Akeju, Bankulli Drive Afrobeats Narrative at NYC ‘Chronicles’ Screening

  Afrobeats, one of Africa’s most influential cultural exports, is set to gain further global attention as industry stakeholders converge in New York for the screening of Chronicles of Afrobeats, a project documenting the evolution and international impact of the genre.

The event, scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the iconic SOB’s NYC, will feature an exclusive screening followed by a high-level panel discussion involving key figures shaping the Afrobeats movement across continents.

Founded by Abisagboola Oluseun John, professionally known as Bankulli, the initiative aims to provide a deeper narrative into the roots, growth, and future trajectory of Afrobeats, which has grown from a regional sound into a dominant force on the global music stage.

Speaking ahead of the event, Dr Amanda Ota, a partner at Loud in Africa, emphasized the cultural and economic significance of the genre, stating, “Afrobeats is no longer just a sound; it is a global cultural movement that continues to shape identity, influence markets, and open new pathways for African creatives worldwide.”

Also lending his voice, Abass Mubarak Akeju noted the importance of documenting the journey, saying, “Every great movement deserves to have its story told, and Afrobeats is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of African storytelling on the global stage.”

The panel session will bring together a diverse lineup of industry experts including Bankulli of Bankulli Entertainment, Dr. Amanda Ota of Loud in Africa, Robert Schwartz of Whomag, South African radio personality Unathi Nkayi, and Priscila Santana of Summerstage.

Organisers say the event will not only celebrate the milestones of Afrobeats but also provide a platform for critical conversations around its sustainability, ownership, and continued expansion in international markets.

With its increasing dominance across charts, festivals, and global collaborations, Afrobeats continues to redefine Africa’s place in the global music industry reinforcing the notion that every journey indeed has a beginning.

MySCU, London International Academy Award

  

A partnership between MySCU and Canada’s London International Academy has resulted in the award of over CA$300,000 in scholarships to African students, marking one of several recent efforts to structure access to international secondary education from the continent.

The scholarships, delivered through MySCU’s Global Scholars Program (A-Teen Scholars Track), include five fully funded awards valued at CA$60,000 each, covering tuition, accommodation, travel, and living expenses. An additional ten students received full tuition scholarships valued at CA$30,000, while 45 others were awarded partial scholarships of CA$22,250.

The five fully funded recipients are Gathigia Wahome (Kenya), Netanya Liro (Ethiopia), Mina Samir (Egypt), Joshua Oguntona (Nigeria), and Emerald Anario (Nigeria), all of whom will complete the Ontario Secondary School Diploma at London International Academy.While scholarship programmes are not new within international education, the structure of this initiative reflects a broader shift in how African students are being recruited and supported through the admissions process.

Across many African markets, study-abroad pathways remain fragmented, often reliant on informal advisory networks and independent agents. This has created a system where outcomes can be inconsistent, particularly as visa processes become more stringent and require greater documentation accuracy and financial clarity.In response, a number of operators are attempting to introduce more structured approaches to student mobility.

MySCU, founded by Timi Aluko, is one such example. The platform integrates elements of the admissions journey including student profiling, university matching, scholarship identification, and visa preparation, into a single workflow. The aim, according to the company, is to reduce uncertainty in application outcomes and improve alignment between students and institutions.Timi’s background in international admissions and student placement provides context for this approach. 

Prior to launching MySCU, her work involved guiding students through global education pathways, including engagement with organisations such as the United World Colleges and broader international education networks. These experiences exposed operational gaps in how students transition from local education systems into global opportunities.

The MySCU–London International Academy partnership also reflects a growing interest among institutions in more predictable recruitment pipelines from Africa. By linking scholarship access with structured preparation processes, such models aim to improve both student readiness and institutional conversion rates.At the same time, the initiative sits within a changing global landscape. 

African students are increasingly exploring destinations beyond traditional markets such as the United Kingdom and the United States, influenced by visa policies, cost considerations, and acceptance rates.MySCU has also announced an expansion into European pathways through a partnership with Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM) in Spain, targeting undergraduate and postgraduate students for future intakes.

