Broadcasting
Post-pandemic World Calls for Empathetic Leadership
By Emmchel Dudu
Usman Okoroigwe has been struggling with unemployment since the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic. Usman worked as a hospitality manager in a popular hotel chain. He had been with the company for over a decade and had worked his way up from an entry-level position to a managerial role. However, when the pandemic hit and travel restrictions were imposed, the hotel industry suffered a severe blow.
As the hotel occupancy plummeted, Usman’s position was declared redundant due to the financial strain the company was experiencing. It was a devastating blow for him, as he had dedicated a significant portion of his career to the hotel industry and built a strong professional network. Usman’s story reflects the harsh reality faced by many individuals who have been struggling with unemployment since the Covid-19 pandemic began. It highlights the long-lasting impact of economic disruptions and the challenges in finding new job opportunities in a rapidly changing job market.
Like other workers who lost their jobs, Usman’s mental health plummeted. A survey was conducted among adults in selected African countries using WhatsApp, Facebook, and emails between April and May 2020, when those countries were under lockdown due to the pandemic. The survey included adult respondents – the majority (27%) were from Nigeria. Almost all Nigerians reported mental health symptoms (89.9%). About half of Nigerians reported feeling anxious (44.9%) or worried (47.1%). Almost a third reported being frustrated (31.7%). A sixth were angry (18.5%), and almost two-thirds (59.2%) reported boredom during the lockdown. In the wake of this unprecedented state of mental health among the workforce, empathetic leadership has become essential to cultivating a workplace culture that acknowledges and supports individual needs, fosters resilience, and boosts overall well-being.
Newmark Group Limited, a pan-African Integrated Marketing and Communications Company, emerged as a shining example of empathetic leadership. When the pandemic necessitated a transition to remote work, the company made a pivotal decision that defined its empathetic approach—it chose to continue paying its employees full salaries when many other companies either slashed their employees’ salaries or retrenched others. This helped the employees feel at ease, ensuring their financial stability and peace of mind. This compassionate act thus laid the foundation for a post-pandemic world where empathy and employee well-being remained the core principles of Newmark’s leadership philosophy.
Embracing Empathy and Inclusive Leadership
The importance of empathy by leaders is further shown in reports carried out between the 2020 pandemic and now. 77% of respondents to a Deloitte survey agreed that empathy is a crucial leadership skill, especially in times of crisis. Additionally, a study by the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) found that leaders who demonstrate empathy are viewed as more effective by their employees and have higher levels of engagement and job satisfaction within their teams.
This proves the essence of leaders actively seeking diverse perspectives and ensuring that marginalised voices are heard. This will prioritise the well-being of their employees, as leaders will pay attention to not just their physical safety but also their mental health, work-life balance, and overall well-being. Human-centric leaders understand the power of empathy in driving meaningful connections, fostering inclusivity, and building resilient organizations. By valuing diversity, equality, and inclusion, leaders can tap into the full potential of their teams.
Prioritizing Employee Well-Being:
Creating a work-life balance-friendly environment for leaders to support employee well-being is important. Leaders can establish flexible work schedules, provide resources and assistance for mental health issues, and encourage self-care behaviours. This will foster a healthy workforce by investing in the total well-being of their workforce, which will also increase productivity and creativity.
Empathy and compassion must be at the core of leadership in a post-pandemic world. Putting employee well-being first shows dedication to people’s growth and success and directly affects organisational performance. Empathy should be embraced even by those who are not yet leaders for the benefit of both individuals and the organisation. We should engage in human-centric leadership and create a future marked by compassion, understanding, and growth.
Moving forward, it’s important to recognise the necessity for health and well-being workplace technology disruption. This disruption should go beyond wearable devices and smartphone health-tracking apps. This will create an environment that optimises their health, productivity, and satisfaction. The future of work can be reshaped by embracing these changes that prioritise the holistic well-being of the workforce.
As leaders, employees, and communities, we have the power to create a post-pandemic world where empathy, inclusive leadership, and digital workplace technology converge. Our transformative journey involves combining compassion and innovation to establish human-centric leadership as the norm. This will enable us to achieve new heights of success, well-being, and fulfilment.
MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), a Pan-African film and television training institution, has announced the opening of applications for its 2026 intake.
