adverts
In Nigeria’s fast-evolving digital and sports media space, one name consistently stands out—Janine Anthony.
A dynamic force at the intersection of sports journalism, digital strategy, and tech innovation, Janine has carved a niche for herself as one of the most influential voices in African sports storytelling.
She didn’t start out chasing microphones or studio lights. With a degree in marine biology from the University of Calabar and an MBA from Newcastle, Janine’s path into media seemed unlikely. But passion always finds a way.
adverts
“I knew I wanted to be involved in football somehow. I just didn’t know what that looked like at the time,” she says. “There weren’t many visible examples of Nigerian women in sports media, so I decided to become one.” And she did.
From founding LadiesMarch, Africa’s first women’s football-focused media platform, to becoming BBC’s first African female commentator at AFCON 2019, Janine broke ceilings most didn’t even know existed. That same year, she stood pitchside in Egypt, narrating the action to millions—and rewriting what it meant to be a sports journalist from Nigeria.
Her trailblazing didn’t stop at broadcasting. At TikTok, where she led Sports & Gaming Partnerships for Sub-Saharan Africa, Janine brought new life to Nigeria’s sports creator economy. She championed local talents, built strategies tailored to African audiences, and oversaw the creation of dedicated categories for sports and gaming at the TikTok Africa Awards—an industry first.
“Sports and gaming were always lumped under ‘entertainment’ or ignored altogether. We changed that narrative,” she says. “We showed the world that Nigerian creators can drive global sports culture.”
Her ability to blend editorial depth with tech-savvy execution has earned her a respected seat at global tables—from Sky Sports panels during AFCON 2022 and the FIFA World Cup to producing FIFA’s official 2023 Women’s World Cup documentary. She’s also helped deliver impact projects like betPawa’s Locker Room Bonus, ensuring fair pay for both male and female athletes across Africa.
But for all the glitz, Janine remains committed to advocacy. During the Ukraine crisis, she co-founded Black Foreigners in Ukraine, helping stranded African students evacuate safely—work that caught CNN’s attention.
She’s earned accolades like the AIPS Young Reporter Top 10 honour, a 2024 TikTok Global Women Leader nod, and an invite to the prestigious FIFA Best Awards. Yet her focus is still on telling authentic African stories and opening doors for others.
“I want Nigerian girls to know that it’s possible to work in football, tech, or wherever your passion lies,” she says. “You don’t have to fit a mould—you can create your own.”
Janine Anthony isn’t just a Nigerian journalist. She’s a digital pioneer, a sports visionary, and a champion of new voices rising across Africa’s media-tech frontier.
Click the link Puretvonline.com | WhatsApp Channel to join the whatsapp channel
GOT A STORY?
Contact/WhatsApp: +233243201960 or Email: manuelnkansah33@gmail.com
