Agenda

TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT PLEASE GO TO WEBSITE: https://theafricasoftpowerproject.com/​



The Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce Global Affairs Committee has partnered with the Africa Soft Power Series to offer a series of webinars starting 12th August to 29th August 2020.


These webinars will also provide attendees with an opportunity to raise related issues or questions you may have regarding trading in Africa.



CREATIVE POWER: CONTENT, CULTURE & PLATFORMS, WHERE IS THE MONEY? AFRICA SOFT POWER SERIES


More than ever, the cultural and creative sectors continue to shape the world around us, as their importance to society becomes even clearer, especially amid the economic devastation inflicted by the COVID-19 crisis and mass quarantines.

As the world's last large, underdeveloped market, the importance of the creative and knowledge industries takes on added significance when we consider that Africa will be home to more than a third of the world's population and half of the world's youth by 2100.


How can the continent optimize the creative and knowledge industries to propel itself forward?

The Africa Soft Power Series is the first of its kind virtual convening of industry thought leaders from across the globe passionate about Africa



Session 5- AFRICAN TELEVISION: NOW AND THE FUTURE

In the face of growing digital options, broadcast television still reaches more people each day than any other visual media. TV has the power to inform, educate and influence, yet some say its time is past.


How do we better harness the opportunities?


Russell Southwood (Moderator)

CEO, Balancing Act



Chichi Nwoko

Managing Director, What's on Media and Production



Theodore Asampong

CEO, West African Platform Services



Sam Onyemelukwe

Managing Director & General Manager West Africa, Trace TV



Date: Wednesday 19th August 2020, 5 PM WAT [12PM EST]



FORMAT:

Introduction, Discussion, Q&A




TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT PLEASE VISIT: https://theafricasoftpowerproject.com/​


THIS EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE ON ZOOM

Speakers

    Russell Southwood (Moderator), CEO, Balancing Act

    Russell Southwood is the CEO of Balancing Act, a consultancy research company that has over the last 20 years focused on telecom, internet and media in Sub-Saharan Africa. Until the Covid- 19 pandemic, he was a regular visitor to Nigeria as Africa's largest broadcast market. He is currently carrying out research for a client on the future of African broadcasting post-Covid 19.


    He is also author of Sub-Saharan Africa's Broadcasting Landscape (2019) and Sub-Saharan Africa's Digital Landscape and its Top 11 Markets – data prices, smartphones, digital content and services and e-commerce (2019).

    Chichi Nwoko, Managing Director, What’s on Media and Production

    She began her career in the media and broadcast industry over 20 years ago in the United States working for TV Network affiliates like ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX. She graduated with honors from Columbia University with a degree in Political Science and African Studies. 

    Chichi Nwoko is the CEO of HWO, a New York and Lagos-based multi-media consulting and production company with a focus on the African Media landscape.


    She also worked as the Country Manager of Kwese Free Sports in Nigeria, spearheading the national broadcast and coverage of major sports franchises like the FIFA World Cup, Premier League, NBA and NFL. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Sports Rights and Media Partnerships for Integral, a sport marketing agency.


    Chichi worked with Optima Media Group (OMG) as the Deputy Director of International Sponsorship and Sales and Group's Development Strategy; she spearheaded the production of the Fremantle franchise, Idol in Nigeria with Rapid Blue. She was the Executive Producer and the Producer of the CBS franchise "Kids Say The Darndest Things" in Nigeria. She produced of the feature film, "Lion Heart", Netflix's first West African original acquisition. She is the recipient of the 2016 Africa Magic Viewer's Choice Awards for her role as a producer in the feature Film "Road To Yesterday".



    Her achievements have been recognized my numerous organizations and media, including Forbes Africa Magazine and The National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment (NABFEME) in New York, who named her as an "Executive to Watch". In 2018, she was named top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent.



    Theodore Asampong, CEO, West African Platform Services

    He was a General Manager, Media Platform at SES Video and CEO WAPS LTD; he has experience in satellite communications and the industry and doing business in Africa. He also has broad knowledge in satellite broadcasting, Online Video Platforms, OTT, FTA and Pay TV Broadcasting models. Account management, prospecting for new business and forecasting of growth and trends, team management, part of daily activities. Widely travelled in Africa, Europe and Middle East.


    Able to give professional advice to customers in developing their business as well as on new trends and practices. Occasionally, giving presentations and sitting on panel discussions at conferences. Media activities include, hosting press launches and TV and Radio interviews. Hoping to become an integral part in the development of telecommunications in Africa, with a focus on Direct-To-Home TV, Digital Terrestrial Transmission and Video contribution.

    Specialties: Sales negotiations, account management, growth and trends forecast, interpersonal skills and team leading and project management. 

    Sam Onyemelukwe, Managing Director & General Manager West Africa, Trace TV

    Onyemelukwe holds an MBA and Masters in ICT/Information Systems from Boston University and a B.A. in Fine Arts from University of Southern California.


    When he was young, he nurtured dreams of being an artist to the point where he chased a degree in Arts at the University of Southern California — a popular film school attended by the likes of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. It quickly dawned on him that artistic skills couldn't compare with most of his classmates after seeing their drawings and paintings. Though his path changed, his unwavering flair for the arts remained.

    Before completing his degree in Fine Arts, he fell in love with graphic design and began his career at Walt Disney in Burbank, California right after school. That was where he got his big break. He jumped at the opportunity to go into TV and worked in various media and entertainment agencies in Nigeria and across the continent.


    He has worked as Business Development Manager, Nigeria for MTV Networks where he created campaigns for the likes of LG, Coca Cola, and Cadbury's Buttermint brand among many others.


    He began working with Trace in 2011 through a representation agreement and continues to run his company Venator Partners which holds a Master License with Trace TV.

    He intensified his efforts to revolutionise creativity for Nigerian youths when he announced a partnership with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in September to launch the Purple Hibiscus Writing Workshop and Trace Academy​.