Read this before purchasing a CCTV camera for your home
With more Nigerians installing CCTV camera systems and other surveillance technology in their homes for added security, questions about privacy and consent are becoming harder to ignore. What does the Nigerian law say about recording visitors, domestic staff, and even guests in private residences? How do privacy laws come into play for those who choose to monitor their homes and those who they monitor? According to Tolu Adeyemi, a dispute resolution lawyer, many Nigerians may not fully understand the legal implications of using surveillance technology even in their private residencies and so risk unintentional violations of the law. Constitutional provisions for privacy Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen’s right to privacy, including their “homes, correspondence, telephone conversations, and telegraphic communications.” This means that recording someone’s movements or conversations even in your home can raise legal issues, if done without their knowledge. Bernard Daniel Oke, who specialises in intellectual property rights, data protection and privacy, and media law, explains that Section 28 of the 2023 Nigerian Data Protection Act makes provision for data collated from CCTV camera systems installed even in residential homes. It “mandates a data controller (in this case, a home lender or a person who uses CCTV surveillance in their home) to carry out a privacy impact assessment” to identify the risks and impact of processing someone’s personal data. According to the Act, the data controller should consult the Nigeria Data Protection Commission if the assessment “indicates that the processing of the data would result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of a data subject.” “By recording a person, we are collecting their private data, which is to be protected,” explains Adeyemi. Nigerians who use CCTV camera systems and other surveillance tech have a duty to inform people that their data is being collected, Adeyemi argues, adding that people who are being recorded “have a right to consent or refuse.” Even if the footage is captured within a private residence, the data collected is still considered personal information of the individuals recorded and is protected, Adeyemi explains. 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Amuneh, a corporate and commercial lawyer, agrees. “You must inform people that they are being recorded,” she says. Failing to notify individuals can lead to penalties, and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has the power to investigate such breaches and impose fines on offenders, according to Amuneh. While the law is clear on the need for consent when using surveillance tech, there are still grey areas. Queen-Esther Ifunanya Emma-Egbumokei, a corporate lawyer with international commercial and creative economy specialisation, says there is no explicit prohibition in the constitution for CCTV use in residential homes. Privacy concerns may depend on context, she says, and a person may choose not to inform guests or domestic staff of the presence of surveillance tech in their private residence. “It only becomes illegal when it’s not done in good faith,” she adds. For instance, Oke says that a person can’t use the excuse of having CCTV systems in their home for security purposes, to record “data regarding private moments (unclad moments) of visitors in your residence.” Emma-Egbumokei supports this. According to her, surveillance technology can’t be placed in private living areas like bathrooms of domestic staff. “It should be [set up] in the kitchen, [and other] public parts of your home.” Overall, whatever footage is collected
Read MoreThe $10 tax tool saving Zimbabwean entrepreneurs from fines and fees
In Zimbabwe, complying with government tax rules can be more expensive than paying the tax itself. Small business owners are expected to buy special electronic devices, hire consultants, and in some cases, make informal payments just to comply with the country’s tax authority. But a new tool, priced at just $10 monthly, is offering a lifeline for these entrepreneurs. Roundihmp, short for Round Internal Hub Management Portal, is a software platform built by a self-taught developer in Zimbabwe. The tool allows small businesses to issue receipts, invoices, and quotations that meet the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority’s (ZIMRA) standards—without the need for expensive, government-approved machines or professional intermediaries. The app works on mobile, making it accessible and affordable for Zimbabwean small businesses who pay taxes. There’s also a provision in-app for them to comply with ZIMRA fiscalisation. This process requires businesses to use special machines, called fiscal devices, to send every receipt and invoice from their business operations to ZIMRA in real time. Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Canton and Enderbury Islands Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos [Keeling] Islands Colombia Comoros Congo – Brazzaville Congo – Kinshasa Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d’Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Dronning Maud Land East Germany Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories French Southern and Antarctic Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Johnston Island Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau SAR China Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Metropolitan France Mexico Micronesia Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar [Burma] Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Neutral Zone New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Vietnam Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pacific Islands Trust Territory Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Panama Canal Zone Papua New Guinea Paraguay People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé and Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Minor Outlying Islands U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Unknown or Invalid Region Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wake Island Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands ?