Award-winning photographer and creative, Emmanuel Oyeleke, has launched yet another photo studio— Zen Studios— dedicated to promoting creativity through photography and other artistic expressions.

“My vision for Zen Studios is to set the standard for creative spaces globally. A place where creatives can have their best thoughts, share their ideas, and create their best work in a conducive environment,” said founder of the studio, Emmanuel Oyeleke.

Enunciating on what inspired him to start Zen Studios, Oyeleke said, “Nigeria is a country sprawling with amazing young talent. However, we lack a conducive environment to foster the wealth of creativity and talent we have. For the past 6 years, I’ve nurtured the dream to enable a culture and environment that fosters creativity and engenders growth. Zen Studios is the first iteration and a slice off the whole loaf of my dream. As highlighted by the tagline for Zen Studios, ‘Create Your Best Work’, we’re helping the most creative minds in Africa create their best works and come into their own. We’re helping propagate the narrative that Africans are not less than anyone else.”

The studio, which is located at the heart of Ilupeju, Lagos, was launched at an event that drew over 100 photographers, videographers, creatives and art enthusiasts.

Zen studios, with its serene environment, is built to cater to photo and video shoots, press/PR events, art installations, pop ups and is ideal for any event with an artistic appeal. The space is adaptable and gives photographers and artists the freedom to explore and execute their creative vision.

Individuals and organisations interested in booking the studio should visit www.zenstudios.cc.

Amstel Malta Ultra and top-quality sports brand, The Mix Africa, brought all the fun and lit up the walls of the Jabi Lake Mall at the grand opening of the flagship PUMA store in Abuja.

The chic event was an eclectic mix of athletic style, fashion and great vibes as guests celebrated yet another PUMA store opening in Nigeria. Attendees included A-list socialites, Abuja sport and fashion influencers, fitness enthusiasts and the brand’s esteemed customers, who had the opportunity to meet and network with ace musician and global PUMA ambassador, Davido and renowned national Statesman, Bukola Saraki at the event. Guests had their fill of delicious hors d’oeuvres and, of course, were refreshed by chilled cans of Amstel Malta Ultra.

Speaking at the launch event, Olukayode Akintola, Senior Key Accounts Manager, Nigerian Breweries, affirmed the brand’s commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports. “With health and fitness being our greatest priority at Amstel Malta Ultra, the brand believes in the importance of advancing sports culture in Nigeria. This is why we are supporting PUMA on the grand opening of this exquisite outlet to make sports wears accessible to all Nigerians. Being a brand of so many firsts in championing a healthier alternative for Nigerians, Amstel Malta Ultra has repositioned itself as the number one malt drink of choice for all consumers, especially among the teeming health-conscious class,” Akintola said.

As a health and fitness inspired brand, Amstel Malta Ultra remains a top choice of healthy refreshment for sportsmen, health and fitness enthusiasts. It is the first-ever, no-added-sugar malt drink in Nigeria, fully enriched with Vitamins and Minerals to deliver healthy refreshments, premium nourishment with superior taste.

In fulfilment of its mission to be the bank of choice for women, Access Bank partnered with Naija Brand Chick (NBC) to organise the largest female-dominated trade fair in Nigeria. The 5th edition of the NBC trade fair which held in Lagos on April 9th and 10th, 2022 attracted thousands of shoppers and had over 200 promising entrepreneurs exhibit and increase sales on their products and services.

The two-day fair recorded about N100 million in gross sales. This success is attributed to the availability of seamless payment solutions by Access Bank and is evidenced by testimonials from entrepreneurs and shoppers alike.

Speaking on the success of the fair and the importance of investing in female entrepreneurs, Abiodun Olubitan, Group Head, Women Banking said, “partnering with Naija Brand Chick to organise the NBC trade fair was strategic to our vision to change the narrative for female entrepreneurs by providing opportunities for them to scale up and access new markets for profitability. The trade fair was indeed successful, and this is just the beginning for us. We intend to double the impact and sustain our position as the best bank for women entrepreneurs in Africa.”

Ayodele Olojede, Group Head, Emerging Business highlighted that, “Supporting SMEs is a strategic goal for Access Bank and collaborating with Naija Brand Chick provided us with an opportunity to achieve this goal. The trade fair provided our SMEs the opportunity to reach out to a larger group of customers as well as provided an avenue to network with other businesses. It provided a lot of the businesses which were predominantly online an avenue to connect personally with their customers, build credibility for their brands and increase their customer base. We were also able to leverage our payment platform- Swift Pay, which allowed users without ATM cards to easily pay for items bought at the fair, facilitate easy reconciliation and have payments confirmed without delays.”

