FOLARIN Falana, aka Falz tha bahd guy is smiling to the bank as he recently signed up as a brand ambassador with Telecom giant, MTN . Apparently, the effort the popular singer and rapper has put into his career so far is finally paying off.
The learned gentleman turned entertainer who recently added acting to his career, joins the likes of Don Jazzy, Davido, Tiwa savage, Tecno among others, in the league of entertainers with mouth watering endorsement deals.
Google, America’s multinational technology giant has introduced its latest Smartphone programme, AndroidOne, to the African market using Nigeria as the entry point.
AndroidOne was launched on Tuesday at a major announcement by the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms. Juliet Ehimuan in Lagos, making it the second announcement after the Asian country of India.
Ehimuan observed that in the area of entrepreneurship, there are over 10,000 trained developers and entrepreneurs in Nigeria within the past few years and Google desires to engage more.
According to her, the technology company is focused on impacting lives in Africa and thus, the launch of AndroidOne, being the cheapest Smartphone version in Africa is an indication.
The product was launched in partnership with South African telecommunication giant, MTN; online retail store, Jumia; and tech manufacturer Infinix.
The product, AndroidOne is a project sponsored by Google and the tech giant is responsible for the design, development, marketing, and support of the product while Infinix mobile is responsible for the manufacturing mobile.
Google also makes sure that timely software updates get to AndroidOne Smartphones for two years after launch of each device.
The AndroidOne was launched with Infinix mobile phone, HOT 2-X510 Smartphone, which is the first device to run the 
programme in Africa.
The Smartphone (Infinix HOT 2) offers a high-quality experience while running the latest version of Android (5.1 Lollipop), all for N17,500.
Infinix Hot 2 also has the ability to update to the new Android M release, an update that will offer Google’s new material design, enhanced security features, improved battery life and smarter notifications.
In terms of hardware, the phone comes in 1G and 2G memory options, front and rear camera of 8 and 2 megapixel respectively, fast quad-core MediaTek processor, long battery life and and a 90 minutes low battery standby time, long enough to get you home.
In addition, the device has a dual micro SIM slots, an FM radio tuner, 16GB in-built storage memory and a microSD card slot for additional storage.
Speaking at the launch, Caesar Sengupta, Vice President, Google Product Management noted that the product could now be launched in 5 other African countries namely Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Ivory Coast, and Morocco after which it would be launched in Saudi Arabia as well as in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Present at the launch include Mr. Michael Ikpoki, Chief Executive Office (CEO) MTN Nigeria; Jeremy Doutte, CEO 0f online retaile store, Jumia as well as Benjamin Jiang, Managing Director, Infinix Mobility among other.
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Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos will on September 25, this year hear a suit by Etisalat Nigeria Limited seeking a judicial review of a Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) policy, which allegedly encourages unhealthy competition.
The judge struck out an application by MTN challenging the suit’s hearing during the court’s long vacation.
MTN’s lawyer Olasupo Shasore (SAN) said there was nothing urgent about the case to warrant it being heard by the vacation judge, but Etisalat’s lawyer Kola Awodein (SAN) said he was ready to proceed, adding that he wasted no time in filing his reply to MTN’s processes.
However, NCC’s lawyer Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) said he had just been briefed so he needed time to study the casefile.
Etisalat is seeking a review of the 30 per cent differential between MTN’s off-net and on-net retail mobile voice tariffs. It said through the differential, MTN has created a “calling club”, an example of which is its “Family and Friends” promo.
Etisalat is contending that the promo, which offers a call rate of 11 kobo per second to eight MTN subscribers and two non-MTN subscribers, is a threat to the plaintiff’s business.
It added that the promo aided MTN to “leverage on its size to restrict outgoing traffic to smaller operators by pricing on-net tariffs lower so as to make off-net calls unattractive.”
According to Etisalat, the 30 per cent differential granted MTN by NCC was a breach of the commission’s Determination of Dominance in Selected Communications Markets in Nigeria (DDSCMN) regulation issued by NCC on April 25, 2013 following a study it conducted in 2012.
It said when it realised that MTN had launched the promo, it wrote several letters to NCC, which allegedly failed to compel MTN to withdraw the ‘Family and Friends’ tariff option.
Etisalat is contending that such leverage given by NCC to MTN would not allow for a healthy competition and must be judicially reviewed.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) giant, MTN, has declared its zero tolerance for compromise by agents in the registration of its SIM cards.
It vowed to make defaulters face the full wrath of the law whenever a breach of the process in detected.
Addressing trade partners and agents at workshops organised across the country on the SIM registration, the company’s Sales and Distribution Executive, ‘Tsola Barrow, called for due diligence and compliance with the regulations guiding the exercise.
He said that MTN’s commitment to 100 per cent compliance at the point of registration is founded on the company’s pillars of Engagement, Accountability and Systems Improvement.
