BBC World Service Launches New Partnership With MTN Nigeria

BBC World Service is partnering with MTN Nigeria to deliver BBC News Minute bulletins which will be free of charge to subscribers of the MyMTN App in English, Hausa, Igbo, Pidgin and Yoruba.

This is the first time an international news organisation will feature in the MyMTN App.

BBC News Minute is the BBC’s 60 second news round-up that keeps audiences across different demographics up to date with what is trending and shared on social media as well as the latest local and global news –  updated at regular intervals 24 hours a day seven days a week. 

It will showcase the latest news in sport, tech, entertainment, science and more to the BBC’s number one audience in Africa – Nigeria.

Audiences will be able to enjoy on demand BBC News Minute at various intervals during the day and night. 

The partnership will serve Hausa, Igbo, Pidgin and Yoruba audience looking for curated short form news and bring BBC Minute in local languages to the fingertips of customers in Nigeria.

With the increase in fake news across Nigeria and the African media landscape this partnership will ensure that MTN customers receive accurate and verified news from the BBC.

MTN Nigeria is Africa’s largest provider of communications services, connecting over 64 million people in communities across the country with  each other and the world. 

It has established an active community on the myMTN app with over 4 million monthly active users.

Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, Head of West Africa Languages, BBC World Service said: “This partnership with MTN is at the core of the BBC’s commitment to reaching audiences wherever they may be. It is one of the ways in which the BBC is demonstrating its commitment to Nigeria and we are thrilled about this new engagement with young audiences in this country.”

Also speaking on the partnership, Chief Digital Officer, MTN Nigeria, Srinivas Rao said, “We are proud of this partnership. It is one of the ways we offer young Nigerians more channels to consume relevant information. In an era where fake news spread easily especially through social media, credible platforms like this make a lot of difference.”

Kolawole Oyeyemi, General Manager, Customer Experience, said “It is also a demonstration of our passion to deliver the best customer experience possible to our customers who use myMTNApp so they have relevant and authentic news they can use on-the-go completely free of charge.”

Mary Lusiba, Head of African Business Development, BBC World service says: “This exciting deal will raise brand and awareness of BBC World Service for young consumers.  It will build on the well established reputation of the BBC for quality news and information and reach out to a new generation of Nigerians. The launch is timely as content will also update audiences on the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa.”