APCON Grants Corporate License to Media Fuse

The regulatory body for advertising industry in Nigeria, the Advertising Practitioner's Council of Nigeria (APCON) has granted a corporate license to Media Fuse Limited, Nigeria's newest and fast growing media agency.

Media Fuse was licensed to carry out the business of advertising media planning and buying in the national agency category.

In a brief presentation ceremony at APCON's Lagos office, Registrar of the body, Alhaji Garba Bello Kankanrofi said that Media Fuse has satisfied all the statutory requirements for the award of the corporate license which empowers the agency to do the business of advertising in Nigeria.

The founder of the agency and erstwhile managing director of Media Perspectives, Emeka Okeke thanked APCON for the recognition granted his agency and promised to abide by all the rules guiding the business of advertising in Nigeria.

Media Fuse has demonstrated it has what it takes to be one of the agencies to watch out for this year and in the future. The agency has been able to bag some blue-chip accounts which include Mastercard within the just few months of it establishment.

Microsoft Introduces Office for iPad

Microsoft has announced the launch of its Office software for Apple’s iPad, a move expected for the past two years and which opens the company up to new revenue streams.

Office 365 subscribers can add an iPad to their Office 365 subscription benefits to access the full functionality of the applications, however they can be downloaded for free to view documents without editing functionality.

Microsoft chief executive officer (CEO) Satya Nadella announced the release at his first high profile event since his new appointment.

The release falls in line with the company’s “cloud first, mobile first” mantra, making use of its Office 365 subscription service to enable document creation functionality on the platform. “Microsoft is focused on delivering the cloud for everyone, on every device. It’s a unique approach that centers on people — enabling the devices you love, work with the services you love, and in a way that works for IT and developers,” said Nadella.

Jumia Nigeria launches “By Naija” fashion category

In a bid to give “recognition” to talented local designers Jumia, Nigeria has launched a category dedicated to Nigerian fashion items, dubbed “By Naija”.

The category hosts products from over 50 Nigerian fashion designers, ranging from clothes and shoes to accessories and beauty products.

“Everything the western world has to offer can be found and made in Nigeria, and the birth of the Jumia By Naija store brings this premium offering to the customer,” Jumia said.

The e-commerce firm also invite designers to sign up to the store and also envision to become the biggest fashion retail outlet in the country.

UCL Trophy Tour: "Heineken Strives To Ignite Fans Conversations" - Mr. Walter Drenth

"Nigeria would always be an important part of Heineken’s activities. It is the objective of Heineken to open the world of its consumers by ensuring they get the very best experiences from Heineken wherever they are in the world”, Mr. Walter Drenth, Marketing Director Nigeria Breweries Plc,  said while commenting on the rationale behind bringing the UCL Trophy to Nigeria.

He pointed that The UEFA Champions League has a long and distinguished heritage and is the pinnacle of European club football. “Heineken® strives to ignite fans conversations. This year’s UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour brings football fans around the world closer to the action in an unexpected and surprising way enabling them to interact with Heineken® and the tournament. As we get closer to the final, we will continue to engage with fans by offering legendary brand experiences.”

It would be recalled that the trophy arrived the country with the brand ambassador, Ruud Gullit on March 13, 2014 and will remain till March 16, 2014. It is billed to make a tour of Lagos within these dates.

The Executive Governor of Lagos state of Nigeria, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has showered encomiums on the world’s leading international premium lager beer, Heineken® for availing Nigerians the rare opportunity to feel and experience the actual UEFA Champions League Trophy live.

Instagram users hit over 200 million

Instagram has announced it now has over 200 million users capturing and sharing images every  The company said 50 million users had joined in the past six months.

“As we exceed 20 billion photos shared on Instagram to date, we look back in wonder at the beauty and importance of everything this community has created,” Instagram said in a statement.

“Over the past six months, we’ve seen new communities coming together in cities and towns across the world, whether they be in Guthrie, Oklahoma, or Guatemala City”.

Picture from Etisalat sponsored Nigeria Summit 2014

NYSC 2014 Batch A Inspiration Day with Niyi Adesanya and Friends

From Left, Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards Trailblazer Winner 2014 and Film Producer/Director, Michelle Bello, State Coordinator Nigeria Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Lagos State, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi, Winner Nigeria Idol Season 2, Mercy Chinwo and Chief Executive Officer Fifth Gear Consulting, Niyi Adesanya, at the NYSC 2014 Batch A Inspiration Day with Niyi Adesanya and Friends held at the Lagos State Orientation Camp, Iyana Ipaja.