He said: “different Business Forums will continue to be leveraged to drive enlightenment on the proper conduct of the exercise, while regular monthly and quarterly business meetings will continue to be used to emphasise the essence and importance of ensuring agents comply with SIM registration specifications and requirements, which were extensively discussed.”
On his part, the Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs, MTN Nigeria, Quasim Odunmbaku, said the country cannot afford to store fictitious data through incomplete SIM registration.
MTN has invested about N10billion on SIM registration exercise since its commencement.
MTN Group Ltd is discussing with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) about early repayment of about $600 million debt it is owing to reduce exposure to the naira, which has weakened against the rand this year.
“We have already been negotiating with the lenders but the challenge has been getting the central bank to approve that we can accelerate the payment. It would help a lot in terms of dealing with the currency fluctuations,” its Chief Executive Officer Sifiso Dabengwa told Bloomberg yesterday.
MTN, Africa’s largest wireless carrier with operations in 22 countries, profit declined 11 per cent in the six months through June in part because of weakening African currencies against the South African rand, in which it reports earnings. The Johannesburg-based company said Nigerian sales decreased nine per cent in the period, compared with a 1.1 per cent fall on a constant currencies basis.
MTN executives have met with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who replaced Goodluck Jonathan following elections earlier this year, Dabengwa said at a presentation to analysts and reporters earlier yesterday. “The conversations were positive,” he said, and the company has no pending regulatory issues in Nigeria, its biggest market with 62.8 million subscribers.
South African mobile operator MTN Group and union leaders reached a deal over bonuses on Thursday, ending a two-month strike that disrupted the supply of some new mobile phones in its home market.
About 2,000 workers led by the Communications Workers Union (CWU) downed tools in May at Africa’s biggest mobile phone operator, demanding an eight percent pay rise and 16 percent bonus payment. The CWU said it had agreed to an 8 percent bonus payment this year and 12 percent next year. Both payments are guaranteed and not related to the performance of the company.
“Members are expected to go back to work within two days after the signing of the agreement,” CWU General Secretary Aubrey Tshabalala said.
The two parties failed to reach a deal on monthly wages, but the CWU has said it would accept MTN’s 8 percent offer if performance conditions are removed. MTN, along with its rivals in Africa’s most advanced economy, is trying to contain costs in the face of tough competition that has hit profit margins.
The company, which reported a 9 percent increase in full-year profit in March, employs about 6,500 people in its home market, where it trails rival Vodacom by subscriber numbers.
The end of the strike follows the appointment of Mteto Nyati as chief executive of the South African business after the resignation of Ahmad Farroukh last week.
One of Nigeria’s leading marketing services company, Connect Marketing Services (CMS) is partnering MTN Nigeria Communications Limited to host the maiden edition of TECH+, a technology conference and exhibition in Lagos.
The event will be showcasing the future of technology in Lagos. It’s also an innovative technology conference and exhibition that will feature live high-tech demonstrations of the latest digital products and services along with hands-on practical workshops facilitated by renowned IT experts.
The theme of the event is “Leadership in digital technology” and will hold at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on July 24 and 25, 2015 and is expected to attract SMEs, IT experts, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and consumers.
Speaking at a meeting with journalists, the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Richard Iweanoge, said the event would not only showcase the latest technology but will equally be an avenue for participating individuals, businesses and top brands across Nigeria to understand the potentials of the emerging digital technologies as businesses will have the opportunity of interacting with business solutions that will drive their businesses whilst providing value for their customers.
“Technology is shaping the world of business. Enterprise teams now collaborate face-to-face without the need to travel. With all their business information in the Cloud, SMEs can transact business from anywhere in the world with ease. As a leading telecommunication company, with great drive for enhancing and empowering business enterprises in Nigeria and across Africa, we are proud to be associated with these developments.
“Tech+ is providing a platform and an ecosystem that promotes cutting edge technologies through education, practice, and innovation in the African Market. The global impact of technology across all areas of human endeavour has made it more imperative that people stay in touch with the world around them to be able to identify with technological advancements that could reshape their world” Iweanoge said.
Also speaking at the event, Mr Abiona Babarinde , General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Services, Coscharis Group, said, ”For the first time in Nigeria we will be unveiling Jaguar XE.
He also said there would be opportunities to test run one of the latest machine.
MTN Nigeria has unveiled a new partnership with Connect Marketing Services (CMS) to improve access to technology and understanding of how it can enhance business productivity among small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).
While the partnership is aimed at taking their businesses to greater heights, MTN said the deal with CMS would enhance business growth as it hosts the maiden edition of Tech+ 2015.
According to the Telco, the Tech+ 2015 is an innovative technology conference and exhibition that will feature high-tech demonstrations of the latest digital products and services along with hands-on practical workshops facilitated by renowned IT experts.
