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Konga Partners Edo State Govt to Empower SMEs, Create Jobs

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Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce giant, has partnered with the Edo State government to create jobs for millions of youths in the state, while also empowering entrepreneurs, business owners and other beneficiaries in the state by bringing their products and services to the consciousness of a global audience.

Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki with Konga staffers

The partnership, unveiled at a citizens’ engagement session held in the state capital on Thursday, August, 26, 2021, has been hailed by the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki as a landmark development.

In his speech at the event, Gov. Obaseki disclosed that Konga was chosen for its cutting-edge technology and remarkable leadership in the e-commerce, even as he reiterated the importance of the partnership to the job creation strategies of the state government.

‘‘We are delighted to partner with Konga on this very significant development in Edo State. We have continued to create opportunities for Edo youths as our administration is open, transparent and competent in all we do. Therefore, we urge Edo people to trust us, as all the opportunities that we present are real, and life-transforming for Edo people.

‘‘We needed information to transform the state. As such, we embarked on the collation of data through our youths with the Data for MEGA project. In Oredo Local Government Area (LGA), we have 11,152 small and medium businesses. In Owan West LGA, we have 501 small and medium businesses; the same data were collated across the state.

‘‘These businesses and others will be exposed to a global audience and more patronage through Konga,’’ he stated.

The event, held at the Government House, in Benin City, also witnessed the unveiling of a N2bn fund for Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI)to support entrepreneurs in the state.

The agreement with the state government will see Konga onboard Edo State on its online marketplace, with products and services from the state listed exclusively on the store. In addition, the e-commerce platform will offer mentorship and capacity-building programmes to aid the development of business owners and other merchants from the state on the platform.

The ambitious plan, according to the management of Konga, is to bring online over 10,000 businesses starting from remote villages, towns and local government areas to the capital, Benin City within the first year of the partnership.These merchants include makers of indigenous products from Edo State including furniture, hair manufacturers, artifacts, handcrafts, production machines, fashion wears and spare parts, among others.

Speaking at the event, Co-CEO, Konga Group, Nick Imudia also noted that the partnership with the state government will translate to tons of job creation opportunities for qualified Edo natives.

‘‘Edo state has shown its readiness for digital transformation and has an environment highly conducive for the people of the state to thrive.

‘‘With the advent of COVID-19, the new normal is that governments and agencies the world over have begun to source multiple ways of reducing cost and deliveries. With Konga, not only would you have a great partner to help with this transition, you’d also be able to cut costs through our platforms that have been built to cater for changes in the marketplace. This is exactly the reason we are working to continue this initiative we believe will create gainful employment and, most importantly, promote products from Edo state.

‘‘In addition, we intend to bring a variety of products to the marketplace at cheaper prices. These include FMCG products, mobile phones, electronics, Computing products, genuine health care products for pharmacies, chemists, cheaper data and much more. We also plan to bring onboard these sellers from Edo State on our CBN-licensed Fintech platform – KongaPay – to enable these beneficiaries enjoy the benefit of our lower transaction charges and other incentives,’’ he disclosed.

In attendance alongside the Edo State governor at the event was his wife, Betsy Obaseki; Konga Co-CEO, Imudia and other Management Executives of the e-commerce company; MD, BOI, Olukayode Pitan; Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq. and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. OsaigbovoIyoha, among others.

The event witnessed a tour of the Edo Production Hub, financed by the state government, which plays host to a number of SMEs and other businesses. In addition to unveiling the Edo Online Marketplace on Konga, the team also commissioned the new Bank of Industry Building in Benin City, the Edo State capital.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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NCC Warns DJs: Playing Music Without License Could Lead to 5-Year Jail Term

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Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has warned disc jockeys (DJs) against publicly playing music without proper authorization or a valid license.

NAN reports that John Asein, NCC director-general, gave the warning in an advisory issued in Abuja.

He said the commission’s attention had been drawn to the growing practice of DJs playing music in public spaces without obtaining copyright licences from their approved collective management organisations (CMOs).

Asein said under sections 9 and 12 of the Copyright Act, 2022, only the owner of copyright in a musical work or sound recording has the exclusive right to reproduce, perform, or communicate it to the public.

The NCC threatened to prosecute defaulters in a case that could lead to a N1 million fine or a 5-year jail term upon conviction.

“Engaging in any of these acts without the owner’s authorisation constitutes an infringement under the Act,” he said.

“Such infringement may constitute a civil wrong or a criminal offence under section 44 (7), punishable upon conviction by a fine of not less than N1 million or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years or to both.”

