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Tag: 9Mobile

  • Two Nigerians make 9mobile £15,000 prize final shortlist

    Two Nigerians make 9mobile £15,000 prize final shortlist

    Two Nigerians, Ayobami Adebayo and Lesley Nneka Arimah, have made the final shortlist for this year’s 9mobile Prize for Literature, sponsored by telecoms company, 9mobile. With them on the list is South Africa’s Marcus Low.

    The shortlist for the Pan-African literary prize, announced by 9mobile, has three shortlisted titles: What it Means When a Man Falls Down From the Sky (Farafina, 2017) by Nigeria’s Lesley Nneka Arimah; Stay with Me (Canongate Books, 2017) by Ayobami Adebayo, also a Nigerian, and Asylum by Marcus Low (Pan Macmillan South Africa, 2017).

    Adebayo, Arimah and Low were on a  longlist unveiled last December, which featured nine books chosen by the prize’s panel (a Nigerian academic and poet, Prof Harry Garuba (chair), Ugandan writer Doreen Baingana, a fellow of Ebedi International Writers Residency and South African writer Siphiwo Mahala).

    The three finalists, according to Garuba, were selected after a thorough, objective and painstaking review of their books. “These three books embody what we would like to see coming from young African writers – fresh storylines, intriguing plots and characters you would want to meet in real life,” he said.

    The judges are faced with the task of deciding which of these three impressive first-time writers will win the year’s edition. The winner will be announced during the Grand Finale to be held this year.

    The winner of the 9mobile Prize will receive £15,000, an engraved Montblanc Meisterstück pen, and a 9mobile-sponsored fellowship at the University of East Anglia, where he/she will be mentored by renowned literature teacher Professor Giles Foden, author of The Last King of Scotland, while the three finalists will have copies of their books purchased by 9mobile for distribution to schools, libraries and book clubs across Africa. This, according to the prize’s sponsor, is in fulfillment of the company’s goal of making books available across the continent, and developing the publishing industry.

    “We are happy to have reached this stage. Knowing the high standards desired by the 9mobile Prize for Literature, we ensured that the adjudication process was objective, while upholding quality and relevance. We congratulate 9mobile and the shortlisted writers, and note that the entire exercise we went through gives us a glimpse of an even more promising and rewarding literary industry for African writers,” he added.

    9mobile Prize for Literature is the first pan-African literary prize that celebrates debut African writers of published fiction. It is open  to writers from Africa, resident anywhere in the world. Zimbabwe’s NoViolet Bulawayo won the inaugural edition of the prize in 2013 with We Need New Names, and South African novelist Songeziwe Mahlangu won with Penumbra in 2014. Fiston Mwanza Mujila from the Democratic Republic of Congo won in 2015 with Tram 83, and in 2017 Nigeria’s Jowhor Ile won for his first book And After Many Days.

    While restating the company’s support for African literature, Director, Brand and Experience, 9mobile, Elvis Ogiemwanye, voiced his satisfaction for the fact that every stage of the 2018 9mobile Prize for Literature has been inspiring. He commended the judges and patrons for their diligence.

    He said: “We at 9mobile have always been amazed by the resilience and commitment of writers on the continent in spite of the huge challenges they face. This was, in fact, one of the reasons we initiated the prize and it’s heartwarming that we are almost at the end of another cycle. We are as excited as the rest of Africa and can’t wait to see who will emerge winner at the grand finale. I’m sure it will be a great outing, with African literature the better for it.”

    Lesley, based in the US, is 2015 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Africa winner. She has twice been shortlisted for the Caine Prize. She was named as one of the fiction writers honoured by the National Book Foundation, called “Five under 35” September 2017. In 2016 and last year, she was shortlisted for the Caine Prize. Her work has appeared in Harper’s, Per Contra, The New Yorker, and other publications. Her debut collection of short stories was published by Riverhead Books and Tinder Press (UK) in April 2017. Entitled: What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky, the collection was republished in Nigeria, by Farafina Books, in November 2017.

    Low’s is one of South African brightest young minds, whose debut novel, Asylum, speaks of a strong voice of advocacy. The novelist is also a journalist and public health specialist and advocate based in Cape Town. Marcus has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Cape Town.

    The 2017 winner of The Future Awards Africa Prize for Arts and Culture, Ayobami was listed by the Financial Times as one of the bright stars of Nigerian literature in 2015. A fellow of Ebedi International Writers Residency, Ayobami, based in Nigeria, was shortlisted for the Miles Morland Scholarship in 2014 and 2015; and has also been a writer in residence at Ledig House Omi, Hedgebrook, Sinthian Cultural Institute, Ox-Bow School of Art, Siena Art Institute. Stay with Me, her debut novel, was shortlisted for last year’s Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction.

  • 9Mobile: Long wait for new investors

    Indications are that the uncertainty over the search for fresh investors by the interim management of 9Mobile, the fourth largest telecommunications network in the country is about to end soon if feelers from informed sources is anything to go by, reports Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

    To say that the management of 9Mobile has been in horns of a dilemma is certainly stating the obvious. The reason is that the fourth largest telecommunications network in the country is desperately in need of a lifeline to enable it cover lost grounds since the long search for fresh investors began some months ago.

    Crux of the matter

    At issue is that the Interim Board of EMTS which has the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the financial and telecommunications services regulators in Nigeria, had recently received bids from about five bidders in its planned sale of the company which was to be concluded by 31 December, 2017, but had to be moved to 16 January, 2018 when the management sought for time extension.

    The NCC and CBN set a January 16 deadline for receipt of binding offers from prospective bidders to acquire debt-laden telecom firm 9mobile.

    However, a recent Federal High Court, Ikoyi, in a ruling has nullified the Ex Parte Order earlier issued on 3rd July 2017 approving the appointment of an Interim Board for Emerging Markets Telecommunications Service (EMTS).

    The nullification followed dismissal by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, the Preliminary Objection filed by United Capital Trustees Ltd in response to the application by Spectrum Wireless, a shareholder of EMTS, for a nullification of the Ex Parte Order of the court, which it claimed was obtained by misrepresentation of facts that alienated its interests in the company.

    Anxiety over fate of 9Mobile

    Since the court injunction nullifying the interim board, there have been clouds of doubt on what fate awaits the telecommunications firm with about 14 per cent share of the GSM market in the country.

