Telecom
NITDA Trains 40 Journalists on Digital Journalism, Fact-Checking
The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has trained 40 media professionals and social media influencers in digital journalism and fact–checking, to stem the tide of fake news.
The Agency’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Hadiza Umar, said in her keynote address at the event in Birnin Kebbi on Friday that the agency was committed to expanding the digital space.
She said the two-day capacity-building workshop, themed “Digital Journalism, Media Ethics and Fact-Checking” would help promote strong, digital-based journalism that serves the best and broadest interests of the nation.
Umar said the goal of the workshop was for practitioners to learn how to do fact checks to help them do due diligence on any information that comes their way.
This, she says, is part of her efforts to help stem the tide of fake news.
He said that NITDA had identified development regulation, digital transformation, digital literacy and skills, promotion of indigenous content, among the seven crucial strategic pillars for the development of the digital economy.
Ms Umar said: “In organizing this crucial event, we are grateful to Image Merchants Promotion Ltd, IMPR, Penlight Center for Investigative Journalism, Khadimiyya Foundation, for their collaboration as our regular partners in progress.
“There is no doubt about the fact that we are in the digital age where everything is now based on computers and the Internet.
“We are interested, therefore, in our journalists taking advantage of the digital tools available to do their job better and better serve the country.”
Ms Umar, represented by Penlight Center Project Manager Dahiru Lawal, identified the authoritative presence of social media as one of the challenges posed by the digital age.
“Of course, unregulated social media is a free market where anything goes.
“Fake news, toxic content, hateful stuff, divisive and inciting narratives are prevalent there because there are no gatekeepers or regulators to direct the traffic.
“So the theme of this year’s workshop is very appropriate and timely,” he said.
Ms. Umar invited the participants to deepen their knowledge of social media management which, she said, would help them take advantage of social media and avoid its pitfalls.
While presenting his article, Dr. Mansur Buhari, from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, identified the misapplication of the journalistic race against time, RAT, as one of the reasons for the rapid spread of disinformation and misinformation in Nigeria.
“One of the reasons for the rapid spread of disinformation and misinformation in Nigeria is the misapplication of the journalistic race against time, even by supposedly trained journalists who want to be the first to break the news with only half the time. the image,” he said.
According to him, the lack of patience and resilience to get the full picture before releasing information has embarrassed so many great journalists.
A cross-section of participants when interviewed expressed satisfaction with the workshop and thanked NITDA for its efforts in the fight against fake news.
Telecom
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year
The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.
The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.
These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.
Here are some of the featured talents:
- Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
- Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
- Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
- Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
- David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
- Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.
Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.
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.
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
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