General News
Transition to Digital Broadcasting Requires Careful Planning – Bolarinwa
Yomi Bolarinwa, director general, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) a parastatal of the Federal Government of Nigeria, empowered to regulate the broadcasting industry. Under him, the NBC is now evolving defined standards, in all aspects of Broadcasting, by effectively licensing, monitoring and regulating an environment that encourages investment and development of quality programming and technology for a viable industry, which competes favourably in the global information society. Bolarinwa spoke to hilary okeke on a wide of issues
Meeting the Digitisation Switchover Deadline
Yes. There are lots of activities going on already and the target date of June17, 2012 will be met. In October 2009, the African Union ministers of communications met in South Africa and one of their recommendations to African Heads of States was that the switchover date for African countries should be in 2012. The internationally signed agreement is 2015 for UHF and 2020 for VHF. We have signed an international agreement that come June 12, 2015 our transmission will not cause interference to our neighbours’ transmissions. The planning in Nigeria is carefully done so that our switchover date in Nigeria would be met. We are going to start from our border areas, take care of our international agreements and move inwards, until we finally switchover. But we will take it in phases, and it is important for us that come 2012, those border areas are switched off and we won’t be causing interference to anybody; and then we can use the experience to carefully move inwards.
Delayed Whitepaper on Recommendations by Presidential Advisory Committee
We have not stopped working to meet the deadline. We understand that there are certain things that should go on because it is very clear that we must transit from analogue to digital broadcasting. The standard adopted for Nigeria is the DVB-T, which is the standard used all over Europe and would also be used all over Africa, and the planning for transition is based on that.
There is no political intrigue around the yet to be issued whitepaper, government is just trying to ensure that everybody is being carried along. When you give tax or import duty waiver on broadcast equipment, for example, it affects the federation account. We are in a democratic dispensation, and this is not a matter to be decided by the executive alone. Members of the National Assembly are also involved and they need to deliberate and agree that this is what is best for the country. What is being done is to ensure that we have a firm policy on ground, unlike in South Africa and Ghana where problems are beginning to come up due to improper planning. There is no way the federal government would prefer a prolonged transition period (during which there will be simultaneous transmission of analogue and digital signals) because of its cost implications. We do not manufacture any of these equipment, and the longer the transition period, the more difficult it becomes for us to keep our analogue equipment going; and the more old disused equipment are dumped in Nigeria. A short transition period ensures that we can do this without so much cost. If we have a longer transition period, it is going to cost money, and would increase the cost of our eventual switchover. We need to get it right, otherwise we will run into trouble and confusion.
Situation with Broadcast Stations
Most broadcast stations in Nigeria have already gone digital. Broadcasting is a chain, which starts from the acquisition stage (with the microphone and camera), through the production and then the transmission stages. Today, the acquisition and the production parts of the chain are digital. What is left now is the last mile, that is the transmission of digital signals from stations to homes. Viewers at home should have the wherewithal to receive digital signals. So we are looking at the acquisition of a digital receiver or an analogue receiver with an additional equipment called the set-top box, which interfaces with the analogue TV set and converts digital signals to analogue.
Acquisition of New Transmitters
As far back as 2004, the broadcasting industry on its own had agreed that the industry should look at the issue of a central facility provider. When the issue of digitisation came up and the realities dawned on the industry, it was also agreed that a new set of licensees who should provide transmission services, be introduced. A facility provider will be a standalone Nigerian registered company, which understands the business of transmission and has the wherewithal to warehouse transmitters – including microwave, satellite, fibre optics links – since he needs to get signals from the broadcaster, and then transmit to viewers. We know that political decisions are taken in states to buy new transmitters for TV stations, but we are making efforts to get the chairman of the Governors’ Forum so that we can talk to them. The Board members of the National Broadcasting Commission are trying to go round states to advise these political officeholders about the futility of acquiring new transmission equipment, especially for TV stations.
In the digital domain, broadcasters would have the license to provide their content and somebody else would have the license to provide transmission services. If you have your license today as a broadcaster, it does not matter where you do your production. All you need is the ability to send your content to the transmission provider and you are on-air. So business becomes even easier and cheaper for them.
