Brand
MultiChoice: Subscriber Base Dip Reflects Difficult Consumer Environment
A business news item with some prominence last week was the interim financial results of the pay television company, MultiChoice Group, with Nigeria being one of its most significant markets. The most arresting item in the results is the announcement of the loss of 243,000 subscribers on MultiChoice’s DStv and GOtv services within the six months (April to September 2024) covered by the result released last week.Also of public interest, albeit to a lesser extent domestically, is MultiChoice’s loss of 298,000 subscribers in its Zambian market, which was attributed to persistent power outages induced by drought. Although there were declines in the company’s other markets in the Rest of Africa (RoA) and South Africa, they were relatively low at 25% and 5%, respectively.Also reflected in the results was the $21 million trapped in the distressed Heritage Bank, which has had its license revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria. This splurge of negative information understandably sparked a mix of reactions, notably wildly unreasoned but with a smattering of clear-headed ones. The previous analysis, which focused only on subscriber losses and the $21 million, ignored other aspects of the results and reached an apocalyptic conclusion.That strain of analysis blamed the subscriber base decline on the tariffs charged by the company.It was indifferent to the local economic conditions, which have significantly diminished purchasing power not only among MultiChoice subscribers but also for users of other services and goods.It could not have been otherwise, given that the country’s inflation rate has been consistently above 30% for over a year, with the latest figure of 33.88%. The inflationary pressures have been aggravated by the drastic and continuous dip in the value of the naira, which caused businesses, including MultiChoice, huge foreign exchange losses. The pay television company’s losses from a dollar-denominated intergroup loan stood at 2.1 billion Rands within the period covered by the results.It is quite clear that during tough economic times, consumers reduce spending on non-essential items, the category into which pay television services are included. This is supported by the recent CBN Household Expectations Survey, which stated that at this time, Nigerians focus on food, household necessities, education, transportation, electricity, and medical care.“The Buying Condition Index for high-ticket items like consumer durables, motor vehicles, and real estate suggests that most respondents believe the current month is unfavourable for purchasing these items. Additionally, consumers do not anticipate the next three to six months will be ideal for acquiring such products,” the report noted.There is ample evidence that businesses are bleeding on account of the rough economic weather. Guinness Nigeria Plc reported a net loss of N12.2 billion for Q1 2025 (ending September 30, 2024). This represents a dramatic 568% decline from the N2.6 billion net profit recorded during the same period the previous year. The company cited declining sales volumes, a reduced gross profit margin, and foreign exchange revaluation losses amounting to N8.4 billion as the primary causes.Nestlé Nigeria Plc reported a significant pre-tax loss of N255.4 billion for the first nine months of 2024. This represents a 381% increase in losses compared to the N56.65 billion loss recorded during the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, Airtel Group generated revenue of $2.37 billion for the half-year ending September 30, 2024, marking a 10% decline from $2.62 billion in the same period in 2023. The company’s operating profit fell by 20%, and it faced a $151 million loss attributed to the devaluation of the naira. These figures highlight the decline in consumer spending on calls and data services.Some analysts, who seemingly paid inadequate attention to the results and/or heard voices in their heads, , attributed the outcomes recorded by MultiChoice to the increasing consumer adoption of streaming services like Netflix and Prime and MultiChoice’s failure to diversify.Neither, going by the results, has any factual basis. While there is no debate that streaming services are rising in popularity, Showmax, MultiChoice’s subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service platform is enjoying popularity, reporting 50% year-on-year growth and a 30% increase in paying subscribers. This is attributed to its transition to the Peacock technology stack, which has allowed it to establish partnerships with major distributors like Kenya’s M-PESA and South Africa’s Capitec to enhance adoption. The tariffs of the streaming services have similarly been affected by local economic conditions. Netflix, for example, has hiked the tariff of its premium package to N7,000 from N4,000 monthly.The results, contrary to the claim that MultiChoice has focused solely on traditional pay television, show forethought and bold diversification footprints.“We are proactive in our focus to right-size the business for the current economic realities and industry changes. We have successfully been implementing our strategy over the past few years, achieving key milestones such as our investment in KingMakers [MultiChoice’s gaming division],” Calvo Mawela, CEO of MultiChoice Group, stated.MultiChoice is expanding into the insurance and financial services sectors through a partnership with Sanlam. The partnership is expected to spawn an accounting gain of between $144.4 million and $182.9 million. Moment, the company’s fintech venture, is also experiencing significant growth, as it currently processes nearly 30% of MultiChoice’s total payments, achieving payment volumes of $242 million across 40 African countries since it was launched.In gaming industry, BetKing Nigeria has risen to the second position in the online betting sector. Though the industry experienced a 48% revenue decrease, Betking’s overall revenue rose by 10%. Irdeto, MultiChoice’s global technology division, has shown the capability to make significant contributions through the expansion of It offers digital security services to address the increasing demands of online and streaming platforms.The alarming predictions made by certain analysts and doomsayers fail to recognize that the economic conditions in Nigeria, particularly the soaring inflation, have forced consumers to tighten their belts. As a result, consumer behaviour has shifted significantly. Days of wine and roses are no longer around. For now, at least.
