General News
Why Partnerships are Important in Building Sustainable Business Models for Music Reality Shows
By Taofik Bankole,
Music reality shows are popular for their mouthwatering benefits for participants and eventual winners. These benefits ultimately keep the interest in the shows alive, serving as the recipe for good ratings in a highly competitive era of reality shows.
In the past, participants at various levels of music talent shows have joyfully walked home with cash prizes, brand new cars, new apartments, and in many cases, recording contracts. But for the eye-catching monetary and property reward, critics have pointed out that music reality shows barely provide enough for participants in terms of career elevation, hence one of the reasons only a handful go on to attain global stardom. Perhaps what these music reality shows have so far lacked is a strategic career development and business models that could form a catalyst for the transformation of the raw talent into complete packages.
One of such career development and business models that have not been fully explored by organisers of music talent shows is partnerships. Strategic partnerships with reputable organisations, brands and even top-class individuals will in no small measure add an extra spice to the business models adopted by organisers and this will deliberately leave the contestants with a better chance at success.
Simply put, strategic partnerships are a prerequisite for the sustainable success of not just music talent shows, but any talent show at that. Having been a frontrunner in talent discovery and development in Africa over the years, MTN is creating an encouraging rule book for music talent shows with its latest attempt at youth empowerment, Y’ello Star.
In addition to the attractive monetary and property package for the winner, the Y’ello Star winner will walk home with 5 million naira cash prize, a brand new car, and a fully furnished apartment with a home recording studio. All contestants at the maiden edition of the music talent show will also have a rare opportunity to learn the art and business of music, courtesy of partnerships with institutions like the Berklee College of Music, the Henley Business School and Afrinolly Creative Hub.
These partnerships are reflective of MTN’s desire to create a platform for talented individuals to be seen and heard build, whilst also building capacity in the music industry beyond the competition. Henley Business School describes participants in its programmes as having an opportunity to be “enriched by up-to-date knowledge and research, interactive teaching and study projects.”
“At Henley, we apply academic theory to real-world examples to help bring business to life,”
Henley Business School’s contributions to the development of the contestants will include providing a series of entrepreneurship master classes and six months of extensive coaching to help equip them with entrepreneurial skills to have a successful career in the creative industry. With Henley’s program certification and induction, MTN Y’ello Star contestants will be exposed to a global network of professionals and business leaders, with the college boasting over 80,000 alumni in 160 countries.
Similarly, MTN’s partnership with the prestigious Berklee College of Music for the Y’ello Star project will see the winner get a rare opportunity to record and produce a song at the Berklee world-class studio in New York. All final 14 contestants will also go through an online music training program from the same school, while the top five finalists will win scholarships to attend the Berklee 2021 Summer Music Program. What this means is that beyond the opportunity of financial empowerment for the participants, Y’ello Star has been strategically put together to leave a long-lasting impact on participants’ careers as they chase their dreams.
The brilliance of these partnerships is that they form a three-pronged business model that benefit the participants, the organisers and partners alike. Henley Business School, for example, has been particular about strengthening its presence in West Africa for some time, and partnering with MTN on such a magnanimous show will open it up for a chance to reach its desired goal.
Indeed, the possibilities of deliberate partnerships during talent shows abound. As more talent shows emerge to unearth the next generation of music superstars, MTN Y’ello Star will raise its head high to set a standard for sustainable models through its peerless partnership with some of the world’s finest organisations. And it is only right that others follow.
The Nigerian government has launched the Virtual Privacy Academy, a new digital training platform designed to deepen data protection and privacy policies in the private and public sectors.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, unveiled the initiative during the 8th annual conference of the Network of African Data Protection Authorities, which began yesterday in Abuja.
The three-day conference, titled “Balancing Innovation in Africa: Data Protection and Privacy in Emerging Technologies,” drew attendees from over 30 African countries, as well as Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States.
Dr. Tijani emphasised that the academy is part of Nigeria’s strategy to capitalise on the benefits of the digital economy by providing actors with the tools they need to navigate hazardous data governance landscape.
According to Tijani, this project would provide Nigerians with the opportunity to gain practical skills in data protection.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, highlighted Nigeria’s recent data governance milestones during his address.
He stated that the Commission had completed over 5,000 compliance assessments, opened 223 investigations, and assisted 12 organisations with rehabilitation.
Dr. Olatunji urged African countries who have yet to pass data protection laws to do so, emphasizing that “strong data protection frameworks are not barriers to innovation, but enablers of a resilient and inclusive digital economy.”
