General News
Media: Murdoch’s Empire is Scorch, Terror Bombs in Nigeria

These are certainly not the best of times for the media industry, especially in Britain and Nigeria where a Parliamentary inquiry has indicted a much respected Octogenarian media mogul and terrorists unleashing bombs on media houses respectively.
The British Parliament after several weeks of probe into the infamous telephone and email hacking by now rested News of the World’s (NoW) and other media outfits of the globally renowned media mogul, Rupert Murdoch, slammed the Aussie with a damming verdict: “not a fit person” to head a media company.
That is a very audacious and damning statement against such a global figure.
The Parliamentary committee with compiled the report notes that Murdoch “turned a blind eye and exhibited willful blindness” as his media empire virtually stole into individual and corporation’s phone voice-mails, emails and bought their way into the otherwise “impeccable” British Bobby (Police).
For a society that expresses human freedom and dignity, such sentiments and strong wordings in a Parliamentary report about a man who has done so much for the British economy and society was rather hash.
Professor George Brock, head of journalism institute at London’s City University expressed similar sentiments when the Voice of America (VOA) spoke to him.
“I think the report has taken one or two people, including me, a bit by surprise because you can be declared unfit to hold a broadcasting license if you are, in the phrase in the law, ‘a not fit and proper person,” said Brock.
The principal target also appears to be Murdoch’s 40 per cent holding in the highly successfully, perhaps Europe’s largest cableTV channel, BSkyB (British Sky Broadcasting).
It was BSkyB’s involvement with the English football that has brought an otherwise drab football league into one of the most successful global brands in sports marketing.
The BSkyB has ensured that the English Premier League players are about the best paid in the world of football – although not necessarily the finest players.
Manchester United and Arsenal (due principally to the shrewd business application of its French manager, Arsene Wenger), are about the only clubs ranked among the financially solvent in Europe.
In Brock’s eyes, the damning report could lead to the octogenarian stepping aside for others to take charge.
Even then, his eldest son, James Murdoch is also in the eye of the storm in the UK as head of the News International operations.
Like the eldest Murdoch, James at his several appearances before the Parliamentary Committee denied knowledge of every sinister move by the News Corp staff at obtaining information.
“One of the outcomes that people have always considered possible is that Murdoch, who is now aged 81, might have to step back from control of the company. I do not think he particularly wants to do that. But there has to come a moment sooner or later where he is going to step back. And it could be that the scandal is going to get so bad that it’s quite possible that he could step back, yes,” said Brock.
BSkyB issued a statement last week saying it was a “fit and proper” establishment. The satellite broadcaster noted that it was liaising with UK broadcast and communication regulator, OFCOM on one of the committee’s statements on “whether BSkyB is and remains fit and proper to continue to hold its broadcast licenses.”
BSkyB said would continue the process of “engaging with OFCOM in this process and continues to believe that it remains a fit and proper license holder, as demonstrated by its positive contribution to U.K. audiences, employment and the broader economy, as well as its strong record of regulatory compliance and high standards of governance.”
The scandal has led to the resignation of Jeremy Hunt, special adviser to Adam Smith, the UK’s Culture Minister. Hunt was accused of leaking documents to aid News Corp’s bid to take total control of BSyB.
While news of the terrorist group, Boko Haram bombing notable media house like ThisDay and others rent the air last week, Nigeria’s National Assembly remain ordinary to the issue. It has not raised any panel of inquiry to the attacks on journalists and media houses, neither has it called on the security chiefs to step up or resign.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian journalist remains endangered specie: he is hunted by the state for being not hiding truth, hated by the society he serves for being corrupt and targeted by criminals for not being fair.
The import of the British Parliamentary Committee’s report and the reverberating effects should dawn on Nigeria which has held several Parliamentary probe reports without any consequential effects on the society.
Severally, the National Assembly has held probes into activities of telecom regulatory framework and operators’ business modules only to be consigned to the file cabinets.
Senator Ike Ekweremadu, deputy president of the Senate last week decried the activities of the MDAs which have no clearly defined boundaries of operation leading to conflicts.
He specifically lambasted the Nigerian Communication Commission, (NCC) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NASREA), two MDAs that recently went to the gutters over the regulation of telecom infrastructure.
The Senator who spoke through a representative at the 2012 Beacon of ICT Awards & Distinguished Lecture Series organized by Nigeria CommunicationsWeek said the two chambers of the National Assembly would look at ways to correct the laws setting up the MDAs to prevent further operational conflicts.
How far this would materialise depends entirely on the Nigerian Parliament to act!
General News
Shareholders of MTN Nigeria Okay N152Bn Fintech Restructuring

Shareholders of MTN Nigeria have approved a major restructuring of the company’s digital financial services arm, clearing the way for a N152.06 billion transaction that will see the telecom giant relinquish majority control of its fintech subsidiaries.

