By Moninuola Sulaiman

CNN Worldwide has appointed Phil Nelson to lead the network’s international business operations and its work with commercial partners outside of the United States.

As Executive Vice President of CNN International Commercial (CNNIC), Nelson is responsible for all international Advertising Sales, Content Sales & Licensing, and Commercial Distribution revenue, as well as related client solutions functions including the award-winning Create brand studio and world-class digital and data operations. In this role, Nelson also works with partners across the Warner Bros. Discovery business on areas such as CNN International’s distribution strategy and collaboration on digital operations and ad sales to provide more opportunities for brand partners to access news and other genres across the portfolio. Nelson becomes part of CNN Worldwide’s leadership team and reports to the network’s Group Executive Vice President of Business Operations & Strategy, Chris Marlin.

As CNNIC’s Chief Operating Officer since 2019, Nelson led operational and international growth initiatives while managing advertising sales support functions. In that time he put in place the framework for CNNIC’s Audience First ad sales strategy, took CNN content onto new platforms, and grew the portfolio of CNN’s international affiliate business with broadcasters and publishers around the world as well as its commercial distribution footprint with hotels and airlines. Major initiatives in Nelson’s time at CNNIC to date include the introduction of CNN International onto Connected TV platforms in Europe, the launch of the CNN Apparel business in Asia, licensing the rights to Great Big Story, and the expansion of the CNN branded channel portfolio with additions including CNN Brasil, CNN Prima News and CNN Portugal.

Prior to joining CNN, Nelson was Managing Director, Turner North Asia and South East Asia Pacific, overseeing all aspects of Turner’s business in these regions. He had previously held other business development and strategic planning roles at Turner since joining in 2010 and has significant digital experience from his time at AOL, where he was Managing Director for AOL Asia. In addition, Nelson holds an MBA from Harvard University and, prior to entering the corporate sector, was a commander in the US Navy.

CNN is making additional key changes to CNNIC’s executive leadership team as it evolves its client offering:

• Cathy Ibal is named Senior Vice President, Advertising Sales, to oversee all of CNN’s international advertising sales. A proven commercial leader with 22 years experience at CNN, Ibal has a track record of leading global teams and developing innovative advertising and brand solutions for a wide range of clients – from major luxury and blue chip brands to travel and tourism and other private and public sector partners
• Rob Bradley is appointed Senior Vice President, Digital Revenue, Strategy & Operations, with a remit that includes everything related to the digital ecosystem for CNNIC – revenue, operations, and commercial strategy. In addition to his CNNIC role, Rob is part of the CNN Digital leadership team and will lead CNNIC’s collaboration with WBD’s international business operations on digital projects and utilising best practices in advertising technology and solutions
• CNNIC’s sophisticated capabilities in creative, data, revenue strategy, and client services are all being brought into one unit under the leadership of James Hunt, Senior Vice President, Global Client Solutions. This will include a joined-up offering for partners across CNNIC’s award-winning Create Studio and the Audiences & Data unit along with client servicing, events, and strategy functions.

“For journalism to flourish, it’s imperative that we have a robust effective commercial operation to fund the work that CNN does around the world every single day,” said Chris Licht, Chairman and Chief Executive of CNN Worldwide. “To that end, I am delighted that Phil and his executive team are taking the reins at CNNIC to lead us into a new era of working with our commercial partners.”

“CNNIC has an incredible track record in unlocking value for both CNN and our commercial partners across a wide range of sectors,” said Phil Nelson. “As we look to the future, we are creating new ways for partners to work with CNN that enable advertisers to engage with our audiences wherever they consume CNN and for broadcasters, publishers, Out of Home partners, and platforms to access and leverage our world-renowned content and journalism. In a fast-changing media landscape, we are combining the best of CNN’s content and commercial offering in an innovative way that reflects client and market needs as well as audience expectations.”

Know More About CNN International Commercial: CNN International Commercial (CNNIC) is responsible for the business operations of CNN’s properties outside of the United States. All commercial activities for brands such as CNN International, CNN Arabic, CNN Style, and CNN Business are aligned within the division. This encompasses advertising sales, sponsorship partnerships, commercial content development, content sales, brand licensing, distribution, and out-of-home operations, business development, and marketing for the world’s leading international news provider. CNNIC is a recognised industry leader in international advertising sales and its use of award-winning commercial content, produced through its Create unit and driven by its advanced data usage and digital capabilities, has resulted in strong and enduring partnerships with many of the world’s most recognised brands. Its Content Sales and Licensing unit has relationships with more than 1,000 affiliates ranging from licensing the CNN brand through to content supply contracts as well as offering consultancy services. For more information visit http://commercial.cnn.com

…Students urge LASG to include Robotic Science in school curriculum 

Rashidat Okunlade Writes

Lagos State Government on Sunday kicked off the inauguration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat for a second term in office with Youth Carnival and Robotic competition.

