General News
DStv’s The Voice Hostess Anele Mdoda Heads to the Oscars
The countdown to Hollywood’s most prestigious ceremony, the 91st Annual Academy Awards has begun, and this year, Hollywood will be graced by Host of DStv’ s reality show The Voice South Africa: Anele Mdoda.
No stranger to awards shows, the beloved radio and television personality will be flying the African flag high as she represents M-Net with a Red Carpet Special– a pre-show which will broadcast on M-Net Movies Premiere, DStv channel 108 at 7:30pm WAT on Monday 25 February.
The awards show itself will air live on M-Net Movies Premiere at 02:00am WAT on Monday 25 February, with a delayed broadcast in the evening of the same day at 8:00pm WAT on M-Net 108.
With the who’s who of La La Land prepping their acceptance speeches and perfecting their potential losing faces, this year’s hotly competitive Oscars are bound to be entertaining – and who better to get up close and personal with the stars than Anele Mdoda the hostess?
“Hosting the red carpet for M-Net for one of the biggest awards shows in the world is an absolute highlight for me,” Anele said.
“I have watched the Oscars every year and the most memorable moments for me were when Denzel Washington, Sandra Bullock and Charlize won. “
“This year I look forward to celebrating with the Black Panther cast as they head in with seven Oscar nods,” the host of DStv’ s The Voice SA enthused.
“We have to speak to Bradley Cooper and salute his directing for A Star Is Born, as well as his performance in it.
“We must also get Spike Lee – who has an honorary Oscar but has his first ever nomination as director for BlackKklansman, which you can currently watch on Box Office.
“And then we hope to chat to Mahershala Ali who was nominated for Green Book and of course Glenn Close for The Wife. We also can’t forget about Rami Malek andBohemian Rhapsody! And then of course, there’s the fashion!”
Anele made her debut as host on M-Net’s hit local reality singing competition The Voice South Africa on Sunday 3 February, and wowed viewers with her passion, charm and energy.
A favourite among her fans, the radio and television personality has scooped up several awards, including a South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) for Best Television Talk Show, Best Radio Presenter in the Best of Joburg 2018 annual survey and a Style Award.
Anele also has an adoring social media following, and is a keen fan of movies and series.
Catch the 91st Annual Academy Awards live on M-Net Movies Premiere DStv channel 108, Monday 25 February at 2:00am WAT and in Prime Time on M-Net DStv channel 102 at 8:00pm WAT on the same day. Stay tuned to DStv your: home of Academy nominated movies.
For more information on 91st Annual Academy Awards visit mnet.tv and or: www.dstvafrica.com
Below is a list of the 91st Annual Academy Awards Nominees:
Best Actor
Christian Bale, “Vice”
Bradley Cooper, “A Star Is Born”
Willem Dafoe, “At Eternity’s Gate”
Rami Malek, “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Viggo Mortensen, “Green Book”
Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali, “Green Book”
Adam Driver, “BlacKkKlansman”
Sam Elliott, “A Star Is Born”
Richard E. Grant, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
Sam Rockwell, “Vice”
Best Actress
Yalitza Aparicio, “Roma”
Glenn Close, “The Wife”
Olivia Colman, “The Favourite”
Lady Gaga, “A Star Is Born”
Melissa McCarthy, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, “Vice”
Marina de Tavira, “Roma”
Regina King, “If Beale Street Could Talk”
Emma Stone, “The Favourite”
Rachel Weisz, “The Favourite”
Best Picture
“Black Panther”
“BlacKkKlansman”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“The Favourite”
“Green Book”
“Roma”
“A Star Is Born”
“Vice”
Best Director
“BlacKkKlansman,” Spike Lee
“Cold War,” Paweł Pawlikowski
“The Favourite,” Yorgos Lanthimos
“Roma,” Alfonso Cuarón
“Vice,” Adam McKay
Best Foreign Language Film
“Capernaum” (Lebanon)
“Cold War” (Poland)
“Never Look Away” (Germany)
“Roma” (Mexico)
“Shoplifters” (Japan)
Best Documentary Feature
“Free Solo”
“Hale County This Morning, This Evening”
“Minding the Gap”
“Of Fathers and Sons”
“RBG”
Best Documentary Short
“Black Sheep”
“End Game”
“Lifeboat”
“A Night at The Garden”
“Period. End of Sentence.”
