Technology Company, Globacom, is making mobile phone protection accessible and affordable for its subscribers with the launch of its new Device Protection service, a pioneering initiative in Nigeria.

The innovative offering enables both new and existing Glo subscribers to protect their mobile devices against screen and water damage for a small premium.

In partnership with Cubecover, this service allows new and existing Glo customers to protect their mobile devices against common screen and water damage. Mojeed Aluko, Globacom’s Head of Value Added Service (VAS) explained that a minimal daily premium of just ₦50, or ₦300 weekly, and ₦600 monthly ensures that a customer’s device can be covered.

He stated that the micro-protection plan offers up to ₦50,000 for screen repairs or replacement once the device has maintained an active subscription for one month.

“As a responsive and innovative network, we are leveraging this opportunity to provide meaningful protection to our customers, helping them stay connected even in the event of accidental damage”, said Aluko, highlighting Glo’s commitment to innovation and customer support.

Subscribers who wish to enjoy the service should dial *7013*1# to enroll via USSD. They will then select a preferred daily, weekly, or monthly package. Payments are debited directly from customers’ Glo airtime. After payment, a link will be sent for a quick screen integrity test. After passing the test, the device’s IMEI is registered with Cubecover, thus securing coverage.

Deji Macaulay, Managing Director of Cubecover, highlighted that this collaboration with Globacom will reduce anxiety for users regarding accidental phone damage and repair costs.

“The device protection service is unique because of its simple enrolment process via mobile phones and its affordable micro-premiums. It is also fast as its tech-driven verification process eliminates delays and paper works. It also provides peace of mind for millions of Nigerians using smartphones daily”, Globacom added.

New customers without Glo SIMs can walk into any Gloworld shop across the country, purchase a SIM and any phone device of their choice and subscribe to the device protection instantly.

Adeola Oduntan, General Manager, Global Sourcing & Supply Chain Management at MTN Nigeria, has been recognised as Strategic Supply Chain Leader of the Year at the 7th Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Awards, highlighting individual excellence within the company’s broader operational success.

L-R: Victor Esemezie, Senior Manager, Sourcing & SRM, MTN Nigeria; Olufunmilayo Jegede, Senior Manager, Facilities and Fleet, MTN Nigeria; Akin Naphtal, Group CEO, InstinctWave and CEO of Africa Procurement Summit Group; Adeola Oduntan, General Manager, Global Sourcing & Supply Chain Management, MTN Nigeria and Olademeji Shonubi, Senior Manager, Planning and Fulfillment, MTN Nigeria, during the 7th Africa Procurement & Supply Chain Awards where MTN Nigeria won 5 awards, held at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

The award, presented at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos, recognises Oduntan’s role in transforming MTN Nigeria’s supply chain operations through digital innovation and strategic sourcing. His leadership has been instrumental in driving the company’s strong business performance, reflected in MTN Nigeria’s comprehensive local procurement framework that prioritises suppliers with genuine local value creation. Under Oduntan’s strategic guidance, the company has implemented sophisticated procurement evaluation criteria that allocates up to 25% weightage for local supplier participation, while conducting rigorous assessments to ensure local partners aren’t merely “trading entities” for foreign suppliers.

The connection between supply chain excellence and business results is evident in MTN Nigeria’s expanding customer base, with the recent landmark three-year national roaming agreement with 9Mobile, approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission in July 2025. This groundbreaking partnership, which enables 9Mobile subscribers to access MTN’s network infrastructure nationwide, exemplifies Oduntan’s strategic approach to infrastructure optimisation and collaborative partnerships that enhance service availability while maximising asset utilisation across the telecommunications sector.

“APSCHA has become far more than ceremony, it is now a strategic platform that amplifies the critical contribution of procurement and supply chain professionals not just within the organisation, but across the broader African development agenda,” said Akin Naphtal, Group CEO of InstinctWave.

Oduntan’s individual triumph formed part of MTN Nigeria’s performance at the awards, where the company secured five awards including Digital Supply Chain Innovation of the Year, Excellence in Strategic Sourcing, Sustainability and Local Content Champion of the Year, and Procurement & Supply Chain Team of the Year. This success reinforces the telecommunications company’s position as a leader in supply chain transformation across Africa’s business landscape.

The recognition comes at a time when supply chain leadership plays an increasingly strategic role in driving operational excellence and competitiveness across Africa’s telecommunications sector.

Telegram users in the United States can now send, receive, and manage cryptocurrency directly within the app: no downloads, extensions, or separate logins required.

The built-in TON Wallet, developed by The Open Platform (TOP) and powered by the TON blockchain, is starting its U.S. rollout this week. It’s a self-custodial wallet, meaning users retain full control of their private keys.

The new feature allows Telegram users to send stablecoins and other digital tokens to their contacts as seamlessly as sending a message. According to the company, it marks the first time a self-custodial crypto wallet has been embedded into a mainstream messaging platform in the U.S. market.

The wallet has already seen significant global traction, with over 100 million users activating their wallets in 2024 alone. Its U.S. debut had been delayed due to regulatory uncertainties, but according to TOP CEO Andrew Rogozov, that environment is beginning to change.

“We started considering the U.S. as a more interesting opportunity for us,” Rogozov told CNBC, pointing to evolving regulations and Telegram’s growing user base. He noted that Telegram already has a large number of crypto-savvy users and called the wallet “the fundamental part of this infrastructure,” enabling users to store digital assets and engage with Telegram’s expanding ecosystem of Mini Apps.

“Our goal, our mission here, is to remove as much friction as possible,” Rogozov added. “And this is basically what crypto is trying to solve, especially at the global scale, by removing all the borders.”

To simplify onboarding, the wallet uses a split-key backup system—one part linked to the user’s Telegram account, and the other to their email.

“No need to download the wallet, no need to remember the seed phrase,” Rogozov said. “This is how we simplify the whole thing.”

TON Wallet supports peer-to-peer transfers, token swaps, staking for yield, and zero-fee crypto purchases through a partnership with MoonPay. Users can also access on- and off-ramps via debit cards and connect with decentralized applications within Telegram’s Mini Apps feature.

Telegram officially distanced itself from the TON blockchain in 2020 after regulatory pressure forced it to abandon its own token launch. Since then, however, it has quietly supported TON-based innovations like tokenized usernames, stickers, emojis, and the Fragment collectibles marketplace.

With its U.S. entry, TON Wallet could intensify competition with established crypto platforms like Cash App and Coinbase—especially if Telegram’s crypto-integrated ecosystem gains popularity among mainstream users.

For now, the wallet steers clear of directly offering regulated financial services, opting instead to work with licensed partners such as MoonPay for crypto transactions.