The Youth Carnival and Robotic competition were held simultaneously across the five divisions of Lagos State comprising Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Epe, as Lagos residents gathered in their thousands to celebrate the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.

The Youth Carnival and Robotic Competition were held simultaneously at JJT Park, Alausa, Ikeja; Badagry Grammar School, Badagry; Ikorodu Town Hall Premises, Ikorodu; Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos Island, and Epe Recreation Centre, Epe, were parts of the 11-day program lined up to celebrate Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat, who have performed excellently in office in the first term, with the promise of improved performance to effectively achieve ‘A Greater Lagos Rising.’

Governor Sanwo-Olu was represented in the five divisions by top government officials.

Speaking at the event in Ikeja, Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, who represented Governor Sanwo-Olu, said the Governor deserves a second term in office to enable ‘A Greater Lagos Rising’ agenda.

She said the Robotic competition among students was part of the feats achieved in education during the first term of Governor Sanwo-Olu, adding that Lagosians should expect more when the second term takes off on May 29.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Somolu Local Government Area, Hon. Abdulhamid Salawu, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for empowering the youths.

“We can all see what Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu did during his first term, which is about to end and we are preparing for the inauguration of another term.

“The youths are happy with Governor Sanwo-Olu because they felt his impact during his first term and we believe he is going to do more for youths in his second term,” he said.

The council boss also urged youths in Lagos State to be focused on achieving their goals.

Some of the Students who took part in the Robotic competition at JJT Park Ikeja said they used their robots to showcase Emergency Response Services on Hospital Incidents and Traffic related issues.

Speaking at the event held at Muri Okunola Park, Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, of the Public Service Office, Mrs. Sunkanmi Oyegbola, said the event was to thank the youths for their support during the last gubernatorial poll and for them to embrace artificial intelligence for development which they did through the Robotic display.

He advised the youths to shun violence and drug abuse and do things that would ensure the rising of Greater Lagos.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Iru/Victoria Island Local Council Development Area, Princess Rashidat Adu, said Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration had so far embarked on inclusive governance, especially on youth-related issues, which had led to his re-election with his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat for a second term.

She said a lot of talents had been displayed at the Robotic Competition. She assured the youth that more programs that would be of benefit to them would be embarked upon by the administration.

At the Ikorodu event, students appealed to the Lagos State Government to include Robotics Science into their school curriculum to further develop the technology set skills of the younger population.

Speaking during the Robotic competition organised in the Ikorodu division of Lagos State, the students expressed confidence that investment in the ecosystem will build the science and technology space of Lagos State and Nigeria.

A representative of the CMS Girls Senior Grammar School, Ikorodu, Miss Joe Halimat, said that it becomes imperative for government to give priority to Robotic studies in schools as they do to Sports and Entertainment.

Halimat whose school came second in the competition explained that building a robot for traffic management has taught her perseverance and tolerance which has changed her way of life.

Also speaking, the Head of the Department, Co-curriculum for Science and Technology, Education District II, Mrs. Amaka Oto, advised students to brace up for technological advancement and acquire more knowledge in line with the THEMES agenda of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.

During the events held simultaneously across the five Lagos divisions – Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Epe, youths thrilled the gathering with various displays, including dance, and singing, among others.

Students from the six Education Districts in Lagos State also participated in the Robotic competition held simultaneously in the five divisions in the State.

Rashidat Okunlade Writes

PROMISE JOSHUA, a scion of renowned God’s General, global philanthropist, and founder of Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) late Senior Prophet TB Joshua has bagged a Master’s of Publication Administration MPA degree from a top-ranking university, the University of Columbia, New York in United States of America.

She’s among thousands of 2023 Class certified and released to the world this week whom Keren Yarhi-Milo, Dean, School of International and Public Affairs described as: “future heads of states, diplomats, global entrepreneurs, investors and inventors that will save lives” for a better world and humanity.

Promise Joshua (right) with her Mom, Pastor Evelyn Joshua.

Promise Joshua expressed gratitude to God for His grace upon her life and for her academic success in a record time. She also paid a glowing tribute to her late father Prophet TB Joshua whom she described as: “the best dad in the world, a personification of love with a towering and unquantifiable passion for education and better humanity for which he imparts with indelible marks cut across frontiers of several nations and human races across the world”. She also praised her mother for her steadfastness as a quintessence of true womanhood “for which I thank God and very proud of”.

Ranked 5th in 2018 in the global classification of ‘Top Master’s Programs for Policy Career in International Relations’, Columbia University has remained one of the world’s most important centers for research and distinguished learning environment for students in many scholarly and professional fields and has consistently been ranked the top graduate school for International Relations and Public Affairs in the world.