MTN Group had announced on February 17, 2026, that it reached an agreement to acquire a 75.3% stake in IHS Holding Limited, marking one of the largest infrastructure consolidation deals in Africa’s telecom space.

Reacting to the development, Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, said the Federal Government would collaborate with relevant regulators to thoroughly examine the transaction.

According to the Minister, telecommunications infrastructure remains a strategic national asset with implications for security, economic growth, digital innovation, and financial inclusion.

Given its importance, Tijani noted that the proposed transaction would be carefully reviewed to determine its potential impact on market structure, competition, and long-term sector sustainability.

Focus Areas of the Review

The government’s review is expected to focus on market concentration risks, structural shifts within the telecom ecosystem, consumer protection safeguards, and investor confidence.

Long-term sustainability of the sector

Industry analysts note that MTN already maintains a significant footprint in Nigeria’s telecom market. A reintegration of tower infrastructure into its core operations could alter competitive dynamics, particularly for independent tower operators.

Sector Reforms and Industry Resilience

Tijani also highlighted that over the past two years, the government has implemented policy reforms and engaged stakeholders to stabilise the telecommunications industry.

He referenced recent financial results from major operators, which indicate improved profitability, renewed infrastructure investments, and enhanced operational resilience.

“These gains reflect the resilience of the industry and the impact of government reforms,” the Minister stated.

The transaction, if approved, would represent a strategic shift in Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure landscape.

Over the last decade, operators across emerging markets have spun off tower assets to unlock capital and reduce balance sheet pressures.

MTN’s move to reacquire a controlling stake in IHS signals a potential pivot toward infrastructure consolidation.

Regulatory clearance will likely determine whether the deal proceeds in its current structure or faces conditions aimed at preserving market competition.

Among the distinguished speakers, Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, took the stage to weave a story of transformation, one that traced Nigeria’s journey from limited connectivity to a thriving digital economy.

Welcoming participants, Dr. Tijani framed the conference as more than a traditional tech gathering. “Digital Nigeria 2025 is not just dialogue; it is collaboration and action toward building a sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive digital economy,” he declared. It was a moment to reflect on the past, examine the present, and chart the future of Nigeria’s digital landscape.

He transported the audience back to 1999, when the liberalization of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector sparked a revolution.

Before that bold reform, only a few families had access to telephones, and international calls meant long queues and endless waits.

“That decision marked the beginning of a new economy built on ideas and innovation,” Tijani said.

The rollout of mobile connectivity reshaped daily life, opening doors to opportunities for millions and laying the foundation for a digital revolution.

Today, he noted, the digital economy contributes nearly 18 percent of Nigeria’s GDP, and the nation has emerged as a fintech powerhouse, boasting advanced payment systems and five of Africa’s nine tech unicorns.

These successes, he argued, demonstrate the power of visionary leadership and forward-looking policies, positioning Nigeria as a leader in innovation and digital transformation.

Dr. Tijani praised the Tinubu administration for embedding technology at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing inclusivity, youth empowerment, and economic diversification.

He stressed that Nigeria’s digital future is about people, empowering citizens to create, innovate, and thrive, rather than merely consume technology.

As he concluded, Dr. Tijani urged participants to seize the three-day conference to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and translate dialogue into tangible action.

“The vision is clear: a nation built on prosperity, inclusion, and competitiveness, powered by innovation,” he said, leaving the audience inspired and ready to shape the next chapter of Nigeria’s digital story.

Despite recording steady growth in voice and internet subscriptions, the current figure, representing 106.97 million high-speed internet connections, suggests that the country will need to accelerate its broadband rollout dramatically within the final quarter to hit the target.

According to the NCC’s latest industry statistics, active voice subscriptions climbed to 173.54 million in September, up from 171.57 million in August. Internet subscriptions on GSM networks also grew to 140.36 million, while teledensity reached 80.05 percent, reflecting continued sectoral resilience.

However, experts say that closing the remaining 20 percent broadband gap within just two months would be “nearly impossible” given infrastructure, financing, and policy implementation challenges across several regions.