Making Set-Top Boxes Available
With an analogue TV set you need to buy a set-top box in order to receive digital signals from a station like NTA. Considering the economic situation in the country and the fact that many people could barely afford digital ready TV sets, a reasonable option would be using set-top boxes that currently cost an average of $50, which many cannot afford too. As transition moves to the switchover date all over the world though, it follows that large numbers of set-top boxes are required and thus, the cost would reduce. What the Nigerian government might do is to encourage some manufacturers of set-top boxes to open shop here, close the border to the importation of such devices, give them tax holiday or import waiver on every component and provide infrastructure for them. These would bring down the average cost of a set-top box to between $15 and $20. The South African government has provided an enabling environment for manufacturers to make set-top boxes and ensured that they are of the same standard with the ones in other countries within the southern African belt. They provided a big market for the manufacturers, and the price came down to what their citizens can afford. This is what we are considering. The border should also be strengthened so that nobody jeopardizes the whole effort, and the manufacturers encouraged so that we would get a reasonable price and have set-top boxes available to everybody.
General News
Moonshot Returns with a Defining Third Edition, Charting Africa’s Next Phase of Innovation
Moonshot, Africa’s flagship tech and innovation gathering, officially announces its third edition. Scheduled to take place from October 15 –16, 2025, at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, the future-shaping conference will convene over 4,000 participants and more than 120 speakers from over 15 countries, all focused on accelerating the trajectory of Africa’s tech-driven future.
This year’s theme, “Building Momentum: Africa’s Tech Ecosystem Positions Itself for Its Next Big Leap,” captures a critical moment for the continent’s tech landscape.
Following years of resilience through economic downturns and funding contractions, the ecosystem is maturing rapidly and sensibly redirecting focus toward sustainable, scalable growth. Moonshot 2025 will serve as a platform to consolidate these hard-won gains and align stakeholders around the next era of opportunity, across key tech verticals.
Headline sponsored by Sabi, a global trade and supply chain enabler, the agenda-setting conference has evolved into a continental platform for catalysing connections, unlocking capital, and amplifying bold ideas. Now in its third year, Moonshot serves as a dynamic hub, and a living museum, of Africa’s innovation journey, actively bridging past achievements with future ambitions.
Speaking about the event, Tomiwa Aladekomo, CEO of Big Cabal Media, said: “The last few years truly tested the resilience of Africa’s tech ecosystem, but they also undeniably sharpened it. The ups and downs in funding have given way to something far more intentional, with founders now building smarter and with clearer purpose.
Despite the challenges, African founders have persevered and thrived. Crucially, regulations have also matured, providing much-needed direction. What we’re witnessing now is genuine momentum, firmly grounded in strong fundamentals, propelled by clarity, and intensely focused on scale.
“Moonshot 2025 offers a vital space to reflect on our journey and to channel this momentum into meaningful progress for founders, investors, and the entire ecosystem”
This year’s edition will welcome a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Andrew Alli, Non-Executive Director, British International Investment (BII), Maxime Bayen, Operating Partner, Catalyst Fund, and Lexi Novitske, General Partner, Norrsken22, among others.
The event will also showcase its nine signature content tracks, now enhanced with refreshed programming designed to foster deeper, more impactful conversations. This include:
- FUEL: The Investor Conference: This track is significantly upgraded to improve deal-making and investment opportunities, with a stronger focus on attracting Limited Partners (LPs), Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), and first-time investors in Africa. It will feature structured deal rooms, curated pitch sessions, an investor’s guide to Africa, and dedicated spaces for peer exchange across the investor landscape.
- Startup Festival: Tailored for both early- and growth-stage founders, this festival will offer intensive workshops, operator-led sessions, and live startup showcases, including the TC Battlefield – it’s flagship pitch competition.
- Emerging Tech (AI): A dedicated space to explore the practical applications of artificial intelligence across various sectors on the continent, featuring product demos and insights from leading builders and researchers.
- Government & Policy Conference: This vital track will convene policymakers from across Africa to engage in discussions on crucial digital policy reforms and work towards tangible commitments to support innovation and scale across the continent.
Additional tracks, including Creative Economy, Climate Tech, Future of Commerce, Big Tech & Enterprise, and Entering Tech, will feature compelling conversations on critical topics such as financing infrastructure, workforce development, and fostering cross-sector collaboration.
Also speaking about the event, Anu Adedoyin, CEO and co-founder of Sabi said “This marks our third year as a proud partner of Moonshot, and the evolution of this conference mirrors the incredible growth and ambition of African tech.
