Press Release
BAO Live Unveils Keynote Speakers for EMTA 2024
BAO Live, the market-defining leader for African Entrepreneurial events and the event division of Business Africa Online (BAO), today announced Mr. Obi Asika, Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Nigeria and Mrs. Victoria Abiola Ajayi, Group Managing Director/CEO at TVC Communications as the keynote speakers for its annual entertainment, arts and media business conference, EMTA 2024, taking place on August 30th, 2024, at The Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
Mr. Obi Asika, who is the current Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Nigeria will speak on the topic: “Redefining entertainment and media business in the world of AI”. And Mrs. Victoria Abiola Ajayi, a seasoned business executive and currently the Group Managing Director/CEO at TVC Communications will speak on the topic: “Unlocking New Growth in Media & Entertainment.” This year’s conference will host industry leaders and policymakers, entertainment business experts and practitioners, academia, and students to explore trends transforming Arts, Media, and Entertainment Business in Nigeria and Africa at large.
“With EMTA, our mission is to bring together industry experts and policymakers in entertainment, media, technology and arts business to help move the industry forward especially in this world of artificial intelligence (AI),” said Alaba Ayinuola, Chief Curator at BAO Live. “In today’s digital and regulatory landscape, the only constant is change. Therefore, it’s more critical than ever to provide this forum to uncover insights, share experiences, and strategize best models and practices. This year, we have an incredible lineup of speakers exploring important industry trends and offering a new perspective on the opportunities that lie ahead.”
EMTA 2024 offers a robust agenda delivering expert insight and actionable learnings to help entertainment and media practitioners navigate trends in the fast-evolving entertainment landscape. Keynotes, product and thought leadership breakouts, and panels with featured speakers will cover topics such as Beyond the Screen: Unraveling the Impact of AI in the Film Industry, Unlocking Creative Potential: The Synergy of AI and Human Creativity, Generative AI & Intellectual Property Rights of the Creative Artist and much more.
More details on the agenda and other speakers will be forthcoming – visit HERE for the latest information.
Obi Asika Bio: A Creative and the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Nigeria and has been a tireless advocate and key driver of the Nigerian creative industries for more than three decades. Prior to this appointment in January 2024, Obi Asika was a multi award-winning creative entrepreneur who built one of the most successful entertainment brands in Nigeria (Storm 360/Storm Records), and co-founded Social Media Week Lagos, the biggest new media and technology conference in Africa, amongst other accomplishments.
Obi Asika’s previous public sector appointments include becoming Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Media in 2015 and contributing his expertise to more than 15 Federal Government committees across different Administrations.
Victoria Abiola Ajayi Bio: A seasoned business executive and currently the Group Managing Director/CEO at TVC Communications, owners of TVC News, TVC Entertainment, Max FM Lagos, Max FM Abuja & Adaba FM, after joining the Media industry a little over a decade ago. Victoria is an elected member of the global governing council of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) where she serves on the Remuneration Committee. She also currently serves on the Board of a gender finance and impact investment Fintech as well as on the board of an asset management company.
Victoria is an advocate for women’s leadership and a mentor to many rising female leaders aspiring to develop their capacity for executive and strategic leadership. She is the author of the book, The Precision-Led Woman, A definitive guide to landing leadership positions. She also has a You-Tube channel which she uses to educate and inspire women to be top performers in their fields of interest.
About BAO LIVE
BAO Live is the events division of Business Africa Online (BAO), delivering must-attend in-person and online events that examine critical trends and developments shaping African multi-sectoral industries and economies we live in. We bring leaders and critical stakeholders in business, policymakers and government together to discuss critical issues, from technology to investing, entrepreneurship and leadership and creative economy. BAO Live delivers events that inform, engage and inspire.
EFInA Women’s Economic Empowerment report was launched in Abuja, at the third edition of the Gender and Inclusion Summit hosted annually by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). The report underscored the second plenary by EFInA and FSD Network; tagged – Unpacking Access to Essential Tools and Services for Women’s Economic Empowerment – Collaborating for Sustainable Outcomes.
