Good day,
Oluwanifemi and Emmanuel here
Today we are discussing:
- COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria
- NBC to regulate DStv tariffs
- Crowdyvest CEO steps down
Nigeria gets its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines
The story: Yesterday, March 2, 2021, Nigeria received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines, 3.92 million doses. There are 12.08 million doses to go if everything goes as planned.
ICYMI: The vaccines got a 'warm welcome'. See?.
Why it matters: Nigeria has been anticipating its share of the vaccine since January. The anticipation might have peaked last week when two neighbours, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, got their share.
And it even seemed all odds were against the country after WHO declared it ineligible for the Pfizer/BioNTech doses. By the way, Nigeria is still not eligible for that product. I even suggested how tech startups can help change the narrative. AstraZeneca manufactured these doses that came in, and they don't require very cold storage like the former.
If you noticed, Nigeria's COVID-19 cases have been on the increase for over two months. Considering all chances, I think I have an idea why this might be happening.
Check it out: NIN Registration: Nigeria ravaged with over 77k COVID-19 cases in 2 months
You know, this period can be overwhelming for the country's Ministry of Health. There are over 200 million people who can't wait to not be at the risk of getting infected.
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And it's not as if past immunisation or vaccination exercises are rid of challenges of committed medical teams, funds, citizen willingness, community commitment, and so on.
The government wants to do better this time around. At least, we've been assured that storage facilities are in place, and participating health workers are in training. I believe other details will follow in the coming days.
Action point: I can't promise that you'll get a shot soon, but just apply on the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) website to schedule a slot for vaccination.
There are other details you must know, though; it will help with the excitement this information is probably giving you. You need to know where (or if) you belong on the priority list.
Go deeper: What you should know as Nigeria gets set to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
NBC to regulate Paytv tariffs
The story: The Nigerian House of Representatives is currently amending a bill that will empower the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to regulate Paytv tariffs in Nigeria.
The bill, titled National Broadcasting Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020, is sponsored by Unyime Josiah Idem from Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria.
If Vanguard's reports are anything to go by, the Bill will amend a section of the Act that will give the NBC power to “regulate and review through its broadcasting codes, the tariff being charged by the Digital Satellite Television Services and other broadcasting outfits in Nigeria and subscription policy for subscribers”.
The amendment will also empower the commission to "guarantee openness and competition in the industry favourably for the participation of all and sundry." The NBC will also be able to review this pricing from time to time.
Some background: Multichoice, the parent company behind Nigeria's first satellite tv service, DStv, has had a long history of regular tarriff hikes. Despite the complaints of several customers, the company has refused to implement a pay-as-you-view model.
In 2019, Martin Mabutho, Chief Customer Officer at MultiChoice said this won’t be possible because DStv’s contract with its suppliers is on a monthly basis.
Read more: DStv will not allow pay as you view model
There are also economic considerations as Nigeria is still a small market for Multichoice compared to its home country, South Africa. Read.
The big picture: Various government agencies in Nigeria have been condemning the hikes as they come, but not much could be done to enforce anything. The Bill could then help the NBC enforce control over DStv's tarriff in Nigeria.
Other considerations: In 2020, the NBC reviewed its broadcast code to end content exclusivism in Nigeria, and some nuggets of the Bill amendment, will give full legal backing to the commission's plans to end exclusive content on Paytv in Nigeria.
When the broadcast code came, it raised questions about its legality, and it seems the Nigerian government plans to quell those questions.
You should check this out: Nigerian broadcasting agency seeks to regulate exclusive/original local content on Netflix, iROKOtv, PayTV
Onyeka Akumah steps down as Crowdyvest CEO
The story: Onyeka Akumah has stepped down as Crowdyvest CEO. This position is now occupied by Temitope Omotolani, who is a co-founder and the Managing Director. With this development, Crowdyvest will also cease to be a portfolio company of EMFATO Holdings, formerly Crowdyvest Holdings.
Stay with me…
- In 2016, Onyeka Akumah, along with Akindele Phillips, Temitope Omotolani, Christopher Abiodun, and Ifeanyi Anazodo founded FarmCrowdy, an agritech startup focused on securing finance for Nigerian small-scale farmers through crowdfunding.
- In August 2019, Onyeka, with his Co-founders, launched Crowdyvest, an impact-driven fintech/crowdfunding platform that provides financial solutions for businesses and individuals through pooled sponsorship from HNIs. At the same time, it became the investment arm of Crowdyvest Holdings(CV Holdings) which will grow to provide investments towards building tech solutions.
- September 2019, with Onyeka at the helm of affairs as CEO, CV Holdings launched Plentywaka, a bus-hailing service in Lagos.
- In July 2020, Crowdyvest Holding made a transition to become EMFATO Holdings, the holding company for different digital platforms, with Farmcrowdy, Crowdyvest, and Plentywaka as its portfolio companies.
- March 2021, Crowdyvest leaves the list as Onyeka steps down as CEO to focus on the other two companies.
Other details: Crowdyvest, at this instant, has also raised an undisclosed amount to help the startup evolve into a digital savings and wealth management platform. Onyeka hinted at expansion plans for Farmcrowdy and Plentywaka in 2021.
In June 2020, Plentywaka forayed into logistics after claiming it experienced a 50% growth in the number of daily rides following the Lagos State Okada Ban. Later in September, it raised a $300k pre-seed funding which aided its expansion into its second city, Abuja.
ICYDK: Before Farmcrowdy, Onyeka was the Chief Commercial Officer of Travelbeta, a Nigerian online flight booking and travel platform.
What else we are following
- Twitter beats Clubhouse to Android. Android users can now join Twitter Spaces chat rooms; but for now, they can’t create chatrooms. The roll-out is on! Now I can join Adewale Yusuf's exclusive discussions. Read more
- Tunisians are experiencing déjà vu ten years after the “Dignity Revolution”. Read.
- Digital monopolies among tech giants expected to intensify. Read.
- Keep in mind: Register for the Digital Currency Summit with this link.
Have a great day!
Oluwanifemi Kolawole & Emmanuel Paul for Techpoint Africa.
Featured image source: WHONigeria on Twitter
