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Attention is the new oil in the digital economy. Come with me... 😊 When French President Emmanuel Macron was mocked at the #WorldEconomicForum in #Davos earlier this year for his eyewear, it gained media attention. While the internet argued, the brand behind the glasses saw a surge in searches and direct traffic. Talking about them led to being optimized by the algorithm.🎯 Sometimes, bad press can be a high ROI driver! In a world of #algorithms , high engagement signals relevance to platforms, pushing your brand to audiences you may never reach with "safe" content. Again, criticism and controversy create curiosity. You don’t need a 100% approval rating to cash out. You need a strategy that captures the traffic created by public conversation. Don't focus only on "likes" alone. Look out for reach and relevance, and when the storm is brewing in your direction, you might want to take advantage of it. Image: CNN. #MarketingStrategy #AttentionEconomics #Br...

IShowSpeed’s Africa tour recently landed in Nigeria, bringing an electric energy that highlighted the "Digital Gap." Many influencers were left asking, "What is Twitch?" or "What is streaming?"—a significant wake-up call for the industry. While we celebrated his 50 million subscriber milestone on our soil, it became evident that many of our "top" creators are lagging in their understanding of this new landscape. Key Lessons: - The world has shifted from static skits to Live Interactive Content. Understanding platforms like Twitch, Kick, and the concept of concurrent viewership is essential; otherwise, you may be playing a 2015 game in 2026. - Influence vs. Fame: Being "Lagos, Abuja, or Nigeria famous" does not equate to global influence. True impact is rooted in community and technical niche. - Strategy over Antics: Speed is a billion-naira machine. Nigeria is the heartbeat of African creativity, but relying solely on "vibes...

Image: Amplify Africa. The " Speed Does Africa Tour " is more than just a streaming event - it's a cultural phenomenon that's challenging preconceived notions and inspiring a new generation of young Africans and foreigners alike. The 28-day journey across approximately 20 countries is breaking stereotypes and sparking conversations about Africa's modernity and cultural richness. Tour Highlights: - Visited 10 countries in Africa, including Egypt , Ethiopia , Eswatini , Mozambique , Zimbabwe , Botswana , Zambia , Rwanda , and Kenya - Became the first streamer to broadcast from inside the pyramids in Egypt - Met President William Ruto in Kenya and reached 48 million YouTube subscribers - Immersed in local cultures, trying traditional foods, dancing, and wearing local attire - Teased a DNA reveal at the tour's end, hinting at strong roots in Angola Impact on Young Foreigners: The tour has sparked a range of reactions from young foreigners, including surprise, exc...

It's one thing to have services but another thing to make them active or well known so people can use them.  Even when the system works or services are delivered, if people don't trust them or know about them those services might as well not exist.  The tragic accident that affected boxing champion Anthony Joshua and his companions, who sadly lost their lives, has drawn attention to highway problems in the country which we hope will NOW start getting solved. It reminds us of a recent training of officials from the National Emergency Management Agency - NEMA. A discussion on frequent fires engulfing buildings in the country and how easily people  ignore the existence of fire extinguishers got us suggesting we test NEMA's emergency lines to see if someone would pick. We tried and they worked!  The question then is how many people are aware of these important numbers to call in an emergency in order to save lives and property? It's important the government closes the ga...

Over the past couple of days, Nigeria has been buzzing with exciting developments in the creative economy and tourism sectors. In a remarkable achievement, Lagos Fashion Week (which ended on Nov. 2) won the prestigious 2025 EarthShot Prize in Brazil on Nov. 5, for its initiative to build a waste-free world. Founded by Omoyemi Akerele in 2011, the event is Africa's largest fashion week. The 8th edition of Guarantee Trust Bank's Fashion Weekend (Nov. 8-9) also concluded, celebrating Nigerian and African creativity.  On the #music scene, 4 Nigerians were nominated in the highly coveted Grammy Awards for the Afrobeats category, over the weekend. While for movies, the African International Film Festival and Abuja International Film Festival held in Lagos (Nov. 2-8) and Abuja (Nov. 6-10) respectively, spotlighting African and global storytelling, music and fashion as catalysts for creative growth. The Minister of Creative Economy proposed to the Federal Executive Council to promote ...

#DenjaAbdullahi is a Nigerian poet, writer, and literary figure who uses poetry as his main medium to entertain and educate. His 56th birthday on August 30 (organized in collaboration with the Association of Nigerian Authors at the Mamman Vatsa Writers Village in Abuja), celebrated the dynamic art of fusing #poetry and #theater . This innovative approach highlights the power of spoken word in bringing poetry to life and pays homage to Nigeria's rich oral tradition. As he points out, "We were largely oral in Nigeria before writing. Traditionally, our poetry is an oral tradition recited often with drums and musical instruments. Spoken word is modern but has its roots in the past. The poetic form can be used to teach any subject on earth. From the classical times, every subject, from the humanities to the sciences, started with poetry as a means of knowledge sharing." He acknowledged the media's role in promoting literary works - his first work was published long ag...

🎥 Last week in Abuja, Institut Francais aired the documentary, #Freemen , about the centuries-old Igbo apprenticeship system known as ‘Igba Boi’. As part of their cultural exchange programme, the centre showcases films, music, art exhibitions, language programmes and other cultural activities. It provided much insight into the apprenticeship system and the experiences of Igbo traders. The Igbo apprenticeship system is regarded as one of the most powerful, community-driven models of entrepreneurship in Africa. Rooted in shared prosperity, it transforms young apprentices into business owners through on-the-job training and eventual capital support. Some business lessons it teaches include the power of collaboration, negotiation, continuous learning and improvement, and finding a niche when there are gaps. This informal yet structured system is said to have become the cornerstone of Igbo economic success, particularly after the Nigerian Civil War. As Ill Bliss (Nigerian rapper) narrate...