Broadcasting
How MultiChoice Nigeria Promotes Balance for Better
Last month, Nigeria joined the rest of the world to celebrate the annual International Women’s Day. Today, we take a look at the history of this celebration, the gains and how MultiChoice Nigeria promotes gender equality in its workspace.
How the International Women’s Day Started
International Women’s Day is a worldwide event dedicated to the celebration of women’s achievements- from business, politics to social endeavours- while at the same time reminding the world that more still needs to be done for gender equality.
Its roots can be traced to the 20th-century march by over 15,000 women through New York City demanding voting rights, better pay, and shorter working hours. In 1910, Clara Zetkin suggested the idea of an international women day during an International Conference for Working Women in Copenhagen. The idea was unanimously accepted by the over 100 women who attended the conference from 17 countries.
This day has been observed since the 1900s but was made official in 1975 when the United Nations (UN) started celebrating the day with an annual theme. The theme ‘Celebrating the past, Planning for the Future’ was the first annual theme and was used in 1996. The theme for 2019 is BalanceForBetter.
Why the Day is Still Being Celebrated after a Hundred Years
The world as it is today has not deviated much from the past hundred years. Certainly, there has been some progress in achieving gender equality, but the original aim of the day- to achieve full gender equality for women across the globe in all human endeavours- has not been accomplished. The issue of gender pay gap is still commonplace, especially in organisations that are seen as progressive by society. Some years back, the spotlight was on the BBC’s wide pay gap between men and women doing the same job for the corporation.
In politics, women may have succeeded in leading big democracies like Germany and Britain, but there still aren’t equal numbers of women in politics and business. After a hundred years of the march in New York City, global figures show that violence against women, women’s health and education are still worse compared to men.
Statistics from the World Economic Forum show that, based on current realities, it will take 168 years to bridge the gender gap. But the process is on to close that gap as many women across the globe are overcoming the barriers to their dreams.
The Importance of this Year’s Theme
This year’s theme, BalanceForBetter, is in recognition of the growing global movement for professional and social equality. Also described as a ‘business issue’ the theme is at once a call for and an encouragement of gender balance in boardrooms, in the media and in wealth for the promotion of growth of the global economy. It echoes the aims of MultiChoice Nigeria’s equal opportunity workplace.
How MultiChoice Nigeria Promotes BalanceForBetter
On this occasion of the International Women’s Day, it is important that we remember and celebrate the wonderful and intelligent and highly resourceful women at MultiChoice Nigeria who have contributed immensely to the growth of this enterprise. At MultiChoice Nigeria, we are proud to say we have women who have shattered the business glass ceiling throughout their careers, and they continue to be the backbones of our enterprise and an inspiration to us all. Let’s unveil some of our gems:
Wangi Mba-Uzokwu, who is the Channel Director, Africa Magic, has been instrumental to the growth of MultiChoice Nigeria. With 24 years’ experience under her belt, spanning renowned institutions such as Coca-Cola, Airtel Nigeria and British American Tobacco, Wangi has shown that she is the kind of professional everyone would want in their team. As Regional Manager of Africa Magic, she superintended the growth of content and actualization of initiatives such as Africa Magic GO, the Africa Magic Video on Demand service, Africa Magic Igbo channel and the Africa Magic Original Films project.
As Channel Director of Africa Magic, she has ensured a more robust and exciting range of content for customers that satisfy a variety of entertainment interest.
Wangi
Hasiya Abdu Currently the Executive Head, Customer Experience and Care, Hasiya has been in the corporate world for 13 years. She began her career in financial services as a Banker, traversing various roles in Marketing as well as Banking operations. She made a career change when she joined MultiChoice Nigeria, as Head of Operations where she spearheaded the successful migration of Key Customer Management Systems. She also holds a Master’s in Development Studies and has attended leadership courses the Senior Management Program from London Business School and Lagos Business school.
Hasiya has been and still is, at the forefront of driving the customer-centric experience in MultiChoice Nigeria. She’s instrumental in managing diverse projects and platforms that are crucial to customer satisfaction, which includes; the digital platforms as well as the national contact centre that gives our customers access to our services.