    At issue is that at least, about five million Nigerians belonging to 9mobile may have dumped the network in the last 12 months as the search for a new firm to take over it, through a bidding process, progresses.

    According to the data obtained from the Nigerian Communications, this indicates that from about 22 million subscribers, 9mobile has dropped in its subscriber base significantly to 17 million as at November, 2017.

    This also crashed the market share of 9mobile from 15 per cent to 12 per cent.

    The November data was the latest industry when the active lines on MTN, Glo and Airtel were also put at 51 million; 37 million and 35 million respectively.

    Accordingly, MTN market share was 36 per cent; Glo is 26 per cent while Airtel has 24 per cent.

    It was gathered that the loss of about 5 million subscribers, ostensibly to river operators by 9mobile, is coming just as it is clear to the subscribers that the $1.2 billion financial crisis 9mobile ran into with a consortium of 13 banks is now heading for a takeover by another company.

    “I have since dropped my 9mobile line. You know, this is Nigeria and I don’t want to be caught unawares to avoid unnecessary in-service disruption. I practically ported to another network,” Bamidele Sam, a 9mobile subscriber, who claimed he had dumped the network, said.

    Interactions with some subscribers, who are still on the network showed that more are still planning to drop the lines and its fate of being bought by a company technically and financially capable of buying it now hangs in the balance.

    For 9Mobile management mum is the word

    Several attempts to speak with Head of Public Relations, 9Mobile, Ms Oluseyi Osuntedo were futile as she kept fobbing this reporter off on false promises.

    However, a source who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak with the media confided in our correspondent that all is well with the embattled telecoms firm.

    Speaking on the recently announced court injunction, the source raised some posers: “Are you aware that said there has been an Appeal filed on that case? Are you aware that there is a Supreme Court ruling that once a matter is before a superior court you maintain status quo? And what is the status quo? The status quo is that the present management as presently constituted must remain. It’s the status quo of the present management as constituted. What that means is that if at the end of the day if the Appeal Court then finds out that it was something that was totally not properly presented correctly, then the Appeal Court upset anything that that management has done. But for now the position is that the status quo remains. Don’t forget that there is a different between status quo ante and a status quo. Status quo ante means it should go back to what was obtainable now. Status quo means that thongs remain as they are. So what has remained is that the management is still in place, the management is still remaining.”

    On whether the court injunction may affect the planned outcome of the new investors involved in the bid rounds, the source said the process was almost concluded as the new investor would be announced in a matter of days.

    “It is part of the status quo that is ongoing. That process is ongoing and I’m sure a decision will be announced within the next couple of hours or few days.”

    A recap

    It would be recalled that Etisalat Nigeria took out a $1.2 billion syndicated loan from a group of 13 local banks but struggled to make repayments due to a currency crisis and recession in Nigeria last year.

    Subsequently the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervened to save the company from collapse and prevent creditors from putting it into receivership, leading to a change in its board and management, as well as the new name 9mobile.

    Expectedly the crisis forced the telecoms company’s one-time parent Etisalat to terminate its management agreement with its Nigerian business and surrender its 45 percent stake to a trustee following the CBN intervention.

    Scramble for 9Mobile

    The scramble to acquire 9mobile, Nigeria’s fourth largest network operator, may soon end as the firms which submitted expressions of interest (EoIs) for the telecoms firm, prequalified by Barclays – the financial adviser to the deal – to proceed to the financial bid stage of the exercise.

    It may be recalled that the 10 firms out of the 16 firms having passed the technical evaluation bid stage, have been prequalified to submit their financial bids for the acquisition of 9mobile.

    As part of the financial bid process, the companies will also be required to submit bid bonds of $150 million each as evidence of their capacity to pay for the acquisition of 9mobile.

    The companies include Globacom Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s second largest network operator founded in 2003 by business mogul, Chief Michael Adenuga; India’s Bharti Airtel, operating as Airtel in Nigeria; Dangote Group’s telecoms business unit, Alheri Engineering Limited, which has the backing of U.S.-based Blackstone Group with an investment portfolio of $378 billion and a Nigerian subsidiary called the Black Rhino Group; Smile Telecoms Holdings, a South African telecommunications group with subsidiaries in Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda; and Helios Towers, the former owner and operator of the largest telecoms tower network in Nigeria and other countries, before it sold its Nigerian infrastructure to HIS.

    Other firms that have moved on to the financial bid stage of the competitive tender are: Centricus Capital and Africell, a subsidiary of the Lebanon-based Lintel Group of Companies, with cellular communications operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Uganda; Dubai-based Abraaj Capital, a private equity firm with an investment portfolio of $11 billion; Teleology Holdings Limited, a special purpose vehicle led by a former chief executive of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Adian Wood, and Ericsson; Africa Capital Alliance (ACA), a leading pan-African investment firm based in Lagos; and The Carlyle Group, a U.S.-based multinational private equity, alternative asset management and financial services corporation.

    A banking source also said that now that the 10 firms have been prequalified to submit their financial bids for 9mobile, this will be the final process from which a winner with the highest bid submitted for 9mobile, will emerge.

    The winner, according to the source, will then be invited to negotiate and agree to the payment terms to takeover 9mobile.

    Should the firm that wins the financial bid stage fail to meet the payment terms within the stipulated period agreed with Barclays, the reserve bidder (or the firm that submitted the second highest bid) will be invited to acquire 9mobile.

    9mobile’s new CEO, Mr. Boye Olusanya, had said soon after his appointment that he was focused on getting the telecoms company back on track to make a profit, while working on the paperwork to eventually raise new capital, adding that the company was open to new investors.

    The Nigerian lenders with exposure to the telecoms firm had given Barclays the mandate to handle the sale of 9mobile, after Citigroup and Standard Bank, previously in the running for the role, were dropped.

    9mobile has over 20 million subscribers with a 14 per cent share of the Nigerian market.

    Fresh bid showing a lot of promise

    Checks by The Nation revealed that the banks had requested Barclays Africa to review bids submitted before the deadline and make recommendations to 9mobile.

    Nigerian lenders picked Barclays Africa to try to find new investors for 9mobile after banks took over the telecoms firm, formerly called Etisalat Nigeria, for defaulting on its loan.

