News
Opportunity in Radio
Looking at the African broadcast media and technology landscape today, there is a definite flavour and preference that comes through; you can take your pick of [pay] TV; the Internet; Mobile telephony (and related data and media content delivery services) being launched, upgraded, and/or introduced on an almost continuous stream. We constantly here of new investments being made, new entrants into the market – either vendors or competitors. We hear of upgrades, new technologies being introduced, their impact on their markets and demographics. We are reminded of the subscriber and user numbers, their growth rate, the revenues they generate for their investors and incumbent service providers; the projected revenues and impact in the future for these technologies and media delivery platforms. The role they play in shaping perceptions, transferring information, enabling societies and communities; in essence, their critical importance to our communities and societies. You will not readily find announcements of a similar fanfare or interest in Radio. However, Radio is the most accessible and the most consumed media in all of Africa. This is especially true when you consider reach and access capabilities in the urban and rural areas. Radio reaches all parts of the African continent; rural and urban; electrified or not. Radio dominates the mass media spectrum with regionally-based commercial stations demonstrating the largest consistent growth in numbers, followed by community radio, where increases have been reported only in certain countries and growth remains strong, if inconsistent. Radio dominates the media output of, amongst other genres, the religious media (e.g. PanAm Broadcasting – 600 million listeners; over 20 countries, using shortwave & FM transmitters), partly due to the lower economic and regulatory entry barriers for owners than those for newspapers or television. Moreover, the focus on radio allows owners to expand the broadcast spectrum beyond the urban areas, avoid the economic barriers to consumers posed by high-priced newspaper or TV subscriptions, and to address the high illiteracy rates in the population. National commercial radio broadcasters are the exception not the rule, operating in only six countries (DRC, Kenya, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia). Some countries have experienced an increase in national commercial stations since 2000. State radio is coming under increasing pressure from regional or local commercial radio. This is mainly in urban areas, with the exceptions being Botswana, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe where state radio remains largely unchallenged. Large increases in regional or local commercial radio have been seen in nine countries. While DRC’s dramatic increase from eight to 150 stations may be explained partially by elections, growth in the other countries is attributed to economic growth brought on by changes in government (e.g., Senegal), or a liberalizing broadcast policy and investment. Adopting a Converged Technology Approach? Radio Stations should use the internet much more aggressively to promote their offerings and services, receive content, playlists, programming, etc. share content and programming (within a regional radio network, for example) and extend their reach and audience. At present, new communications and information technologies (such a on-line programmer sharing, internet radio, web portals, text-to- radio, etc.) will increase the efficiency and capability of Africa’s radio stations, to a similar extent as in the more developed parts of the world – especially the commercial (FM) radio stations operating in the larger urban areas with a sizeable demographic to justify the investment. It is possible, however, to combine the most advanced technologies – Internet audio, for example – with more traditional broadcasting techniques such as "radio relay". Audio files could be exchanged over the Internet between national "flagship" stations located in the capital (these could be community-radio associations) and then sent out by more conventional means (cassettes, CD ROMs) to the member stations. There are a variety of initiatives to promote the understanding and use of the Internet by Africa’s radio stations. One of these is BDP on-line, an Internet-based alternative to shipping CDs or cassettes by e-mail in West Africa. Using BDP on line, twelve participating radio stations in ten French-speaking African countries are able to use the Internet to upload or download programmes free-of-charge. There are a number of ‘extras’ that can be added to the basic station model, which add functionality. These include: Station Automation, to allow programming without a technician/producer in studio. Stream the station on the web. This requires a computer with a soundcard with an ‘always on’ link to the internet. This usually requires an internet link from the station premises. Another technology option is using a mobile phone to take SMS messages – prepaid phone is better/cheaper for this, as it won’t generally be used for outgoing calls. Yet another option is the provision of an Email address for requests/audience feedback (preferably with an internet link into the studio/station). Other Internet options, such as exchanging text instead of audio are more realistic for everyday radio use. There are factors that have to be addressed, however for this to be a viable reality that will add to the profitability and efficiency of radio stations. First of these is the cost and access to the Internet. The next is the awareness of Commercial Radio station owners as to the capabilities, features and benefits that an integrated (or converged) technology approach will deliver to them if designed and applied effectively . Using transmitting equipment with power ranging from 1,000 Watts (FM) to 250,000 Watts (Shortwave), commercial radio station owners (shortwave, and more often FM), are able to reach various sizes of demographics – rural or urban, literate or illiterate, electrified or not. In addition, several "intermediary" organisations with strong local roots – such as the Panos Institute of West Africa – could help to link new technologies (the Web or satellites) with local radio stations by selecting and formatting information from the Web and by supporting the development of networks. What’s Next 
Digital radio broadcasting has emerged, first in Europe, and later in many other countries worldwide. The most simple system is named DAB Digital Radio, for Digital Audio Broadcasting, HD Radio Technology enables AM and FM Radio stations to broadcast programs digitally, a tremendous technological leap forward from analog. The HD Radio system is propelling the medium into the digital space and marks the most significant advancement in Radio broadcasting since the introduction of FM stereo more than 50 years ago. The digital technology opens the doors to a variety of services in addition to the digital stations. In September 2007, iTunes® Tagging was introduced. This new HD Radio feature enables listeners using HD Radio receivers equipped with a special Tag button to download and buy songs they hear on HD Radio stations via Apple’s iTunes. The benefits of HD Radio Technology include the following: · · · · · · A Better Listening Experience · · · · · · · · · · Advanced data services: · · · · · · · · · · · · All of these enhancements to local AM and FM Radio are designed to better serve the listening public while offering tremendous growth opportunities for advertisers, broadcasters and retailers, amongst others. HD Radio Technology takes Radio into the digital age, allowing stations to compete more aggressively for Time Spent Listening (TSL) and share of audience. Finally (definitely one for the future!), · · · · ·
Accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) adoption could increase Africa’s GDP by up to 4% over the next decade, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In a report released on Tuesday, titled Africa Can Grow Faster With AI—If It Moves Now, economists from the IMF’s Africa Department say current levels of AI adoption and utilisation are expected to contribute just 0.2% to the region’s GDP over the next 10 years.