Etisalat Nigeria Announce Organizational Changes

Telecommunication campany, Etisalat Nigeria has announced a change in its organizational structure, and also pledge to continue to strive to improve on its core values.

In a statement received by BrandArena, the company said: "Etisalat Nigeria would like to state that there have been recent changes within the organization. Due to these changes, the services of some staff were no longer required.

"We would like to reaffirm that, as responsible corporate citizens, we remain committed to growing and developing our people in line with our core values".

Maltina Expands Brand Equity With Laugh Out Loud

In line with its “Sharing Happiness” payoff, the nation’s number one non-alcoholic malt drink, Maltina - from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc - has unveiled a new activation platform called Laugh.Out.Loud (LOL).

(L-R)Senior Brand Manager Maltina, Wole Adedeji, Chief Executive Officer CorporateWorld Entertainment, Ayodeji Makun, (AY)  Corporate Affairs Adviser Nigerian Breweries Plc, Kufre Ekanem, Chief Executive Officer Laughter Incorporated, Gbenga Adeyinka 1st and the Marketing Manager, Non-Alcoholic Drinks, Sampson Oloche at the Maltina Laugh Out Loud (LOL) briefing in Lagos.

The activation platform was flagged off in Lagos with a sponsorship deal for two of Nigeria’s most exciting comedy shows, AY Live and Gbenga Adeyinka’s Laffmattaz. Both are billed to thrill consumers this Easter, 20th of April 2014 in Lagos and Ibadan respectively.

Addressing a cross section of the media, the Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Kufre Ekanem, spoke on the motivation behind Maltina Laugh.Out.Loud and partnering with the AY live show and Gbenga Adeyinka’s Laffmattaz.

 “Three years ago Maltina was relaunched with the payoff line ‘Sharing Happiness.’ This gives the brand more leeway to ensure that more consumers get to feel the brand at various consumer touch points. Now, Maltina is broadening its ‘Share the Happiness’ message to a broader audience embracing comedy, a very relevant and widely accepted platform via a new campaign tagged ‘Maltina Laugh.Out.Loud’. We are pleased to announce that we are partnering two great comedy shows in happiness: AY Live anchored by AY and Laffmattazz anchored by Gbenga Adeyinka 1st.”

Share unique MasterCard payment stories for a chance to watch UEFA Champions League Final live!

MasterCard, cardholders in Nigeria now have an opportunity to win a trip to Lisbon, Portugal to watch the UEFA Champions League Final Lisbon 2014 as a part of the Priceless Africa platform launched in September 2013.

The campaign dubbed “Win a trip few can win” invites MasterCard prepaid, debit and credit cardholders from across Nigeria to share unique stories showcasing how using their MasterCard product has positively impacted their lives.

The entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges and after six weeks, the selected finalists’ entries will be posted on social media for consumers to cast the deciding vote for their favourite stories. The top four finalists will be selected to attend UEFA Champions League Final Lisbon 2014.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is widely considered as football’s premier annual club competition, launched in 1992. In its present format, the UEFA Champions League begins with three knockout qualifying rounds and a play-off round. The 10 surviving teams enter the group stage, joining 22 other teams qualified in advance.

The 32 teams are drawn into eight groups of four teams and play each other in a double round-robin system. The eight group winners and eight runners-up proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match in May.

“My Healthline”: Orange's first healthcare hotline in Cameroon

Orange aims to expand My Healthline to other sub-Saharan African countries and extend the scope beyond sexual health, all built on a common Orange Healthcare platform.

My Healthline, a simple and reliable service from a professional medical team

Orange Cameroon customers will be able to access personalised advice on contraception, HIV / AIDS, sexuality and STDs from specialists by texting 929 between 8.00 am and 10.00 pm on any day of the week.

In less than one hour, the service will provide them with reliable medical information at minimal cost (XOF 200 per text message, i.e. EUR 0.25).

Rockefeller Foundation’s $3.8M grant helps position Ghana to accelerate future ICT job growth

The Rockefeller Foundation and the World Bank collaborate to empower Ghana’s IT and IT enabled Services Industry to hire Ghanaian youth

The Rockefeller Foundation has announced a $3.8 million grant to the Ghanaian government in partnership with the World Bank to support the establishment of world class facilities that will attract IT and IT enabled firms, including Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms to Ghana and create jobs for Ghanaian youth.

The grant complements the World Bank’s US$5 million provided under the eGhana Project and is part of the Foundation’s Digital Jobs Africa initiative launched in 2013; the initiative is a $100million initiative aimed at improving 1 million lives through ICT skills and jobs for high potential but disadvantaged youth.