The EFInA WEE report utilises data from the 2023 Access to Financial Services in Nigeria (A2F 2023) Survey, Nigeria’s primary source of financial inclusion data, to better understand potential linkages between female financial inclusion and women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria. The results show that of Nigeria’s estimated female adult population of 56.3 million people, only 22%, or 12.5 women, can be classified as being economically empowered. Education, digital, and financial literacy are the most significant drivers of empowerment, followed by household and group agency, regarding women’s autonomy to join and influence decision-making in social groups and the agency to do productive work and own assets.
In assessing the pathway from financial inclusion to WEE, we find savings stand out with the greatest odds. Women who save –formally or informally – are six times more likely to be economically empowered than those who do not. The use of formal credit also doubles the likelihood of economic empowerment, whereas informal credit has a negligible impact. Women who actively use their accounts are more likely to be economically empowered than those who do not. Using Digital Financial Services increases the chances of empowerment and, more so, other formal banking channels, highlighting the growing role of digital platforms in financial inclusion.
Commenting on the report’s findings while speaking at the launch event, EFInA Gender Centre of Excellence Lead, Emezino Afiegbe said: “This report clearly identifies important linkages between financial inclusion and women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria, while also identifying the key factors influencing women’s formal financial inclusion. By establishing the importance of financial inclusion in economic empowerment we can focus resources and investments on the enabling factors that will ultimately accelerate empowerment for all Nigerian women.”
Also speaking on the panel Dr. Yetunde Fatogun, Social Development Consultant at the World Bank said: “For women’s economic empowerment, it’s crucial to recognise that this is not a short-term endeavour. Sustainable progress requires the involvement of multiple sectors in implementation. To truly empower women, we must address critical issues, including the significant influence of culture and the pivotal role of institutions—traditional, religious, and family. This report is both timely and essential, as it sheds light on these multifaceted challenges and offers insights into how various sectors can collaborate to drive meaningful and lasting change for women in Nigeria“.
Aisha Hadejia, Partner at Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, said: “Information accessibility remains a major hurdle, both in terms of design and delivery. Only 30% of women farmers have internet access, reflecting a significant digital divide. Additionally, mistrust in formal financial institutions is driving many women towards informal financial systems. Addressing these challenges requires data-driven solutions, such as those outlined in the A2F Women Economic Empowerment Report.”
EFInA, through the Gender Center of Excellence, is championing collaborative efforts with partners to drive significant progress in WEE by mainstreaming financial inclusion into sub-national economic policies and increasing financial and digital literacy, particularly for rural women. Our commitment extends to deepening financial inclusion, supporting income generation, and promoting savings behavior, all of which are essential for enhancing financial independence. Additionally, empowering women in decision-making and addressing vulnerabilities through social protection will further strengthen women’s roles in their households and communities. We invite you to contact us for partnership as we work together to drive impactful initiatives that advance financial inclusion and women’s economic empowerment.
The A2F 2023 survey findings can be found at https://www.a2f.ng/ while the specific report on women’s economic empowerment can be found here for partnership on strategic WEE initiatives.
The second edition of the Entertainment, Media, Technology and Arts (EMTA) Conference and Awards 2024 curated by BAO Live, an event division of leading media and brand consulting company, Business Africa Online (BAO) concluded on a high note. EMTA 2024 brought together industry leaders, innovators, and creatives for a day of insightful discussions, networking, and celebration. The pivotal event was held on Friday 30th August at The Wheatbaker Hotel Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
This year’s EMTA conference and awards themed ‘Redefining Entertainment and Media Business In A World of AI’ kicked off with a welcome address from Joy Harrison Abiola, BAO Board Advisor. The event featured a keynote address from Victoria Abiola Ajayi, Group CEO TVC Communications. Victoria shared her insights on the topic; Unlocking New Growth in Media and Entertainment Business.
Joy Harrison-Abiola (BAO Board Advisor).
