Tanzanian billionaire Rostam Aziz is poised to become the majority shareholder of Nation Media Group (NMG) following a deal to acquire a controlling stake previously held by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development.
The transaction will see Aziz’s investment firm, Taarifa Limited, acquire shares held through NPRT Holdings Africa Limited, which controls 54.08 percent of Nation Media Group. Once the deal is finalized, Aziz will effectively take control of one of East Africa’s most influential media organizations.
The move marks the end of a 66-year era of ownership by the Aga Khan’s development network, which played a key role in building Nation Media Group into a regional media powerhouse. Over the decades, NMG has grown to operate major media platforms, including Daily Nation, Business Daily, Taifa Leo, and The EastAfrican, alongside television and radio outlets across the region.
Rostam Aziz is one of Tanzania’s most prominent investors, with interests spanning telecommunications, mining, energy, and infrastructure. The acquisition signals his expansion into the regional media sector and highlights the growing role of private investors in shaping East Africa’s information landscape.
The deal is expected to undergo regulatory review and approvals before completion in the coming months.
If finalized, the acquisition could usher in a new chapter for Nation Media Group, potentially influencing the company’s strategic direction, digital growth, and role in shaping public discourse across East Africa.
The transaction will see Aziz’s investment firm, Taarifa Limited, acquire shares held through NPRT Holdings Africa Limited, which controls 54.08 percent of Nation Media Group. Once the deal is finalized, Aziz will effectively take control of one of East Africa’s most influential media organizations.
The move marks the end of a 66-year era of ownership by the Aga Khan’s development network, which played a key role in building Nation Media Group into a regional media powerhouse. Over the decades, NMG has grown to operate major media platforms, including Daily Nation, Business Daily, Taifa Leo, and The EastAfrican, alongside television and radio outlets across the region.
Rostam Aziz is one of Tanzania’s most prominent investors, with interests spanning telecommunications, mining, energy, and infrastructure. The acquisition signals his expansion into the regional media sector and highlights the growing role of private investors in shaping East Africa’s information landscape.
The deal is expected to undergo regulatory review and approvals before completion in the coming months.
If finalized, the acquisition could usher in a new chapter for Nation Media Group, potentially influencing the company’s strategic direction, digital growth, and role in shaping public discourse across East Africa.
