Broadcasting
Africa Data Hub Announces First Cohort of it’s Community Journalism Fellowship

Africa Data Hub has announced recipients of the first cohort of the ADH Community Journalism Fellowship.
The Africa Data Hub is a reputable and up-to-date source for COVID-19 related data on the African continent.
It supports and promotes quality access to information, data-driven journalism to facilitate evidence-based decision-making across the continent.
The ADH Community Journalism Fellowship (ACJF) is an initiative of Orodata Science whose mission is to continue to enable equitable access to information and knowledge towards solutions that impact the lives of millions.
The recipients were selected from over 100 journalists who applied for the fellowship program.
The objective of the fellowship is to improve the coverage of under-reported issues in local communities across Nigeria, focusing on potential solutions with lasting impact on effective public service delivery, grassroot development and improving the quality of life.
The fellowship program will support community journalists with grants, capacity development and tools to produce in-depth data-driven stories on issues affecting communities in different parts of the country. It will prioritize stories deep-diving into community health challenges, causes of hunger and extreme poverty, and more importantly stories showing structural barriers women and girls face.
Meet the ADH Community Journalism Fellows:
1. Adesola Ikulaloju

Adesola Ikulaloju is a multimedia investigative journalist. He is a trainee of the Africa Check and US Consulate on combating Misinformation.
His works have appeared in The Nation Newspaper, Nigerian Tribune, Guardian Newspaper, and digital news outlets including Premium Times, BBC (Yoruba and Pidgin), Edutorial. He is currently a multimedia journalist in Nigeria.
2. Ngozi Egenuka

Ngozi Egenuka is a Freelance Reporter with The Guardian Newspaper. She has over four years experience in journalism. Ngozi is a graduate of Mass Communications from Imo State University.
She has also participated in professional trainings such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) training by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) and Media Awareness and Information For All Network (MAIN); Training on Anti-torture act by Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF); trainings on reporting issues of disability organised by Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) and many others.
3. Sodiq Ojuroungbe

Sodiq Ojuroungbe is a journalist with over six years’ experience. He had deep knowledge in data journalism, feature writing, investigating reporting, fact-checking and general reporting. He is the News Editor of the Platform Times, the leading online news platform in Ogun State. Sodiq is a finalist of many international awards and has won best investigative journalist in Ogun state in 2020 and 2021.
4. Tunde Omolehin

Tunde Omolehin is an investigative Journalist covering the northwest states of Nigeria. His works focus on conflicts and humanitarian, digital rights, social inclusion, open contract and environmental crime reporting. He was a fellow of 2012 Africa-China Reporting Project at Wits University, South Africa, and is currently a fellow of the Africa Academy for Open Source Investigation (AAOSI).
5. Bukola Afeni

Bukola Afeni is an award-winning freelance journalist based in Nigeria. She holds a Master of Arts in Development Communications from Nasarawa State University Keffi, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism from the International Institute of Journalism Abuja. She is a Development Journalist with vast experience in print, online and broadcast Journalism.
6. Ann Godwin

Ann Godwin is a journalist with The Guardian Newspaper in Rivers State, she covers environment, trafficking, politics and general beats. She is a media trainer, mentoring young media professionals on Journalism practice. She is currently a Masters Degree Student at Rivers State University. She is an alumnus of the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Ann loves teaching, learning new things, listening to people and solving problems.
7. Israel Olatunji

Israel Olatunji Tijani is a multimedia journalist and data analyst with 5 years of experience across mainstream print, radio, and digital outlets in Nigeria. His journalism career spans social, gender equality, health, tech, and environmental issues, focusing on Nigeria’s marginalized communities. His work has been published by major Nigerian newspapers including The Nation and Sahara Reporters. He is a 2022 fellow of the Nigeria Health Watch Solutions Journalism Africa Fellowship.
8. Victoria Effiong

Victoria Effiong is a dynamic and proactive communication professional, creative thinker, Radio personality and budding investigative journalist with over five years’ experience working in a fast-paced broadcast industry. Victoria holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication from Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH). She is also an SDG 4, 5 and 6 champion and enjoys volunteering in those areas.
Broadcasting
CCPT Dismisses Class Action Suit against MultiChoice over Tariff Hikes

Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja has dismissed a class action suit filed by one Uche Diala and 961 other DStv and GOtv subscribers against MultiChoice Nigeria and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), citing lack of jurisdiction.
The suit challenged MultiChoice’s subscription price increases in November 2023 and May 2024, which the claimants described as arbitrary, exploitative, and unfair.
Diala and others sought to reverse the hikes and compel the company to adopt a more flexible billing model, such as a pay-as-you-view system used in other countries like South Africa.
They also accused MultiChoice of price discrimination against Nigerian consumers.
MultiChoice, through its counsel, raised a preliminary objection, arguing that pricing decisions do not fall within the tribunal’s remit and that the suit was improperly filed as a class action without first seeking the tribunal’s leave.
In its ruling on Thursday, the tribunal’s three-member panel led by Justice Thomas Okosun held that the core issues raised, which were pricing and tariff regulation, fall under the exclusive purview of the executive branch, particularly the President, as stipulated under the Price Control Act.
“The issue of price regulation is a matter that falls within the exclusive purview of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Okosun stated.
While the tribunal acknowledged it holds both original and appellate jurisdiction under the FCCPC Act, it emphasized that such authority does not cover general price control unless abuse of market dominance is established—a point the claimants failed to prove.
On the procedural matter of filing a class action without prior approval, the tribunal noted that although it is ideal to obtain leave, failure to do so was not fatal in this instance since the claimants demonstrated a shared grievance and common interest.
Nonetheless, the tribunal upheld MultiChoice’s objection, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter.
“The preliminary objection of the first defendant succeeds,” the panel held. “This suit is accordingly struck out for want of jurisdiction.”
This ruling follows a similar outcome on May 8, when a Federal High Court in Abuja upheld MultiChoice’s price increases after the company sued the FCCPC.
In that judgment, Justice James Omotoso declared that the FCCPC lacked the authority to fix or suspend subscription rates.
Broadcasting
MultiChoice Nigeria Slashes Decoder Price by 50 Percent, Offers Free Upgrades

MultiChoice Nigeria has slashed the price of its DStv decoder from N20,000 to N10,000, representing a 50 percent drop, in a aim at attracting attract more customers and curb declining subscriptions.
The campaign, titled “We’ve Got You,” was launched on June 16 and will continue until July 31.
Also, as part of its efforts to ease economic pressure on households and improve access to digital TV services, the campaign offers a free upgrade for both active and returning customers.
Speaking on the campaign, John Ugbe, chief executive officer (CEO) of MultiChoice Nigeria, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to rewarding loyalty and enhancing daily viewing experiences.
“We want to ensure our customers feel appreciated and have access to the best entertainment every day,” Ugbe said.
“The ‘We’veGot You’ campaign is about making premium content more accessible and showing that DStv offers something for everyone, not just football fans.
“By repositioning itself as a platform for daily value, DStv aims to encourage content discovery across a wider array of genres, including movies, drama, kids’ programming, and news.
“This means more channels, more shows, and more reasons to tune in every day.”
The development comes amid MultiChoice Nigeria’s legal battle with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over price hike.
Broadcasting
Qatar Airways Top Brass Face Court Action in Nigeria Over FCCPC Charges

Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) will, on Oct. 7, arraigned the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qatar Airways, Mr Temi Birdzell, alongside the company and its top officers, over allegations bordering on breach of FCCPC Act, 2018.
The defendants will be arraigned before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Others to be arraigned with Birdzell are Stella Ihediwa, the Account Manager of the airline; Kennedy Chirchir, the Country Manager and Eva Ojeje, who is the Sales Manager of the company.
Although the arraignment was scheduled for Tuesday, the matter could not proceed.
Upon resumed hearing, none of the defendants was in court.
When the matter was called on Tuesday, none of the defendants was in court due to improper service of the court documents, including the hearing notice, on them.
FCCPC.’s lawyer, Chizenum Nsitem, told the court of their inability to serve four of the defendants, although the company was served.
Nsitem then sought an adjournment to enable them do the needful and the judge adjourned the matter until Oct. 7 for the defendants to take their plea.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commission, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/200/2025, dragged Qatar Airways, Birdzell, Ihediwa, Chirchir and Ojeje to court as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.
FCCPC, in the application dated May 26 but filed May 27, had preferred a two-count charge against the defendants.
The defendants were alleged to have failed to appear before FCCPC in compliance with a lawful summons of the commission dated Sept. 6, 2024, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33 (3) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (FCCPC) Act, 2018.
They were also accused to have on Sept. 18, 2024, intentionally withheld the production of documents in compliance wth a lawful summons of the commission, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 111 of FCCP Act, 2018.
In count three, they were alleged to have on Sept. 18, 2024, engaged in the contravention of the consumer rights, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 124(1) and punishable under Section 155 of the same Act.
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