Broadcasting
NBCC Appoints AFRIMA President Creative & Cultural Committee Chairman
The Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, NBCC has appointed the President of All African Music Awards, AFRIMA, Mr Mike Dada, as the Chairman of its Creative And Cultural Committee.
L-R: Mr Olafemi Olaniyan of Collageo Communications Limited, Mrs Bisi Sotunde, C.E.O, Busy Bee Events, Vice Chairman, NBCC’s Creative And Cultural Committee, Mrs Banke Meshida Lawal, CEO, BMPro Makeup Group, Chairman, NBCC’s Creative And Cultural Committee, Mr Mike Dada, Group Managing Director, Octopus Group Africa, Duke of Shomolu, Mr Joseph Edgar and Ine Wiche, Director of Trade, Investment and Programs, NBCC
With the mandate to explore the many opportunities in the business world and Nigeria’s economy, the Chamber recently launched the Creative and Cultural Sectoral Group to further help in harnessing the economic potential of the Nigerian creative industry.
In a letter dated April 19 and signed by the President/Chairman of Council, Bisi Adeyemi, the appointment of Mr Dada takes immediate effect.
Other members of the committee include; Mrs Banke Meshida Lawal of BMPro Makeup Group, serving as the Vice-Chairman, Mrs Atinuke Olashore of PJK Nigeria Limited, Mr Olafemi Olaniyan of Collageo Communications Limited, Mr Joseph Edgar, Duke of Shomolu, Mathew Adigolo of Pureview photography, Mrs Bisi Sotunde of Busy Bee Events and Ms Kiki Okewale of KO by Kikiokewale as members.
The letter reads partly, “I look forward to your acceptance of this responsibility as it would afford the Chamber the opportunity to benefit from your wealth of experience, which I hope you will make available by your regular attendance at Committee meetings.”
According to the President of the Chamber, Bisi Adeyemi, terms of reference for the creative and cultural sectoral group include encouraging and creating a platform for collaboration amongst members of the group, fostering the growth of member organizations as well as generating B2B opportunities, organizing programs and events to showcase the diversity and robustness of the Creatives Sector. In this regard, organize an annual “NBCC Creatives and Culture Day.”
Others include reviewing the impact of government policies on the Creative and Cultural Sector and working with the Advocacy Committee to engage policymakers and enlighten members as appropriate, preparing position papers to support the Chamber’s interface with private and public sector organizations and Providing support to the Program Committee and other Committees in generating creative content for the Chamber’s program and events among others.
Mr Dada, a lawyer, a chartered Public Relations and Marketing professional as well as the Group Managing Director, Octopus Group Africa, which comprises PRM Africa Marketing and Communications Limited, Aqua gryphon Marine and Oil, Hinges Properties and Constructions, MDX Media, Gobet247.com, Backstage Pro, Simon and Blake Solicitors among others, said he and other members of the group are determined to deliver on the Committee’s mandate for the benefits of the two great countries, Nigeria and Great Britain.
He stated that the culture and creative industry are capable of creating a substantial number of jobs, reducing poverty and eliciting peace if properly harnessed.
As the Vice President of the 5th African Union Pan-African Cultural Congress (PACC5), Mr Dada, in collaboration with other highly accomplished members of the committee, is expected to bring his wealth of experience and practice over the years in multifunctional areas of Strategy, cultural diplomacy, Marketing, Perception and Brand Management, Finance, Event production, strategic Public Relations, Media Management and Law.
Banke Meshida-Lawal –Creative And Cultural Committee vice chairman
Banke Meshida-Lawal is the CEO of BMPro. Banke’s firm BMPro, derived from the name, Banke Meshida Professional, is a multi-faceted business that boasts of a cosmetic makeup line of over 40 products, a training school, a beauty advisory and an online magazine, BM/Pro.
Atinuke Olashore -Creative And Cultural Committee member
Atinuke Olashore is an accomplished entrepreneur in the garment industry. She heads PJK Ltd, a creative firm, which specialises in Design, Pattern Making, and Embroidery.