Hasiya
Busola Tejumola (PhD) Busola is the Executive Head, Content MultiChoice Nigeria. She has experience in diverse business fields from technical support, service delivery, business development, insights, strategy, content and production. Before joining MultiChoice Nigeria, she was Head of Technical Support and Chief Relationship and Business Development at MWeb and iWay Africa respectively.
In 2014, Busola had the responsibility of utilizing business insights to chart Multichoice Nigeria’s strategy as Head of Strategy and Insights after which she became the GM Content and was instrumental to the rebirth of Big Brother Naija.
She has provided MultiChoice Nigeria with detailed strategies and insights, building high performing teams with successful outcomes.
Busola
Kholeka Maringa Kholeka is the Executive Head, DStv Media Sales. She was the General Manager, DStv Media Sales and has also worked as Deputy GM Africa for DStv Media Sales where she displayed great skill in forging strategic partnerships for big-ticket events like AMVCA’s.
Kholeka
Caroline Oghuma Caroline is the Executive Head, Corporate Affairs. For over a decade and a half, she has been instrumental in shaping the reputation of organisations. Prior to joining Multichoice, she had worked at MTN and Stanbic IBTC. She joined MultiChoice in 2014 and has proven to be a ‘people person’ always.
Caroline
Seun Ikekhua Seun is the Head, Customer Value Management. She started her career in MultiChoice Nigeria as a call centre representative and has grown through the ranks. She has built a reputation for innovation over the years which led her on a skills transfer course as she trained MultiChoice Malawi Retention team.
Seun
Federal government, yesterday, said that it will now launch the so-called FreeTV, with over 100 channels for news, sports, education, entertainment and children’s programming in multiple Nigerian languages on June 17.
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) had initially scheduled for May 15 for the launch.
But the new date was announced by Mohammed Idris, minister of Information and National Orientation, on Wednesday during a facility tour of NIGCOMSAT, alongside Dr Charles Ebuebu, director general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and other stakeholders.
Idris said the long-awaited migration from analogue to digital broadcasting had finally become a reality after years of failed attempts and delays, describing the project as a major breakthrough for Nigeria’s broadcasting industry.
“I have been grappling with this idea of the DSO for many years. Moving our transmissions from analogue to digital has now happened and is ready to be commissioned by June 17,” the minister said.
He revealed that several channels had already been bundled onto the platform, adding that the digital transition would transform broadcasting, advertising and television consumption across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to him, the new platform introduces scientific audience measurement tools capable of tracking viewership patterns in real time, thereby giving advertisers reliable data for targeted campaigns.
“Now science is at play. If you are viewing a station, we know who is watching what and how many people are watching. Advertisers can now take informed decisions about the kind of programming Nigerians want to watch across all demographics,” Idris stated.
The minister said the collaboration between NIGCOMSAT, NBC, the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Information had made the digital transition possible, while commending President Bola Tinubu for providing the necessary support and resources.
He described previous DSO efforts as limited and expensive due to encrypted set-top boxes but noted that the new system would be free and accessible to millions of Nigerians.
“In the past, the boxes were encrypted and costly. Now this is free. Government has taken off some of those costs on behalf of Nigerians,” he said.
Idris stressed that unlike earlier pilot phases restricted to a few cities, the new digital platform would have nationwide and regional reach through NIGCOMSAT’s satellite infrastructure.
“Everybody can now watch whatever he wants in real time and painlessly. Free TV everywhere for everybody”, he declared.
The minister also hinted that the platform would challenge the dominance of existing pay-TV operators by offering Nigerians wider viewing options at no cost.
“I don’t want to always use the word ‘substitute’, but this offers opportunities you didn’t get before. You no longer have that monopoly again. Competition is going to set in. Content will grow and viewership will grow,” he said.
He added that the platform would initially launch in standard definition, SD, before quickly transitioning to high definition, HD, bringing Nigerian broadcasting in line with global standards.
“Soon after the launch, we are moving to HD. Nigeria will now compete globally. What you watch here is what you get anywhere,” Idris said.
The minister further disclosed that the service was already available via mobile application and had successfully undergone testing ahead of the official unveiling.
