Broadcasting
Africa’s AI Transformation: Unlocking Potential and Driving Progress
By Matt Brittin, President of Google Europe, the Middle East and Africa
AI has the potential to drive progress and prosperity across the world. But nowhere is this more apparent than on the African continent. The next decade is set to be Africa’s digital decade – with emerging technologies like AI and the Cloud set to significantly accelerate the continent’s development, and over half the population accessing the Internet for the first time. Simply, AI presents an opportunity too significant to ignore for Africa.
Google is proud to be at the forefront of this transformation, but we’re prouder still of those driving this change. Across the region, African entrepreneurs, nonprofits and organisations are using innovation to solve complex challenges.
Earlier this week I visited Jacaranda Health in Nairobi, who are working to reduce Kenya’s high maternal death rate by using AI to ensure expectant and new moms get the care and information they need. Then there was AirQo, tackling the huge public health problem that is pollution by using AI to track and predict pollution – including in Lagos city.
And in the past few days, I’ve been fortunate enough to explore Nigeria with our Nigerian-born Head of Google Africa, Alex Okosi, and our wonderful local team of Nigerian experts. We’ve had inspiring conversations with business leaders already at the forefront of their industries and explored how to leverage the power of AI to scale their businesses. We also engaged with startups like Towntalk, Farmspeak, and BetaLife, who are using AI to solve some of Nigeria’s biggest challenges.
But AI’s opportunity can only be realised when everyone is included. This week, to help unlock the benefits of the digital economy to everyone, our Speech team in partnership with Google researchers in Accra, launched Voice Search, talk-to-type and voice input on Translate for 15 more African languages – enabling 300 million more Africans the freedom to interact with the web and communicate with their friends and family in the way that comes most naturally to many people: their voice. This includes Nigerian native languages Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Nigerian Pidgin, and is another great example of AI built with Africans for Africans.
We believe AI has a pivotal role to play in developing Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. For Africa to fulfil its potential as an AI leader, we need to invest in the skills and knowledge base of local talent. That’s why we’ve backed several initiatives to boost AI skills among developers, individuals and businesses in Nigeria and beyond.
Our Google Career Certificates are enabling Nigerians to develop work-readiness in skills like AI, cybersecurity, digital marketing and programming languages like Python and SQL. Meanwhile, skills-based initiatives like our Hustle Academy provide AI-focused training for small and medium-sized businesses in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.
And this week, we’ve announced an additional $5.8 million in funding to support foundational AI and cybersecurity training across these countries. That includes $1.5 million for Data Science Nigeria, who will train unemployed and at risk Nigerians in foundational digital and technology – while Raspberry Pi will also work with Data Science Nigeria to roll out AI literacy for Kenyan and Nigerian youth.
To further inspire the next generation, we are launching a program to train 25,000 educators, equipping them with the knowledge and resources to bring AI education to 125,000 students across Nigeria. By fostering an understanding of AI’s potential among young people, we can inspire them toward sustainable future jobs and empower them to shape a better future for themselves and their communities.
This progress is underpinned by infrastructure. In late 2022, our Equiano subsea fibre-optic cable launched in Lagos – providing a new generation of Nigerians with greater connectivity to expand their horizons. Technology alone is not the answer to everything, but it can provide the foundation that enables the next generation of African businesses to thrive. Ultimately, technology is the means by which we can improve lives.
If we measure this progress numerically, AI is a bet worth taking. For every $1 invested in Sub-Saharan Africa’s digital economy, we can generate $2 in economic value by 2030. For some nations, like Nigeria, the growth will be even greater, with an $8 return for every $1 invested.
But beyond the numbers are the stories of the lives we can transform. For every student at the start of their journey, or the budding entrepreneur with a great idea, investment truly matters. We can empower individuals with the knowledge to understand the digital tools at their fingertips. And just as importantly, we can inspire a mindset shift – a renewed belief in the power of education and skills to shape a better future.
We’re proud to have seen this development up close. Our commitment to the digital transformation of the continent began in 2007 with the opening of our first office in Nairobi, Kenya, where we later announced the launch of our Product Development Center in 2022. And in 2018, we opened an AI research centre in Accra, Ghana, where our teams on the ground explore how AI can be used to solve problems in Africa and beyond.
Collaboration is key, and we’ve worked to foster partnerships and develop programmes with institutions and innovators across Africa. By enabling governments and businesses to integrate technologies like AI into the way they operate, we believe we can improve efficiency and bridge divides.