Treepz, Africa’s leading corporate mobility startup, has announced an exclusive partnership with Miva Open University, Nigeria’s premier open university. Under this agreement, Treepz becomes Miva’s official transportation provider, delivering services across key cities, including Lagos, Abuja, Uyo, Port Harcourt, and Jos.
L-R: Sani Chanchangi, Business Development Manager, Treepz; Godwin Okpe, Community & Engagement Manager, Miva Open University; Florence Sulyman-Boboye, Global Vice President of Business Development and People, Treepz; Oluwole Adeniji, Manager, Corporate Services, Miva Open University
As Miva Open University expands its academic and administrative presence across Nigeria, Treepz will provide on-demand access to premium vehicles for staff transportation, guest logistics, special events, and official university functions. With a fleet that includes SUVS, Coaster buses, and luxury vehicles, Treepz ensures that all mobility needs are handled with reliability and professionalism.
“This partnership is a strategic move that helps us stay focused on what we do best—delivering accessible and flexible education,” said Oluwole Adeniji, Admin Operations Manager at Miva University. “With Treepz handling our transportation across the country, we can scale confidently, knowing our staff, guests, and stakeholders are moving safely and efficiently.”
On Treepz’s end, Johnny Enagwolor, Co-Founder and President at Treepz, noted that the partnership comes at a pivotal moment, allowing Miva, a forward-thinking institution, to prioritise its core mission of delivering quality education, while Treepz efficiently manages a wide range of its inter-city mobility needs.
“By providing a tailored transport service, Treepz aims to alleviate the logistical burdens of institutions, ensuring Miva University operate at its best.
“At Treepz, we understand the importance of reliable and efficient transport services in driving organisational success. Our goal is to provide Miva with the most comfortable, safe, and convenient transportation solutions possible,” Johnny added. We are committed to providing high-quality, safe, and reliable transportation solutions that support Miva’s mission and contribute to its ongoing success.
Furthermore, we recall that Treepz commemorated its fifth anniversary on September 16th, 2024. Over the past five years, the startup has made notable progress in addressing the continent’s transportation challenges through innovative, tailored solutions.
Treepz has also established itself as a key player in the African mobility industry, with more than 6 million customers served, consistently expanding its services and strategic partnerships to meet the evolving needs of corporate clients.
Recent partnerships with industry leaders such as Parallex Bank and KingMakers (owners of BetKing) have enabled Treepz to provide efficient transportation solutions to complete millions of employee commutes with their shared transportation service.
These accomplishments highlight Treepz’s growing influence and its commitment to revolutionizing corporate mobility and enhancing transportation experiences across the continent.
For more information about Treepz and its corporate travel services, kindly visit www.treepz.com
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said that the Afreximbank would invest $19 billion to fund the African Energy Bank.
He said the $19 billion would go a long way toward tackling and overcoming energy poverty, driving economic growth, and improving the lives of millions of people.
The minister disclosed this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Pavilion, hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S with the theme “Africa’s Energy Renaissance: Leveraging Innovation and Natural Gas for Sustainable Development.”
He said that by pooling resources, African countries can invest in large-scale energy projects.
Also, the minister stressed the need for Africa to develop cohesive policies tailored to its unique circumstances, warning that fragmented approaches would be ineffective in addressing the escalating energy deficit.
“This conference is not a jamboree. It is a platform for Nigeria, and by extension, Africa — to showcase its vast potential,” Lokpobiri said.
He underscored the importance of regional collaboration, highlighting the Africa Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) as a strategic entity established to devise shared solutions for the continent’s energy challenges.
According to him, the prevailing global discourse on energy transition is largely influenced by geopolitical considerations.
In response to this challenge, he announced that APPO is in the process of establishing the African Energy Bank to bridge funding gaps and ultimately free the continent from energy poverty.
During a meeting with his Ghanaian counterpart, Lokpobiri advised Ghana to draw lessons from Nigeria’s past experiences in the energy sector, particularly in avoiding early missteps.
In his address, Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Mr John Abdullahi, acknowledged Nigeria’s leading role in the region.
He stated that while Ghana is a relatively new player in the oil and gas sector, it is eager to learn from Nigeria’s experiences and reforms, especially in the areas of local content development and climate policy.
“We will continue to consult Nigeria as we build a successful oil and gas industry. The collaboration between both countries remains strong. For his part, PETAN Chairman Wole Ogunsanya emphasised the significance of Nigeria’s presence at OTC.
He said: “This year’s event, under the Nigerian Pavilion, is set to highlight Africa’s growing role in the global energy sector.
“OTC 2025 promises to bring together top-tier industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders at the world’s largest energy event.”
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