Also speaking during the tour, managing director and chief executive officer of NIGCOMSAT, described the collaboration between NIGCOMSAT and NBC as a strategic partnership that has strengthened service delivery and raised operational standards within Nigeria’s digital broadcasting ecosystem.
According to her, ongoing investments and satellite expansion plans under the current administration will guarantee reliable and continuous service delivery.
“The work has only just started. The work has only just begun,” she said.
Among those who accompanied the Honourable Minister on the tour were Salihu Abdullahi Dembos, director-general, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA); Jibrin Baba Ndace, director-general, Voice of Nigeria (VON); Mohammed Bulama, director-general, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN); and Lanre Issa-Onilu, director-general, National Orientation Agency (NOA), alongside other senior government officials and dignitaries.
Metro Digital Limited, a licenced Indigenous broadcasting organisation, has accused Multichoice, pay television company, of refusing to obey judgements emanating from Courts in Nigeria.
It said the latest of such judgements is the one that was delivered by Justice Chinelo Odili of Rivers State High Court on May 4, 2026 in Suit No. PHC/3943/FHR/2025.
Dr. Paul Osuji, operations manager of Metro Digital, at a press conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State,
said the suit was filed by the organisation and two others against Multichoice and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Osuji stated that Justice Odili has in the judgement described the arrest of a staff member of the company and the carting away of it’s properties and disruption of it’s broadcasting business by the EFCC over a civil dispute of copyrighy as unlawful and violations of the applicants’ rights.
The manager recalled that in October 2025, Multichoice instigated the EFCC to read their office in Port Harcourt, arrested a staff of the company and staff of another company, while the suit was still pending.
“On October 16, 2025, the premises of Metro Digital Limited, a licenced indigenous broadcasting organisation was raided by the Nigerian anti-graft agency, EFCC, instigated by Multichoice Nigeria, purportedly acting on a preservation order made by the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt over the sub licensing of broadcasting content right.
“The preservation order came from a civil dispute already adjudicated by the Court of Appeal No. CA/CS/188/2021 – Multichoice Vs Metro Digital Limited and 20 others, which is a subject of a pending appeal -No. SC/CV/1248/2022 -Multichoice and 20 others before the Supreme Court.
“Instructively, while suit No. PHC/ 3943/ FHR/2025 was still pending, Metro Digital Limited filed an application to set aside the said preservation orders of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and presided over by Hon. Justice A.T Mohammed.
“In his ruling delivered on December 10, 2025, set aside the preservation orders and it’s legal execution on Metro Digital Limited. The court also ordered EFCC to return unconditionally all the properties and records of Metro Digital Limited, illegally and unlawfully carted away during the raid but the agency has till today not obeyed those orders of the Court,” he said.
Metro Digital Limited is known for operating SLTV, a direct-to-home satellite television service launched to provide affordable, locally-owned alternatives to international pay TV
A Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from sanctioning or punishing broadcast stations and presenters over the expression of personal opinions, alleged bullying of guests, or failure to maintain neutrality on air.
NBC
Justice Daniel Osiagor granted the interim injunction following an ex parte application filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
The court specifically restrained the NBC, its officers, agents and affiliated persons from enforcing its recently issued “Formal Notice” or imposing sanctions, fines or penalties on broadcasters based on provisions of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
SERAP and NGE had approached the court to challenge what they described as an arbitrary and unlawful move by the commission to punish broadcasters for allegedly expressing personal opinions as facts, bullying or intimidating guests, or failing to maintain neutrality during programmes.
The groups also asked the court to determine whether the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code relied upon by NBC were inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
The suit followed an April statement by the NBC in which it raised concerns over what it described as increasing violations of the broadcasting code across news, current affairs and political programmes.
The commission had warned that presenters who expressed personal opinions as facts or bullied guests during live broadcasts would be sanctioned.
However, Justice Osiagor, in his ruling, held that pending the hearing of the substantive matter, the commission must refrain from using the formal notice to threaten, sanction or punish broadcast organisations and on-air personalities under the contested code provisions.
The matter was adjourned until June 1, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.
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