> Gender Male Female Others TC Daily Events <!– Next Wave –> <!– Entering Tech –> Subscribe These devices are far from affordable. A single fiscal machine can cost up to $1,000. Setting it up typically requires hiring experts or agents, which adds another $200 to $300. Additionally, businesses end up paying an extra $250 to expedite the process which is usually painfully slow. Yet, non-compliance is not an option as penalties cost up to $1,000. “People were being forced into compliance without being given tools that work for them,” said Thamsanqa Bhala, Roundihmp founder and CEO. “That’s why I built this.” Bhala began building Roundihmp in 2023, two years after teaching himself to code on YouTube. Since then, he’s been adding new features based on feedback from early users. He currently runs the platform alone, occasionally bringing in freelancers when needed. His goal is to grow the startup, build a team, and expand to other Southern African countries like Zambia, South Africa, and Malawi. Right now, the app is only available in English, but Bhala is working on adding local languages such as Shona and Chichewa to make it easier for more people to use. One big challenge he faces is the high cost of mobile data in Zimbabwe. With 1GB costing over $43.75—one of the highest rates in Africa—many users can’t stay online for long. “We get a surge of users, and then they go away because of data prices,” Bhala told TechZim. Yet, he believes the platform’s value will keep users coming back. “They will have to pay taxes, and I have made it simple for them. I believe they will always return.” Helping small businesses get out of a fix For many of Zimbabwe’s estimated 3.4 million micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the government’s digital tax compliance process is simply out of reach. Government reports suggest that only 14% of small Zimbabwean businesses are formally registered, in part because of how expensive and bureaucratic the ZIMRA fiscalisation process is. Munyaradzi Tumbare, a business consultant and website developer in Harare, Zimbabwe, said Bhala’s tool has become a valuable part of his tax-paying process. “Roundihmp has proven to be efficient and fast for my clients’ fiscalisation needs,” Tumbare told TechCabal. “With Roundihmp, I can complete filings quickly and accurately, ensuring timely compliance as the fiscalisation is done in real time to ZIMRA’s Fiscal Management Data System (FMDS).” Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania
Read MoreSafaricom to launch credit, savings products to boost M-PESA in Ethiopia
Safaricom plans to launch savings and credit products in Ethiopia, hoping to boost earnings from M-PESA, its mobile money platform, which has struggled to gain traction nearly two years after launch. Since its rollout in August 2023, M-PESA has yet to make a meaningful financial contribution to its Ethiopian operations, according to numbers shared by the telco during its earnings call on Friday. The service faces stiff competition from Ethio Telecom’s Telebirr, which had nearly 51.5 million subscribers as of February 2025. “M-PESA is evolving into a full mobile financial platform, starting with payments for utilities, with plans to introduce credit and savings,” said Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa. Ndegwa did not share a timeline for the roll-out. It’s a different story in Kenya, where M-PESA is a major part of Safaricom’s financial services business, which now accounts for 44.2% of total service revenue. Connectivity remains the top driver at 50.8%, but M-PESA’s contribution is significant, with over 35 million customers using the service. Safaricom’s Ethiopian arm is smaller, but growing. However, despite signing up 2.4 million M-PESA customers and earning KES 8.89 billion ($68.9 million) in service revenue, just KES 410 million ($3.2 million) came from a mix of messaging, wholesale, fixed line, and M-PESA. Safaricom Ethiopia and its partners invested $850 million (KES 109.75 billion) for a telecom licence, then another $150 million (KES 19.37 billion) for the M-PESA licence. The venture is led by Vodafamily Ethiopia Holding, which owns 61.9%: Safaricom PLC controls 55.71%, while Vodacom Group holds 6.19%. Sumitomo Corporation owns 27.2% and CDC Group holds 10.9%. Ethiopia is opening up its financial sector, and Safaricom is betting this will pay off. The country licenced its first two investment banks in April 2025 and launched its securities exchange two months earlier. “Ethiopia has made progress in addressing external imbalances and improving the business climate. In March 2025, the regulator licenced the first two investment banks following financial sector reforms, including the Ethiopian Securities Exchange launch in January 2025,” Ndegwa said. M-PESA in Ethiopia is mostly about utility payments. If Safaricom gets savings and credit off the ground, it could shift things.
