News
OVH Energy Marketing Graduates Over 200 Mechanics from Oleum Academy

Leading supplier and distributor of refined petroleum products, OVH Energy Marketing recently celebrated the graduation of over 200 mechanics from the third edition of the company’s Oleum Academy initiative following successful completion of an intensive three month course aimed at providing professional mechanics with the necessary skills to become automobile technicians.
The training offers participants diverse learning mediums including in-class instruction on subjects comprising auto diagnosis, electromotive and workshop management.
Inaugurated in Lagos with just 100 mechanics, the Oleum academy was conceived by OVH energy as a corporate investment and skills development programme targeted at bridging the skills gap amongst mechanics in the Nigerian auto-repair industry.
The initiative has since grown and was launched nationwide in 2016, with mechanics from Uyo, Abuja and Ibadan coming onboard.
Commenting on the purpose of the training, Lilian Ikokwu, head of Lubes, OVH Energy Marketing Ltd, said: “Our goal with Oleum academy was to create a well-qualified blue-collar workforce who are able to meet local industry demands, by providing the tools and resources required to remain relevant in the dynamic auto maintenance industry. We are proud of what we have achieved so far.”
Ikokwu added “Beyond the training, OVH Energy Marketing also supports graduates from the Oleum Academy in their trade with its Mechanic Oleum Reseller enterprise (M.O.R.E) – a reseller initiative that empowers mechanics to retail Oleum range lubricants at a flexible payment structure and attractive profit margin
On his part, Moruf Arowolo, chairman, Motor Mechanics & Technician association of Nigeria (MOMTAN), commended OVH Energy Marketing and its continued commitment to up skilling mechanics despite the difficult economic situation. According to him “training of mechanics is an important investment in the skilled labor force and overall economic development of Nigeria”.
One of the beneficiaries of the programme, Bankole Bashiru expressed his appreciation of Oleum academy training. According to him, “When we joined the academy we were all simply mechanics and apprentices, like any other person on the street but today I am very proud to say that we are now automobile technicians who have been trained to fix modern cars, and we owe this to OVH Energy”.
Fathia Akerele, a female auto technician and graduating student from Oleum Academy 2016 training also stated, “The past three months have been very rewarding, I started my apprenticeship two years ago, but with this training I have been exposed to different tools and learnt how to find out what is really wrong with a vehicle instead of doing trial and error. I feel so prepared and I am more confident because of all I have learnt.”
With Oleum Academy, OVH Energy Marketing is striving to achieve the country’s Vision 2020 agenda in becoming one of the twenty largest economies in the world. Mrs. Olaposi Williams, acting CEO OVH Energy Marketing noted as much saying: “Vision 2020 can only be achieved if we focus more on areas like human capital development and expertise. Hence, we have designed initiatives such as the Oleum Academy to train mechanics who can confidently exhibit skills that are of world class standards. If we can make world-class products like Oleum, we can also groom world-class talent.”
Williams noted that Oleum Academy plans to train 5000 Nigerian mechanics nationwide by 2020.
News
IHS Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to raising Nigeria’s Next Tech Giants from the Ilorin Innovation Hub

Telecommunications infrastructure provider, IHS Nigeria, has reiterated its commitment to transforming the Ilorin Innovation Hub into a leading destination for talent and technology development across North-Central Nigeria. The company envisions the Hub as a launchpad for future unicorns and a magnet for young innovators from Kwara State and the surrounding regions.
Speaking during a virtual town hall session organized by the Ilorin Innovation Hub with the theme “From Ilorin to the World: Building a Globally Recognized Technology Hub,”, Mr. Kazeem Oladepo, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of IHS Nigeria, emphasized the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and community engagement in nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
“We see the Ilorin Innovation Hub as a platform to attract top talent—not just from Ilorin, but from across the region’s tertiary institutions and tech ecosystem,” Oladepo said. “This is an opportunity to build globally impactful companies by harnessing local brilliance with global insight.”
Mr. Temi Kolawole, Managing Director/CEO of the Ilorin Innovation Hub, described the town hall as a homecoming for top minds with roots in Kwara State.
“This is a convergence of visionaries—people who’ve built, scaled, and invested in world-class companies—now giving back to shape a collective future,” Kolawole said. “Our partnership with IHS Nigeria exemplifies what’s possible when public sector ambition meets private sector expertise.”
Responding to a participant’s question on how individuals could contribute towards the growth of the hub, Mr. Oladepo encouraged industry experts present to engage directly with the Hub’s program managers – future Africa and Cc-Hub, provide mentorship, and help in aligning the training modules with local and global market realities.
“IHS is already investing financial, technical, and intellectual resources into the Hub. But to truly thrive, we need champions within the ecosystem—mentors who’ve built real businesses—to guide young people as they develop transformative ideas,” he noted.
Highlighting long-term sustainability, Oladepo called for the inclusion of successful professionals and entrepreneurs in the Hub’s activities to ensure relevance and adaptability.
“Let’s bring in those who’ve succeeded in fields like e-commerce, logistics, Healthtech, and Data Mining. Their insights can help refine the Hub’s programs and ensure participants extract real value,” he added.
Other speakers at the session included Ms. Anu Adasolum, Founder & CEO of Sabi, and Mr. Chris Folayan, Founder of Founder Centered. The virtual townhall was well attended with participants including tech enthusiasts, founders, startups drawn from both within and outside Nigeria.
News
Airtel Nigeria Promotes World Environment Day with Nationwide Sustainability Activities