    “The winner will now apply to NCC in order to commence the processes for securing the regulatory approvals … to give full effect to the transfer,” the regulator said in a statement.

    A new investor emerges soon

    The Nation was reliably informed by a source close to 9Mobile that Teleology Holdings Limited, promoted by Adrian Wood, former CEO of MTN Nigeria, is the preferred bidder for 9mobile.

    The Australian has remained in the Nigerian business environment since November 2004 when he left MTN.

    However, Smile Telecoms Holdings, a telco operating in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo DR and South Africa, is reportedly the reserve bidder.

    While Teleology put in a bid of $500 million, Smile reportedly quoted $300 million.

    Indications are that both companies will be given 30 days to prove that they have the financial resources to take over the troubled telco.

    The official announcement is expected to be made any moment from now.

    Confirming this development, a very reliable source who asked not to be named confirmed to our correspondent at the weekend that the process was almost concluded as the new investor would be announced in a matter of days.

    Airtel pulled out completely, complaining about “too many hidden things” in the health of the company.

    If either Globacom or Airtel had taken over the company formerly known as Etisalat, they would have overtaken MTN as the biggest operator in Nigeria by number of subscribers.

    The telecom regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is expected to have the final say after decision of the interim board — because of licensing laws. o say that the management of 9Mobile has been in horns of a dilemma is certainly stating the obvious. The reason is that the fourth largest telecommunications network in the country is desperately in need of a lifeline to enable it cover lost grounds since the long search for fresh investors began some months ago.

    Crux of the matter

    At issue is that the Interim Board of EMTS which has the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the financial and telecommunications services regulators in Nigeria, had recently received bids from about five bidders in its planned sale of the company which was to be concluded by 31 December, 2017, but had to be moved to 16 January, 2018 when the management sought for time extension.

    The NCC and CBN set a January 16 deadline for receipt of binding offers from prospective bidders to acquire debt-laden telecom firm 9mobile.

    However, a recent Federal High Court, Ikoyi, in a ruling has nullified the Ex Parte Order earlier issued on 3rd July 2017 approving the appointment of an Interim Board for Emerging Markets Telecommunications Service (EMTS).

    The nullification followed dismissal by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, the Preliminary Objection filed by United Capital Trustees Ltd in response to the application by Spectrum Wireless, a shareholder of EMTS, for a nullification of the Ex Parte Order of the court, which it claimed was obtained by misrepresentation of facts that alienated its interests in the company.

    Anxiety over fate of 9Mobile

    Since the court injunction nullifying the interim board, there have been clouds of doubt on what fate awaits the telecommunications firm with about 14 per cent share of the GSM market in the country.

    At issue is that at least, about five million Nigerians belonging to 9mobile may have dumped the network in the last 12 months as the search for a new firm to take over it, through a bidding process, progresses.

    According to the data obtained from the Nigerian Communications, this indicates that from about 22 million subscribers, 9mobile has dropped in its subscriber base significantly to 17 million as at November, 2017.

    This also crashed the market share of 9mobile from 15 per cent to 12 per cent.

    The November data was the latest industry when the active lines on MTN, Glo and Airtel were also put at 51 million; 37 million and 35 million respectively.

    Accordingly, MTN market share was 36 per cent; Glo is 26 per cent while Airtel has 24 per cent.

    It was gathered that the loss of about 5 million subscribers, ostensibly to river operators by 9mobile, is coming just as it is clear to the subscribers that the $1.2 billion financial crisis 9mobile ran into with a consortium of 13 banks is now heading for a takeover by another company.

    “I have since dropped my 9mobile line. You know, this is Nigeria and I don’t want to be caught unawares to avoid unnecessary in-service disruption. I practically ported to another network,” Bamidele Sam, a 9mobile subscriber, who claimed he had dumped the network, said.

    Interactions with some subscribers, who are still on the network showed that more are still planning to drop the lines and its fate of being bought by a company technically and financially capable of buying it now hangs in the balance.

    For 9Mobile management mum is the word

    Several attempts to speak with Head of Public Relations, 9Mobile, Ms Oluseyi Osuntedo were futile as she kept fobbing this reporter off on false promises.

    However, a source who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak with the media confided in our correspondent that all is well with the embattled telecoms firm.

    Speaking on the recently announced court injunction, the source raised some posers: “Are you aware that said there has been an Appeal filed on that case? Are you aware that there is a Supreme Court ruling that once a matter is before a superior court you maintain status quo? And what is the status quo? The status quo is that the present management as presently constituted must remain. It’s the status quo of the present management as constituted. What that means is that if at the end of the day if the Appeal Court then finds out that it was something that was totally not properly presented correctly, then the Appeal Court upset anything that that management has done. But for now the position is that the status quo remains. Don’t forget that there is a different between status quo ante and a status quo. Status quo ante means it should go back to what was obtainable now. Status quo means that thongs remain as they are. So what has remained is that the management is still in place, the management is still remaining.”

    On whether the court injunction may affect the planned outcome of the new investors involved in the bid rounds, the source said the process was almost concluded as the new investor would be announced in a matter of days.

    “It is part of the status quo that is ongoing. That process is ongoing and I’m sure a decision will be announced within the next couple of hours or few days.”

    A recap

    It would be recalled that Etisalat Nigeria took out a $1.2 billion syndicated loan from a group of 13 local banks but struggled to make repayments due to a currency crisis and recession in Nigeria last year.

    Subsequently the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervened to save the company from collapse and prevent creditors from putting it into receivership, leading to a change in its board and management, as well as the new name 9mobile.

    Expectedly the crisis forced the telecoms company’s one-time parent Etisalat to terminate its management agreement with its Nigerian business and surrender its 45 percent stake to a trustee following the CBN intervention.

    Scramble for 9Mobile

    The scramble to acquire 9mobile, Nigeria’s fourth largest network operator, may soon end as the firms which submitted expressions of interest (EoIs) for the telecoms firm, prequalified by Barclays – the financial adviser to the deal – to proceed to the financial bid stage of the exercise.

    It may be recalled that the 10 firms out of the 16 firms having passed the technical evaluation bid stage, have been prequalified to submit their financial bids for the acquisition of 9mobile.

