For MultiChoice, Africa’s most-loved storyteller, an intentional strategy to educate and inform while also entertaining can have a real impact on a continent where literacy is key to improving people’s lives.
The world celebrated International Literacy Day (ILD) on 8 September, a day highlighting the value of literacy and the critical importance of accessing knowledge in a way that feels comfortable. This focus is especially relevant in Africa, where understanding the mother tongue, reading, and education are crucial for empowering young people with the knowledge needed to improve their future prospects.
This is why the African media and entertainment group, MultiChoice Africa, embraces every opportunity to promote literacy and education. The company leverages its diverse content platforms to provide learning and educational programming for young viewers across the continent. Fully aware of the power of television in promoting literacy, particularly in areas with limited access to traditional education, MultiChoice operates numerous channels on its DStv and GOtv services. These channels combine entertainment and education, particularly in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Educational offerings include Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Mindset Learn (Maths, Science, Technology), Da Vinci Learning, and the History Channel.
Nick Jr., the educational preschool channel from Nickelodeon, is available in several local languages, allowing African children to learn in their mother tongues. This ensures that young viewers receive the highest educational value, improving their literacy, numeracy, and broader life skills. Children also access educational content in their home languages, including Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba, via Africa Magic.
MultiChoice produces over 6,500 hours of local content each year and has amassed a content library of over 84,000 hours in total. This collection of homegrown, local content reflects indigenous values and storytelling, playing a crucial role in cultural education.
These programming options come bundled with a range of additional free-to-air local content, all supporting the education of Africa’s children, nurturing a generation of talented young people confident in expressing their culture.
In line with its mission to reduce learning poverty and boost literacy, MultiChoice extended its efforts beyond television and into classrooms through the MultiChoice Resource Center initiative, which operated from 20216 – 2020. During this time, MultiChoice demonstrated its commitment to improving literacy and education in Nigeria by donating digital learning tools to over 400 schools across Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Enugu, Jigawa, Benue, and Zamfara states.
In Namibia, MultiChoice partnered with LearnOnOne to donate TV sets and GOtv decoders to local schools, along with GOtv subscriptions. This initiative empowers learners with access to LearnOnOne’s supplementary video lessons during afternoon school hours, benefiting both day scholars and hostel residents.
In Tanzania, MultiChoice teamed up with Kids Finance to organize a youth financial literacy and digital skills bootcamp, equipping young Tanzanians with essential knowledge for navigating the modern world.
As “Africa’s most-loved storyteller,” MultiChoice is committed to using its most powerful tool—its ability to tell authentic African stories—to inspire young minds and support their learning, literacy, and personal growth. It’s an exciting way to make a powerful impact.