Government Pushes Infrastructure Expansion

Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, has continued to highlight government efforts to bridge the connectivity gap.

Speaking recently in Ogun State, the Minister revealed plans to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables nationwide, supported by a $500 million World Bank facility. the largest of its kind in the bank’s portfolio.

“The President decided that as a nation, we will invest in 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic network across this country. Every corner of our nation will be covered with fibre optic cables,” Tijani said.

To complement the initiative, Tijani announced the training of 5,000 young Nigerians in fibre technology, splicing, and deployment, in partnership with Coleman Wires and Cables, which recently launched West Africa’s largest fibre optic cable plant.

“This will begin in about two to three months and will strengthen our broadband ecosystem while creating skilled jobs for Nigerians,” the minister added.

Telecom Market Still Growing Strong

According to NCC data, MTN Nigeria retained its lead with 90.33 million subscribers (52.12%), followed by Airtel with 58.47 million (33.74%), Globacom with 21.39 million (12.34%), and T2 with 3.11 million (1.8%), a slight improvement from the previous month.

The GSM segment continues to dominate Nigeria’s telecommunications space, accounting for over 99 per cent of total mobile subscriptions.

Broadband penetration reached its highest level yet at 49.34 per cent, up from 48.81 per cent in August, with 4G technology maintaining 51.6 per cent market share and 5G adoption rising to 3.4 per cent, signaling gradual progress since its commercial launch in 2022.

Data Usage and Economic Impact

While broadband subscriptions increased, data usage dipped slightly to 1.15 million terabytes in September, from 1.152 million terabytes in August.

The telecom sector continues to play a critical role in Nigeria’s economy, contributing 9.2 per cent to GDP in Q2 2025, up from 8.5 per cent in Q1, despite macroeconomic headwinds and currency volatility.

Analysts attribute the sustained sectoral performance to rising demand for digital services, mobile penetration, and continued investments in network infrastructure by operators.

However, they warn that unless massive fibre deployment, last-mile connectivity projects, and right-of-way harmonization accelerate before year-end, Nigeria’s 70 per cent broadband dream may remain just that, a dream deferred.

The 8-month Llama Impact Accelerator program is designed to support early-stage startups leveraging open-source Llama models to address key national and regional challenges across four high-priority areas, including Agriculture, Security & Safety, Healthcare, and a wild card category encouraging bold, original applications of AI in any other sector with high impact potential.

With a strong focus on open innovation, the program includes a six-week incubation phase, where selected teams will receive technical training and mentorship from AI experts and industry leaders, followed by six months of extended support, including access to additional technical resources and opportunities.

“We’re excited to partner with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy to launch this AI Accelerator in Nigeria — a country with a robust innovation ecosystem,” said Sade Dada, Head of Public Policy, Anglophone West Africa at Meta. “By making open-source AI more accessible and relevant to local challenges, we aim to enable the development of solutions that can drive national development and are impactful for communities.”

Enabling Local AI Talent for Global Impact

Nigeria’s rapidly growing tech ecosystem and deep pool of AI talent make it an ideal launchpad for scalable, homegrown AI solutions.

The Accelerator aims to enable local innovators with cutting-edge tools, infrastructure, and support to build responsibly with open-source LLMs like Meta’s Llama.

“This partnership marks a major step forward in our mission to develop a thriving AI ecosystem in Nigeria,” said Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy of Nigeria.

“We see AI as a key driver for national development, and this program by Meta will equip innovators with the right tools and guidance to tackle some of our most pressing issues.” 

A Shared Vision for Open Innovation

This initiative is part of Meta’s broader commitment to democratizing access to responsible AI and supporting local innovation in Nigeria.

By working closely with government partners, academia, and civil society, the Accelerator will help foster an inclusive and forward-looking AI community in Nigeria.

Applications for the program are open until 27th June 2025.

