Broadcasting
Chevron Nigeria Local Content Drive: A Credit to President Buhari and Dr. Pantami

By Bode S. Ojerinde – Ph.D
I read with mixed feelings the piece on Chevron Nigeria and its firm belief and support for local content promotion, notably its many years of patronizing Zinox, an indigenous tech giant.
Mixed feelings because, on one hand, I was delighted and extremely proud of the management of Chevron Nigeria for shining the light, leading from the front and even showing the way to government, other sub-national entities in Nigeria, as well as the hordes of other multinationals operating in Nigeria.
The moving article equally made me proud to be a Nigerian because, most times, Nigeria makes the news for the wrong reasons owing to the actions of a misguided few. But to see a renowned, American-based multinational retaining a strong faith in the capacity of a Nigerian tech company, is something worth celebrating.
But on the other hand, the article also elicited some misgivings within me.
Here we are, hailing Chevron Nigeria, an American-headquartered multinational, for choosing a Nigerian brand ahead of other competing foreign brands, including a few known names from the country where it is based, but we can hardly find Nigerian government establishments and their agencies giving a similar fair chance to local businesses.
This was the biggest contradiction that hit me from that well-written article by a Nigerian US-based academic.
Thankfully, the company in question – Zinox – did not betray the trust reposed in it by Chevron Nigeria. It would have been a missed opportunity if Zinox had failed, maybe when it received the first supply contract from Chevron Nigeria, as I doubt that they would have had a second chance and that door would have been closed forever, even to other local players. Such is the merit-driven and highly competitive nature of the tech sector that it would have been virtually impossible for the management of Chevron Nigeria to consider entrusting its supply contract to Zinox for over 16 years without a strong justification.
We must begin to patronize and promote our best brains, rather than accord unnecessary privileges to foreigners. This is the only way we can employ our youths creatively and reduce security challenges confronting the nation.
I have not met Leo Stan Ekeh, the Chairman of the Zinox Group one-on-one but I have followed his landmark strides in the ICT sector. A huge inspiration, I recall when Haroun Adamu, a former Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) described him at an event as a miracle child, a genius. He had told the story of how Leo Stan returned to Nigeria against the advice of his tutors in the UK, eventually leading the current wave of digital democracy that ushered the Nigerian printing and publishing industry into the next level by computerizing all the newspapers, magazines and book publishing establishments in the country.
According to him, Mr. Ekeh, who used to wear an afro back then as a young man, was like a pastor, an evangelist moving from city to city across Nigeria with a lot of energy, taking his message of digital evangelism to various parts of the country and transforming the landscape with his introduction of technology into the entire printing ecosystem.
Also, in 2001 or thereabouts, I was privileged to attend an oil servicing conference at Eko Le Meridien and during a short break, I was able to sneak into another event taking place at the same venue. The event, which had a long list of dignitaries, prominent Nigerians and even diplomats in attendance including the-then Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Senate President at the time, Anyim Pius Anyim, many serving Ministers of the Federal Republic and Executive Governors, saw the hall packed full, with many people unable to even get in. That was the launch of Zinox and equally the first time I saw Mr. Ekeh from a distance.
I still recall the emotional gesture he made at that event which left many people in tears. Incidentally, it happened within the short period I spent in the hall. After tracing the history of Nigeria’s disadvantaged status as a country which many in the advanced world believe would not experience technology in the next 30 years, Mr. Ekeh had raised his right hand and declared that he was mentally, physically, financially and spiritually prepared to create an IT identity for Nigeria. That gesture got the hall charged and was a remarkable sight to behold. I left the place highly touched as I had to return to the conference I was attending. But that scene remained with me for a long time.
Same Zinox, a few years later, changed the face of Nigeria and other African countries’ elections by deploying digital democracy tools to aid the process.
Nigerian businessmen are not known to stick to one line of business. The majority are always on the lookout for the next big thing to invest in. However, Leo Stan is one man who has remained consistent in his chosen field of technology and his roadmap.
