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MTN Nigeria’s Ikenna Ikeme elevated to MTN Group regulatory affairs – Technology Times
MTN Nigeria regulatory affairs chief, Ikenna Ikeme, has been appointed Executive: Group Regulatory Affairs at MTN Group, placing the Nigerian telecoms regulatory specialist at the centre of the group’s regulatory agenda across its African markets.
MTN Group announced today in a statement seen by Technology Times that Ikeme will assume the new role on September 7, 2026, as the telecoms group strengthens its executive leadership to support the execution of its Ambition 2030 strategy.
With more than 30 years of experience spanning telecommunications, banking and insurance, Ikeme brings extensive expertise in regulatory affairs, public policy, compliance, stakeholder engagement and business transformation to the group-level position.
He currently serves as General Manager: Regulatory Affairs at MTN Nigeria and is recognised as one of Nigeria’s leading telecommunications regulatory professionals.
During his career, Ikeme has led and supported a range of landmark industry initiatives, including regulatory approvals for spectrum transactions, national roaming arrangements, 5G licensing, infrastructure sharing and mobile virtual network operator partnerships.
He has also played a key role in shaping regulatory frameworks designed to enable industry growth while safeguarding the interests of consumers and other stakeholders.
Ikenna Ikeme takes group regulatory mandate
In his new role, Ikeme will provide strategic leadership across MTN Group’s regulatory agenda, working closely with the Group Legal and Regulatory Affairs office and teams across MTN’s markets.
His responsibilities will include strengthening regulatory governance, managing regulatory risks, driving policy advocacy, supporting strategic business initiatives, and fostering strong relationships with regulators and key stakeholders.
The appointment comes as MTN operates across an increasingly dynamic and competitive regulatory environment in Africa, where issues including spectrum, infrastructure sharing, market competition, digital services and consumer protection remain critical to telecoms growth.
Ikeme’s experience in Nigeria gives him exposure to several of these regulatory issues, including the approval and implementation of major industry initiatives involving spectrum transactions, 5G, national roaming, infrastructure sharing and mobile virtual network operators.
MTN Group said the appointment would strengthen its regulatory leadership and bring further depth and experience to its efforts to navigate the evolving operational and regulatory landscape across Africa.
From MTN Nigeria to group leadership
Ikeme’s elevation follows his tenure leading regulatory affairs at MTN Nigeria, one of the group’s most important operating companies.
His career spans more than three decades across three sectors, telecommunications, banking and insurance, giving him experience in regulatory environments extending beyond the communications industry.
An accomplished legal and business professional, Ikeme holds an MBA from Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
He is also a qualified Barrister-at-Law, has completed the Advanced Management Programme at MIT Sloan School of Management, and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (Europe).
His new group-level mandate will require him to work across MTN’s operating markets while coordinating with regulators, policymakers and other stakeholders to manage regulatory risks and support the group’s strategic priorities.
MTN appoints Francophone markets operations chief
Alongside Ikeme’s appointment, MTN Group has announced the appointment of Ashutosh Tiwary as Operations Executive: Francophone Markets, effective September 1, 2026.
Tiwary brings more than 27 years of telecommunications leadership experience spanning Africa and India, with a track record in growth, transformation, operational excellence and business turnarounds across diverse and competitive markets.
He has held several executive leadership roles within MTN, starting in South Africa as GM: Prepaid Consumer Business, where he played a crucial role in stabilising and growing the prepaid consumer business.
He was later appointed Acting CEO of MTN Guinea Bissau, where he successfully delivered on the executive mandate of turning around the business and subsequently helped with the portfolio optimisation strategy that led to the eventual sale of the business.
In his most recent assignment as GM: Customer Operations, Tiwary worked with the MTN Group Home Broadband Business team to build and scale customer operations through operational excellence programmes.
In his new role, Tiwary will serve as a strategic and operational lead for MTN’s Francophone markets, supporting strategic priorities, driving operational and commercial excellence, strengthening governance and enabling sustainable growth across Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and Congo Brazzaville.
He will also work closely with Opco leadership teams to ensure alignment with Group priorities while supporting high-performance execution across the region.
MTN said Tiwary’s extensive leadership experience, deep understanding of African telecoms markets and proven ability to drive transformation and performance position him to support the continued growth and success of the group’s Francophone operations.
The appointments of Tiwary and Ikeme, according to the telecoms group, strengthen MTN Group’s operations and regulatory leadership as the company continues to execute its Ambition 2030 strategy and navigate an increasingly dynamic and competitive operational and regulatory landscape across Africa.
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The 11th Jos National Trade Fair is witnessing increased commercial activities, with more exhibition pavilions springing up and young entrepreneurs showcasing their products and services.
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Commercial activities at the ongoing 11th Jos National Trade Fair are gaining momentum, with an increasing number of exhibition pavilions, business organisations, established enterprises and emerging entrepreneurs taking advantage of the platform to showcase their products, promote their services and explore new business opportunities.
The trade fair, which continues to attract businesses and visitors from different sectors, is gradually expanding its exhibition space, with new exhibitors joining existing participants to create a more diverse and engaging marketplace.
