Broadcasting
M-net Managing Director Listed Among Young Global Leaders

Biola Alabi, M-Net Africa managing director is among the World Economic Forum’s list of Young Global Leaders (YGL) for 2012. The Forum has honoured 192 young leaders from 59 countries for their outstanding leadership, professional accomplishments and commitment to society. Of these selected young leaders, 18 are from sub-Saharan Africa. Selected from a variety of sectors such as business, government, academia, media, non-profit organizations and arts and culture, and from all regions of the world, YGLs engage in initiatives that address specific challenges of public interest with the objective of shaping a better future. An international business expert, Alabi joined M-Net just over three years ago where she’s led the company’s initiatives to increase the quality and quantity of African programming available to DStv audiences. She’s been at the forefront in the expansion of the AfricaMagic channels, the hosting of a glittering Face of Africa Finale Live in Lagos and three successful editions of the popular Big Brother Africa reality series. In 2010 she served as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on the Future of Entertainment. Her global work experience includes time at the non-profit educational organisation behind the award-winning TV series, Sesame Street where she was involved in Corporate Sponsorship and Educational strategy. Previously she was Marketing and Campus Relations Manager at Daewoo Motors America and Regional Marketing Manager at Bigwords.com. A University of Cincinnati graduate, Alabi has a degree in Public Health and Marketing. She’s currently a fellow at the Nigeria Leadership Initiative, and serves on the board of Hospitals for Humanity, a non-profit organization that specializes in taking medical missions to the neediest around the world. She is also a mentor at AIESEC, an organisation which actively contributes to the training and development of tomorrow’s leaders through mentoring and training programs. From her office in Lagos, Alabi said she was both pleased and humbled by the honour, which is bestowed each year by the Forum. “To be named a Young Global Leader by such a prestigious and respected forum is both an unexpected but deeply appreciated honour, and a truly humbling experience. I thank the World Economic Forum for this accolade which inspires me to contribute more as a global citizen. I wish to use this remarkable opportunity to learn from the other members of this community in order to grow and develop, not just myself but my country, my continent. I’ve always believed that we have a responsibility to improve our world, to every day make a difference by what we do and how we do it. We’re all facing great challenges currently and the reality is that it’s what Africans do today that will pave the way for generations to come.” Her comments are similar to those expressed by Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum. “In the last few years, the world has seen the biggest recession in almost a century and we now face daunting global challenges. Recovery and innovation will require new, unique ideas and an environment where the best minds, ideas and leadership can thrive. The most important determinant of this will be how we use human talent. Within the World Economic Forum community, the Young Global Leaders represent the voice for the future and the hopes of the next generation. I am particularly proud of this year’s honourees, who I believe will address the challenges we face in a meaningful way through fresh thinking and true multistakeholder engagement.” Drawn from several thousand candidates, the 2012 YGLs were chosen by a selection committee, chaired by H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Past YGLs include David Cameron (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom), Larry Page (Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Google, USA) and Zhang Xin (Chief Executive Officer, SOHO China, People’s Republic of China). The Forum has established a comprehensive selection process for identifying and selecting the most exceptional leaders 40 years of age or younger. The 2012 honourees will become part of the broader Forum of Young Global Leaders community that currently comprises 713 outstanding individuals. M-Net CEO Patricia van Rooyen congratulated Alabi on the recent honour. “M-Net is very proud of her achievement which she’s earned through her commitment to Africa, her passion for making a difference and her ongoing dedication to those around her. She is an example to others that you can be a business person with compassion, a leader with insight, and most of all, a woman with vision.”
Broadcasting
MTN Launches One TV with Free-to-View, Pay-as-You-Go

MTN Group has begun rolling out MTN One TV, a new entertainment proposition designed to make digital video content more accessible, relevant, and flexible for customers across African markets.

