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UNGA: Leo Stan Ekeh @ Media Dialogue, Seeks Mega Media Platforms for Africa
Dr Leo Stan Ekeh, chairman, Zinox Group, a tech company, has stressed the importance of media representation for people of African descent and the need for Africa to build its mega media platforms.
Ekeh was one of the panelists at a dialogue on the Media of the Future, convened in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations Summit of the Future held during the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) High-level Week.
The dialogue had the theme: “The Media of the Future: Bridging the Gap Between the West and People of African Descent.”
The dialogue was convened by Mr. Simon Ibe, publisher/editor-in-chief, Global Patriot Newspapers.
UNGA 79 opened on September 10 while the High-Level Week began on Friday, September. 20, and will run through September 27.
Ekeh joined participants to discuss the challenges faced by Africans in having their stories accurately represented internationally, and stressed the need for them to take control of their narratives and destinies.
In his presentation, Ekeh spoke of his contributions to the transition from analogue to digital media in West Africa and emphasised the importance of knowledge and content in the media industry.
He highlighted lack of awareness about the innovative and creative abilities of black people and stressed the need for Africa to become part of the global community through greater access to the global media.
The Zinox boss shared his experiences in building a tech group and digital retail business and how insufficient access to global media exposure was a major issue, and encouraged the African media practitioners to find financial resources to develop their own mega media platforms, driven by technology.
Other participants also advised Africans to prioritise skills for sustaining economies, attracting investment, and creating wealth, and to leverage technology and leadership in the African economy to change media coverage and ensure adequate representation of Africa’s positive aspects.
Also, Yul Anderson, president, African American Future Society (TAAFS), spoke on the need for coordinated messaging by African media outlets to combat disinformation and promote positive stories about People of African Descent.
He spoke extensively about the Black Futures Summit, held on the sidelines of the United Nations Summit of the Future.
Laolu Akande, editor-in-chief, Empowered Newswire, conveyed a message from the former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) expressing support for the team’s efforts.
Osinbajo commended the convener of the dialogue, Mr. Ibe for creating the platform for the discussion and expressed the hope that the outcome of theevent will positively impact the Media of People of African Descent.
In his presentation as a panelist, Mr. Akande spoke of the significant gaps in understanding and representation of Africa globally, emphasising the need for a more nuanced and empathetic approach to understanding Africa and its people.
He identified four gaps hindering Nigeria’s development.
These include the gap between the elite and the masses; the gap between the elite and the media; the gap between the elite and the people; and the failure of political leadership to deliver national development.
Akande, stressed the importance of the African elite taking responsibility for the continent’s fate, human capital and infrastructure development.
He pointed to the need for media leaders to invest properly in journalism and for African billionaires to fund media outlets to shape the narratives about the continent.
Ms Nicky Spencer-Coker, spokesperson for the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the United Nations in New York, shared her background as a lawyer and activist.
In speaking, she discussed the significant role of the media in shaping society and narratives, emphasising the challenges faced by people of African descent in gaining access to global media outlets and having their stories accurately represented.
She highlighted the low percentage of black-owned media in the United States and acknowledged the rapid expansion of the media in Africa due to advances in telecommunications.
Spencer-Coker also pointed out the influence of American media on perceptions of Africa, often leading to negative and stereotypical portrayals.
She stressed the importance of African voices being heard and the need for more African representation in global media and leadership roles.
In her address, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), agreed on the importance of the conversation about media representation and moving the narrative forward.
Abike stressed the need to change the negative narrative about Africa and Nigeria in particular, suggesting that Africans should control their media image and invest more in the continent.
She highlighted the potential of the African diaspora, particularly in America, to contribute significantly to the continent’s development.
Abike also criticised the treatment of Africans by other Africans on the continent and encouraged the team to focus on promoting trade and collaboration among African countries.
She discussed the challenges faced by Nigerians in investing and owning homes in Africa, and mentioned the Diaspora Commission’s programs to facilitate home ownership and investment opportunities.
Dabiri-Erewa emphasised the need for collaboration between Nigerians at home and those living abroad to change the narrative about Africa through initiatives like the upcoming diaspora investment summit being organized by NiDCOM.