Joseph Edgar -Creative And Cultural Committee member
Renowned theatre producer and investment banker, Joseph Edgar, aka The Duke of Shomolu, is the Executive Chairman, of Duke of Shomolu Productions. His works have touched on cultural taboo issues, such as emotional infidelity, love, lust and marriage, and pseudo deity, among others. He has over 20 years of experience spread across the investment and wealth management industry.
Mathew Adigolo -Creative And Cultural Committee member
Mathew Adigolo, the CEO, of Pureview photography, is a professional photographer and retoucher. His Pureview photography offers a range of Photography and Videography services to individual and corporate clients throughout Nigeria.
Bisi Sotunde -Creative And Cultural Committee member
Bisi Sotunde (nee Padonu) is the CEO/Events Manager at BusyBee Events, a top event planning, and event management company based in Lagos, which deals in consulting, planning and coordinating weddings, corporate functions and parties.
Kiki Okewale -Creative And Cultural Committee member
Kiki Okewale, Chief Executive Officer at KO Empire, is a blogger, motivational speaker and successful fashion & style entrepreneur with HOPE Fashion and St. Kiks Couture where she styles Nigerian A-listers with class and lots of bling.
The Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce is the foremost bilateral Chamber in Nigeria to promote trade and investment between Nigeria and Britain since its establishment in 1977.
The Chamber was set up to promote and develop Anglo-Nigeria trade relations, continually create value for its members and facilitate business-to-business relationships.
With a membership strength of 300 members whose total net worth is about N200 trillion from all sectors of the economy, made up of Nigerians and Britons, the Chamber is constantly developing a network of local branches in other parts of the country and has an NBCC-UK office presence.
The Chamber also promotes Nigerian export to the United Kingdom (UK) and the inflow of Capital and Investment into Nigeria.
David Adedeji Adeleke, known professionally as Davido, has shared his past suicidal thoughts as he dropped Oriadé, his sixth studio album yesterday.
Davido
Davido said he chose the date on purpose as it marks exactly 15 years since he began his professional music career.
Oriadé is a Yoruba word combining “Ori,” meaning destiny, and “Adé,” meaning crown.
It translates to “the crowned head.” The album has 13 tracks and features Black Sherif, Aya Nakamura, Leon Thomas, Mayorkun, and Llona.
It follows his 2025 project, 5ive, which reached number two on the Billboard World Albums chart.
Davido also announced an international tour to support the new record.
In the days leading up to the release, Davido gave interviews that revealed personal details about his past and his current life.
Speaking to Vibe Magazine on Thursday, he described a 2014 incident in Ghana that left him feeling suicidal.
He said he invited a woman back to his hotel room after a show, and she later posted a photo of him sleeping online.
He said the fallout overwhelmed him.
“My daddy was calling me. My sisters were calling me. If I saw the balcony that day, I would have jumped,” he said.
He said he was young at the time and did not fully understand the consequences of his actions.
He described the experience as a turning point that changed how he thinks about privacy and fame.
In the same interview, he explained why he often dresses down in public despite his wealth.
He recalled a trip to the South of France where he went out in shorts and slippers without his watch.
“I’ve been on jets, I’ve been flying, I’ve been in all these places since I was a baby. I’ve been seeing money since I was a baby. So all these things don’t really excite me,” he said.
He added that he sometimes prefers to drive a Toyota to the supermarket in Atlanta instead of one of his luxury cars.
In a separate livestream with Davrel, Davido spoke about how his life has changed since marrying his wife, Chioma, and becoming a father.
He said his home no longer holds the large crowds it once did.
“I can no longer have 100 people in my house like before,” he said.
He said he speaks to Chioma every day regardless of his schedule.
He also disclosed that he spends between $200,000 and $300,000 a month on himself, not including costs for his wife, children, jewelry and cars.
He said the amount is lower when he is in the United States, where he described his lifestyle as quieter.
Africa Prudential Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to digital transformation, revenue diversification and sustainable growth after reporting a strong financial performance for the first half of 2026.
Dr Catherine Nwosu
The company made this known during its H1 2026 Investor Call, which brought together institutional investors, shareholders, investment analysts, regulators and other stakeholders to review its financial performance and strategic outlook.
