Promasidor launches arts competition in primary schools

Promasidor Nigeria, makers of Amila drink, has launched an arts competition tagged ‘Amila Painting Challenge’ for primary school pupils in Lagos State.

Marketing Director, Promasidor, Mr. Kachi Onubogu made this known yesterday at the official launch press briefing affirming that the aim of the competition is to encourage the kids to paint and have fun while at it.

“Arts is a field that we want to go into because you all know that the environment is developing. Growing up, I can remember how we used to love to paint and then we were all encouraged to participate in arts from primary one to three. Art is important in a child’s development. A lot of people think that Mathematics and English are what kids need in primary and nursery schools but they fail to realize that the cognitive skills, social skills and arts skills will go a long way for the child.”

Onubogu explained further that the ‘Amila Painting Challenge’ is a competition amongst pupils of primary schools in Lagos and will run from October to November.
 “Amila Painting Challenge’ is for pupils at the primary school level in Lagos State as we intend to use Lagos as a pilot for the competition. Pupils will compete on the basis of painting different things. We want to encourage the kids to paint and most especially to have fun. If there’s one thing I want the school to do is to allow the kids to have fun while they paint.”

Speaking further, Manager, Brands Group (Food Enhancement and Beverages) of Promasidor Nigeria, Mrs. Abiola Inawo said the competition would encourage schools to put more attention on arts and also that the competition will be in three stages.

 “We are looking at 200 schools across 20 local government areas in Lagos. The competition will be in three stages, the first stage is at the school level where pupils will paint any art of their choice and the winner will represent the school at the local government area for the second stage. At the second stage, the overall winner from the local government level will get a branded Amila Bicycle and Promasidor goodie bags. Then the 20 finalist at the local government level will compete for the overall winner who will walk away with N250,000, 1st runner up will get N150,000, and the 3rd runner up will get N100,000 while there will be consolation prizes of N30,000 for the other 17 contestants,” Inawo said.

Representing the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Alabi Adaramaja in his remark, commended the Promasidor team saying, “We will like to commend Promasidor Nigeria for this because they have been very supportive in education, through the Cowbell National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC). Though we had doubts initially when they came to us but coming here now and seeing this, I want to assure you that we will support you in every way we can. Once again Promasidor on behalf of my executive chairman, Thank you and we encourage you not to relent in your efforts in helping the educational sector.”

Amila powder soft drink was launched into the Nigerian marke in March 2009. Launched in four flavours, Orange, Apple Pear, Mango Appricot and Strawberry Banana, Amila is targeted at kids but ideal for sharing by all members of the family. Amila currently sponsors the ‘Amila Spelling Bee’ on Cool FM 95.9 anchored by Mannie.

Yellow Brick Road appoints new Creative Director

The recently re-branded advertising agency, Yellow Brick Road, has appointed Mr Temitayo Adereti popularly known as “Tiny” as its creative director.

The agency formerly known as ZK Advertising has made the announcement as part of its reorganisation strategy, since it rebranded at the beginning of the year.

The position was formerly held by Nnenna Onyewuchi who will now focus on her core skill as head of strategy. “It has been a long and meticulous search to find someone befitting of the role,” says Kaliko Olowole, Managing Director of Yellow Brick Road.

“Not only were we looking for someone with the right credentials who could drive home what we stand for as a creative agency, it was also important that we found somebody who personifies the culture of the Agency. We are happy to announce that after much deliberation, we are convinced that Tiny is the man who deserves the keys to our trophy cabinet.”

Tiny began his creative career at SO&U Saatchi and was until joining Yellow Brick Road, Deputy Creative Director at TBWA. His illustrious career in advertising has seen him work on some of the nation’s biggest brands such as MTN, GTBank. Indomie and Stanbic IBTC.

Commenting on his new appointment, Tiny said, “Creativity is the simplest, cheapest and most effective way for companies to remain relevant in these trying times of information clutter and unstable economies. The future belongs to any company brave enough to embrace the principles of doing things differently by choosing solutions that are ideas-driven with high impact. At Yellow Brick Road, we are dedicated to helping such a company not only grow financially, but also grow in the hearts of its consumers.”

Yellow Brick Road is a communications solutions agency. The company started operations in Nigeria as ZK Advertising in 2006, and rebranded to Yellow Briick Road at the beginning of the year.

Promasidor calls for entries for media excellence awards, ‘Promasidor Quill Awards’

Promasidor Nigeria, makers of Cowbell milk, has called for entries for its recently launched media excellence awards for journalists, tagged ‘Promasidor Quill Awards’.

Mr. Andrew Enahoro, Head Legal and PR, Promasidor Nigeria Limited who made this known at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, said the awards is now officially open as journalists can now enter for the competition through its website.

L-R Coordinator Corporate Affairs, Mr. Ayodele Oguntubi, Head, Legal and PR, Mr. Andrew Enahoro, both of Promasidor Nigeria and Managing Director, TPT International, Mr. Charles Igbinidu, at the press conference to call for entries for the ‘Promasidor Quill Awards’ on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 in Lagos.

“The ‘Promasidor Quill Awards’ which was launched in March 2012, is now officially open. Submission of entries will run all through to March 2013 when it will be closed for compilation. Interested journalists can log on to the website http://quillawards.promasidor-ng.com/ to submit their entries.”

Speaking on, Enahoro made known that the awards would encompass five categories and will be done strictly on an e-platform.  “The ‘Promasidor Quill Awards’ will cover five categories which are the Brand Advocate of the year, Best CSR Report of the year, Most Educative Report of the year, Best Report on Nutrition and the Best Photo Story of the year.  These categories have been carefully thought-out to accommodate most journalists in the industry.

