General
MultiChoice Nigeria: A Workplace Fostering Gender Inclusion
As we commemorate the 2024 International Women’s Day, various symposiums will once again delve into age-old discussions surrounding women’s empowerment and gender equality. Aligned with this year’s theme, ‘Inspire Inclusion,’ there will be dialogues on creating a more equitable world by providing equal opportunities for women in various fields, irrespective of their backgrounds.
Despite the attention, few countries and organisations are committed to actualizing this dream. A report by the United Nations Women in 2023, said that since the Global Goals were signed in 2015, no country has achieved gender equality. At the current rate of progress, over 340 million women and girls, an estimated 8 per cent of the world’s female population, will live in extreme poverty by 2030. According to the report, it could take close to 300 years.
To drive gender inclusion, and ultimately attain equality, there’s a strong call for private organisations, who are the major employers of labour, to make the initiative part of their corporate value.
One of the organisations visibly implementing this in Nigeria is MultiChoice. Beyond the media attention that gender equality attracts yearly during this period, the company has displayed a full commitment to the course through top management appointments and content focus.
Women in key positions
MultiChoice Nigeria has been a vivid example of organisations giving women opportunities at the top management level. Key appointments in recent years attest to this. “We have brilliant and hardworking women as heads of some of our most important operations at MultiChoice. Our senior management team is of an almost equal gender split,” said MultiChoice West Africa CEO, John Ugbe.
MultiChoice’s entertainment business is content-driven, and notably, this key department for the West African market, is headed by a distinguished woman, Dr. Busola Tejumola, who was recently elected as a distinguished member of the International Academy of Television Arts and Science.
MultiChoice Nigeria has also proven to be a workplace for career growth and development for women, with the Executive Head of DStv Media Sales, Doris Ohanugo, as a perfect example. Ohanugo joined MultiChoice in 2012 as the Sponsorship Manager, DStv Media Sales, and was later promoted to the position of Regional Sales Manager, a role she occupied until her appointment to the current post in 2022.
Another testament to career growth opportunities for women at MultiChoice is Caroline Oghuma, the Executive Head of Corporate Affairs, at MultiChoice West Africa. Oghuma rose to the post in 2017, after serving as the PR Manager at DStv for three years.
Female Sports Coverage
In addition to providing equal workplace opportunities for women, MultiChoice has also shown commitment to celebrating women’s strides and achievements in sports. The SuperSport “Here For Her Campaign”, which ran across the SuperSport channels for most of 2023 is still fresh in memory. The campaign drew audiences’ attention across Africa to exciting women’s sporting events throughout the year.
To drive home the message, MultiChoice unveiled an African female football icon, Asisat Oshoala, as a brand ambassador, as part of the campaign. The climax was the FIFA Women’s World Cup, for which MultiChoice provided a robust broadcast on SuperSport. The company also made the coverage a unique experience for female staff, by ensuring that the entire coverage crew for the tournament in Australia, was made up of women. “We believe this provides them the exposure and privilege that comes with this special showcase of women’s football,” Ugbe said, while speaking on the deliberate move.
MultiChoice Nigeria is proving a good example of an inclusive workplace for women and more corporate firms will need to imbibe the culture if the world is to attain gender equality goals.
Through strategic top-level appointments, a culture of internal career growth for women, and a groundbreaking focus on female sports coverage, MultiChoice proves that genuine gender inclusion is not merely an aspiration but an integral part of its corporate ethos. As the world grapples with the imperative of achieving gender equality goals, MultiChoice Nigeria stands as an exemplary organisation that supports the path towards a more inclusive and equitable future.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The South African Consulate General in Lagos, in partnership with Brand South Africa and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), is hosting the 4th edition of the South Africa Focus Week in Lagos, Nigeria, from April 22 – 26, 2026.
The annual platform continues to grow as a strategic initiative aimed at fostering social cohesion between South Africans and Nigerians while positioning South Africa as a preferred destination for business, tourism, and education. Since its inception in 2023, South Africa Focus Week has attracted over 1,500 participants, bringing together stakeholders from across sectors, including trade and investment, arts and culture, tourism, aviation, and the culinary industry.
The 2026 edition holds particular significance as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s democratic Constitution, enacted in 1996, as well as 32 years of unbroken diplomatic relations between South Africa and Nigeria, established in February 1994. These milestones underscore the enduring partnership between the two nations, rooted in shared history and strengthened through formal agreements and ongoing collaboration.