As a result of this grant, a new mini ICT Park to be located in central Accra will be completed by August of this year, and is expected to have the potential of providing direct and indirect employment to over 10,000 people, primarily youth, who have few alternative job opportunities.

Mouka announces Sleep Like A Millionaire Promo

In its quest to continue to add comfort to the lives of Nigerians, Mouka Limited, manufacturers of mattresses, pillows, beddings sheets and other polyurethane products today announced the launch of a promotion tagged “Sleep like a Millionaire”. The promotion affords consumers to instantly confirm the authentication of any Mouka mattress and stand also qualifies the customers to win various cash prizes during the raffle draw.

The promotion which runs from March 24th - June 20th gives consumers a chance to win as much as one million naira, while instantly confirming the authenticity of any Mouka mattress purchased through a digitally powered authentication panel driven by free sms.

While explaining the reason behind the promo, National Business Manager, Mouka Limited, Mr. Kayode Okuwa said that Mouka has achieved various milestones over the years with the active support of its loyal customers and there is no better way to show appreciation than through this “Sleep like a Millionaire” consumer promotion.

“With continual research we have gained further understanding and insight into what brings more value to our customers, we are committed to creating innovative ways of adding comfort to the lives of our customers,” Okuwa said.

Symantec Opens New Customer Management Centre in across Africa, Europe, Middle East

Symantec has announced that it has established and opened a new Customer Management Centre (CMC) to provide a world-class experience for its customers across Africa, Europe and Middle East.

Symantec will make it easier for customers and partners to interact with the company by bringing together a multi-function, centralized customer centre for sales and support with a focus on helping small businesses, governments and enterprise organizations.

“Symantec makes the world a safer place by helping people, businesses, and countries protect and manage their information, so they can focus on achieving their goals. The ground-breaking initiative is a strategic investment that will extend the company’s scale to reach more customers than we have ever done before,” said Jason Ellis, vice president for EMEA Customer Management Centre, Symantec. “The launch of the CMC is another proof point to Symantec’s strategy of making it easier to do business with us, while also delivering a world-class customer experience solving more customer problems.”

e-commerce will drive IGDP and Marketplace will be the catalyst- Sim Shagaya, Konga.com

Like other western countries, e-commerce has become a social phenomenon that has continued to grow in Africa, especially in Nigeria and South Africa. In Nigeria, e-commerce is expected to drive iGDP.

Sim Shagaya, CEO of Konga.com on Monday 24th March, 2014 at the Nigeria summit currently holding at the Intercontinental hotel, Lagos organized by the Economist Magazine spoke on a panel moderated by Vladmir Duthiers, International CNN Correspondent.

Sim Shagaya, CEO of Konga.com

Also featuring on the panel were the Nigerian Minister of Communications Technology, Hon Omobola Johnson; Stephane Bacquaert, Managing director of Investments and Secretary of the Investment Committee, Wendell Group; and Acha Leke, Director, Mckinsey & Company

The focus of the panel was on “Nigeria and the digital economy” and kicked off with a 15 minutes presentation by the Minister of Communication Technology where she talked about some of the activities of her ministry and the efforts by the present crop of hard working Nigerian entrepreneurs.

Responding to a question on how ICT can drive employment, business and GDP, Sim Shagaya, CEO of Konga.com talked about how ICT is already providing jobs for Nigeria’s youth. Today, Konga has been able to bring a significant part of its technology development to Nigeria, hiring fresh engineering graduates from Nigerian Universities like UniIfe, Futo, etc and linking these graduates with relevant technologies and exposure that is helping them build long lasting technologies for Nigeria.

Wife and Daughter of a Benin based transporter kidnapped

The outrageous incident of kidnapping reared its ugly head again on Monday in Benin City. The victims this time around are the wife and daughter of the Managing Director of Iyare Motors Limited, Mr. Abel Omoruyi (JP).

According to family sources, Mrs. Esohe Abel (wife) and Miss Osarumwense Abel (daughter) were kidnapped around 5 pm at Ugbor village close to Ugbor Primary School.

It was further gathered that the hoodlums abandoned the victims’ car and took them away in their own (kidnappers) car.

According to Mr. Abel, who is a prominent transporter in Benin City, the matter has been reported at the Ugbor Police station and the victims’ car has been recovered by the Police at the scene of the crime.

Over twelve hours after Mrs. and Miss. Abel were abducted, the kidnappers have failed to make contact with the family.

