Broadcasting
Digital Government Services is a Key Enabler of Socio-Economic Transformation
By: Habib Mahakian, Vice-President – Emerging Africa, Dell Technologies
In the last 12 months technology has been pivotal in connecting people with business sectors, whilst enabling the provision of essential services to local communities. As eCommerce accelerated and manufacturing altered supply chain processes – technology flourished and transformed the way people shopped, worked and received goods.
Habib Mahakian, Vice-President – Emerging Africa, Dell Technologies
These digital migrations also reached public services, with healthcare and schools going virtual, resulting in an increasing number of people making the shift to digital across many facets of everyday life. We’re now used to ordering groceries online, getting video calls from our doctors, and socialising and engaging on digital platforms.
With these changes come shifts in citizen expectations. As the private sector continues to rapidly progress and meet customer needs via a digital-first approach, it’s crucial that the public sector innovates in tandem, and delivers service provision which utilises the full potential of digitalised infrastructure.
We now stand at an exciting juncture, with the technology to turbocharge a trust-centred public service experience, and in turn, drive innovations in how we process data, deliver communications, and create efficiencies across the board.
Building interactivity into the public sector
Across Emerging Africa, both the public and private sectors are making significant investments in digital transformation, with a view to integrate digital technology into local economies, specifically in sectors such as engineering, healthcare, telecommunications and education. This highlights the appetite for digital, interactive, and collaborative services even before the onset of the pandemic.
By digitising services and making them available to users online,around the clock, governments can not only increase digitalisation to give citizens the services they need but it can do so while decreasing costs and increasing productivity,with reduced administrative burdens for providers. Beyond resources, the implementation of the public user experience is vitally important, as it impacts the uptake.This is evidenced in the growing demand of digital services across Emerging Africain segments such as eCommerce, telehealth, digital banking and more.
Digital transformation is a journey, not a destination
As the world forges a pathway towards economic recovery and governments look to build back better, unlocking the next normal of public services will depend on technology and the will to truly transform. The benefits of digitising public services are clear for both governments and their citizens. However, digitising surface-level services is not enough – this must be supported by deeper and infrastructural digital transformations to be sustainable. This means removing unnecessary processes with the design of a digital strategy that considers citizen, and workforce experience, as well as cost savings.
From challenges in regulatory policies to lack of infrastructure and access to connectivity – there are still cities and countries in Emerging Africa that are more complex that we usually imagine.
For instance, access to reliable and high-quality bandwidth is a critical factor in bringing the benefits of technology to businesses and therefore investment in telecommunications infrastructure is key to becoming a digitally enabled economy. The continent’s growing populations and lack of legacy technology infrastructure can be turned to an advantage if countries adopt new technologies straight away and use them to leapfrog into the 21st century.
According to the International Monetary Fund, the digital economy already accounts for more than 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) in some African nations. This could be more than doubled to 12-20% if countries harness the economic potential of digital technology.
Therefore, what organizations and governments need to understand is that digital transformation is not a destination, but a never-ending journey. With the right infrastructure, policies and connectivity in place, businesses can expand, jobs can be created, and economic diversification will accelerate – promoting growth, inclusion and improving citizen experiences.
Collaborating for success
Collaboration is reliant on equity when it comes to connectivity – which must be addressed as a key part of any digital transformation. By partnering with IT and Telecom companies, governments can boost connectivity, and extend the availability of services for all.
There is much to be gained through the digitisation of government services and we are at a unique crossroads, with ample opportunity for transformation. Governments now can build back better services, boost resilience, and enhance relations with citizens, with technology the all-important bridge. Prioritising the digitisation of government services is akin to prioritising the citizens they serve and enabling the next era of technology led, human progress.
Mr. Charles Ebuebu, director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has called on Nigerian content creators to actively participate in the country’s Digital Switchover (DSO), describing the transition as a major opportunity for visibility, revenue growth, and industry collaboration.
Mr. Charles Ebuebu, DG, NBC
Speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the induction ceremony of the Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (EMCOAN) in Lagos, Ebuebu stressed that the success of the DSO depends on engaging content to populate the nation’s new digital channels.
“Without content, the DSO’s success would be incomplete. We are urging content owners to collaborate with the Commission to ensure Nigeria’s digital future is rich, diverse, and sustainable,” he said.
The NBC boss highlighted that the upcoming FreeTV Direct-to-Home (DTH) platform, along with its mobile applications, would provide content creators with nationwide reach, advanced analytics, and brand partnership opportunities.