This milestone is part of a broader national effort championed by Dr. Bosun Tijani, the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, to enhance digital infrastructure on university campuses and drive inclusive innovation across Nigeria’s knowledge economy.

Speaking at the launch events, Temitope Osunrinde, chief marketing officer of Tizeti, described the initiative as “a bold step to democratize access to the tools that power learning, research, and innovation.”

Reflecting on his time as a student at the University of Lagos, he added:

“Twenty years ago, internet access was a distant luxury. Today, we are delivering what we once dreamed of — right to the doorstep of students.”

Students at the launch experienced internet speeds ranging between 50 Mbps and 200 Mbps, enabling seamless access to digital learning resources, online collaboration, and global innovation ecosystems.

The Fiber-to-Hostel initiative is built on strong public-private partnerships between operators like Tizeti, universities and national agencies such as Galaxy Backbone and the Nigeria Broadband Alliance Network.

The effort aligns with the global Triple Helix model — fostering collaboration between government, academia, and industry to drive research, digital inclusion, and innovation.

Stressing on the Fibre-to-Hostel, Kendall Ananyi, CEO of Tizeti, said that connectivity should no longer be a luxury.

“The internet is the fuel of innovation, the foundation of research, and the bridge to global opportunity. With reliable, high-speed internet by Tizeti, Galaxy Backbone and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, students now have the digital foundation to work smarter, create fearlessly, and innovate without limits. We’re not just connecting campuses — we’re unlocking the next generation of African changemakers,” he said.

Among the dignitaries present at the launch were Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, minister of Education; Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos; Prof. Patricia Monko Lar, Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja; and Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone.

They commended the initiative’s transformative potential to empower students with real-time access to information, global research collaboration, and digital tools for academic and entrepreneurial success.

Tizeti has a proven track record of bridging Nigeria’s digital divide — from connecting over 2.5 million Nigerians through Facebook’s Express WiFi to broadband deployments in underserved communities in partnership with Microsoft and USAID.

Tizeti recently introduced its fiber broadband service offering hyper-mega speeds of up to 1 Gbps, providing its fastest and most reliable internet performance to date.

According to Ananyi,

“This initiative is more than just fast internet. It’s about empowering communities, fostering innovation, and enabling people to thrive in a digitally connected world. Our free fiber service will revolutionize how people, homes, and businesses in West Africa access the internet — creating new opportunities for education, communication, and commerce.”

The initiative, championed by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aims to deliver voice and data services, digital healthcare, and remote learning capabilities to the over 12,000 residents of the community.

The pilot Digital Village project was commissioned by Dr. Bosun Tijani, the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, who commended Glo and Huawei for supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to address the connectivity crisis affecting more than 20 million Nigerians.

Dr. Tijani stated that, “If you bring out your phone in many communities, there is no network at all. This is costing the country significantly because people cannot access financial services, medical care, or education”, the minister noted, adding that this also poses governance challenges as disconnected areas are difficult to administer.

Where you live should not determine your access to opportunity. We are using innovation to ensure every Nigerian, regardless of location, can thrive in the digital age”, The Minister added.

Mr. Sanjib Roy, Globacom’s group chief technical director, who spoke on the project said the company worked with the Ministry and Huawei to bring up the site by providing the Microwave backhaul link and access to Globacom’s full core network resources and also manage the operation of the site to ensure uninterrupted voice and data services for the community.

“The Smart Education facility allows for young students within the community to receive education remotely, with the teachers being in Abuja or any other part of the world, while  Healthcare delivery has been revolutionised through connected medical equipment that enables remote consultations between patients in Ibwa and doctors and specialists in urban-locations”, Mr Roy explained. The site and all the equipment are powered by solar thereby ensuring clean environment and uninterrupted power supply.

Part of the inauguration ceremony was a live demonstration in which the community leader, Chief Abubakar Bamaiyi, had a consultation with a medical doctor in Abuja, and students being taught online by a teacher in Lagos which showcased the effectiveness of the system.

In his speech, Kazeem Kaka, Globacom’s head of Division, North West, reiterated the company’s commitment to communication being accessible for all Nigerians.