Therefore, it is hardly surprising that the same man, Leo Stan Ekeh backed by his team, has today achieved all he has in the tech sector.
It is gratifying, a sign of hope and a story that is worth telling, especially with the recent revelation of the long years of patronage from Chevron Nigeria, that this man has achieved so much with little or no support from government, still setting records, creating jobs and a bright future for millions of Nigerian youths.
I recall reading in the same article about Chevron Nigeria how well the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo supported local content drive. While I am aware that this was the case, government, at that time, was not really buying a lot of technology products as it was largely analogue in its processes.
There are thousands of Nigerians in the same technology sector who are struggling out there today. Many of them have quietly exited the sector after being unable to keep their heads above water. This brings into sharp relief the commendable efforts of Leo Stan as a shining light who has consistently built new successful businesses, while also expanding the Zinox Group for over 30 years. To see all these happen while not been able to count on the patronage of government is nothing short of a miracle.
Consequently, it was not strange when Zinox made the news early in 2018 with its acquisition of e-commerce brand, Konga. Nevertheless, many had queried the rationale behind Mr. Ekeh’s decision. For some, it was a suicide mission. I also understand that at that juncture, Konga was technically dead, as one of my cousins, who was a merchant trading with the business then, reliably informed me that, before the acquisition, the former managers of Konga had invited them to come and pick up their items warehoused with them. But a new story is being told about that e-commerce giant barely three years down the line. Today, that same Konga was recently reported to have broken a global e-commerce record, becoming the first African e-ecommerce company to turn profitable.
The Chevron Nigeria article represents another eye-opener and I wish to congratulate Zinox and, especially, Leo Stan Ekeh, for what he is building. He has done this for over 30 years without any hint of a scandal which is not an easy feat in a Nigerian business terrain that is prone to blackmail and betrayals. Perhaps, what has saved him from the minefield of subterfuge and the pull-him-down syndrome is the fact that many Nigerians are still analogue and Leo Stan is operating in a sector in which only a few Nigerians really understand.
I would equally like to appreciate the current administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari and the referenced Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Ibrahim Pantami, a young man I admire, for their unequivocal commitment to Nigeria. I believe their clear signal is helping domestication in this sector and I advise other Ministers of the Federal Republic to emulate Dr. Pantami to create jobs for our educated youths and reduce security challenges caused by employment. I also urge them to concentrate some of their efforts in pushing our best talents forward.
Certainly, we must support and promote our best so that other emerging ones can be encouraged to outdo their feats, not only in the area of technology, but in other sectors as well. There have been a few surprises in the fintech sub-sector and in agriculture where some young Nigerians are leveraging technology in transforming the space.
However, there is no doubt that Nigeria lacks new model mentors and world class entrepreneurs in the mould of Leo Stan Ekeh.
The government must promote our best names, men and women whose rise to prominence is documented, people we know their background and their history and not fly-by-night entrepreneurs or undeserving foreigners.
It is by so doing that we can assure these patriotic/successful entrepreneurs of government’s support and encourage them to do more, inspire the next wave of budding entrepreneurs and contribute in building the Nigeria of our collective dreams.
Bode S. Ojerinde – Ph.D. wrote in from Lokoja, Kogi State
Broadcasting
TikTok Deletes over 2m Videos in Nigeria for Policy Violations

TikTok, social media giant, has reaffirmed its commitment to online safety by removing more than two million videos in Nigeria between July and September 2024 for violating its Community Guidelines.
According to its Q3 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, 99.1 percent of these videos were taken down within 24 hours of being posted.
With millions of videos uploaded daily by its over one billion users worldwide, TikTok has continued to improve its content moderation efforts through advanced technology.
The platform’s proactive detection rate has now reached 98.2 percent globally, allowing it to identify and remove harmful content before it reaches viewers.
Between July and September 2024, TikTok removed over 147 million videos worldwide, with 118 million taken down through automation.
