BrandArena : February 2014

Friday, 28 February 2014

OpenView HD launches Trial TV: The State vs Oscar Pistorius

South Africa’s first free-to-air digital satellite platform, OpenView HD, is launching a channel dedicated to broadcasting the Oscar Pistorius trial live on Monday, 3 March 2014.

Trial TV: The State vs Oscar Pistorius, which will run on OpenView HD Channel 119, will offer viewers live court proceedings from 10AM-4PM. Court proceedings will be repeated on the channel throughout the schedule.

“OpenView HD is pleased to be able to broadcast the Oscar Pistorius trial live on our platform. The decision to provide our viewers access to information of public interest is in line with our commitment to afford OpenView HD viewers with as broad a range of programing as we have at our disposal”, says Maxwell Nonge, Managing Director of Platco Digital.

Oscar Pistorius (image source: teeveetee.blogspot.com)

Monde Twala, e.tv Head of Channels says: “There has been a lot of interest around the Oscar Pistorius case amongst our viewers, therefore, we would like to afford our viewers the opportunity to witness and follow the trial of Oscar Pistorius as it happens.”

Etisalat-sponsored Nigerian Idol Formally Showacase New Judges for Season 4

Over the weekend, the auditions of the Etisalat sponsored Nigerian Idol season 4 was concluded at Bamako studio, Lagos and on Wednesday, the company formally showacase the new judges for the Season 4 at a press launch and sneak preview held at Rhapsody Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos.

L-R; Manager, Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Orah Egwu; Director, Consumer Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Oluwole Rawa and Director Brands & Communication, Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye, during the event

L-R; Nigerian Idol 4 Judge, Dede Mabiaku; Manager, Sponsorship, Etisalat, Orah Egwu, Nigerian Idol 4 judge, Dare Art Alade, Director, Brands & Communication, Etisalat, Enitan Denloye, Nigeria Idol Judge

L-R; Nigerian Idol 4 Judge, Nneka Egbuna; Nigerian Idol Season 3 winner, Moses Adigwe, and Season 2 winner, Mercy Chinwo, at the event.

Global Village is a term closely associated with Marshall McLuhan, popularized in his books The Gutenberg Galaxy: The Making of Typographic Man (1962) and Understanding Media (1964). McLuhan described how the globe has been contracted into a village by electric technology and the instantaneous movement of information from every quarter to every point at the same time.

Marshall McLuhan predicted the Internet as an "extension of consciousness" in The Gutenberg Galaxy: The Making of Typographic Man thirty years before its commercialization.

According to him, the enhanced "electric speed in bringing all social and political functions together in a sudden implosion has heightened human awareness of responsibility to an intense degree." Increased speed of communication and the ability of people to read about, spread, and react to global news quickly, forces us to become more involved with one another from various social groups and countries around the world and to be more aware of our global responsibilities.

Wizkid

While the emergence of internet still make some people to doubt the reality of McLuhan postulation. The evolution of social media soon convience many that the Communication Guru was right. Social media has become the standard for personal and professional networking. It provides an effective and inexpensive method of connecting people with other people, products, causes, ideas, and information.

In Africa, Twitter, like Facebook remain a rapidly growing trend especially among the youth and online savvy adults.

KSA

The much hyped Glo Evergreen Series will hold today at the prestigious Intercontinental Hotel, Victorial Island, Lagos. On stand to thrill fans will be juju music legend, Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, popularly known as King Sunny Ade (KSA).

Glo Evergreen Series is a special music concert dedicated to honour Nigerian music legends that have contributed immensely to the development of the music industry.

The King Sunny Ade edition of the Glo Evergreen Series is expected to consolidate on the gains of the Ebenezer Obey edition. The Glo Evergreen project has been described as the greatest concert in honour of Nigeria’s music legends.

KSA is one of Africa’s greatest music maestros, whose 50 years on stage. He will showcase his best songs and take the people down the memory lane. A specially packaged documentary on the legend and his contributions to the growth of the Nigerian music industry will also be played at the event

Globacom is in partnership with Guinness Plc and Arik Air for this edition.

image source: www.bestdamncreativewritingblog.com

In Fortune’s annual ranking of the world’s most admired companies, Apple topped the charts yet again for 2014. Amazon took second place and Google took third. Last year, Google was second while Amazon was third.