Among the organisations and institutions already participating are the Plateau State Commodity Marketing and Export Agency (PLASCHEMA), Plateau State Microfinance Development Agency (PLASMIDA) and the Agricultural Services and Training Agency (ANISTA). They have been joined by several private businesses and emerging brands, including Smash and Stack Fast Food, Scent by Custom, Jam Jam Enterprise, Art and Urban Nigeria, among others.
The growing presence of these businesses reflects the increasing interest in the trade fair as a platform for product visibility, business networking, customer engagement and market expansion.
One of the notable highlights of this year’s edition is the participation of young entrepreneurs and youth-led businesses, many of whom are using the opportunity to introduce their brands to a wider audience, interact directly with potential customers, generate sales and establish valuable business connections.
For many of these young business owners, the trade fair represents more than just an exhibition space. It provides an opportunity to gain market exposure, understand consumer preferences, build confidence and position their businesses for future growth.
Some exhibitors and participants have also commended the Plateau State Government, under the leadership of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, for providing an enabling environment that encourages business participation, entrepreneurship and private-sector engagement.
They noted that platforms such as the Jos National Trade Fair are important for creating opportunities for small and medium-scale enterprises, particularly young entrepreneurs who may otherwise struggle to gain access to wider markets and potential business partners.
Beyond its commercial and business activities, the 11th Jos National Trade Fair is also incorporating entertainment and youth engagement into its programme.
The Back to the Root Concert brought together young people and entertainment enthusiasts for an exciting atmosphere of music, dance and social interaction. The concert added a vibrant entertainment dimension to the trade fair, providing participants with an opportunity to relax, connect and enjoy activities beyond the exhibition pavilions.
In addition, a talent hunt competition has been scheduled as part of the event’s activities to discover, encourage and provide a platform for emerging talents to demonstrate their creative abilities.
The competition is expected to attract aspiring performers, giving them an opportunity to showcase their skills before an audience while competing for a ₦250,000 cash prize sponsored by Mrs Bolcit Barshep Amakiri, Vice President of the Plateau State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PLACCIMA).
The sponsorship further highlights the importance of supporting young talents and creating opportunities for the next generation to develop their abilities and pursue their creative ambitions.
With more exhibitors coming on board, increasing youth participation, business networking opportunities and entertainment activities, the 11th Jos National Trade Fair continues to demonstrate the importance of bringing commerce, entrepreneurship, creativity and community engagement together on one platform.
As the fair progresses, it is expected to further strengthen business connections, encourage local enterprise development and showcase the growing potential of Plateau State as a destination for investment, trade and entrepreneurship.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has warned that anyone who threatens, intimidates or attacks the Commission's personnel will face the full consequences of the law ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan gave the warning on Saturday, October 31, 2026, during the South-South Zonal Readiness Assessment and Interactive Staff Engagement held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He said the Commission would not tolerate attacks against its ad-hoc staff, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members or permanent employees, adding that their safety remained essential to conducting credible elections.
According to the INEC chairman, security challenges would not weaken the Commission's determination to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities. He warned that "anyone who attempts to harm electoral workers would be prosecuted."
Amupitan explained that the South-South engagement was the fifth zonal assessment conducted by the Commission, following similar exercises in the South-West, North-West, South-East and North-East geopolitical zones.
He said INEC had adopted a field-focused strategy to strengthen electoral preparations, adding that credible elections required effective coordination across all 123 Local Government Areas in the six South-South states.
On election security, the chairman disclosed that the Commission had moved away from relying on election-day security arrangements towards an early-warning and intelligence-driven approach known as the ICCES Tentacle.
He explained that the framework would strengthen cooperation among security agencies from the national and state levels down to local governments and Registration Area Centres. Its major priorities include identifying threats, protecting electoral personnel and ensuring voters have safe access to polling units.
Amupitan disclosed that about 60 major operational formations, headquarters and state commands were involved in the security arrangement under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES. The network comprises military, naval, air force, police and other security agencies operating across the South-South.
He said the region had "15,823,550 registered voters, representing 15.30 per cent of Nigeria's national voter register. Rivers State alone accounts for 3,736,434 registered voters spread across 23 local government areas."
Providing an update on preparations, Amupitan said INEC had "completed nine out of the 14 major statutory activities outlined in its timetable for the 2027 elections."
Amupitan noted that the exercise would cover more than 103 million registered voters and 176,846 polling units nationwide. The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Assembly elections will take place on February 6, 2027.
The chairman also disclosed that INEC had concluded an agreement with the Maritime Transporters Union to facilitate the safe and timely movement of election personnel and materials to riverine and coastal communities. He added that operational pickup vehicles had been distributed to state and local government offices to improve logistics.
On staff welfare, Amupitan said the Commission had introduced the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure, effective January 1, 2026. He also announced a 150 per cent increase in monthly overhead allocations to state offices, which took effect on July 1, 2026.
He urged electoral officers to maintain professionalism, neutrality and discipline, warning that negligence, absenteeism, financial misconduct and partisan behaviour would attract serious sanctions. He also cautioned that poor administrative performance, including late opening of polling units and unresolved technological challenges, could encourage misinformation and damage public confidence.
The INEC chairman reminded staff of the provisions of Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates an Oath of Neutrality. He urged them to follow electoral laws and guidelines in carrying out their duties, adding that the Commission would not compromise its standards.
2027: ‘There’ll be consequences’ – Amupitan warns against attack on INEC officials
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