In Nigeria, 92.1 percent of all removed videos were taken down before any user reported them, reflecting the platform’s proactive moderation strategy.
The report highlights the most common policy violations that led to content removal in Nigeria.
These include sensitive and mature themes, where 99.4 percent of flagged videos were removed before any user report.
Content related to regulated goods and commercial activities, including scams and the illegal sale of items such as firearms or explosives, accounted for 99.1 percent of removals before user reports.
Additionally, content categorized under mental and behavioral health, which could negatively impact users, particularly younger audiences, saw a 99.9 percent removal rate before any user reports.
TikTok maintains that its mission to inspire creativity and bring joy is built on a foundation of user safety and content integrity.
The platform continues to invest in Trust and Safety professionals who work alongside advanced technology to enforce its Community Guidelines, Terms of Service, and Advertising Policies.
By prioritising a positive and secure digital space, TikTok aims to ensure that users can create, connect, and be entertained without exposure to harmful content.
Broadcasting
Nigeria’s Brightest Young Minds to Compete in Spelling Bee Finals

The highly anticipated finals of the Spellingbee in Nigeria (SpIN) will take place on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at the U.S. Consulate’s Residence in Lagos.
This milestone event will see 64 outstanding finalists from Abuja, Lagos, Osun, and Taraba States competing for the championship title, marking a historic moment as Nigeria makes its debut in the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee, USA.
The winner of SpIN ’25 National Finals receives an all-expense-paid trip to represent Nigeria at the 100th edition of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States, a centennial celebration of academic excellence that has shaped young minds for generations.
Beyond crowning a champion, the National Finals underscores SpIN’s core mission: cultivating academic excellence, linguistic mastery, and a commitment to fostering educational and leadership opportunities for young learners.
Speaking on the upcoming event, Eugenia Tachie-Menson, Convener of Spelling Bee in Nigeria, an affiliate of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, USA, emphasized the competition’s transformative impact on young learners.
“This competition is more than just spelling—it builds confidence, public speaking skills, and critical thinking, preparing students for global opportunities.
“We are thrilled by the enthusiasm it has received and the doors it will open for Nigeria’s brightest young minds.”
The event, which is set to attract members of the diplomatic corps, C-Suite executives, high net worth parents and educational leaders, is made possible through the support of key partners: Indomie Noodles (Title Sponsor), Checkers Custard (Co-Sponsor), and partnerships with Lucid Education Initiative, the U.S. Consul-General Lagos, the American Business Council of Nigeria, the Rotary Club of VI East, and AT3 Resources – The Muvmnt Agency (PR Partner).
Spellingbee in Nigeria is a prestigious competition affiliated with the globally renowned Scripps National Spelling Bee, USA. It is dedicated to promoting literacy, vocabulary development, and critical thinking among Nigerian students, equipping them with skills to compete on a global stage.
Broadcasting
Canal+ to Carve, Spin out MultiChoice’s LicenceCo in Aggressive Takeover Bid

Canal+ S.A., a French media and telecommunications conglomerate based in Paris, will restructure MultiChoice Group and carve out its broadcasting licence and South African DStv subscribers into “Licence Co” as a new separate entity while the remainder contains its video assets as the MultiChoice Group.
This is in its push for aggressive takeover of MultiChoice through successfully and circumvent the country’s regulations preventing a majority-owned share in local media.
According https://teeveetee.blogspot.com, Canal+ is progressing with its aggressive buyout of R32 billion for MultiChoice although various regulatory hurdles are supposed to prevent foreign ownership of a large South African media company like MultiChoice.
Canal+’s plan for a “post-transaction structure” for MultiChoice is to carve out MultiChoice’s broadcasting licence in South Africa, overseen by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) and MultiChoice South Africa’s DStv subscribers in South Africa into a new company called Licence Co.
Canal+’s Licence Co will be a new entity, while the remainder of MultiChoice’s video entertainment assets will then remain part of the MultiChoice Group.
The MultiChoice broadcast licence carve out is part of Canal+ plan to circumvent and get around South Africa’s broadcast and ownership regulations.
