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YouTube to Give Creators $1,000 Production Equipment Stipend

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YouTube NextUp Production Equipment Stipend

By Dipo Olowookere

An opportunity has opened for creators in Nigeria and South Africa to take their content creation to the next level and boost their YouTube careers through an initiative called the YouTube NextUp programme.

Business Post learned that content creators will receive a $1,000 stipend mainly for the procurement of production equipment in addition to a week-long creator camp, among other benefits.

It was gathered that 20 creators with eligible channels would be selected for this production equipment stipend and they must have 10,000 to 100,000 subscribers and at least 3 pieces of original and native video content uploaded in the past 3 months.

In addition, channel accounts must be compliant with the YouTube community guidelines and have no strikes, though participation in other YouTube creator masterclasses is also a basis for acceptance. To boost your channel’s visibility, you can buy YouTube likes by choosing to Purchase YouTube Likes on BuzzVoice.

According to YouTube, at the creator camp, participants will learn new skills and access support by the YouTube partnerships team.

Applications for the YouTube NextUp programme are currently open and to enter, each creator must submit an entry form along with the video they are most proud of and that best represents their technical production skills, creativity and storytelling ability.

They also need to answer either of these essay questions in 200 words or less: Why should you be selected? How do you collaborate with other channels? or What are your plans for the next 2 years?

Judging will involve the evaluation of the creator’s submitted video and essay along with a general evaluation of their channel, the organisers stated.

Commenting on the scheme, the YouTube Content Partnership in Sub-Saharan Africa, Addy Awofisayo, stated that, “We believe that the next generation of successful creators are already honing their skills on YouTube.

“We are excited that the YouTube NextUp programme will help take creators to the next level in their YouTube careers, enabling them to develop whole new genres and online experiences for audiences around the world.”

YouTube, through programmes like YouTube NextUp, has a long-standing commitment to being an advocate for, and ally to, the diverse communities that reside on the platform and will continue to expand its efforts to support marginalised and underrepresented communities.

In Nigeria, over 500 channels now have over 100,000 subscribers while in South Africa over 250 channels now have over 100,000 subscribers. This is an increase of over 60 per cent, year on year.

As of June this year, the percentage of YouTube channels in Nigeria making 7 figures or more revenue in Naira has now increased by 100 per cent year-on-year.

South Africa also now has an increase of 70 per cent in channels making 6 figures or more in revenue in Rands, year-on-year in the period under review.

“YouTube creators are already doing what they are passionate about and making money from it. YouTube NextUp aims to take them to the next level in terms of income generation and professionalism,” Awofisayo noted.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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Husband of Late Gospel Singer Osinachi Nwachukwu to Die by Hanging

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osinachi nwachukwu

By Dipo Olowookere

Mr Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of the late popular gospel musician, Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been sentenced to death by hanging.

Recall that in April 2022, the singer was said to have died from a domestic violence in the hands of her husband.

Mr Nwachukwu was taken to court on a 23-count charge bordering on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, and spousal battery, among others.

It was reported that while in alive, their spiritual father intervened in the marital crisis between the couple, but the late singer was advised to endure, especially because of her status.

However, things degenerated and she died in the marriage, leaving their children devastated.

At an FCT High Court in Abuja on Monday, April 28, 2025, Justice Nwosu-Iheme found Mr Nwachukwu culpable of killing his wife.

According to the judge, the prosecuting team proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Nwachukwu was responsible for the death of the late musician.

The case could still head to the Appeal and Supreme Courts.

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Popular Artist Terry Apala in Ikoyi Prison for Naira Abuse

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Terry Alexander Ejeh Terry Apala

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A popular music act, Mr Terry Alexander Ejeh, otherwise known as Terry Apala, has been remanded in a correctional centre in Lagos for alleged mutilation of the Naira notes in January 2025.

He was arraigned on Friday, April 25, 2025, by the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) on a single-count charge bordering on mutilating the Naira notes.

The musician was accused of committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.

“That you, Terry Alexander Ejeh, on January 5, 2025, at La Madison Place, Oniru, within the jurisdiction of this court, whilst dancing during a social event, tampered with Naira notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by marching on the same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007,” the count read to Terry Apala today at a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, read.

However, he pleaded not guilty to the offence when it was read to him, which prompted the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, to ask for a trial date, urging the court to remand him in a correctional centre.

The defence counsel, Mr Felix Nwabuda, informed the court of a bail application dated April 23, 2025, and prayed the court for a short date for the hearing of the application.

“Whilst praying the court for a short date for the hearing of the bail application, I will be craving the indulgence of the court to release the defendant to the defence.

“We undertake to produce him in court. He will not evade hearing. He came in from the United Kingdom on April 23, 2025; and on the invitation of the EFCC, he came on his own,” he stated

But the prosecution counsel opposed the application, saying, “The application is alien and unheard of.”

“I urge the court to afford us the opportunity to look at the application and respond properly so that the court can make a well -informed ruling,” he said.

In a short ruling, Justice Akintayo Aluko refused the application of the defence, ordering the remand of the defendant in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the determination of the bail application. The matter was, thereafter, adjourned till May 5, 2025.

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Spotify’s AI Playlist Now Available in Nigeria

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Spotify’s AI Playlist

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Global streaming platform, Spotify, has announced the availability of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) playlist in Nigeria.

In a statement on Friday, it said the AI Playlist in beta is for its premium users in more than 40 markets, including Nigeria.

This feature can be found via the search tab of Spotify by simply typing AI Playlist and selecting one of the suggestions.

With AI Playlist, Spotify will curate a personalized playlist made just for users based on the tracks, artists, genres and more. This is easy to revise and refine as users only have to ask for what they want – like “more upbeat,” “more new releases,” or “happier songs.”

The most successful playlists are generated through “genre”, “mood” or “artist” prompts. But animals, activities, movie characters, colours – and even emojis – are all fair game too.

Some fun prompts the platform suggests users to try out include Afrobeat tracks for the dance floor, Trending K-Pop hits I need to know, Reggaeton for hanging out at the beach, Songs to hype me up for a football match, and Latin songs from my top genre, among others.

Since launching last year, premium users have created millions of playlists with the goal of finding music that fits any mood or moment in an instant.

Now, Spotify is making it even easier for users around the globe to create the perfect playlist and find their next favorite artist.

The company has promised that this feature would expand to markets across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.

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