Media mogul and founder of THISDAY and ARISE News, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, has announced plans to launch “Lekeleke,” a new African-owned social media platform intended to strengthen the continent’s presence in the global digital ecosystem.
Obaigbena revealed the project at the 2025 All Nigeria Editors Conference in Abuja, where he emphasized the urgent need for Africa to develop and control its own digital infrastructure. He warned that the continent’s rising dependence on platforms built and governed by the United States and China leaves Africa vulnerable to external influence, data insecurity, and limited autonomy.
Championing Digital Independence
Speaking to senior editors, Obaigbena said Lekeleke is part of a broader push to ensure African voices, content creators, and media institutions can thrive on platforms rooted in the continent’s cultural, economic, and regulatory realities. The upcoming platform is expected to promote homegrown innovation, protect user data locally, and provide new economic opportunities for African creatives.
He argued that Africa must move beyond being “digital consumers” to becoming architects of its own technologies, noting that local platforms are critical for safeguarding sovereignty in an increasingly data-driven world.
A New Frontier for African Tech
While details of the platform’s launch timeline and features remain under wraps, its announcement has already sparked conversations in media and tech circles about Africa’s next steps in asserting control over its digital future.
Analysts say Lekeleke could emerge as a symbolic and strategic milestone, marking one of the most ambitious attempts to establish a competitive African-owned social network on the global stage.
As preparations continue, Obaigbena’s move signals a growing recognition that Africa’s digital destiny must be shaped by Africans themselves—one platform at a time.
