Broadcasting

Airtel Trace Music Star Winner Emerges

Published

11 years ago

May 4, 2015

(L-r): Sam Onyemelukwe, managing director Trace, Omotayo Otitoju 1st runner-up Airtel Trace Music Star Nigeria, Jitey Peters, winner Trace Music Star Nigeria and 1st runner-up Airtel Trace Music Star Grand Finale and Segun Aderinokun, head Youth Segment, Airtel Nigeria, during the Airtel Trace Music Star Grand Finale Viewing Party at the Vapors, on Saturday.

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On April 18, Tanzanian-born Mayunga Andrew Nalimi reigned supreme in the national broadcast of Airtel TRACE Music Star taking home the first place trophy as winner of the competition.

With 2.3 million calls, Airtel TRACE Music Star is the biggest ever music competition in Africa.

TRACE Urban viewers across Africa tuned into the 2-hour grande finale and finally got to witness the top 13 finalists battle it out for the number one spot and a chance to kick-start their music career.

Cries ensued as the mounting tension took emotions to explosive heights in the Grande Finale, which took place in Kenya on March 28.

Mayunga Andrew Nalimi was crowned by the megastar Akon as President of the jury (composed of renowned music executive Devyne Stephens and top-selling French Caribbean singer Lynnsha) after a merciless selection process.

The Tanzanian beat Jitey from Nigeria and Baz from Congo B who arrived respectively in 2nd and 3rd position. Tension was palpable and Mayunga fainted when he heard his name being announced.

The Tanzania native won the grand prize, which included a record deal with Universal Music, a promotion as well as mentorship campaigns for a total value.

The Tanzania native won the grand prize, which included a record deal with Universal Music, a promotion as well as mentorship campaigns for a total value exceeding $500,000.

Mayunga Andrew Nalimi is the last born son of a humble loving Tanzanian family from the town of Morogoro. Mayunga’s love for music started at the tender age of 5 and has since then flourished into a full blown passion.

Growing up, Mayunga continually searched for opportunities to take to the stage and share his musical talent, whether it was at a school recital or a wedding, the hopeful musician never ceased to captivate his audience with his vocal gifts and visible passion for singing.

In 2009, Mayunga experienced the difficult loss of his father and has since turned to his mother as his rock and endless fountain of support. In the hopes of one day achieving his dream to share his tremendous talent on the world stage, Mayunga decided to commit to his undying love of music after completing secondary school.

Through hard work and dedication, Mayunga managed to record an uplifting track entitled “Break The Rough”.

Mayunga draws his musical inspiration for his unique sound from international artists such as Usher, Chris Brown as well as local Tanzanian artists Nuru and Eli.

Airtel TRACE Music Star is all about making dreams come true and giving aspiring artists a chance to become stars.

The fans voted, the judges loved him and the audience applauded! Congratulations to Mayunga for winning this highly prestigious Airtel TRACE Music Star title.

According to the organizers, the shows on STV Networks hold as follow: Nigeria Winner Mini Movie – Monday May 4th 9:55am; (Repeat : Tuesday May 5th 9:55am|| Wednesday May 6th 9:55am|| Thursday May 7th 9:55 ); Nigeria Finale – 9am-10am Friday May 8th; Repeat : Monday May 11th 9am – 10am) and Africa Grand Finale – Tuesday May 12th 10am-12pm (Repeat: Tuesday May 19th 10am – 12am ).

TRACE is a leading urban and black entertainment group with activities in 180 countries.

It is a signature hub for black and urban entertainment content and offers TV channels, FM radios, mobile services, events etc. to the millennial and young adults audiences.

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Broadcasting

EFCC Arik Case: Witness Testifies on Receiver Manager Nominee’s Role in NG Eagle Shareholding

Published

10 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Ugo Onwuaso

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The 4th prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former AMCON Managing Director, Ahmed Kuru, on Monday continued to give the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, ‘fresh insight’ into how the structure and equity of NG Eagle Airlines was set up.

EFCC Arik

In his testimony, Kaltungo testified that this arrangement entails the Receiver Manager’s nominee having a shareholding arrangement of NG Eagle of “one unit within a billion-share structure,” as part of the findings that emerged during the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s investigation.

The development surfaced as EFCC Investigative Officer, Bawa Usman Kaltungo, continued his examination-in-chief led by prosecution counsel, Dr. Wahab Shittu, SAN. Kaltungo told the court that the financial trail uncovered by investigators showed how funds allegedly belonging to Arik Air Limited were unaccounted for while NG Eagle was being established.

Kaltungo also, in the course of his testimony, sought to mislead the Court to believe that the 1st Defendant sold NG Eagle shares solely and unilaterally as a Receiver holding majority shares in NG Eagle, when in fact he is just a nominee with a single unit of share, as AMCON, the corporation that appointed him, holds majority shares in NG Eagle.

Even though his testimonies were made with the support of a few documents admitted in evidence, Kaltungo still was not able to establish a nexus of any act of omission on the part of the accused persons to establish fraud or crime in the management of Arik’s loan.

Kuru is standing trial alongside Kamilu Alaba Omokide, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Union Bank Plc, and Super Bravo Limited before Justice Mojisola Dada. According to the witness, the statement of Arik’s former Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Jonathan Sani, detailed how the defendants allegedly moved N4.5 billion from Arik to fund NG Eagle, an airline he said was controlled by the defendants. He further testified that Omokide and Ilegbodu allegedly worked with Kuru to funnel a total of N4.9 billion from Arik’s coffers to manage and fund operations of the new airline.

Kaltungo added that beyond the cash transfers, Arik staff were also moved to NG Eagle even though the new airline was set up while Kuru was still AMCON MD, and Omokide served as AMCON’s Receiver Manager. He said salary payments and operational expenses for the newly formed NG Eagle were borne by Arik Air Limited.

During proceedings, the court admitted a CTC of an ex parte order, which the prosecution termed as the only document authorizing the appointment of the RM over Arik and marked the same as P17, along with other exhibits—P18, P25, P26, P44, and P45—including. photographs and videos in a flash drive containing footage of alleged vandalised aircraft were played in court, but the Prosecution again failed to establish a nexus as to whether those aircraft indeed belonged to Arik.

Meanwhile, counsel for the second and third defendants applied for the release of their clients’ passports for renewal and medical purposes. Justice Dada granted the requests on the condition that the documents be returned to the court registry no later than January 2, 2026.

The matter was thereafter adjourned to February 25 and 26, 2026, for continuation of the trial and Examination-in-Chief of PW4

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Broadcasting

NIPR Postpones Maiden PRICE Awards to January 25, 2026

Published

3 days ago

December 6, 2025

Ugo Onwuaso

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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.

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Broadcasting

Netflix Seals $82.7bn Deal to Acquire Warner Bros., HBO Max

Published

3 days ago

December 6, 2025

Ugo Onwuaso

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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.

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