Telecom
SON,ThistlePraxis Hail Etisalat on ISO 26000 Adoption Process
Etisalat, Nigeria’s most innovative network has been commended for its role in the adoption of the ISO 26000 by the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) and ThistlePraxis Consulting Limited.
The commendation was given recently at the launch ceremony of the ISO 26000 Guidance Standard on Social Responsibility in Nigeria.
The event witnessed the gathering of representatives from different stakeholder groups including Government, Corporate Organizations and NGOs, converge at the Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi in Lagos for the historical event that is aimed at assisting organizations address their social responsibilities while respecting cultural, societal, environmental and legal differences as well as economic development conditions.
Ms. Ndidi Okpaluba, director, PMO and Operational Strategy, Etisalat Nigeria who stood in for Mr. Steven Evans, chief executive officer, said that some of the goals of ISO 26000 is to integrate and implement social responsibility throughout an organization and its sphere of influence, including its supply chain as well as to provide practical guidance to operationalize social responsibility, identify and engage with stakeholders, and enhance the credibility of reports and claims about social responsibility.
Speaking further, Okpaluba said that Etisalat is driving the practice of sustainability through its development of projects that add value to the environment they operate in.
“We run the Etisalat Corporate Social Responsibility Centre situated at the Lagos Business School which is designed to advance CSR knowledge and encourage best practices; and recently we commissioned the Etisalat Telecoms Engineering Program at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. This is the first Masters in Telecoms Engineering in the whole of West Africa”, she said.
She concluded her speech by reiterating Etisalat’s commitment to promoting the practice of CSR in the country through strategic partnerships.
“We believe that with the partnership between Etisalat and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, we will provide a joint leadership to both public and private sectors on the way to behave in a socially responsible way”, she said.
Describing Etisalat as “Champions of CSR”, Mrs. Ini Onuk, chief executive officer, ThistlePraxis, said, “Etisalat is one of the brands we have closely monitored and we can attest that the CSR activities they have undertaken are really sustainable. It shows a clear thought out strategy which is what we advocate as a company”.
In addition, she said that for Etisalat to be part of the adoption process goes to show that they still intend to be in the forefront of sustainability in Nigeria.
Speaking also at the event, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, director-general, Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), during his address said the adoption process marked the hallmark of advocating the benchmarking of organizational behavior against a set of internationally negotiated and agreed criteria for social responsibility.
On Etisalat’s involvement as technical partners and lead sponsors, Dr. Odumodu said that it was a move worthy of emulation. He called on business organizations and various Government agencies to integrate their business strategies with the ISO 2600 Guidance Standard.
ISO 26000 is an international guidance document on social responsibility that was first released on 1 November 2010.
It provides organisations with an outline of the principles and core subjects that it should be managing in order to identify societal risks and associated impacts.
The core subjects covered by the guidance includes but is not limited to areas such as organizational governance, human rights and labour practices, the environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues and community involvement and development.
Airtel Nigeria, telecom service provider, has announced that its AI-powered Spam Alert Service issued over 9.6 million spam alerts between March 13 and May 20, 2025.
As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting customers from unwanted and potentially fraudulent communications, Airtel designed the AI Spam Alert service to analyze traffic patterns and detect anomalies.
In the period since launch the AI pinpointed a total of 9,667,008 SMS as potential spam messages in the two months after its launch.
Of these, the system identified 528,080 on-net (Airtel-to-Airtel) and 9,138,928 off-net (from other networks) numbers as suspected spam messages, demonstrating the scale of the threat and Airtel’s advanced processing capability.
Airtel Nigeria is a subsidiary of Airtel Africa.
Commenting on this development, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO, Airtel Nigeria, restated Airtel`s commitment to protecting its customers.
“This milestone demonstrates the strength of our AI-driven infrastructure in combating the growing menace of spam and scam calls. At Airtel Nigeria, we are focused on connecting Nigerians and ensuring their safety and confidence while using our network.