Promasidor advises students to check website for NASSMAC exam result

Promasidor Nigeria Limited, organisers of the Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) has advised students, teachers and head teachers of students that participated in the first stage examination of 2014 NASSMAC  which took place recently across the country  to check the examination results on its website: www.promasidor-ng.com.

The examination which held in all the states of the Federation except Yobe and Bornu states was supervised by officials of state ministries of education with several students participating.

The competition was opened to all students between ages 10 – 18 years in JSS3 and SSS2 attending full time secondary education in government approved schools in Nigeria.

The Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) has evolved over the years and has continued to expand in scope with the support of the Ministry of Education in both federal and state levels. The competition has stood the test of time, hence the tremendous support it has received from all stakeholders involved over the years. Promasidor Nigeria Limited, through its flagship brand, Cowbell Milk has remained committed to our passion towards improving the overall performance of mathematics amongst Nigerian students whilst nourishing our tomorrow’s leaders with wholesome healthy brands.

South Africa claims 2 of Emirates’ top 5 passenger destinations in Africa

South Africa is Emirates’ shining diamond in Africa for both passenger traffic and as a holiday destination, the airline has revealed.

Two of Emirates top 5 passenger destinations can be found in South Africa – Johannesburg and Cape Town, while South Africa as a whole has also been declared the top African destination by Emirates Holidays.

The airline operates 161 flights a week from Dubai to Africa, serving 25 destinations in 21 countries.

“Africa holds such enormous potential for leisure travellers wanting a trip with a difference, said Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Centre. The continent is huge, incredibly diverse and a close neighbour of the UAE. As time goes by, more and more people are realising Africa’s appeal and embarking on a real adventure.”

South Africa leads the way in Africa because of its outstanding natural beauty, wildlife and highly developed range of activities and excursions for individuals, groups and families, according to Emirates Holidays. Also in the top 5 are Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco and Zimbabwe. Safaris featuring the ‘The Big Five’ (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and Cape buffalo), visits to cultural villages and hot air balloon rides are amongst the favourite activities.

Gemalto launches integrated Border and Visa Management solution

Solution integrates platforms, software and services to enhance security of border check points and significantly reduce waiting times through automated document verification and border control systems.

This new, entirely computerized system enhances security and provides a more efficient set of tools to monitor border entries and exits. It also delivers higher rates of detection and prevention through official international databases to check if the travel document has been lost or stolen. Coesys Border and Visa Management can easily incorporate automated e-gates at border immigration check points.

These highly secure, two-stage traveler verification systems first verify that the e-passport is authentic and then performs facial or fingerprint recognition to match the holder to the electronic data securely stored on the e-passport.

In addition to a dedicated platform for border control, Gemalto’s portfolio includes consultancy, solution design, system integration and full support for the transition from legacy systems to integrated border management infrastructures. Coesys Border & Visa Management leverages Gemalto’s unique global footprint and long-standing trusted relationships with government and authorities worldwide, acquired through more than 80 successful deployments in the public sector.

Android Powered Nokia X Now On Konga.com

Nokia? Android? Few people would have placed a bet on the possibility of Nokia fans ever having access to Android apps and functionalities, but with the newly launched Nokia X, users can now have an Android, Nokia and Windows experience all together at an affordable price.

Nigeria’s Largest Online Marketplace, Konga.com is proud to announce the sale of the newly released Nokia X smartphone, an android powered device that gives users the joys of experiencing the android operating system on a Nokia device!

The Nokia X comes with really amazing features such as a really strong/capable camera for taking amazing pictures, access to apps available on android like BBM and Instagram; an amazing user interface, a very capable processor, an excellent battery, dual sim,as well as coming in a range of colours that can go with any fashion accessory, shoe or dress.

Promasidor flags off 2014 Cowbell competition in 200 centres

As part of its corporate social responsibility, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk has held the first stage examination of its Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) in 200 centres in 34 states across the country and the Federal Capital Territory.

The examination which held recently in all the states of the Federation except Yobe and Bornu states was supervised by officials of state ministries of education with several students participating.

The competition was opened to all students between ages 10 – 18 years in JSS3 and SSS2 attending full time secondary education in government approved schools in Nigeria.

The best three (3) students in junior and senior categories represented each school and to be eligible to sit for examinations, such a student must be in JSS 3 and SSS 2.

Students, teachers and head teachers are required to check the examination results on the company’s website: www.promasidor-ng.com as from Wednesday, May 21, 2014.

Emirates Connects Nigeria to A380 Network

Emirates, which flies twice daily, direct from Lagos to Dubai, is offering its passengers from Nigeria a growing number of opportunities to connect to the world through its expanding fleet of A380 aircraft.

