MultiChoice Nigeria CEO, Kemi Omotosho, in this interview, speaks on the company’s ownership structure, local decision- making, investment in Nigerian talent and content, the fight against piracy and the future of competition in Nigeria’s entertainment industry. Excerpts:
By Nnamdi Ojiego
As the first Nigerian woman to lead MultiChoice Nigeria, what perspective do you bring to the role and how do you see your appointment shaping the company’s future?
I’m incredibly proud to be the first Nigerian woman to lead MultiChoice Nigeria, and I recognize the significance of that milestone. I bring experience from leading businesses and teams across different African markets, which has taught me to stay close to the customer, adapt quickly and never assume that one solution works everywhere. For Nigeria, my focus is clear: build a strong team, put the customer at the center of our decisions, strengthen the business and accelerate growth. Ultimately, I want my leadership to be defined by the impact we create for our customers, our people and the business.
Many Nigerians know the MultiChoice brand but not necessarily how the company is structured. How would you describe MultiChoice Nigeria's identity as a business operating in the country?
I would describe MultiChoice Nigeria as a deeply Nigerian business with the strength of a global group behind it. We have operated in Nigeria for over three decades, with Nigerian teams, partners, producers and creatives at the heart of what we do. Our products, content and commercial strategies are shaped around the realities of this market. Since September 2025, we have also been part of CANAL+, a global media and entertainment group with operations across 70 countries. That gives us access to greater scale, technology, content and international expertise, while allowing us to remain distinctly Nigerian in how we serve our customers. You see that local identity in platforms like Big Brother Naija and the AMVCAs; proudly Nigerian propositions that celebrate our stories, talent and culture and showcased to many countries in Africa.
Questions about who owns MultiChoice often surface in public discussions. Could you clarify the company’s ownership structure and explain where MultiChoice Nigeria fits within it?
It’s actually quite straightforward. Since September 2025, MultiChoice has been part of CANAL+, a global media and entertainment group headquartered in France, with operations across 70 countries. MultiChoice Nigeria operates as part of that global group, while remaining locally focused and managed around the needs of the Nigerian market. Being part of CANAL+ gives us access to greater scale, technology, content and international expertise, while our strategy and execution in Nigeria remain firmly rooted in the realities of this market.
After more than 30 years in Nigeria, how has MultiChoice evolved from being a pay-TV operator into a broader participant in the country's media and creative economy?
When people turn on DStv or GOtv, they see the finished product. What they don’t always see is the entire Nigerian ecosystem behind that screen. Over the last 30 years, we have evolved from primarily bringing great entertainment into Nigerian homes to investing across the entire media and creative valuen chain, from local content and production to technology, infrastructure, distribution and skills development. Behind that are producers, actors, production crews, dealers, installers and small businesses. It is an ecosystem that creates jobs and supports livelihoods across the country. We are also investing in the future of the industry. Through initiatives like the MultiChoice Talent Factory, we develop young filmmakers and production talent, giving them practical skills to build careers, create businesses and ultimately employ others. So, our role today goes well beyond pay-TV. We are not just distributing content; we are investing in the people, businesses and infrastructure that help Nigeria’s creative economy grow.
How important is local content, local talent and local investment to MultiChoice’s long-term strategy in Nigeria?
Local investment is fundamental to our future in Nigeria. We have incredible creative talent in this country, and our ambition is to help create an ecosystem where that talent can thrive and compete on a global stage. That means continuing to invest in Nigerian stories, filmmakers, actors, production capabilities and the next generation of creative talent. We want to create content Nigerians are proud to watch at home, but also content that can travel across Africa and the world. Nigeria has the talent to be a global creative powerhouse, and we want MultiChoice to play an important role in making that happen.
To what extent does MultiChoice Nigeria make its own commercial and operational decisions, and how much flexibility does it have in responding to the unique realities of the Nigerian market?