Read MoreSafaricom profit jumps 11% to $540 million as Ethiopian unit losses fall
Safaricom grew its 2024 full-year profit by 11% to $540 million (KES 69.8 billion), lifted by easing losses in Ethiopia and steady growth in its mobile data and mobile money services at home. The results mark a return to growth for Kenya’s biggest telecoms operator after two years of earnings pressure linked to its costly push into Ethiopia. Safaricom’s service revenue rose by 10% year-on-year to $2.8 billion (KES 371.4 billion) in the year to March, as customer numbers across the business jumped 16% to 57.1 million. Safaricom said growth was driven by increased mobile data usage, voice, and M-Pesa, which remains central to its revenue mix. The company’s main profit engine remained the Kenyan unit, accounting for most earnings. Losses from the Ethiopian unit halved to $165.7 million (KES 21.4 billion) as the company added more subscribers and ramped up its mobile money, M-PESA, rollout. “We are pleased with our performance in FY25 despite the various challenges that faced the operating environment, including economic disruptions, slowdown in GDP growth, and the impact of foreign exchange regime reforms in Ethiopia,” Safaricom said in a statement. Safaricom continues channelling investment into its Ethiopian subsidiary, building network infrastructure, and scaling M-Pesa following the mobile money platform’s launch in August 2023. “The baby, Ethiopia, is making more confident steps. It actually contributed 9% to group service revenue,” Safaricom chief financial officer Dilip Pal said. The Ethiopian unit remains in an early growth phase, but Safaricom is looking at the improving unit economics and rising subscriber numbers as encouraging signs. Ndegwa said the company expects to further narrow its Ethiopia losses to between $178.1 million (KES 23 billion) and $201.3 million (KES 26 billion) in the current financial year, compared to $472.4 million (KES 61 billion) in the year just ended. Its earnings before interest and taxes could rise 50% to $1.16 billion (KES 150 billion) in the year to the end of March 2026.
Read MoreNigeria records 85% drop in account breaches in Q1 2025
Nigeria recorded an 85% decline in account data breaches in Q1 2025 compared to the final quarter of 2024, according to a new report by cybersecurity firm Surfshark. The country reported 119,000 compromised accounts between January and March, down sharply from 786,317 breaches in the previous quarter. The sharp drop signals a possible turning point for digital safety in Africa’s largest internet market, following years of rising cyber threats and inadequate consumer protection. While Nigeria still ranks 34th globally for data breaches and third in Sub-Saharan Africa in cumulative exposure since 2004, the decline suggests meaningful progress in protecting everyday users, particularly those most vulnerable to cybercrime, as the country slowly strengthens its digital security posture. The data, which Surfshark compiled from over 29,000 public databases, shows that globally, the total compromised accounts dropped by 93%, from 973.7 million in Q4 2024 to 68.3 million in Q1 2025. The most affected countries with these breaches include the United States (16.9 million breaches), Russia (4.4 million), India (4.2 million), Germany (3.9 million), and Spain (2.4 million). In Sub-Saharan Africa, since 2004, Nigeria has recorded over 7 million compromised accounts that have unique email addresses, bringing the country’s record to a total of 23.2 million account breaches. The country also had 13 million passwords of its citizens leaked over the years, placing users at risk of identity theft, account takeovers, extortion, and other cybercrimes. “Although the number of vulnerable accounts in all major regions decreased in Q1 2025 compared to the previous quarter, people should remain vigilant,” said Luís Costa, research lead at Surfshark. “Cyberthreats continue to evolve, and attackers are constantly adapting their tactics.” Costa advised individuals and organisations to adopt strong security practices, including regular updating of passwords, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), and staying informed about potential risks. “To protect personal and organisational data, it is essential to follow strong security practices, regularly update passwords, enable 2FA, and stay informed about potential risks,” he added.
