Broadcasting
Ubongo Advocates Return of Children’s Belt on Television, begins Capacity Building
Ubongo, Africa’s leading edutainment company, has called for the return of the children’s education and entertainment belts on Nigerian television and radio stations.
The pan African social enterprise made this call at the commencement of its capacity building initiative in Lagos on Monday, October 4, 2021 with the Abuja session scheduled for Thursday, October 7, 2021.
Tayo Olaniyan, Country Representative, who made this call during the “Storytelling for Change” workshop for broadcasters, educators and content providers for children programmes, noted that there is currently a dearth of educational content in Nigeria which the return of the children belt on radio and television can begin to address.
He stated that in line with Ubongo’s mission to reach children everywhere with edutainment, the firm is partnering with key players across the broadcast industry to drive the reach of its relevant African centric entertaining entertainment and educational content.
He added that Ubongo will continue to seek opportunities to contribute and support efforts aimed at scaling the capability of broadcasters to develop local entertainment content across Nigeria.
On the workshop, he remarked, “We are sharing our expertise with the Nigerian broadcast industry as key partners; we want to inspire a lot more creativity for education and entertainment interventions by broadcast houses within the country, and we’re advocating for the return of the children’s belt on television and radio.
According to Cliodhna Ryan, Head of Education and Research, at Ubongo, “The interactive workshop is a platform to share human-centric insights, discuss the role of educational media in keeping children learning and best practices for designing media-based learning for kids and youths.”
She explained that the firm seeks to use the opportunity of the workshops to take broadcasters through Ubongo’s process of human-centred design so that they can co-create content with children.
She said, “As co-creation partners, we don’t believe in creating content as adults in isolation, we believe that children are a key part of the creation process. For this course, we’re taking them through our storytelling for change approach.”
She stated, “We believe that stories are powerful and that children learn best when they’re entertained. So, the key to educating a child through mass media is to ensure that they’re highly engaged in what they’re watching or listening to.
“For this reason, we use stories, songs and games for children to be active listeners and viewers when they’re engaging with the content rather than passively receiving the content.”
Also speaking on the project, Iman Lipumba, Director of Marketing and Communications, Ubongo, reiterated that the firm’s objective is to create fun, localised and multi-platform educational media that reaches millions of families through accessible technologies noting that Ubongo creates engaging and locally relevant edutainment for African learners.
She revealed that through its multiplatform and fun learning programmes, “Ubongo Kids” and “Akili and Me,” Ubongo is helping millions of kids find the fun in learning through whatever technology they have, whether radio, TV, mobile, web and even offline using SMS based systems.
Studies show that Ubongo’s programmes significantly improve school readiness and learning outcomes for kids and also promote social and behavioural change for kids, caregivers, parents, and educators.
By leveraging localised media on accessible technology, Ubongo has created an extremely cost-effective and high-reach solution to help close the literacy gap for millions of children at the base of the pyramid in Africa.
The workshop continues in Abuja on Thursday, October 7, 2021 at Chelsea Hotel and will draw participants from across the northern region of the country.
Mr. Tim Akano, New Horizons Chief Executive Officer, took centre stage at the Nigerian Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) annual end-of-year meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2025, recounting the company’s remarkable growth and reaffirming free IT training for journalists.
Tim Akano, New Horizons Chief Executive Officer, in a group photograph with NITRA Members
Speaking directly to IT media members at the company’s training facility in Lagos, Akano acknowledged the critical role journalists played in supporting New Horizons during its formative years two decades ago.
He detailed how the firm evolved from a handful of staff to one of Africa’s leading ICT skills training organisations, now employing about 500 staff across multiple training centres nationwide.
Akano Spotlights Youth Training, University Partnerships
Akano highlighted that New Horizons has trained over 500,000 youths, particularly tertiary institution students, equipping them with practical IT skills essential for Nigeria’s digital economy.
He announced recent partnerships with universities, including a new agreement with Afe Babalola University, to scale hands-on training programmes for students.
“This growth would not have been possible without the media’s support in documenting our journey,” Akano stated, pledging continued free IT skills training for media members to remain competitive in the evolving digital landscape.
Reciprocal Support Defines Long-Standing Partnership
The venue hosting the NITRA meeting underscored Akano’s generosity; NITRA Secretary Chidiebere Nwankwo secured the free facility after contacting him—a gesture consistent with New Horizons hosting multiple association events and training IT journalists since its inception 20 years ago.
Participants shared personal testimonies of Akano’s support, including veteran journalist Aaron Ukodie, whose daughter—an Accounting graduate from the University of Johannesburg—received NYSC placement and IT scholarship at New Horizons.
The Guardian’s Yemi Adeyemi recounted Akano accommodating his editor’s child for mandatory IT training after other firms declined.
Members praised Akano’s commitment to human capital development as evidence of deep appreciation for the media community that chronicled New Horizons’ success over two decades.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has launched the NIMC Pre-Enrolment Portal to revolutionise the National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment process, enabling applicants within Nigeria and in the Diaspora to capture biodata online prior to biometric verification at enrolment centres.
NIMC
Accessible via penrol.nimc.gov.ng, the platform allows users to fill enrolment forms, schedule appointments, upload supporting documents securely, and manage personal details directly, thereby slashing congestion, minimising wait times, boosting data accuracy and enhancing overall service efficiency at centres nationwide.
NIMC Director-General and CEO, Engr. (Dr) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, spearheaded the initiative as part of the Commission’s technology-driven strategy to fortify institutional performance, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda that emphasises digital transformation, efficient public service delivery and inclusive national development.
Dr Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications, highlighted key benefits including simplified biodata handling, confidential data protection through robust security measures, reduced physical centre visits and heightened operational effectiveness, urging all prospective enrollees to adopt the portal for a faster, citizen-friendly experience.[conversation_history]
The move underscores NIMC’s mandate under the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007 to manage the National Identity Database, issue NINs and foster a reliable digital identity ecosystem vital for national planning, with users advised to complete pre-enrolment online before heading to selected centres for biometrics.
MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), a Pan-African film and television training institution, has announced the opening of applications for its 2026 intake.
MultiChoice
The fully funded programme is open to African graduates aspiring to become directors, filmmakers, scriptwriters, producers and storytellers.
According to MultiChoice, the nine-month accredited curriculum combines online learning with intensive in-person training, and is designed to balance theoretical knowledge with practical immersion.
MTF academies are located in Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia, and serve aspiring filmmakers from 14 African countries. Since its inception in 2018, the initiative has trained 296 filmmakers, with graduates producing more than 42 movies aired on DStv, GOtv and Showmax platforms.
Organisers said alumni of the programme have gone on to establish over 50 production companies, while many continue to work within the MultiChoice ecosystem.
Graduates have also won accolades at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, Kalasha Awards, Uganda Film Festival and Women in Film Awards.
Applications for the 2026 intake close on Feb. 27, 2026. Interested candidates can visit https://apo-opa.co/3XW53oE for programme requirements.
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