    As part of the financial bid process, the companies will also be required to submit bid bonds of $150 million each as evidence of their capacity to pay for the acquisition of 9mobile.

    The companies include Globacom Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s second largest network operator founded in 2003 by business mogul, Chief Michael Adenuga; India’s Bharti Airtel, operating as Airtel in Nigeria; Dangote Group’s telecoms business unit, Alheri Engineering Limited, which has the backing of U.S.-based Blackstone Group with an investment portfolio of $378 billion and a Nigerian subsidiary called the Black Rhino Group; Smile Telecoms Holdings, a South African telecommunications group with subsidiaries in Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda; and Helios Towers, the former owner and operator of the largest telecoms tower network in Nigeria and other countries, before it sold its Nigerian infrastructure to HIS.

    Other firms that have moved on to the financial bid stage of the competitive tender are: Centricus Capital and Africell, a subsidiary of the Lebanon-based Lintel Group of Companies, with cellular communications operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Uganda; Dubai-based Abraaj Capital, a private equity firm with an investment portfolio of $11 billion; Teleology Holdings Limited, a special purpose vehicle led by a former chief executive of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Adian Wood, and Ericsson; Africa Capital Alliance (ACA), a leading pan-African investment firm based in Lagos; and The Carlyle Group, a U.S.-based multinational private equity, alternative asset management and financial services corporation.

    A banking source also said that now that the 10 firms have been prequalified to submit their financial bids for 9mobile, this will be the final process from which a winner with the highest bid submitted for 9mobile, will emerge.

    The winner, according to the source, will then be invited to negotiate and agree to the payment terms to takeover 9mobile.

    Should the firm that wins the financial bid stage fail to meet the payment terms within the stipulated period agreed with Barclays, the reserve bidder (or the firm that submitted the second highest bid) will be invited to acquire 9mobile.

    9mobile’s new CEO, Mr. Boye Olusanya, had said soon after his appointment that he was focused on getting the telecoms company back on track to make a profit, while working on the paperwork to eventually raise new capital, adding that the company was open to new investors.

    The Nigerian lenders with exposure to the telecoms firm had given Barclays the mandate to handle the sale of 9mobile, after Citigroup and Standard Bank, previously in the running for the role, were dropped.

    9mobile has over 20 million subscribers with a 14 per cent share of the Nigerian market.

    Fresh bid showing a lot of promise

    Checks by The Nation revealed that the banks had requested Barclays Africa to review bids submitted before the deadline and make recommendations to 9mobile.

    Nigerian lenders picked Barclays Africa to try to find new investors for 9mobile after banks took over the telecoms firm, formerly called Etisalat Nigeria, for defaulting on its loan.

    “The winner will now apply to NCC in order to commence the processes for securing the regulatory approvals … to give full effect to the transfer,” the regulator said in a statement.

    A new investor emerges soon

    The Nation was reliably informed by a source close to 9Mobile that Teleology Holdings Limited, promoted by Adrian Wood, former CEO of MTN Nigeria, is the preferred bidder for 9mobile.

    The Australian has remained in the Nigerian business environment since November 2004 when he left MTN.

    However, Smile Telecoms Holdings, a telco operating in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo DR and South Africa, is reportedly the reserve bidder.

    While Teleology put in a bid of $500 million, Smile reportedly quoted $300 million.

    Indications are that both companies will be given 30 days to prove that they have the financial resources to take over the troubled telco.

    The official announcement is expected to be made any moment from now.

    Confirming this development, a very reliable source who asked not to be named confirmed to our correspondent at the weekend that the process was almost concluded as the new investor would be announced in a matter of days.

    Airtel pulled out completely, complaining about “too many hidden things” in the health of the company.

    If either Globacom or Airtel had taken over the company formerly known as Etisalat, they would have overtaken MTN as the biggest operator in Nigeria by number of subscribers.

    The telecom regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is expected to have the final say after decision of the interim board — because of licensing laws.

  • 9mobile, Bango to launch payment solution

    9mobile has partnered Bango, a leading global mobile payments company, to launch operator-billed payments for Google Play users. With this, customers can through 9pay, pay for an array of media, games, apps and digital content on Google Play store.
    Customers can open and fund a 9pay account by dialing *500# or visiting 9pay.com.ng. All funds are securely warehoused and monitored by UBA plc. Alternatively, they can complete this process while they are in the play store.
    9pay customers will also be able to use their accounts to pay for an exciting array of services online such as lottery, collect change digitally and pay for web services. This great new step also ensures that local developers of apps and games will find it infinitely easier to monetise their offerings.
    Chief Product and Information Officer, 9mobile, Otuyemi Otule, said 9mobile was happy to expand its mobile payment solutions in Nigeria, which has a combination of a highly unbanked and highly mobile-first population. He added that 9mobile’s 9pay offers millions of consumers means of making important financial transactions, including sending and receiving money, receiving change from merchants, topping up air-time and much more.
    “We are delighted to enable customers place the charge for content and services from Google Play on their 9pay account. This launch is a significant addition to the value of mobile payments for our customers,” Otule said.
    Also speaking, Bango CEO, Ray Anderson, said it is instructive to note that 76 per cent of all online traffic in Nigeria is from mobile devices. Smartphone adoption is growing rapidly, with Android accounting for over 60 per cent of the mobile operating systems market share in Nigeria as at 2016. 9mobile and Bango target a high impact in Nigeria – approximately 150 million subscribers, which will be more than any other African country.
    Anderson said:“With a high Android device penetration and low banked population, Africa has become a prime market for transformative mobile payment solutions. Direct Carrier Billing and stored value systems such as 9pay provide a safe, simple mechanism for increasing access to digital content and services.
    “Enabling 9mobile to launch 9pay as a payment option on Google Play is an important milestone for Bango to further increase our footprint in Africa and give millions of consumers access to the digital revolution.”

    He added that the Google Play store pre-installed on all Android devices will enable millions of Nigerian consumers to participate in the m-commerce experience.

  • 9mobile in the eye of the storm

    9mobile in the eye of the storm

    A Lagos court ruling sacking the interim board of 9mobile may have plunged the telco deeper into crisis. LUCAS AJANAKU writes on the implications of the latest twist on ongoing efforts to sell the telco by Barclays Africa.