He said,

“For Globacom, this is a continuation of our long-standing mission to democratize access to communication. Since 2003, we have remained at the forefront of efforts to lower the barriers to connectivity—making telephony, internet, and data services more accessible and affordable for all Nigerians. Today’s launch reinforces that commitment. We are particularly excited about the impact this initiative will have on education, healthcare, and economic empowerment of Ibwa people”.

Also, Terrens Wu, Huawei’s managing director, expressed pride in being part of the initiative, promoting learning and healthcare in rural communities through digital technology.

Huawei donated 120 affordable smartphones to the community to facilitate access to telephony.

This initiative, the first of its kind in the country, is aimed at professionals across sectors and shows a sharpened focus on regulation as the economy becomes more digitised.

The launch, which coincided with the 8th annual conference of the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA) in Abuja, was led by Dr Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. He wasted no time in stressing the weight of the move.

“As we digitise government services, open up digital trade corridors, and scale digital identity platforms, data becomes the backbone and data protection, the shield,” he said during the event.

From where we stand, this academy is a response to a reality where data breaches, identity theft, and privacy violations are no longer rare headlines but daily threats. 

The Nigeria Virtual Privacy Academy brings practical, accessible training on cybersecurity and data governance for everyone—from government workers to young tech professionals. The idea is to build digital resilience through knowledge, not just laws.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented at the event by Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, noted that the Federal Government views data not merely as code or numbers, but as something deeply human. “Data is more than just a digital asset,” he said. “It is a human story told in numbers.”

Nigeria has gone beyond just trying to keep up with international best practices, it’s now attempting to create a regulatory system that matches the velocity of technological change.

To this end, the Vice President pointed to several milestones. He recalled how President Tinubu, only two weeks into office, signed the Nigeria Data Protection Act into law.

This was followed by Nigeria’s endorsement of the Malabo Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection earlier this year. The General Application Implementation Directive for the Act also came into effect just two months ago.

“Our data protection ecosystem is now directly tied to the delivery of the eight presidential priorities of this administration,” Shettima noted.

Beyond national borders, Nigeria is pushing for a continent-wide alignment. The Chairperson of NADPA, represented by Vice President Immaculate Kassiat, called for shared standards across African countries, emphasising the urgency of regional cooperation in an era where data knows no boundaries.

On his part, Dr Vincent Olatunji, national nommissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), offered insight into what has already been achieved.

The numbers were telling; over 5,000 compliance assessments, 223 investigations, 12 organisational remediations, and upwards of $1.2 million generated in regulatory fees in just two years.

“We’ve signed MOUs with data protection authorities across Africa and are creating a regulatory environment that encourages innovation while safeguarding citizens,” Olatunji said.

Still, he warned, not every African nation has caught up. Many countries on the continent remain without concrete data protection laws, a vacuum he believes could weaken Africa’s digital future.

“Strong data protection frameworks are not barriers to innovation, but enablers of a resilient and inclusive digital economy.”

The conference, themed “Balancing Innovation in Africa: Data Protection and Privacy in Emerging Technologies,” convened more than 30 African nations, with international observers from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the United States.

It was a mix of public declarations and backroom strategy—an attempt to shape how the continent handles one of its most valuable currencies: data.

Inga Stefanowicz, speaking on behalf of the European Union, reiterated the EU’s support for Africa’s evolving data governance ecosystem. And while partnerships are welcome, the message from Nigerian officials stressed that we can’t afford to wait for global consensus to protect what’s already ours.

With the academy now live and the NDPC expanding its reach, Nigeria is now increasing focus on a sector usually overlooked until something goes wrong. This reiterates that digital trust is not optional, but built into the code.

Nigeria’s livestock sector, which sustains millions and contributes more than 5% to the country’s GDP, is in urgent need of practical, tech-enabled solutions.

From disease outbreaks and limited market access to farmer-herder conflicts and outdated systems, the problems are deep-rooted. But so are the opportunities.