Brand
MTN Brings Live It 100 on Campus Experience to DELSU, Nursing Science Student Wins Brand New Car
Thousands of students of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, turned out for MTN’s Live It 100 on Campus activation, a three-day engagement that combined entertainment, gaming, brand experiences and giveaways, culminating in the presentation of a brand-new car to a lucky student. The activation, which ran from Wednesday, June 17 to Friday, June 19, 2026, transformed Campus 3 of the university into a vibrant hub of activities as students participated in games, interactive experiences, prize giveaways and entertainment programmes designed to engage and reward young people. Speaking at the grand finale of the three-day activation, Senior Manager, Segment Marketing (Youth, Women and Teens), MTN Nigeria, Temilolu Salako, said the initiative reflects MTN’s commitment to supporting young Nigerians beyond connectivity by creating opportunities for engagement, empowerment and recreation. According to him, MTN Pulse was designed to connect with young people in ways that support both their academic journey and personal aspirations. “MTN Pulse is an impactful campus initiative created to celebrate and support young people. We want students to have opportunities to learn, connect, showcase their talents and enjoy memorable experiences while on campus,” he said. Salako stated that the activation has continued to expand across tertiary institutions nationwide as part of MTN’s broader commitment to youth development and engagement. The university management commended the initiative, describing it as a valuable contribution to student welfare and wellbeing. Representing the Vice Chancellor, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof. Vincent Efebeh, praised MTN for its continued investment in young people and for creating opportunities that combine learning, recreation and community engagement. He said the activation had provided students with an avenue to relax, interact and recharge outside the classroom environment. The President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Comrade Kingsley Dumuje, also lauded the initiative, describing it as one that resonated strongly with students. According to him, the programme is a demonstration of MTN’s understanding of what matters to students beyond the classroom, combining entertainment, engagement and meaningful rewards in a way that resonates with young people. The high point of the event came during the raffle draw on the final day when Joyce Obarakpor, a 200-level Nursing Science student of the school emerged winner of a brand-new car, sparking excitement across the venue. Expressing gratitude, Obarakpor said she had imagined winning before the event and dedicated the win to her mother, describing her as her greatest support system. “My mum is going to be very excited because she has sacrificed so much to make sure my siblings and I go to school. I just want to say thank you to MTN. I’m very happy and very excited,” she said. Live It 100 on Campus is part of MTN Pulse’s youth engagement platform designed to connect with students through experiences that bring together entertainment, learning and opportunities, while strengthening the brand’s relationship with young Nigerians across tertiary institutions nationwide.