The airline now has 45 of the world’s largest passenger planes, which have 517 seats: 14 seats in First Class, 76 seats in Business Class and 427 seats in Economy Class.This means that passengers from Nigeria can connect through Emirates’ dedicated A380 terminal in Dubai to 25 destinations from Auckland to Zurich that is served by the A380.

“The A380 is a truly remarkable aircraft and is a travel experience in its own right. Since Emirates began flying to Nigeria ten years ago, customers here have been able to link into a growing network of cities served by the A380, while making overseas trips as exciting and fun as the final destinations,” said Emirates Country Manager for Nigeria, Mr. Manoj Nair.

“Our customers love the A380 - from the quieter cabins and spacious layout on the main deck, to the on-board lounge and shower spas in our premium cabins. It is a beautiful aircraft which we have packed full of the best inflight comforts and products. From an operator standpoint, the A380 is still one of the most fuel efficient aircraft per seat,” he added.

Chrisgate Motivational Network Holds 10th Annual Success Summit

As part of efforts to encourage hard work and diligence as a path to success, Chrisgate Motivational Network, a subsidiary of Chrisgate International, recently held the 10th edition of Success Summit for students preparing for the upcoming Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The summit held at the Lagos centre of the organization.

Themed ‘Be Smart’, the summit attracted over 2, 000 students as well as various stakeholders including; Associate Professor, Department of Accounting and Finance, Lagos State University, DrKehinde James, Managing Director ValuePlus International, MrTolulope Ahmed, Director of Sales, Envirofit International, MrBiodunOlaore, Managing Director Drug Consult Pharmacy, Charles Oyeniyi, Managing Partner, EquiTrust Advocates and Solicitors, Barrister KayodeAderemi , President Chrisgate International, Mr Christopher Alabiand other dignitaries.

Speaking at the summit, President Chrisgate International, Mr. Christopher Alabi disclosed that, the summit which started ten years ago is part of the organization’s corporate social responsibility plan to give back to the community and a way of encouraging hard work and diligence in the quest to achieve success. It is also a way to impact our society positively.

Heineken #Sharethesofa Campaign in Lagos Reaches 101m Global Fans

The passion and interest generated by the recently concluded Heineken #sharethesofa digital campaign held in Lagos is still reverberating as a record 101 million people were reached globally with 14.2 million from Nigeria alone.

The exciting and engaging digital activation is part of the activities lined up to create memorable experience for consumers and soccer fans globally during the Meet The Trophy campaign. Heineken, the world's leading International premium larger beer, undertook the digital campaign where football fans across the globe #sharethesofa with Ruud Gullit, a winner of the UEFA European Championship and Super Cup and coach as well as Ballon d'Or winner.

Guillit was twitting live with football fans globally from the comfort of the upscale Heineken House in Lagos while the knockout matches between Manchester City vs Barcelona and Paris St Germaine (PSG) and Bayern Leverkusen. Barcelona and PSG won their matches with the same goal margin of 2-1. Guillit was running commentary and giving insight about the matches while answering questions on the direction given the fact that he is also a coach.

Outstanding Nigerian Breweries Plc Distributors’ Shine at Award Night

The tradition of sustaining brand loyalty and consumer engagement was reenacted as Nigeria’s leading brewing Company, Nigerian Breweries Plc rewarded and celebrated its esteemed distributors across the Nigeria. Ifeoma Chukwuka Nigeria Limited emerged as the best distributor, while Ken Maduako Nigeria Limited and GN Anyoha and Sons Limited went home with 2nd and 3rd place prizes respectively.

The highly entertaining and colourful event which took place at the prestigious Intercontinental Hotel in Victoria Island brought together a convergence of marketers, trade partners, distributors, transporters and consumers of Nigerian Breweries.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries plc, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, extolled the invaluable contributions of the distributors and partners to the overall success of the company. His words: “it was a year ago that we predicted a fierce competition in the beer market. However, our company won more market share in 2013. This night, market growth shows that distribution has been crucial to Nigerian Breweries’ success in the beer market. We are committed to spend more money on our brands than the previous year. This is because 2014 is another year for partnership based on mutual respect and success.”

UNESCO, Always launch new literacy programme in Nigeria

UNESCO and Always, a brand of Procter & Gamble has launched a literacy project for girls and young women in Nigeria, starting March 10, 2014.

Called 'Empowerment of Girls and Women through the use of ICTs in Literacy and skills Development,' it aims to provide 60,000 Nigerians illiterate or very poor educated girls and young women in the river side and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with basic literacy and life skills over the next three years.