Read More9mobile loses over 300,000 subscribers as roaming deal with MTN stalls
Struggling telecom operator 9mobile is rapidly losing subscribers as it awaits regulatory approval for a national roaming deal with MTN Nigeria. The deal, which could grant 9mobile access to MTN’s extensive infrastructure to improve its network coverage and service quality—a sore point for many subscribers—is progressing more slowly than expected. The operator lost 318,825 subscribers in February and March 2025 alone, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), reducing its customer base to just 2.96 million and shrinking its market share to 1.72% from 1.9% in January 2025. 9mobile’s network has steadily declined, plagued by outages, poor coverage, and slow data speeds. Limited investment under new owners, LightHouse Capital, has worsened the situation, frustrating customers and driving mass exits. Retention efforts through support campaigns and promotions have failed, with even number porting hindered by network unavailability. As market share dwindles, the stalled roaming deal with MTN is seen as a critical fix for the struggling operator. MTN and 9mobile declined to comment on the status of the roaming deal. According to two people familiar with the matter, MTN Nigeria and 9mobile are still waiting on the NCC to greenlight the deal. While the technical and commercial aspects of the partnership have been outlined, regulatory clearance is essential to ensure compliance with industry rules and to uphold a level playing field. The NCC must evaluate whether the roaming arrangement aligns with national priorities, including the Nigerian National Broadband Plan and digital economy goals. As part of the approval process, the NCC also examines the deal’s potential to enhance rural connectivity, support infrastructure sharing, reduce costs, and improve service quality in underserved areas. This scrutiny ensures that such partnerships benefit the participating companies and align with broader public interest. Additionally, the NCC must verify that the agreement complies with licensing requirements and technical standards to avoid market distortion or anti-competitive behavior. The regulatory approval timeline typically ranges from six to twelve weeks. This includes an initial documentation review (2–4 weeks), technical and commercial evaluation (2–6 weeks), potential stakeholder consultations (1–3 weeks), and final approval with public disclosure (1–2 weeks). The NCC did not respond to a request for comments. This isn’t the first time 9mobile and MTN Nigeria have collaborated on roaming. In August 2020, the NCC approved a three-month national roaming trial between the two operators in select areas of Ondo State. The pilot allowed subscribers from either network to connect via the other’s infrastructure where their primary service was unavailable. The trial was successful and set the foundation for a broader partnership. Since then, both parties have pushed for a long-term agreement that includes shared access to network resources and spectrum bands. Under the current proposal, MTN would also gain access to 9mobile’s 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz frequency bands, potentially optimizing overall network usage across the country. “The NCC is delaying because it knows a deal gives the other party (MTN Nigeria) the upper hand,” said one telecom executive who asked not to be named to speak freely. “They know what it means for MTN to get its hands on 9mobile’s spectrum.” But without regulatory approval, 9mobile remains in limbo. Once a major player with 23.4 million subscribers and 15.7% market share in September 2015 (when it operated as Etisalat Nigeria), the company has lost over 20 million users in less than a decade. Its current subscriber base of 2.96 million is a stark reminder of how far the operator has fallen and how urgently it needs a strategic solution. The roaming agreement, if approved, could offer 9mobile a critical lifeline. But every delay further erodes its position in Nigeria’s competitive telecom market.
Read MoreSafaricom explores satellite partnerships amid rising Starlink pressure
Safaricom, Kenya’s largest telco, is exploring a partnership with satellite internet providers to expand access to underserved areas. CEO Peter Ndegwa disclosed the plan during the company’s earnings call on Friday, framing satellite as part of a wider push to grow Safaricom’s fixed broadband business. This push comes at a time when global players like Starlink are intensifying efforts to reach deep rural markets, including a recent partnership with Airtel Africa, prompting questions about Safaricom’s long-term strategy in a space that is being threatened by other players. With a 36.1% share of Kenya’s broadband market, the company is now under pressure to hold its lead while exploring new ways to lift the country’s internet penetration rate, which stands at 40%. “This is a business (broadband) with a huge growth potential,” Ndegwa said. “We are focused on delivering fixed broadband solutions through fibre, fixed wireless, satellite, and other evolving technologies. We are also looking at opportunities to partner with satellite to offer more options and reach for our customers.” Safaricom did not name any potential satellite partners, but Starlink remains a likely contender. The SpaceX-owned service has already struck a regional deal with Airtel Africa and plans to launch in nine countries, including Kenya, targeting areas with the biggest connectivity gaps. As of December 2024, Starlink is Kenya’s seventh-largest internet service provider (ISP), overtaking established local rivals like Dimension Data and Liquid Telecommunications Kenya just six months after breaking into the country’s top ten. It now has 19,146 users, up from 16,786 three months earlier, capturing 1.1% of Kenya’s internet market, according to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA). While still trailing far behind market leaders Safaricom and Jamii Telecommunications, its rise signals a shift in Kenya’s competitive broadband landscape, especially in hard-to-reach areas. Ndegwa made similar satellite partnership comments in a September 2024 interview with Bloomberg, following increased scrutiny over how Safaricom plans to respond to Starlink’s aggressive African expansion. But Starlink’s momentum has also drawn regulatory attention. The Communications Authority plans to raise satellite licence fees nearly tenfold and introduce a turnover levy, amid complaints from local ISPs, including Safaricom, that its pricing model and infrastructure strategy could distort competition.
