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Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining and Materials Engineers (NIMMME or 3M) hosts Fellowship Ceremony & Honours Illustrious Nigerians

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Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining and Materials Engineers (NIMMME also called 3M), a Division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has honoured Nigerians for their illustrious contributions to the growth of Metallurgical and Mining industry in Nigeria.

The Institution bestowed the honourary award during the 2nd public lecture themed; “Ezekwe-Barberopoulos-Obikwelu (EBO) Honourary Lecture” held on Friday 1st December 2023 at the transmission company of Nigeria hall, in Abuja.

The public lecture christened after three illustrious individuals, namely Prof Gordian Ezekwe, Mr. Romeo Barberopoulos and Prof D.O.N. Obikwelu was aimed at rewarding Nigerians with stellar contributions to the industry.

The Highlights of the event came when each of these Individuals were honoured and they all had someone who spoke on their behalf.

Prof Onwue Abdulmalik Ibrahim R and Barberopoulos and Dr. Ibrahim Agava

Vassily Barberopoulos, the son of Romeo Barberopoulos, who delivered a keynote speech, spoke on behalf of his late Father.

It would be recalled that Late Romeo Barberopoulos established and ran the leading metals foundry in West Africa in 1969 after being one of the engineers to set up Africa’s first TV Station WNTV Ibadan, during his time with Leventis Group.

His Son, Mr. Oye Vassily Barberopoulos (The current MD) is more Nigerian than most of us and knows all corners of the country and has taken the company to new heights in mining, oil and gas and machine parts among others.

He is an authority in Additive Manufacturing (especially 3D printing) in Africa and took us through the opportunities and threats to existing fabrication industries, National during the 2nd Ezekwe-Barberopoulos-Obikwelu EBO Honourary Lecture. keeping the inspiration of the greats alive

Similarly, Professor Onwue Abdulmalik Ibrahim, a Research Director at NASENI, Abuja HQ spoke as Guest Lecturer for Prof Gordian Ezekwe.

Prof Onuwe started by explained how Late Prof Gordian Ezekwe hired him not caring where he came from but that he won NYSC prize as a pioneer staff of NASENI (which Prof Ezekwe founded during the IBB era).

How he worked with him closely in drafting, welding, fitting in the workshop even on Sundays, bringing innovations and ideas to life.

And how Prof. Ezekwe mentored him to a sterling career at NASENI passing through many departments and subsidiaries coming from OND and is a full Professor of Mechanical Engineering today.

Michael Orekyeh by Prof Obikwelu Banner

Michael Orekyeh by Prof Obikwelu Banner

He talked of NASENI and its drive for local capabilities and manufacturing and its willingness to partner with 3M and NSE on research and other activities to drive technology in Nigeria.

Also, Late Prof. Gordian Obumneme Ezekwe, an illustrious son of Abagana received a post- humous award from Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining and Material Engineers during the ceremony.

The President Umuada Abagana National Association Iyom Dr. Mrs Ajia Ogugua Agagbo received the award on behalf of his family.

Late Prof. Gordian Obumneme Ezekwe was a Nigerian inventor, mechanical engineer and former Federal Minister of Science and Technology under General Ibrahim Babangida from 1989 to 1991.

He was a former Director of the Projects Development Agency (PRODA) (later renamed Institute), founder and first Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering, Infrastructure (NASENI) and founder of Science Equipment Development Institute (SEDI). Prof. Gordian Ezekwe was the first Nigerian PhD in Mechanical Engineering (1959).

Earlier, Dr. Friday I Apeh (a Director in NIBRRI) a Past National Chairman of 3M, spoke as Lecturer on behalf of Prof Daniel O.N. Obikwelu.

Prof. Obikwelu who was unavoidably not able to make the event, though he participated fully during the 1st Edition of the Ezekwe-Barberopoulos-Obikwelu EBO Honourary Lecture held in Awka, Anambra State 2022.

He is an award-winning student and researcher at the Michigan State University having done work for NASA and The US Navy. He worked in Delta Steel Company (DSC) Aladja, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) helping set up the SITP program that trained hundreds of Engineers in hands on Technology and also established Metallurgical Engineers as a distinct discipline in Shell HR and enable Metallurgy graduates work in Shell.

He worked at Nnamdi Aziliwe University, ESUT and the University of Nigeria Nsukka UNN, where with the help of the then VC, Prof Chinedu Ositadinma Nebo (Former Minster of Power) they set up the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering department at UNN. He was conferred Fellow of NIMMME.

The Institution executed new Membership Induction of over 110 inductees, 47 Fellows and 2 Honourary Fellows.

