Broadcasting
A Cashless Economy Can Be a Win-Win for Businesses, Nigeria’s Economy
By Yvonne-Faith Elaigwu, Head of Operations and Governance, OnePipe
Consider a typical day in the life of Mr. Chukwu, a small business owner in Lagos. His morning ritual invariably starts with a visit to the bank to withdraw the amount of cash to sustain his shop operations for the day or deposit the excess amount of cash from the previous day’s sales. From catering to customers’ change needs to safeguarding his earnings from potential theft, the tangible presence of cash, while familiar, also brings with it a unique set of challenges.
Now, imagine a different scenario. A scenario where Mr. Chukwu no longer has to worry about these issues. This is the promise of a cashless society. In such a society, his daily transactions would be seamless, immediate, and secure, freeing up his time and mental bandwidth to focus on what he truly loves – serving his customers and improving his business.
Moreover, a cashless economy can provide businesses like Mr. Chukwu’s with a new kind of asset – data. Every digital transaction tells a story, providing valuable insights about consumer behaviour. Businesses can tap into this data to understand their customers better, tailor their offerings, and make informed, data-driven decisions. This, in turn, can help businesses drive growth and foster customer loyalty. Companies like OnePipe, for instance, are at the forefront of this data revolution, leveraging technology to help businesses unlock the potential of their transaction data.
But the impact of a cashless society extends beyond individual businesses. On a macro level, it promises to usher in significant benefits for the Nigerian economy. Cashless transactions can help formalise the economy, bringing a larger share of transactions under the purview of the banking system and thereby increasing the taxable base. This could lead to an increase in government revenue, enabling more effective fiscal policies and contributing to overall economic growth.
Moreover, a cashless society has the potential to democratise access to financial services. Take the example of Amina, a resident of a remote village in Sokoto. Her interaction with the financial system has always been limited due to her physical distance from banking institutions. But in a cashless economy, all Amina needs is a phone and a bank account. This would allow her to participate in the financial system, providing her with access to credit, the ability to save and invest, and a host of other financial services that were previously out of her reach.
The transition to a cashless society, however, isn’t a walk in the park. It requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders – the government, financial institutions, businesses, and individuals. It requires significant investments in digital infrastructure, consumer education, and robust regulatory frameworks to ensure that the transition is smooth, secure, and inclusive.
Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of a cashless society make the journey not just worthwhile, but necessary. Businesses stand to gain from increased efficiency and access to data. Businesses, like Mr. Chukwu’s and customers like Amina, will enjoy a seamless and inclusive financial experience. And on a larger scale, the Nigerian economy stands to benefit from increased formalisation and financial inclusion.
As we stand on the brink of this transformation, it’s time to embrace the promise of a cashless Nigeria – a future where every transaction is seamless, where businesses are empowered by data, and where every Nigerian, regardless of where they live or what they do, can participate in and benefit from a vibrant and inclusive economy. It’s a bold vision, but with the combined efforts of all stakeholders, it’s a vision that we can make a reality.
Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has announced the postponement of its maiden annual Public Relations, Reputation, Ideas, Concepts and Excellence (PRICE) Awards and Prizes to January 25, 2026.
NIPR
The event, earlier scheduled for December 7, 2025, was deferred to accommodate stakeholders whose observance of Christmas festivities had commenced earlier than expected.
Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Israel Opayemi, urged stakeholders to note the new date and prepare to participate in the ceremony.
He said the awards would motivate professionals, practitioners and scholars, while enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness in the public relations ecosystem and strengthening brand equity for all stakeholders.
Opayemi reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to delivering a best-in-class award administration and ceremony, describing the PRICE Awards as a credible and enduring platform to identify, celebrate and elevate outstanding individuals, campaigns and organisations shaping the public relations landscape across sectors.
The development of the PRICE Awards peaked in September 2025 when the NIPR President and Chairman, Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, inaugurated a 12-man committee to organise the maiden edition. The inauguration followed the Council’s adoption of the report of a technical team tasked with establishing the awards.
Netflix has announced a landmark agreement to acquire Warner Bros. and HBO Max in a transaction valued at $82.7 billion, a move analysts say will reshape the global entertainment industry.
Netflix
The deal, which includes Warner Bros.’ film and television studios, HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. Games, was unanimously approved by the boards of both companies. Under the terms, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) shareholders will receive $23.25 in cash and $4.50 in Netflix shares for each WBD share.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos described the acquisition as “a defining moment” for the streaming giant, noting that the company intends to maintain Warner Bros.’ current operations while expanding its production capacity.
“By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies with Netflix’s culture-defining titles, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling,” Sarandos said.
The transaction is expected to close within 12 to 18 months, following the planned spin-off of WBD’s TV networks division, Discovery Global, in 2026. Netflix projects annual cost savings of $2–3 billion by the third year after completion and expects the deal to be accretive to earnings per share by year two.
Industry groups, including the Directors Guild of America and Cinema United, have raised concerns about the impact on movie theaters, while regulators are expected to scrutinize the deal over antitrust issues. Netflix has pledged to continue supporting theatrical releases, with Warner Bros.’ cinema commitments running through 2029.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav hailed the agreement, saying it “combines two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world to bring to even more people the entertainment they love.”
Observers note that the acquisition comes 15 years after former Time Warner chief Jeff Bewkes dismissed Netflix as “the Albanian army,” underscoring the dramatic shift in the entertainment landscape.
A major shake‑up rocks viewers and subscribers of DSTV/GOTV as many channels are set to shut down and be removed on January 1, 2026.
The trigger for the upcoming shut‑down is a breakdown in negotiations between the owners of multiple global channels and the pay‑TV operator.
As of December 2025, the deal between Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and DStv/GOtv has expired and the two parties have not reached a renewal agreement.
Without a new carriage/distribution agreement, the channels belonging to WBD risk being pulled off the DStv/GOtv line‑up.
This is the most significant content cutback the service has seen in years.
The affected channels are:
Discovery Channel
TLC
Cartoonito
Cartoon Network
CNN International
Food Network
The Travel Channel
TNT
Investigation Discovery
Real Time
HGTV
Discovery Family
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