Read MoreQuick 🔥 Fire with Ilamosi Ivienagbor
Ilamosi Ivienagbor is a senior sales manager at Big Cabal Media, where she leverages her diverse skills to create and implement effective sales strategies. Ilamosi previously worked in the business development team at Flutterwave. With a background in mass communication (BSc and MSc), Ilamosi has a fine blend of experience across media, sales, admin, and people operations. Outside of her corporate role, she runs a footwear business, designing custom footpieces for both men and women. Ilamosi also takes on freelance voice-over projects, appears in TV commercials, and hosts shows. Explain your job to a five-year-old. I help people buy cool things from us, like when you want a new toy. But instead of toys, I sell ideas and services to companies. My job is to find out what they need (in terms of advertising) and then tell them how we can help them get the visibility they need. What is your sales superpower and why? I think my superpower would be “listening with empathy.” It’s like having the ability to understand exactly what someone is feeling and needing, even if they don’t say it out loud. It helps me find the right solution, even if it’s something they didn’t know they needed yet. What is the worst part about working in sales? The worst part is when people don’t follow through. It’s frustrating when you put a lot of time and effort into a deal, only for it to fall apart at the last second. Also, there’s a lot of rejection, which can be tough on days when things don’t go your way. Why did you get into the media industry and how has the journey been? I’ve always loved storytelling, whether it was presenting or hosting shows. (I mean, not to brag, but I have 2 degrees in mass communication.) Media is something I’m very passionate about. I got into the media industry because it’s dynamic and always evolving, and it gave me the chance to connect with people. The journey has been a rollercoaster with lots of learning, growth, and finding new ways to be creative while staying grounded in business. What’s one sales strategy you swear by that most people overlook? Building real relationships. It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers, but trust is everything in sales. People want to do business with people they like and trust, so I spend a lot of time nurturing relationships and making sure I’m genuinely invested in helping them succeed, not just closing a deal. In tough sales cycles, what’s your go-to move to revive a cold lead? I always try to go back to the original value proposition, why they were interested in the first place. Sometimes, a fresh angle or a personalised approach can reignite interest. If that doesn’t work, I keep the door open by offering something of value, like a helpful article or a new insight, just to stay top of mind. What is the wildest or most unexpected “yes” you have ever gotten in sales? There was one time I went to a client’s office (actually, at the start of the year) to pitch a tier of sponsorship for one of our events (HERtitude by Zikoko), and somehow, I ended up convincing them to come onboard as the headline sponsor (the highest tier) mid-pitch. It was totally unexpected, but it taught me the importance of taking risks and going for exactly what you want. Try it first. What’s the worst that can happen? What is your strongest opinion about tech sales? You need to understand the deeper needs of your client. It’s not just about the product; it’s about how it solves a problem or adds value. Tech is always changing, but human connection and problem-solving will never go out of style. What is one moment in your tech sales career you are proud of? I’m really proud of a partnership I closed last year for moonshot that came with visibility in countries like Kenya, South Africa and Ghana. That exact coverage was what we needed to shine light on the good we were doing with the Moonshot conference here in Nigeria. Let’s try a #SellMethisPen elevator pitch about sales: sell your footwear brand in a short sentence. You know how you always wish you could find footwear that are both comfortable and durable, but without paying a crazy price? That’s exactly what we do at Efia By Illy. Affordable, long-lasting comfort and you don’t even have to break the bank for it. How many pairs should I make for you?