The dilemma Canal+ and MultiChoice have is that they can’t legally get around a foreign entity owning a South African broadcast licence, in this case for traditional pay-TV.
The plan is now for this “problem-part” preventing Canal+’s MultiChoice takeover from going through – MultiChoice South Africa and its South African broadcasting licence and South African set of DStv subscribers – to be siloed as Licence Co.
Licence Co. in South Africa will literally hold the pay-TV licence and manage the DStv subscribers, while MultiChoice Group will legally-technically no longer be a broadcaster but a video content supplier.
Like a family trust, Licence Co, although an “independent” company, will exist with the express aim to benefit the MultiChoice Group.
Also to note: MultiChoice Group, belonging to French owners and as the so-called “video content hub”, will now mean that Canal+ and MultiChoice’s French owners will now be paying to keep the South African public broadcaster’s SABC News, eMedia’s eNCA and Newzroom Africa’s as South African TV news channels on the air on DStv.
This is, in effect, a French private company paying for and in control of South African TV news, as well as news elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa.
Canal+ and MultiChoice has to secure approvals for the mega-takeover deal from Icasa, the Takeover Regulation Panel, South Africa’s Competition Tribunal, shareholders, the Financial Surveillance Department and adhere to other requirements like black-economic empowerment (BEE) and with Canal+ not have voting rights of more than 20% as mandated by the Electronic Communications Act.
On paper Licence Co will be a new “independent company” but in real effect work in tandem with MultiChoice Group – as it exists currently containing MultiChoice’s operational structure, technology, staff and content assets.
Licence Co will become/remain the entity dealing with South African DStv subscribers.
Canal+ and MultiChoice plan to spin out Licence Co’s ownership as majority-owned by the current Phuthuma Nathi scheme (27%), as well as two black-owned companies – Identity Partners Itai Consortium with Sonja de Bruyn and Afrifund Investments from the former Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko – as well as a Workers’ Trust (ESOP).
With smart accounting and legal wrangling, Canal+ and MultiChoice are crafting it so that the MultiChoice’s Group’s shareholding in the new Licenco Co will be 49% and 20% on the dot in terms of voting rights – right what the regulators require.
“MultiChoice Group will retain its existing 75% direct interest in MultiChoice South Africa, which will exclude Licence Co. Phuthuma Nathi will similarly retain its existing 25% interest in MultiChoice South Africa,” Canal+ and MultiChoice announced in a takeover update statement on Tuesday.
“The transaction will not lead to any disruption for LicenceCo’’s South African viewers, who will continue to access its services as normal. Licence Co will enter into various commercial agreements with MultiChoice Group subsidiaries in relation to the services currently provided to Licence Co by other MultiChoice Group entities,” they stated.
“These relate to, among other things, the provision of content, technology, subscriber management and support and other functions.”
“Canal+ and MultiChoice are confident that the envisaged structure meets the requirements of all applicable laws, including the restrictions on foreign ownership and control of broadcasting licences contained in the Electronic Communications Act.”
Webber Wentzel and DLA Piper are the joint legal advisors to MultiChoice, while Herbert Smith Freehills and Werksmans are the advisors to MultiChoice on competition and broadcasting matters.
Citigroup Global Markets Limited and Morgan Stanley & Co International plc and the joint financial advisors to MultiChoice, while FTI Consulting are the so-called “strategic communications” advisors to MultiChoice.
Bowmans is the South African legal advisors to Canal+, with Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP repping as the international legal advisors to Canal+, and BofA Securities and J.P. Morgan as Canal+’s joint legal advisors.
The Brunswick Group is the “strategic communications” advisors for Canal+.
In the joint statement, Maxime Saada, Canal+ CEO – and notably having his prepared quote placed first at the top – says “This transaction is an opportunity to create a unique global media company, with a strong presence across Africa, with the scale, expertise and creativity to compete and partner with the largest players within the media sector and beyond”.
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