A fresh force is positioning itself to reshape how Africa tells its stories as CBI News, a digital-first media platform, made its official debut over the weekend, unveiling a bold agenda for credible, people-focused journalism across the continent.
Rather than simply entering the crowded digital media space, the platform is launching with an ambitious mission: to reclaim the integrity of African journalism through technology, independence, and a deliberate return to truth.
The initiative is powered by Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe, Founder and Group Chief Executive of the Baywood Group, who is championing a new era of authentic African narratives.
Setting the tone for the launch, Mr. Gbenga Adebija, Managing Director of CBI Digital Media, described the unveiling of the CBI News Mobile App (available on Android and iOS) as “a defining moment in the remarkable journey of CBI News 2020.”
He noted that the app surpasses the idea of a mere product rollout, calling it “a movement to empower, engage, and enlighten” audiences across Africa.
“Our vision is to be at the forefront of Africa’s digital media transformation, telling authentic African stories with credibility, creativity, and global relevance,” Adebija stated.
He credited Emperor Ibe’s foresight for shaping the company’s steady rise, anchored on the belief that “Africa must own its identity and shape the narrative of that identity.”
According to him, CBI News rests on a simple ethos: “From Nigeria, for Africa, to the entire world.” The mandate, he added, is to elevate African voices while upholding global standards of accuracy and integrity.
“Changing the game and owning the space is not just a slogan; it is a statement of intent,” he said. “Through the CBI News Hub, we are creating a platform that is technologically robust, purpose-driven, and responsive to the heartbeat of our beloved continent.”
In his remarks, Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe offered a stirring reflection on the decade-long vision that culminated in CBI News, noting that the initiative emerged from a desire to “change the narrative of African media” and free journalism from political influence and sensationalism.
“Africa’s story must be told by Africans,” Ibe declared. “CBI News is a non-aligned media platform, not beholden to power or politics, but committed to credible, fact-checked, and human-centred reporting. We will tell stories that are emotional, transformative, and real.”
He emphasized that the platform’s strength lies in its human-angle approach, stories rooted in real-life experiences rather than the familiar cycle of politics, conflict, and crisis.
According to him, “One of the angles that is missing in this part of the world is human-centric stories,” and highlighted the gap in how stories are told in Nigeria compared to international outlets like the BBC, CNN and their likes.
Ibe made a pledge that CBI journalists would have insurance and protection to ensure they can report without fear or compromise. “Should anything happen to me, what happens to my family? Every journalist that works with CBI will have a premium national insurance plan,” he said.
In his contribution during the launch, Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, stated that no journalist can survive on salary alone, noting that media is a complex business to run in Nigeria.
“As far as I am concerned, being a media investor in Nigeria is what the Yorubas call ‘Abiku’. The Igbos call it ‘Ogbanje’. Abiku is a child that you give birth to, which will die and come back again. That is the media. The media is as complex as you are seeing it,” he explained.
He stressed the need for good remuneration for journalists, adding that, “No journalist can survive on salary alone, even if you pay them N1 million monthly.”
The launch event was witnessed by many dignitaries, including the former governor of Ekiti State, and former Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, Dakuku Peterside, former Director-General, NIMASA, and Victoria Nwadoka, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Adaeze Okonkwo, representative of the Abia State Government, among others.
With its launch, CBI News is positioning itself not merely as another digital outlet, but as a transformative voice determined to reclaim Africa’s narrative through integrity, innovation, and the lived realities of its people.