Unlike others, the ‘Promasidor Quill Awards’ will be done on an e-platform. It will be done strictly using the internet so as to avoid difficulties in submitting entries. This will give interested participants equal opportunity to participate in the awards and also there will be no case of lost entries as you will receive an immediate response after submitting your entry.”

When asked who the judges were, Enahoro said “the panel of judges will consist of a representative from Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), an academia and a veteran journalist. Speaking further, Mr. Ayodele Oguntubi, Coordinator Corporate Affairs, Promasidor Nigeria while demonstrating how to upload entries for the awards, said journalists are entitled to one entry per category.

“Interested journalists can only submit one entry per category, except the Brand Advocate category where we will do the collation ourselves with the help of our agency. It will be required that a scanned copy of the story in print and a Microsoft word copy of the story be submitted for legibility,” Oguntubi said.
Revealing the prizes, Oguntubi said winners in each category will get an opportunity to do a course at Lagos Business School (LBS), a high-end Laptop, a high-end camera for the photojournalist, and all Promasidor products.

The ‘Promasidor Quill Awards’ is a platform in Nigeria to reward journalists for dedicated news reportage on Industry, Education, Corporate Social Responsibility & Nutrition issues all year round.

Maltina: Enriching lives through MDA

After a stiff and gruelling competition - replete with heightened tension and emotions - the Green family won the N6 million and a brand new Toyota Avensis car at stake in Grand finale of Maltina Dance All 6 (MDA) held at The Expo Centre of Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

The Maltina Dance All, season 6 has come and gone but it rmains a fact that the malt brand initiative of the Rality TV show has not only continue to facilitate family bond, love and unity but also giving out mouthwatering prizes to the winners yearly since its inception in 2007.

In their dance to fortune, the Greens held the large crowd that witnessed the show spellbound and in the end they earned a standing ovation that took some time to abate. They were presented with their cheque and the key to their car by Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State who was the special guest of honour.
The need for a show like MDA in Nigeria can not be over-emphasesed, considering the cultural diversity and socio-political situation presently.

The manufacturer of Maltina, Nigeria Breweries Plc has annually ante up the reward of cntestants as past of their own way of showing their commitment and interest in a happy family that d not only share love and unity but one but one with peaceful co-existence beyond individual families - exactly what Nigeria needs at the moment as a nation-state.

The Green family was ecstatic to be crowned the number one dance family in Nigeria. 19 year old Ibiba Green, the family representative, could not hide her tears of joy as she gave thanks to God for making it possible for her family to be crowned winners. Also, Mrs. Telema Green, the mother, expressed her joy and gratitude for being winners. She sang praises to God for making her family champions. She stated that the money would be used to further the education of all her children.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Nicolaas Verlvede, Managing Director, Nigeria Breweries Plc said, “It was a fantastic event. All five families really did an outstanding job. They gave great performances and great entertainment”. On what to expect next year from Maltina Dance All; Mr. Verlvede stated that season 7 would be even more captivating.

Eat N Go boosts QSR market with Domino’s Pizza, Cold Stone Creamery

Eat’n’Go, a fast-rising  restaurant group in Nigeria is poised to become the premier catering operator in Africa is setting a new pace with the introduction of two world  acclaimed  food brands, Domino’s Pizza and Cold Stone Creamery into the Nigerian market.

L-R) Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company limited, Segun Ogunsanya, Managing Director Eat n Go, Eric Andre Representative of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Director Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Minitry of Women Affairs, Toyin Onanuga and the Sales Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Udo Anya at the official opening of Domino's Pizza and Cold Stone Creamery on Friday September 21, 2012

Domino's Pizza is a renowned global leader in Pizza, while Cold Stone Creamery is bringing to Nigeria’s shore the best variants of Ice cream and cakes. The QSR brand is set to open the first two outlets of the two global fast food brands in Victoria Island and Lekki, Lagos. There is also a precise development plan to open more outlets of the two big brands nationwide.

(L-R) Regional Vice President, Domino's Pizza  Steve Akinboro, Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company limited, Segun Ogunsanya and the Vice President of International operations Cold Stone Creamery, Brian Richardat the official opening of Domino's Pizza and Cold Stone Creamery on Friday September 21, 2012

Some economic analysts find it quite commendable that at a time when Nigeria is seeking for increased foreign investments that will expand the economy and create more employment for its citizens, Eat’n’Go, as the local franchise partner of these two global brand is championing this great course that will not only boost Nigeria’s economy but will also to give Nigerian consumers that pizza and ice cream experience they have never had.

A statement signed by the Managing Director Eat’n’Go Ltd, Mr. Eric Andre,  reveals  that, Domino’s Pizza is a world recognized brand that has provided long lasting pizza experience to a whole lot of consumers around the World. Through its primarily locally-owned and operated franchised system, Domino's Pizza operates over 10,000 franchised and Company-owned stores in the United States and over 70 in international markets.

During the second quarter of 2011, Domino's Pizza had a global retail sales of over $1.6 billion The company also  had  global retail sales of over $6.2 billion in 2010, comprised of over $3.3 billion domestically in the US and over $2.9 billion internationally.

Mr. Andre also revealed that, Cold Stone Creamery, founded by Donald and Susan Sutherland in 1988 in Tempe, Arizona had fundamentally redefined the global concept of ice cream. The company currently own more than 1,400 stores worldwide with presence in 17 countries where they serve what they refer to as ‘creations’ – because each one is a work of art.

He added that, with all this fantastic records in providing consumers with the best experience, Eat’n’Go is proud to announce the arrival of Domino's Pizza and Cold Stone Creamery in Nigeria.   In his words, “Eat’n’Go is keen to excite your taste buds and wet your appetite with these diverse global brands, and all these are done in line with our core values: putting people first, demanding for integrity, striving for customer loyalty, delivering with hustle and positive energy and winning by improving results every day”.