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👨🏿🚀TechCabal Daily – Jumia keeps profitability dream alive
In partnership with Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية TGIF. Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Prevost on becoming Pope Leo XIV, the 267th pope in history. His selection process was one of the fastest in history. My colleague joked that the cardinals were itching to get back their phones. If you’re curious about the tech that safeguards the conclave’s secrecy, WIRED has a beautiful explainer for you. Don’t forget to take time out to recharge this weekend and maybe see the Conclave movie if you haven’t. Let’s get into today’s dispatch! Quick Fire with Ilamosi Ivienagbor Jumia set profitability target for 2027 Airtel Money to go public in 2026 Seven African healthtech startups Join i3 programme Funding Tracker World Wide Web 3 Job Openings Features Quick Fire with Ilamosi Ivienagbor Image: Ilamosi Ivienagbor Ilamosi Ivienagbor is a senior sales manager at Big Cabal Media, where she leverages her diverse skills to create and implement effective sales strategies. Ilamosi previously worked in the business development team at Flutterwave. With a background in mass communication (BSc and MSc), Ilamosi has a fine blend of experience across media, sales, admin, and people operations. Outside of her corporate role, she runs a footwear business, designing custom footpieces for both men and women. Ilamosi also takes on freelance voice-over projects, appears in TV commercials, and hosts shows. Explain your job to a five-year-old. I help people buy cool things from us, like when you want a new toy. But instead of toys, I sell ideas and services to companies. My job is to find out what they need (in terms of advertising) and then tell them how we can help them get the visibility they need. What is your sales superpower and why? I think my superpower would be “listening with empathy.” It’s like having the ability to understand exactly what someone is feeling and needing, even if they don’t say it out loud. It helps me find the right solution, even if it’s something they didn’t know they needed yet. What is the worst part about working in sales? The worst part is when people don’t follow through. It’s frustrating when you put a lot of time and effort into a deal, only for it to fall apart at the last second. Also, there’s a lot of rejection, which can be tough on days when things don’t go your way. Why did you get into the media industry and how has the journey been? I’ve always loved storytelling, whether it was presenting or hosting shows. (I mean, not to brag, but I have 2 degrees in mass communication.) Media is something I’m very passionate about. I got into the media industry because it’s dynamic and always evolving, and it gave me the chance to connect with people. The journey has been a rollercoaster with lots of learning, growth, and finding new ways to be creative while staying grounded in business. What’s one sales strategy you swear by that most people overlook? Building real relationships. It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers, but trust is everything in sales. People want to do business with people they like and trust, so I spend a lot of time nurturing relationships and making sure I’m genuinely invested in helping them succeed, not just closing a deal. What is one moment in your tech sales career you are proud of? I’m really proud of a partnership I closed last year for moonshot that came with visibility in countries like Kenya, South Africa and Ghana. That exact coverage was what we needed to shine light on the good we were doing with the Moonshot conference here in Nigeria. Let’s try a #SellMethisPen elevator pitch about sales: sell your footwear brand in a short sentence. You know how you always wish you could find footwear that are both comfortable and durable, but without paying a crazy price? That’s exactly what we do at Efia By Illy. Affordable, long-lasting comfort and you don’t even have to break the bank for it. How many pairs should I make for you? Seamless Global Payments With Fincra. Issue accounts in NGN, KES, EUR, USD & more with one integration. Send & receive funds seamlessly across borders; no more banking hassles or complex conversions. Create an account for free & go global today. 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Read MoreLegend, Nigeria’s first publicly listed ISP, has bigger plans than just selling internet
When Legend Internet Plc rang the bell on the trading floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on April 24, 2025, it made history as the country’s first and only internet service provider (ISP) to go public. Unlike many IPOs, Legend Internet was listed by introduction, meaning no new shares were sold at the time of listing. Instead, the company made two billion ordinary shares available at ₦5.64 each, instantly adding ₦11.28 billion ($8.68 million) to the NGX’s market capitalisation. Since its listing, Legend’s shares have surged over 58%, landing in the NGX’s top 10 gainers. Legend Internet was founded in 2014 with a mission to democratize internet access in Nigeria. For years, the company quietly built out its fiber infrastructure in Abuja, laying over 250,000 meters of cable and