Broadcasting
Teacher’s Day Celebration: Tackling Fundamental of National Educational System
By Blaise Udunze
Every day is for the Teachers! The moment we start giving preferences to the profession and the people as the most important members of our society, the moment there will be the emergence of true instructors and educators who are ready to instill the requisite knowledge for nation building.
Alas! The society is in quagmire and stagnated in this part of the world. Over the years, least attention has been given to the whole of the educational sector- the citadel of learning. The Citadel that houses the army of teachers. Today, can it be said to be a great citadel of learning? Can it be said to be a fortified environment that promotes excellence in academics through sound teaching and learning that influences people becoming better and ideal citizens who are able to shape a better society to live in, by knowing and respecting rights, laws, and regulations?
Alas! This must be one of the reasons our nations have been locked to dangerous and usually complex situation which is difficult to exit. We have been embroiled in inextricable complexities amongst civilians during the electioneering processes that come with its reverberating effects in democracy with support of the Judiciary.
This is informed by the monumental corruptions and the lack of interest in the sector caused by bad government policies and lack of political will amongst the ‘elites’ to enforce or implement laws. Hence, the Nigerian educational system is bedeviled with myriad of glitches that has led to near-comatose of the sector in recent years.
The system is faced with problems such as lack of adequate funding, negligence of teachers’ welfare, poor governance, corruption, lack of Infrastructure, indiscipline, lack of teaching aids and outdated curriculum. Though, the entire sector is wracked by endemic corruption, so much so that it has eaten deeply into the fabric of the entire system; the fundamentals must first be addressed.
Alas! The lacuna in the educational sector of our country that happens to be the rudiment impeding the sustainable development meant to intrinsically translate to the nation of ‘my dream’ and ‘your dream’ invariably stems from the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (5th Alteration) (No. 8) ACT, 2023. And it has gone largely unnoticed!
Meanwhile, the ACT created the National Policy on Education (NPE) 2004 and the compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education (UBE) ACT 2004. The NPE affirmed that education in Nigeria is an instrument ‘par excellence’ for effecting national development. Primarily, amongst its objectives, the NPE is focused on the need for functional education for the promotion of progressive united Nigeria, and to this end; school programmes need to be relevant, practical and comprehensive whilst interest and ability should determine the individual direction in education. This is expected for the country to spell out in clear and unequivocal terms the philosophy and objectives that underlie its investment in education (for the welfare of Teachers and Students). However, the Nigerian Constitution provides that it shall be the responsibility of the government to direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels, it shall provide science and technology, it shall strive to eradicate illiteracy, and to this end, government shall, as and when practicable, provide free, compulsory and universal primary education; free secondary education; free university education; and free adult literacy programme.
Consequently, regardless of the prevalence of robust laws and legislative measures towards ensuring the right to education and its role to maintain a great citadel of learning that fosters the worth and development of the citizens for individual’s sake and for the general development of the society, education system in Nigeria is still a chimera.
One could have also believed that Nigeria as a member of the United Nations and a signatory to many international human rights instruments that provide for the right to education and made recommendation to promote teacher’s status in the interest of quality education would have addressed the enigma in the system.
In spite of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommendation that developing countries should dedicate 15% to 20% of their annual budget to public education, less than 2% of Nigeria’s GDP only had been committed to education in more than 10 years. This shows that the national budget for education has remained abysmally poor over the period. This regardless of the fact that half of the money budgeted still ends up being stolen away by corrupt government officials, leaving the sector almost comatose.
UNESCO proclaimed 5 October to be World Teachers’ Day in 1994, celebrating the great step made for teachers on 5 October 1966.
Specifically, I must say that the recommendation has failed to promote teachers’ status in the interest of quality education.
The prevalent violations in the sector, however, revealed that making provision for quality education and welfare of teachers in Nigeria have become anathema amongst successive governments.
With the current health of the country’s citadel of learning, the citadel that houses the army of teachers for the desired nation of our dreams remains elusive, which does not call for celebration of any sort.
No doubt, the narratives of the dream of our nation can be upturn through improved educational system by funding the sector adequately, embracing technology, curriculum reform, putting safeguards in place to stem the tidal wave of massive corruption that has stymied the growth of the sector in recent years.
Most importantly, the legislators should go back to the drawing board to ensure that the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution wholly captures the welfare of our teachers as integral part of the education sector.
To get it right as a nation that values education, teachers’ sacrifices should be treated as blood is to life. I strongly agree with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi who said, “Teaching is not a profession, but a way of life.”
So, how well this important ‘way of life’ is handled determines to the nations of our dreams. If this concept has been in practice over the years, it would have curbed the concerns of this years’ (2023) World Teachers’ Day celebrations, themed, “The Teachers We Need for the Education We Want: The Global Imperative to Reverse the Teacher Shortage.” Unfortunately, what value do we place on teachers in Nigeria?