MDA 6: Which Family Wears the Crown?

The stage is now set for the epic dance battle tommorrow that will showcase Nigeria’s best dancing families as the curtains fall on the Maltina Dance All (MDA) family reality television show season six. The winning dance family will drive home a brand new car in addition to a cash prize of N6 million while the first and second runners up will take home N1million and N500, 000 respectively.

Eghove family

After a rigorous and intensive competition process spanning more than a month, five families; the Efiokwu, Green, Eghove, Boyle and Zibe families qualified for the grand finale taking place live at The Expo center, Eko Hotel and Suites. The race started on September 2, 2012 with ten families in the picture; however, five families were unable to survive the various dance styles that were introduced in the MDA Academy: the “Wazobia” (contemporary Nigerian dances), Salsa, Pantomime, Gumboot, Hip-hop and Contemporary African dance styles.

Efiokwu family

The five families that made it to this level were able to survive the six different dance styles. From the 10 families that made it to the academy, the first set to be evicted were the Ozurumba and Nwogwugwu families; they failed to convince the judges after the Wazobia and Salsa performances. The Wazobia performance had placed the Ozurumba and Nwogwugwu families for eviction while the salsa performance placed the Okasia family as the only family up for possible eviction.

Green family

The second phase of the show was the contemporary African and Gumboot dances. After the performance the Amilo and Onyebuagu families were put up for possible eviction. They could however not survive at the eviction showdown and were asked to leave the academy after gumboot performance. At the eviction show down the four families came back to compete and the judges did what had never been done before in the history of Maltina Dance All as they saved two families the Onyebuagu and Efiokwu families and gave the audience an opportunity to vote between the Amilo and the Okasia families.

Zibe family

The live audience voted the Okasia family back into the academy kicking the Amilo family out of the academy. After the second eviction show down, the families were introduced to the last two dance styles which will usher them to the grand finale, the Hip-hop and Pantomime dance styles. After the hip-hop performance the Zibe and Okasia families were put up for eviction making it the third time the Okasia family was up for eviction. After the Pantomime performance, the Onyebuagu and Boyle families were placed on possible eviction making it the first time the Boyle family will fall into this category.

Mrs. Ngozi Nkwoji, Senior Brand Manager, Maltina said they undertook the journey because the brand’s story has always been the story of “sharing happiness” within the Nigerian family and beyond with emphasis on the values of friendship, trust, togetherness and faithfulness.

Boyle family

“It is all about bringing the entire family together in an atmosphere of friendship and bonding with other families so that as units they can share common problems and ideas effectively throughout their time at the Academy and beyond. We are very passionate about the family institution and we will do the little we can as a responsible corporate entity to ensure that the institution continues to remain relevant because a healthy and sound family system will resonate on the Nation as a whole, the family unit is the bedrock of any society.”

The MDA which is the foremost experiential and sponsorship platform of the Maltina brand is renowned for “sharing happiness,” promoting and enhancing family values and bonding between different families from different cultures across the country.

Win N100,000-Participate in Maltina on-line Video Dance Competition

Participate in the Maltina dance competition by clicking this link http://bit.ly/T4yy3n to watch video and download music. Just record a 60-90 seconds video of themselves dancing to the music and upload on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE7plDyllp4&feature=plcp

Come up with your own version of dance to this music and upload to https://www.facebook.com/maltinadanceall you stand a chance of winning of N100,000. Competition starts on September 20th and closes November 15th.

1.Download the Music here http://bit.ly/OF3Qfs
2. Record Your Video (60-90 Seconds Long)
3. Upload on Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/maltinadanceall/
or www.maltinadanceall.tv

Participants stand a chance of winning N100,000 and tickets to the
grand finale of Maltina dance All 6.

Benetton Launches Global Competition For Unemployed Young

United Colors of Benetton presents its contribution to the youth non-employment issue, a crucial theme for the future of our planet and to which the brand wants to draw the public’s attention.

The UNEMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR communication campaign, set up under the aegis of the UNHATE Foundation, seeks to challenge clichés about youth non-employment and asserts a belief in the creativity of the world’s youth. Through it, the UNHATE Foundation, whose aim is to promote a culture of non-hate, will support youth to become actors of change against indifference and stigma.

According to its tradition of raising awareness for socially delicate and controversial issues, United Colors of Benetton wants to help change perceptions of non-employed youth. This is in line with the brand’s entrepreneurial, social and ethical values. During the 2011 UNHATE campaign, as many as 500 million people from around the world participated in a broad range of traditional and digital communication activities.

Young non-employed people, between the ages of 18 and 30, are invited to submit outlines of projects to be supported: within the UNHATE Foundation mission, their ideas must lead to concrete social impact in their community. The outlines for projects in different areas (including artistic projects) will be submitted to the UNHATE Foundation website and will be voted by the online community. Their choice of the 100 most deserving projects will receive support from the UNHATE Foundation to turn these projects into reality.

“The new United Colors of Benetton communication campaign presents a realistic portrait of today’s society by actively tackling a current problem, that of youth non-employment and the potential conflict between generations, in order to show it in a new light and create value for the immense human capital of young people”, said Alessandro Benetton, Chairman of the Benetton Group. “We can’t change the world but United Colors of Benetton wants to use its voice to champion young people and celebrate their strength and value”.

To support this initiative, United Colors of Benetton will release a film paying homage to today’s youth. The film is an unfiltered portrayal of the everyday life of four young NEETs. We see how they fight to find a job while at the same time fighting for their dignity, against indifference and stigma. Through a partnership with MTV and digital media, United Colors of Benetton will broadcast these ads and call to action, reaching more than 35 countries.

