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SABRE EMEA: Africa PR & Comms Report Committee Hails BlackHouse Media, BCW, Clockwork, Edelman and Razor on Excellent Achievement
The coordinating committee of the Africa PR & Comms Report (APCR) has commended the top five PR consultancies across Africa – BCW, BlackHouse Media Group (BHMG), Clockwork, Edelman and Razor for their recognition by one of the most respected communications awards in the world.
These five companies from Nigeria and South Africa have been nominated in the 18th edition of PRovoke’s prestigious, SABRE Awards EMEA.
Over 400 campaigns were selected from more than 2,000 entries in this year’s keenly contested competition. The award, which recognizes superior achievement in branding, reputation and engagement, will announce the winners at The Guildhall in London on May 27.
The Awards benchmark the best PR work from across the globe. This year, 10 indigenous African agencies received 21 nominations on the shortlist, with the top five vying for the ‘2022 Africa Consultancy of the Year’ honour.
APCR Committee member, and Co-founder, Africa Communications Week, Eniola Harrison says, “As we work on producing the first-ever annual PR and Comms report from the continent, we are proud of the recognition African firms have received this year from the team at PRovoke.
“The continued growth and success of practitioners on the continent is a testament to the years of hard work, continued investment and the passion our leaders have not only for the profession, but also for the continent.
“And we look forward to providing the world with the much needed insights and perspectives so that this growth will only continue.”
BCW Africa is an award-winning African public relations network, with partners in over 50 African countries, and its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2021, the company’s CEO of over 30 years, Robyn de Villiers, stepped down, encouraging a new leadership of co-managing directors — Bridget von Holdt and Karl Haechler.
During that year, the agency fine-tuned its proprietary approach to developing communications strategy collaboratively with clients via deep-dive workshops, and increased its focus on issues management and crisis communications for a growing list of public sector and private clients across multiple sectors and countries.
AstraZeneca, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, CNN, Warner Media, Vedanta, Facebook, Danone Nutricia Côte d’Ivoire, Del Monte Kenya, Toyota Kenya, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, Mastercard Foundation, Bank of Africa and Airtel Nigeria, are some of the company’s award-winning clients.
Founded by two journalists, Tom Manners and Nic Simmonds, in South Africa 11 years ago, Clockwork has quickly become one of the continent’s top agencies. In that short time, the company has won in the ‘African Agency of the Year’ category three times. With its focus on digital, the company has also expanded operations to the UK. Clockwork focuses on strategy, creativity and measurement across technology, gaming, entertainment and financial services.
Some of its campaign highlights include #RewriteOurProverbs to #WriteOffGBV for Green Door, as well as work for Meta, Netflix and Acer.
BlackHouse Media Group, a global public relations and communications company, working from Africa and the United Kingdom, intends to be Africa’s first truly global PR firm leveraging insights into different markets, relationships, industry expertise and technology.
Since its inception, in 2006, BHM has grown into a US$3.7m operation offering clients a range of services — reputation management and corporate comms, media relations and training, research, and social media among others.
The firm currently has its African operations steered by ID Africa, a pan-African communications advisory and execution company. Honeywell Group, Shoprite, ALAT, BMGF, Project Management Institute, Showmax and Jumia, MultiChoice DSTV, MTN Nigeria, Reckitt, X3M Ideas, Livespot 360, Nigerian Breweries, Lori Systems and Betway, are some of the company’s big-ticket clients.
On the list, the newest full entry into the market is Edelman, after acquiring longtime South African affiliate, Baird’s Renaissance, nine years ago. With its key location in South Africa, the agency took further steps in 2019 by acquiring arguably one of Kenya’s oldest PR firms, Gina Din Corporate Communication.
This acquisition has given the company a foothold in Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Ethiopia. The company’s work for Unilever – “Brut Virtual Elevator Pitch,” #BeautyAtHomeWithU – has continued to be a big selling point. Edelman’s Trust Barometer has also expanded to the continent.
M&C Saatchi’s Razor launched in South Africa under the stewardship of Dustin Chick and Kalay Maistry only two years ago, but has quite rapidly become a must-watch within Africa’s communications industry.
The company boasts of expertise in financial services, technology, public advocacy and measurement with heavy investment in creative strategy and corporate storytelling. Clients include Anglo American, The Beverage Company, Investec and Innovation African, Tiger Brands, Audi, Dimension Data, BDO and Discovery Life.
Bright Echefu, chief executive officer, Telecom Satellites Limited (TStv), and three co‑defendants appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday on an amended twelve‑count indictment brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges allege money laundering, tax evasion, and investment fraud involving approximately ₦1 billion and $1.3 million.
Bright Echefu, chief executive officer, TStv
In addition to Echefu, the defendants are TStv Executive Director, Felix Igboanuga, Telecom Satellites Limited itself, and Briechberg Investment Ltd.
According to the April 5, 2025, amended charge sheet the EFCC accuses the quartet of defrauding Mr. Tanimu Turaki, Managing Director of Kalsiyam Global and former Minister of Special Duties, alongside BYI General Limited, out of a combined investment of ₦1 billion and $1.3 million. The commission has also included a ₦66 million alleged tax default.
The revised indictment lists:
Count 2: ₦33,909,542.47 in unremitted Company Income Tax
Count 3: ₦13,519,382.00 in unremitted VAT
Count 4: ₦19,488,860.00 in unremitted PAYE
Counts 5–12: Various fraud‑related transactions, including ₦380 million from Kalsiyam Farm, ₦400 million from BYI General Ltd and $1.35 million in loans secured under false pretences.