According to Fortune, the reason for Apple’s dominance is because: "Apple has had a rough time lately with its stock price in a free fall and the widely publicized failure of its Maps feature. However, it remains a financial juggernaut, posting $13 billion in net income last quarter, making it the most profitable company in the world during that period.

"The company has its fanatical customer base, and it still refuses to compete on price, making the iconic iPhone and iPad products that are still widely seen as prestige devices".

World leader in strategy research for consumer markets, Euromonitor has won the ‘Business Intelligence Portal Of The Year’ for the second consecutive year at the Trade & Exports Middle East Excellence Awards 2014.

The award honors and recognizes the best in the field of trade and the region’s top performing companies.

Pictures: ANOFI launches Fun center in LUTH

Head of Pediatric, LUTH, Prof. A. O AKINSULIE ; Director of Administration, LUTH, Mr. Ayo Olagunju; Chairman of Pediatric Advisory Board, LUTH, Dr. Dorothy Esangbedo; Medical and Regulatory Director, SANOFI North East Africa, Dr. Fifen Inoussa and Head of Nursing, LUTH, Mrs. Bastos Mary Iyabo at the launch of SANOFI fun centre in LUTH, Lagos.

Communications Director, SANOFI North East Africa,Chidilim Menakaya; Director of Administration, LUTH, Mr. Ayo Olagunju; Chairman of Pediatric Advisory Board, Dr. Dorothy Esangbedo; Medical and Regulatory Director, SANOFI North East Africa, Dr. Fifen Inoussa at the launch

Etisalat Nigeria Subscriber Base Hits 18 Million

Etisalat, Nigeria’s most innovative telecom service provider today announced that it has hit the 18 million subscriber mark. The company has achieved this feat in just five years of its operations in Nigeria’s highly competitive telecommunications industry.

Commenting on the milestone, Acting Chief Executive Officer at Etisalat, Matthew Willsher noted that the achievement is evidence of the company’s commitment to the delivery of experiential customer service to its customers in the country.

According to him, “The swift and steady growth in our subscriber numbers is an evidence of the acceptance we have enjoyed from our customers and the superior products and services we offer. We are delighted to have been able to hit such a figure in just five years of commercial operations despite our position as the fifth entrant into the dynamic Nigerian telecoms market”.

Etisalat recently launched a new state of the art ‘Gold series’ experience centre aimed at providing an environment that encourages customers to explore and immerse themselves in the essence of the brand.

Microsoft, Intel launch 4Afrika Youth Device Programme

Leading global software company, Microsoft, chipmaker Intel and the Kenya Private Schools Alliance have launched a ‘youth device programme’.

The programme is planned to provide a bundle of cheap devices, educational applications, online services, affordable data plans, and smart financing to Kenyan learning institutions as part of the Microsoft 4Afrika’s Youth Initiative.

The programme will commence in Kenya and later launch in other African countries including South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt, the aim being to equip youth with 21st century skills and promote digital inclusion amongst Africa’s youth and educators across the continent.

“A range of Microsoft and Intel devices and services in different form factors will be available, each one preloaded with education applications including Intel’s Explore and Learn, the full Office 365 suite, and Skype,” part of a statement from Microsoft reads.

Milk Consumption Still Low In Nigeria - Report

While the market continues to show strong growth in volume and value sales, milk consumption in Nigeria still remains low in per capita terms, according to a research report recently released by Euromonitor International on its website.

The report revealed that advertising, discounting and promotional sales and corporate social responsibility campaigns such as Peak Milk’s “drink milk everyday” campaign, are helping to spur growth. The variety of goods in drinking milk products is also increasing. Producers are introducing new flavours to cater for consumer demand for products that combine nutrition with newer tastes, fruit flavours are particularly popular.

The shift of emphasis to smaller packaging units by virtually all manufacturers also helped boost sales among poor and price sensitive consumers, who previously considered drinking milk products as a luxury.

On competitive landscape, "the research revealed that Promasidor leads the market, in 2013 and the company is expected to hold 22% of retail value sales of drinking milk products. It added that the company has concentrated on smaller packaging of its products, which appeals to price sensitive consumers and children of school age.

Staffs of Wecyclers try to sort recyclable goods collected from subscribers at Surulere district in Lagos on January 17, 2014. Nigeria’s biggest city Lagos is home to some 20 million people and produces a staggering 10,000 tons of waste every day, a lot of which piles up on the busy streets or floats in open sewers. AFP

Lagos - Nigeria's biggest city Lagos is home to some 20 million people and produces a staggering 10 000 tons of waste every day, a lot of which piles up on the busy streets or floats in open sewers.