Telecommunications provider, Airtel Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability with a nationwide campaign to combat plastic pollution in commemoration of World Environment Day 2025.
Themed “Ending Plastic Pollution”, this year’s events demonstrated the corporate mission of Airtel to champion environmental stewardship.
Tagged #UnPlasticAfrica, the company’s campaign began on June 3, mobilizing employees across six operating regions for a week of education, advocacy, and cleanup activities aimed at promoting sustainable living, in alignment with global efforts to reduce plastic pollution.
The activities kicked off with a Sustainability Seminar, led by Dr Hassan A. Sanuth, Director of Sanitation Services at the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, and focused on the role of the individual in reducing plastic waste while promoting practical recycling habits.
Following this educational session, all Airtel Nigeria employees took the “Eco Pledge” to commit to reusable containers.
In his remarks at the seminar, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, reaffirmed Airtel`s dedication to sustainability.
“As we invest in Nigeria’s digital future, we are equally committed to protecting the environment that sustains us. From AI-powered services that reduce paper use to partnerships that connect rural areas without environmental disruption, we are embedding sustainability into every layer of our operations,” he said.
Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Sanuth emphasized the urgency of addressing the plastic pollution crisis, particularly in urban centers like Lagos.
“Plastic waste is choking our drains, polluting our water bodies, and threatening public health. Every little action counts, from individuals making conscious choices to organizations taking bold steps and together, our collective efforts can make a significant impact in ending plastic pollution,” he noted.
He also highlighted the dangers of plastic waste, noting that microplastics have been traced in food, water, and even human blood and called for stronger policies and corporate accountability.
The highlight of the week was a market clean-up and sensitization drive held by Airtel employees in Abuja, Oyo, Benin, Enugu, and Kano. Airtel staff volunteers, in collaboration with local partners, led plastic collection efforts, conducted environmental hygiene training, and distributed over 3,000 branded reusable bags and parasols to market vendors and shoppers.
The World Environment Day campaign, nicknamed Earth Fest 2025, is part of Airtel Nigeria’s broader CSR Strategy, which continues to integrate environmental stewardship into its organizational practices.
News
NOTAP Boss Laments Loss of IPR by Nigerian Researchers

Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, director general, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), has expressed displeasure over the level of Intellectual Property Right (IPR) losses by Nigerian researchers due to insufficient knowledge of the benefits of IPR protection.
Speaking at a one-day Coordinator’s Forum organized by the Office in Uyo for the South-South geopolitical zone of the country, the Director General, represented by Mrs. Caroline Anie-Osuagwu, director of Technology Acquisition and Research Coordination (TARC) department, said that prior to the establishment of the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices (IPTTOs) in Nigerian knowledge establishments, Nigerian researchers had no deep knowledge of the importance of IP protection, hence losing their IP rights.
In a statement signed by Raymond Onyenezi Ogbu for the head, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of NOTAP, the DG advised researchers to always file for a patent each time they anticipate a breakthrough and avoid publishing before patenting, as any research work published in a paper is already in the public domain and can no longer be patented.
“IP rights are rights granted to a researcher or inventor by the government to have a monopoly over the financial exploitation of their inventions for a period of time to recoup the expenditure on their research undertaking”. the DG said.
She challenged patent owners to license or commercialize their inventions, adding that patents that cannot metamorphose into tangible products and services are not worth keeping, as they are liabilities to the owners.
The DG said that researchers with patented inventions can license their invention for royalty purposes or sell them outrightly to venture capitalists if they cannot commercialize.
“Over the years, the nation has depended on the consumption of products from foreign research, while Nigeria is blessed with skilled human resources but only needs to be strategic in their research understanding”.
“The aim of organizing the IPTTO coordinator’s forum was to interact with the coordinators, know their challenges and achievements, and encourage the centers that are not very progressive to strengthen their centers.” She added.
The DG stressed that while a number of centers are performing well, some are struggling to find their fit, occasioned by bureaucratic bottlenecks.
She expressed confidence in the ability of the research communities engaging in demand-driven and market-driven research to fast-track development adding that technology development is a product of research work, and knowledge institutions are duty-bound to engage in critical research to advance the IPR ecosystem in Nigeria.
Participants from the South-South Zone took turns to commend NOTAP for the impactful program and requested the Office to assist them with links to venture capitalists for the commercialization of their research results.
All the IPTTO coordinators presented their scorecards and were advised to get ready for the 2026 IPTTO ranking that would be organized by the Office.
- Telecom2 days ago
Airtel Recommits to Fraud Prevention after NCC’s N104m Fine for SIM Registration Breaches
- E-Financial3 days ago
PalmPay Seeks $100m Funding Round
- Telecom2 days ago
MTN’s Female Leadership Surges to 41.4%, Doubles Industry Average
- Telecom3 days ago
Anambra Cracks Down on Illegal ISPs, Cites Security, Service Concerns
- News3 days ago
FBI Busts Alleged Cyber Fraud Ring Led by Nigerian ‘Tech Queen’
- Broadcasting2 days ago
NCC Warns DJs: Playing Music Without License Could Lead to 5-Year Jail Term
- News3 days ago
NOTAP Boss Laments Loss of IPR by Nigerian Researchers
- E-Business3 days ago
NIMC Denies Blocking Police Commission from Verification Server