Broadcasting
Bollywood Meets Nollywood at Ioniff
Bollywood, the largest producer of movies in the world will for the first time in Nigeria meet with Nollywood the second largest producer of movies in terms of titles.
The meeting of these great institutions of filmmaking is made possible by the producer of Ioniff Port Harcourt 09, Omcomm, who have appointed Parminder Vir OBE as programme consultant to produce the section of the programme on Connecting Bollywood to Nollywood.
Parminder is an award-winning film and television producer of drama, documentary, current affairs and entertainment with over 20 years experience, and has worked with BBC, ITV, Channel Four and Carlton Television. Her credits include Babymother, a reggae musical, with such acclaimed documentaries as Algeria Women at War, The Sex Warriors and The Samurai. She is also the managing director of PVL Media Consultants, which specializes in accessing multi cultural markets and raising private equity finance for film and media businesses, a non executive director of Goldcrest Films; and a former manager in charge of Ingenious World Cinema, an equity fund set up by Ingenious Media Investment, investing in feature films from emerging markets.
In a chat with Box office, Parminder said she was pleasantly surprised at the positive reception Bollywood movies had enjoyed in Nigeria for over fifty years, with Nigerian audiences watching Bollywood movies, embracing the songs, fashion and stories of the film culture. “I am always amazed at the ease with which Nigerians will recall the names of the Bollywood stars, the dialogue and even sing the songs, given that this is not their language or culture. Over the years, I have become a great admirer of the Nollywood film industry which is very similar to the Bollywood film industry with their “can do” attitude. In the absences of government support, both have created an industry which contributes substantially to the wealth of the nation.”
A regular speaker and panelist at international film festivals and media conferences on international film finance, co-productions and emerging media opportunities in India, China and other emerging markets, Parminder is also on the board of several organizations working in various capacities as director or non executive director, among which are Screen Writers Festival, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Patron of Skillset, Young Vic Theatre, UK India Business Council and TiE Charter.
As part of the programme for Ioniff Port-Harcourt 09, leading Bollywood producers will be invited to share their experiences in the industry, its cultural and economical value, and explore collaborative opportunities for Nollywood producers to work with the Indian film industry.
There will also be a panel discussion on new models of financing media in terms of developing creative and financial partnerships and accessing new markets.
The synergy between both movie industries will also be buttressed by celebrating the stars of both industries who will be invited to attend the festival as guests of honor.
Broadcasting
MTN Launches One TV with Free-to-View, Pay-as-You-Go

MTN Group has begun rolling out MTN One TV, a new entertainment proposition designed to make digital video content more accessible, relevant, and flexible for customers across African markets.

Introduced in line with MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, MTN One TV brings together local storytelling, live channels, international programming, and market-specific viewing options tailored to how customers across the continent access and pay for digital entertainment.
The proposition is designed to give customers greater choice in how they watch content, with viewing models that may vary by market and can include free-to-view content, advertising-funded experiences, pay-as-you-watch access, and subscription offerings.
Depending on local availability, customers may also be able to pay through airtime, Mobile Money, and other locally supported payment methods, helping to reduce common barriers to streaming access.
Beyond enhancing customer experiences, MTN One TV creates new opportunities for African creators, broadcasters, advertisers, and ecosystem partners by helping connect content to wider audiences through MTN’s scale across connectivity, payments, and digital services.
By bringing together a broad mix of content experiences under a single proposition, MTN aims to support greater content discovery, broader audience reach, and sustainable growth across Africa’s digital entertainment ecosystem.
Anchored in MTN’s strategic platforms of Connectivity, Fintech, and Digital Infrastructure, MTN One TV forms part of the Group’s broader ambition to build digital experiences that create value for customers while enabling participation and growth across Africa’s digital economy.
“Entertainment is increasingly becoming an important gateway to digital participation,” said Selorm Adadevoh, MTN group chief commercial, strategy and transformation officer.
“Through MTN One TV, we are leveraging the scale of our connectivity, fintech, and digital capabilities to make relevant content more accessible while creating new opportunities for Africa’s creative and digital economies. This is aligned with our ambition to deliver digital solutions for Africa’s progress.”
MTN One TV is being introduced progressively across MTN markets through a phased rollout approach that reflects local market needs, existing services, and partnership opportunities.
Over time, MTN will bring together a combination of video capabilities, content partnerships, and customer experiences under the MTN One TV brand to create a more consistent and scalable entertainment proposition across its footprint.
Through MTN One TV, MTN continues to extend its role beyond connectivity by combining entertainment, payments, and digital services to deliver experiences tailored to the needs of African consumers.
The rollout supports MTN’s Ambition 2030 vision of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress while expanding access to digital entertainment across the continent.
Broadcasting
IATA Drops Bombshell: Nigeria Among World’s Most Expensive Countries to Run an Airline

International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified Nigeria as one of the most expensive countries in the world for airline operations, citing high taxes, charges and operational costs that continue to weigh heavily on local carriers.

IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, disclosed this during the association’s Annual General Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro.
Al-Awadhi said that although Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had been pursuing reforms aimed at improving the aviation sector, airlines operating in the country still faced enormous cost pressures.
According to him, the high-cost operating environment has continued to affect the profitability and competitiveness of Nigerian airlines, making it difficult for the industry to realise its full potential.
He noted that excessive taxes, regulatory charges and other operating expenses remained major obstacles to airline growth across the region, with Nigeria ranking among the most challenging markets from a cost perspective.
Al-Awadhi urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States to adopt a proposed 25 per cent reduction in aviation taxes and charges to ease the burden on airlines and passengers.
According to him, lowering taxes and charges would reduce airfares, stimulate passenger traffic and strengthen the competitiveness of carriers operating within West Africa.
He stressed that a more supportive policy environment was critical to unlocking the economic benefits of aviation, including increased trade, tourism and regional integration.
Industry stakeholders have consistently advocated lower taxes and regulatory fees, arguing that the current cost structure makes air travel less affordable and limits the growth of the sector.
IATA’s latest remarks add to calls for governments in West Africa to implement policies that will promote a more sustainable and competitive aviation industry across the region.
Broadcasting
NASENI Trains 50 Women in Kano on Renewable Energy Technologies Under She-Powers Initiative

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has trained 50 women in Kano State on inverter and battery technologies through its She-Powers Energy Initiative.

The three-day programme, held at the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano which ended yesterday, was designed to equip participants with practical renewable energy skills, promote women-led enterprises, and enhance sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative forms part of NASENI’s broader commitment to empowering women, creating economic opportunities, and expanding participation in Nigeria’s growing clean energy sector. It also aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by supporting job creation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic development.
Through targeted interventions such as the She-Powers Energy Initiative, NASENI continues to demonstrate its commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to improve lives and drive sustainable development across the country.
Photos: Participants at the She-Powers Energy Initiative training organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) held at the the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano yesterday.
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