Currently, an estimated 40% of the megacity's waste is collected and taken to massive rubbish dumps, where scavengers pick through it for scrap and salvage to sell.

But a new scheme is hoping to change people's attitude towards rubbish, and their immediate environment by providing a material incentive to recycle plastic bottles, bags and tin cans.

A distinctive egde

"Wecyclers" is the brainchild of Bilikiss Adebiyi, who came up with the idea while studying in the United States for a masters in business administration.

Airtel Africa appoints RAMP

RAMP (Real African Media Partners) has been appointed as Airtel Africa's mobile advertising partner to serve mobile adverts to the operator's customers in 17 countries across Africa.

"The new mobile advertising proposition will open up mobile advertising to local, Pan-African and global brands and advertisers, giving them the opportunity to reach and engage consumers in several of the continent's best performing economies," says André Beyers, Airtel Africa's chief marketing officer.

Raymond Buckle, RAMP joint CEO, says RAMP is a newly formed joint venture of established African companies, which includes SilverstoneCIS, Integrat and Airvantage. RAMP, together with local partners in the 17 markets, offers Airtel the sales, operations and technology capability for a turnkey mobile media business.

Group Deputy General Manager, Sharp Corporation Japan, Mitsuo Nakashima, Managing Director Dajcom Limited, David Safa and the Managing Director Sharp Middle East FZE Dubai, Fumio Yamaguchi at the partnership announcement between Sharp and Dajcom in Lagos today.

Multi-billion dollar global conglomerate Sharp, andleading electronics and home appliances manufacturer, distributor and retailer in Nigeria,Dajcom Limited, have unveiled a new strategic partnership that will see Dajcom assemble, distribute and retail different Sharp home appliances in the Nigerian market.

The two top brands, Sharp and Dajcom, strongly believe this strategic alliance will excite consumers in Nigeria. Sharp, a global brand renowned for its innovative Japanese technology, two years warranty, genuine spare parts and widespread professional network of service centres, will extensively make available in the Nigerian market, her high quality products at competitive prices. This huge provision willbe backed up by Dajcom’s first class after-sales service and excellent distribution network within the country.

Mr.TagamiYasuharu, Director of Sharp Middle East and Africa,while expressing excitement over the partnership said:“For Sharp, Nigeria is an extremely important market, and with Dajcom Ltd as our partner we are committed towards enriching every Nigerian household with our one-of-a-kind technology and products.”

A United States (US) appeals court on Wednesday ordered Google Inc to remove from its YouTube video-sharing website an anti-Islamic film that had sparked protests across the Muslim world.

The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Google’s claim removing the film would constitute a prior restraint of speech in violation of the US Constitution.

For many Muslims, any depiction of the prophet is considered blasphemous.

Google said in a statement it strongly disagreed with the ruling and would challenge it.

World Cup sponsor and official ball provider Adidas has agreed to stop selling two T-shirts after complaints from Brazil's tourism board about their sexual innuendos.

According to Reuters, the country's tourism board objected to the shirts because "they encourage sexual tourism" — a problem Brazil fears will worsen exponentially with hundreds of thousands of visitors in the country during the World Cup this summer.

One shirt shows a bikini-clad woman with open arms on a sunny Rio de Janeiro beach under the words "Looking to Score". The other has an "I love Brazil" heart resembling the upside-down buttocks of a woman wearing a thong. The designs touched a nerve in Brazil, where people often complain about foreign stereotypes of Brazilian sensuality. The government is campaigning aggressively to shed the country's reputation as a destination for sex tourism.

Dilma Rousseff – Brazil's first female president – said her government would crack down on sex tourism and the exploitation of children during the ccompetition, which is expected to draw 600,000 foreign fans. "Brazil is happy to receive tourists for the World Cup, but it is also ready to combat sex tourism," she said in a burst of Twitter messages that included a hotline number to report cases of sexual exploitation.m" of sexual predators.

GTBank commences plans for its 4th Annual Autism Seminar

Foremost African banking group; Guaranty Trust Bank plc has began preparations and announced the theme for the Bank’s 2014 Autism Awareness program. The initiative themed “On the road to future inclusion” will take place from March 22nd to April 2nd, 2014.

