Telecom
NCC Announces Virtual Hackathon to Reward Covid-19 Tech-driven Solutions

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has opened entry for adaptable digital solutions for addressing the impacts of pandemic and epidemic prone-diseases from technology hubs, startups, and innovation digital SMEs in Nigeria.
The announcement was made public on its official website.
The commission, aside from being the regulator of the country’s telecommunications industry, also supports amongst other things, the development of innovative services and life-changing solutions, leveraging on Information Communications Technologies (ICTs) to promote indigenous content development, economic growth and social advancement in Nigeria.
“Pursuant to this objective, the commission invites entries from tech hubs, startups and innovation digital SMEs with promising and adaptable digital solutions that will aid in containing the impacts of pandemic and epidemic-prone diseases in Nigeria to a virtual Hackathon.
“The top three startups with the most promising digital Solutions will receive a grant of N3 million each from the commission to aid the development and deployment of these solutions in Nigeria,” the NCC said on Tuesday.
According to the commission, interested applicants will need to have solutions that address issues in the under fields of interest including:
Health: finding ways to empower Healthcare workers on the front lines and bring support to individuals isolated at home. It should also include solutions to prevent, trace, and contain the spread of Coronavirus in Nigeria.
Community: help with digital communications that will aid the sustenance of economic activities and people to people communication while encouraging social distancing.
Productivity: Enhance the productivity of people working from home during this Lockdown and beyond.
Education: Easy to Deploy, accessible, and cost-effective eLearning Solutions for Public Schools.
Transportation: Improve safety in public transportation facilities in Nigeria.
According to the NCC, criteria for evaluation of the proposed digital solutions include adherence of proposal to stated requirements, novelty, clear problem statement, and explanation of the proposed solution.
Another measure of acceptance for the solution is that each solution including prototype development must be concluded within two months of receipt of the grant and proof of concept, that is, the feasibility of idea with diagram, algorithm, among others.
NCC explained that submissions of the proposal will undergo preliminary assessment.
It said: “The proposals that are adjudged most promising and capable of positively impacting the fight against COVID-19 may be invited for defense of the proposals before a decision is taken on winners.
“Interested tech hubs, startups, and innovation digital SMEs are invited to submit soft copies (email to yikabir@ncc.gov.ng; fbruce@ncc.gov.ng; chimezie@ncc.gov.ng) on or before 5 pm, Monday 17th July 2020.
“Please note that all emails should indicate ‘Digital Solutions for Covid-19’ in the subject field. Any proposal submitted after the deadline will be rejected automatically.”
Telecom
Telcos Warn 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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