Telecom
Time for Nigeria’s MNOs to Empower Mobile Digital Ecosystem with their Subscriber Data

By Martin Effiong, Senior Operator Partnerships Lead at Infobip
We are at a point where Nigeria’s financial inclusion drive is at its highest, digital commerce is growing in leaps and bounds and the mobile money financial model is recording resounding successes in the region.

Martin Effiong, Senior Operator Partnerships Lead at Infobip
Furthermore, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have never been better positioned to further empower the mobile digital ecosystem and spur more economic growth, and impact more lives than now.
To make these contributions, as well as benefit significantly from it, MNOs need to provide access to subscriber identity and usage data that they possess.
The resulting positive impact, directly or indirectly, on the entire ecosystem and of course MNO revenues, would be almost instantaneous, yet with little or no CAPEX obligations from the MNOs.
The heavy reliance on mobile technology as an economic driver on the African continent naturally make MNOs one of the key facilitators of the digital economy in the African continent.
The utilisation of subscriber data within a regulated framework like that of the mobile identity processes would boost economic activity from direct investments, innovation and job creation, in turn leading to higher rates of financial inclusion, e-commerce-driven prosperity and catalyse digital transformation.
Mobile identity refers to the development of online authentication and digital signatures, where a mobile user’s SIM and other mobile network attributes can be utilised as an identity tool. Mobile identity can be used for legally binding digital authentication and transaction signing for banking, payments, corporate and e-commerce services.
Claw back revenue
Leveraging mobile identity services could allow MNOs to generate a new stream of revenue from the Over-The-Top (OTT) service providers, who until now, had been making huge incursions into MNOs’ voice, SMS and data revenue streams.
However, now MNOs can be better regarded as the power house source for mobile digital authentication attributes and serve the OTTs as well, even at a premium.
This is in contrast to what prevails now where OTTs are collating and storing this data for their exclusive and commercial use, with little or no revenues going to the operators.
While OTTs’ traditional revenue streams include services such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) and social media messaging, MNOs have the opportunity to monetise the “raw materials” utilised by OTTs to generate income, which previously was not the case.
To put these opportunities into perspective when considering mobile financial services or e-commerce and mobile identity, Juniper Research forecasts that digital wallet users will exceed 4.4 billion globally in 2025, from 2.6 billion in 2020.
Additionally, Juniper estimated that there was a $27 billion ecommerce transaction fraud loss in 2020 and that this will reach over $52 billion in 2025, as the ecommerce ecosystem expands.
With such statistics, there is an obvious need to protect the digital ecosystem, doable at virtually no cost in comparison to the huge losses being incurred.
Protecting the data
While relishing the potential impact that MNO data can have on the ecosystem, MNOs must still ensure data protection compliance by protecting the privacy rights of their subscribers within the mobile identity framework.
Key to this is the enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), or locally, the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), as well as other local interpretations of the data protection law to the fullest extent to protect subscribers.
MNOs must closely monitor industry participants to ensure that best, fair and transparent practices are adopted and used at every opportunity in the service value chain. In addition, MNOs must mandate verifiable consent management by service providers and data processors.
Operators also have a key role to play in enhancing mobile security and the user experience for the country’s growing subscriber base.
As the traditional owners and custodians of mobile data, MNOs must ensure that the core ingredient of the mobile identity value chain – subscriber data – is accurate, updated, relevant and uncompromised.
If the base data on which the mobile identity value chain is built is inaccurate, confidence in the solution is eroded and the whole industry will suffer.
Consumable formats
Furthermore, MNOs should make this data accessible to the industry in consumable formats that can be built upon or utilised by technology companies and service providers. MNOs must also ensure the data is secured to prevent breaches and leaks that may cause damage to data subjects and industry.
MNOs should be at the forefront of attaining and enforcing compliance standards which in turn will trickle down to the ecosystem as a whole.
They need to work with regulators to create and maintain governance policies to catalyse the industry as well as protect the data subjects.
Ideally, operators should partner with reputable industry experts to leverage their global experience while working and excelling in various global mobile identity markets (each with their own unique requirements), to create a business model that abides by global best practice in the industry.
Such industry experts would place a premium on its brand reputation and equity enough to avoid any compliance lapses, sharp practices, or unethical actions.
In addition, these industry experts must have a proven successful track record in data monetisation, innovation in service delivery, and significant compatibility with the telco service provider business models.
Telecom
Paradigm Initiative Warns of AI-Driven Hate Speech, Urges Global Tech Reform