However, the emergence of structured platforms introduces new considerations.Access to some scholarship pathways is tied to paid service layers, reflecting a broader trend in education technology where advisory services are bundled with outcome-driven support. This raises questions around accessibility in markets where affordability remains a constraint.

Education analysts note that while structured systems may improve transparency and outcomes, their long-term impact will depend on their ability to balance scalability with inclusion.

For now, initiatives such as the MySCU–London International Academy partnership highlight a gradual shift in how international education pathways from Africa are being organised, from informal, agent-led processes toward more coordinated and system-driven models.

SoniBaze Digital Calls on Abuja Businesses to Ditch Guesswork Marketing for Measurable Digital Strategy

SoniBaze Digital, one of Abuja's leading digital marketing agencies, has called on businesses across the Federal Capital Territory to move away from inconsistent, instinct-driven marketing approaches and adopt structured, data-backed strategies that can be tracked, measured, and consistently improved.

The call comes as the agency marks continued growth in its client base across Abuja and beyond, with its work recognized on Sortlist, the global agency vetting platform, where it holds a rating of 4.9 out of 5.

Nwafor Chinecherem, founder of SoniBaze Digital, said the pattern he observes most frequently among Nigerian SMEs is one of reactive marketing businesses that invest in advertising only when revenue dips, with no clear understanding of which channels are working, what their customer acquisition cost is, or how to replicate results.

"Most business owners in Abuja know they need to market, but very few have a system," he said. "They boost a post when they feel like it, run an ad when a competitor does, redesign the website every few years without knowing why the old one was not converting. That is not a strategy. That is guesswork with a budget attached."

Chinecherem said his agency's approach begins with establishing baseline measurements before any campaign is launched, understanding where a business currently stands in search rankings, how much traffic its website receives and from where, what its social media engagement rate actually reflects, and what competitors are doing more effectively.

The agency provides services across the full digital marketing spectrum, including search engine optimization, Google and Meta advertising, social media management, web development, billboard placements across Abuja's FCT, and TV and radio ad placements. It also runs the SoniBaze Tech Academy, which offers professional certifications in digital marketing and related disciplines.

"Measurement is not a luxury," Chinecherem said. "It is the foundation. Once you can see clearly what is working and what is not, every subsequent decision becomes smarter, faster, and less expensive."

He added that the shift toward measurable marketing has become more urgent as economic pressure increases and businesses are forced to extract greater value from every marketing naira spent.

For more information visit: https://sonibaze.ng/

RTM West Africa 2026 Returns, Sets the Stage for Growth, Trust, and Strategic Partnerships in West Afri

The Route to Market (RTM) West Africa Summit will return in June 2026 as a leading platform for shaping consumer-centric growth and strengthening market resilience across the region’s fast-evolving FMCG landscape. Building on the success of its 2025 edition, the summit will convene industry leaders, manufacturers, distributors, and technology providers in Lagos to address critical challenges and unlock new growth opportunities in West Africa.

The 2025 edition, held at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, set a benchmark for industry collaboration, attracting over 1,000 attendees, 25+ expert speakers, and 5+ exhibiting companies. The event delivered over 21 hours of networking and connected stakeholders from more than 200 companies serving over 1.8 million retail outlets across the region.

Key sessions in 2025 featured leading voices across finance, FMCG, and technology, addressing macroeconomic pressures, digital transformation, consumer behavior, and supply chain optimization. Industry leaders emphasized the growing importance of technology and data in unlocking last-mile access and improving distribution efficiency in fragmented markets.

“The summit was not just about ideas; it was about action. We’re proud to see strong collaboration across brands, distributors, and enablers committed to shaping the future of consumer access in West Africa.” Godson Nkeokelonye, Managing Director, Excite Panacea

With West Africa home to over 400 million consumers and one of the youngest populations globally, the region continues to present significant opportunities for growth. However, with 80–90% of FMCG sales still occurring through informal channels, the need for structured, technology-enabled route-to-market strategies has never been more critical.

The 2026 summit will center on “The Margin of Trust: Why Community is the New Currency in Fragmented Markets,” exploring how businesses can win by building trust-led, community-driven route-to-market strategies in an increasingly complex landscape. It will examine how businesses can build deeper connections within informal and formal trade channels, strengthen partnerships across the value chain, and unlock growth in increasingly complex markets.