Mr. Segun Agbaje; Managing Director/CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

This will be the 4th edition of the programme which the Bank introduced in 2010 to create awareness and advocate for the requirements of persons living with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), a neurological condition that presently affects 1 in every 88 children worldwide according to World research statistics.

Autism Spectrum Disorder as with other developmental challenges arises from insufficient development of a child’s physical, emotional or intellectual capacity. This Disorder, which is largely misunderstood by society makes it difficult for affected children to cope with the everyday demands of their environment and leads to varying stages of social stigmatization.

With the support of the ExxonMobil Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, WEConnect International reached a new milestone in Africa with the launch of its Nigeria initiative on January 25th 2014 in Abuja

Nigeria joins South Africa as the second market in Africa where WEConnect has established a presence.

The day-long launch program featured keynote addresses and panel discussions by a number of prominent speakers, including Marie-Francoise Marie-Nelly, Head of the World Bank Nigeria, and businesswoman and philanthropist Princess Fifi Ejindu.

Premium noodles brand, Indomie Instant Noodles, has added yet another 'first' to its long list of laurels by breaking the market with its revolutionary 450gram Chicken Family Pack, a landmark achievement in global noodle circles.

The new variant is tied to the brand's efforts in catering to the growing needs of the family and easing the hassle associated with purchasing multiple packs for meals on the home front.

"As far as the global culinary landscape is concerned, Indomie has recorded a major breakthrough with the launch of our new Family Pack," said Mr. Deepak Singhal, CEO, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, manufacturer of the product.

"We deemed it necessary to say a big thank you to the family unit which has been largely responsible for our growing sales volume over the years, and the 450 gram pack was the best way we felt we could achieve that."

#FreeAJStaff (image credit: aljazeera)

Thirty cities across the world will today host events in support of detained Al Jazeera journalists in Egypt, which the media organisation hopes will pressure the Egyptian authorities to hasten the release of Peter Greste, Mohammed Fahmy, Baher Mohamed and Abdullah El Shamy.

Public events will be held in Nairobi, Sydney, Manila, Islamabad, Doha, Amman, Ankara, Berlin, London, Rio, Montreal, Washington DC and San Francisco.

“We truly appreciate the solidarity from everybody right around the world," says Dr. Mostefa Souag, general director of Al Jazeera Media Network. "The pressure, support and calls for our colleagues to be released have continued to keep the story in the news. The Global Day of Action is about the freedom of the press; it is about objective reporting and ensuring journalists cannot be gagged or silenced. We ask everyone to contribute to the Global Day of Action on Thursday. Journalism is not a crime.”

It said the hashtag #FreeAJStaff has gone viral across the world, recording about 250 million impressions on Twitter alone as at February 1.

(L-R): Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher; Winner, Etisalat Prize for Literature, NoViolet Bulawayo; Runners-Up, Etisalat Prize for Literature, Karen Jennings and Yewande Omotoso at the award ceremony of the inaugural Etisalat Pan African Prize for Literature which held at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island on Sunday, February 23rd

(L-R): Head, High Value Events and Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Ebi Atawodi; Senegalese music legend, Youssou N’Dour; and Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher at the award ceremony

From left: Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher; Winner, Etisalat Prize for Literature (Flash Fiction), Uche Okonkwo; and Felicia Okonkwo

Online food delivery now comes pre-installed on Nokia devices

Nokia has announced a partnership with online food ordering portal Foodpanda.in, with its affiliated brand Hellofood, to launch a food delivery app - 'foodpanda/hellofood' - across the Nokia Asha, Lumia and X family of devices.

In a release, many partners such as Facebook, BBM, Twitter, LINE, Viber, Electronic Arts, Gameloft and Rovio are also making their key apps available across Nokia’s device portfolio of feature phones, Asha, Nokia X and Lumia.

“Across our portfolio of devices, foodpanda/hellofood is delivering a convenient way to view menus and order food with major restaurant franchises around the world,” said Bryan Biniak, VP and GM of developer experience, Nokia. “We’re getting hungry already as we look forward to working with foodpanda/hellofood to expand the reach of their app in growth markets.”

Superbrands with cabin crew 1(C)
Nick Morrish, British Airways

British Airways has been named the winning Consumer Superbrand of 2014, securing the top position against 1,500 other brands vying for the prestigious title. It’s the first time an airline or travel brand of any kind has topped the poll.

The UK’s Consumer Superbrands are chosen by the British public in a national survey of 3,000 adults. The annual survey, which has been identifying the UK’s leading brands since 1995, was managed by The Centre for Brand Analysis (TCBA).