As the world commemorates the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is calling on big tech companies to intensify their efforts in combating online hate speech and ensuring respect for fundamental human rights.
PIN’s 2024 Londa report highlights the widespread prevalence of hate speech online. In Angola, for instance, at least 25 content removal requests were made in connection with hate speech, harassment, and political misinformation. Globally, the consequences of unchecked hate speech have been severe—ranging from incitement to violence and heightened ethnic tensions to the targeting of vulnerable communities, including minorities, women, and foreigners.
Nigeria witnessed a tragic example in 2018 when a Facebook post showing a massacre in Plateau State was viewed more than 11,000 times, triggering ethnic conflict and resulting in fatalities. In South Africa, inadequate content moderation has worsened the problem, while in Ethiopia in 2021, a false Facebook post led to the killing of a man wrongly implicated in a scandal. India saw a surge in hate speech during its elections.
PIN notes that actors behind hate speech are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often leveraging technologies like artificial intelligence to boost visibility. Meanwhile, existing moderation systems—especially for non-English content—struggle to keep up.
Bridgette Ndlovu, PIN’s Partnerships and Engagements Officer, said, “Hate speech online is a direct attack on the dignity and safety of individuals.” She urged technology companies to adopt transparent and effective moderation strategies and to prioritize human rights in their operations.
The spread of hate speech raises complex challenges for lawmakers. Governments are trying to regulate harmful content such as misinformation and harassment while protecting freedom of speech. However, PIN warns that hate speech laws should not be misused to arbitrarily detain human rights defenders or stifle dissenting voices.
To address these concerns, PIN recommends that tech companies invest more in moderating non-English content to reflect local nuances, improve transparency around government takedown requests, promote digital literacy—particularly in underserved regions—and conduct regular human rights due diligence, aligned with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Telecom
Moniepoint Deepens Commitment to Africa’s Future Through Education and Innovation

Moniepoint Inc, one of Africa’s leading financial institutions partnered with the Mega Impact Foundation to support the 5th edition of the NextGen Connect Interschool Oratory Competition in Asaba, Delta state. This collaboration showcases Moniepoint’s unwavering commitment to youth empowerment and human capital development across the African continent.
The competition, which was held commemoratively to celebrate this year’s International Day of the Boy Child, brought together SS2 students from across Delta State to address the critical theme: “The Role of Financial Inclusion and Technology in Shaping a Brighter Future for Young People in Africa.” Moniepont has received critical acclaim over its core mission of advancing financial inclusion through innovative digital financial technology solutions and payment services..
The oratory competition showcased exceptional talent among Nigeria’s youth, with Otovo Praise of Crystalloid International School emerging as the champion. His outstanding performance earned him a full-year scholarship through the Tosin Eniolorunda STEM Foundation, reflecting Moniepoint’s philosophy of investing in educational excellence. Second-place winner Audi Innocent of St Patrick’s College received ₦300,000, while third-place winner, Asher David of Glorious Kids Academy was awarded ₦200,000.
“At Moniepoint, we believe that driving sustainable innovation begins with future-proofing and expanding the talent pool by empowering the next generation with the tools that they need to succeed especially basic literacy skills which remain fundamental pillars in socio-economic development,” said Tosin Eniolorunda, CEO Moniepoint Inc. “These young voices represent the future of African leadership, and their insights into financial inclusion and technology demonstrate the remarkable potential that exists within our communities. Through our various educational and developmental initiatives such as the CAD/CAM lab we donated to OAU last year or the Moniepoint DreamDevs programme, we are betting big on an investment in Africa’s future.”
The initiative extends beyond monetary rewards, creating meaningful platforms for young people to express their ideas on a global stage. Through its support of the NextGen Connect Conference and Tech-In-School conversations, Moniepoint is fostering an environment where youth can develop critical thinking skills, build confidence, and engage with pressing societal issues.
In her remarks, Founder, Mega Impact Foundation, Florence Ogonegbu said that “we reaffirm our commitment to building an Africa where every young person has simplified access to sustainable education, capacity building, and empowerment. By leveraging technology and local initiatives, we are creating platforms that enable our youth to thrive and transform their communities.
“Together with partners like Moniepoint, we are not just shaping futures—we are driving a movement for social development that will resonate globally. Every boy, every young person, deserves the opportunity to unlock their full potential and drive lasting impact across our continent.”
The competition received additional support from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Delta State, highlighting the collaborative approach required to nurture young talent effectively.
Telecom
Zoho Unveils Zia Hubs to Harness AI Insights from Unstructured Business Data

