Telecom
NCC Backs Nigeria Innovation Summit 2019; Top Speakers Unveiled

The Nigeria Innovation Summit (NIS 2019) has continued to garner supports and endorsements ahead of the August 20 and 21 events in Lagos.
The latest partnership came from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); the country’s telecom regulator that has been on the vanguard for innovations, research and developments.
According to NCC, supporting NIS is in line with its commitment to promoting ICT innovation and investment opportunities and facilitating strategic collaboration and partnerships to grow the economy.
NIS is another unique opportunity to bring together key players/actors in the Nigerian technology ecosystem to deliberate and suggest policy, framework/strategy that could further deepen the sectorial contribution to other industries.
The collaborative Summit is a unique annual event that focuses on the need for the country, businesses, organisations, entrepreneurs to become more innovative and use innovation to drive sustainable development.
The Summit which is open to participation and sponsorship by Federal and State Government Agencies, indigenous and international organisations and individuals, helps Nigeria embrace innovation and move in the direction of digital transformation through the use of Emerging Technologies and Trends, Research, Development, Commercialization, Entrepreneurship and Investments as the key drivers of an innovation ecosystem.
This platform creates awareness on the need for Open Innovation in Nigeria, and challenges Nigeria to leverage innovation to become more competitive in the global economy.
The Summit holds Tuesday, August 20 and Wednesday August 21, 2019 at Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja Lagos, Nigeria, starting 9am each day. Registration is already on via the event website.
NIS, now in the fourth year, is an initiative led by Emerging Media and Advertising Services, New York, and Emerging Media Nigeria with support from TechEconomy.ng.
Confirmed speakers for the event include Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, EVC/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Obinnia Abajue, CEO, Hygeia HMO; Bruno Woeran, European Union Affairs Manager, Merinova Technology Centre (Finland); Tosin Faniro-Dada, Head, Startups (Lagos Innovates), Lagos State Employment Trust Fund; Prof Nii Quaynor, Africa Internet Pioneer
Chairman, Ghana Dot Com; Adesola Alli, Head, Renewable Energy, Strategy and Innovation at Sterling Bank Plc., Prof Wellington Oyibo
Director, Research and Innovation office, University of Lagos, amongst others.
Also, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Lagos State University (LASU), Landmark University, Mountain Top University, Igbinedion University, University of Port Harcourt, have all confirmed attendance with Bauchi, Kano, Edo and Ondo States indicated interest to participate aside other corporate organisations.
“We encourage world’s leading innovation providers from academic community, government and industry to partner with us in order to connect Nigerian businesses and innovators to global innovation ecosystems.
“We feel elated by NCC’s visionary approach in terms of supporting innovation in the country. Just recently, the Commission doled out millions of Nairs to support Universities to conduct R&D. this is what the country needs, especially to lift the economy from the quagmires of yesteryears.
Recall that Nigeria is placed 114th out of 129th in the recent Global Innovation Index. This is not acceptable. So, we call on all stakeholders to emulate NCC’s gestures towards supporting innovation in the country,” said the lead convener and Founder of Emerging Media, Kenneth Omeruo.
The key features of the Nigeria Innovation Summit are the Keynote Presentations and Panel Discussions from Industry/Business Leaders, Government, Investors, International Organisations, Top Entrepreneurs, CEOs and Innovation Managers across the world and across the focus sectors.
The Summit Focus for 2019:
Discussions at the Summit will drive attention to build an Innovation Ecosystem in Nigeria and connect with global innovation opportunities around the world and Exploring Open Innovation in Nigeria such as Innovation in Manufacturing Industry; Innovation through Emerging Technology Trends like Big Data and Data Centers, Cloud Computing, Internet of Things and Wearable Technologies.
Others are Innovation in Power and Energy, Agriculture, Banking, Finance and Investment, Oil and Gas, Education and Entrepreneurship, Health, Media and Entertainment, Women Technology and Entrepreneurship in Nigeria and Youths Technology and Entrepreneurship Development.
Similarly, the Nigeria Innovation Awards is another feature of the Summit, which recognizes and promotes States, Ministries, Companies, Organisations, Institutions, and Innovators that have embraced innovation to move Nigeria forward.
“Great Innovations come out of great Innovation Ecosystems. An innovation Ecosystem is made up of the Government/Public Sector participation, Businesses/Private and Industry participation, the academic/Research and development institutions, Entrepreneurs/Innovators and Startups.
“Each plays key roles and working together towards the goal of innovation and technology development in Nigeria. This is what Nigeria Innovation Summit is fostering.
“This year leading local and international organisations, government agencies, businesses will host workshops to educate, inform and empower Nigerians”, said Mr. Tony Ajah, the National Coordinator of NIS, explained.
Telecom
MTN Nigeria Unveils CPaaS Platform to Transform Business Communication

