Telecom
NITDA, Sweden Strengthens Digital Economy Ecosystem
Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has reiterated the commitment of the agency in exploring more opportunities in developing the digital literacy and skills of Nigerians in order to drive the Nation’s economy and ultimately achieve a digital Nigeria.
The DG said this in his office during a courtesy visit by the Sweden Ambassador to Nigeria, Grand Carl-Michael.
He noted that one of the plans of the agency is to strengthen the ecosystem of the Federal Capital Territory and the nation at large.
Kashifu appreciated the existing partnership the agency has had over the years with the Embassy of Sweden, especially with the SchoolTry platform, a Sweden-based EdTech company offering innovative solutions towards the digital transformation of the Nigerian education sector.
He expressed the fact that “achieving digital economy is something that no one can succeed in isolation; particularly as the world is increasingly becoming global, which has necessitated the need for more collaborations such that whatever you do, you think global and act local.”
According to the DG, working towards building the nation’s GDP in a global economy would attract foreign markets and investments into the country. He encouraged the Swedish team to go beyond the SchoolTry project and execute more IT driven initiatives, assuring the team of a mutually beneficial partnership.
The Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, while underscoring the commitment of SchoolTry with its HQ in Stockholm, Sweden, to lead the digitalization of education delivery in Nigeria, expressed appreciation to the NITDA Boss for the collaborative efforts enjoyed so far. Adding that he is looking forward to getting more investments from Nigeria in order to grow and expand the company.
He added that, “As Swedish ambassador to Nigeria, we work with a lot of different projects on digitalization because it’s a huge problem for many countries, Sweden included, and also for Nigeria with her huge population.
“When I learnt about this company ( SchoolTry) founded by a Nigerian in Sweden and working with Education and E-Learning I know that it will be very interesting for Nigeria to engage in because education is a social responsibility for Nigeria and also for Sweden.”
He appealed that the company is also seeking to leverage on some softwares in some of the schools that have NITDA’s IT infrastructures.
Founded in 2018, the SchoolTry, which falls under Digital Literacy and Skills of the NITDA’s seven pillars of Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP- 2021-2024), and also inline with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria, is an Integrated mobile and web solution for schools to connect in real-time with teachers, parents and students. The features and functionalities from SchoolTry app is said to reduce cost, improve data management and boost overall efficiency.
The meeting ended with a unanimous agreement for a deepened collaboration in critical areas of the digital economy that is expected to benefit both countries.
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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