Dr Catherine Nwosu, managing director and Chief Executive Officer of Africa Prudential, said the company’s performance reflected the resilience of its business model and the effectiveness of its long-term growth strategy despite prevailing macroeconomic challenges.
According to the company’s financial results, gross earnings rose by 27 per cent year-on-year to N4.28 billion, from N3.34 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
Profit before tax increased by 22 per cent to N2.41 billion, while profit after tax grew by 18 per cent to N1.59 billion.
The company also reported a 27 per cent rise in net operating income to N4.21 billion, while total assets increased by 13 per cent to N46.53 billion.
Shareholders’ funds equally rose by 13 per cent to N12.52 billion, reflecting continued financial strength.
Management attributed the performance to sustained growth in its core registrar business, increased corporate action activities in the Nigerian capital market, improved treasury earnings and rising adoption of its technology-driven solutions.
The company said it was steadily transforming from a traditional share registrar into a broader technology and business solutions provider serving Nigeria’s capital market ecosystem.
During the interactive session, investors sought clarification on the sustainability of earnings, particularly as interest rates are expected to moderate.
Responding, Nwosu said the company was deliberately expanding its recurring fee-based revenue streams to reduce dependence on treasury income.
“Interest rates influence our treasury income positively, but that is why we are deliberately diversifying our revenue streams.
“Our strategy is to grow recurring fee-based business lines such as our digital solutions, Know Your Customer (KYC) services, Annual General Meeting (AGM) technology, probate services and the SabiVest mobile app.
“Over time, this will reduce our reliance on interest income and create a more balanced and resilient earnings mix,” she said.
Nwosu noted that increasing capital market activities had created stronger demand for seamless digital investor experiences, improved operational efficiency and enhanced compliance solutions.
She said the company would continue investing in technology-enabled products capable of delivering long-term value to shareholders while strengthening its competitive position.
According to her, Africa Prudential has identified five strategic priorities for the second half of 2026.
The priorities include driving sustainable growth across its core registrar and emerging business lines, accelerating technology-led product innovation, strengthening brand leadership, investing in talent development and deepening corporate governance.
She said the investor engagement demonstrated the company’s commitment to transparency, accountability and regular engagement with shareholders and the investment community.
Africa Prudential reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging innovation, operational excellence and sound financial management to sustain growth and strengthen its leadership position in Nigeria’s capital market.
Gugu Gumede and S’Dumo Mtshali, the power couple in Netflix’s telenovela, The Polygamist, will be guest on this week’s edition of African Voices, which is sponsored by Globacom on Cable News Network (CNN).
The 22-episode sitcom focuses on the misadventures of an adulterous spouse who unknowingly entangles his family in the difficulties of polygamy.
The film depicts a series of intrigues, betrayals, and other events that shattered the harmony of a once-perfect marriage.
The fictional couple in Johannesburg are interviewed by the programme’s anchor, Larry Madowo, for a 30-minute show in which they discuss their personal experiences and the difficulties they have in the film industry, such as coping with popularity and typecasting and advocating for more actor protections.
Gumede, a 34-year-old South African who attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles to study acting, portrayed Joyce Gomora in the telenovela.
In addition to her part in The Polygamist, Gumede has portrayed Mamlambo, a prophetess on “Uzalo”, the most watched television program in South Africa, and Mandisa in “Generations”, one of the country’s most popular series.
Mtshali, a 43-year-old South African actor who portrayed Jonasi Gomora, gained notoriety in 2010 after competing in and winning the SABC1 reality program, “Class Act”. In the same year, he landed his first major part in the drama series “Intersexions” on SABC1.
Among other films, he has starred in “Inside Story” (2011), “Avenged” (2013), “iNumber Number: Jozi Gold” (2023), “Back of the Moon”, and “The Four of Us” (2025).
This special double-cast episode will feature on DSTV channel 401 on Saturday at 8a.m. It will be repeated same day at 11a.m., Sunday at 3.30a.m.,6p.m., Monday at 3a.m. and 5.45p.m. as well as on Tuesday,5.45p.m.
The repeats continue next week Saturday at 7.30a.m., 11a.m.;Sunday 3.30a.m., 6p.m.,and on Monday at 3a.m.
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