Nigerian firm partners CNN to launch digital news platform

Times Multimedia (TMM), an indigenous media and technology company, has announced a partnership with CNN International.

Both companies have come together to launch Follio.ng, a digital news platform, which will go live early in 2019.

According to a statement signed by Zubby Emodi, managing director at TMM, the news and entertainment platform is targeted at “residents of Nigeria and millions of Nigerians in the diaspora”.

It will be managed by experienced team based in Lagos who will curate content to showcase the best of Nigeria and its people to the world.

The partnership, the statement said was established by CNN International Commercial (CNNIC), and will give Folio access to CNN’s reporting and journalism from across the world.

CNN will also provide a full suite of consultancy, training and expertise services—from content creation and production to journalistic standards and practices.

Commenting on the partnership, Emodi said Folio.ng will grow to become Africa’s most engaging and entertaining online platform.

“By launching this CNN affiliated digital publishing platform in Nigeria, we plan to raise the bar for premium news production, quality editorial, immersive video content—thus helping change the narrative of Nigeria in the global context and offer engaging, credible, and in-depth news and entertainment… and other Africa-focused content verticals,” he said.

“We believe this movement will inspire a new generation of editors, content creators and brands to leverage our current cultural equity on the world stage.”

Also speaking on the rationale behind the partnership, Roland Nikolaou, senior director, content sales and partnerships, EMEA, CNNIC, said: “An important part of CNN’s mission and strategy is to empower innovative news organisations around the world with the tools and capabilities to launch exciting new services.

“Folio epitomises the spirit and ambition that we look for, and we are excited to exclusively partner with Times Multimedia in its plans to bring a fresh source of news to Nigeria, its dia“spora and the wider continent.”