Introduced in line with MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, MTN One TV brings together local storytelling, live channels, international programming, and market-specific viewing options tailored to how customers across the continent access and pay for digital entertainment.
The proposition is designed to give customers greater choice in how they watch content, with viewing models that may vary by market and can include free-to-view content, advertising-funded experiences, pay-as-you-watch access, and subscription offerings.
Depending on local availability, customers may also be able to pay through airtime, Mobile Money, and other locally supported payment methods, helping to reduce common barriers to streaming access.
Beyond enhancing customer experiences, MTN One TV creates new opportunities for African creators, broadcasters, advertisers, and ecosystem partners by helping connect content to wider audiences through MTN’s scale across connectivity, payments, and digital services.
By bringing together a broad mix of content experiences under a single proposition, MTN aims to support greater content discovery, broader audience reach, and sustainable growth across Africa’s digital entertainment ecosystem.
Anchored in MTN’s strategic platforms of Connectivity, Fintech, and Digital Infrastructure, MTN One TV forms part of the Group’s broader ambition to build digital experiences that create value for customers while enabling participation and growth across Africa’s digital economy.
“Entertainment is increasingly becoming an important gateway to digital participation,” said Selorm Adadevoh, MTN group chief commercial, strategy and transformation officer.
“Through MTN One TV, we are leveraging the scale of our connectivity, fintech, and digital capabilities to make relevant content more accessible while creating new opportunities for Africa’s creative and digital economies. This is aligned with our ambition to deliver digital solutions for Africa’s progress.”
MTN One TV is being introduced progressively across MTN markets through a phased rollout approach that reflects local market needs, existing services, and partnership opportunities.
Over time, MTN will bring together a combination of video capabilities, content partnerships, and customer experiences under the MTN One TV brand to create a more consistent and scalable entertainment proposition across its footprint.
Through MTN One TV, MTN continues to extend its role beyond connectivity by combining entertainment, payments, and digital services to deliver experiences tailored to the needs of African consumers.
The rollout supports MTN’s Ambition 2030 vision of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress while expanding access to digital entertainment across the continent.
Broadcasting
IATA Drops Bombshell: Nigeria Among World’s Most Expensive Countries to Run an Airline

International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified Nigeria as one of the most expensive countries in the world for airline operations, citing high taxes, charges and operational costs that continue to weigh heavily on local carriers.

IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, disclosed this during the association’s Annual General Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro.
Al-Awadhi said that although Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had been pursuing reforms aimed at improving the aviation sector, airlines operating in the country still faced enormous cost pressures.
According to him, the high-cost operating environment has continued to affect the profitability and competitiveness of Nigerian airlines, making it difficult for the industry to realise its full potential.
He noted that excessive taxes, regulatory charges and other operating expenses remained major obstacles to airline growth across the region, with Nigeria ranking among the most challenging markets from a cost perspective.
Al-Awadhi urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States to adopt a proposed 25 per cent reduction in aviation taxes and charges to ease the burden on airlines and passengers.
According to him, lowering taxes and charges would reduce airfares, stimulate passenger traffic and strengthen the competitiveness of carriers operating within West Africa.
He stressed that a more supportive policy environment was critical to unlocking the economic benefits of aviation, including increased trade, tourism and regional integration.
Industry stakeholders have consistently advocated lower taxes and regulatory fees, arguing that the current cost structure makes air travel less affordable and limits the growth of the sector.
IATA’s latest remarks add to calls for governments in West Africa to implement policies that will promote a more sustainable and competitive aviation industry across the region.
Broadcasting
NASENI Trains 50 Women in Kano on Renewable Energy Technologies Under She-Powers Initiative

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has trained 50 women in Kano State on inverter and battery technologies through its She-Powers Energy Initiative.

The three-day programme, held at the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano which ended yesterday, was designed to equip participants with practical renewable energy skills, promote women-led enterprises, and enhance sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative forms part of NASENI’s broader commitment to empowering women, creating economic opportunities, and expanding participation in Nigeria’s growing clean energy sector. It also aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by supporting job creation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic development.
Through targeted interventions such as the She-Powers Energy Initiative, NASENI continues to demonstrate its commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to improve lives and drive sustainable development across the country.
Photos: Participants at the She-Powers Energy Initiative training organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) held at the the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano yesterday.
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