Broadcasting
New Book Reveals How Atiku, Joda, Ndukwe Saved 2001 GSM License Auction

Expectations were high on January 19, 2001, the day scheduled for the GSM auction technically referred to as the Digital Mobile License auction. NCC officials, observers, and accredited journalists were already seated in a secured room at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The bidders, five of them, MTN, Econet ( now Airtel), Communications Investment Limited ( CIL) now Globacom, United Network Consortium, and MSI International, were in a palpable frenzy and set to outbid each other.
The lead auctioneer, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe wasted no time in kick-starting the auction process that was billed to showcase the regulatory resolve of the Commission and put Nigeria on the map of countries providing mobile phone services.
Unknown to many at the Transcorp room, Nigerians who were watching and international community, certain officials in the president Olusegun Obasanjo’s government had laid siege to the process, in a last-ditch effort to scuttle it.
At some point in the bid process, they acted causing a temporary halt to proceedings.
Not many knew what was amiss. Some thought it was a temporary technical hitch or some other operational challenge. The matter was far from the two reasons.
A 472-page new book titled: Nigeria Drivers of Digital Prosperity: written by Aaron Ukodie, Nigeria’s pioneer ICT journalist, billed for launch on July 7, 2022, at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, has narrated the high-wired intrigue that played out at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, the venue of the auction.
The content of the book made available to reporters narrated the personalities that were involved in the many bids to scuttle the process, who eventual tried their schemes on the day of the auction to scuttle it. The book reveals what Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, at the time Vice President and Head of the Economy, late Ahmed Joda, then chairman of the NCC and Ndukwe did to outsmart those who were bent on putting spanners on the process and put the country and the NCC to ridicule.
The book presented in five sections dealing with various aspects of the Nigerian digital revolution process and also narrated in more refreshing detail the manifold battles fought by the NCC, and some stakeholders to overcome the landmines put in the way of the regulatory process in the early years to achieve the model is to Africa.
Oftentimes, when people record history, the role of the media is relegated, even though they have played and continue to play an equally remarkable role in energising and stirring processes that worked and stakeholders to perform optimally, but the Digital Prosperity book is remarkably different.
“The ICT media in Nigeria deserve a place in a book such as this one dealing with the trajectory of the Nigeria digital evolution, because of the unique and remarkable role the IT media has played and continues to play in the sector, Aaron Ukodie, author of the book noted.
The ICT Media has been even involved in ICT advocacy spanning a period of more than 20 years and has organised numerous conferences, workshops, and exhibitions in magnitude and variety no other sector of the Nigerian media has done, Ukodie said.
The launch edition of the book comes in hard paperback printed in glossy colours and splashed with illustrating pictures.
Ndukwe will chair the event which will also be preceded by a lead talk on 4G, 5G, Broadband Connectivity and the Economy to be presented by the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta.
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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