    BUT for the court judgment obtained last week Friday, the curtain would have been drawn today for the submission of bids by the five suitors of 9mobile. Barclays Africa, the firm superintending over the sale of the telco, which fixed December 31 last year as the closing day, applied for an extension of time to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The regulator granted the extension, thus pushing the goal post till today.

    With the judicial nullification of appointment of 9Mobile’s interim board, the suitors will have to wait for more times for the coast to clear before the realisation of their dreams to acquire the assets and liabilities of the telephone firm, adjudged by the NCC as the most innovative telecom firm in the country with a youth-centric DNA.

     

    How it all started

    About five years ago, Etisalat Nigeria secured a loan of $1.2 billion medium-term seven-year facility from local lenders to expand its network and make it more resilient to accommodate more customers.

    The funding of the repayment of the facility was not in the public space until an economic downturn of 2015 triggered sharp devaluations of the naira which negatively impacted the value of the dollar-denominated loan. The situation was further compounded by a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy that restricted access to foreign exchange/dollars on raw materials that could be sourced locally.

    According to the telco, the outstanding loan to the consortium stands at $227 million and N113 billion, a total of about $574 million if the naira portion is converted to the United States (U.S.) dollars. Going by available calculation, almost half of the $1.2 billion loan has been repaid.

     

    Repayment debacle

    Etisalat was servicing the loan until sometime in February last year, when discussions with the banks, regarding the repayment restructuring commenced. The $1.2 billion loan was serviced up until earlier this year when discussions with the banks commenced, the telco added.

    Etisalat’s engagements to renegotiate the terms of the loan have gone on for a while and are yet to be finalised though at an advanced stage.

    Some of the options on the card include the restructuring of the shareholding/change in ownership. Final arrangements regarding ownership and board structure are still in development stage.

    Sequel to this negotiation, Etisalat Group announced to the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange that it was transferring its shares in the company to an appointed security trustee of the banks.

    The trustee is the vehicle employed by the banks to hold the shares on behalf of the consortium.

    What has effectively happened is a ‘change in ownership’ not a receivership, bankruptcy or winding up. So, operations will continue to run and subscribers can continue to access services on the network as usual, the firm had assured.

     

    Lenders seek investigation

    A new dimension was introduced to the deal when the banks urged the Federal Government to investigate the telco over the loan.

    The telco, however, denied being under any investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over an alleged petition to “the Federal Government asking that Etisalat be investigated” on how the funds from the syndicated loans were utilised.

    Its former Vice President (Regulatory & Corporate Affairs), Ibrahim Dikko, said in a statement: “Etisalat wishes to categorically affirm for the avoidance of doubt that the reports are patently false and most unfortunate considering the damage such misleading information can have not only on our business, but indeed on the telecommunications industry and the country as a whole.

    “A simple interrogation of the rigorous process for securing a syndicated loan from a consortium of reputable banks would have exposed the truth to the original writer of this story and other media channels who have subsequently re-circulated the falsehood without interrogation or verification.

    “Concerned parties have access to our books and do not require an investigation into how the loan was utilised. All of the infrastructure investment and services for which the loan was secured,

    “Contrary to the widely reported misrepresentations about Etisalat Nigeria’s debt obligation to the consortium of 13 banks, it has become pertinent to set the records straight. Prior to this time, Etisalat had consistently and conscientiously met up with its payment obligations. As at today, we can categorically state that the outstanding loan to the consortium stands at $227 million and N113 billion, a total of about $574 million if the naira portion is converted to US dollars.

    “This in essence means almost half of the original loan of $1.2 billion, has been repaid. Etisalat continued to service the loan up until February 2017, when discussions with the banks regarding the repayment restructuring commenced.”

     

    CBN, NCC wade in

    The CBN and NCC waded in with a mission to bring the loan deal to a peaceful closure. The regulators’ intervention was to save the jobs of the over 4,000 workers on the payroll of Etisatat and prevent asset stripping.

    Confirming the intervention of the two regulators, CBN spokesman Isaac Okorafor said: “Although it should ordinarily not be the role of a regulator to decide how individual bad loans are resolved, the CBN believes that Etisalat is a systemically important telecommunications company with over 20 million subscribers that if not well handled, may have negative implications for the banking system itself.”

    He further explained that the CBN and NCC, sensing that the banks might go ahead in the usual way and downsize the company’s over 4,000 workers, reached an agreement to intervene and implore the consortium of banks to reassess its position in dealing with Etisalat.

    Okorafor described some reports in the media insinuating the CBN handwriting on the issue as “the height of mischief and insensitivity”, explaining that the collaborative move by the regulators was aimed at preventing job losses and asset stripping and to ensure that Etisalat remains in business and be in a position to liquidate the loans.

    According to him, the CBN and the NCC plan to meet with the syndicate of banks and the IHS Towers, the tower managers and the equipment suppliers, in order to achieve what he termed “a win-win outcome” for all stakeholders.

     

    Regulatory caveat

    The NCC said its attention was drawn to a planned takeover of Etisalat by a consortium of banks.   Its spokesman Tony Ojobo said in a statement: “As a result of this planned action, the commission stated that it is aware of the indebtedness of Etisalat to the consortium of banks; in conjunction with the CBN, it had mediated by holding several meetings with the banks, Etisalat and other stakeholders with a view to finding a resolution. It lamented that these meetings did not yield the desired results.

    “The NCC wishes to reassure the over 21 million Etisalat subscribers that it will do all within its regulatory power to ensure that Etisalat

    “The Commission has taken proactive steps to cushion the impact of any takeover, this is without prejudice to the ongoing effort between Etisalat and the banks toward negotiated settlement.”

     

    Emergence of 9mobile

    Emerging Markets Telecommunication             Services Ltd. (EMTS), trading as Etisalat Nigeria later gave notice of the withdrawal of the brand name in the country, leading to the stepping aside of the Hakeem Bello and Mathieu Wilshere-led board and management.

    The development culminated in a rebrand to 9mobile and subsequent appointment of Barclays Africa as advisors to the telco. Its Chief Executive Officer Boye Olusanya said the brand name change will not affect the quality of services to customers, adding that all its commitment to CSR will remain. He also said the telco had its windows opened for new investors.