Zoho, a global technology company, today launched Zia Hubs, a solution within Zoho WorkDrive that brings new forms of unstructured business data into the company’s broad portfolio of applications and AI services. Using Zia Hubs, organisations can now present any type of business content to Zoho’s powerful capabilities and services—including agentic AI, comprehensive analysis, and accurate, unified search—regardless of file format or structure.
“According to IDC, 80 percent of business data is unstructured,” said Kehinde Ogundare, Country Head, Zoho Nigeria. “Most unstructured data is text-based, meaning pertinent information lives within email conversations, social media posts, word processor documents, or audio and video transcripts. With Zia Hubs built into the full product suite, Zoho can provide customers with a deeper integration than any comparable software platform and nearly limitless potential uses for their data.”
Deeper Intelligence Accessing More Customer Data
Launching as part of Zoho WorkDrive, Zia Hubs brings content intelligence to the company’s unified content management and collaboration platform. Designed with a high level of user control over what content AI is allowed to access, Zia Hubs enables users to organise project or task-specific content into dedicated hubs within WorkDrive. Each hub serves as a focused space where Zia, Zoho’s flagship AI, can understand and act on the content stored within. This includes a wide range of formats such as PDFs, documents, videos, and audio files.
Zia Hubs automatically organises uploaded content by grouping related information—such as section headings, supporting text, and visuals—to preserve context. For video and audio files, Zia generates transcripts and links key moments to relevant topics, making it easier to pinpoint exactly where something was said.
With Zia Hubs, users can surface the most relevant answers when asked a question, even across different content formats. Each response includes clear citations that link back to the original content, whether it is a document, spreadsheet, image, or a specific moment in an audio or video file.
Organisations can also create custom workflows with Zoho Flow, automating document storage processes for particular projects or specific teams. This ensures that Zia always has access to the latest necessary documents automatically.
Furthermore, content from third-party software—such as Docusign PDFs, RingCentral call logs, Zoom video files—are all readable by Zia, and can be automatically placed into a hub by building a workflow with Zoho Flow.
From Intelligent Content to Intelligent Action with Zia
Zia Hubs is a foundational element of Zoho’s long-term AI strategy. It lays the groundwork for a future where intelligent agents can act contextually on content across the company’s entire product suite. With full ownership of its technology stack spanning more than 55 products, Zoho is uniquely positioned to help organisations unlock deeper value from their business content compared to competitors.
Potential use cases for Zia Hubs include: a legal team’s content hub hosting a case’s relevant files: court files, correspondence, and research, allowing a lawyer to have Zia provide summaries with citations without having to manually scan lengthy files to gain insights; a company’s support center placing call logs into a hub, then querying Zia to identify trends, like, “Have we received an increase in calls regarding specific issues?”
Future updates to Zia Hubs will enable it to identify structured information within unstructured files and trigger specialised agents tailored to specific business needs. This will further establish Zia Hubs as the central content intelligence layer that activates AI-native workflows across the full Zoho ecosystem.
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