Every year, World Music Day serves as a reminder of the powerful role music plays in shaping culture, identity, and human connection. In Nigeria, especially, music has become more than entertainment. It is how young people express themselves, tell their stories, build communities, and increasingly, create opportunities for globalrelevance.From Afrobeats becoming an international force to local sounds influencing popculture conversations across the world, Nigeria’s music industry has evolved into one of the country’s strongest cultural exports. But behind the success stories andchart-topping moments is a growing need to properly support the next generation of talents who will carry the industry forward.For years, TomTom has maintained a strong connection with Nigeria’s youth culture and entertainment scene, growing beyond a household menthol candy brand into one that naturally exists within music and pop culture conversations. From major concerts and live music experiences to youth-focused creative initiatives like; Trace the City, and the MTV Base Cypher, the brand has consistently shown up in spacesthat matter to young Nigerians.In recent time, that relationship with culture is evolving into something more intentional through initiatives like Breathe Academy, the Breathe For It Summit, andthe Breathe Through It Verse Challenge, platforms designed to support, inspire, and empower emerging music talents.As Nigeria’s music industry continues to gain global recognition, there is also growing awareness around the importance of mentorship, education, and access for emerging talents. While talent is abundant, many young creatives still struggle with understanding the business side of music and navigating the realities of an increasingly competitive industry.This is part of what makes initiatives like Breathe Academy relevant.TomTom’s online learning platform created to help aspiring artists and creatives better understand both the craft and business of music. At a time when many young talents are trying to navigate an increasingly competitive industry, access to practical knowledge and mentorship has become just as important as talent itself.Through curated learning sessions, industry-led conversations, and expert insights,participants gain exposure to areas like branding, music distribution, content creation, marketing, audience building, and career development. The platform is helping simplify industry knowledge in a way that feels practical, relatable, and accessible for young creatives trying to find their footing.Ahead of World Music Day, TomTom continues to strengthen its position as a Brant that understands and contributes to Nigeria’s music culture not only through entertainment experiences, but also by helping create opportunities for the next generation of artists, creators, and music entrepreneurs to grow and succeed

As part of activities marking World Food Safety Day, MAGGI engaged stakeholders across its value chain through a series of immersive experiences designed to deepen understanding of the journey from ingredients to table and reinforce the collective responsibility required to uphold food quality and safety.The engagements brought together suppliers, distributors, consumers, journalists, and digital content creators, reflecting MAGGI’s commitment to transparency and continuous stakeholder engagement. Through interactive sessions and firsthand experiences, participants gained valuable insights into the processes, partnerships, and standards that contribute to delivering quality products to millions of Nigerian households.During the engagements, suppliers explored MAGGI’s quality requirements and manufacturing standards, while distributors were engaged on best practices in product handling, storage, and warehousing to help maintain product quality throughout the distribution chain. Consumers also had the opportunity to interact directly with experts, ask questions, and learn more about the ingredients, processes, and expertise behind MAGGI products.The initiative culminated with a factory experience at Nestlé Nigeria’s Agbara Factory, where journalists and digital content creators followed the journey of a MAGGI cube from locally sourced Soya beans ingredients to finished product. Participants gained deeper insight into how soya beans sourced from Nigerian farmers are transformed through carefully controlled fermentation processes and advanced manufacturing technology to deliver the distinctive taste, quality, and consistency consumers associate with MAGGI.The experience also highlighted the connection between traditional African food preparation methods and modern food manufacturing. Participants explored how fermentation techniques used in MAGGI production draw inspiration from time-honoured practices familiar to many Nigerian consumers through local seasonings such as iru, dawadawa, and ogiri.A key highlight of the visit was the opportunity to observe the rigorous quality assurance and food safety systems embedded throughout the production process. From ingredient sourcing and testing to manufacturing, packaging, and distribution, participants witnessed the extensive standards, continuous monitoring, and scientific expertise that help ensure product quality and food safety at every stage.Speaking on the initiative, Funmi Osineye, Category Manager, Culinary, Nestlé Nigeria, said: “MAGGI reaches millions of consumers through a value chain that includes farmers, suppliers, distributors, retailers, consumers, and many other partners. We believe quality and food safety are shared responsibilities, which is why we continuously engage stakeholders across the value chain to build understanding, strengthen collaboration, and provide greater visibility into the journey behind our products.””By opening our doors and creating opportunities for dialogue, we are helping stakeholders better understand the ingredients, expertise, and processes that contribute to the quality consumers have come to trust from MAGGI.”Also speaking, Talla Fall, Factory Manager, Nestlé Nigeria Agbara Factory, said: “At Nestlé, quality and food safety are embedded into every stage of our operations. From sourcing ingredients and testing raw materials to manufacturing and packaging, our teams work diligently every day to uphold the high standards that consumers expect from MAGGI. These engagements provide an important opportunity to demonstrate the care, expertise, and rigorous processes behind every product.”The programme also featured an interactive cooking session, where participants experienced the practical application of MAGGI products in everyday meal preparation. The session sparked engaging conversations around taste, quality, nutrition, and responsible product use, while allowing participants to experience the products firsthand.Through initiatives such as these, MAGGI continues to foster greater transparency, strengthen stakeholder confidence, and reinforce its commitment to delivering quality products that help consumers prepare tasty and nutritious meals every day.