James Bond on a secret mission in global Heineken campaign

Heineken, the world’s leading premium beer brand, has announced a thrilling new TV and digital campaign, in anticipation of the release of the 23rd James Bond adventure, SKYFALL™, which sees Daniel Craig bring his explosive portrayal of James Bond to a Heineken ad for the very first time.

Challenging consumers to defy his enemies and ‘Crack the Case’, viewers will be taken on an epic train journey alongside stunning Bond newcomer Bérénice Marlohe.

Launching on the 26th September, the interactive experience begins exactly where the TV advert leaves off, with viewers invited onto a train by the smouldering Bérénice before it embarks on a voyage through a spectacular vista of snowy mountains. Putting viewers through their paces, a series of gruelling tests will lead them to ‘Crack the Case’ whilst protecting its contents from ferocious Bond villains.

Rolling out worldwide, the ‘Crack the Case’ campaign will launch on multiple platforms on 20th September, through a combination of a new 60s film (TVC & online) with a personalized interactive experience. This powerful combination of ATL, digital, PR and experiential will ensure that Heineken and Bond are able to reach out to more consumers than ever before and propel the campaign to new heights.

Building on a 15 year relationship with the Bond franchise, the ‘Crack the Case’ campaign takes  viewers into a moving train somewhere deep in snow-covered mountains, providing them with the opportunity to be a secret agent themselves. Transitioning viewers seamlessly from the TVC, Bond actress Bérénice Marlohe tantalises viewers by inviting them to help her crack a mysterious case and outwit the menacing villains - a challenge which encourages a virtual voyage of participation and discovery.

The ‘Crack the Case’ campaign was created by advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam. The campaign TV ad, full details of which will only be revealed in time for September 20th launch, was directed by award winning Dutch filmmaker Matthijs Van Heijningen Jnr.

Igniting global excitement and driving mass participation, an exclusive online teaser will be released ahead of the campaign launch on 20th September to a pocket of global super fans of Bond, incentivising these top fans to watch the TVC once it launches and leaving them wanting more.

In addition to exploding conversation across digital, social and owned media platforms, the offline execution of ‘Crack the Case’ will bring the drama of the virtual experience ‘live’ to a broader audience across the globe in October. Several markets will host unique Heineken® experiences in iconic locations, inviting members of the public to test their nerve, win exclusive prizes and share in the excitement of the global release of SKYFALL this fall.

Legend Celebration of Excellence Award

(L-R)Marketing Manager Lager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Tony Agenmonmen, and the Marketing Director, Walter Drenth  at the Legend Celebration of Excellence Award

(L-R) Managing Director, Insight Communication, Jimi Awosika, Marketing Manager Lager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Tony Agenmonmen, Marketing Director, Walter Drenth and the Brand Manager, Legend at the Legend Celebration of Excellence Award.

(L-R)  Marketing Manager Lager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Tony Agenmonmen, Marketing Director, Walter Drenth and the Brand Manager, Legend at the Legend Celebration of Excellence Award.

MDA Gets A Boost As Snr Brand Manager Wins Future Award

As the popular Maltina Dance All 6 (MDA) kicks off, Future Awards - an influential and popular youth platform that identifies young people who have excelled at their work - celebrates their achievements, and showcases them as role models to inspire a generation of Africans to believe in themselves and the future of their countries has picked Mrs Ngozi Nkwoji, the Senior Brand Manager, Maltina as an “Excellent in Service” corporate manager. The event was held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

 

Mrs Nkwoji was nominated alongside Adim Isiakpona (HP), Seyi Ogunro (Banwo&Ighodalo), Tomiwa Adesida (Sahara Group), Kayode Jegede (General Manager, Head of Facilities Management, Deux Project). With outreaches to Ghana, Ethiopia and South Africa, The Future Awards has been described by respected leaders as “Africa’s biggest youth event” and in six years, has produced 126 winners and over 1,000 nominees.  The Future Awards mission is to inspire leadership and build enterprise.

 

The Senior Brand Manager thanked the organizers for identifying, nominating and picking her out of other credible managers. She promised to continue to put in her best in the area of youth empowerment which she is already doing through the Maltina Dance All family reality show which is considered by most Nigerians as one of the most popular reality shows in the country with hundreds of thousands of followers.

 

A dedicated, versatile and committed manager, Ngozi Nkwoji, alongside other members of the Maltina and marketing teams at Nigerian Breweries Plc. were able to maintain Maltina’s leadership position in the malt sector of the beverage market and have consistently engaged consumers through exciting platforms like the Maltina dance gig, Maltina National Consumer promotion, Argungu Fishing festival and the Lagos Carnival which keeps the brand in the loop all year round.

BrandiQ Magazine Debuts, Targets One Million Students across West Africa

First Edition of BrandiQ

A new brand-focused magazine, BrandiQ has emerged in Nigeria. The new publication, according to its publisher, is designed to cover areas in marketing communications such as Marketing, Advertising, Branding, Media, Public Relations and their adjuncts.

The magazine is a monthly publication with an interdisciplinary store house of marketing, knowledge that can be quite beneficial to market driven individuals who are keen at maximizing their potentials in the industry.

A look at the glossy packaging of BrandiQ reveals that this latest entrant into Nigeria’s burgeoning media landscape promises to represent a unique template of unparalleled   journalistic masterpiece with a crop of broad-based cerebral writers and seasoned practitioners in the sphere of the integrated marketing communications, the magazine is poised to serve as the bastion of contemporary brand journalism, especially among higher institutions within the west African sub-region.

The Editor of BrandiQ, Mr. Usukuma Ntia, said that, a lot of efforts and activities had been invested before the emergence of this monthly compendium of invaluable brand issues. In his words , “Prior to the emergence of this publication, we undertook several surveys with a wide range of stakeholders to really identify and understand what it is that brand builders and consumers need, and how best to address those needs. It is one of the identified lacunas that  a special pull-out in BrandiQ, Marcom Tutorial  is poised to fill by providing mentoring experiences for about one million industry trainees in various universities and polytechnics  within Nigeria and abroad”.

