Broadcasting
Nigerian Pop Legend, Asa Headlines Nigerian Idol 5 Grand Finale

Nigerian international recording artiste, Asa, real name, Bukola Elemide will be the main act this weekend when she takes to the stage to offer top-quality entertainment at the grand finale of the season five of the Nigerian Idol reality Show.
The France-based pop legend will be leading other acts in separate performances to draw the curtains close on the fifth season of the leading music reality show.
The other performers on the day include the top 12 finalists and the celebrity Judges, the trio of Dede Mabiaku, an afro beat legend, R’n’B crooner, Darey ‘Art’ Alade and Jazz sensation, Yinka Davies, all of whom will be bringing to the table some of the hits that brought them to limelight as either performing or recording artistes.
Speaking about this, Ugochi Pedro, executive producer, Optima Media Group (OMG), licence holders for Nigerian Idol, said it is a reflection of the brand’s sustained connection with the millions of individuals and families as the leading music reality show.
“Besides being a bespoke platform which budding music talents can maximize for stardom, Nigerian Idol offers the type of entertainment that resonates with the entertainment needs of the teeming millions of individuals and families that follow. Asa is well-respected for what she has done for herself and the country using music. There is no doubt these young talents look up to people like her. This is why we are glad about the fact she will be part of our history-making team this year,” she said.
It would be recalled that Asa, in April this year, released the video of ‘Eyo’, a hit song from her latest studio album, Bed of Stone.
Asa is reputed for her originality, strong vocal power and creating emotional connections since she stormed the music scene in 2007 with her breakthrough singles, Jailer and Fire on The Mountain. She has gone on to produce time and again timeless hit songs among which include, Be My Man, Why Can’t We Be, The Way I Feel, Ba Mi Dele, Dead Again and Eyo. To her credit, she has three albums, Asa, Beautiful Imperfection and Bed of Stone which was released late 2014.
Meanwhile, all is now set for the emergence of the winner of this season’s edition of the Show. The two last contenders, K-Peace and Dolu, went down the wire during their last competitive performances at the weekend with both performing four songs a piece. Both beat off competitions from ten other top 12 finalists particularly the trio of Nex2, Preye and Classic Tunez, to get to the final.
The contestant with the higher number of votes from the viewing public will be crowned the winner.
The eventual winner will be rewarded with N7.5 million cash reward, a brand new SUV, a recording deal worth N7.5 million with South-Africa’s Universal Music label and some high-end devices. The first runner up will also go home with N1.5 million cash reward, a Salon car and some other high end devices while the second runner-up will be a million naira richer coupled with other high-end devices.
Nigerian Idol season 5 is sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria, Payporte, Cool Fm, Tantalizers, Cadbury Nigeria, Zaron, Dabur Toothpaste, So-Klin, ORS and Ellis Suites.
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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