Best Short, Animated
“Animal Behaviour”
“Bao”
“Late Afternoon”
“One Small Step”
“Weekends” Best Short, Live-Action
“Detainment”
“Fauve”
“Marguerite”
“Mother”
“Skin”
Best Animated Feature
“Incredibles 2”
“Isle of Dogs”
“Mirai”
“Ralph Breaks the Internet”
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”
Best Original Song
“All The Stars” from “Black Panther”
“I’ll Fight” from “RBG”
“The Place Where Lost Things Go” from “Mary Poppins Returns”
“Shallow” from “A Star Is Born”
“When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings” from “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”
Best Adapted Screenplay
“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”
“BlacKkKlansman”
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
“If Beale Street Could Talk”
“A Star Is Born”
Best Original Screenplay
“The Favourite”
“First Reformed”
“Green Book”
“Roma”
“Vice”
Best Cinematography
“Cold War,” Łukasz Zal
“The Favourite,” Robbie Ryan
“Never Look Away,” Caleb Deschanel
“Roma,” Alfonso Cuarón
“A Star Is Born,” Matthew Libatique
Best Production Design
“The Favourite”
“Black Panther”
“First Man”
“Mary Poppins Returns”
“Roma”
Best Costume Design
“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” Mary Zophres
“Black Panther,” Ruth Carter
“The Favourite,” Sandy Powell
“Mary Poppins Returns,” Sandy Powell
“Mary Queen of Scots,” Alexandra Byrne
Best Film Editing
“BlacKkKlansman,” Barry Alexander Brown
“Bohemian Rhapsody,” John Ottman
“The Favourite,” Yorgos Mavropsaridis
“Green Book,” Patrick J. Don Vito
“Vice,” Hank Corwin
Best Makeup & Hairstyling
“Border,” Göran Lundström & Pamela Goldammer
“Mary Queen of Scots,” Jenny Shircore, Marc Pilcher & Jessica Brooks
“Vice,” Greg Cannom, Kate Biscoe & Patricia DeHaney
Best Original Score
“Black Panther,” Ludwig Goransson
“BlacKkKlansman,” Terence Blanchard
“If Beale Street Could Talk,” Nicholas Britell
“Isle of Dogs,” Alexandre Desplat
“Mary Poppins Returns,” Marc Shaiman
Best Sound Editing
“Black Panther”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“First Man”
“A Quiet Place”
“Roma”
Best Sound Mixing
“Black Panther”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“First Man”
“Roma”
“A Star Is Born”
Best Visual Effects
“Avengers: Infinity War”
“Christopher Robin”
“First Man”
“Ready Player One”
“Solo: A Star Wars Story”
Nigeria’s startup ecosystem received a fresh injection of momentum as top emerging ventures secured funding and investor attention at the iHatch National Demo Day, where Interface Africa clinched the highest prize of $15,000.
The 4th cohort of the NITDA–JICA-backed accelerator brought together founders, policymakers, and venture stakeholders in Abuja, showcasing innovations ranging from clean-energy financing and digital food marketplaces to next-gen fintech tools.
The startups went rounds of running through state-level selections and regional competition. iHatch was established in 2021 as a strategic partnership to create an enabling environment for young Nigerians to develop and scale their innovative solutions.
The iHatch National Demo Day (4th Cohort), is an initiative by NITDA and JICA which provides a clear pathway for homegrown talent to contribute significantly to economic diversification and digital transformation.