Alas! Brain drain may hit the country’s educational sector soon, as exodus of teachers from our country looms.
The daily appreciation and celebration by individuals and governments will address the unprecedented teacher shortage and showcase practices to attract, retain, and motivate teachers and educators in Nigeria and other African countries. I am of the opinion, it is high time the yearly 5th October, Teacher’s Day celebration is scrapped.
Permit me to buttress my point further with an extract from an aspiring linguist, Julia S’s narrative, titled, “In Japan, there is no Teacher’s Day”.
“In Japan, a teacher is the most respected profession, the most respected person. Japanese entrepreneurs are delighted when teachers visit their stores; they consider it an honor.
During my time in Japan, I repeatedly saw how Japanese people deeply respect teachers. There are separate seats for them on the subway, dedicated stores, and teachers don’t wait in line for tickets on any form of transportation.
Why do Japanese teachers need a separate holiday when every day of their lives is like a celebration?”
I believe that every day is for the Teachers! Because Teachers across the world, work tirelessly daily, often without accolades.
Just like the Japanese cultural belief that provision of quality education has been hallmark of prosperous nation, in our little ways, everyone can help by celebrating the profession, by generating awareness about teacher issues, by ensuring that teacher’s respect and welfare is part of the natural order of things.
Indeed, teachers are the backbone of our democracy – fostering curiosity and creativity, building skillful individuals, and strengthening informed citizens in pursuit of the nation of our dreams.
Let’s take the opportunity each day to reverence the important roles teachers play in our lives because their determination and sincerity will shape the destiny of the nation as they are laying the foundation and the building blocks of the society.
Blaise Udunze is a Media/Public Relations & Communications Professional. He writes from Lagos.
Lebara Nigeria has announced the launch of Lebara Play, described as Africa’s first telecoms-owned micro-drama platform aimed at expanding opportunities for African storytellers and distributing local content to global audiences.
The company said the platform is designed to support creators by providing a new distribution channel for African narratives while making content accessible to both subscribers and non-subscribers worldwide.
Lebara Nigeria added that the platform will debut with an original production titled Imported Bahu, produced by Forever 7 and starring Osas Ighodaro.
The project is directed by Hamisha Daryani Ahuja, known for her work on Namaste Wahala, and is positioned as the first in a series of original content offerings.
According to the company, Lebara Play is built to serve both creators and audiences, with a focus on showcasing African stories to a global market and strengthening the continent’s growing digital entertainment ecosystem.
Speaking on the company’s vision at the launch, Teniola Stuffman, chief executive officer, Lebara Nigeria, said the organisation was focused on building a telecommunications ecosystem that combined innovation, connectivity, and customer-centric digital experiences.
Stuffman said, “This platform represents an important step in our vision of building a telecommunications brand that delivers more than connectivity. We are creating an ecosystem where technology, innovation, and entertainment come together to provide meaningful experiences for customers while unlocking new opportunities for creative talent and content development across Africa.”
Beyond entertainment, she said, industry stakeholders believed the initiative demonstrated how global telecommunications expertise could be adapted to local market realities.
“Drawing from decades of experience across multiple international markets, Lebara is expected to introduce additional innovative services aimed at enhancing convenience, engagement, and value for Nigerian consumers,” she said.
Stuffman added that the company’s strategy reflected growing recognition that today’s telecom customers demanded more than network access, pointing out that consumers increasingly seek brands that offer seamless digital experiences, personalised services, and access to content that enriches everyday life.
Stuffman stated that LebaraPlay also aligned with the company’s commitment to supporting Africa’s creative economy by creating new distribution channels for content creators, producers, and digital storytellers.
“Through a combination of original productions and strategic partnerships, the platform seeks to create opportunities for talent while delivering quality entertainment to audiences,” she said.
Hamisha Daryani, founder of Forever7 Entertainment, expressed excitement over the partnership with Lebara Nigeria and the premiere of her latest micro-drama series on the LebaraPlay platform.
She stated that Lebara’s customer-centric vision aligns closely with the values of Forever7 Entertainment, making the collaboration a natural fit for both organisations.
Daryani revealed that the new microdrama featured a star-studded cast drawn from both Bollywood and Nollywood, in a compelling romantic story designed specifically for mobile audiences.
According to her, the production is developed with mobile-first consumers in mind, delivering premium entertainment in short, engaging formats at an affordable cost.
“Microdrama, which typically consists of short episodes of about three minutes, is redefining how audiences consume entertainment. It offers a convenient, immersive, and affordable viewing experience for people who increasingly access content through their mobile devices,” she said.