Explaining further, Mr. Ntia said that BrandiQ tutorial package will also avail students across English- speaking west Africa and fresh entry practitioners the opportunity to learn first hand from the masters of the principles, practices, and business of marketing communications. “This surely will complement and enhance their understanding of the world of communication. The overall goal, however, is to empower them right from school to become better graduates for the development of the industry”.

The Marketing Manager of the publication, Mr. Martin Ogumah, also shaded more light on other projects BrandiQ will handle. According to him the publication will also “organize seminars, workshops, forums and conferences facilitated by both Nigerian and foreign marketing communication scholars to add up to shepherding, mentoring and equipping the students with the required technical skills for professional and academic pursuits when they leave school, we will extend our involvement and coverage to interactive events and innovative initiatives to expand our readers sphere and experience”

In his own comments,  Mr. Desmond Eke, MD of Synthesis Communications, where BrandiQ is a subsidiary, succinctly captures the essence of BrandiQ’s flagship, Marcomm Tutorials. This special pull-out, according to him “will be fashioned after the intellectual heritage of Harvard Business Review, with the reportorial typology of the Economist and the Content patterned after Ad Age, brandchannel, bizcommunity.com, Adweek etc.

Apple Introduces New iPod touch & iPod nano

iPod touch

Apple has introduced the new lineup of the world’s most popular music players including the incredible all-new iPod touch and reinvented iPod nano. The new iPod touch is the thinnest iPod touch ever and features a brilliant 4-inch Retina™ display; a 5 megapixel iSight camera with 1080p HD video recording; Apple’s A5 chip; Siri, the intelligent assistant; and iOS 6, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system.

The new iPod touch comes in a gorgeous new ultra-thin and light anodized aluminum design, and for the first time ever, iPod touch comes in five vibrant colors. The new iPod nano is the thinnest iPod ever featuring a 2.5-inch Multi-Touch™ display; convenient navigation buttons; built-in Bluetooth for wireless listening; and the new iPod nano comes in seven gorgeous new colors.

“With over 350 million sold, iPod is the world’s most popular and beloved music player,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Music lovers may have a difficult time deciding between the reinvented iPod nano, the thinnest iPod ever, and the all-new iPod touch with its stunning 4-inch Retina display, 5 megapixel iSight camera and ultra-thin design—both in beautiful new colors.”

The new iPod touch has been redesigned with a brilliant 4-inch Retina display in an ultra-thin and light anodized aluminum body—the thinnest iPod touch ever at just 6 mm thin and weighing just 88 grams. With Apple’s dual-core A5 chip inside, iPod touch delivers up to twice the processing power and up to seven times faster graphics than the fourth generation iPod touch, all while maintaining incredible battery life of up to 40 hours of music playback and up to eight hours of video playback.* And, for the first time ever, iPod touch is available in five vibrant colors.

Nwogwugwu, Ozurumba Families Evicted From MDA Academy

EGOHOVE FAMILY

The Nwogwugwu and Ozurumba families were the first two to be evicted from the Maltina Dance All Academy. After performing the Wazobia and Salsa dance, the families were unable to satisfy the judges with their performance which led to their exit.

Anchored by Kemi Adetiba, the first eviction show had three families lock horns to remain in the Academy. The Okasia, Nwogwugwu and Ozurumba families had been placed on possible eviction list after their Wazobia performance show. After what the judges considered an unsatisfactory performance at the Wazobia performance show, they were given the marching order. Meanwhile, the Okasia family was the only family put up for possible eviction after the Salsa performance.

The Ozurumba family who came on stage to open the show with the Wazobia dance performed very well to the delight of the audience,they were followed by the Nwogwugwu and Okasia families who impressed the judges with their performances.

Muyiwa Osinaike, one of the judges, said most of the families who have participated at the
eviction show down from the past till present always come back to the stage with so much vibrancy and determination, he thus commended them for their Wazobia performance.
The second dance category performed by they contestants was the Salsa dance the stage where the set was opened by the Nwogwugwufamily; followed by the Okasia and  Ozurumba families respectively.

When it was time for the judges to announce the families that would be evicted the tension in the atmosphere was obvious even as theyfound it quite challenging determining the two families that would leave the academy. One of the judges Janell Bugress, a professional dancer who spoke said the salsa performance from the three families was not as encouraging as she felt they all came on stage to convince them but there was no flexibility in their performance.

 After much deliberations, the judges collectively reached the conclusion that the Nwogwugwu and Ozurumba families did not prove that they could make it to the next phase of the competition therefore leading to their eviction. While stating some of the reasons for their eviction earlier in an emotion laden voice, Michael Adegoke, a judge, said both families improved a little but not as much as he thought they would. He emphasized on the fact that the Ozurumba family changed their routine which was not necessary and their performance was not coordinated.

The other judge, Muyiwa Osinaike, said the Nwogwugwu familiy lacked the basic elements of Salsa and also their performance was a comedy of error because he did not feel the power and technic needed for salsa used by them.

Matilda Ozurumba, the family representative of the Ozurumba family, who could not contain her tears and emotions, said she felt her family did the best they could but would have been happy if they had made it to the next level in the competition as she felt her family still had a lot to offer. Describing her experience in the MDA academy, Matilda said “I knew right from when I got here that the academy was going to be tough as it was filled with many strong families but above all I thank Maltina for the opportunity given my family and I to get to this stage.”
Brainie Nwogwugwu, from the evicted Nwogwugwu family, commended maltina for the opportunity they provided that enabled him to learn new dance styles, he said he will take to the judges corrections and improve on his dance outside the academy.

