Nigeria’s entertainment industry is entering a new digital era as telecommunications giant Lebara Nigeria launches LebaraPlay, the country’s first micro-drama platform designed to transform African storytelling and connect creators with global audiences.
The mobile-first entertainment platform was unveiled at the British Deputy High Commission Residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, as Lebara Nigeria expands beyond traditional telecom services into digital entertainment, content creation, and creative innovation.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Executive Officer of Lebara Nigeria, Teniola Stuffman, said LebaraPlay represents the company’s vision of creating a digital ecosystem where connectivity, technology, and entertainment work together to deliver greater value to consumers.
She explained that the platform is open to both Lebara subscribers and non-subscribers, offering a wide range of premium content, including micro-drama, music, lifestyle programmes, and other formats designed specifically for mobile audiences.
“By introducing LebaraPlay, Lebara Nigeria is expanding its value proposition beyond calls and data, creating meaningful experiences for customers while opening new opportunities for creators to showcase their talent and grow their audience,” Stuffman said.
She described the launch as a historic moment for Nigeria’s creative industry, noting that LebaraPlay is the first micro-drama platform originating from Nigeria and one of the first telecom-led entertainment ecosystems in Africa.
According to Stuffman, modern consumers are no longer looking for only connectivity but also experiences, communities, entertainment, and cultural content.
“People don’t simply buy networks anymore. They buy experiences. They buy communities. They buy entertainment, culture, and emotion,” she said.
The CEO added that the LebaraPlay platform would operate through a flexible model combining free and premium content, ensuring accessibility while creating sustainable opportunities for filmmakers, actors, writers, musicians, producers, and advertisers.
She said micro-drama has become one of the fastest-growing entertainment formats globally, with audiences increasingly consuming short-form stories through mobile devices during daily activities.
“Attention has changed. Storytelling has evolved, and Africa deserves to lead this evolution—not follow it,” Stuffman stated.
The platform is expected to provide a new distribution channel for African creators while supporting the growth of Nigeria’s creative economy and expanding local content to international audiences.
The Country Director of the United Kingdom Department for Business and Trade, Mark Smithson, praised the initiative, describing Nigeria’s creative sector as one of the country’s strongest assets.
He said partnerships between Nigeria and the United Kingdom in technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship would continue to create new opportunities for businesses and content creators.
“Nigeria’s creative industries are one of the country’s greatest strengths, with its music, film, fashion and digital content influencing audiences around the world,” Smithson said.
He added that platforms such as LebaraPlay would help creators reach wider audiences, access new markets, and build sustainable businesses.
Meanwhile, Lebara Nigeria’s Chief Operating Officer, Mary Akinadesokan, expressed excitement over the launch, describing the platform as a bridge for skill development, content creation, and global exposure for African storytellers.
Lebara operates across several international markets, including the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Spain, and Australia. In Nigeria, the company is developing a digitally enabled mobile ecosystem focused on connectivity, innovation, and customer experience.
With the launch of LebaraPlay, the company aims to position Nigeria at the forefront of Africa’s digital entertainment revolution while proving that locally developed innovations can compete on the global stage.
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