Frank van der Post, British Airways’ managing director brands and customer experience, said: “We are thrilled to be named the Consumer Superbrand of the year. The greatest accolade is that the hard work of our teams has been recognised by the public to receive this coveted award.

Winners of laptops and devices at the Etisalat CliqFest Seminar

First, take a look at the Kia Picanto to be won on Day Two at the Etisalat two-day education and entertainment initiative, Cliqfest, which began at Imo State University on 26th February, 2014 with a motivational seminar themed ‘Success Activation’.

Meanwhile, several education tools have been won by some students during Day One’s motivational seminar which focused on teaching the students’ leadership skills for becoming champions ahead of emerging into the corporate world or starting their own businesses.

Speaking during the Seminar, Analyst, Youth Market Segment, Micheal Nwoseh, said Etisalat was committed to nurturing youths towards career and business excellence.

Tony Elumelu

The Tony Elumelu Foundation announced yesterday that it has provided grant support for the Nigeria Innovations Cluster Mapping project. Executed by the African Institution of Technology’s (AFRIT) Education Foundation, the project intends to uncover innovation clusters—groups of companies in similar industries employing new technologies in their business—across Nigeria.

The research provided by this project will furnish the Tony Elumelu Foundation, the Nigerian government and the business community with data and tools for understanding what drives innovation clusters and development in every region of Nigeria, and how policies can help these business clusters strengthen their ability to formalise and scale up.

The CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Dr. Wiebe Boer, describes the project as a necessary tool for formulating policies that can improve Nigeria’s competitiveness. He said, “For public and private sector stakeholders to nurture home-grown businesses and innovation effectively, we need information. This is what this mapping tool will provide. As an organization that focuses on entrepreneurship, The Tony Elumelu Foundation needs to know what business trends, innovations and activities are currently underway or showing potential; and with this data, we will be better equipped to shape the nature of our interventions and programmes.”

Pictures: 3rd Annual conference of Borderless Alliance Sponsored by BATN

From Left, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Export Importation Bank, (NEXIM) Roberts Orya, President, Borderless Alliance, Ziad Hamoui, Commissioner in Charge of Transport, West Africa Economic and Monetory Union (WAEMU), Augustin Tompieu-Zouo, Member Executive Committee of Borderless Alliance West Africa and Chairperson, Nigeria Chapter, Chinwe Uzu and Director Communications Shipping Service, Nigeria Shippers Council, Dabney Shall-Homa, at the 3rd Annual conference of Borderless Alliance Sponsored by British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) held at the Sharaton Hotel Ikeja today Wednesday, February 26th, 2014 in Lagos.

From Left, Area Head of Regulatory Affairs, British American Tobacco West Africa, Sola Dosumu, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Export Importation Bank, (NEXIM), Roberts Orya and Member Executive Committee of Borderless Alliance West Africa and Chairperson, Nigeria Chapter, Chinwe Uzu, at the event

4 years on, Cowbell NASSMAC Gets Bigger, Better

L-R: Mr. Onyekachi Onubogu, Executive Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Professor Adewale Solarin, DG/CE, National Mathematics Centre, Abuja and Mr. Andrew Enahoro, Head Legal and Public Relations, Promasidor at a press briefing on 2014 Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition in Lagos on Monday.

Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell milk, has announced its readiness to host this year's edition of its Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition - NASSMAC, promising a bigger and better competition and rewards this year.

The Executive Director (Commercial) of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Kachi Onubogu announced this at a press briefing in Lagos to kick-start activities leading to the 2014 edition of the nationwide competition aimed at encouraging the teaching, learning and study of mathematics and other sciences among secondary school students across Nigeria.

Unarguably Nigeria's longest running mathematics competition for secondary schools, Onubogu stated that this year's edition of NASSMAC is holding within precincts of the 20th anniversary of Promasidor Nigeria Limited.

"We are therefore ready to make it big and a landmark that it is," he said, adding that "This iconic competition is already in its 14th year and we are excited about the level of achievement we have made thus far and we are set to celebrate it big."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has hit back at critics of Sochi Olympics, saying Sochi Olympics "opened Russia's soul" to the world.

"The Olympics were very important for us, because it seems to me ... that they not only opened Russia's door but opened Russia's soul, the soul of our nation - so that people looked and saw that there is nothing to fear," Putin said in a state TV interview.