Positioned as the staging ground for a new generation of “Continental Champions,” the Route to Market West Africa Conference 2026 will be a high-impact commercial and strategic platform to bring together senior executives and operators, key players across the entire value chain to co-create resilient, trust-powered distribution models that can scale across borders and thrive in dynamic market conditions.

Exclusive invitations are extended to strategic partners and sponsors to play a defining role in this transformation. It represents a rare opportunity to showcase capabilities, demonstrate tangible value to the West African market, and position participating organizations at the forefront of a new generation of Continental Champions.

Organizations interested in sponsorship, exhibition, or speaking opportunities are invited to connect on the Route to Market West Africa website www.rtmwestafrica.com 

About RTM West Africa Summit

The Route to Market West Africa Summit is a premier industry platform dedicated to transforming distribution, retail execution, and consumer access across the region. By bringing together key stakeholders across FMCG, technology, logistics, and retail, the summit fosters collaboration, innovation, and knowledge-sharing to drive sustainable growth in West Africa’s evolving markets.

How Celevend Is Solving Nigeria's Event Vendor Problem: A Platform Built for Trust and Transparency

  How Celevend Is Solving Nigeria's Event Vendor Problem: A Platform Built for Trust and Transparency

By Ayodele Oyeniyi 

From wedding photography to catering to venue booking one app simplifies event planning across 24 service categories with verified vendors, real portfolios, and secure payments.

Planning an event in Nigeria still means navigating fragmented vendor networks, uncertain pricing, and the risk that your hired photographer won't show up or your caterer will deliver subpar work.

The friction is real. Without a centralized platform, event planners whether couples planning weddings, families organizing naming ceremonies, or diaspora Nigerians coordinating from abroad rely on referrals, social media profiles, and hope. Vendors operating independently on Instagram and WhatsApp have no way to systematically reach customers or maintain booking accountability.

The Celevend Solution

Celevend addresses this directly. The mobile marketplace connects customers actively planning events with professionals across 24+ service categories: photography, catering, decoration, DJ services, makeup artistry, venue rental, custom cakes, and more. Every vendor operates with a verified digital storefront showcasing real portfolio work, transparent pricing, and client reviews.

Here's how it works:

For Customers: Download the app, browse vendor profiles sorted by service category and location, compare pricing side-by-side, review past client feedback, and book directly. All payments process through the platform, no cash transfers, no uncertainty. You receive a clear booking confirmation and vendor details.

For Vendors: Receive a free digital storefront with professional portfolio management tools. Access customers actively searching for your services. Build client reviews that establish credibility. Manage all bookings in one place.

Why Transparency Matters

Nigeria's event industry has historically operated on reputation alone. That model works for repeat customers but excludes newcomers to a market and creates barriers for small vendors trying to build their client base. It's especially challenging for diaspora Nigerians; they can't visit vendor studios or ask trusted friends for reliable referrals.

Celevend eliminates this asymmetry. Real portfolios replace vague descriptions. Fixed prices replace negotiation-by-WhatsApp. Review systems replace "my cousin said they were good." For vendors, a centralized platform means systematic customer access rather than waiting for referrals.

Scale and Reach

The platform has onboarded 400+ vendors across Nigeria and operates nationwide. Available on both iOS and Android, it's designed for the reality of Nigerian event culture from intimate family celebrations to large-scale corporate gatherings without artificial restrictions on event size or vendor type.

Access the Platform

Customers: celevend.com/download/customer

Vendors: celevend.com/download/business

Web: celevend.com

Contact: contact@celevend.com | +2349090899991

Rising Cybercrime Costs Nigerian Businesses $500M Annually Lagos Tech Founder Calls for Proactive IT Protection

Lagos based technology entrepreneur Walter Enyioha , founder of e‑Technologies, is urging Nigerian businesses to shift from reactive IT support to a proactive model, as cybercrime continues to cost the economy an estimated $500 million annually and regulatory fines under the Nigeria Data Protection Act reach ₦10 million per breach.“We’ve spent years on the ground repairing systems and watching businesses struggle with unexpected IT failures and security incidents,” said Walter Enyioha . “The reality is that waiting for something to break or worse, waiting for a ransomware attack is no longer sustainable. 