Toyin Umesiri, a global influencer and CEO of Nazaru, emphasised the importance of wealth creation and productivity in building economies, rather than focusing solely on poverty alleviation.
She discussed the challenges of promoting business and trade with Africa, particularly in the US, and stressed the need for individuals to take control of their own narratives.
Umesiri also highlighted her background in education and experience in training entrepreneurs and working with investors.
She argued against focusing on poverty alleviation and foreign aid, stressing the need to prioritise skills for sustaining economies, attracting investment, and creating wealth.
Also speaking, Prof. Akil Khalfani, director, Africana Institute, Essex County College, Newark, New Jersey, emphasised the need for a rethinking of journalism and media representation, advocating a Pan African approach that utilizes a historical foundation to tell the story of Africa and African people.
Khalfani criticised the Euro-centric approach to education and suggested that African history and culture should be presented with a broader perspective.
Khalfani also highlighted the significance of African organizations and the need for Africa-centered strategies and critiques of other perspectives.
He stressed the importance of Africanizing ways of doing business, global commerce, and thinking about identity.
Mr. Simon Kolawole, founder and editor-in-chief, The Cable Newspapers, in his presentation, made a strong case for the empowerment of media of people of African descent for effective global outreach.
The highly respected columnist stressed that currently, Media of people of African descent were grappling with serious challenges that were constraining their operations and ability to compete at the global level.
Dr. Adeola Popoola, president, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) New Jersey, proposed a stronger hold on the Guild of Editors to ensure all media houses contribute to a weekly digest of news headlines across the continent.
Ibe, however, thanked everyone for their participation and expressed his gratitude for the insightful discussions, mentioning that there would be a sequel in the future, especially as the issue was so crucial that it could not be sufficiently addressed at one sitting.
Credit: NAN
PalmPay, Nigeria’s leading digital banking platform, has announced the launch of its ₦400 million festive rewards campaign, designed to reward users with cash prizes and fully sponsored international travel experiences for everyday transactions on the PalmPay app.
The campaign will run from December 17, 2025, to January 8, 2026. The campaign is designed to reward everyday transactions with extraordinary experiences. It runs alongside PalmPay’s Purple December brand campaign, which focuses on wrapping up the company’s key brand and community initiatives for the year.
At the centre of the rewards campaign is the PalmPay World Travel Carnival, an interactive card collection experience that allows users to earn city cards by completing transactions on the app. Users are required to collect five city cards – London, New York, Dubai, Sydney, and Cape Town and combine them into a World Card, which unlocks a share of the prize pool.
The more World Cards a user creates, the larger their share of the cash rewards. Any extra uncombined cards can be swapped with friends and other PalmPay users to help complete additional World Cards.
Beyond cash rewards, the Carnival also offers Free Global Trips. In each round, the top two users with the highest number of eligible transactions (₦100 and above) and at least one World Card will win an all-expense-paid international trip.
The travel grand prize covers:
- Visa fees
- Round-trip international airfare
- 5-day, 4-night hotel accommodation
- Side attraction
- Meal expenses
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- All transportation for scheduled tour activities during the trip
Winners will be determined through a transparent leaderboard system, with prizes credited automatically at the end of each round on December 25, December 31, and January 8.
Participation is simple:
- Complete tasks on the PalmPay app, such as Airtime, Data, Transfers, and other specific transactions listed in the app, to earn cards.
- Collect all five city cards.
- Swap cards with friends to complete your collection.
- Combine cards to form a World Card and earn cash rewards.
- Perform more transactions to climb the leaderboard for a chance at the global trip prize.
To ensure fairness, PalmPay has instituted strict rules: no cheating, bots, fake accounts, or manipulation. Any violations may lead to disqualification or account bans. Additionally, the Free Travel Prize is limited to one per user throughout the campaign.
Speaking on the launch, Femi Hanson, Head of Marketing & Communication, “This festive rewards campaign is about turning everyday banking into meaningful value for our users. With the World Travel Carnival as the headline activation, we are reinforcing PalmPay’s promise of being the smarter way to bank—where smart financial decisions unlock bigger opportunities.”
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct a nationwide energy survey aimed at closing long-standing data gaps in Nigeria’s power sector. The initiative is expected to guide policy, attract investment, and accelerate universal electricity access.
