Telecom
NCC, Globacom Back eBusinesslife Girls in ICT Campaign
The nation’s telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment towards ensuring that the gender disparity in the ICT career sector is bridged.
This statement was made with its backing of the 2024 edition of the International Girls in ICT Day campaign being organized by eBusiness Life Communication Limited.
The event, which will hold at the Lagos Oriental Hotel on May 9, 2024 is part of an annual campaign initiated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to sensitise and encourage young women and girls to delve into ICT and related careers, which is seen to have been dominated by the male gender. The theme for this year is “Leadership”.
In a related development, Nigeria’s fully integrated telecommunications company, and Mobile Network Operator, Globacom Nigeria has also indicated interest in being part of this year’s campaign.
The NCC and Globacom have been consistent in their support for this campaign that throws more light on the need to groom technologically-inclined girls for the future.
According to the Publisher/CEO of eBusiness Life Communication and convener of the event, Mrs. Ufuoma Emuophedaro, the annual event underscores the important role women are meant to play in the future of innovative technology.
While appreciating the companies and institutions that have supported the campaign over the years, Mrs. Emuophedaro called on other forward-looking organisations to join hands with eBusiness Life to sensitise young girls on the need to strategically position themselves for the careers of the future by latching on the provisions of technology today.
She noted that the campaign is premised on the fact that the society has unconsciously relegated the female gender and delegated careers in technical fields, especially in ICT, to their male counterparts.
According to her, effort should be made to introduce young girls to career opportunities in technical fields in both the public and private sectors to help them have a wider range of options and contribute their quota in the industry and in the development of the economy.
She said: “We need to equip the girls with transferable and lifelong skills such as critical thinking, creativity and digital awareness. Having role models will also be critical, especially in the sciences and other fields where the presence of women is sparse.”
The 2024 International Girls in ICT celebration event will feature different competitions among female students from widely selected private and public secondary schools. These include STEM Quiz and Video Logging Competitions.
Other features of the day will include Student’s Roundtable Discussion; interactive and motivational talk from renowned women ICT professionals, including media tech influencer, MissTechy; and general students’ quiz competition, among others. Awards and gift prizes will be given to winning schools and students of the Quiz and Tech competitions. Also Awards will be given to deserving women that have exemplified themselves in the ICT industry.
The International Girls in ICT Day is an initiative launched through ITU Resolution 70 with the idea of creating a global environment that will empower and encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the field of information and communication technologies.
The Union declared the 4th (fourth) Thursday in April every year as a day to highlight the annual campaign to encourage girls and young women to consider careers in ICT, and society is reminded to support them in their choice.
At the end of the event, it is expected that the young girls should be able to introspect and pursue any desired career path in ICT, technical or not, without bias, or being gender conscious.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have ordered Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators to settle the long-standing N250bn USSD debt dispute before January 2, 2025.
The CBN and NCC also directed banks to pay the pre-Application Programming Interfaces (API) debt before July 2, 2025.
They also ordered that post-API debts be settled before December 31, 2024.
The directive was issued in a joint cirular titled, “2nd Joint Circular of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission on the Resolution of the USSD Debt Issue Between Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators.”
The circular dated December 20, 2024, was signed by Oladimeji Taiwo, acting director of the Payments System Management Department, CBN, and Chizua Whyte, head of Legal and Regulatory Services, NCC.
The regulators said, “In view of the foregoing, the CBN and the NCC hereby direct DMBs and MNOs as follows: 1. That 60 per cent of all pre-API invoices must be paid as full and final settlement.
“Payment plans (lump sum or installments) must be agreed upon between a concerned DMB and MNO by January 2, 2025. Installments must be based on equal monthly payments, with full payment due by July 2, 2025.
“DMBs must pay 85 per cent of all outstanding invoices issued after the implementation of APIs (i.e., February 2022) by December 31, 2024.
“Similarly, 85 per cent of future invoices must be liquidated within one month of service.”
According to the regulators, the transition to end-user billing will be activated only for DMBs and MNOs that comply with the payment conditions cobtained in the circular.
CBN and the NCC said they would provide further guidance on public enlightenment initiatives related to the transition.
The regulators also directed MNOs to implement the “10-seconds rule” for USSD invoicing.
This implies that any session lasting less than ten seconds will not be billable.
The regulators added, “Failure to comply with the terms outlined in this directive will attract necessary sanctions, ensuring that both DMBs and MNOs uphold their obligations.”
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a draft regulatory framework aimed at addressing fraud, spam, and other challenges in the Application-to-Person messaging sector.
The telecom regulator made this announcement in a statement.
The proposed framework, which was introduced during a virtual Stakeholders’ Forum, is said to be a key step towards enhancing the sector’s integrity and ensuring a fair, transparent environment for all parties involved.
The draft framework, presented by Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, NCC, who was represented by Chizua Whyte, NCC’s acting head of legal and regulatory services, seeks to regulate the A2P messaging space.
The A2P messaging, used for notifications such as bank alerts, promotional campaigns, and government updates, has become a vital communication tool in Nigeria.
However, the sector faces significant challenges, including consumer protection concerns, fraud, and data privacy issues, as well as an unequal distribution of value within the ecosystem.
“The international A2P messaging space in Nigeria faces gaps that have led to issues such as fraud, spam, and data privacy concerns. These challenges threaten the sustainable growth of this communication tool,” the NCC said.
The proposed framework aims to address these challenges by protecting consumers, promoting fair competition, and holding service providers accountable.
“This forum marks a pivotal step towards addressing these challenges. We are here to engage with all stakeholders—operators, aggregators, businesses, service providers, and consumers—to refine the framework and ensure it meets the needs of the entire ecosystem.”
The NCC stressed the importance of inclusivity and collaboration in creating an effective regulatory environment.
Airtel Africa, a provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, has announced the commencement of a second share buyback programme that will return up to $100m to shareholders.
The share buyback reflects the Board’s confidence in the Company’s continued growth potential, the strength of its balance sheet, and the consistent cash accretion at the holding company level.
Furthermore, the buyback remains in line with the Company’s existing capital allocation policy.
According to the company, the programme will be executed in accordance with applicable securities laws and regulations.
The share buy-back programme is expected to be phased over two tranches, with the first tranche commencing today and anticipated to end on or before 24 April 2025.
The first tranche will amount to a maximum of $50m.
The Company has entered into an agreement with Barclays Capital Securities Limited (Barclays) to conduct the first tranche of the buy-back and carry out on-market purchases of its ordinary shares with the Company subsequently purchasing its ordinary shares from Barclays.
Under this agreement, Barclays will act as riskless principal and will make decisions independently of the Company.
The sole purpose of the buy-back programme is to reduce the capital of the Company.
It noted that as such, all shares purchased under the buy-back programme will be cancelled.
In a statement signed by Simon O’Hara, group company secretary, the company noted that the share repurchase process will adhere to pre-set parameters agreed upon with Barclays Capital Securities Limited (Barclays), the executing partner for the first tranche of the buyback programme.
This partnership ensures that purchases are conducted transparently and in compliance with all regulatory requirements.
The buyback will be executed under the authority granted by shareholders during the Annual General Meeting held on July 3, 2024, which permits the repurchase of up to 374,141,187 ordinary shares.
Following the completion of a prior buyback programme, the remaining authority allows for the acquisition of up to 328,842,995 shares.
Additionally, Airtel Africa confirmed its commitment to adhering to the Financial Conduct Authority’s UK Listing Rules 9.6 and the provisions of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014, as incorporated into UK domestic law.
The company also clarified that share purchases may occur during closed periods, consistent with these regulations and the agreed parameters.
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