He said Russia had faced “conditions of criticism” since being awarded the Olympics, but added that “constructive criticism” from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) played a key part in the success of the Games.

The build-up to the Olympics was marked by threats of militant violence, an outcry over an “anti-gay propaganda” law and corruption allegations surrounding preparations for the Games.

Red House Wins Builders International School Sports Competition

The Red (Mohammed) House has emerged the winner of the 8th inter-house sports competition of Builders International School which was held on Saturday, February 22, at the Lagos State University (LASU) Museum, Agege.

The house won the trophy with 190 points while the Green (Badaki) House with 175 points took the second position, the Blue (Afelogun) House and Yellow (Lawrence) Housewhich had 154 and 146 points made third and fourth positions respectively.

According to the proprietress of the school, Mrs. Modupe Lawrence, the aim of the event is to trains its students not only in academics but also boost their physical ability.

Her words: “Children love sports and we have always encouraged them. It is part of education and you can’t take it out. Fun and academics make the students more brilliant. Children need to exercise their body. Every year we host inter-house sports. We also have weekly extra-curricular activities in school for students,to build them both academically and physically”.

Kensington Olympia Conference Centre, Hammersmith Road, London, is to play host to the much anticipated Homecoming Revolution Africa LONDON EXPO 2014 which will hold on 15th and 16th March 2014.

The two day event organised by Homecoming Revolution, is for all skilled Africans Professionals in the Diaspora who are wondering if they should return home.

Originally established in South Africa as an NGO in 2003, Homecoming Revolution is now a commercial entity and has a footprint in the UK, USA, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Kenya. It will also feature high profile guest speakers who will update, inform, educate and inspire participants on various issues relating to African business, economics, politics and future scenarios in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Kenya.

Activities include global expos, local networking events, e-marketing activities and tailored talent search. Participants will have a chance of asking key questions, connecting with recruiters and businesses, hearing inspiring speakers, attending free practical workshops, and getting advice and insights on moving back home.

Boko Halal, the young book worms, has launched attack on the consciousness of Nigerians beginning with a full page ad on ThisDay newspaper with a call to all citizens to stand up for the Nigerian child’s right to education, especially in Northern Nigeria.

In a statement issued in Lagos by the book loving sect, Boko Halal metaphorically described Nigeria as an indivisible book adding that the world is waiting to read our success stories hence every citizen should play its part.

Their words: ”As we open the page 100 of the history of our great country, today is the day to ensure that no Nigerian child is left behind. From Zungeru to Enugu to Abeokuta to Abakaliki, this is the time to send out a new message. This is the time to let our children know that the book, or Boko, or whichever name it goes by, and whatever language it is written in (Arabic, Chinese or English) it is the only way to that great future we all like to talk about.”

Further more, Boko Halal challenges Nigerian to take a stand and enjoined Nigerians to pick up the book as the most potent weapon for driving social change.

The UN Economic Commission for Africa in collaboration with the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the Ministry of Communications Technology (FMCT), and Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) will hold a high level policy dialogue on the theme: Science, Technology, and Innovation and the African Transformation Agenda, in May 2014 in Abuja.

The dialogue was announced recently by Nigerai's President Goodluck Jonathan during the inauguration ceremony of the National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC), of which he is Chairman.

The meeting will bring together high level policy makers and experts from across the continent in the areas of science, technology and innovation to discuss and deepen understanding on how technology and innovations can be deliberately and purposefully applied to accelerate the African transformation agenda, improve the life chances of Africans and enhance the competitiveness of Africa's economies.

BAT Ends PR partnership With The Quadrant Company

The British American Tobacco (BAT) Company has also parted way with their Public Relations agency, The Quadrant Company after working together in the lasted seven years.

Managing Director of TQC, Mr. Bolaji Okusaga
Image credit: marketingworldmag

While it was speculated that agency was sacked, the Managing Director of TQC, Mr. Bolaji Okusaga, denied the claim, saying “the disengagement is mutual”.

“We are exiting the business after seven years. It is not sack. The client thinks we are not providing adequate coverage and we think we are not getting adequately paid. The disengagement is mutual.

“Essientially, I think the client has the right to make a change so as to try something new and I wish the client well in its endeavour”, Mr. Okusaga was quoted as saying in New Telegraph report.