Brand
DAVIDHALL INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE, LAGOS STATE, AND ADO GRAMMAR SCHOOL, EKITI STATE, WIN MILO WESTERN CONFERENCE TITLES
The road to the 26th MILO Basketball Championship National Finals reached a significant milestone with the conclusion of the Western Conference, the fourth and final regional conference of the championship. The conference saw Ado Grammar School, Ekiti State, and Davidhall International College, Lagos State, emerge champions in the girls’ and boys’ categories respectively, securing the final places at the National Finals.For 26 years, MILO has remained committed to youth development through school sports, using basketball as a platform to inspire discipline, teamwork, resilience and confidence among young people. This year, over 13,000 schools applied to participate in the MILO Basketball Championship nationwide, reflecting the continued growth and impact of the platform.Nine schools in each category competed with passion and determination for the final available places in the championship finale. In the girls’ category, Ado Grammar School, Ekiti State, secured a hard-fought 53–49 victory over Lanreleke Academy, Osun State. The win marks a significant achievement for the school as it qualifies for the National Finals for the first time.In the boys’ category, Davidhall International College, Lagos State, defeated God’s Blessings Comprehensive College, Oyo State, in a thrilling final, emerging champions with an 82–81 victory to secure their place at the National Finals.The opening address was delivered by the Category Manager, MILO, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Mr. Gilbert Tweneboah-Koduah, who reaffirmed MILO’s commitment to youth development through sport and highlighted the positive impact of the championship on young people across the country “At MILO, we believe that sport is one of the most powerful tools for shaping character and building future leaders. Through the Basketball Championship, we continue to provide young people with opportunities to develop discipline, resilience, teamwork and determination, qualities that will serve them well beyond the court’’ In the girls’ category, Miracle Akinola of Ado Grammar School, Ekiti State, was named Most Valuable Player. Wearing jersey number 10, she delivered an outstanding performance, contributing 22 points out of her team’s total of 53 points.In the boys’ category, Emmanuel Saleh of Davidhall International College, Lagos State, was named Most Valuable Player. Wearing jersey number 7, he contributed 19 points out of his team’s 82 points and played a key role in securing victory for his team.The event was attended by dignitaries from the Oyo State Ministry of Education, as well as representatives of the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), the National Council on School Sport (NCSS), and FIBA.The conclusion of the Western Conference marks the completion of the regional phase of the 26th MILO Basketball Championship, following successful conferences across the country.The Savannah Conference saw Government Secondary School, Zing, Taraba State, emerge girls’ champions, while Family Support Programme Secondary School, Katsina State, won the boys’ category. The Central Conference followed, producing Government Secondary School, Gboko, Benue State, and Father O’Connell Science College, Niger State, as champions in the girls’ and boys’ categories respectively. At the Atlantic Conference, St. Jude Girls Secondary School, Bayelsa State, and King Amakree Academy, Rivers State, secured the regional titles in the girls’ and boys’ categories respectively.With the conclusion of the Western Conference, all regional champions for the 26th MILO Basketball Championship have now emerged, completing the lineup for the National Finals scheduled to take place on July 2, 2026, at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Brand
St. Jude Girls Secondary School, Bayelsa, and King Amakree Academy, Rivers, Win MILO Atlantic Conference Titles
The road to the 26th MILO Basketball Championship National Finals continued with the successful conclusion of the Atlantic Conference, the third regional conference of the championship, held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State, where St. Jude Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State, and King Amakree Academy, Rivers State, emerged champions in the girls’ and boys’ categories respectively.
For 26 years, MILO has remained committed to youth development through school sports, using basketball as a platform to inspire discipline, teamwork, resilience and confidence among young people. This year, over 13,000 schools applied to participate in the MILO Basketball Championship nationwide, reflecting the continued growth and relevance of the platform.
Nine schools in each category competed with passion and determination for a place at the National Finals, with only the regional champions advancing to the next stage of the competition. At the end of the contest, St. Jude Girls Secondary School emerged champions in the girls’ category after defeating Urhobo College 46–25, while King Amakree Academy secured the boys’ title with a hard-fought 47–44 victory over Urhobo College.
The opening address was delivered by the Category Manager, MILO, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Mr. Gilbert Tweneboah-Koduah, who highlighted the role of the championship in inspiring young athletes to pursue excellence beyond the game.
“Every game played at this championship reminds us of the courage, determination and promise that exist in our young people. These students are not only competing for medals; they are learning to believe in themselves, to work as a team, and to rise above challenges. At MILO, we are proud to continue supporting a platform that helps young people turn their passion into purpose,” he said.
In the girls’ category, Anthonia Obokawe of St. Jude Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State, was named Most Valuable Player. Wearing jersey number 4, she contributed 12 points out of her team’s 46 points, playing a key role in their victory.
In the boys’ category, Edmund Hart of King Amakree Academy, Rivers State, was named Most Valuable Player after delivering an outstanding performance, contributing 22 points out of their team’s 47 points.
The event was attended by dignitaries from the Delta State Ministry of Education, as well as representatives from NSSF, NCSF and FIBA.
The journey to the 26th MILO Basketball Championship National Finals has progressed through key regional stages across the country.
From the Savannah Conference, where Government Secondary School, Zing, Taraba State, emerged girls’ champions and Family Support Programme Secondary School, Katsina State, won the boys’ category. To the Central Conference, where Government Secondary School, Gboko, Benue State, secured the girls’ title and Father O’Connell Science College, Niger State, emerged boys’ champions. And now to the Atlantic Conference, where St. Jude Girls Secondary School, Bayelsa State, and King Amakree Academy, Rivers State, emerged champions in the girls’ and boys’ categories respectively.
Attention now turns to the Western Conference, the final regional stage, where winning schools will secure places at the 26th MILO Basketball Championship National Finals scheduled for July 2, 2026, at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
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