Features

Lai Mohammed, Toyin Subair: Broadcast Industry’s Dad-Lad Combo

Published

5 years ago

April 25, 2021

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The story of Toyin Subair’s arrival in the national spotlight is inextricably linked to his defunct Hitv, the pay television experiment that went belly up within a few years.

At launch, Hitv looked like a monster hit. But those familiar with the story of the pay-television provider and its promoter said it was everything but. The story is about how Hitv, seeking to make an instant splash in the pay-television market with the popular English Premier League, dug its own grave.

According to the story, Chief Raymon Dokpesi of DAAR Communications was keen on the hit sports property for his pay television platform, DAARSat. That was in 2006. He, along with his team, made a bid but left the bidding session sure that some madness was afoot. Why? They had been blown out of the water by the Toyin Subair-led Hitv with a spectacularly outrageous bid.

DAARSat and its founder decided that they needed to call the attention of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), telling the broadcast regulator-in a petition-that Subair’s bid was unreasonable and the money could not be raised within Nigeria, something Subair appeared to confirm in a social media post four years ago, writing: “It pains me to admit that someone told the then Minister of Information that Nigerians can’t fund our type of business and I was really hoping to prove him wrong.”

Subair must have laughed. He got his wish with Hitv, which wrested the football property from the grip of MultiChoice, and plenty of media attention. After four years, with Hitv unable to renew the rights for what drew customers to it, it became ill, started gasping and died. The rights were, again, sold to MultiChoice, which was among the operators trumped by Hitv in the last round of bidding.

Those close to him said he blamed Multichoice, a claim that found confirmation in a 2017 post on his LinkedIn page.

“The competition spent a lot of time courting all arms of government and I was a simpleton. We just expected the whole world to cheer us on. The laws in Nigeria are as empty as they are full. A lot of writings but you have to make sure your business model is adequately protected…We paid $40 million for the first year of the second term of the EPL from mostly equity. But still had to come up with a guarantee of about $70 million for the latter two years and in Nigeria, the guarantee requires cash in the bank.

The alternative bank we were forced to use, despite all their assurances and being offered half of the amount by another bank failed to issue the same on that fateful Tuesday and only offered it to us on Thursday. Meanwhile, the EPL sold it to our competition on Wednesday morning,” wrote Subair.

The animosity with MultiChoice, which he blames Hitv’s collapse on, has obviously continued to flame. Those who worked closely with him during the Hitv days blame the collapse on other things, which include unrestrained spending on first class trips abroad, ostensibly to seek new programming; and non-stop partying, which did not impress his board.

He claimed that those allegations were made up, saying Hitv had excellent corporate governance. This, however, is not supported by the evidence of how things went.

He, however, does not look like a man you can easily keep down. Once in a while, he had bobbed up in the past. These days, riding on the back of Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, he has been remade as a big thing in the nation’s broadcast industry.

Industry watchers, many of who view the Information Minister with suspicion, are not comfortable with the dad-lad combo of Mohammed and Subair. They suspect both men of harbouring strong personal interests and working for the interest of a Tier-A Southwest politician, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

One of Subair’s jobs after Hitv sank was as Managing Director of CONSAT, the failed Tinubu-owned satellite television service provider, which Subair was said to assured the promoter that it would be the biggest thing on the circuit.

Soon after Hitv bombed, Subair founded InView, which he foresaw as a vehicle for Nigeria’s digital transition. The digital transition programme, it was suspected at onset, would deliver a feast for those with huge appetite for money, knowing the country’s corruption circle.

Subair knew that government would insist on spending huge sums for the DSO even if cheaper alternatives were available. Having worked for Tinubu, to whom he tried to sell Hitv to in its dying days, he sought the godfather’s blessings. The godfather also saw a fusion of business and political benefits, especially the chance to become the local Rupert Murdoch

He already owns The Nation titles, Television Continental (TVC), Max FM and had always been a strong player in the media space since the time of the military when he was a shareholder in The News and Tempo magazines as well as PM News.

With his presidential ambition slowly gathering steam and with Mohammed and Subair to seize the broadcast media space, the hold on the media will be vice-like.

To make it easy, Mohamed has raised a Task Force to “ensure” Nigeria’s digital transition is completed before Buhari leaves office, a tough task, given that despite billions of naira spent, only the capitals of the six states used as pilot locations has digital transition infrastructure.

With additional billions released, only a few more states will be covered in the second stanza of the process. To manage expectations, the acting Director of the NBC, Armstrong Ideachaba announced that most of the recently approved N9.4billion the Federal Executive Council is for settling old debts.