    Reacting to the development, the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) said the development further puts more pressure on the new management to find an immediate buyer for the company, as EMTS is effectively left without a recognisable brand name known in the industry.

    Its President, Olusola Teniola, said this so especially when it is considered that the Etisalat brand was associated with the youth segment of the market, it appears that there is urgent need to ensure that the services and products that EMTS delivers can replicate that unique experience!

    “The Etisalat brand name holds significant intangible assets to EMTS and this allowed the current subscriber base to hold faith with the international experience and good will that the Emirates brought to Nigeria. It would be best for the new management to learn from lessons already learnt from the various name changes that Econet went through to get to Airtel and ATCON seeks minimum impact on the subscribers if those lessons come to bear during this difficult period of transition for the company EMTS and the stakeholders in the industry, most especially the consumers.

    “Proactive effective messaging from EMTS is key to the success of any brand name change and to remove the uncertainty that surrounds any identify change. From Customer Care right through to technical support, it is important that infrastructure that supports the company is reliably run and in place to cope with the deluge of calls requesting information on ‘what next’ for the subscribers. Remember the ‘Customer is King’ in this situation,” Teniola said in email note to The Nation yesterday.

     

    The five suitors

    The NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta listed the five bidders for 9mobile as Globacom, Airtel, Smile Communications, Helios and Teleology Holdings Limited. They were shortlisted from the 16 firms that expressed interest and filed bids with Barclays, 9mobile’s financial advisor.

    They include: MTN, ntel, Virgin Mobile from the United Kingdom and Vodacom of South Africa. Others are BUA Group, Morning Side Capital Partners, Obot Etiebet & Co, Blackstone Private Equity, and Hamilton and George International Limited.

    Dambatta said: “Five bidders have emerged for 9mobile. They have been allowed to access the data room of 9mobile in order to enable them access the financial situation of the company and subsequently make bids for the takeover of the company. But the takeover must be in a regulated manner.”

     

    Court wades in

    The Federal High Court in Lagos at the weekend nullified the appointment of an interim board for 9mobile.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba made the order based on an application by Spectrum Wireless Communication Ltd, which invested $35 million in 2009 in EMTS/Etisalat.

    According to the certified copies of the judgment endorsed by Alokpesi CN, registrar, the judge ruled: “An order is hereby granted discharging the ex-parte order made by this court in this suit in favour of the respondent on the 3rd day of July 2017.

    “The order made pursuant to motion ex-parte dated 3rd day of July 2017 was a nullity, made without jurisdiction and obtained by misrepresentation of facts. Same be and is hereby discharged and vacated as prayed.

    “The motion for stay is struck out, having set aside the order. The respondent shall reverse all steps taken by it since the order was a nullity.”

    The order nullifies the appointment of Dr. Joseph Nnana of the CBN as chairman, Mr. Boye Olusanya as Managing Director, Mrs. Funke Ighodaro as Chief Financial Officer, Mr Seyi Bickersthet and Mr. Ken Igbokwe on the EMTS board.

    The nullification followed Justice Buba’s dismissal of a preliminary objection filed by United Capital Trustees Ltd in response to the application by Spectrum Wireless, a shareholder of EMTS.

    United Capital comprises a consortium of local banks that provided funding for Etisalat.

    Spectrum Wireless claimed that the order was obtained through the misrepresentation of facts that alienated its interests in the company.

    The interim board of EMTS, which has the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), received bids from five bidders in its intended sale of the company, which was to be concluded by last December 31, but was moved to January 16 (today).

     

    Spanner in the works

    Spectrum Wireless Communication’s lawyers have warned that any institution or company who transacts business for the purpose of sale or acquisition of EMTS or 9mobile does so at his or her own risk.

    Following the exit of Etisalat and its directors in June last year from EMTS, United Capital obtained the ex-parte order of July 3, 2017 to appoint a transitional board to superintend over the company’s affairs.

    The board rebranded the company 9mobile and announced a bid for its sale to interested investors. Concerned that United Capital’s action did not consider their stake in EMTS, other non-bank investors in EMTS, led by Spectrum Wireless, challenged last December the ex-parte order granted United Capital.

    Justice Buba nullified the order, approved for the board’s appointment on the grounds that it was granted based on misrepresentation of facts.

    Spectrum Wireless is accusing the NCC of not taking the interest of non-bank investors in the telco into consideration before deciding to put it on sale.

    The firm which owns 17.5 per cent shares in the firm, said its interest and that of two others were not taken care of in the process leading to offering the telco for sale.

    Specifically, solicitors to Spectrum Wireless, J.A. Achimugu & Co and Dr R. O. Atabo & Co, all Kaduna based, lamented that its client invested $35 million in Etisalat since 2009, adding that no profit was declared

    Dr Reuben Atabo of Dr R O Atabo & Co, who spoke in a telephone interview, said several letters were written to the regulator with a view to notifying it of the need for all shareholders in the telco to be carried along, lamenting however that nothing was done.

    According to Atabo, his clients and about two others invested $100 million in Etisalat for building of infrastructure, lamenting however that when the telco went to raise loan from a consortium of local lenders, they (shareholders) were not informed.

    But, the NCC dismissed allegations that the interest of other shareholders in the telco was not taken care of, stressing that all entreaties to get at least, two of such members into the interim board were rebuffed.

    A source in the commission said all efforts made to enlarge the membership of the interim board were frustrated by insiders in the telco who said such an action could trigger legal backlash from Mubadala.

    The source recalled that the issue between the 9mobile and its consortium of lenders was purely a business deal, stressing that it was not a regulatory matter.

    The source said its ‘tangential’ intervention alongside the CBN was pursuant to one of its core mandates, which is to protect telecom consumers in the country. The source added that had the commission not moved in when it did, the fate of the over 20 million customers of the telco would have hung in the balance just as about 4000 workers would have been sacked. The source added that protecting the telco from going under receivership also saved the industry from going through needless stress which would have threatened the sector which is the second highest contributor the nation’s GDP.

     

    ALTON, ATCON react

    The association of Licensed Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ALTON), the umbrella body of all the telcos in the country, expressed concern over the development and hoped the matter would be settled soon in the interest of the all the stakeholders.

