Vbay Online

​In just one week, we have witnessed two or three trending stories of fake rape allegations that have shaken the public trust. One young woman accused an anonymous man of raping her (for which she survived drinking Sniper) and created a fake support account, successfully mobilizing influencers, celebrities, and activists to rally behind her. In the second story a young man was specifically named and immediately arrested. Only God knows the psychological and physical trauma and abuse he endured before the young woman who accused him finally confessed that the entire story was a lie. While these incidents may point to underlying mental health issues and perhaps, carefully thought out wicked plans to harm others, it does not change a fundamental truth: rape should never be a joke. Many men have been canceled for making rape jokes and many more are in prison from false accusations . The lies of these women trended so wildly that it triggered action from the police, healthcare providers, an...

There was a time in Nigeria when looking out for festivals and tourist destinations were the order of the day. A time when the excitement to travel, visit and experience the beauty of Nigerian cultures, was the norm. A time before the 2009 insurgent attacks that the present generation - GenZ and GenAlpha - can only discover in stories, books, films or social media. Such a time was when Kebbi State's Argungu festival was held annually. After some years of hiatus due to attacks, last week, the festival kicked off again. More than showcasing Kebbi's rich tradition and cultural heritage, the festival is also said to be a symbol of unity and peace, marking the historic peace treaty between the Sokoto Caliphate and Argungu emirate in the 1930s. It boosts local economies through tourism and fishing trade, attracting visitors from Nigeria and beyond. Hopefully it has come to stay. We miss the way things were in the past. Terrorism has dealt a huge blow on Nigeria's tourism potent...

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 ...