Senior Brand Manager Maltina Mrs. Ngozi Nkwoji said Maltina Dance All is one way among many that NB Plc is restating its brand values. “MDA is about the dancer’s creative ability, knowledge of different dance styles, stamina and fitness. The task is no doubt enormous but it is a delight to see the result it has been producing in the last 5 seasons. Some of the dancers have taken their career further than the Maltina Dance All stage; while some are dancing locally others are doing it internationally”. She revealed.

The Maltina Dance All season 6 winning family will now take home N6 million in addition to a brand new car, while the first and  second runners up will take home N1 million and N500,000 respectively. The show is in tune with the brands promise of “Sharing happiness,” creating excitement, fun and nourishment for the entire family, it is equally a reality show where families strive to outdo each other by showcasing different types of dance steps and styles to compete for the star prizeBe useful. Be unique. Be engaging.

Legend Celebrates International Quality Award

For meeting international quality standards which has made it the toast of stout consumers in Nigerian, Legend Extra Stout - the premium stout from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc - has received the prestigious Gold Quality Award at the 51st Monde award ceremony held recently in Athens, Greece. And true to its style of always putting its consumers first, the brand held an elaborate celebration party at the Nightshift Coliseum to officially present the award to the consumers and other stakeholders.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Walter Drenth, Marketing Director of Nigerian Breweries said that, every time Legend calls, it does so to share and celebrate good news. “You are all living witnesses to the tremendous strides the Legend brand has made over the years, establishing itself as a Real stout on many counts and refreshing its outlook uniquely. Over the past 20 years, the Legend brand has continued to position itself as a credible choice of stout, full brewed,  the way an original stout should - giving Legend the credibility to be called the ‘Real Deal,’ - a sincere proposition that has sustained the brand s’ growth since the re-launch and acceptance in 2009.”

He reminded the consumers that the campaigns at the re-launch further rides on the brands’ real brewed positioning with emphasis on the production processes considered desirable for a real stout. This innovation, according to him, has had a tremendous positive impact on the brand’s volume, market share and overall equity.

“Today”, Drenth added “Legend has an unprecedented story of being the fastest growing stout brand in the Nigerian stout market, extremely outclassing others in the category. Thanks to the loyal consumers for their patronage and steadfastness. I have no doubt that you are aware of our high performances over the years both in blind tests and several other testimonies from consumers; Legend has remained remarkably unique in taste and quality.”

Averagely, No less than 3000 products, coming from over 80 different countries, are usually tested each year in the following categories: Spirits & Liqueurs, Beers, Waters & Soft Drinks, Food Products Chocolates & Confectionery, Cereal Products, Diet & Health products, Cosmetics & Toiletries.

Western Union Unveils New Education Initiative around UEFA Europa League to Deliver One Million School Days

Western Union and football star Patrick Vieira unveil PASS around UEFA Europa League to deliver one million school days.

The Western Union Company, a leader in global payment services and new Global Partner of the UEFA Europa League, and the Western Union Foundation, today announced they will turn every successful pass in this season’s competition into funding to support one day’s education for young people around the world.

Called PASS, the initiative will be fronted by former international football star Patrick Vieira and start during the Group Stage of the UEFA Europa League Season 2012/13, which kicks off on September 20 across Europe. The initiative aims to reach one million school days over the next three seasons and builds on the work the company has already done to support education globally.

“According to UNESCO1, 71 million bright, hardworking students globally are not enrolled in secondary or vocational education. It’s a tremendous loss of economic and human potential, since each extra year of school can increase an individual’s potential economic opportunity. Through PASS, we intend to harness the power of football to build awareness of this challenge as well as deliver on-the-ground support that will make a difference to young people and their communities.”

The initiative will provide teacher training and student scholarships through nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), with an initial focus on eleven countries – Brazil, China, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Romania, Russia and Turkey.

“Where I come from, opportunities for a quality education are rare,” explained Vieira the former AS Cannes, AC Milan, Arsenal FC, Juventus, FC Internazionale Milano, Manchester City FC and French international player, who was born in Senegal before moving to France at the age of eight and is currently football development executive at Manchester City FC.

“Football was my ticket to success, but for the vast majority of young people education is the key that allows them to become whatever they want to be. That’s why I’m supporting this campaign. It will benefit students, teachers and schools across the world, particularly in places that need it most, like Senegal where I was born,” said Vieira.

Through the UEFA Europa League’s global audience, football fans from Africa, the Americas, Asia as well as Europe, will also be given the chance to add to the fund during the season through a range of online and social media mechanics.

Etisalat to launch mobile commerce service

Etisalat Group, the telecommunications corporation with operations in 16 markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, have announced the commercial launch of a comprehensive and accessible package of mobile commerce features currently available globally in Nigeria.

This is reportedly the first time in the world where customers can access a Mobile Commerce service of multiple schemes and banks through the intuitive user interface installed directly on consumer SIM cards.  The user interface is accessible in English, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages on any type of mobile phone, from the low-end basic phones to sophisticated mobile devices. Etisalat's service is utilizing "state of the art" ISO-1 compliant security features ensuring that customer transactions cannot be intercepted or manipulated by fraudsters.

Etisalat's mobile commerce application is a fully functional mobile wallet that offers a full range of mobile banking and transaction services. It will provide people with access to banking for the very first time.

Etisalat's Mobile Commerce service is developed in-line with its strategy of including un-banked and under-banked customers into the regulated financial services space, enhancement of financial transparency and expansion of financial transaction channels.

Bollywood star Becomes Pepsi Ambassador Again

Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka Chopra, has again become the ambassador of Pepsi, one of the biggest brands in the world. Interestingly, Chopra is the only female ambassador for the brand amongst others like MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli and Ranbir Kapoor.

