john ugbe – NECLive

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MultiChoice CEO John Ugbe confirmed to speak at NECLive 2025

Posted on November 15, 2025 by Adedeji Adeyanju

15
Nov

John Ugbe is a Nigerian business executive and the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria. He began his career with the company in 1998 as a help desk analyst before moving to MWEB, where he served as IT Manager from 2003 to 2006. In March 2006, he became the General Manager of MWEB Nigeria and later joined iWayAfrica Nigeria in 2007.

Ugbe returned to MultiChoice in October 2011 as Managing Director and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2018. Under his leadership, MultiChoice Nigeria has experienced significant growth and innovation.

His accomplishments include the launch of three Africa Magic channels in local Nigerian languages, broadening cultural representation on television; the introduction of GOtv, a more affordable digital terrestrial service aimed at wider accessibility; the creation of the MultiChoice Talent Factory, an initiative designed to train and nurture Africa’s next generation of creative professionals; and the establishment of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), a prestigious platform celebrating excellence in African film and television.

So Join John for NECLive 2025 on Friday, November 28 2025 at Landmark Events Centre. This year’s edition is themed “Powering Africa Through Creative Enterprise.” Register now: www.nec.ng

Latest News, NEC, News

#NECLive7: Multichoice CEO John Ugbe To Discuss Big Brother Naija And More

Posted on April 20, 2019 by Humphrey Anyim

20
Apr

As millions of fans await the return of popular Big Brother Naija reality show, Multichoice CEO John Ugbe makes his own return to the Nigerian Entertainment Conference stage where he would be discussing what the world must learn from the phenomenon.

Mr. Ugbe was a speaker at the 2018 edition of NEC Live where he fielded questions from members of the audience who wanted to know why the show was held in South Africa. He explained that the time that it would not have been cost-effective to have brought all the production equipment down to Nigeria. However, producers of the show have decided to hold the 2019 edition in Lagos, Nigeria.

Although it is often disparaged as a corrupt; indecent platform, BBNaija appears to be more than a reality show for wannabe stars. The makers of the show, the participants, researches, and fans come together for a session that interrogates all the assumptions; with a view to providing everyone with an opportunity to see things differently.

Nigerian Entertainment Conference will discuss mobile, data, consumers and the future of entertainment and will hold at Landmark Event Centre, Lagos on April 24, 2019.

NEC Live is brought to you by ID Africa, in partnership with African Creative Foundation, MultiChoice, Livespot, Huce Valeris, and BHM.

NEC, News, Uncategorized

How 12 Million People in 12 Countries Discussed How Entertainment Can Save Nigeria’s Economy in 12 Hours

Posted on May 27, 2016May 27, 2016 by oyindamola bamgbola

27
May

On April 20, 2016, Nigerians came together for the fourth edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive 4) to discuss how entertainment can rebuild Nigeria’s wavering economy.

#NECLive4 featured an interesting line-up of professionals not only from the entertainment industry but from all works of life to serve as panelists and moderators who gave insights from the business and creative sides of the entertainment world and how the industry can revamp the economy of Africa’s most populous country.

The 4th edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference, which held at Victoria Island, Lagos was expected to attract about 2,500 Nigerians from different parts of the country.

Between April 19 and April 22, 2016, #NEClive4 drew in over 12,000,000 people online.

Themed Entertainment As Last Hope For Africa’s Largest Economy, the recently concluded #NEClive4 event attracted 2,749 people on site on April 20.

Some of the panelists and moderators that graced the event include CEO 141 Worldwide, Olubunmi Oke, Founder Spot Studio, Sebastian Paszek, Nigerian conceptual designer, Kayode Olowu, Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, Tony Ojobo, Tiwa Savage, TY Bello, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, Kaffy Shafau Ameh, amongst others.

Ayeni Adekunle, founder of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference delivered a welcome address Entertainment as Last Hope for Africa’s Largest Economy.

D’Banj, Banky W and Funke Akindele who were speakers at the event gave intellectual presentations titled Content as the New Crude, the Power of Music & Comedy, and the Economy of Talents respectively.

CEO Braincraft, Olatunde Falase provided an in-depth analysis of Emerging Global Business & Disruptive Models while Managing Director of MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe discussed Case Studies of Intervention Strategies.

In 48 hours, #NEClive4, which was a top trending topic on Twitter, gathered over 62 million impressions on Twitter and Instagram from 1,000 users across Nigeria.

Some of the brands, platforms and individuals who contributed to the #NEClive4 conversation include MTN, The Guardian, Bella Naija, The Cable, This Day, Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, Wofai Ifada amongst others.

Nigeria wasn’t the only country interested in NECLive 4. 11 other countries including Ghana, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Canada, Britain, Iran, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Poland, and U.S.A joined the conference via television and livestream on social media.

The infographic below summarizes NECLive 4 in numbers.

Download the full report here.

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