MultiChoice Nigeria Pledges N400m to Creative Industry

MultiChoice on Wednesday, April 1 announced its commitment to safeguard income of cast and crew of various productions affected by COVID-19. The leading entertainment and media company pledged N400 million to support the creative professionals whose works are halted by the government’s directive on social gatherings.

The commitment was part of a wider support package for the country’s fight against the global pandemic. Totalling N1.2 billion, the company will give cash support of N200m and N50m to the Federal and Lagos State Governments respectively, donate 10,000 certified test kits to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Public Service Announcement COVID-19 prevention tips in English, Pidgin, Ibo, Yoruba and Hausa languages as well as approved inventory worth over N550m highlighting the NCDC’s COVID-19 Helplines and PSAs on more than 10 channels across DStv and GOtv.

“We are doing this because we recognize the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has on Nigerians and the economy. We hope our contributions to NCDC, the Federal and State Governments, alongside other donations, will go a long way towards effective management of the outbreak,” said Chairman MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr Adewunmi Ogunsanya (SAN).

The CEO of the company John Ugbe added that “the creative industry salary payment of up to N400 million will offer a much needed financial reprieve for producers, actors, and technical talent currently contracted to MultiChoice Nigeria, whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the pandemic.”

The company said that the intervention, in line with its values as a responsible corporate organisation and leader in the media and the creative sector is aimed at supporting the authorities in fighting the pandemic and reducing its attendant impact on Nigeria’s national economy.