MultiChoice
The fully funded programme is open to African graduates aspiring to become directors, filmmakers, scriptwriters, producers and storytellers.
According to MultiChoice, the nine-month accredited curriculum combines online learning with intensive in-person training, and is designed to balance theoretical knowledge with practical immersion.
MTF academies are located in Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia, and serve aspiring filmmakers from 14 African countries. Since its inception in 2018, the initiative has trained 296 filmmakers, with graduates producing more than 42 movies aired on DStv, GOtv and Showmax platforms.
Organisers said alumni of the programme have gone on to establish over 50 production companies, while many continue to work within the MultiChoice ecosystem.
Graduates have also won accolades at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, Kalasha Awards, Uganda Film Festival and Women in Film Awards.
Applications for the 2026 intake close on Feb. 27, 2026. Interested candidates can visit https://apo-opa.co/3XW53oE for programme requirements.
Broadcasting
Davido, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Karl Toriola, Others To Be Honoured At The Most Influential People of African Descent Awards In Lagos
Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) is excited to announce the Lagos Diaspora Experience 2025, a week-long celebration of African art, culture, innovation, and connection, culminating in the End of the Year Awards & Celebration on Sunday, December 21st, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria.
The Most Influential People of African Descent Awards
This historic occasion marks the first time the world-famous Most Influential 100 Recognition & Awards Ceremony—traditionally held in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)—will be hosted in Lagos, Nigeria.
The week will feature events such as Diaspora Day at the Fela Exhibition (Afrobeat Meets Diaspora), Cultural Heritage Day, and Business Leadership Luncheons, all culminating in the awards celebration.
The evening will honor the Best & Brightest of the Year, recognizing exceptional individuals and institutions whose work has advanced Global African Achievement and Black Excellence across business, government, media, culture, and technology.
Key Recognitions for 2025
– Governor of the Year & City of the Year: His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, honored alongside Lagos as City of the Year for its global leadership in culture, innovation, tourism, and diaspora engagement.
– Her Excellency Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, will be honoured as Minister of the Year for her contribution to the creative economy’s role in nation branding and cultural diplomacy.
– Most Influential Woman of the Year: Olorì Atúwàtse III, Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom
– Most Influential Man of the Year: Adewale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive, OANDO
– CEO of the Year: Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria; who will deliver a keynote address, recognized for his transformative leadership and impact on Nigeria’s telecommunications and digital economy.
Others include; Karl Toriola of MTN as CEO of the year, Uche Pedro of Bella Naija as Lifestyle Personality Of The Year, Ojy Okpe of Artise News as Most Influential News Anchor Of The Year, Stephanie Busari as Media Executive of the Year, Kayode Okikiolu as Pressman of the year, Davido as Artist of the year and several others.
In celebrating this year’s honorees, Michael Ehindero, Managing Director, Pernod Ricard Nigeria, owners of Martell Cognac, who emerged as Brand Of The Year expressed deep appreciation for the brand’s continued global recognition, saying: “It’s a great reward for the team who’s delivered Martell excellently in Nigeria over the years.
“We say thank you to the teams, we say thank you to our consumers and we say thank you to MIPAD.
“Martell has a lot of promising experiences in the years to come in Nigeria and with this we invite you over to Nigeria to experience Detty December”.
The ceremony will also celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2025 Honorees, alongside past Nigerian honorees who were unable to attend their year of recognition in New York.
“For the first time, we’re bringing our world-famous recognition platform home to celebrate excellence within the Global Africa Family — right here in Lagos,” said Kamil Olufowobi, Founder & Chairman of MIPAD. “This is more than an event; it’s a movement uniting the best of us — connecting, collaborating, and working together to change the world.”
Event Details
📍 Lagos, Nigeria
– Friday, Dec 19 – #DettyDec Diaspora Day at Fela Exhibition FREE
– Sunday, Dec 21 – End of Year Recognition & Award Ceremony STRICTLY BY INVITATION
🎟️ RSVP: https://rsvp.oakenevents.com/mipad
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has called for urgent adoption of advanced digital protections after blocking seven piracy sites amid escalating online threats to Nollywood content.