But this is not just a Google story – it’s a true African success story in the making. AI is not something to be imposed on Africa from the top-down, but rather, built from the bottom-up. It’s about collaboration, partnerships, and putting local entrepreneurial talent in the driving seat.
The task now is to ensure that all Africans benefit from these technological breakthroughs – and to use AI responsibly and equitably. Africa is no stranger to leveraging technology for the greater good. African innovators have pioneered technology like mobile money systems – starting with M-Pesa in Kenya – that have influenced financial inclusion and the way the world does business.
So there is nowhere better placed than Africa to ensure the future of AI is in good hands. And if we succeed, it’s not just Africa that will benefit – but the whole world.
Broadcasting
BBNaija Housemates Pick Tinsel, Princess on a Hill, and My Flatmates as Must-Watch Shows on Showmax
Big Brother Naija Season 10 is now in its fourth week, and it’s already been a rollercoaster, packed with unexpected twists, bold new strategies, and all-round entertainment that has kept us glued to our screens.
The season kicked off with 29 housemates, with KayiKunmi, Danboskid, Ibifubara and Otega now evicted and Sabrina making a voluntary exit. Ships have sailed, sunk, and more are on the way. In short, it has been an exciting season of 10/10 drama.
Before stepping into the house, the housemates curated a list of their top shows to watch on Showmax, placing popular Nigerian shows like Tinsel, Princess on a Hill and My Flatmates at the top of their watch list.
Leading the pack is Tinsel. Considered Nigeria’s longest-running drama, the soap opera weaves a story of drama, romance, betrayal, and triumph, all set against the glamorous yet cutthroat world of Nigeria’s film industry. With standout performances from Nollywood veterans like Ireti Doyle, Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi, the late Victor Olaotan, and breakout stars like Gideon Okeke and Linda Ejiofor, its spot on the list is incontestable.
Joining Tinsel is the Showmax Original, Princess on a Hill (POAH), a Showmax original that delivers high-stakes drama in a corporate setting. The story follows Zara Osara (Onyinye Odokoro), an underdog who wins a reality show only to find herself thrust into the most powerful boardroom in the country. Tasked with salvaging the very company that gave her fame, Zara must navigate ruthless corporate politics and stand her ground against the merciless CEO, Moyosore Lawson (Bimbo Manuel). It’s thrilling and reminiscent of the drama many Nigerians face in the corporate world.
For a perfect balance between reality and comedy, My Flatmates brings the laughs with a tale centred around four friends navigating adulting, relationships, and rent money in Lagos. Featuring comic heavyweights like Basketmouth, Okey Bakassi, and Buchi, it’s equal parts witty and ridiculous.
While the housemates love their fair share of homegrown dramas, acclaimed international series also made their lists. Sci-fi epics like Dune, with its surreal visuals, and fantasy period dramas like Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon dominated the list as well. Meanwhile, for lovers of unscripted drama, the housemates recommended shows like Nelly & Ashanti, Love Island USA and The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Even though the housemates are cut off from the world, their taste is reflective of what Nigerians love to watch. From nostalgic classics to hilarious comedy dramas, Showmax has it all and more.
In today’s rapidly evolving tech world, a hit product can really lift a company. But as businesses get bigger, they often end up with many different products and features. The challenge? Making sure all these pieces work together to help the company succeed in the long run. It’s like walking a tightrope, balancing what each product needs with the company’s overall goals. It goes way beyond just planning one product’s future.
Reuben Nkemjika Obasi
Here’s Reuben Nkemjika Obasi, a senior product manager who’s great at organizing product strategies on a large scale. Many product managers are good at guiding a single product from start to finish. Reuben, though, is skilled in running a whole group of products and features.
He brings the smart thinking needed to handle this mess, making sure every product, every feature, and every investment lines up with the company’s main business aims. He helps build a strong, unified product system.
One thing Reuben deals with daily is the push and pull between quick wins and long-term goals.
It’s a key tension in product management: hitting short-term targets like quarterly revenue while also developing the core products that will fuel growth later on. Reuben uses his knowledge of market trends and user habits to set up a way to prioritize things that allow for both. He makes sure a product’s plan includes features for immediate results and bigger projects that create a lasting foundation.