On the other hand, the tobacco company also stated in the report that it was an in-house decision to re-structure the company’s way of working with PR agencies. BAT also said there

First African Blogger Awards now open for entries

Entries to the 2014 African Blogger Awards, the continent’s very first awards programme that measures online and social influencers’ reach and influence through data analysis, are open to bloggers, Instagrammers, Tweeters and YouTubers across Africa.

The Awards have been divided into 36 categories, providing the opportunity for influencers on these platforms to be measured objectively against their peers, and duly recognised for their achievements.

Categories are diverse, and include sectors such as Advice, Fashion and Beauty, Events and Nightlife, Education, Sports, Political, Technology and Gadgets, and Youth Culture among others.

“The African Blogger Awards are the first completely impartial, objective awards for online and social influencers on the African continent because winners will be determined by data analytics provided by Webfluential, and not through peer nominations,” says Mike Sharman, co-founder of the African Blogger Awards.

Tuesday, 25 February 2014

Mobile Technology Will Transform The Way Brands Relate With Consumers – Elo Umeh

Mobile technology has been described as the next step in the marketing evolution and a definitive medium which would redefine the way in which brands interact and engage with their target audiences on the Africa a continent where over half of its inhabitants will access the internet for the first time on the mobile device.

This is the opinion of Mr. Elo Umeh, Group Managing Director and Founder of the Terragon Group, who is currently at the on-going Mobile World Congress holding in Barcelona, Spain from the 24th to the 27th of February 2013.

According to Mr. Umeh the industry is experiencing a tremendous shift in media consumption by the mass market to mobile like never before, especially in Africa which currently accounts for the highest growth of smart phones globally. “Mobile penetration in Africa is stipulated to be about 80% in 2013 and growing. Right now there are more mobile devices than there are television sets. Mobile and digital services have the potential to generate significant earnings and boost the economies in Africa”, said Umeh.

He added that, according to recent research reports by Gartner Inc, African Telecoms firms specifically are predicted to generate over $1.3 billion in mobile advertising revenue alone by 2016. “the global market for mobile advertising will reach $18 billion in 2014 and grow to $41.9 billion by the end of 2017 this information goes to show the potential that mobile advertising has, not only in Africa but globally”, He said.

The entrance gate to The Walt Disney Co is pictured in Burbank, California February 5, 2014.
CREDIT: REUTERS/MARIO ANZUONI

Walt Disney Co has launched Disney Movies Anywhere, a service for consumers to buy and watch Disney, Pixar and Marvel films online and store them in the cloud, in the latest bid by a Hollywood studio to encourage digital movie purchases.

Disney, like other Hollywood studios, is trying to boost digital sales after consumers moved away in recent years from buying DVDs, cutting a lucrative source of revenue.

The media company said in a statement it launched the new service on Tuesday, coinciding with the digital release of Disney's blockbuster animated movie "Frozen."

The service allows consumers to buy digital movies from a library of more than 400 titles through Apple Inc's iTunes store and the Disney Movies Anywhere website and app.

At the on-going Mobile World Congress 2014 in Barcelona, Spain, BlackBerry Limited unveiled a new flagship smartphone designed to deliver its full and distinctive QWERTY experience on BlackBerry 10.

The new BlackBerry Q20 smartphone will feature the familiar and classic ‘Menu’, ‘Back’, ‘Send’ and ‘End’ buttons and the integrated trackpad to enable the fast efficient navigation and one-handed use that has endeared the brand to its QWERTY customers.

“In my first 90 days on the job, I consistently heard from our ardent BlackBerry customers that the hard buttons and trackpad are an essential part of the BlackBerry QWERTY experience, that made their BlackBerry smartphone their go-to productivity tool. I want these customers to know that we heard them, and this new smartphone will be for them,” said John Chen, Executive Chairman and CEO at BlackBerry.

Felipe Oliveira Baptista

Portuguese designer Felipe Oliveira Baptista has announced that he is suspending his ready-to-wear line for an undetermined amount of time. The designer has also canceled his fall 2014 runway show, which was scheduled for Wednesday.

"Séverine and I decided to take time off to think about the future of our collaboration and brand and reevaluate its structure and existence," Baptista told WWD.

"We will most likely venture into another design or creative field. We would like to thank everyone who has supported and has worked with us over these extremely rich and fantastic 10 years. It is a well-thought-out and positive decision. It's the end of a chapter, not the book."

Manchester City player, Yaya Toure (Image credit: Telegraph)

English Premier League football club Manchester City agreed a new three-year partnership camera brand iON which will see the club use iON’s technology in capturing exclusive footage of the team in training which will be shown on the club’s website.