Such Fellows included

1) Prof Samson Duna DG NIBRRI (Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute)

2) Prof Hussaini Doko Ibrahim DG RMRDC (Raw Materials Research and Development Council)

3) Prof Chinedu Nebo form Minister of Power and current VC University on the Niger Onitsha

4) Mr. Obadiah Nkom DG Mining Cadastre Office , Abuja

5) Prof Adisa Ademola Bello Registrar COREN

6) Prof DON Obikwelu

7) Engr Jacob Titilope Adeyemo MD GeoCardinal Engineering

8) Prof AbdulGaniyu Funsho Alabi a Past National Chairman

9) Prof Aje Tokan the current National Chairman

10) Engr Michael Orekyeh of the Anambra State Ministry of Works

11) Engr Valerie Agberagba a General Manager at NDPHC

Other Fellows Conferred at the event included.

1) Engr Henry Bolarinwa

2) Prof David Esezobor

3) Engr Chinasaokwu Okorie

4) Engr Joseph Gansallo

5) Engr Sunday Agbalajobi

6) Engr Oduche Azih

7) Engr Kennedy Ibechem

8) Prof Leke Oluwole

9) Engr Ikenna Okonkwo (a Manager in NNPC)

10) Engr Fidelis Ezenwankwo MD Castmaster Ltd Kano

11) Engr Tafa Abubakar Quarry Manager BUA Cement

12) Engr Abdulraman Ottan

13) Prof Abdul Rahman Asipita Salawu of FUT Minna

15) Prof Jamiu Kolawole Odusote of Unillorin

16) Engr Ese Ochoga a Past Chairman

17) Engr Joy Ogbodo of SEDI Enugu

18) Prof Yusuf Shuaib-Banata of Unillorin
19) Engr Ayodele Mesaiyete of Lagarge Wapco

20) Engr Yahya Bukar a Director in Standards Organization of Nigeria

21) Engr Christian Onyibo a Director in Federal Ministry of Work, Abuja

The event was graced by many Dignitaries in the NSE and COREN space such as Engr Ali Rabiu MFR – immediate past President COREN, Vice President North Central Engr Joseph Adebayo, who represented the NSE President Engr Tasiu Saad Gidari-Wudil FNSE, National EXCO members, Branch Chairmen and many others.

Diran Onifade, a veteran Broadcast journalist was the Moderator of the event.


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Telecom

Airtel Recommits to Fraud Prevention after NCC’s N104m Fine for SIM Registration Breaches

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Airtel Nigeria has restated its commitment to transparency, customer safety, and regulatory collaboration following recent regulatory enforcement by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Airtel Recommits to Fraud Prevention after NCC’s N104m Fine for SIM Registration Breaches

The NCC had served Airtel Nigeria a notice of sanction over some alleged SIM infractions in Kano State and consequently slammed a fine of N104 million on the telecommunications firm.

NCC had in  a letter, addressed to Airtel Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, dated May 26, 2025, signed by Chizua Whyte, head, Legal and Regulatory Services, and Mohammed Dari, acting head, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement,  on behalf of Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, NCC,  titled: ‘Notice of Sanction: Non-Compliance with SIM Registration Directive in Kano,’ where the infractions were spelt out.

According to NCC, Airtel infractions include unauthorised SIM registrations using 198 unapproved devices, resulting in 8,275 registrations outside the 281 verified Airtel shops; premature activation of 63 MSISDNs prior to proper SIM registration, contrary to the provisions of the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 2022; failure to conduct effective eyeballing, leading to 407 fraudulent SIM registrations with multiple NINs, contrary to the provision of the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 2022 and failure to provide satisfactory explanation for SIM registrations conducted between 12.00 a.m and 6.00 a.m.

On the matter, the letter revealed that there were some letter exchanges and subsequent meetings on the infractions between the telecom regulator and Airtel, starting from January 12, 2025, March 19, 2025, March 24, 2025, and March 27, 2025, respectively.

Apparently, after investigations and responses from Airtel, the NCC was not satisfied and this led to the fine of N104 million, which was to be paid within seven days from the date the letter was issued.

Specifically, NCC fined Airtel N5 million, N12 million, N81.4 million and N5 million for the infractions respectively.

Reacting, Airtel, expressed appreciation to the NCC for uncovering the infractions, describing the development as a critical opportunity to strengthen internal processes and further align with national security and regulatory expectations

“We thank the NCC for its vigilance and continued support in protecting the integrity of the telecoms ecosystem. Airtel takes these findings seriously and is already implementing corrective measures,” a spokesperson for the company said.