The call was made during a webinar hosted by Greychapel Legal titled “Clicks, Streams, and Copyright: Who Owns Nollywood’s Digital Future?”, which brought together filmmakers, regulators, entertainment lawyers and media strategists to examine how content ownership and copyright enforcement are being reshaped by the digital age.
Lynda Alphaeus, director and head of the NCC Lagos Office, said the Commission has intensified its efforts to combat piracy across digital channels and is upgrading its operations to meet emerging threats.
According to her, Nigeria’s new Copyright Act was deliberately updated to strengthen creators’ rights amid the explosion of online distribution.
“NCC has worked, and is still working tirelessly to adapt Nigeria’s legal framework to cope with digital distribution challenges. We now have the power to block networks publishing illegal content, and we have already blocked seven websites distributing pirated Nigerian works,” Alphaeus said.
She revealed that the Commission has established a special taskforce known as the STOP Unit to coordinate anti-piracy operations online, alongside new awareness campaigns targeting local markets and schools to educate content creators and the public on copyright obligations.
Alphaeus urged filmmakers and producers to take ownership of their digital safety by deploying available technological protections to safeguard their intellectual property.
She explained that tools such as encryption help prevent unauthorised copying, blockchain technology offers immutable proof of ownership, digital watermarking allows creators to trace illegal uploads, while cloud security and regular offline backups protect creative files before they reach the market.
While noting that copyright in Nigeria does not legally require registration, she stressed that registering one’s work strengthens protection and provides legal presumptions that can be vital in enforcement.
“Whatever you register is presumed to be yours until proven otherwise,” she said, urging creators to invest in copyright knowledge as part of their business strategy.
Other speakers at the webinar reinforced the urgency of protecting Nollywood’s digital assets.
James Omokwe, film director, noted that while streaming platforms have created unprecedented opportunities for visibility and monetisation, they have also opened new vectors for intellectual property theft and unauthorised redistribution.
Solafunmi Laelle, media strategist, added that audience data, which streaming platforms rely heavily on, will increasingly determine leverage and value in film licensing negotiations.
According to her, creators who lose control of their intellectual property, whether through piracy or unfavourable contracts, also lose access to valuable data that could shape their long-term earnings.
Nky Ofeimun, entertainment lawyer, emphasised the need for creators to understand the contractual implications of ownership, platform exclusivity, and reversion rights.
She noted that many filmmakers still underestimate how quickly digital copies can be illegally duplicated or uploaded once control is lost.
The panelists agreed that as Nollywood deepens its digital footprint, piracy will continue to evolve and become more sophisticated.
They stressed that the industry must respond with equally sophisticated tools, stronger contract negotiation, and improved education around copyright.
REA, NBS Partner to Deliver Comprehensive Energy Data for Nigeria
Check Point Reveals Nigeria as Second Most Targeted African Country for Cyberattacks in November
Airtel Africa Partners Starlink to Launch Direct-to-cell Service in 14 Markets
CBN Revokes Licenses of Two Mortgage Banks, NDIC Begins Liquidation
JustMarkets Launches Global Boost Contest With Gold Prizes for Traders
Nigeria Records Highest Weekly Cyberattacks in Africa — Report
Hackers Breach Phones of Dangote and Otedola, Demand Ransom
Cyber Tsunami Hits Nigeria as Breaches Surge 1,047%, esentry Q3 Report Reveals
FG Lists Bank Charges Nigerians Will Stop Paying from January 2026
MTN Nigeria Has Invested Over ₦32.23 Billion in National Priorities Through Its Foundation
E-Financial3 days agoSupreme Court Clears Fidelity Bank in ₦225bn Sagecom Saga
E-Financial3 days agoPreventing Financial Crimes Amid Mounting Insecurity: Why Following the Money is Now a Survival Imperative
E-Financial3 days agoUnion Bank Clinches Top Workplace Practice Honour at Sustainability Awards
Broadcasting2 days agoDavido, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Karl Toriola, Others To Be Honoured At The Most Influential People of African Descent Awards In Lagos
News2 days agoSiBAN New Executive Council to Champion Vision for Nigeria’s Digital Economy
E-Financial2 days agoTax Reform or Financial Exclusion? The Trouble with Mandatory TINs
Telecom2 days agoNCC Blames NOGASA for Abuja Outage
Telecom3 days agoNITDA Charts Path for Kano as Innovation Hub