A former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Ernest Ndukwe, says Africa’s media space has evolved remarkably through liberalisation and digital transformation.
Ndukwe made this known while delivering his keynote address at Africast 2025, Africa’s leading broadcast and media convergence platform, held in Lagos State, South-West Nigeria.
He recalled that three decades ago, Africa’s media and communications landscape was tightly controlled and narrowly defined, with state monopolies dominating broadcasting and centralised information flow.
“In the 1990s and early 2000s, many African governments took bold policy decisions to liberalise the media and telecommunications sectors,” Ndukwe said.
He said; “That reform broke state monopolies, created regulatory frameworks, and welcomed private participation. It also paved the way for independent broadcasters, community radio stations, and a more diversified press that mirrors the political and cultural plurality of African societies.”
Ndukwe explained that liberalisation ushered in a digital revolution, giving Africa a stronger voice in the global media space.
“The liberalisation gave Africa the digital surge, gave Africa a voice, and laid the foundation for the digital revolution we are enjoying today. Africa has experienced one of the fastest mobile growth rates in the world — from just a few million subscribers in the early 2000s to over 600 million connections today,” he stated.
According to him, “digital transformation has enabled unprecedented access to information across cities, towns, and rural communities.”
“Social media platforms, streaming services, podcasts, and digital news have reshaped how information is consumed. Today, a community broadcaster in Awka, Anambra State, can stream to the world, while a journalist in Kano can reach millions with a single tweet,” he added.
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The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, VON, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, said Africast has grown beyond an exhibition, becoming a vital convergence point where Africa’s broadcast future is envisioned, shaped, and strategically positioned for global competitiveness.
“Africast fosters dialogue, collaboration, and innovation among broadcasters, content creators, policymakers, and broadcast equipment manufacturers,” he said.
Mallam Ndace noted that the conversations and technologies showcased at Africast 2025 have direct implications for how Africa tells its stories and preserves its culture.
Similarly, the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Charles Ebuebu, said the Africast platform, which began in 1996 as a modest media forum, has evolved into a continental stage where ideas meet policy, creativity meets technology, and Africa’s broadcast voice asserts itself in the digital world.