Victoria Abiola Ajayi (Group CEO, TVC Communications)
The interactive panel sessions featured notable speakers; as Mary Ephraim-Egbas of Homelands Films, Ike Nnaebue of LP House of Creatives, Judith Audu of Judith Audu Productions, Dr. Bada Akintunde-Johnson of Paramount Africa, Ladun Awobokun of FilmOne, Israel Obatunde of Ideas Origin Media and Ebele The Flutist (Nigeria’s Foremost Female Flutist). The panel topics discussed were Beyond the screen: Unraveling the prospects in the film industry and Storytelling: Reimaging media and content production.
L-R: Joy Harrison Abiola, Dr. Bada Akintunde-Johnson, Ayomide Idogun, Ladun Awobokun, Israel Obatunde and Ebele The Flutist.
L-R: Joy Harrison-Abiola, Moses Agochuckwu, Alaba Ayinuola, Mary Ephraim-Egbas, Judith Audu and Ike Nnaebue.
The panel hosts; Moses Agochukwu of Silverbird Film Distribution and Ayomide Idogun of Lightning Sports were excellent moderators. The Showcase experience featured Michael Odiong of Premier Records Limited as he shared his insight on talent development, marketing and the impact of Premier Records in The African music industry. Attendees gained valuable insights into the latest trends and innovations shaping the entertainment and media landscape.
The awards ceremony honored outstanding achievements with six (6) winners announced. Notable winners; Obi Asika (Director General/CEO of National Council for Arts & Culture, Nigeria) and Victoria Abiola Ajayi (Group CEO of TVC Communications) took home the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award and Exemplary Leadership Award (Media) respectively, recognizing their exceptional contributions to the industry. Other winners are; Mary Ephraim-Egbas (Industry Champion Award – Film), LG NIGERIA ELECTRONICS (Smart Tech & Innovation Leadership Award), Ideas Origin Media (Design & Creative Excellence Award) and Premier Records Limited (Recording Legacy Company Award).
“We’re thrilled with the success of this year’s conference and awards. It was a fantastic opportunity for professionals to connect, learn, and celebrate the best in entertainment, media, technology and arts. Preparations are in gear to make EMTA 2025 even much more a bigger success.” said Alaba Ayinuola, Publisher & CEO at BAO.
The event was made possible through the support of sponsors and partners. Ideas Origin Media and LG ELECTRONICS NIGERIA as the Gold sponsors. And TVC Communications, Premier Records Limited, Olokpo App and GAIA Africa as partners. The event compere Segun Akinola (MC SHEGAZY) was exceptional.
For more information, please visit BAO Live. Join the conversation on social media using #EMTA2024 #BAOEMTA2024.
Heirs Insurance Group, Nigeria’s fastest-growing insurance Group, has shortlisted its top 15 semi-finalists for the third edition of the Heirs Insurance Essay Championship. The top 15 participants emerged from a competitive pool of close to 5,000 entries from Junior Secondary School students across Nigeria.
All entries underwent a rigorous grading process by renowned academics, on originality, depth of analysis, and clarity of thought. Furthermore, Deloitte & Touche, a leading Audit and Quality Assurance Firm, independently reviewed the grading process to ensure objectivity.
Out of the shortlisted participants, three students will proceed to the grand finale for a concluding presentation, on an all-expense paid trip sponsored by Heirs Insurance Group, which will take place at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, in September.
Winners of the Heirs Insurance Essay Championship will receive the combined scholarship of N8million, with the final winner’s school getting an additional N1million donation.
The Heirs Insurance Essay Championship is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts of the group geared towards improving the quality of education of the next generation. The Championship also highlights emerging talent, while bringing parents and children closer to insurance through extended workshops on financial security.
This year’s competition witnessed creative entries from 35 states of the country, in response to the task of writing an essay titled “If I could Invent Something new”. In appreciation and acknowledgment of the creative submissions, all participating students will receive a certificate of participation.