The 2025 economic relationship between South Africa and Nigeria reflects a strategically significant, multi-dimensional partnership anchored in trade, energy security, investment flows, and strong institutional cooperation. While bilateral trade remains structurally imbalanced – with South Africa exporting US$468.48 million and importing $1.69 billion, resulting in a $1.22 billion deficit – this dynamic is largely driven by South Africa’s reliance on Nigerian crude oil, positioning the relationship as one of strategic interdependence rather than imbalance alone.
This partnership is further elevated by the relative economic weight of both countries. According to IMF projections, South Africa’s economy is valued at approximately $443.6 billion, while Nigeria’s stands at around $334.3 billion in nominal terms for 2026. As two of the largest economies on the continent, their bilateral engagement constitutes a central axis of African economic activity, with disproportionate influence on the success of continental integration efforts.
Beyond trade, the relationship is reinforced by deep two-way investment linkages. South African firms -including MTN Group, Shoprite, and Standard Bank – maintain a strong presence in Nigeria, while Nigerian companies such as Access Bank and Paystack have established a growing footprint in South Africa. Although investment flows are asymmetrical and some Nigerian firms have faced operational challenges, these exchanges reflect an emerging bi-directional economic corridor that extends beyond goods trade into services, finance, and digital innovation.
Aligned with Brand South Africa’s mandate to build the country’s global reputation and competitiveness, the week-long programme will convene leaders from government, business, civil society, academia, and the media. Discussions will focus on leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a tool for market access and global positioning, with Nigeria serving as a key focal point.
The South Africa Focus Week has features a series of high-level engagements and cultural activities designed to deepen economic ties and promote collaboration: South Africa–Nigeria Infrastructure Investment Conference (April 22, 2026) which was held under the theme South Africa–Nigeria Partnership: Unlocking Infrastructure Opportunities,” the conference will bring together key stakeholders in infrastructure development to explore collaborative projects in road, rail, and transportation systems.
The forum also examined the role of Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) and facilitated discussions on project financing and implementation with institutions such as the DBSA and Nigeria’s Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
This was followed by the 2nd Economic Diplomacy Roundtable (Thursday, April 23, 2026), which was hosted in partnership with MTN Nigeria under the theme Role of Technology in Infrastructure Development, the roundtable will convene senior government officials, private sector leaders, and industry experts to identify investment opportunities and strengthen strategic partnerships.
Friday, April 24, was for Arts and Culture Experience, which is a dedicated cultural day will showcase Lagos’ creative spaces and features a panel discussion on South Africa’s arts, film, music, and culture. The programme includes a South African film screening, engagements with filmmakers, and a networking reception aimed at fostering collaboration between the creative industries of both countries.
The event continues on Thursday, April 25, with Freedom Day Celebration and Closing Ceremony. This commemorative event will celebrate 30 years of South Africa’s Constitution, 32 years of freedom and democracy, and the enduring diplomatic relations between South Africa and Nigeria. The ceremony will also provide an opportunity to reflect on outcomes from the week and outline future areas of cooperation.
The celebration forms part of Brand South Africa’s Global South Africans Programme, which recognises and connects South Africans in the diaspora as ambassadors of the nation’s values and identity.
The week climaxes with the 4th edition of the South Africa Golf Tournament at Ikoyi Golf Club on Saturday, April 26, 2026, which will be done in partnership with Crossflex International.
According to a statement, the event aims to strengthen people-to-people relations through sports diplomacy, bringing together South African and Nigerian golfers in a spirit of camaraderie and collaboration.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The former chairman of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, Mr Tunde Ayeni, has been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Spokesperson of the anti-money laundering agency, Mr Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrest of the businessman on Friday but declined to provide further details, according to TheCable.
Mr Ayeni was accused of diverting the N36.5 billion and $30 million loans from Polaris Bank Limited to companies with which he has links.
He was alleged to have obtained the credit facilities for marine security, electricity distribution, and real estate projects, but moved them to telecom investments tied to NITEL/MTEL assets via a NATCOM account.
After the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revoked the operating licence of Skye Bank in 2018, it nationalised it to Polaris Bank.
The EFCC has been looking into the alleged diversion of funds by Mr Ayeni, resulting in his arrest in Abuja on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
He is being grilled over the matter and would be arraigned in court once the investigation is concluded.
This is not the first time Mr Ayeni has been nabbed and probed by the EFCC, as this happened a few months after his bank lost its licence.
The then acting spokesman for the EFCC, Mr Tony Orilade, said Mr Ayeni was quizzed by detectives over issues related to fraud and embezzlement allegedly committed by him when he was Chairman of the bank a few years ago.
By Adedapo Adesanya
“We are fully committed to working with the new Commissioner of Police and giving all necessary support towards the successful discharge of his responsibilities.”
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