This balance is clear in how he handles several products. He knows each product in a group has a different job and is at a different point in its life. He uses his skills to sort products, like Google had to do with Google Meet, Google Duo, and Hangouts.
By figuring out which products are driving growth, which are making money, and which are old systems, he can adjust his strategy for each one. That way, they all get the right focus and resources.
Deciding where to put resources is super important. At big companies, there’s never enough people in engineering, design, and marketing.
Reuben has to make tough calls about where to invest those resources to get the most out of them. He uses information to judge plans across the board, balancing the possible impact of adding one new thing to an old product with the work needed to update a product that’s growing fast.
His choices are a careful mix of market numbers, limited resources, and what the company wants to achieve in the long run.
One of the hardest but most important things in product portfolio management is knowing when to retire a product. Markets change fast, and sometimes a product has just run its course. Google has faced this many times with its messaging tools.
Reuben is skilled at guiding this process, and he knows it calls for both understanding and clear thinking. He makes a plan to end a product responsibly, giving users a simple way to move to a newer, better product, keeping problems to a minimum and keeping users happy.
It’s not just about turning a product off, it’s about handling the change smoothly. Reuben manages a careful plan for talking to users, giving them clear instructions and help, and making sure their information and experiences are saved as much as possible. This planned goodbye keeps users from getting annoyed and lets the company focus its work and resources on its most products, like when Google focused on Meet.
Ultimately, Reuben Nkemjika Obasi helps turn a bunch of separate products into a product system that is connected and strong. He’s a leader who thinks ahead and uses data to make smart choices that push a company forward. His skills in product portfolio management ensure a company’s product investments aren’t just quick reactions but a thought-out plan for growth and success over time.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have filed a lawsuit against Umar Bago, Niger State Governor, and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over what they described as “the ongoing intimidation” of Badeggi FM Radio, Minna, and the threat to shut down the station.
This was contained in a statement on Sunday by Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director, SERAP, accusing NBC of failing to stand in defence of the local station.
PUNCH Online had reported that Bago ordered the closure and the revocation of the licence of Badeggi Radio 90.1 FM in Minna over alleged public incitement.
However, in suit number FHC/L/CS/1587/2025, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP and NGE are seeking to determine “whether by Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and section 2(1)(t) of the NBC Act, the NBC has the legal duty to protect Badeggi FM from the ongoing intimidation from the governor.”
They are also seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Niger state governor and NBC from further harassing, intimidating and/or threatening to shut down Badeggi FM radio, revoke its licence and profile the station’s owner.”
The groups argued, “The ongoing intimidation and threat by Mr Bago to strip Badeggi FM station of its licence, further threat to demolish the station’s premises and profile its owner is unlawful and a violation of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.”
They described allegations of inciting violence against the station and its owner as “vague, unfounded and unsubstantiated and apparently made to silence the radio station.”
The suit, filed on behalf of SERAP and NGE by lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part, “The media plays an essential role as a vehicle or instrument for the exercise of freedom of expression and information – in its individual and collective aspects – in a democratic society.
“Intimidating, harassing and silencing critical or dissenting voices under the guise of vague and unsubstantiated national security concerns is a fundamental breach of the Nigerian Constitution and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
“The ongoing intimidation and harassment of Badeggi FM and its owner is capable of discouraging participation of the press in debates over matters of legitimate public concern ahead of the 2027 general elections.”
SERAP and NGE are therefore asking the court for the following reliefs, “A declaration that by the combined provisions of Section 22 Nigerian Constitution and section 2(1)(t) of the National Broadcasting Act, the NBC is obligated by law to protect Badeggi FM station and other broadcasting outlets in Nigeria from undue interference from unauthorised persons or entity.
“A declaration that the failure and/or neglect of the NBC to protect and defend the independence of the radio station against arbitrary executive interference constitutes a breach of its statutory duty to ensure fair, independent, and lawful broadcasting practices in Nigeria.
“A declaration that the ongoing intimidation and threat issued by Mr Bago to strip Badeggi FM station of its operational licence and further threat to demolish the station’s premises is unlawful and a violation of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.
“A declaration that the threat issued by the Bago to strip Badeggi FM radio station of its operational licence encroaches upon the statutory powers of the NBC as provided for under section 2 of the National Broadcasting Commission Act.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the governor and NBC, its agents and privies from harassing, intimidating and/or threatening to revoke the operating licence of Badeggi FM station or any other broadcasting outlet in Niger State.”
It was said that no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
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