The actress and singer, who has become one of the most famous Bollywood star signed a estimated at over Rs 4 crore (over $700,000) annually. 

Chopra is set to release her debut abloom soon, and Pepsi is well-known for its passion for music—earlier this year, the brand launched a global music platform ‘Live for Now Music’ and may connect her, the only female face in the local Pepsi ambassadors team, with this project on the Indian market.

Ten families For Maltina Dance All 6 Academy

After a gruelling and exciting opening show, ten Nigerian families have been admitted into the Maltina Dance All 6 Academy out of the initial fifteen families that jostled for the top ten slots. At the end of the show, the judges made up of Muyiwa Osinaike, Janell Burgess and Michael Adegoke. selected the Ozurumba, Okasia, Boyle, Efiokwu, Onyebuagwu, Eghove, Zibe, Amilo, Nwogwugwu and Green families, while the Salami, Daniel, Achor, Onuoha and Fashins families failed in their bid.

The Ozurumba family were the first to hit the stage followed by the Efiokwu family starting out with a robotic performance. The Boyle family was next followed by the Salami, Okasia, Onuoha, Onyebuagu, Achor, Eghove, Zibe, Amilo, Nwogwugwu, Fashina, Daniel and finally the Green family.

With highly scintillating performances by the 15 families, the judges found it a challenging task selecting the 10 families who would be participants in the MDA academy. The 10 families will be performing the Wazobia, Salsa, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Pantomime and gunboot dance styles.

AMILO FAMILY

The show has started showing on major TV stations across the country and beyond on Sunday September 2, 2012. It will continue on a daily basis until the grand finale which will be held on September 22, 2012. The show, which is in its sixth season, has over the years attracted a cult following among Nigeria’s youths families because of its ability to bring family members together. The show will be beamed on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) 5.30pm, Africa Independent Television (AIT) 9.00pm, Silverbird TV (STV) 8.00pm and Africa Magic (DSTV) 8.00pm. N6 million and a brand new car is at stake in this year’s edition. The first and second Runners Up will also get N1million and N500, 000 respectively. The show, according to Mrs Ngozi Nkwoji, senior brand manager, Maltina, is renowned for “sharing happiness” and promoting togetherness with friends and loved ones.

BOYLE FAMILY

Mrs Nkwoji added that MDA, the foremost experiential and sponsorship platform of the brand was introduced was introduced in 2007. “The family TV show has no doubt remained Nigeria’s first and only family dance TV show featuring families from various regions across the country. From the 2007 edition which produced the Onye family as winners, Maltina Dance All has gone through five successful seasons.

In 2008 it was the Opuwari family that carted away the star prize; in 2009 the Ibiams were voted the nation’s best dance family. The Adejoh’s were champions in 2010 while in 2011; the Ekubo’s were crowned the best dance family with the unforgettable swinging moves of Ebi Ekubo and his little sister.” The show, no doubt, will bring to fore, the Nigerian families’ essence and values of unity, cooperation, vitality and creativity which Maltina is noted for. Nkwoji enjoined all family members to stay glued to their TV screens as this years edition will be packed full of fun, entertainment and timeless lessons for the entire family.

Since it hit the Nigerian market in 1976, Maltina has consistently satisfied its teeming consumers with high quality natural malt drink, fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. This affords the entire family with the vitality and superior nourishment necessary for their daily activities - including those special fun moments shared with friends and loved ones.

EFIOKWU FAMILY

EGHOVE FAMILY

GREEN FAMILY

NWOGWUGWU FAMILY

OKASIA FAMILY

OZURUMBA FAMILY

ONYEBUAGU FAMILY

ZIBE FAMILY

So as the Show begin, which family do you think will go home with the N6m and a car?

NASSMAC 2012 Winners visit Ghana

L-R Akintokun Samuel and Uwa Benjamin winners of Senior and Junior categories of Cowbell National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) 2012 respectively at Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah Museum, in Accra, Ghana recently.

L-R Winner senior category, Cowbell National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) 2012, Uwa Benjamin, Sales and Marketing Director Promasidor Ghana, Festus Tete and winner junior category, Cowbell National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) 2012, Akintokun Samuel, in a pose at Promasidor head office in Accra, Ghana recently.

Cold Stone Creamery set to enter Nigerian market

Cold Stone Creamery is strengthening its international presence by accomplishing the significant milestone of entering its 20^th country with a franchise agreement to launch into the Nigerian market.

 

This agreement also allows for the continued development of Cold Stone Creamery, America’s most innovative ice cream concept within the African continent. Kahala, Cold Stone Creamery’s parent company, has signed a 10 year Master Franchise Agreement with Eat’n’Go a fast- rising group of restaurants to bring the “Ultimate Ice Cream Experience to Nigeria.

 

This top-notch Nigerian QSR player, which identified with great taste and experience, is set to commission the first two outlets of the global fast food brand in Victoria Island and Lekki, Lagos. There is also a precise development plan to open more outlets of the   brand nationwide.

 

“Cold Stone Creamery's ice cream is a custom-made work-of-art that reflects one’s personality with its endless choices and combinations made of super-premium ingredients that are always fresh and tasty,” said Managing Director, Eat‘n’Go Ltd.  Eric Andre, we only partner with the best, finest and most unique brands. We are delighted to start providing Nigerians with the ‘Ultimate Experience within the ice cream industry.”

 

He further disclosed that, Cold Stone Creamery will be the first national ice cream chain and the first ice cream concept to provide the unique customizable serving experience in Nigeria. This, combined with Eat n Go’s operational know-how, ability to secure premiere locations, drive traffic to their stores, as well as their successful reputation for quality and innovation, makes for a successful partnership.