All defendants pleaded not guilty once again. At the hearing before Justice Mohammed Umar, Echefu’s lead counsel, Senior Advocate Eyitayo Fatogun, informed the court of ongoing settlement discussions with the complainants.
“There are moves to settle this matter and there was a meeting on Saturday between myself and the Nominal Complainant as it is about investment,” Fatogun stated.
“The Defendants have paid some money and I was thinking that the matter be adjourned for report of settlement.”
EFCC counsel A.S. Tomwell confirmed receipt of those payments but emphasized the necessity of entering a plea before considering any adjournment. The court thus ordered the formal reading of the charges and adjourned the trial to October 15, 2025.
The government of Ghana has ordered MultiChoice Ghana to reduce DSTV subscription costs by 30%, noting the significant appreciation of local currency and growing dissatisfaction with current rates.
This comes as Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has fined MultiChoice Nigeria ₦766,242,500 for breaching the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).
According to Mr Babatunde Bamigboye, head Legal, Enforcement & Regulations, NDPC, the investigation, which commenced in the second quarter of 2024, was triggered by suspected breach of privacy rights of Multichoice subscribers and illegal cross-border transfer of personal data of Nigerians.
MultiChoice, which operates across Africa, continues to lose revenue and subscribers.
Ghana’s minister of communication, digital technology, and innovation, Samuel Nartey George, made the call last week during a meeting with a DSTV team led by Dr. Keabetswe Modimoeng, group executive for regulatory and corporate affairs.
According to a ministry statement, George said the government’s responsibility is to respond to Ghanaians’ concerns over high DSTV pricing and outdated content offers.
The Minister pointed out that despite a 30% increase in the cedi’s value over the past five months; DSTV prices have not reflected the positive economic trend.
The statement went on to say the minister is therefore calling for a 30% price reduction to match the cedi’s appreciation and to pass on economic benefits to consumers.
According to the statement, while MultiChoice has implemented promotional packages, people prefer a direct price reduction over temporary discounts.
George said feedback from public engagements revealed that many users are dissatisfied with DSTV’s content, describing it as outdated save for Premier League football. They also believe that the current cost is not justified.
”To address the concerns, he said MultiChoice Ghana has until July 21 to formally respond to the government’s request. The Minister expects a concrete proposal by this date, allowing time for further engagement before the end of July,” the statement said.
In response, Dr. Modimoeng acknowledged the government’s concerns and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to dialogue.
The MultiChoice team reacted positively to the minister’s request and committed to provide input by July 21st. They emphasised the need of balancing public interest and business sustainability.
This is the continent’s latest pricing conundrum for the pan-African pay-TV business, following fee disputes with Nigerian and Malawian authorities.
In Ghana, the demand for price cuts comes as MultiChoice is under pressure, having lost revenue and subscribers in the financial year that ended March 31, 2025. Last month, the company announced its financial year-end results.
In a statement to shareholders last month on the Stock Exchange News Service, the company said the past two financial years have been a period of significant financial disruption for economies, corporates and consumers across Sub-Saharan Africa due to challenging macro-economic factors.
Combined with the impact of structural industry changes in video entertainment, such as the rise of piracy, streaming services and social media, this has materially affected the overall performance of the MultiChoice Group, it noted.
Over this period, MultiChoice said the group lost 2.8 million active linear subscribers and had to absorb a R10.2 billion negative impact on its top line due to local currency depreciation against the US dollar.
For the year, the company reveals that linear subscribers were down 1.2 million, or 8% year-on-year, to 14.5 million active subscribers, with the loss evenly split between South African (600 000) and rest of Africa (600 000).
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has fined MultiChoice Nigeria ₦766,242,500 for breaching the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).
NDPC is a public institution that processes data in furtherance of its mandate as Nigeria’s data protection authority and relies on recognised lawful bases for data processing, such as consent, legal obligation, and contract.
The fine was contained in a statement signed by Mr Babatunde Bamigboye, head Legal, Enforcement & Regulations, NDPC.
According to him, the investigation, which commenced in the second quarter of 2024, was triggered by suspected breach of privacy rights of Multichoice subscribers and illegal cross-border transfer of personal data of Nigerians.
“The NDPC found, among others, that Multichoice violated the data privacy rights of subscribers and their friends who are not necessarily subscribers.
The Commission also found that Multichoice carries out illegal cross-border transfer of personal data relating to data subjects in Nigeria.
The depth of data processing by Multichoice is patently intrusive, unfair, unnecessary, and disproportionate.
This is a grave affront to fundamental right to privacy as enshrined in Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In line with its standard remediation procedure, the Commission directed Multichoice to carry out appropriate remedial measures.
However, the Commission found the measures undertaken by Multichoice in this regard unsatisfactory.
For want of cooperation, the Commission has directed Multichoice to pay ₦766,242,500 for violating the Nigerian Data Protection Act.
“Nigeria is entitled to protect her citizens and data sovereignty under both international and extant municipal laws, as these have far-reaching implication for rule of law, national security, and economic growth.” the statement said.
Babatunde also revealed that, Vincent Olatunji, national Commissioner, NDPC, has directed that all outlets through which Multichoice is collecting personal data of Nigerian citizens should be investigated for non-compliance.
He added that any outlet that processes personal data in violation of the NDP Act is liable to penalty under the Act.
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