Asein advised DJs to obtain the necessary licences and pay royalties to the approved CMO before performing music publicly.

The NCC director-general added that the commission will arrest and prosecute anyone found violating the law.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the approved CMO for musical works and sound recordings in Nigeria is the Musical Copyright Society, Nigeria (MCSN),” he said.

“The Commission is aware that the Disc Jockey’s Association of Nigeria (DJAN), as the umbrella body representing DJs in Nigeria, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with MCSN.

“Under the arrangement, DJAN is authorised to work with MCSN to facilitate the payment of royalties by DJs nationwide, based on the tariff that DJAN had negotiated with MCSN.”


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Netflix Hikes Subscription Fees Again in Nigeria over “Market Conditions”

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Netflix has increased its subscription fees in Nigeria for the third time since 2024, with the Premium Plan rising by 21.43%, from ₦7,000 to ₦8,500 per month.

Netflix Hikes Subscription Fees Again in Nigeria over “Market Conditions”

This marks the streaming platform’s first price adjustment in 2025.

Other subscription tiers have also been affected.

The Standard Plan now costs ₦6,500, up from ₦5,500—a hike of 18.18%.

The Basic Plan has increased from ₦3,500 to ₦4,000, while the Mobile Plan moved from ₦2,200 to ₦2,500, reflecting increases of 14.29% and 13.64% respectively.

The latest adjustment aligns with Netflix’s broader global pricing strategy, which the company has linked to its ongoing investment in content and platform development. In a previous communication to investors, Netflix stated, “As we invest in and improve Netflix, we’ll occasionally ask our members to pay a little extra to reflect those improvements. Which in turn helps drive the positive flywheel of additional investment to further improve and grow our service.”

While the company did not explicitly cite inflation in its most recent update, its website indicates that local economic factors influence its pricing structure.

“Price changes are made to respond to local market changes, such as changes to local taxes or inflation,” the statement read.

The move mirrors similar pricing shifts among other major digital and entertainment services in Nigeria.

Companies including Google, DSTV, GOtv, and Microsoft have also raised subscription rates, attributing their decisions to continued inflationary pressures and a weakening naira.


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NBC, Nigcomsat Launch Satellite Plan to Transform Broadcasting

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National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) have jointly introduced “The Big Picture’, a flagship initiative under Nigeria’s renewed Digital Switchover (DSO) project.

NBC, Nigcomsat Launch Satellite Plan to Transform Broadcasting

Under the project,  Nigerian households will for the first time, gain access to high-quality digital broadcasts via affordable satellite dishes, hybrid devices, and internet-enabled set-top boxes.

Backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda, this strategic shift marks a significant step toward transforming Nigeria’s broadcasting landscape by leveraging the country’s sovereign satellite infrastructure.

At the heart of the initiative is NigComSat-1R, Nigeria’s only communications satellite in orbit, which will play a critical role in delivering Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcasts across the entire Nigerian territory.

This satellite-first approach eliminates the traditional dependence on terrestrial transmission towers, accelerating the nationwide rollout of digital broadcasting by over 65%.

It also offers a scalable, cost-effective, and future-ready model for expanding digital access and promoting national storytelling.

Key figures, including: Charles Ebuebu, director-general, NBC; and Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, managing director, Nigcomsat, have welcomed this forward-thinking strategy, emphasising its importance in maximising the use of national satellite assets and ensuring inclusive access to digital content.

An estimated 10 million homes equipped with DVB-S2-compatible televisions or decoders will have immediate access to free-to-air channels, while others will benefit from next-generation hybrid devices that combine satellite feeds with online streaming capabilities.

These new branded devices are designed with the country’s youth-dominated demographic in mind over 60% of the population is under the age of 25.

They will feature pre-installed apps, voice search functionality, parental controls, and seamless integration with NigComSat’s Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), offering an intuitive and engaging user experience.

In a data-driven upgrade to Nigeria’s  broadcasting ecosystem, NBC is also partnering with global analytics firm GARB to introduce real-time audience measurement technology.

This will enable broadcasters, advertisers and content creators to analyse viewership trends across regions and devices, helping to tailor content more effectively and drive higher audience engagement. The introduction of this system is expected to boost advertising revenue by as much as 300% by 2026.

The success of “The Big Picture” will rely on robust collaboration between public and private stakeholders.

The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and other content partners are expected to supply 60% of programming for the new 120-channel platform, using both original and repurposed content.

Meanwhile, local manufacturers will contribute by producing around 5 million compliant devices annually, a move projected to create over 20,000 jobs in assembly plants nationwide.


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