication
- Scalable edge computing capabilities
- Tailored solutions for specific industry needs
Economic and Developmental Impact
The partnership is expected to catalyse digital transformation across multiple sectors. Potential applications include smart factory solutions, enhanced remote operations, and sophisticated IoT-enabled systems that can dramatically improve operational efficiency and competitiveness.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, UnoTelos and Niral Networks envision expanding their collaboration, with plans to:
- Increase deployment scope
- Develop more advanced connectivity solutions
- Support the development of Private 5G & EDGE infrastructure
- Advance critical sectors like telemedicine and autonomous systems
Since Friday, December 27, 2024, when Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, announced an increase in its monthly subscription prices across Nigeria, effective immediately for new customers and starting January 27, 2025, for existing users, the industry regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is yet to react officially.
In an email to its subscribers on Friday, the company stated that the price adjustments are necessary to enhance its network infrastructure and maintain the delivery of high-quality internet service across the country.
The new pricing structure is as follows: Standard (Residential) ₦75,000, Mobile – Regional (Roam Unlimited) ₦167,000, and Mobile – Global (Global Roam) ₦717,000.
“These changes reflect our commitment to investing in the infrastructure needed to support and improve your experience with Starlink,” the company said.
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