Signed in Abuja, the agreement establishes a National Energy Survey based on the Multi-Tier Tracking Framework (MTF), a globally recognized methodology that measures electricity access not only by grid connection but also by quality, affordability, reliability, and usage of electricity and clean cooking solutions.
The survey will be implemented under the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) of the World Bank. Dr. Abba Aliyu, REA Managing Director/CEO, said the partnership underscores REA’s commitment to evidence-based rural electrification planning and will generate detailed insights on electricity access and off-grid solutions nationwide.
Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, Statistician-General of the Federation/CEO of NBS, emphasized that reliable statistics are essential for effective policymaking, assuring that NBS will provide technical oversight, sampling expertise, and quality assurance to meet global standards.
The survey will assess energy access, household affordability, expenditure patterns, and the adoption of off-grid technologies such as solar home systems, mini-grids, and clean cooking solutions. REA will provide sector expertise and policy alignment, while NBS manages regulatory approvals, methodology, and technical supervision.
Funded and technically overseen by the World Bank, the exercise will run for 18 months, with the resulting data expected to improve national energy planning, programme targeting, and private sector investment, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
Officials said the collaboration reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency coordination, enhancing energy data availability, and advancing Nigeria’s goal of universal electricity and clean cooking access.
The Stakeholders in Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria (SiBAN), the nation’s foremost self-regulatory body for the blockchain industry, has completed its election cycle, heralding the beginning of a new executive council dedicated to scaling Nigeria’s digital economy.
The highly anticipated elections concluded recently with the emergence of a new leadership team poised to champion industry standards, foster innovation, and drive widespread adoption of blockchain technology across the country.
The newly elected executives, who will officially assume their roles in January 2026, represent a blend of legal, financial, and technical expertise critical for navigating the evolving regulatory landscape.
Leading the charge is Mela Claude-Ake, a lawyer, who has been elected the President of SiBAN to succeed the outgoing President, Obinna Iwuno, whose tenure was marked by significant achievements, including facilitating crucial reforms and forging strategic partnerships with regulators and other critical stakeholders in the digital asset industry. Mr. Iwuno will formally hand over the reins to the new council in January 2026.
Other elected to the executive council are Chimene Chinah – Vice President 1, in charge of Blockchain education and adoption; Oroke Cornelius – Vice President 2, in charge of membership, strategic partnerships, and funding; and Ayo Shonibare – Vice President 3, in charge of policy, regulation, and ethics.
Others are Ugochukwu Peters – Vice President 4 in charge of digital asset operations and capital markets, Mbene Vivian – Chief strategy officer in charge of projects and incubation, Olufunmilayo Tugbobo as Financial Secretary/Chief Financial Officer, and Chiemeka David Ohajionu as Chief Communications Officer.
The newly elected council’s structure reflects SiBAN’s commitment to addressing key pillars of the blockchain ecosystem: from grassroots education and fostering innovation through projects, to establishing robust regulatory frameworks.
In his acceptance speech, Mela Claude-Ake emphasized the vital role SiBAN plays in shaping the future of finance and technology in Nigeria.
“The trust placed in this new council is not one we take lightly. We inherit a great foundation built by the outgoing team. Our mission now is to accelerate. We stand at a critical juncture where the potential of blockchain to revolutionize every sector, from finance and governance to supply chain, is undeniable. This new council will focus relentlessly on advancing smart, collaborative regulation, democratizing blockchain education, and protecting the interests of all stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria remains a leader in the African digital economy space,” he assured.
He added that he is humbled by the opportunity to be the face of one of Nigeria’s youngest and most promising sectors — blockchain tech.
“As a tech enthusiast I am excited at the possibilities. The ecosystem needs careful nurturing by the government. My administration will be focused on building new bridges for the blockchain sector internationally and domestically, establishing trust with the public and unifying the sector. I enjoin all blockchain stakeholders in Nigeria, connected to Nigeria or of nigerian heritage to join hands together with my administration in building the industry of our dreams.”
The industry now looks forward to the handover ceremony in January 2026 and the initiatives the new SiBAN leadership will unveil to solidify the association’s role as a catalyst for innovation and a respected partner to the Nigerian government.
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