Release: MTN and Aleph Group partner to break new ground for local advertising opportunities

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Johannesburg, South Africa - 15 October 2024 - MTN’s Digital Services, the advertising arm of Africa's largest mobile operator, has appointed Aleph Group, as their sales partner for their go-to-market MTN Ads solution. 

This strategic partnership will enable advertisers to leverage MTN’s vast first party data to enable precise audience targeting, while tapping into core telco channels like SMS and platforms like Ayoba, an all-in-one super app developed by the MTN Group.

“It's a unique proposition in the market; one that incorporates our device-agnostic, data-free and rewards solutions. This combination enables businesses to drive immediate engagement regardless of content or user journey, with measurable attribution,” said Jason Probert, General Manager: Digital Services at MTN South Africa. 

With access to MTN’s extensive user base of over 38 million subscribers in South Africa, these advertising solutions provide an excellent opportunity to reach a vast audience across all demographics and device types. 

"We are thrilled to pioneer the MTN Ads solution and continue to contribute to the growth of South Africa's digital advertising ecosystem," said Stephen A. Newton, Managing Director of Sub-Saharan Africa at Aleph Group.

"MTN's vast network and rich data insights, combined with Aleph's expertise in digital advertising, will empower businesses to connect with their target audiences in a more meaningful and effective way, helping to accelerate the transfer from offline to online GDP."

As an official sales partner, Aleph Group will provide a team of experts to collaborate with brands and advertising agencies to develop and execute advertising solutions across MTN's various platforms, including SMS, Rich Business Messaging (RBM), mobile display, and in-app advertising.

"In today's challenging economic climate, businesses are seeking a greater return on advertising spend (ROAS). We believe this partnership will enable businesses to unlock the full potential of digital advertising in South Africa,” added Newton. 

South Africa’s ad spend is projected to reach R40.95 billion by the end of the year, with digital advertising driving much of this growth because of increased urbanisation and mobile network expansion. Furthermore, internet advertising is anticipated to reach R32.77 billion by 2027. 

38% of South African respondents to a recent Aleph survey claimed that they learn about new products via ads that play before online videos they’re watching, highlighting the importance of digital and internet advertising. By 2029, nearly half of total spending will come from digital channels, with mobile advertising accounting for 74% of digital ad spending by 2028. 

This partnership allows MTN and Aleph to capitalise on this shift, empowering brands to reach audiences through impactful, data-driven campaigns. Leveraging telco unique solutions, including zero rating for users and device agnostic solutions, advertisers can now reach all audiences across the digital funnel journey. 

Multichoice owes Nigeria ₦1.8trillion and $342.5million in taxes, FIRS orders freezing of accounts

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has engaged some commercial banks as agents to freeze and recover N1.8 trillion from accounts of Messrs MultiChoice Nigeria Limited (MCN) And MultiChoice Africa (MCA).

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Abdullahi Ahmad, Director, Communications and Liaison Department of FIRS in Abuja on Thursday.

The FIRS explained that the decision to appoint the banks as agents and to freeze the accounts was as a result of the groups’ continued refusal to grant FIRS access to their servers for audit.

The service said it discovered that the companies persistently breached all agreements and undertakings with the Service.

Full story at Pulse NG.

By News Agency Of Nigeria.

Nigeria’s rising poverty will worsen insecurity, economic instability – Experts

Economic experts have warned that the rising poverty level in Nigeria would have more adverse impacts on the economy and further worsen the security challenges in the country.

They said the Federal Government’s figure on people lifted out of poverty was not reliable.

An economist and former President of the National Accountants of Nigeria, Dr Sam Nzekwe,  in a telephone interview, warned that the increase in the level of poverty would be followed by increased frustration, higher unemployment and criminal activities which would further worsen the state of insecurity in the country.

Full story at Punch NG.

Nigeria: Economy Challenged By Stagflation - CBN

Photo credit: CBN

Despite the improved gross domestic product, GDP, report released by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, for the first quarter 2021, Q1'21, the governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, has said Nigeria's economy is in stagflation, describing the GDP growth numbers as weak.

In economics, stagflation or recession-inflation is a situation in which the inflation rate is high, the economic growth rate slows, and unemployment remains steadily high. It presents a dilemma for economic policy, since actions intended to lower inflation may stagnate growth while exacerbating unemployment.

It was against this backdrop that the CBN's Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, yesterday decided to retain the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 11.5 per cent, along with all other parameters with the Asymmetric Corridor at +100/-700 basis points around the MPR; Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 27.5 percent; and the Liquidity Ratio at 30 percent.

Taking this position at the end of the MPC meeting in Abuja yesterday, Emefiele, however, said his team was determined to make a significant change through the various interventions of the apex bank.

By Emma Ujah.

Full story at Vanguard.

Pantami delighted as ICT contributes 6.47% to GDP in 2021 Q1

Pantami says the ICT sector continues to serve as a catalyst for the growth and diversification of Nigeria's economy.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, has expressed delight at the 6.47 per cent contribution by the ICT sector to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first Quarter of 2021.

Pantami expressed this in a statement issued by Dr Femi Adeluyi, IT Technical Assistant to the Minister in Abuja.

According to Pantami, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Q1 report said Nigeria's GDP grew by 0.51 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the first quarter of 2021,

Full story at Pulse NG.

By News Agency Of Nigeria.

Nigeria Bureau De Change Association Boss Accuses Speculators of Destabilizing the Naira— Says Central Bank Funding Will End Currency Woes

According to the head of the Nigerian group of bureau de change operators, the naira’s continued fall on the parallel market is down to the activities of speculators. However, Aminu Gwadabe, the president of the Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), suggests that only a “massive funding” of bureau de change (BDC) operators by the central bank will protect the naira from speculators.

Speculators to Lose Over $200 Million

To achieve this objective, however, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will have to continue selling “dollars to BDC operators at 393 nairas to a dollar.” This is despite the CBN’s recent devaluation of the local currency to around 411 to a dollar. As one report notes, if the CBN proceeds with this sustained funding of over 5,000 BDCs nationwide, foreign exchange speculators “will lose over $200 million in the next one month.”

Meanwhile, the report quotes Gwadabe reiterating ABCON’s allegiance to the CBN and the association’s willingness to fight speculators alongside the central bank. Gwadabe is quoted warning members of his organization to avoid joining rumor mongers whom he blames for “creating confusion and fragility in the market.” Gwadabe explained:

By Terence Zimwara.

Full story at Bitcoin News.