She added that the platform was created to support seamless creative expression while providing new opportunities for content creators across the continent.
Daryani further explained that the microdrama format has already achieved significant success in Asia and the Americas and is now gaining traction across Africa.
She said the initiative would create opportunities for emerging creatives through knowledge sharing, skills development, content curation, and industry collaboration, with the Nigerian rollout of the featured series expected to commence in July.
Broadcasting
CANAL+ Partners Samsung to Pre-Load DStv Stream on New Samsung TVs In Nigeria, Other African Countries
Following an expanded partnership between CANAL+ and Samsung Electronics, the DStv Stream app will now be pre-installed on new Samsung Smart TVs sold in Nigeria and 17 other African countries.
The agreement covers English and Portuguese-speaking African markets, including Nigeria, Kenya, Angola, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It marks the first pre-installation rollout of a MultiChoice Group streaming application on Samsung Smart TVs.
The development comes after the completion of the combination between CANAL+ and MultiChoice Group. It also extends an existing relationship between both companies that already spans 40 markets across Europe, French-speaking Africa, and Asia.
Through the integration, Samsung customers can now access DStv Stream directly from the television home screen. The app provides access to premium sports and entertainment content, including coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026, English Premier League football, domestic and international rugby, and local and international television programming.
With the introduction of this connected television which kicked off on June 1, televisions can now connect to the internet, allowing users to stream content directly without requiring a separate decoder or satellite dish. The pre-installation of the app removes the need for users to search for and download it themselves, reducing friction and improving content discoverability.
The rollout is one of the first major distribution initiatives following the integration of CANAL+ and MultiChoice. The combined group has identified streaming growth and enhanced digital distribution as key priorities across Africa, where connected television adoption continues to increase.
David Mignot, CEO of CANAL+ Africa and CEO of MultiChoice Group, affirmed, “We are delighted to extend our longstanding partnership with Samsung across new English and Portuguese-speaking African countries. It marks a significant milestone in the synergies created by the combination of CANAL+ and MultiChoice Group.
“Mignot added, “As viewing habits continue to evolve rapidly across the continent, strengthening the accessibility and discoverability of our content offer on connected devices is key. By expanding the availability of our applications on Samsung Smart TVs across key African markets, we are making it even easier for millions of MultiChoice Group’s subscribers to seamlessly access the content that define the uniqueness of the CANAL+ and MultiChoice Group experience.”
This extended partnership is expected to strengthen Samsung’s position as a key distribution partner for streaming services globally while providing CANAL+ and MultiChoice with a broader route to market as competition intensifies among international and regional streaming platforms across Africa.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) challenging a Federal High Court judgment that restrained the commission from imposing fines on broadcast stations.
Delivering judgment, Justice Jane Esienanwan Inyang held that the appeal was fundamentally defective and therefore incompetent.
The appeal stemmed from a Jan. 17, 2024 judgment delivered by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which barred the NBC from enforcing N5 million fines imposed on several broadcast stations in 2022.
The sanctions had been issued over allegations that the stations aired documentaries on banditry and insecurity considered by the commission to be capable of undermining national security.
The affected broadcasters included Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners of DStv, TelCom Satellite Limited, Trust TV Network Limited and NTA StarTimes Limited.
The suit was instituted by Media Rights Agenda (MRA), which challenged the legality of the fines imposed by the commission.
In her ruling, Justice Inyang pointed to a discrepancy in the appeal documents, noting that the respondent before the Federal High Court was listed as the “National Broadcasting Commission,” while the notice of appeal identified the appellant as the “Nigerian Broadcasting Commission.”
According to the court, the inconsistency was substantial enough to deprive it of the jurisdiction required to entertain the appeal.
“The notice of appeal is the foundation of an appeal and a condition precedent to the exercise of appellate jurisdiction by this court,” the judge held.
Consequently, the appeal was struck out without consideration of the substantive issues raised by the commission.
The ruling represents another setback for the NBC in its efforts to defend its authority to sanction broadcast organisations through administrative fines.
In April 2026, the Court of Appeal similarly dismissed a separate appeal by the commission against another judgment that restricted its powers to impose fines on broadcasters.
Earlier, in May 2023, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the NBC lacked the judicial authority to impose penalties on media organisations without recourse to the courts.
The controversy over the commission’s sanctioning powers dates back to March 2019 when the NBC imposed N500,000 fines on 45 broadcast stations for alleged violations of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code during the general elections.
At the time, the then Director-General of the commission, Is’haq Kawu, said the sanctions were imposed for ethical breaches and violations of broadcasting regulations.
Legal analysts say the latest judgment reinforces previous court decisions limiting the commission’s authority to impose fines on broadcasters without judicial intervention.
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