connecting more than 10,000 homes. By 2024, Legend had grown into Nigeria’s fastest-growing last-mile fiber provider, with a footprint covering 250,000 homes in the capital city alone and a vision to reach one million homes nationwide within five years. Legend Internet provides high-speed internet, TV, and voice services through a single fibre optic cable directly to homes. At each location, an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) is installed, functioning as both modem and router to deliver wired and wireless connectivity. Users manage subscriptions and payments digitally via the MyLegend platform, which links to LegendPay for seamless renewals and customer support. Going public The path to public listing was anything but straightforward. Nigeria’s broadband market, while full of potential, is notoriously difficult for ISPs. Despite the country’s mobile connectivity boom, the fiber broadband penetration growth remains under 1%, starkly contrasting South Africa’s 30% annual growth. The reasons are many: high right-of-way costs, rampant vandalism of infrastructure, heavy taxation, and fierce competition from deep-pocketed mobile network operators. These challenges have forced over half of Nigeria’s licensed ISPs to shut down in recent years, leaving just 106 active players in a market of 20 million homes. Legend Internet, led by CEO Aisha Abdulaziz, understood from the outset that survival and scale would require more than technical expertise. Before going public, Legend Internet was privately funded through a mix of equity investments from founding partners, strategic investors, and reinvested operational revenues. Legend did not share the numbers. The focus was on building the network, customer acquisition, and digital platforms. As operations matured and the demand for capital increased to support long-term infrastructure growth and nationwide expansion, the company went public to raise more capital and strengthen its market position. “We’re an infrastructure-intensive business, and to expand, you need long-term capital,” Abdulaziz said. “The only place to find that is the capital market.” The company spent six months preparing for its listing, meeting the NGX’s rigorous requirements, including the 20% free float rule to ensure enough shares are available for public trading. Raising capital to fund expansion The listing on the NGX is just the start of a much larger play for Legend Internet. The company is aiming to raise an additional ₦150 billion ($93 million) through a mix of debt and equity to fund an ambitious expansion plan. That capital will support the extension of its fiber network beyond Abuja to Lagos and eventually to 31 states across Nigeria. The company will also upgrade its technology, hire talent, and scale operations. At the core of Legend’s strategy is a focus on affordability. Understanding that high costs remain a major barrier to internet adoption for millions of Nigerians, the company has pledged not to increase its subscription prices, which currently start at ₦21,521 ($16.55) per month. Instead, it’s focusing on driving operational efficiencies, building a local supply chain, and limiting exposure to foreign exchange volatility to maintain competitive pricing. According to its 2024 financial report, the company sharply reduced its cost of sales by 21%, which lifted its gross profit by 8.56% and boosted its gross margin to 59.5%. The company has focused on sourcing locally to reduce reliance on foreign exchange, which is volatile in Nigeria. Turning WiFi users into digital economy participants Legend is hoping to win with an aggressive push into free public WiFi. With 180 active hotspots across Abuja and more than 200,000 monthly connections, Legend is using free WiFi not just as a goodwill gesture, but as a strategic gateway into its wider ecosystem of digital services. “Free WiFi is more than charity, it’s strategic,” Abdulaziz said. “It’s marketing, it’s outreach, and it’s a bridge to the digital economy for underserved Nigerians.” Through its free public WiFi network, Legend introduces users to its broader ecosystem of digital services: LegendMail, Nigeria’s first indigenous email platform; LegendPay, a digital payments solution; and the upcoming MailPay, which will enable money transfers via email. The company’s goal is to turn these free WiFi users, especially from the 10 million low-income households with limited internet access, into long-term paying subscribers by offering valuable, easy-to-use services at their first point of digital contact. While free public WiFi initiatives in Nigeria have largely struggled due to operational costs, regulatory issues, and lack of sustainability, Legend believes its integrated model can succeed where others have failed. Past efforts by Google Station, Surfwella, and state-led projects relied mostly on advertising and government funding and failed due to a lack of a clear revenue stream and user engagement. But by linking free access with core services, Legend is hoping to guarantee consistent revenue and increased user engagement. For the company, the listing is just the start. It wants to build what Abdulaziz calls the “foundation layer” of Nigeria’s digital economy.
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