Nigeria is not a market where you can simply take something that works elsewhere and assume it will work here. You have to understand the customer, the economy and how people buy and consume entertainment. That is why we have significant flexibility to run the business in a way that responds to the realities of the Nigerian market, while operating within the broader strategy and standards of the Group. Our decisions around products, pricing, distribution, content and customer experience are shaped by what works here. At the same time, being part of a global group gives us access to ideas, technology and experience from other markets. We can take what works elsewhere and adapt it for Nigeria, and equally, successful ideas developed here can be shared across the Group. So, the principle is quite simple: we think globally, but we act locally.
Some people see MultiChoice as simply a foreign company doing business in Nigeria. How would you respond to that characterisation?
We are part of a global group, absolutely, and that is strength. But after more than 30 years in Nigeria, MultiChoice is also deeply embedded in this market. We employ Nigerians, work with Nigerian producers and creatives, partner with Nigerian businesses and invest significantly in local content, talent, technology and infrastructure. Our success is closely connected to the success of the ecosystem around us. So, I wouldn’t define MultiChoice simply by where our parent company is headquartered. I would look at the impact we create, the investments we make and the long-term commitment we have demonstrated to Nigeria. We have the strength and scale of a global group behind us, but our commitment to Nigeria is local and long term. We are here, we are invested, and we remain very optimistic about Nigeria’s future.
What does being a responsible corporate citizen mean for MultiChoice Nigeria and how is that reflected in your investments, partnerships and day-to-day operations?
Being a responsible corporate citizen means creating value beyond your own business. For MultiChoice, that means investing in Nigeria, creating opportunities, developing local talent, supporting the creative economy and operating with integrity. It also means meeting our obligations including being a responsible taxpayer and building partnerships with government, regulators and industry stakeholders that strengthen the sector over the long term. An important part of that responsibility is protecting the value being created. Piracy is not just a MultiChoice problem; it affects the producer who invested in a film, the actor who brought it to life and the many people behind the scenes whose livelihoods depend on that content having value. We are committed to curbing piracy and educating people about the far- reaching consequences of piracy. We do this in partnership with the Nigerian Copyright Commission and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy. Ultimately, we want our presence in Nigeria to leave the industry and the communities around us stronger. For us, responsible business is not separate from our strategy; it is part of how we build a sustainable business and a stronger creative industry.
As competition in the entertainment industry intensifies, what advantages does MultiChoice believe its long-standing presence and deep roots in Nigeria give the company?
Competition is healthy. It keeps everyone innovating and ultimately the customer benefits. After over three decades in Nigeria, our biggest advantage is the depth of our understanding of this market and our customers. We have built trusted brands, strong local content, an extensive distribution network and long-standing relationships with producers, creatives and partners across the country. We have also evolved continuously from traditional pay-TV to a multi-platform entertainment business spanning DStv, GOtv and streaming. That ability to adapt, while staying close to the Nigerian consumer, is real strength. But longevity alone is not enough. We still have to earn our customers every day by delivering great content, value, affordability and a strong customer experience. Competition keeps us sharp, and that is good for the industry and, most importantly, for the customer.
When people look back at MultiChoice’s journey in Nigeria years from now, what would you like them to remember most about the company’s impact on the country’s media, economy and creative industries?
I would like people to remember that MultiChoice did much more than entertain Nigeria, that we helped build and strengthen an industry. For over three decades, MultiChoice has been part of everyday life for millions of Nigerian families, from unforgettable football moments to Big Brother Naija, local dramas and stories that became part of our culture. Through complex economic cycles, we have remained committed to Nigeria, continuing to invest, innovate and evolve with our customers. Behind those moments is a bigger legacy: the Nigerian stories we helped bring to life, the talent we developed and the jobs and businesses we supported. You see that through platforms like the AMVCAs, which celebrate African creative excellence, and the MultiChoice Talent Factory, which is developing the next generation of filmmakers and storytellers. Ultimately, I would like our legacy to be that we entertained millions of Nigerians, while helping build an industry that creates opportunities, develops world-class talent and takes Nigerian stories to Africa and the world.
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