    Its Chairman Gbenga Adebayo, in an emailed report said: “The development is quite of concern. We hope all stakeholders will resolve the issues within a short time. Effort must be made by all concerned to keep the network alive.

    “There will only be continuous basis for negotiation and ownership shares if it remains a live network. Therefore, the first line of concern for all is to ensure that while these discussions are going on nothing will impact on the state of health of the network and degrade and quality of service 9mobile offers.”

     

    Way forward

    Adebayo urged parties to resolve all their differences to give new live to the network. “There is a good future for all investors once there is new lifeline for 9mobile which is a very important member of our association. We appeal to all concerned to please resolve the issues in the best interest of the network, the best interest of our national network, the best interest of the subscribers and the overall interest of our industry. We are offering all the needed support and we are confident that the issues will be resolved and the future will be brighter for 9mobile and our industry.

    Teniola shared the same sentiment with Adebayo.

    He said:  “What we hope for is that this issue is resolved in a timely manner and that there is certainty restored to the business. Telecom is a major driver of our economy and any impact on the sector will affect other sectors of our economy. We all must join hands to ensure we have a thriving industry.

    “The contributions of 9mobile to our economy and the Telecom sector cannot be ignored and we are calling on all the stakeholders to join hands and agree on the way forward. Time is of essence and we are hopeful that the next few weeks will bring more lights to a brighter and better future for 9Mobile and the entire telecom sector.”

    The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMS) said the lingering litigation cannot be death sentence on the telco.

    Its President, Deolu Ogunbanjo, said there was nothing unusual for parties in business to seek judicial redress, adding that what is important is early resolution of the crisis so that the telco can heave a new sigh of relief and serve the customers better.

  • 9mobile extends roaming offers till January 31

    9mobile extends roaming offers till January 31

    TELECOM firm 9mobile has extended its roaming offers launched during Yuletide, for its customers.

    The double roaming packages affords them the opportunity to stay connected with family, friends and business partners in the UAE and nine other destinations across the world.

    “The two packages continued from January 1 and will end on 31st, with subscribers on 9mobile network enjoying seamless and affordable connectivity, on both voice and data on the go, says Director, Consumer Segment, 9mobile, Adeolu Dairo.

    He noted that the offers were extended due to the feedback from customers, who have thoroughly enjoyed the ease which the 9mobile network availed them as they travelled. “With this extension, customers who are desirous of participating in the Dubai shopping festival can take advantage of this offer as they spend time outside the shores of Nigeria, while also staying connected with loved ones,” he said.

    The offers of the twin roaming packages, 9mobile Roaming to United Arab Emirates (UAE) and 9mobile Xmas Roaming remain the same. The roaming data bundles offer variants of 200mb for N5,000 valid for seven days, or 500mb for N10,000 valid for 30 days, by dialing *6589# to activate either of the data bundles.

    9mobile Roaming to UAE will enable customers travelling to the UAE for holidays or shopping to benefit from discounted roaming rates. With a recharge of N5,000 customers get to make local calls in the UAE and calls to Nigeria at the rate of N100 per minute, send SMS at N30 per event and receive free incoming calls from Nigeria and UAE.

    The other package, 9mobile Xmas Roaming, is designed to enable customers stay connected with loved ones when they roam in any of the nine listed countries on select networks – South Africa (Vodacom & Cell C), UK (Vodafone and 02), Ghana (Vodafone), France (Orange), Germany (Vodafone, T mobile and 02), Kenya (Safaricom), Spain (Vodafone and Movistar), Turkey (Vodafone and Turkcell) and the Netherlands (Vodafone).

     

     

     

  • Court sacks 9Mobile’s interim board

    Court sacks 9Mobile’s interim board

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has nullified the appointment of an interim board for telephone firm 9Mobile.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba made the order based on an application by Spectrum Wireless Communication Ltd, which invested $35million in 2009 in Emerging Markets Telecommunications Service (EMTS)/Etisalat, the fourth largest telecommunications service operator in Nigeria.

    The judge ruled: “An order is hereby granted discharging the ex-parte order made by this court in this suit in favour of the respondent on the 3rd day of July 2017.

    “The order made pursuant to motion ex-parte dated 3rd day of July 2017 was a nullity, made without jurisdiction and obtained by misrepresentation of facts. Same be and is hereby discharged and vacated as prayed.

    “The motion for stay is struck out, having set aside the order. The respondent shall reverse all steps taken by it since the order was a nullity.”

    The order nullifies the appointment of Dr Joseph Nnana of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as chairman, Mr Boye Olusanya as Managing Director, Mrs Funke Ighodaro as Chief Financial Officer, Mr Seyi Bickersthet and Mr Ken Igbokwe on the EMTS board.

    The nullification follows Justice Buba’s dismissal of a preliminary objection filed by United Capital Trustees Ltd in response to the application by Spectrum Wireless, a shareholder of EMTS.

    United Capital comprises a consortium of local banks that provided funding for Etisalat.

    Spectrum Wireless claimed that the order was obtained by misrepresentation of facts that alienated its interests in the company.

    The interim board of EMTS, which has the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), received bids from five bidders in its intended sale of the company, which was to be concluded by last December 31, but was moved to January 16.

    Spectrum Wireless Communication’s lawyers warned that any institution or company who transacts business for the purpose of sale or acquisition of EMTS or 9Mobile does so at his or her own risk.

    EMTS, popularly known as Etisalat, secured a telecommunications licence in 2007.

    It has equity participation by local and foreign investors. In 2011, it secured N115.6billion and $235million  from a consortium of domestic banks under the auspices of United Capital Trustees.

    EMTS’ alleged default to service the facilities led to a recovery by United Capital.

    To avert possible negative impact on the economy and the financial system, the CBN and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) intervened.

    Following the exit of Etisalat and its directors in June 2017 from EMTS, United Capital obtained the ex-parte order of July 3, 2017 to appoint a Transitional Board to superintend over the company’s affairs.

    The Transitional Board rebranded the company 9mobile and announced a bid for its sale to interested investors. Concerned that United Capital’s action did not consider their stake in EMTS, other non-bank investors in EMTS, led by Spectrum Wireless, challenged last December the ex-parte order granted United Capital.