An initiative organised by the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), a specialised unit under the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Hack4Livestock is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; AI Collective Nigeria; Luminate and Ford Foundation.

Hack4Livestock is a serious, results-driven hackathon designed to bring together developers, engineers, agricultural professionals, policy experts, and problem-solvers to take on the livestock sector’s most stubborn challenges head-on. 

If you think your solution can improve animal health tracking, stop conflicts before they erupt, or digitise livestock trading for transparency, this event wants you in the room.

Benefits

Participants will gain access to real mentorship, incubation programmes, and a chance at serious funding. A prize pool of N10 million, broken down as follows:

• First place: N5,000,000
• Second place: N3,000,000
• Third place: N2,000,000

Winning teams also receive post-hackathon support to scale their ideas beyond Abuja.

But perhaps the biggest win? You’ll be creating something that can change how millions live, farm, trade, and thrive.

Who Should Apply?

If you think this is only for coders, think again. Hack4Livestock is designed for multidisciplinary collaboration. The call is open to:

• Developers & Engineers: Skilled in AI, IoT, GIS, blockchain, or app development.
• Agricultural Experts & Veterinarians: You understand the real pain points in the field.
• Farmers & Herders: Your experience and insight are invaluable.
• Entrepreneurs & Startups: Especially those already working on AgriTech, sustainability, or inclusion.
• Data Scientists & Analysts: Who can uncover insights and patterns that lead to practical solutions.
• Policy Influencers: Those involved in agriculture, rural development, or peace-building.

No matter your background, if your solution is solid and your intention is real, you’re welcome.

How to Apply

Applications are open now. Head to the website and fill out the form. It won’t take long, but take it seriously, this is a national programme, and only the most committed teams will make it through.

• Deadline: Sunday, 12th May 2025
• Notification of Selection: Thursday, 15th May 2025
• Hackathon Dates: 21st–24th May 2025
• Location: Abuja

If selected, you’ll join other top minds in the capital city for four days of intense problem-solving and collaboration.

The site visit was led by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who was joined by Sahara Group Chairman, Dr. Kola Adesina, and several key stakeholders.

The location isn’t a random pick. Egbin is West Africa’s largest privately-operated power station, with a 1,320 MW installed capacity—and it’s expanding. It already supplies over 16% of the national grid. Now, it might also power Nigeria’s entrance into large-scale artificial intelligence and data processing.

Why Egbin? Data centres and compute hubs consume serious energy. You don’t plug them into the same grid that struggles to keep homes lit. Egbin has what’s needed—steady electricity, plenty of land, and access to water for cooling systems. That mix is rare and hard to replicate elsewhere in the country.

According to the Minister, the idea is to “anchor Nigeria’s digital backbone” right where power already flows. It’s a calculated move. If it works, it could remove the two biggest excuses for Nigeria’s slow tech adoption: unstable power and limited processing capacity.

The conversation is no longer about whether AI will change Nigeria’s economy—it’s how soon, and who controls it. Establishing a compute hub at Egbin would offer the infrastructure needed to train and deploy large AI models within Nigeria’s borders. That’s a game-changer.

We’re talking about hosting high-performance servers capable of processing billions of data points for AI applications in agriculture, health, finance, and even national security. It also means less dependency on foreign cloud platforms and faster, more secure access to critical services.

I’ve seen this mistake play out elsewhere—countries outsourcing their digital intelligence and later struggling to reclaim control. This could be Nigeria’s chance to avoid that path.

There’s more. The proposed data park aligns with plans to turn Lagos into a subsea cable hub. Cables already land here from Europe, the Americas, and elsewhere. But routing them into a high-capacity data zone within the Egbin corridor would reduce latency, improve service delivery, and lower internet costs nationwide.

That kind of infrastructure layering—energy, data, cables—is what turns cities into digital economies. The ambition is to make Lagos a serious player on the continent and a critical junction for global data movement.

Data sovereignty has become a political issue, and rightly so. As more national infrastructure becomes digital, questions of where data is stored and who controls it are no longer technical—they’re about power.