Access Bank through the W Initiative has enabled women entrepreneurs access discounted financing through the W Power Loan and participate in capacity building programs like the IFC Mini MBA. The Bank also confirms its passion for SMEs through the Emerging Business proposition for businesses in Africa.

Access Bank remains committed to inspiring, connecting, and empowering women through the W Initiative- the home of everything the Bank has to offer women in Africa.

As part of its unwavering commitment to improving diversity, equity and inclusion in the African entertainment space, multimedia giant Paramount Africa (home to the biggest and iconic entertainment brands like BET, MTV, MTV Base & Nickelodeon) has published its new insights study titled ‘Reflecting Me: Representation on Screen’.

This wealth of research– derived from surveys from 2.5 million kids, teens, young adults and adults spanning 73 countries– directly reflects consumer insights, exploring how different people of varying ages perceive representation on-screen with particular focus on spectrums encompassing ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, disability, amongst others.

Focusing on Nigeria, as one of Africa’s biggest social hubs, the study focused on how certain target groups comprising 1008 people aged 13-49 across six regions (North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-East, South-South and South-West) felt about representation on-screen. Findings were obtained through remote video interviews and immersive digital experiences amongst diverse audiences in order to bypass geographical and COVID-19 constraints.

Giuliana Dias, Director of Research and Insights Division at Paramount Africa, said that the study was aimed at ensuring that Paramount Africa has an impact on the issue of diversity and representation.

Commenting on the results, she said, “The study outcomes direct and shape how on-screen content should look and feel, and also shows that improvement is necessary in many aspects”.

The statistics revealed that 94 percent of people of different ethnicities and cultures in relatively equal proportions agree that companies making TV shows and movies should commit to increasing diversity and representation on-screen. 89 percent, however, were of the opinion that these companies should commit to increasing diversity and representation off-screen.

However, majority (90%) of the respondents agreed that change is needed with regards to on-screen representation as there needs to be more diversity in TV shows and movies. 64% were satisfied with the current levels of representation on screen, while 40% feel there needs to be a variety of types of groups and identities represented in TV shows and movies.

The study further revealed that poor representation affects Nigerians’ sense of belonging, self-esteem and confidence, making a case for more accurate representation in TV shows and movies as they influence perceptions in the real world.

“The screen is considered by many to be a depiction of what happens in society. While we may argue that imagination plays a crucial role in shaping what is aired on TV and other visual platforms, imagination is never completely independent of reality. Hence, when we do not adequately represent people on-screen, it sends a message that they are not seen, they are not heard and they do not matter. This is one thing we are working actively prioritising across all of channel brands”, said Bada Akintunde-Johnson, Country Manager (Nigeria), Paramount Africa.

Country Manager (Nigeria) for Paramount Africa, Akintunde Bada Johnson noted that the study is insightful and enlightening, citing it as “a definite and encompassing inquiry into the modern African predisposition towards diversity and inclusivity in media and entertainment.”

“Media, in all its forms, has immense power to shape perception. Television, films and digital media can influence how we see others but more importantly, how we see ourselves. As Nigeria’s and indeed Africa’s foremost screen content creators, Paramount Africa will continue fostering accurate and authentic on-screen representation that conveys inclusivity at its highest – helping our viewers break down perception barriers, open them up to new ideas as well as provide powerful and inspiring role models,” he concluded.

For more information on Reflecting Me: Representation on Screen, read the insightful study here: https://insights.viacomcbs.com/post/global-audiences-want-better-representation-on-screen/.

The Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards is here again, and Amstel Malta as the headline sponsor of this year’s edition is set to put the spotlight on a male and female young Nigerian, getting them to experience the glitz and glam of the event as fan reporters.

The AMVCAs will commence on the 7th of May, and end on the 14th of May. In between the line-up of activities and events, the Amstel Malta fan reporters will be granted the experience of interviewing celebrities on the red carpet, the Amstel Malta couch sessions as well as other segments of the event. Events the fan reporters will attend include: Opening Night, Fashion Show, Cultural Day & Food Festival and AMVCA Gala.