More than 850 facilitators will be trained to provide literacy classes in a traditional classroom environment but also- made possible by the Nigerian Television Authority- broadcasted to the public via Tv and radio lessons.

This programme not marks the successful continuation of the UNESCO and Always partnership of providing literacy classes for girls in Africa but also strategically complements government's efforts to revitalize literacy in the country through a self-benefitting Funds-in-Trust Project with UNESCO: Revitalising Adult and Youth Literacy in Nigeria.

The partnership between UNESCO and Always on this project will go a long way to ensure that girls are given every opportunity to succeed in life.

Emirates Holidays’ Great Spring Getaways

With Spring just around the corner, create special memories with your family and plan a holiday getaway with loved ones.

Emirates Holidays, the tour operating arm of Emirates airline – has announced a range of inspiring holiday packages with great value offers for Nigerian travellers looking for a memorable Spring break. The packages are valid for travel between 15 March and 30 April 2014.

All Emirates Holidays packages include return Economy flights on Emirates, accommodation in a wide range of hotels, room tax and service charges, airport departure tax and fuel surcharge.

To book or for more information contact your travel agent or Emirates Holidays on 234-809 1033 344 or visit www.emiratesholidays.ng.
 
Dubai, UAE
Dubai, host of the World Expo 2020, is globally renowned for its vast selection of retail stores spanning 70 malls, including the world's largest, Dubai Mall, which also houses the children’s adventure venue, Kidzania. The city draws large numbers of shoppers from countries within the region as well as shoppers from Europe, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent seeking variety, value and a great experience for the whole family.

Nigeria Overtakes UK in Internet Access – digitXplus Report

Nigeria scores a big one above United Kingdom (UK) in the latest ranking of global information technology access. According to statistics released by market research and statistics specialists, digitXplus, the digital Unit of MediaReachOMD Nigeria, the country has recorded a 200% growth in internet  users between 2009 and 2013.

The figures also indicated that Nigeria, which tied at 55 million internet users with United Kingdom in 2012, took 14% leap garnering about 62.4 million internet users above UK with paltry increase of just two million (57 million) users in 2013.

The report released exclusively in Lagos last week quoted Euromonitor as its primary source and analysed digital growth across the world from 2009 - 2013 as follows: Digital   users grew across the globe from 1.748 billion to 2.677 billion showing a growth rate of 53% 2009/13. Of these figures, emerging and developing countries took the lead in the digital users over developed countries growing from 1.011 billion users in 2009 to 1.834 billion users in 2013 as against developed countries growth rate of 737 million users in 2009 to just 843 million users in 2013. That is a growth    of 81% to 14% (2009/13) in favour of emerging and developing countries.

BATN rewards over 180 farmers at productivity award

British America Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) has rewarded over 180 tobacco farmers with various prizes such as farm implements, motorcycles and overhead storage tanks as part of activities to mark the company’s 2014 Farmers’ Productivity Award.

Speaking at the ceremony which held in Iseyin, Oyo State, the Area Operations Director of BATN, Mr. Francisco Toso, disclosed that the essence of the award was to recognise farmers’ efforts every planting season, because “we understand that recognising performance was essential to improving performance.”

Toso noted the volume growth in tobacco production and sales from N224 million to N680 million in the last few years and traced it to the technical & financial support including interest-free loans that BATN and British American Tobacco Iseyin Agronomy (BATIA) has been extending to the farmers.

“The combined efforts of our technical supports through the extension workers and the passion of the farmers for increased productivity have resulted in a commendable growth over the last few years. The farmers’ sales value has increased from about N224 million to N680 million to date with tobacco farming supporting more than 20, 000 livelihoods.” He stated.

British Airways Leaders of Tomorrow

The British Airways Leaders of Tomorrow competition seeks to find the six top performing students from Nigeria’s major aviation colleges: Selected winners from the two schools namely Nigerian Aviation Technology College (NCAT), Zaria and International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin will have the rare opportunity to spend time with the Global leaders of British Airways.

The Six (6) lucky students will undergo an internship programme at British Airways local office in Nigeria for 2 weeks, after which they will proceed to the company’s head office in London to meet Keith Williams, British Airways CEO and also visit strategic locations in London for another week.

At the end of the internship, all of the interns will receive a British Airways accredited certification to mark their graduation from the Leaders of Tomorrow Initiative.

Etisalat Cliqfest Empowers Students Of Ignatus Ajuru University of Education

Etisalat recently visited Ignatus Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt in River State with its youthful empowerment initiative called, Etisalat Cliqfest.