By building this infrastructure on Nigerian soil, the government is aiming to ensure that key data—citizen records, financial information, national security assets—doesn’t sit on foreign servers. It’s a statement of independence in the digital age.

Dr. Tijani said he was “deeply impressed” by what he saw at Egbin Power Plant and described the facility as a critical national asset. He also acknowledged the strength of Nigerian engineering and technical expertise, stating that “Nigeria has what it takes.”

If executed well, the initiative could bring in new capital. Tech firms, cloud providers, research institutions—many are searching for low-cost, high-power zones to host infrastructure. Egbin could become that zone.

It would also generate thousands of high-skilled jobs—engineers, data analysts, security experts, system architects—roles Nigeria currently imports or underutilises. With a growing youth population and rising unemployment, this could be the reset button we need.

There’s no final commitment yet. The visit was exploratory, but signals are strong. Discussions have moved beyond vague promises to tangible feasibility assessments.

In this space, delays are dangerous. If this initiative succeeds, it could bolster the next phase of Nigeria’s economic story—not oil, not gas, but data. And this time, the fuel isn’t exported—it’s processed right here.

“Today we received a N1 Billion grant from the Airtel Africa Foundation for our @3MTTNigeria programme towards training and empowering over 25,000 Nigerians with in-demand technical skills,” he wrote.

With this, Nigeria’s tech agenda is gathering pace — and the private sector is responding swiftly.

According to Tijani, the grant will cover hands-on training, community engagement, and job placement for participants — core aspects of the 3MTT project, which is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” vision. 

The goal is to build young Nigerians with future-proof skills and inject new energy into the country’s digital workforce.

“Grateful to the Airtel Africa Foundation for collaborating with us as we work to position Nigeria as a key player in the global technology landscape,” Tijani added.

But this didn’t come out of the blue. The groundwork was laid in February.

Back then, Airtel Africa’s top brass, Chairman Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal and CEO Sunil Taldar, met with President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. That visit went beyond a ceremonial. It brought firm pledges to back Nigeria’s tech aspirations with concrete programmes and funding.

Airtel Africa committed to supporting digital training for 25,000 young Nigerians across 80 local government areas under the 3MTT initiative. They also launched the Airtel Africa Fellowship — awarding 10 fully-funded scholarships for tech-focused degrees at Plaksha University, India.

“Nigeria remains a strategic market for Airtel Africa, and we are fully committed to support the government’s digital transformation agenda,” said Mr Mittal at the time. “Through initiatives like the Airtel Africa Fellowship and our investment in 3MTT, we are ensuring that the youth of Nigeria have access to world-class education and digital skills. We commend President Tinubu’s vision for a technologically advanced Nigeria and are committed to play our part in making that vision a reality.”

Airtel Africa has been expanding its footprint in Nigeria’s digital and telecoms space. From scaling financial inclusion through SmartCash PSB to onboarding over 600,000 students and 1,260 schools via the Airtel-UNICEF “Reimagine Education” initiative, the company is betting big on Nigeria’s future.

Their support for the 3MTT programme strengthens that posture. It’s not charity; it’s strategy. And it may well be working.

With unemployment still high and tech talent in global demand, this latest investment could become a turning point. The 3MTT initiative is always ambitious, training three million people is no small task, but with this kind of backing, it’s starting to feel more real.

There are still challenges. Infrastructure, internet access, curriculum design, and job placement logistics won’t fix themselves overnight. But what’s changed is the energy behind the effort. The stakeholders are starting to align — government, telcos, global institutions. That’s the hard part.

If Nigeria can keep this going, we may look back at this moment — this grant, this tweet, this week — as the one that kicked off a true digital transformation.

Until then, the numbers speak for themselves: one billion naira, twenty-five thousand young Nigerians, and the slow but steady rise of a new kind of workforce. One built not on oil or imports, but on code, creativity, and global relevance.

And for once, we’re not just watching the future happen. We’re building it.