Nigeria’s DSO, which marks the shift from analogue to digital broadcasting, is being implemented by the NBC using the Nigcomsat satellite infrastructure. The programme aims to deliver over 100 nationwide channels and expand access to Nigerians in remote areas via hybrid decoders, addressing long-standing infrastructure and funding challenges. The project, which has experienced delays since 2012, now has strong government backing and is scheduled for launch in April 2026.
Ebuebu commended EMCOAN members for their contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s creative economy and encouraged them to leverage the opportunities offered by the DSO to promote local stories, culture, and creativity on both national and global stages.
During the ceremony, EMCOAN honoured its distinguished members, naming Wale Adenuga, MFR, as Grand Patron and Mr. Yinka Adebayo as Patron.
Prominent figures in the broadcasting content industry, including Wale Adenuga, Opa Williams, Agatha Amata, Jibe Ologeh, High Chief Emeka Ossai, Debbie Odetayo, Amina Mohammed, and Frank Elaboya, attended the event.
Representing the NBC at the event was Mr. Ralph Akpan, director of the Lagos Zone, while EMCOAN president, Mr. Adeniji Omirin, MD of ADNOM Media, urged members to fully engage in the digital switchover.
Canal+ is to cut jobs at MultiChoice as part of a sweeping restructuring plan aimed at stabilising the African pay-TV operator, following years of operational and financial pressure.
The move comes alongside a planned $115 million capital injection, underscoring the urgency of efforts to revive the business after the French media group took control.
The planned layoffs are expected to form a core element of a broader cost-cutting and efficiency drive, as Canal+ seeks to streamline MultiChoice’s operations and improve profitability.
The restructuring signals a shift toward leaner operations, with a focus on eliminating redundancies and optimising the company’s cost base.
MultiChoice has struggled in recent years with declining subscriber numbers across key African markets, weighed down by macroeconomic pressures, currency volatility, and changing consumer behaviour.
The rise of global streaming platforms has intensified competition, chipping away at the company’s traditional pay-TV dominance.
Canal+’s intervention marks a pivotal moment for MultiChoice, reflecting a more aggressive approach to repositioning the business.
By combining fresh capital with structural reforms, the new owners are aiming to both stabilise short-term performance and lay the groundwork for longer-term growth.
The $115 million injection is expected to provide immediate financial relief, supporting operations and potential strategic initiatives.
However, the accompanying job cuts highlight the depth of the challenges facing the company and the scale of transformation required to restore competitiveness.
Nigeria has ranked first globally in the ownership of the two largest stablecoins, Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC), reflecting the country’s growing reliance on dollar-linked digital assets.
USDT, USDC
Stablecoins such as USDT and USDC are designed to maintain a fixed value against the U.S. dollar, allowing users to store money digitally while avoiding the price volatility associated with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
According to the 2026 Stablecoin Utility Report released by BVNK, about 59 percent of Nigerian crypto users hold USDT, while 48 percent own USDC, giving the country the highest combined ownership rate among all nations surveyed.
The report placed Nigeria ahead of several major economies, including Australia and India, highlighting the country’s strong adoption of dollar-denominated digital assets. Australia ranked second with 34 percent USDT ownership and 29 percent USDC, while India placed third with 30 percent USDT and 27 percent USDC holdings.
The study also examined adoption levels across other regions. Countries such as Colombia and Singapore showed strong usage of both stablecoins, while adoption levels were also notable in South Africa and the United States.
Other markets included in the analysis were Philippines, Thailand and Argentina, where stablecoin ownership has also increased significantly. Among European economies, the report said France and Germany showed moderate levels of adoption, while Latin American markets such as Mexico and Brazil recorded smaller but growing usage rates.
The United Kingdom also appeared in the ranking with modest levels of stablecoin ownership. The report noted that USDT ownership exceeds USDC in many countries, including Nigeria, Australia, India, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Argentina and France.
However, USDC is often viewed as a more compliance-focused stablecoin because of its stronger transparency and regulatory alignment. In some markets, including South Africa, Colombia, Germany and Brazil, the report found that USDC adoption slightly exceeds USDT.
More broadly, the data suggests that stablecoin adoption is being driven largely by emerging economies rather than advanced financial markets. According to the report, countries such as Nigeria, Argentina and the Philippines are among the biggest users of stablecoins, where people increasingly rely on dollar-pegged digital assets to protect savings from currency volatility and facilitate cross-border payments.
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