Lagos, Nigeria – June 11, 2026 – Interswitch, Africa’s leading technology company focused on creating solutions that enable individuals and communities prosper, has announced the commencement of the national pre-qualifying examinations for Season 8 of InterswitchSPAK, its flagship science competition for senior secondary school students across Nigeria. The examination phase began on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, and will run through Tuesday, June 16, 2026, with a total of over 21,000 students nationwide sitting for the examinations. This represents a 19.7 percent increase compared to the over 18,000 registrations recorded in Season 7, underscoring continued nationwide growth and interest in the competition. Now in its eighth season, InterswitchSPAK continues to strengthen its position as one of Nigeria’s leading platforms for identifying and nurturing exceptional Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) talent at the secondary school level. The national pre-qualifying examinations mark the first stage of a rigorous selection process designed to identify the brightest young minds in STEM across the country. Successful candidates will progress through subsequent stages of the competition, culminating in a televised grand finale where finalists compete for scholarships and prizes worth over ₦40 million. Speaking on the commencement of the examinations, Cherry Eromosele, Executive Vice President, Group Marketing and Communications, Interswitch, expressed delight at the continued growth and participation in the initiative.“The remarkable increase in registrations for Season 8 reflects the growing enthusiasm among young Nigerians for STEM education and innovation. We are encouraged by the confidence students, parents, teachers, and schools continue to place in InterswitchSPAK as a platform for academic excellence and opportunity. As the examinations commence, we look forward to discovering another set of exceptional young talents who will shape the future of science and technology in Nigeria,” said Eromosele. This year’s registration process also introduced an expanded access model, allowing parents and guardians to register their wards directly, alongside the traditional school-based registration approach. This enhancement contributed to broader participation and reinforced Interswitch’s commitment to creating inclusive access to educational opportunities for talented students nationwide. Over the past seven seasons, InterswitchSPAK has continued to deliver impact through scholarships, mentorship, and national recognition for outstanding students, while consistently promoting educational equity and excellence in STEM education. The overall winner of Season 8 will receive a ₦15 million tertiary scholarship, including monthly stipends. The first runner-up will receive a ₦10 million scholarship inclusive of monthly stipends, while the second runner-up will be awarded a ₦5 million scholarship, also including monthly stipends. All scholarships are payable over five years. In addition, all nine finalists will receive brand-new laptops and other exciting prizes. Beyond the top prizes, Season 8 introduces enhanced rewards for finalists placed 4th to 9th, alongside increased recognition for the teachers of students who finish in the top nine. The expanded reward structure further underscores Interswitch’s commitment to celebrating academic excellence and recognising the vital role educators play in nurturing future STEM leaders. Through InterswitchSPAK, Interswitch remains committed to investing in Nigeria’s education ecosystem and empowering the next generation of scientists, engineers, innovators, and problem-solvers who will shape the country’s future and strengthen its global competitiveness. For more information and official updates, visit https://www.interswitchspak.com/ and follow InterswitchSPAK on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and X.