The brand will launch a number of fan initiatives as part of the deal which will include the new fan booths in the City Square entertainment zone at the Etihad Stadium which will give fans the chance to upload their football skills and compare themselves with some of Manchester City’s star players.

Grassroots activity at one-off iON football clinics will integrate the camera technology products as an educational tool.

Today at Mobile World Congress, Qualcomm Incorporated, through its Wireless Reach™ initiative; Vecna Cares Charitable Trust, the nonprofit arm of Vecna Technologies; Etisalat, a Nigerian telecommunications operator, announced that they have teamed up to develop and deploy a wireless, electronic medical record (EMR) system to clinics throughout three states within the NPHCDA, bringing a paperless, mobile patient registry to midwives throughout rural Nigeria.

The Wireless Reach™ initiative also include Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), a part of the Federal Ministry of Health; InStrat Global Health Solutions, a turnkey health care solutions provider and Evidence for Action, a campaign to ensure Africa’s mothers and babies survive pregnancy and childbirth.

The CliniPAK360 project aims to reduce the country’s high maternal and infant mortality rates.

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country. It also has maternal and infant mortality rates that are among the world’s highest. The US Central Intelligence Agency estimates in The World Factbook that Nigeria experienced approximately 630 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2010 and approximately 73 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013. In comparison, the maternal death rate in developed countries is approximately nine per 100,000.

Yesterday, the GSM Association has made public the 2nd Round recipients Mobile Enabled Community Services (MECS) Innovation Grant Fund. In this 2nd Round, Schneider Electric is proud to announce that two companies of its Schneider Electric Energy Access (SEEA) Fund portfolio were awarded: Fenix International and Nova Lumos.

As part of its efforts to foster access to reliable, affordable and clean energy with its BipBop programme, Schneider Electric launched an impact-investment fund dedicated to support companies developing technologies and/ or distribution channels in that field. Since its creation in 2009, the fund has invested in eleven companies in Africa, India and France.

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, gathering nearly 800 operators in more than 220 countries. Mobile Enabled Community Services (MECS) encompasses any energy and water service provided to a community which includes a mobile component. The MECS programme aims at leveraging mobile technology & infrastructure to improve access to affordable and reliable energy and clean water in underserved communities.

Oscar Pistorius's Twitter Handle @OscarHardTruth Goes Viral

With less than a week to go before his trial starts in the North Gauteng High Court, South Africa, the public relations team of paralympian Oscar Pistorius has launched a new Twitter handle, @OscarHardTruth, to keep fans up to date with his murder trial.

Pistorius pictured with Steenkamp in Johannesburg in January.
Photo credit: Waldo Swiegers/AFP/Getty Images

The Twitter Handle @OscarHardTruth, linked to Pistorius's official website, www.oscarpistorius.com has gone viral, reaching over 10 000 followers within hours after being set up with more added by the minute.

According to his PR agent, Anneliese Burgess, the twitter handle was set up to provide factual updates around the trial.

The paralympic athlete is charged with the Valentine’s Day murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who died after she was shot while standing behind a locked bathroom door.

Nairobi To Hold Digital Fair In March

Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi will host a major digital exposition, aimed at bridging the huge gap between the rate of innovations and their adoption, which threatens the fast developing local industry.

The event would take place from March 7 to 9 at Sarit Centre in Nairobi.

The Fair, themed Powering the Digital Future, is a three-day event for researchers, critics, the business network and the public in general and which, according to the organisers, will provide a platform to different organisations to illustrate their technological capabilities and showcase the latest digital trends.

Jumia Nigeria giving away one PS4 hourly at 50% discount

Nigerian online shopping platform Jumia has announced it is giving away one PlayStation 4 (PS4) hourly at a discount of 50 per cent. The offer means shoppers will be able to purchase the console at the price of NGN64,995 (US$395).

According to the company, “Jumia will be placing a PS4 randomly in various categories on the website, every hour there will be a countdown to the next discount here. Simply browse through the various categories within the hour and get closer to grabbing this offer. Remember fastest a finger grabs the PS4 at the unbelievable price,”.

“Also fans on Facebook aren’t left out, simply visit the Jumia Facebook page, share the #Jumiamadness post and stand a chance to win a NGN10,000 (US$61) shopping voucher to be used on Jumia.com.ng.,” the company said.

Friday, 28 February 2014

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