One of the companies owed money to is Subair’s InView. Subair, I need to mention, is a member of the Ministerial

Task Force on the DSO? Conflict of interest? Be the judge.

Related Topics:Lai Mohammed Toyin Subair

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Community

Abiodun declares state of emergency on flooded Isheri community

…assures residents of permanent solution after comprehensive assessment

Published

3 years ago

October 23, 2023

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Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Monday declared state of emergency on the flooded Isheri community, in Ifo Local Government Area of the State, as he assured residents of the area quick intervention to save the situation.

The governor added that a comprehensive assessment that would lead to permanent solution to the menace of flooding in the affected area would be conducted very soon.

Prince Abiodun, who stated this while fielding questions from newsmen after inspecting the flooded community, said that his administration is working with the federal government to deal with the situation as an emergency case.

He noted that the time has come to find a lasting solution to the perennial flooding to make the area morw conducive for living.

According to him, the state government will see to the elevation of some roads in the area as parts of the solutions to the problem.

The govenor said: “We will prioritize the works here because I am touched with what I have seen. I will ensure that we immediately begin to see signs of relief as we are stepping this up. The Minister of State for Environment is already aware. The Vice President is already aware and also the president. It will be dealt with as an emergency and we are taking it as such.

“As an emergency, I will like to take it up myself. Please continue to bear with us as we are going to conduct a comprehensive assessment of what we need to do to make this place conducive for living.

“Whatever that assessment comes up with is what we are going to implement. So, we are going to first start with ensuring that we have the required road infrastructure at the appropriate levels.

“So if you now built in such a way that we need to relocate you, we have to do that. Whatever it is that we must do to ensure that place does not persistently experience flood, we will do it. But let us wait for the result of the studies to come back and then we will begin to take that decision as and when the situation arises.”

Addressing residents of Riverview Estate, Governor Abiodun said he has requested for an area survey of the entire estate to identify critical areas that needed immediately intervention.

He assured that the intervention would come through the construction of an elevated road with adequate drainages to mitigate their suffering.

“I want to assure you today, knowing fully well that we are a promise keeping administration, we do not say what we do not mean, my heart goes out to you, it is very unfortunate, I am giving my commitment today, the commissioner for works will come and see what needs to be done.

“We have also engage the Minister of State for the Environment, who fortunately, is from Ogun State and I have already brought this to his attention.

“Before the end of the week, I will also table it before the Vice President and the President as well so that we ensure that this problem gets all the desired attention and consequently gets the desired solution so we can bring this to an end,” he said.

The governor also disclosed that he and the Minister of Water Resources would visit the community in few days time.

“We will also discuss the issue of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority and try and interrogate the activities there and understand how their activities affect this community and other communities with respect to the opening and closing of the dam,” he said.

The governor described the environment around the Kara cattle market as an eyesore and not befitting the dreams of a “new Ogun State”.

He said that the market was not conducive for human living and not in tandem with the Sustainable Development Goals and waste disposal.

He, however, acknowledged the area as one of the biggest commercial operation that provide services to a large number of people, even as he assured that government would go into a satisfactory agreement with the market men and women after which a comprehensive beautification of the area would take place.

The Chairman, Riverview Estate, Abayomi Akande, in his remarks, intimated the governor of the suffering residents of the area are going through as a result of the flooding.

He said that there is a need for a panel of inquiry into the operations of Oyan Dam to stop incessant release of water to cause havoc in the State

He applauded the governor for sending miscreants packing from the road, saying residents of the axis have suffered robbery attacks and other criminalities for quite awhile.

Akande urged the state government to think of converting the area into a Government Residential Area (GRA) through Public Private Partnership arrangement to fast track its development.

Features

MediaTek, Airtel Nigeria intensify collaborative efforts to bolster mobile connectivity in Nigeria

Published

3 years ago

October 13, 2023

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Lagos, Nigeria – October 12, 2023 – MediaTek, a global leader in semiconductor industry together with Airtel Nigeria, a leading telecommunications service provider, briefed the local media on Thursday on their collaborative efforts, to drive technological advancements and improve mobile connectivity across the nation.
The collaboration introduces MediaTek’s T750-powered Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), a groundbreaking technology that enhances internet connectivity. This advancement allows users to access high-speed 5G networks from the comfort of their homes, opening doors to remote work, gaming, online education, and entertainment streaming like never before.

Speaking during the session, Rami Osman, Director for Corporate Sales and Marketing at MediaTek, Middle East Africa, highlighted MediaTek’s commitment towards expanding its footprint across the Smartphone and Smart Device ecosystem in the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region.
“MediaTek is at the forefront of the global semiconductor industry, and we are proud to lead the way in key sectors like Smartphones, 5G Fixed Wireless Access, Wi-Fi, TV, and AI-IoT. In Nigeria, our collaboration with Airtel Nigeria, revolves around three core areas of focus. In connectivity, we are enhancing high-speed internet access with our advanced chipsets.”