If you have the charm, charisma and poise to be Amstel Malta’s fan reporter for the African Magic Viewers Choice Awards, show us how you will interview a celebrity in a one-minute video on Instagram and post with the hashtag #AmstelMaltaAMVCAFanReporter2. To know more and be considered, you need to follow Amstel Malta on all social media platforms. Entries close on May 2nd, 2022.

Leading entertainment and youth culture brand, MTV Base, has announced that the first 2022 edition of its highly anticipated quarterly music discourse, Musicology, will delve into the world of hashtags and retweets to explore the Impact of Social media on the Music Industry. The discourse is set to air on Thursday, 14 April 2022 on MTV Base DStv Channel 322 and GOtv Channel 72 at 20:00 WAT / 21:00 CAT.

The contributors this quarter include Grammy-nominated music producer, Timi “TMXO” Aladeloba; Executive Vice President, Music, at Chocolate City, Ibukun “Aibee” Abidoye; Beat FM On-Air Personality, Osikhena “Osi Suave” Dirisu; social media influencer, Pamilerin Adegoke, and Content Programmer, MTV Base Africa, Ejino Valentine.

Moderated by actor, media personality and Culture Squad member, Folu Storms, the panelists will discuss everything from the everyday management of music artists in the digital age to building artiste-fan relationships and the impact of video-focused social networking platforms like TikTok.

“Social media has changed everything from how we discover new talents to how we make things go viral. Society has moved beyond getting content from TV and radio to consuming content from smartphones and computers because of the growing influence of social media. Evidently, society has evolved from merely consuming content to creating content as well, and this has had a ripple effect. Songs and videos spread faster and so do scandals,” Bada Akintunde-Johnson, Country Manager for Paramount, commented on the evolving social media landscape and its resulting impact on the music industry.

“To get the best in the age of this new media, it has become increasingly important that artistes and creatives as a whole become adept at navigating the complex world that is social media. In this new episode, we will discuss everything from snagging your audience’s attention to building a cult following and very interesting topics around the relevance of mainstream media,” he concluded.

To be a part of this quarter’s edition of Musicology, tune in to MTV Base Channel 322 on DStv and GOtv Channel 72, by 20:00 WAT / 21:00 CAT. You can join the conversation using the hashtag #MTVBaseMusicology or follow @mtvbasewest on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information.

In recent times, financial service providers and customers alike have been faced with the persistent problem of e-banking frauds. As technology has evolved, society has become more sophisticated, and fraudsters have gained more dexterity in the act of swindling people of their hard-earned money. From skimming to phishing and card swapping, fraudsters have acquired many tactics to cleverly divest unsuspecting customers of their funds.

Of all the common tactics contained in the arsenals of fraudsters, ‘card swapping’ has become one of the most rampant in recent times. With ‘card swapping’, fraudsters obtain and swap ATM cards from unsuspecting victims by distracting them as they use, ATMs or, feign concern when customers encounter difficulties while transacting and offering assistance.

To prevent more customers from falling prey to this tactic, Africa’s largest retail bank, Access Bank PLC, has outlined security tips to educate its users on how to protect their cards against fraudulent activities. Some of these are;

I. Before you slot in your card, ensure you have the privacy of some meters as you Ensure there is no stranger close to you as you use the ATM.

II. If you cannot retrieve your card from the ATM or notice suspicious moves, immediately put a call through to the call center: 0127120057 or visit the nearest branch for card blockage.

III. Request the assistance of the branch manager if you encounter some challenges at the ATM. Never seek help from strangers nor hand over your card to anyone, even the security guard.

IV. After your transaction, remember to retrieve your card and receipt (if you requested for one) before exiting the premises.

While these measures are put in place to ensure customers engage with smartness, Access Bank continues to solidify its position as an anti-fraud leading agent, equipping its

customers with measures to protect themselves while providing avenues through its communicative channels to guarantee unrivalled services.

If you suspect your privacy being threatened as you use the ATM, abort the transaction as quickly as possible and exit the area. If your mobile device has been stolen, immediately dial *901*911# from any available phone to deactivate your USSD profile. Thereafter, call: 01-2712005-7 to report the incident. You can also send a mail to [email protected] or speak directly to a banking agent using the direct message feature across the Bank’s verified social media handles.

If your card has been stolen or misplaced, block it immediately using the AccessMore app. Additionally, never reveal or share sensitive information such as your BVN, PIN, CVV, One-Time Password(OTP) or your 16-digit card number with anyone.

