The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has declared that the country’s telecommunications operators have invested billions of dollars over the past 25 years to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide, describing telecommunications as the foundation upon which the nation’s digital economy now rests. ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, asserted in a keynote address titled “A Chronicle of Telecom Operators’ Efforts in Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide Through Innovation: Achievements, Challenges and Future Prospects,” and presented at the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Innovative Conference 2026 with the theme, “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide with Scientific Innovation.” According to Adebayo, Nigeria’s…
Author: Rommy Imah
Rommy Imah is Founder/Editor of Digital Times Nigeria (www.digitaltimesng.com). He has been in active journalism in over two decades with a bias for technology and business reporting. He is particularly passionate about technology and how it can be used to transform human life, businesses and services.
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has recorded a major legal victory after the Federal High Court upheld its statutory authority to designate and register Data Controllers and Data Processors of Major Importance (DCPMIs), reinforcing the Commission’s regulatory mandate under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), 2023. The judgment was delivered in the suit Emmanuel Harunna v. Nigeria Data Protection Commission (FHC/L/CS/1116/2024), where the applicant sought a declaration that Point of Sale (POS) agents do not qualify as Data Controllers or Data Processors of Major Importance under the NDPA and asked the court to restrain the Commission permanently from requiring…
Nigerian telcos invested approximately ₦2.13 trillion in capital expenditure in 2025 and have earmarked an additional ₦1.86 trillion for network expansion, technology modernisation and improved quality of service in 2026, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, has disclosed. Delivering a keynote address titled “Building Nigeria’s Digital Economy: Telecommunications as the Foundation for Investment, Innovation and Inclusive Growth” at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) ICTEL Expo 2026, Adebayo said the scale of investment underscores the industry’s unwavering commitment to building Nigeria’s digital future despite prevailing economic challenges. He attributed…
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have sealed a landmark partnership to accelerate the deployment of sustainable digital infrastructure across Nigeria by integrating renewable energy solutions with telecommunications networks. The agreement was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the NCC–REA Stakeholder Workshop held at the NCC Annex Office Auditorium, Mbora, Abuja, on Friday, July 24, 2026. The workshop, themed “Unlocking the Energy–Telecoms Nexus for Scalable Digital Infrastructure in Nigeria,” brought together senior government officials, telecom operators, tower companies, renewable energy developers, financiers, and development partners to deliberate on practical strategies for expanding…
By Rommy Imah “Financial happiness is not a catchy turn of phrase or a luxury; it is the confidence that comes when a business owner in Onitsha can confirm a payment instantly, when a pharmacist in Lagos can restock life-saving medication through a working capital loan, and when a farmer in Borno can move produce across the country with trust.” With those words, Tosin Eniolorunda, Co-founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Moniepoint Inc., captures a vision that extends far beyond banking. It is a philosophy rooted in the belief that financial services should do more than facilitate transactions—they should…
Honorary degrees often celebrate remarkable careers. They acknowledge years of excellence, innovation, leadership, and service. Yet, only on rare occasions do they become the platform for unveiling a transformative vision capable of reshaping the future of an institution—and perhaps even an entire sector. That was precisely what unfolded at the 54th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where architect, industrialist and technology entrepreneur, Arc. Dr. Kaycee Orji, received the prestigious Honorary Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa). While the conferment recognised his outstanding contributions to industrial development, manufacturing, entrepreneurship, innovation and nation-building, the ceremony quickly evolved into…
Architect, industrialist and technology entrepreneur, Dr. Kaycee Orji, has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in recognition of his contributions to industrial development, manufacturing, entrepreneurship, innovation and nation-building. The honorary degree was conferred during the University’s 54th Convocation Ceremony by the Chancellor, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, CFR, the Ooni of Ife, alongside the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Adegboyega Adebayo Karim, and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya. Receiving the award, Dr. Orji described the honour as “not merely a recognition…
Access Bank Plc has launched the Access SME App as part of efforts to deepen financial inclusion and equip Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with digital tools to improve productivity, enhance customer experience and drive sustainable business growth. The launch, which took place at the Access Bank MSME Conference in Lagos, also featured calls by technology and business leaders for entrepreneurs to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation to remain competitive in an increasingly digital economy. Speaking at the event, Group Head, SME Banking at Access Bank, Abiodun Olubitan, described MSMEs as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, saying…
The drive to close Nigeria’s gender digital divide gained fresh momentum as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) sealed a partnership with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) to advance women’s digital inclusion and strengthen the nation’s transformation agenda. The collaboration was formalized during a courtesy visit to NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, by a NAWOJ delegation led by National President Comrade Aishatu Ibrahim, who introduced the agency to the forthcoming Women in Security (WINSEC) Summit & Awards 2026. Represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, Inuwa pledged NITDA’s active participation and support for…
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has dismissed a preliminary objection filed by Pan African Towers (PAT), clearing the way for the substantive hearing of a suit instituted by the company’s former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Azeez Amida, over alleged outstanding contractual entitlements. In a ruling delivered on July 21, 2026, in Suit No. NICN/LA/143/2025: Mr. Azeez Amida v. Pan African Towers Limited, Honourable Justice Essien rejected the company’s bid to terminate the proceedings on jurisdictional grounds and awarded ₦500,000 in costs against Pan African Towers, describing the application as lacking merit. The decision marks the…