 

“Since Nigeria is the trendsetter within Western Africa, finding a partner in this country was an undeniable next step to continue our growth within the continent,” said Dan Beem, Cold Stone Creamery’s International President. “Eat’n’Go is a subsidiary of an extremely well known company in Nigeria. The breadth of knowledge and experience they have in the market is second to none, which makes them the best and most perfect partner for Cold Stone Creamery in Nigeria.”

 

Cold Stone Creamery’s explosive international growth began in November 2005 when the company opened its first international store in Tokyo, Japan. Today, Cold Stone Creamery stores are operating in more than 380 international locations and in 20 different countries including China, South Korea, Canada, Denmark and the United Arab Emirates.

 

Starcomms appoints interim Chief Executive

Starcomms Plc today announces the appointment of Olusola Oladokun as Interim Chief Executive in succession to Logan Pather.

Olusola Oladokun has held the position of Finance Director at Starcomms since December 2011 and will for the next few months combine the responsibilities for both roles.

Logan Pather has decided to leave Starcomms after 12 months as Chief Executive. He has remained in his post until 31 August to ensure a smooth handover to the new Interim Chief Executive.
Chief Maan Lababidi, Starcomms Chairman, said: "On behalf of the board, I want to thank Logan for his contribution to Starcomms. He has led the Company during a very challenging period for the Nigerian CDMA industry and has played an invaluable part in helping to secure Starcomms’ future, not least by strengthening our relationships with customers and suppliers and successfully reducing the cost base of the business.”

"We are delighted that Olusola Oladokun has agreed to lead Starcomms at this difficult time and strongly believe that he has the right skills and experience to successfully continue the work done by Logan Pather."

Olusola Oladokun said: "Starcomms is a fantastic brand and a great company with high caliber staff and an exciting future and a I look forward to contributing to the repositioning of the company as Nigerias’s leading high speed mobile data provider. As part of Olusola Oladokun’s new role he will also become a Director of Starcomms and take a seat on the board of directors.

Promasidor donates medical equipment to Isolo LCDA

Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk, has donated medical equipment to a public health centre in Okota in Isolo Local Council Development Area of Lagos.

Some of the items donated to the centre include blood pressure monitors, projectors, X-ray machines, gauzes, surgical gowns, drapes and bandages, printers, bin liners amongst others.

Mr. Isiaka Lawal, Corporate Communication Co-ordinator of Promasidor said the company was partnering with the Isolo Local Council Development Area to provide medical equipment for the public health center, which is in line with the company’s corporate social responsibility policy.

“As a company, it is part of our policy to give back to the community in which we operate in and we know that partnering with the Isolo Local Council Development Area on this project will be beneficial to our host community,” Isiaka said.

Honourable Shamsudeen Abiodun Olaleye, chairman of the local council development area said Promasidor Nigeria has continually impacted on the lives of the people in the community.

The chairman who marked his 300 days in office at the weekend said “We really want to appreciate the efforts of Promasidor Nigeria because it has not relented in assisting whenever it can. We want to really say thank you to the staff and management of Promasidor for the kind gesture.

We have looked forward to this partnership, at first we thought it was a mirage but now we know it has come to stay. The health center is ready but the structure is not enough the equipments are very keen and Promasidor has made the full realization of that promise. We want to say thank you also for the items that were donated.”

Olaleye also made known that since Promasidor joined his administration it has helped the Isolo Local Council Development Area in bringing smiles to the faces of  widows and has promised to empower the widows by giving them products for free as well as branded shops to start their own businesses.

Domino’s Pizza Set to Launch into Nigeria

(L-R) Human Resource and Training Manager, Eat n Go, Olusola Adeeko, Managing Director, Eric Andre and the Marketing Coordinator, Abdul Richard at the press briefing to announce the entrance of Domino's Pizza and Cold Stone Creamery into Nigerian market

At a time when Nigeria is seeking for foreign investors and the expansion of its economy to create more employment for her citizens, Domino's Pizza - world’s renowned leader in Pizza delivery is set to launch into the Nigerian market. The opening and running of the Domino’s Pizza brand will be championed in Nigeria by Eat’n’Go Ltd as local franchise partner

The company will commission the first outlet in Victoria Island, Lagos to give Nigerian consumers that pizza experience they have never had. The company has a precise development plan to open more outlets nationwide.

In a statement issued by the company, the Managing Director Eat’n’Go Ltd, Mr. Eric Andre, said that, Domino’s Pizza is a world recognized brand that has provided long lasting pizza experience to a whole lot of consumers around the World. Through its primarily locally-owned and operated franchised system, Domino's Pizza operates over 9,000 franchised and Company-owned stores in the United States and over 60 international markets.

During the second quarter of 2011, Domino's Pizza had global retail sales of over $1.6 billion, comprised of nearly $793 million domestically and over $810 million internationally. The company had global retail sales of over $6.2 billion in 2010, comprised of over $3.3 billion domestically and over $2.9 billion internationally”.

Mr. Andre added that, with all this fantastic records in providing consumers with the best of pizza production and delivery that is second to none, Eat’n’Go is proud to announce the arrival of Domino's Pizza in Nigeria.

Eat’n’Go is a restaurant group dedicated to bringing the best F&B brands to Africa. Our Domino's Pizza Nigeria store is opening soon and our team is in Miami at the moment exploring the international flavor and learning International quality with tasty delicious local flavor.

Eat’n’Go is keen to excite your taste buds and wet your appetite with diverse F&B brands. So far our growing family consists of Domino's Pizza and Cold Stone Creamery.

Eat’n’Go is a restaurant group on a mission to become the premier food operator in Africa. We bring Africans the best brands. The brand core values includes: putting people first, demanding for integrity, striving for customer loyalty, delivering with hustle and positive energy, winning by improving result every day.

Domino's Pizza's vision illustrates a company of exceptional people on a mission to be the best pizza delivery company in the world.