Lebara Nigeria has introduced LebaraPlay, a digital entertainment platform it describes as the first micro-drama service originating from Nigeria and one of the first telecommunications-led entertainment ecosystems in Africa.

Unveiled at the British Deputy High Commission Residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, the platform reflects the company’s strategy of building a digitally enabled ecosystem combining connectivity, innovation and entertainment, Chief Executive Teniola Stuffman said. She said the service was open to both subscribers and non-subscribers, offering micro-drama, music and lifestyle content for mobile-first audiences.

Stuffman said connectivity alone was no longer enough, arguing that people now bought experiences, communities and culture rather than networks, and that the platform gave filmmakers, producers, actors, writers and musicians a new stage and income stream while proving that innovation could originate from Nigeria and scale globally. The service would run on a mix of free and premium content.

United Kingdom Department for Business and Trade Country Director Mark Smithson commended the Lebara team, saying the launch created new connections between Nigeria and Britain at the intersection of creativity, technology and entrepreneurship. He said Nigeria’s creative industries were among its greatest strengths and that the UK was committed to supporting them through its trade department, the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub and the British Council.

Chief Operating Officer Mary Akinadesokan said she was excited about the platform, describing it as a bridge and skill-building initiative intended to put Africa at the forefront of content provision, with the underlying technology making it the first of its kind on the continent.