“In the Smartphone domain, we are committed to offering a wider range of premium and flagship devices while supporting the transition from feature phones to smartphones. In the realm of AI-IoT, we are exploring new possibilities and technologies. Thus, this will promote digital inclusion, revolutionize connectivity in Nigeria, and contribute to sustainable development goals,” said Osman.

In addition, he said, “This collaboration aligns seamlessly with our MEA agenda, laying a robust foundation for the future of 5G technology. As we move forward, we are excited to lead in technological progress within this continually evolving region.”

Ismail Olusegun Adeshina, Director, Marketing at Airtel Nigeria, emphasized the importance of the partnership with MediaTek and how it will provide affordable connectivity to Nigerians. He stated, “Our commitment to innovation is evident through our early adoption of 5G technology. We’re proactively investing in this technology to improve connectivity, to tackle coverage and cost challenges, and make 5G devices more accessible across Nigeria”.

MediaTek powers globally recognized brands and remains dedicated to providing state-of-the-art innovations through its latest products and solutions. These offerings span a diverse range, including smartphones, smart devices, automotive technology, satellite connectivity solutions, and next-generation wearables.

MediaTek’s product portfolio includes MediaTek Dimensity for 5G smartphones, MediaTek HelioG series for 4G gaming smartphones, MediaTek Kompanio for arm-based Chromebooks, MediaTek Pentonic for Smart TV technologies, MediaTek Genio for Internet of Things applications, MediaTek Filogic for advanced Wi-Fi 6/6E & Wi-Fi 7 solutions, and MediaTek Dimensity Auto for cutting-edge automotive technologies, among others.
For more information, please visit: https://www.mediatek.com/

Features

Bigi Brand’s Annual “Watch & Win” Promo Returns with Grand Prizes

Published

3 years ago

September 28, 2023

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The award-winning Bigi Carbonated Soft Drink brand, a product of Rite Foods Limited, is delighted to unveil her highly-anticipated fourth edition of its “Bigi Watch and Win” promo. Designed exclusively for movie enthusiasts in Lagos and Abuja, this exciting promo offers participants the opportunity to watch their favourite movies and win fantastic prizes.

From September 18, 2023, to November 18, 2023, movie goers can enjoy any film of their choice at Silverbird Cinemas and receive a raffle ticket. These tickets can be redeemed for a chance to win incredible prizes, including laptops, Bigi products, printers, perfumes, and more. The grand prize for this edition is a brand-new car.

The first edition of “Bigi Watch and Win” took place in 2021, and later that same year in December, the Bigi brand held another edition. Since then, it has become an annual tradition, demonstrating Rite Foods Limited’s commitment to rewarding brand loyalty among its valued consumers.

Ms. Biola Aransiola, Assistant Brand Manager for Bigi, expressed her excitement about the fourth edition of the promo, saying, “We’ve partnered with Silverbird Cinemas to enhance people’s movie-going experience. Movie lovers can enjoy any of our 13 Bigi Carbonated Soft Drink flavours while watching their favourite films and stand a chance to win amazing prizes.”

Ms. Aransiola also mentioned that her favourite part is witnessing participants’ reactions when they discover the incredible prizes they have won, particularly the grand prize—a brand-new car. She encourages potential participants to check @getbigi on all social media platforms for the terms and conditions.

Through the “Watch & Win” promo, the Bigi brand accentuates Rite Foods Limited’s dedication to supporting the entertainment industry. The brand continues to sponsor movie premieres, as it has in the past with movies such as “The Prophetess,” “Progressive Tailors Club,” and “Aki and Pawpaw.” Additionally, it has been a consistent sponsor of the popular talent discovery platform, Nigerian Idol, for three consecutive seasons (6, 7, & 8), helping aspiring Nigerian singers achieve their dreams of stardom in the music industry.

The “Watch & Win” promo, combined with other effective marketing initiatives, has earned the Bigi brand numerous awards within its market segment. In 2023, Bigi Cola was honored with the “Best Value for Money” award at the BrandXchange Consumers Value Awards. In 2022, it received the “Fastest Growing Cola Brand of the Year” award at the Marketing Edge Brands and Advertising Excellence Awards in Lagos. The Bigi brand also claimed the “Most Outstanding CSD Brand of the Year” award at the 2021 Brandcom Awards, solidifying its position as a market leader in the beverage industry, outperforming its competitors.