The two-day event with the theme Leadership in Digital Technology is scheduled to hold at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, on July 24 and 25, this year.
Speaking at the press conference, the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Richard Iweanoge, said the event would not only showcase the latest technology but would also be an avenue for participating individuals, businesses and top brands across Nigeria to understand the potential of the emerging digital technologies. Particularly, businesses would have the opportunity of interacting with business solutions that would drive their businesses whil providing value for their customers, he added.
According to Iweanoge, “Technology is shaping the world of business. Enterprise teams now collaborate face-to-face without the need to travel. With all their business information in the Cloud, SMEs can transact business from anywhere in the world with ease. As a leading telecommunication company, with great drive for enhancing and empowering business enterprises in Nigeria and across Africa, we are proud to be associated with these developments,” he added.
Further justifying the importance of the conference to brands and businesses across Nigeria, Iweanoge said “Tech+ is providing a platform and an ecosystem that promotes cutting edge technologies through education, practice, and innovation in the African Market. The global impact of technology across all areas of human endeavour has made it more imperative that people stay in touch with the world around them to be able to identify with technological advancements that could reshape their world” Iweanoge said.
Guests expected at the first-of-its-kind-event include: SMEs, IT experts, Manufacturers, Entrepreneurs, and consumers.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer, CMS, Mr. Tunji Adeyinka, said speakers at the event include: Mr. Jim Mckelvey, Cofounder and Director, Square; Nicolas Martin, CEO, Jumia Africa; Wael Fakharany, Regional Business Lead Google X, West Africa; and Mr. Abiola Olaniyan, Chief Executive Officer, Gamsole.
The Agip Recital Hall, MUSON centre, venue of this year’s 8th Graduation Ceremony of the MTN Foundation-MUSON Music Scholars Programme was filled to capacity with enthusiastic guests made up of music lovers, friends and relatives of the graduating students as the MTNF Awardees bow out of the two years Diploma programme.
The ceremony started with the MTNF/MUSON Scholars appreciation concert where the graduating students exhibited their mastery of musical instruments and vocal renditions. Guests at the event got excited as the graduands dished out some contemporary Nigerian tunes with their classical musical instruments.
The 21 scholars, who graduated with Diplomas in Music, are the eighth set of beneficiaries of the MTN Foundation’s music scholarship programme.
The highpoint of the musical concert was the special appearance of MTN’s Brand ambassadors, Cobhams and Sound Sultan, who displayed their dexterity in the art of singing and playing instruments.
Mr. Dennis Okoro, Director, MTN Foundation, in his speech, commended the graduating students for living up to the values of the MTN Foundation. He stated that such qualities as diligence and dedication coupled with their determination has made them successful on the programme.
“So far, the MTN Foundation has invested over N200 million in the MTNF-MUSON Music Scholars Programme. In the past 9 years, the programme has produced 212 music scholars who have received exposure to the highest standards of composing and production of world class music. This includes the 21 Music Scholars that graduated in this 8th Graduation Ceremony” Okoro said.
Speaking further on the impact of the programme, Okoro informed that “recently, some of our awardees got opportunities to compete with the rest of the world in Italy and Spain. Many of them are sought locally and internationally and they are doing very well, making their marks across the world.”
Presenting the best three graduating students who had lived up to the standards of the MTN Foundation values of leadership, excellence, creativity and integrity, Ms. Nonny Ugboma, Executive Secretary, MTNF counseled the winners to ensure they maintain those qualities that made them distinct. The winners were: OladimejiAdelaja; Olusegun Alphonso and OlusolaOlufa. The graduands expressed their appreciation to MTN Foundation by rendering a special song titled “everywhere you go.”
The Guest Speaker, Mr. Yemi Akinsanya, while commending the MTN Foundation for championing the Music Scholars programme, expressed his assurances that the graduands will be good ambassadors of MTNF as they go ahead in their pursuit of excellence.
The MTNF/MUSON Music Scholarship Programme was instituted to provide less privileged, but talented students, an opportunity to acquire qualitative music education. The scholarship covers tuition, books, and daily stipends.
The rift between pop star, Paul Play Dairo and Telecommunication company, MTN appears to be over, as the artiste’s latest work, Fool in Love is being streamed live on MTN Music Plus, CallerTunes, and MTN Play.
Dairo had, in 2013, gone to court over the unlawful use of his hit song, Angel of My Life which was used on MTN sponsored Project Fame reality show.
The singer, through his lawyer, Festus Keyamo, slammed a N500 million suit on the Telecoms Company and Ultima Studios, the producer of the show.
With Fool in Love, Dairo and MTN has opened a new chapter in their relationship.
The music breaks the jinx of the over-portrayal of women as sex objects, as the music icon is bringing back the true love and respect that women deserve.
The song which was released yesterday, is enjoying downloads on http://tinyurl.com/psgl4le celebrates weddings and love.