    Justice Buba nullified the order, approved for the board’s appointment on the grounds that it was granted based on misrepresentation of facts.

  • Sell 9mobile to a fresh operator

    SIR: National Communications Commission (NCC) has announced that of the five companies bidding to buy 9mobile, two of our GSM companies (Glo and Airtel) are involved.

    Executive Commissioner of NCC, Sunday Dare has also justified this by saying that it will lead to consolidation of the industry as it did in India. But I don’t quite understand what he meant by consolidation. In my view, the problem with the GSM companies is congestion. If we have a few more well-funded GSM companies, then there will be less congestion and hopefully better funding for the companies with each company raising fund independently.

    This is why I want to advise NCC not to accept any recommendation that 9mobile should be sold to one of the existing GSM companies. Instead it should encourage a new company to come into Nigeria. That company will now go out and bring investment to Nigeria. It may even go to Europe to get a technical partnership with an established reputable telecommunications company in the same way that Etisalat did. The new company will help provide competition to the current GSM companies and we the customers will get the better deal just as Etisalat forced all other companies to give customers a lot of bonuses.

    The current GSM companies in Nigeria are all suffering from over-crowded networks. They are congested so they produce poor quality service which is very frustrating. It is better to leave them to focus on improving their networks.

    Why worsen the problem by asking them to buy 9mobile? The current level of service they provide to customers should not even qualify them to bid for another company.

     

    • Adeola Babatunde,

    Ikotun, Lagos.

  • NCC: no winner yet in 9mobile acquisition bid

    NCC: no winner yet in 9mobile acquisition bid

    Regulator of the telecoms sector, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said no winner has emerged in ongoing efforts to sell Nigeria’s fourth largest carrier, 9mobile.

    Its Director, Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo,in a statement said the process to sell the carrier was ongoing, stressing that Barclays Africa, advisor to the Interim Management of the telco, remained in charge of the process.

    According to Ojobo, an approval sought by Barclays Africa to extend the timeline for the submission of final binding bids for the telco to January 16 had earlier been granted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the NCC.

    He said: “Barclays Africa remains in full control of the process leading to the emergence of a new owner for the company. Barclays has not authorised any publication on the matter and is obliged to maintain full confidentiality thereon.a

    “An approval of the request for extension of time by the 9mobile Interim Board was given by the two regulators-NCC and CBN. This set the deadline for the receipt of binding offers from the prospective bidders till January 16, 2018.”

    Ojobo said contrary to speculations that a winner will be announced on January 16,  Barclays is expected to review the bids received by the deadline and make recommendations to the 9mobile Interim Board thereafter.

    “The NCC and CBN will be duly notified once the 9Mobile Interim Board accepts Barclays’ recommendations and a winning bid is determined in accordance with the terms of the exercise.

    “The winner will now apply to NCC in order to commence the processes for securing the regulatory approvals from the Board of the NCC necessary to give full effect to the transfer,” he explained.

    NCC CEO, Prof Garba Danbatta last year said five entities had emerged as bidders for 9mobile.

    The five, all telcos, are Globacom, Airtel, Smile Communications, Helios, and Teleology Holdings Limited. Earlier, no less than 16 firms expressed interest and filed bids with Barclays, 9mobile’s financial advisor.

    They include MTN, ntel, Virgin Mobile from the United Kingdom and Vodacom of South Africa. Others are BUA Group, Morning Side Capital Partners, Obot Etiebet & Co, Blackstone Private Equity, and Hamilton and George International Limited.

  • No anointed bidder for 9Mobile – NCC

    No anointed bidder for 9Mobile – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Thursday dismissed reports alleging that a preferred bidder has been anointed for the acquisition of telecom giants, 9Mobile.

    The NCC, in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo, insisted that the process for the acquisition of 9Mobile is still ongoing.

    Ojobo said Barclays Africa remains in full control of the process leading to the emergence of new owner for the company.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to newspaper publications alleging that a preferred bidder has been anointed to acquire 9Mobile and otherwise speculating on the outcome of the ownership transfer process.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to provide the following clarification and update on the process:

    “Barclays Africa remains in full control of the process leading to the emergence of a new owner for the company. Barclays has not authorized any publication on the matter and is obliged to maintain full confidentiality thereon.

    “An approval of the request for extension of time by the 9Mobile Interim Board was given by the two regulators – NCC and CBN. This set the deadline for the receipt of binding offers from the prospective bidders till 16th January 2018.

    “Contrary to speculations that a ‘winner’ will be announced on the same day (i.e. 16th of January 2018) we wish to clarify that Barclays is expected to review the bids received by the deadline and make recommendations to the 9Mobile Interim Board thereafter.

    “The NCC and CBN will be duly notified once the 9Mobile Interim Board accepts Barclays’ recommendations and a winning bid is determined in accordance with the terms of the exercise.”

     

     

     

     

  • 9mobile promotes literacy through film

    9mobile promotes literacy through film

    Nigeria’s telecommunications company, 9mobile, has produced a short film, aimed at fighting illiteracy.

    Entitled ‘Closed’, the film which has been aired on DSTV, is, according to 9mobile Vice President Marketing, Adebisi Idowu, in furtherance of its commitment to promoting education and raising the level of literacy across the country.

    The film tells the story of a young man – Juwon, an illiterate but skillful welder, who is cut off from the world around him and unable to appreciate a precious gift he holds just because he cannot read. But as the story unfolds, viewers step into his world, cheering him on as he overcomes the taunts of primary school pupils to learn the rudiments of the English language, until he eventually conquers this challenge in a dramatic way, and acquires the ability to read.

    ‘Closed’ which was premiered at the grand finale and award ceremony of the 2016 edition of the 9mobile Prize for Literature, points to the power of words and how they unlock meaning for people who can read.

    Idowu said: “The film is produced as part of the footprint of its flagship pan-African literary prize and it seeks to raise awareness of illiteracy as a huge societal problem, as well as inspire collective positive action to stem it.  The production and airing of the short film also further affirms 9mobile’s unwavering commitment to innovation in solving social problems, one of which is low literacy as affirmed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which estimated that over 65 million people in Nigeria are illiterates.”

    The film won four awards – three Gold and a Bronze – at the 12th Annual Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF) Awards held recently.