Broadcasting
Konga, True Business Case for Emerging African Entrepreneurs
By Lere Abinuwa
I have read and digested the very comprehensive independent submission made by e-Live consultant, Kelvin Mulungwe on the e-commerce race in Africa between Jumia and Konga.
The submission is one I recommend for all young African entrepreneurs who want to mount the global stage as successful entrepreneurs. This is a very important investigation which basically shows why foreign entrepreneurs fail and what young Africans must do to create real business and not just hype.
The Konga strategy is a masterstroke, and I am not surprised because of their place of birth and extensive experience of the local market. It encourages other Africans particularly Nigerians on how to approach business strategies in the 21st century because things have changed. Business schools abound everywhere, but Africa’s most certified business strategy is common sense. Like Elder Christopher Kolade once said at a seminar, sometimes it makes sense to be number two in your sector but profitable to investors against wasting cash without instituting the fundamentals.
After reading the publication in Nairametrics, I noted critical points why my first place of work when I returned from abroad failed. With an MBA from an Ivy League University in the US, it was an embarrassment, especially considering the fact thatit was a big finance house.
My second place of work was better before I returned to States and few years later returned to Nigeria to work as a consultant to a multinational. I am happy that there are very strategic African entrepreneurs like the guys at Konga.
I must say Konga is a pride to Africa. This is the time for Africans to attain global leadership in what they do with our peculiar deficiency in infrastructure, etc. I have also checked across the globe most in the e-Commerce sector: locally owned companies are leading, even in established countries like USA, China, India just to mention a few.
A few essential learning points stand out for me in the examination of the Konga strategy.
First, the decision of the management of the new Konga to risk its own funding to build a sustainable business, rather than rush to the market to burn investors’ money is highly commendable. The lesson taught in most business schools is to use people’s money to run one’s business, but it is important to note as an entrepreneur that utilizing your hard-earned funds to grow your business instils a keen sense of discipline, focus and keeps one feet on the ground. Information received from sources close to the company have it that Konga was burning through losses of almost N400m a month after acquisition. However, it is to the credit of the astute management of its current owners that it has now believed to have cut losses drastically to near zero.
Secondly, the strategy of the current owners of Konga in building up its own infrastructure including logistics, warehousing and payments system, among others, justifies its faith in not only its internal competencies but also its confidence in Nigeria. More importantly, it reveals the keen understanding of the market and an uncommon insight by the management of the company in avoiding the pitfalls that have crippled other e-commerce players.
As the analysis revealed, the combination of a decrepit transport infrastructure and unreliable physical addressing system in major cities means that any serious player in the Nigerian e-commerce sector must build their own logistics superstructure. This is one thing the management of the new Konga has done arguably well, with a cousin of mine who worked with the company in the past and who is now in Canada on further studies, disclosing that Konga has shown that it has the capacity to compete favourably with any other brand, local or foreign-based in the sector. This is a big confidence boost for other local or African-based entreprenurs.
Thirdly, the presence of a CBN-licensed payments system in KongaPay is another edge or strategy that sets Konga apart. As the researcher revealed, KongaPay was recently certified by a leading global consumer market data firm as the foremost enabler of online shopping in Nigeria. Owning such a certified fintech is a factor that has quadrupled the value of Konga, especially when it chooses to go public. Most businesses that own fintech platforms hardly combine it with other businesses, but this is not the case with Konga which can count on a growing chain of subsidiaries across other verticals which KongaPay services.
The fourth strategy of the new Konga which also distinguishes it from the rest of the field is the approach to ensuring that all of the entities within its folds acquires core statutory and industry-recognized certifications. In addition to KongaPay which is licensed by the CBN; Konga Travel, its online travel and tours booking agency has attained the IATA certification, among others, while Konga Health, its latest subsidiary, equally has met and satisfied the relevant certification of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PSN) as a recognized distributor of quality medicines, drugs and other medical supplies, while also recently signing an agreement with the umbrella association of private medical doctors in Nigeria.
These factors make Konga a brand that would undoubtedly be regarded even more than a Unicorn in valuation, but as a true African e-commerce elephant.
When one equally considers the submission of the researcher, who noted that Konga, within a space of three years after its acquisition by the Zinox Group, has now turned profitable, becoming the first e-commerce player to achieve this feat in Africa, there is even more impetus for the Konga strategy to become a template to be voraciously studied by budding African entrepreneurs desirous of making an impact on the continent.
Lere Abinuwa writes from FCT, Abuja
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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