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PMI Drives Digital Transformation at Tech Revolution Africa 2025

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US-based Project Management Institute (PMI), the leading authority in project management, will showcase industry-leading certifications and offerings tailored for technology professionals, entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders, and innovators at the Tech Revolution Africa Conference 2025.

PMI’s participation at the event reflects its focus on connecting with a diverse audience critical to Africa’s technological growth.

Effective project management is critical to ensuring success as digital transformation reshapes industries across the continent. PMI’s certifications, like the Project Management Professional (PMP), are globally recognised as the gold standard for project leaders, equipping them with the tools and methodologies needed to drive innovation and deliver results.

The need for structured project execution, stakeholder management, and strategic planning is growing rapidly, especially as organisations navigate complex technological shifts.

PMI helps address these challenges by fostering a workforce capable of managing projects in an agile, cost-effective, and scalable manner.

Digital transformation initiatives require a combination of strategic oversight and precise execution, making certified professionals uniquely equipped to lead in this space.

“Technological innovation is accelerating across Africa, creating both opportunities and challenges. At PMI, we are dedicated to empowering the tech ecosystem with the skills and certifications to manage this complexity, deliver successful projects, and shape a brighter future,” said George Asamani, Managing Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, PMI.

At the event, PMI will showcase its globally recognised certifications, such as the PMP, Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), as well as its dynamic Membership benefits and PMI Infinity™ 2.0, an AI-powered project management coach designed to deepen expertise, master complex topics, and elevate execution to drive project success.

Powered by GPT-4o (omni), PMI Infinity™ 2.0 is optimised for quicker and more accurate results with an expanded knowledge base from firms like Cognilytica, Green Project Management & Centre for Creative Leadership. With new document generation capabilities and custom templates, PMI Infinity™ users can benefit from enhanced efficiency, productivity, and optimised workflows. Users can now input project details to create and refine essential documents for project-based work, such as project charter documents.

Studies show certified project managers deliver projects more successfully, improving productivity and reducing costly delays. According to the PMI’s Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey, project managers with PMP certification earn higher median salaries than those without PMP certification, 33% higher on average across the 21 countries surveyed.

PMP-certified project professionals in Nigeria demonstrated an even greater lift, reporting an increase of 60% in median salary compared to their non-certified peers.

PMI membership further enhances this advantage by providing unparalleled opportunities for learning, collaboration, and professional growth.

Members gain access to global thought leadership, advanced tools, and exclusive insights to tackle the complexities of the digital age. With mentorship opportunities, networking events, and a supportive global community, PMI membership empowers tech professionals to transform challenges into opportunities and advance their careers.

“Project professionals turn to PMI for cutting-edge resources and methodologies to drive transformation in their careers, organisations, and industries.

“Through our recent partnership with Scrum Alliance and  Cognilytica’s acquisition we are expanding access to Agile resources while pioneering the integration of AI into project management.

“These advancements will empower professionals to lead confidently and navigate the complexities of AI-driven transformation on a global scale,” adds Asamani.

Attendees are invited to visit PMI’s booth at the Tech Revolution Africa, Oriental Hotel, Lagos, on January 31st and February 1st, 2025, to explore certification programmes, experience PMI Infinity™, and connect with industry leaders shaping Africa’s digital future.

“This strategic partnership between PMI and Tech Revolution Africa further strengthens the vibrant tech ecosystem, expanding the frontiers for more project professionals amongst innovators and the brightest talents you can find in Africa,” said David Ogebe, co-founder of Tech Revolution Africa.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

Telecom

Telcos May Collapse without 50 Percent Tariff Hike-   MTN Chief

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Tobe Okigbo, MTN Nigeria’s chief corporate services and sustainability officer
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Tobe Okigbo, MTN Nigeria’s chief corporate services and sustainability officer,  has painted a bleak picture during the telecom CEOs forum in Lagos, emphasising the urgent need to address pricing challenges.

Telcos May Collapse without 50 Percent Tariff Hike-   MTN Chief

Tobe Okigbo, MTN Nigeria’s chief corporate services and sustainability officer

He highlighted the contrast between soaring costs for essential goods—like tomatoes, bread, and potatoes, which have increased by over 100% in the past year—and stagnant telecom tariffs.

“The discussion should not be about whether we should increase prices; it should be about whether we want a telecom sector that continues to drive the Nigerian economy. If operators can no longer sustain services due to financial strain, the cost of restoring the industry will be immense,” Okigbo stated.

Unlike electricity, which offers backup solutions like generators, telecommunications networks have no such alternatives. Network failures would cripple businesses, financial transactions, and everyday communication.

The proposed 50% tariff increase, Okigbo stressed, is not about profit but survival, necessary to maintain network operations, enhance service quality, and expand coverage to unconnected rural areas.

“The last cost study was conducted in 2021 but was never implemented because the government felt the suggested price hikes were too high. The reality is, the study recommended a 100% increase, but the government only approved 50%,” Okigbo explained.

Fiber cuts and vandalism pose significant challenges. MTN Nigeria experiences 37 fiber cuts daily, while Airtel suffers 44, largely due to construction activities and theft.

These disruptions degrade service quality, leading to dropped calls and slow internet speeds. Okigbo believes the government’s designation of telecom infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), with stricter penalties for damaging telecom assets, will improve service quality within the next three months.