“We believe in building robust foundations for digital commerce, and Moonshot is crucial for fostering the connections and clarity needed for founders to build smart, scalable solutions. We’re excited to see the tangible momentum this year’s event will generate for Africa’s next big leap.”
Proudly supported by platinum sponsors Flutterwave, Luno, Fincra, Raenest, Cardtonic, Roqqu, Opay, and Busha, the conference will build on the outcomes of previous editions, including a $120,000 ecosystem pledge at last year’s Tech Ecosystem Alliance roundtable.
Moonshot is powered by the leading tech publication in Africa, TechCabal, providing reporting, data and context that help investors and professionals globally understand where African tech is and where it is going.
FirstBank, the West African premier financial institution and financial inclusion services provider, has emerged as Nigeria’s Best Bank for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) at the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, held recently in London. This marks FirstBank’s second consecutive win in the ESG category, affirming its leadership in sustainable finance and responsible banking across Nigeria.
The Euromoney Awards for Excellence are regarded as one of the most coveted accolades in the global financial industry. The highly competitive selection process involves rigorous analysis and assessment, measuring performance against strategic and impact-oriented criteria.
The Bank earned the award through its deepened sustainability commitments embedded across its operations and community initiatives. In 2024, FirstBank screened 237 transactions worth over ₦3 trillion for sustainability risks, integrating ESG considerations into its credit framework.
Among its flagship sustainability initiatives, FirstBank commenced a tree planting campaign in partnership with Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), planting over 30,000 trees in 16 locations across Nigeria. This was the first phase of its 50,000-tree initiative, projected to absorb approximately 720 tonnes of CO₂ by the end of 2025, contributing to climate resilience and supporting biodiversity preservation.
FirstBank has been proactive in gender inclusion through the Gender Market Strategy, disbursing over ₦43 billion FirstGem loans to women-led businesses in 2024. The Bank’s commitment to inclusive banking saw a significant increase in the worth of transactions facilitated by FirstMonie agents to over ₦9 trillion.
The Bank prioritises ESG/sustainability capacity building, evidenced by the training of over 9000 employees, and its webinars and workshops reaching over 2,000 SMEs and corporates. The bank’s investment in leadership for over 2,000 female employees through the FirstBank Women Network has demonstrated a dedicated structural commitment to cultivating a knowledgeable and diverse workforce catering to the dynamic ESG landscape.
Commenting on the award, the Chief Risk Officer of the Bank as well as the Chairman of the FirstBank Sustainability Committee, Patrick Akhidenor said, “We are honoured to receive this prestigious award for the second time in a row, which is a validation of our efforts to create a sustainable and inclusive future for all our stakeholders. Our approach to sustainability is hinged on three pillars: education, health and welfare; diversity and financial inclusion; responsible lending, procurement and climate initiatives”
He added: “We remain focused on driving impact through purposeful initiatives and inclusive growth, ensuring that our ESG efforts continue to create meaningful change in communities across Nigeria and beyond.”
The continued success in ESG and sustainability is driven by FirstBank’s vision to be Africa’s bank of first choice, leading with purpose, responsibility, and innovation.
Federal Government is increasing collaborations with China to digitalise Nigeria Customs Service operations. This past weekend, NCS strengthened its cooperation efforts through a high-level engagement with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).
The meeting, held in Beijing, China, brought together senior officers of the customs service and top officials from the GACC to explore bilateral knowledge exchange and capacity development in customs administration.
Abdullahi Maiwada, NCS Assistant Comptroller of Customs said that discussions were held with officials from the GACC International Cooperation Division, the Training and Education Centre and representatives of the Shanghai Customs College.
“The engagement focused on deepening cooperation in customs training methodologies, modernisation models and technology-driven solutions, especially as China plays a pivotal role in Nigeria’s international trade network,” said Maiwada.
He added that during the meeting, the Chinese customs authorities shared their structured training system, which incorporates virtual reality, 5G-enabled systems, and blended e-learning approaches. In 2024, GACC conducted over 8 000 physical training sessions and developed 360 online courses.
Discussions also highlighted Nigeria’s active participation in China-led customs development initiatives, with over 200 African customs officers, including 89 from Nigeria, having received training since 2023 across various areas, such as trade facilitation, anti-smuggling enforcement, food safety supervision and digital port operations.
The bilateral dialogue between the two customs agencies also heralded new areas of collaboration, including Nigeria’s participation in upcoming Customs Modernisation Courses and officer development training at the Shanghai Customs College.
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