At the recently concluded NextNow Business Forum in Victoria Island, MTN Nigeria electrified the business community with a live demonstration of its forthcoming Communication Platform as a Service (CPaaS), a solution engineered to redefine how Nigerian enterprises connect with their customers.
Unlike traditional communication systems, MTN’s CPaaS is built for the realities of a mobile-first market. The platform unifies SMS, voice, WhatsApp, email, and more into a single, intuitive interface. This approach is especially significant in Nigeria, with over 107 million internet users, 45.4% of the total population, according to Data Report. This figure underscores the necessity for businesses to meet customers where they are.
During the demo, attendees witnessed how CPaaS enables two-way, real-time conversations between brands and customers. The platform’s support for rich media, instant analytics, and seamless integration with business workflows drew particular attention. These features are designed to empower businesses with data-driven insights and the agility to personalise every interaction, whether it’s a service notification, marketing campaign, or customer support exchange.
Akinbulejo Onabolu, Head of Enterprise Segment at MTN Nigeria, articulated the vision: “CPaaS gives enterprises the flexibility to interact with their customers on their preferred platforms; whether it’s chat, voice, or messaging, in a way that feels personal and immediate. We’re looking forward to the value this will unlock for businesses across industries once it launches.”
The fireside chat added depth to the conversation, with Omowunmi Olatunbosun, Head of SME Segment at MTN Nigeria, and Stephen Agbi of Bayobab, highlighting how digital engagement bridges the gap between businesses and audiences.
They emphasised that today’s consumers demand immediacy, relevance, and ease, qualities that CPaaS is built to deliver.
The stakes for digital transformation in Nigeria are high. In a report by Punch, the country’s enterprise tech market is projected to reach $22 billion by 2027, reflecting a surge in demand for scalable, cloud-based solutions that drive efficiency and customer loyalty.
The CPAAS Acceleration Alliance have estimated that globally, the CPaaS market is expected to grow from $14.7 billion in 2025 to $72.4 billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 18.4%, a testament to the platform’s transformative potential.
The event’s closing keynote from META’s Korhan Yunak reinforced the strategic value of digital channels like WhatsApp, which are now indispensable for business communication and engagement at scale.
As MTN Nigeria prepares for the Q3 2025 launch, the anticipation is unmistakable. With its promise of flexibility, intelligence, and seamless integration, MTN’s CPaaS platform is set to become the backbone of next-generation business-customer engagement in Nigeria, enabling enterprises to not just communicate but to connect, adapt, and grow in a digital-first era.
Telecom
MTN Mulls Establishment of Fintech Firm in Nigeria, Others

MTN Uganda is seeking input from stakeholders on a plan to structurally separate its mobile money service, MoMo, from its core telecoms business.
According to the company, the proposed change will be discussed at the upcoming extraordinary general meeting on July 2.
If approved, the telco’s fintech business will be run by a new company controlled by MTN Group Fintech Holdings B.V. and a trust benefiting minority shareholders following a merger.
Additionally, the restructuring also aligns with MTN Group’s ambition 2025 strategy which aims to unlock value, attract new investors, and strengthen regulatory compliance by creating standalone fintech entities in Uganda, Ghana, and Nigeria.
The company’s fintech division has over 13 million customers, with an 18.4% revenue increase in the first quarter of 2025, driven by 19.0% growth in mobile money services, 19.8% growth in transaction volumes, and a 31.4% increase in transaction value.
Reports say the decision is part of the telco’s compliance with the National Payment Systems Act 2020, which mandates mobile money businesses to operate as standalone entities, and to align with MTN Group’s regional fintech strategy.
MTN Uganda, which is led by CEO Sylvia Mulinge, highlighted that the implementation of the proposed transaction will be subjected to a number of conditions and regulatory procedures.
“The implementation of the proposed transaction shall be subject to a number of conditions, including the company and MTN MoMo receiving all required regulatory approvals and no-objections and complying with any regulatory conditions,” said MTN Uganda in notice.
Telecom
Netflix Expands European Presence with €1 Billion Investment in Spain

Netflix has announced plans to invest more than €1 billion in Spanish film and television productions over the next four years, reinforcing its commitment to Spain as a key creative hub in Europe.
The announcement was made by co-chief executive Ted Sarandos at an event held at Netflix’s production studios near Madrid, celebrating the company’s 10-year presence in the country.
Sarandos emphasized that the investment would contribute significantly to Spain’s economy, create jobs, and enable the streaming platform to produce more local content. He was joined by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in unveiling the initiative.
Netflix first established its international production studios in Madrid in 2019, following the success of the Spanish-language hit series Money Heist.
Since then, its 22,000-square-meter facility has become one of Netflix’s major production centers within the European Union.
The company currently supports over 20,000 jobs in Spain, highlighting the nation’s growing influence in global entertainment.
The investment reflects Netflix’s ongoing strategy to expand its presence in European markets through original content and local talent.
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