The seminar held at the school main auditorium had in attendance over 3,000 students from the university. At the event, the renowned speaker, Mr. Niyi Adesanya impacted the students with knowledge on building a career after school.

The seminar also featured thrilling musical performance from winner of Nigerian Idol season 2, Mercy Chinwo. Several prizes were won by the student during the raffle draw.

Nokia Kicks Off Asha Ice Campaign to Engage Customers

Following the successful extension of its Asha smartphone range, Nokia has announced the launch of The Asha Collection By You, a competition-based campaign that offer users of the Asha Ice range of phones to show off their unique fashion style and get the chance to design their own fashion label.

The competition will run for five weeks and is open to customers who love to look their best and get noticed.

Besides a weekly cash prize of N25,000 to be won by 10 lucky people each, the overall winner will have the opportunity of working with a notable Nigerian fashion designer to showcase his or her creations in a top rated fashion show in the country.

“Having a good knowledge of our target market for these devices which are the youths, we’ve decided to come up with a campaign that will push them to exhibit their creative prowess in fashion and style. We want to give people the opportunity to share with the world what talents they’ve got so that they can be recognized” said Deborah Shepard, Head of Marketing at Nokia West and Central Africa.

“To participate, users of any of the Asha Ice range of phones can download the Nokia Asha Ice Up App on Nokia store to upload their pictures or post their pictures on the Nokia Nigeria Facebook page. For each week, participants will have to post pictures of themselves in any outfit based on the theme and colour for each week which would be provided on the Nokia Nigeria Facebook page” She added.

Philips to establish Research & Innovation Hub in Africa

Royal Philips has announced the establishment of its Africa Innovation Hub in Nairobi, Kenya, which underlines the company’s commitment to invest in Africa. The Philips Africa Innovation Hub will work both on the creation of new inventions, as well as bringing these inventions to the market.

The Philips Africa Innovation Hub will do application-focused scientific and user studies to address key challenges like improving access to lighting and affordable healthcare as well as developing innovations to meet the aspirational needs of the rising middle class in Africa.

The Philips Africa Innovation Hub will be located at the Philips East African Headquarters in Nairobi, where African talents and international researchers will operate on the concept of “open innovation” and will work in close collaboration with the R&D ecosystem of Kenya and Africa. Philips is in discussions with local organizations and Universities on R&D collaborations to co-create meaningful solutions for Africa.

“We welcome the establishment of Philips’ Innovation Hub in Kenya; Philips is a globally recognized innovation powerhouse and their selection of Nairobi as the site to establish their African Innovation hub is a testament to the Kenyan government’s commitment to nurture the drive for research and innovation in the region”, says, Hon’ble Adan Mohammed, Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization and Enterprise Development.

GE Signs $1.2m MoU with CRSG to Upgrade Community Technical College, Ikot-Effanga

Global infrastructure giant, General Electric has signed a whopping $1.2m memorandum of understanding with the government of Cross River Stat to upgrade and equip the state’s Community Technical College located at Ikot-Effanga Mkpa in Calabar.

Signing of the MoU

The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke and scores of the state’s executive council members including principal aides of the Governor inside the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office in Calabar Municipality.

While welcoming guests to the ceremony, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment Promotion, Gerald Ada thanked GE for believing in Nigerian and spearheading the renewed foreign direct investment drive the country is witnessing lately. Specifically, he thanked GE for the confidence the company invested on Cross River State as an investment hub by sitting its multibillion dollar factory in Calabar, the state capital. He said the MoU being signed is further strengthening the relationship between the company, the state government and its host community.

Cooper Convertible Up for grabs as GTBank kicks off promo for Undergrads

Foremost African Financial Institution, Guaranty Trust Bank plc has announced the start of its 2014 annual GTCrea8 Promo campaign for Nigerian undergraduates, an initiative aimed at rewarding the Bank’s customers studying in tertiary institutions across the nation.

While explaining the details of the campaign, the Managing Director/CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank plc told journalists that the 9 month initiative provides a unique avenue for the Bank to stay in touch and reward its GTCRea8 eSavers customers, who have a unique role to play in the continent’s future development.

According to Mr. Agbaje, the initiative involves awareness storms in 27 major tertiary institutions in Nigeria to promote values such as professionalism, Integrity and the benefits of hard work. Alongside these events are monthly raffle draws during which account holders win  Monthly Scholarships. One undergraduate will emerge the winner of the campaign grand prize: a mini cooper convertible car during the December 2014 final raffle draw.