Stay safe, be vigilant, be fraud smart!

Access Bank’s women empowerment arm, the ‘W’ Initiative, has welcomed a new set of twins through its Maternal Health Service Support (MHSS) Scheme.

The scheme, which was created to ease the financial burden associated with accessing both local and international fertility treatments and natal support, was accessed by one of Access Bank’s customers last year—the result of which is a twin birth following a successful In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedure in Port Harcourt.

“Fertility treatments and natal supports are generally expensive, making them inaccessible to many families who need them. More so, many of these treatments require multiple cycles completed to increase the success probability. Each cycle and each treatment increases the financial burden families have to face to bear the children they desire,” said Abiodun Olubitan, Group Head, W Initiative Access Bank.

“Unfortunately, these treatments do not guarantee the desired results. Many families have had to go through them repeatedly, which makes the financial requirements crushing. We launched the Maternal Health Service Support to help families shoulder that burden. We are ecstatic over the news of our customer’s set of twins, and we look forward to hearing more positive news in the near future,” she added.

Since its launch, Access Bank has disbursed over N211 Million in loans through the MHSS, positively impacting hundreds of women with low-cost health financing that has thus far resulted in 78 births.

The MHSS serves as the ‘W’ Initiative’s vehicle to finance various health procedures, including fibroid treatments, bone marrow transplants, child delivery, weight loss, surrogacy amongst others.

Women interested in accessing the benefits of this scheme are encouraged to send a direct email to [email protected] or call 01-2273005 or visit the W community website at www.thewcommunity.com.

Lerai has been announced as the first ever African host for the broadcast on the continent of Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards on NickToons. The world’s biggest and slimiest award show, honouring the finest in television, movies, music, and sports as voted on by Nickelodeon network viewers across the world, is returning. Every year, The Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards improves and returns better than the previous year, and this year will be no exception. In a first for Africa, Lerai will serving as the show’s host locally, stepping up as the companion to take Africa through the awards show and injecting some extra local flavour along the way. “Lerai made history as the first African influencer and presenter for the channel when NickMusic launched in May 2021. Now, she has been named as the first African host of the Kids’ Choice Awards, which is incredible news. We will continue to support her in her growth and be a partner in driving her talent to new heights in her career,” says Monde Twala, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Paramount in Africa. “It is incredible to see young African talent grow and represent the continent globally. Lerai being selected to host the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, is testament that our talent is on-par with the rest of the world. We are proud to be the home of channels like Nickelodeon that promote African talent locally and globally” said Georginah Machiridza, Executive Head Content Strategy & 3rd Party Channels at MultiChoice. “This has been such a wonderful way to begin the year; I’m delighted that my efforts have been recognized not only locally and across the continent, but have given me the opportunity to play a part in the global phenomenon that is the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, and I am not taking it lightly. I’m grateful for the constant support I get from the team at Paramount, and the love from all the Nick cheering fans,” NickMusic presenter, Lerai ,stated. Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards bring children and families from all around the world together by giving them a place to celebrate their favourite personalities. The awards show will feature an exciting line-up of unforgettable performances, special moments, and appearances by some of the biggest stars. The Lerai-hosted Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2022 will broadcast

on NickToons (DStv Channel 308) on 13 April 2022 at 13:30 WAT / 14:30 CAT. Information about how fans in the African region can get involved and cast votes for their favourite will be announced in the coming weeks, stay tuned to the official Kids’ Choice Awards website, KidsChoiceAwards.com for updates. Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2022 is sponsored by The LEGO® Group, the Kirby and the Forgotten Land™ game, Lunchables, and Olive Garden®. Share It: @Nickelodeon @KidsChoiceAwards #KCA Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2022 is produced by Nickelodeon Productions and overseen by Ashley Kaplan, Executive Vice President, Nickelodeon & Awesomeness Unscripted & Digital Franchise Studio; Paul J Medford, Vice President, Unscripted Current Series; Luke Wahl, Vice President, Unscripted Creative; and Jennifer Bryson, Vice President, Production, Tentpoles, Events & Music & Specials. Michael Dempsey serves as executive producer, with Magda Liolis, Andria Parides, Kathryn Rickey and Greg Sills serving as co-executive producers. The show is directed by Glenn Weiss. Nickelodeon, now in its 42nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon is a part of Paramount’s (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA) global portfolio of multimedia entertainment brands.