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), echoed these concerns, warning of widespread insolvency if financial losses continue.

“The telecom sector is the superhighway of the economy. If it collapses, the entire economy will suffer. The number of telecom operators has already declined due to financial pressures. Without urgent action, the sector could hit a tipping point from which recovery would be extremely difficult,” Adebayo cautioned.

Adebayo dismissed arguments for artificially low telecom prices due to economic hardship.

“Telecom operators cannot subsidise the economic difficulties in other sectors. If prices stay unsustainably low, service quality will deteriorate, and ultimately, the industry will collapse,” he warned.

He used a powerful analogy to illustrate the industry’s plight: “If a patient needs 100 litres of oxygen and you only provide 10, we all know what happens. The proposed 50 litres is already a compromise—a lifeline that allows us to survive, recover, and contribute to the economy,” he said.

Following government approval of the 50% price increase, telecom operators have submitted tariff adjustment proposals to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Ugonwa Nwoye, MTN Nigeria’s chief customer relations and experience officer, confirmed the ongoing regulatory process, stating that customers should expect phased price adjustments in the coming weeks, with full implementation anticipated by February. Operators have pledged transparency in communicating the new rates and minimising service disruptions.


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Customers’ USSD Access Intact as Banks’ Settle USSD Debt

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Almost all e nine banks earmarked for disconnection from Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) service over a N160 billion debt have reportedly made good progress in terms of repayment, guarantees that none of them will lose access to USSD services.

Customers’ USSD Access Intact as Banks’ Settle USSD Debt

USSD is a communication protocol that allows users to send short messages and commands to their mobile network operator’s computers. USSD is also known as “feature codes” or “quick codes”.

USSD is a crucial payment gateway for many Nigerians, and its disconnection would have cut off many from essential banking services.

In a notice on January 15, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed that it would cut off the USSD access of nine banks over their inability to settle their USSD accumulated since 2019 by January 27. However, these banks have rushed to de-escalate the issue, ensuring that their customers will continue to use USSD for financial services.

At the weekend, Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), disclosed, “The matter has been de-escalated. Money has been paid, and we are making progress thanks to the regulators.”

Earlier in the week, Karl Toriola, chief executive officer,  MTN Nigeria, noted that telcos and banks have resolved their differences. “The USSD debt issue is resolved, thanks to the masterstroke by both the Central Bank of Nigeria and NCC.”

On Tuesday, January 28, BusinessDay reported that five of the nine banks had made some form of payment before the NCC’s deadline of January 27. The nine banks that would have been affected by the commission’s disconnection move included Fidelity Bank Plc (770), First City Monument Bank (329), Jaiz Bank Plc (773), Polaris Bank Limited (833), Sterling Bank Limited (822), United Bank for Africa Plc (919), Unity Bank Plc (7799), Wema Bank Plc (945), and Zenith Bank Plc (966).

Commercial banks have been unable to settle a payment dispute with telcos over USSD infrastructure since 2019, prompting the CBN and the NCC to order banks to pay a chunk of the USSD debt owed to telcos.

In a December 20 memo, the CBN and the NCC gave banks a December 31, 2024, deadline to pay 85 percent of all outstanding invoices (from February 2022). According to the NCC, nine of the 18 banks indebted to the telcos cleared over 90 percent of their debt by the deadline.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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MTN has Spent N11Bn to Fix 2,502km Fibre Cables – GSMA

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MTN Nigeria, the country’s biggest telecom operator, spent N11.1 billion repairing and relocating 2,502km of fibre-optic cables over two years, according to data from the new GSMA Nigeria Digital Economy report.

MTN has Spent N11Bn to Fix 2,502km Fibre Cables – GSMA

It stated that if these funds had been used for rollout instead of maintenance, the operator with 77 million subscribers could have laid an additional 870 km of new fibre.

The costs showed that MTN spent N4.4bn in the 2022 financial year to repair 1,069km of fibre and an additional N6.7bn in 2023 to fix 1,433km.

It attributed the fibre damages to construction activities, road projects, and acts of vandalism.

The impact of fibre cuts continues to hinder network expansion, with funds allocated to repairs potentially diverting resources from expanding coverage in under-served areas.

“As a result, fibre networks in Nigeria are more expensive to build and maintain than they otherwise would be. These costs are substantial. For instance, MTN Nigeria was required to relocate 1,069km of fibre cables in FY22 and a further 1,433km in FY23. The budgets allocated for these activities were N4.4bn and N6.7bn, respectively,” the document stated.

According to Angela Wamola, head of Sub-Saharan Africa – GSMA,, “Vandalism and other forms of damage have been causing significant losses to the sector. In some cases, the affected areas are easily accessible and can be quickly repaired.

However, the damage has resulted in sustained complaints from consumers about the availability of services. This is one of the areas we’ve modeled in our report, which highlights the impact of vandalism on the evolution of connectivity in Nigeria.”

As of 2023, Nigeria had deployed 78,676km of fibre-optic cable, with most concentrated in urban areas like Lagos (7,864.60km), Edo (4,892.71km), FCT (4,472.03km), Ogun (4,189.18km), and Niger (3,681.66km).

 


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