However, the report says stronger adoption, supported by the right infrastructure and policies, could raise the economic impact to about 4% by extending AI beyond today’s digitally connected firms.
Martin Schindler and other IMF economists say: “AI adoption in sub-Saharan Africa currently lags well behind every other region. If richer economies race ahead while African firms and governments lag, the productivity gap between the region and the rest of the world will only widen.”
Early signs of AI adoption are emerging across Africa, with countries including Zimbabwe, Kenya, Egypt and Nigeria developing AI strategies.
Telecommunications operators, including Vodacom, Econet, Africell and MTN, are also integrating AI into their operations and networks.
Other examples include chatbots supporting teaching and learning in Nigeria and the South African Revenue Service’s use of data analytics for targeted tax audits.
However, the IMF says AI adoption must extend beyond these early use cases to deliver meaningful economic benefits.
“For the region, AI’s main promise is not about replacing office workers, but boosting productivity across the economy—helping informal firms manage inventory, enabling farmers to increase yields, and supporting mid-sized firms to transition to formality and export readiness,” the report reads.
The IMF is urging governments to prioritise investment in reliable electricity, affordable broadband, data infrastructure and digital skills to support wider AI adoption.
Many African countries, including Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon, continue to face electricity shortages, while broadband services remain costly and coverage is uneven.
The Fund believes stronger investment in power, connectivity, regional data infrastructure and digital skills would help unlock AI’s economic potential.
National Population Commission (NPC) has commenced the nationwide digital registration of births and deaths under the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system to strengthen legal identity management and improve demographic data.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lokoja on Tuesday, Mr Afolabi Yori, federal commissioner representing Kogi, said the initiative became operational nationwide on July 1, through the VitalReg platform.
Yori described the development as a landmark in Nigeria’s civil registration system, noting that it would modernise birth and death registration through a technology-driven platform that meets international standards.
He said the digital platform would improve service delivery, strengthen data integrity and ensure that every birth and death occurring in Nigeria was accurately documented and securely stored.
According to him, civil registration is more than an administrative process, as it provides reliable statistics that support public policy formulation, resource allocation and national development planning.
“Nigeria records an estimated five million births annually, yet millions of births and deaths remain unregistered.
“Birth registration coverage currently stands at about 57 per cent nationwide, while death registration remains below 20 per cent,” he said.
The commissioner said that the commission had established 4,011 functional registration centres across the country’s 774 local government areas and was working to expand the number to about 8,000.
He added that the commission was strengthening collaboration with stakeholders to improve the capacity of registration personnel and ensure prompt documentation of vital events through the VitalReg platform.
Yori said the platform would provide faster registration services, 24-hour online access, digital certificate issuance where applicable, and reduce paperwork, waiting time and unnecessary travel.
He disclosed that the platform was being operated under a Public-Private Partnership with Barnks-forte Technologies Ltd. as the commission’s technical partner to ensure system availability, cybersecurity and continuous technological improvement.
He called on parents, healthcare institutions, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, development partners and the media to support the initiative by encouraging the prompt registration of births and deaths.
Earlier, Samuel Omonakpeme, director in Kogi, NPC State, described the commencement of the digital registration system as another milestone in efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system.
Omonakpeme stated that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 16.9, which seeks to provide legal identity for all.
He appreciated the Federal Government, the leadership of the commission, UNICEF and other development partners for supporting the implementation of the initiative.
The state director also urged parents, guardians, health institutions, community leaders, religious organisations and the media to mobilise public support for the timely registration of all births and deaths.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that ICT personnel of the commission, led by Ehimoni Kolawole, conducted a live demonstration of the digital birth registration process using the VitalReg platform.
The demonstration showed that the registration process captures the biodata of both parents, while at least one parent must possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN) to complete the registration of a newborn.
Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) has alerted its customers to a fraudulent message circulating on social media, falsely claiming that electricity consumers can receive an additional 20 per cent bonus units when recharging their prepaid meters through unofficial channels.
In a statement issued by the company’s management on Monday, YEDC described the claim as false and urged customers to disregard the misleading information, stressing that it did not originate from the company.
According to the statement, YEDC does not offer bonus electricity units through individuals, agents, personal bank accounts, phone numbers, or social media contacts.
The company advised customers to purchase electricity tokens only through approved cashless payment platforms, including the YEDC Pay App, OPay, Interswitch, and other authorised vending channels, or to visit the nearest YEDC office for assistance.
YEDC also cautioned customers against sharing their meter details or personal information, or making payments to unauthorised persons claiming to represent the company.
The company further urged customers to rely exclusively on information disseminated through its official communication channels to avoid falling victim to fraud.
The management thanked customers for their continued cooperation and reaffirmed its commitment to serving them.
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