The financial and reputational damage is too high.”To address this, e‑Technologies has developed e‑Tech 360, a managed IT service that bundles 24/7 endpoint monitoring, enterprise‑grade cybersecurity, and daily cloud backups into a fixed monthly fee, billed Locally.

 The service is delivered through official partnerships with global cybersecurity leader Kaspersky and business productivity platform Zoho, ensuring that Nigerian businesses get enterprise grade tools with local support.e‑Tech 360 is offered in three tiers: Essential, Plus, and Premium allowing businesses to match protection to their risk profile.

 Features include:24/7 monitoring and remote supportKaspersky endpoint security (anti‑ransomware, optional EDR) Email and collaboration mangementCloud backup with ransomware‑proof recovery (two flexible options)“The goal is simple: catch issues before they become emergencies,” Walter Enyioha added.

 “Whether it’s ensuring business continuity during a power outage or recovering from a ransomware attack, we’ve designed e‑Tech 360 to give clients reliability, security, and peace of mind all from one partner, with predictable costs.”The service targets businesses in fintech, oil & gas, manufacturing, and professional services sectors where IT downtime directly impacts revenue and regulatory standing. 

e‑Technologies has over eight years of experience providing IT and security solutions to Nigerian organisations.e‑Tech 360 is available immediately to businesses in Lagos and other Nigerian cities.

 For more information, www.etechnig.com.ng 

About e‑Technologiese‑

Technologies is a Nigerian technology company specialising in managed IT services (e‑Tech 360), enterprise cybersecurity (Kaspersky), email and collaboration and physical security infrastructure. It is an official Kaspersky Partner and Zoho Partner.

Media ContactWalter Enyioha | Founder | 07067434684 | service@etechnig.com.ng

Angélique Kidjo, Ayra Starr Unite on New Single ‘Aye Kan (Are You Coming Back)’

      Five-time GRAMMY-winning global music icon Angélique Kidjo has returned with a brand new single titled “Aye Kan (Are You Coming Back)”, featuring Nigerian Afropop star Ayra Starr, in what is being described as a powerful cross-generational collaboration.

The single, released on March 27, 2026, serves as a precursor to Kidjo’s highly anticipated album HOPE!!, scheduled for release on April 24 under Warner Music Group. The song blends rich African musical heritage with contemporary pop influences, delivering a message that redefines love as true wealth in a world often driven by materialism.

Accompanied by a cinematic music video shot at the iconic Power Station Studio in New York, the visuals capture both artistes in an intimate performance setting, illuminated by candlelight and framed by a grand piano, reflecting the song’s central theme of love, connection, and emotional richness.

The collaboration also tells a deeper story of inspiration and legacy. Ayra Starr, who has often cited Kidjo as a major influence, recalled how witnessing the veteran singer’s success shaped her own ambitions. “Angélique Kidjo winning in 2008 was so important for me to see… She’s from Benin Republic, which is where I was born, so it made me believe I could do the same thing one day,” Starr said.

Kidjo, in turn, noted that the admiration was mutual and instrumental in bringing the project to life. “I discovered Ayra Starr first through her music… Later, I sent her a DM saying I’d love to work with her,” she revealed.

The forthcoming album HOPE!! is a 16-track project dedicated to Kidjo’s late mother and is expected to feature an array of global stars, including Pharrell Williams, Davido, Quavo, Nile Rodgers, and Charlie Wilson, among others. The project follows her 2021 GRAMMY-winning album Mother Nature and continues her legacy of genre-defying music rooted in African identity.

Beyond music, Kidjo has remained a strong voice for global unity and humanitarian causes, notably through her foundation, Batonga Foundation, and her role as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the album, Kidjo emphasized the need for optimism in challenging times. “Sometimes it feels as though the world is losing hope at such a rapid pace that it’s endangering our humanity,” she said. “My hope is that these songs bring happiness to everyone, but also remind them that we were all put here to help and love each other.”

With “Aye Kan (Are You Coming Back)” already generating buzz, expectations are high that HOPE!! will further cement Kidjo’s status as one of Africa’s most influential musical exports, while also spotlighting the rising global impact of talents like Ayra Starr.