Only recently, Airtel Nigeria’s CEO recently announced that the company is doubling its investment in the country, focusing on network expansion, fiber-to-the-street rollout, 4G/5G deployment, customer care upgrades, and digital infrastructure security.

These investments reinforce Airtel’s long-term vision of building a resilient and forward-looking telecom network that meets the evolving needs of Nigerians.

“Our systems are constantly evolving to stay ahead of scammers and malicious actors,” the spokesperson added. “This is not just about compliance; it’s about our responsibility to the millions of Nigerians who rely on Airtel daily.”

Airtel Nigeria says it will continue to work closely with the NCC and other arms of government to ensure high standards of service and safety for all telecom users nationwide.

 

 

 

 


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Kenya Beats Nigeria As the Most Progressive ICT Regulation in Africa

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Kenya is celebrating its regulatory ecosystem being ranked as the most progressive in Africa. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has ranked the East African country first in its most recent ICT Regulatory Tracker.

ITU’s ICT Regulatory Tracker is an evidence-gathering tool for decision-makers and regulators. It demonstrates the effectiveness of regulatory systems in the age of technology.

The ITU evaluates the design of the national regulatory authority, the scope of the regulatory mandate, the obtaining regulatory environment, and the robustness of the competition framework in member countries.

Kenya received 93 points, up from 92 in 2023, and now leads the continent in best practices for ICT regulations.

Nigeria and South Africa finished second and third, with 92 and 88 points respectively. Malawi, Egypt, Rwanda, Morocco, Uganda, Burkina Faso, and Senegal complete the top 10 list.

Globally, Kenya was ranked 20th out of 194 countries covered.Italy led the rankings, with 100 points.

The regulator, Communications Authority (CA) of Kenya, said the achievement underscored Kenya’s commitment to creating a robust, technology-neutral regulatory environment that supports innovation, affordability and access.

Steve Isaboke, permanent secretary for broadcasting and telecommunications, visited CA Centre in Nairobi following the announcement on Thursday.

“The ranking is a clear testament of the excellent work that CA has done in spearheading Kenya’s digital transformation and driving digital access for all,” he said.

“After 25 years, CA’s regulatory regime has attained maturity, and gained global recognition. This ranking shows that the CA staff and leadership are executing their work diligently.”


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MTN’s Female Leadership Surges to 41.4%, Doubles Industry Average

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MTN Nigeria Communications PLC has announced a significant increase in female representation within its leadership, with women now making up 41.4% of its workforce, a notable rise from 38.7% in 2023.

MTN

This figure reportedly doubles the industry average, positioning MTN Nigeria as a frontrunner in gender diversity within Nigeria’s ICT sector.

The company’s recently released 2024 Annual Report highlights its sustained commitment to workplace inclusion and gender equality, aligning with its “Ambition 2025” strategy. Female representation within the executive management team has reached approximately 46.7%.

MTN Nigeria attributes this progress to dedicated initiatives aimed at empowering women professionally. These include the “Women in Tech” programme, which provides targeted upskilling in high-demand fields such as Cloud Computing, Software Engineering, AI/ML, Data Science, and Cyber Security.

The “MTN Y’ello Mums Internship Programme” also supports young mothers in their transition back into the corporate world after career breaks.

Odunayo Sanya, executive director of the MTN Foundation, was recognised as the CSI Personality of the Year at the Nigeria Tech Innovation & Telecoms Awards (NTITA), further underscoring the company’s impactful social initiatives.

Additionally, Uto Ukpanah, the company secretary, received the inaugural Global Corporate Secretary of the Year Award from the Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA).

Speaking at a recent conference, Odunayo Sanya, emphasised the importance of balancing profitability and sustainability equation, saying, “Businesses today need to be purpose-driven. While the soul of business is profitability, it is not profitability alone that should matter to stakeholders.”

Uto Ukpanah, added, “Showcasing our corporate values and ethos to the world opens the door for greater collaboration with other organisations, as we believe there’s a lot to learn when we all come together. Governance continues to evolve. The challenges today are not the same as they were 10 years ago. Greater accountability is expected, and companies can only continue to do better.”

The company’s broader efforts in diversity and inclusion have been acknowledged with multiple accolades, including the Corporate Responsibility Award. MTN Nigeria also received the “Employer of the Year” award at the 4th Edition of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) Employers’ Excellence Awards.

Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, in the report, reiterated the company’s commitment to building a purpose-driven organisation, emphasising that its success is intrinsically linked to its people and their dedication to a shared vision.

“Since we initiated our culture transformation journey in 2021, our culture transformation has significantly enhanced employee engagement and organisational cohesion. It’s directly strengthened our ability to deliver outstanding business performance and drive sustainable long-term value for all our stakeholders.”


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