The approval, granted at the company’s Annual General Meeting on April 30, endorses Resolution 9, which transfers a 60 per cent stake in MoMo Payment Service Bank Limited and Y’ello Digital Financial Services Limited to MTN Group Fintech B.V.
Under the arrangement, the group’s fintech arm will inject fresh capital into the businesses while also acquiring shares from MTN Nigeria through a hybrid structure combining primary and secondary investments.
Following the transaction, both parties will consolidate their interests into a newly created holding company to be registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria, a move designed to streamline oversight and position the fintech operations for future investment.
The restructuring marks a significant shift in MTN Nigeria’s strategy, effectively transferring a larger share of the financial and operational responsibility for the fintech business to the parent company, while allowing the local entity to refocus on its core telecommunications operations.
Industry observers say the move aligns with the broader “Ambition 2030” roadmap of the MTN Group, which prioritises scaling digital and financial services across its markets.
The company acknowledged that its fintech subsidiaries are currently loss-making, reflecting the capital-intensive nature of building digital payment platforms.
By reducing its direct exposure, MTN Nigeria is expected to free up resources to strengthen its connectivity infrastructure, while the fintech arm gains the financial backing required to accelerate expansion.
The planned holding company structure is also expected to enhance investment flexibility, enabling the business to attract strategic partners and scale operations in areas such as rural penetration, merchant acquisition and digital payments.
General News
Guinness Nigeria Celebrates 76 Years of Brewing Greatness

Guinness Nigeria Plc is set to mark 76 years of operations on April 29, a milestone for one of the country’s most enduring corporate institutions and widely regarded as Nigeria’s foremost total beverage alcohol business.

Established in 1950 and with its first brewery commissioned in Ikeja in 1962, Guinness Nigeria holds a distinct place in industrial history as the first Guinness brewery built outside Ireland and the United Kingdom. What began as an imported stout has evolved into a deeply rooted local enterprise, growing alongside the country through decades of change, expansion, and reinvention.
From its early years to its listing on the Nigerian Exchange in 1965, the company steadily expanded its footprint, building a nationwide network of brewing and distribution operations, alongside a diversified portfolio that reflects both heritage and shifting consumer tastes.
Guinness Stout remains its most iconic brand, long associated with depth and character, while Malta Guinness has become a household staple across generations. Complementing these are spirits and contemporary offerings including Orijin, Gordon’s, Don Royale and Smirnoff, each firmly embedded within Nigeria’s evolving consumer culture.
Today, Nigeria ranks among the most important markets for Guinness globally, underscoring a relationship that extends well beyond consumption into culture, identity, and shared moments of celebration.
This connection has been reinforced by a long-standing commitment to social impact. As far back as 1962, the company established the Guinness Eye Centre at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, setting a precedent for healthcare interventions that continues today with a second eye centre in Onitsha. Its Water of Life initiative continues to deliver clean water to underserved communities, while sustained campaigns around responsible drinking and road safety reflect an ongoing commitment to societal well-being.
These efforts have shaped Guinness Nigeria’s identity, not just as a manufacturer, but as an active and consistent partner in the development of its host communities.
This interplay between enterprise and impact has been central to the company’s longevity, enabling it to remain both relevant and trusted, even as it evolves.
The 76th anniversary comes at a moment of renewed financial strength and transformation, following a return to profitability and the restoration of shareholder payouts after an extended period of consolidation.
Managing Director and CEO, Girish Sharma, described the milestone as the result of decades of deliberate choices. “In Nigeria, Guinness is part of the national story. The progress we have made reflects discipline, continuity, and a commitment to remaining a business that Nigerians trust, while growing in step with the communities around us,” he said.
Looking ahead, the company’s ambition is captured in its ‘Build for More’ agenda to become Nigeria’s premier and most celebrated total beverage alcohol company by the end of the decade. With a modernised portfolio, a strengthened balance sheet, and a sharper understanding of evolving consumer needs, that ambition is already in motion.
The mission, however, remains simple: to help Nigerians celebrate life, every day, everywhere.
General News
Glo Commends Nigerian Workers on May Day

Digital solutions powerhouse, Globacom, has paid tribute to Nigerian workers, whose steadfast industry and enduring commitment continue to propel NIgeria’s march towards development.

As the world observes the 2026 International Workers’ Day, the company acknowledged the indispensable role of labour as the unseen engine that keeps the machinery of national advancement in measured, purposeful motion.
Globacom, in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, appreciated the role of labour in oiling Nigeria’s wheel of development and also affirmed their importance in the progress of the country.
Glo urged employees across both public and private sectors to remain resolute in their pursuit of excellence, emphasizing that the collective discipline of the workforce is central to realizing Nigeria’s aspirations for sustainable growth and prosperity.
“We encourage all workers not to relent in their noble task of advancing the nation through conscientious service and professional dedication,” the statement affirmed.
The International Workers’ Day, commemorated annually on 1 May, celebrates the dignity of labour and the enduring significance of workers in shaping the fortunes of societies across the world.
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