“We understand that trust is the cornerstone of digital communication. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in intelligent systems that not only detect potential threats but also learn and evolve with data. As threats become more sophisticated, so will our solutions. As a company, we remain focused on leading the industry in innovation and customer satisfaction, ensuring that every Nigerian can enjoy a safer and smarter digital experience,” Mr. Balsingh said.
The Spam Alert Service is part of Airtel Nigeria’s broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into its core offerings to deliver smarter and safer experiences for its customers across the country.
Recall that the Spam Alert Service was launched on March 13, 2025. A groundbreaking and free solution from Airtel, it notifies users in real-time of suspected spam SMS messages by analyzing over 250 parameters.
The Airtel AI Spam Alert Service is available to all Airtel subscribers on smartphones and feature phones.
Vitel Wireless Limited, pioneer mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in Nigeria has made another history by announcing the successful completion of interconnectivity with all major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria.
Kenneth Nwabueze, Chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless
Recall that Vitel Wireless, became the first Mobile Virtual Network Operator to receive a dedicated number series (0712) from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
This breakthrough enables Vitel Wireless subscribers to make and receive calls with users on MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom (Glo), and 9mobile Nigeria.
It also marks the first time an MVNO in the country has successfully interconnected with all the major MNOs, setting a new precedent for Nigeria’s telecom sector.
Following the NCC’s licensing of 46 MVNOs, Vitel Wireless continues to lead the way in establishing a dynamic MVNO sector in Nigeria—Africa’s largest market and most populous nation.
The company has already achieved several historic firsts: the first MVNO issued a numbering plan and national and international routing codes, the first to launch a location awareness network in Africa, and the first to unveil a strategic nationwide rollout plan.
“We are gathering momentum for our big launch,” said Kenneth Emeka Nwabueze, chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless.
“We are proud to be showing what’s possible for MVNOs, while also creating a path for others to follow. By leveraging our years of experience in Nigeria’s telecom industry, we are opening up new possibilities where there used to be none.”
Interconnectivity was achieved through a combination of direct fiber connections with some MNOs and indirect routing via third-party providers.
This milestone was the result of a collaborative effort involving engineers from Vitel Wireless, Wireless Technology Labs (WTL), and Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria (ICN), working closely with engineers from MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile.
“We wish to thank the regulatory agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission, for their timely interventions and guidance, which were instrumental in achieving this interconnectivity and bringing the formal launch of the Vitel Wireless nationwide network one step closer to reality,” said Nwabueze.
The company entered a nationwide pilot phase in May 2025, with plans for a full rollout in July 2025, aiming to deliver next-generation mobile services to millions across Nigeria.
Layer3, One of Nigeria’s foremost ICT solutions providers, has once again solidified its place as a trailblazer in Africa’s technology landscape, emerging as the Enterprise Solutions Provider of the Year and Leadership Award in Cloud Services at the prestigious African Beacon of ICT Leadership and Awards held on May 24, 2025, at the Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos.
This year’s event brought together leading tech innovators, policymakers, and thought leaders to recognize organizations making extraordinary contributions to Africa’s digital transformation.
Among the many luminaries in attendance, Layer3 stood out for its 19+ years of consistent innovation, technical excellence, and client-centered service delivery.
Speaking at the event, the organizers praised Layer3’s pioneering work in delivering robust enterprise solutions across sectors, as well as its bold leadership in advancing cloud infrastructure and services across Nigeria and beyond.
“These awards are more than recognitions, they are a reminder of the fulfilment to our mission to deliver peace of mind to our customers,” said David Ita, the Head of Strategy and Business Development of Layer3.
“They speak to the impact we’ve made and the promise we hold for the future of the cloud and enterprise technology business in Africa. We dedicate this honor to our clients, partners, and the hardworking Layer3 team who continue to redefine excellence every day.”
Since its founding, Layer3 has championed a future-forward approach to ICT services offering cutting-edge solutions in enterprise networking, cybersecurity, broadband, cloud computing, managed services, and IT advisory. The company’s Layer3Cloud platform and managed service offerings continue to power the digital ambitions of Nigeria’s leading businesses.
These accolades underscore Layer3’s unwavering commitment to driving transformation and supporting digital economies through smart, secure, and scalable technology.
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