After rigorous selection processes, the top founders converged to pitch their innovations, recognised the standout performers, which are:
Interface Africa with $15,000, the firm is driving Nigeria’s clean energy transition by enabling structured and affordable solar financing.
Ahioma with $12,000, the firm enhances food accessibility with a digital marketplace connecting consumers directly to trusted vendors.
Linia Finance with $10,000, the firm is helping Nigerians take control of their finances with tools for budgeting, tracking, and smart money planning.
Chapta got a laptop reward. They delivering an offline-capable school application ensuring consistent, accessible learning for students everywhere.
Softdrop also got a laptop reward, they solve logistics challenges through a modern delivery platform designed for speed, convenience, and efficiency.
Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading financial institution, will host a free virtual training on the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (NTA) as part of its commitment to helping small businesses prepare for the upcoming legislation.
Fidelity Bank
The masterclass is scheduled for 10:00 AM (Nigerian time) on Friday, 12 December 2025. It will provide participants with clear insights into changes in the tax framework, the impact on income and business operations, and practical steps to avoid penalties in 2026.
Attendees will also learn strategies to stay ahead in an evolving regulatory environment.
The Nigerian government enacted major tax reforms on 26 June 2025 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed four tax bills into law.
These Acts will take effect on 1 January 2026 and represent a significant overhaul of the country’s tax system.
The reforms aim to modernize and harmonize Nigeria’s tax framework, improve revenue generation, broaden the tax base, and create clearer rules for individuals, businesses, and government agencies.
“Our decision to host this masterclass reflects our commitment to empowering businesses with the right information ahead of the commencement of the new tax regime.
“Information is money and a well-informed business owner is already steps ahead in the race to success.
“This is why we are bringing experts to provide accurate details and demystify the tax act,” said Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc.
Interested participants can register via https://bit.ly/2026TaxLawMasterclass .
PalmPay, Nigeria’s leading digital banking platform, has renewed its commitment to deepening financial inclusion across the country. At the CeBIH Annual Conference 2025, themed “Reimagining Financial Inclusion through Cultural Shifts in Consumer Credit,” PalmPay’s Managing Director, Chika Nwosu, urged industry players to deepen financial inclusion by embracing community-aligned solutions and customer-centric innovations that can better serve Nigeria’s underserved and unbanked populations.
Speaking during a panel session titled “Social Inclusion, A Veritable Tool for Financial Inclusion,” Chika Nwosu joined other industry leaders to share insights on strengthening participation among women, rural dwellers, low-income earners, and other financially excluded groups.
Chika Nwosu highlighted PalmPay’s commitment to inclusive finance through its 500,000-strong agent network, which enables seamless cash-in/cash-out services for unbanked users across Nigeria. He also emphasised the importance of PalmPay’s USSD platform, 861#, which allows users with basic phones or limited internet access to perform essential financial transactions.
“Financial inclusion goes beyond access; it must be equitable and tailored to real-life needs,” Chika Nwosu said. He shared how PalmPay leverages behavioural insights to design impactful services, including affordable health insurance, reliable bill payments, merchant solutions, and automated savings features that support financial discipline among users.
The session further examined the role of grassroots agents and community touchpoints in driving last-mile adoption. Chika Nwosu noted that PalmPay’s widespread community presence continues to build trust and encourage excluded populations to embrace digital financial tools.
The session was moderated by Ronke Kuye of the CeBIH Advisory Council and featured representatives from E-Doc Online, SmartCash Payment Service Bank, SANEF, and EFINA.
PalmPay reaffirmed its commitment to driving accessible, secure, and inclusive financial services for all Nigerians. PalmPay is a leading digital banking platform driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved emerging markets. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money.
PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products, including mobile payments, savings, and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network.
Since launching in Nigeria in 2019 under a Mobile Money Operator license, the platform has grown to over 35 million app users. PalmPay has operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Bangladesh.
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