1st of March annually, the global community marks World Day of Zero Discrimination. This signifies that, today, the world is commemorating the 2022 edition of the laudable event.

The Zero Discrimination Day is an annual worldwide event that promotes diversity and recognizes that everyone counts. The first commemoration of the Day took place on March 1, 2014 by the effort as well as the mandate of the United Nations (UN).

The celebration came in consequence to the launch of Zero Discrimination Campaign on World AIDS Day in December 2013 by the UNAIDS – the UN arm on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Discrimination is simply the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things. It can also be referred to as the practice of treating one person/thing or group of persons/things less fairly or less well than other persons, things or groups, as the case may be.

This biased behaviour known as ‘discrimination’, which is an action that denies social participation or human rights, has in the recent times caused a severe harm or succeeded in placing millions of lives across the globe in a state of jeopardy or agony.

Indeed, it has made several mindsets to be preoccupied with skepticism when it calls for one seeking for what he/she deserves, especially when the bearer of the said mindset considers him/herself as a less-privileged.

Discrimination, which is widely recognized by the civil society as an inhuman behaviour/act, could be as a result of such various reasons or factors as gender, language, ethnicity, race, deformity, health condition, age, marital status, religion, retaliation/revenge, educational background, and social status, among others.

For instance, in a political terrain especially in a less-civilized country like Nigeria, someone might be discriminated against by others simply because the person is a woman or belongs to the womenfolk. On the other hand, someone may be denied a job or employment opportunity because he/she is too young or old for the job, or due to his/her ethnic or religious affiliation.

In the same vein, a person or group stands the chances of missing a certain opportunity as a result of their marital status, class or racial heritage.

More so, discrimination might be experienced by someone or a group of persons owing to their educational background even if they are mentally and intellectually qualified to fit in the cycle, or simply in order to punish them for what their predecessors or parents as the case may be, did to the potential benefactor sometime ago. This aspect, which is known as retaliation, is not just unreasonable but childish.

Recently, the most devastating form of discrimination experienced by people or some members of the public is in the case where the applicant or seeker is physically challenged or suffering from a certain illness such as HIV/AIDS, hypertension, diabetes, or even tuberculosis that is curable. This aspect of discrimination, which is globally addressed as ‘stigmatization’, has called for the concern of various international societies including the UN.

It’s no longer news that several prospective students, particularly of private-owned institutions, had been deprived of admission spaces because they are sufferers of any of the aforementioned diseases, or are suffering from one form of deformity or the other.

Most times, it doesn’t even have to do with when the carrier or the affected person is seeking for a favour, contract or job as the case may be; in some quarters, he may not be allowed to enroll for membership in any social group he is meant to belong to.

Such an intimidating or humiliating act, as outlined above, is liable to cause the death of the affected person, or it could even make him/her become violent or a monster in the society he/she belongs to.

To be realistic, the only reasonable or acceptable way someone could be discriminated or denied of his or her right, privilege or opportunity in any society, is in a situation where the person is affiliated to a certain vice or illicit social activity, to include robbery, cultism, rape, drug/human trafficking, prostitution, admission racketeering, examination malpractices, and what have you.

Other than these or any other related act, anyone in any given society or country has the right or privilege to be treated equally like others, since he/she is a bona-fide citizen of the said country or society.

In view of this obvious fact, there is a compelling need for every right thinking individual across the globe to ensure that his or her quota as regards fighting this scourge is immensely contributed. On this note, I call on all concerned bodies or authorities to intensify their awareness crusade regarding total elimination of this societal menace that has eaten deep in our bone marrow.

As the global community marks the annual World Day of Zero Discrimination, I enjoin the entire members of the Nigeria’s legislative arm to enact a strict and stiff law that would bring a holistic end to any form of discrimination taking place in the country at large.

The teeming members of the public are also expected to assist in the proper implementation of the proposed law by ensuring that anyone around them that indulges in the uncalled and nauseous act is brought to book without much ado.  

Days after South African telecom giant, MTN changed its logo, stirring speculation, Africa’s largest telco has announced the purchase of a digital land in the Africarare metaverse dubbed Ubutuland.

The announcement released on the company’s website said it now owns 144 plots of virtual land with an overall area of 12x12m, becoming the first African company to venture into metaverse. The cost of the virtual property was not disclosed.

Africarare, which houses digital houses of African origin, is arguably the biggest African metaverse company. It was launched in October 2021, becoming the first African VR metaverse to launch. The platform uses UBU as its native token. Ubutuland is being developed by Africarare and Mann Made Media. The companies said it will be open to the public later this year to showcase some of the best of African art, fashion, entertainment, sports, tech and creativity. In addition, the company will serve as a platform for artists across the African continent looking to showcase their talent.

MTN’s Group Executive for Marketing, Bernice Samuels said the move is part of the telco’s digital tech-focused Ambition 2025.

“This is an exciting moment for us as we lead businesses on the continent to enter the metaverse marketplace. This is exactly what our Ambition 2025 strategy is premised on – leveraging trends that amplify consumer’s digital experiences and engagement. We have always been at the forefront of technological and digital changes and we remain alive to the exciting opportunities the metaverse presents for us and our customers,” she said.

MTN unveiled its rebranded logo last month, hinting at a plan to pivot fully to emerging technology, especially metaverse and fintech.

“MTN Group’s Ambition 2025, aimed at ‘Leading digital platforms for Africa’s progress’, has ushered in a new look that is aligned to our evolution from a telecommunications company to a technology company underpinned by one simple, consistent, yet striking brand. Our commitment and focus to accelerate Africa’s progress sees MTN revealing a refreshed brand identity and campaign from February 27,” the company’s teaser said last month.

Global metaverse market is expected to reach $758.6 billion by 2026, growing at Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 37.% over the projected period, according to an analysis report by Report Linker. Similarly, the global fintech market is expected to reach a market value of approximately $324 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate of about 25.18% over the forecast period, according to data from Market Data Forecast.

Compared with the African entertainment and telecom market, which is expected to register a CAGR of 11.2% by 2026, growth opportunities in both metaverse and fintech, where MTN is already grabbing a share with its MoMo payment product, seems irresistible.

Moreover, the traditional telecom industry is facing increasing threat from the Big Tech’s move to provide faster, affordable internet to consumers around the world. And there is also Elon Musk’s Starlink and Jeff Bezos’ Kuiper satellite internet services bracing rapidly to be rolled out globally. With the telecom industry’s future packed with fierce competition, MTN appears to see diversification as a way out.