This is the second edition of the initiative which the Bank introduced last year as part of a social awareness and marketing programme aimed at promoting adoption of the right values by our future leaders and getting feedback regarding their needs as customers. Miss Elisha-Wigwe Shallom, a Medical Student at the University of Lagos won the 2013 campaign grand prize.

Dell Education Portfolio Enables Collaborative Learning, Gives Students True Voice

Dell has announced the Latitude 13 Education Series laptop, Dell Mobile Computing Cart upgrade kit and Dell Interactive Projector S520. These new additions join the Dell Venue tablets to enable educators to innovate, empower students to find a true voice and active role in le
arning, and meet the security and manageability needs of each school’s IT support personnel.

“Schools need technology that empowers teachers, engages students and accommodates small equipment budgets,” said Kirk Schell, vice president, commercial PC, Dell’s Client Solutions Group. “The new Latitude 13 Education Series and recommended peripherals are designed for interactive learning.  Students and teachers will love using it, and IT support personnel will appreciate the ease of integrating the devices into the learning environment thanks to exceptional security, manageability and reliability.”

Classroom-ready and Schoolyard-tough

Purpose-built to meet the needs of any student computing program, the Latitude 13 Education Series is well-equipped to deliver a rich learning experience, online or off.  With powerful processors, a large 13.3-inch display and a full-size keyboard, it’s ideal for content consumption and creation, durable enough to withstand bumps, drops and spills.

Zuriel Excites Dutch Football icon Ruud Gullit

Within her very busy schedules, traveling within Lagos and then to Ekiti State a few days ago to speak to children about the importance of Financial Literacy, Zuriel still made some time for new friends and admirers.

Dutch former national Football Captain and best known for his incredible and dazzling midfield soccer skills - Ruud Gullit, was in Lagos to promote the UEFA Cup and football across the state.  He found out about Zuriel Oduwole, who is Ethiopian Airlines Global brand Ambassador, and Heritage Banks Financial Literacy Ambassador, and was highly impressed by her accomplishments as an advocate for Girl Childs Education across Africa.

Ruud Gullit and Zuriel Oduwole

"What position do you play", he asked? "How is your project Going", he continued in his flavored perfect Dutch English accent, when they met in the Lagos heat on Victoria Island. He was excited she is an active sports player [Basketball and Football] , and hopes she would one day visit his native country of Suriname to speak to the young Girls in that South American nation on the importance of Education, and active sports to stay physically fit.

Guinness Nigeria takes DrinkIQ to University of Lagos

As part of efforts to promote responsible drinking and guide against alcohol misuse, Guinness Nigeria has extended its bespoke DRINKiQ workshop to new intakes of the University of Lagos. DRINKiQ is an interactive platform that aims to enlighten participants on the effects of alcohol and equip them with the relevant information on how to drink responsibly.

The session was part of activities to mark the Orientation Week for new undergraduates who were admitted into the institution through Direct Entry and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Speaking during the session, Head, Sustainability and Responsibility, Guinness Nigeria, Mrs. Adrianne Nwagwu disclosed that the objective of the forum was to contribute to the reduction in cases of alcohol misuse in the society as well as the after effect of the misuse.

“As a company that produces alcoholic beverages, we want to ensure that people consume and enjoy alcoholic beverages the right way, at the right age and at the right time and to also reduce significantly the unwanted effects of alcohol misuse on individuals and our environment” she said.

ECOBA Lagos Elects New Executive

The members of Edo College Old Boys Association (ECOBA), Lagos Branch on Sunday elected a new Executive committee to steer the affairs of the Association in the next two years.

The election was sequel to the expiration of the tenure of the last Executive Committee led by Senator Kassim Oyofo.

Mr. Godwin Ize-Iyamu who was unanimously elected the new Chairman of the Association is the Deputy Managing Director of Integrated Energy Marketing and Distribution Company Ltd. Prior to his current appointment, he served as an Executive Director of Finance & Strategy of FinBank Plc,  Executive Director, Institutional Banking of United Bank for Africa from 2004 to March 10, 2010.

He was also Executive Director in charge of Wholesale Banking North at United Bank for Africa. Prior to joining the banking industry. He was a serving Exco member as Vice Chairman.

P&G opens Multi-Billion Naira Factory in Ogun State

Procter & Gamble Nigeria has opened her new multi-million dollar plant in Agbara Industrial Estate, Ogun State.  The manufacturing plant which sits on property over 40 hectares large is P&G’s second major manufacturing site, after the Ibadan plant, Oyo state.

The auspicious event was well attended by several prominent government officials and representatives from different parastatals including the Nigerian Minister of Finance and Coordinating minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala; the Minister for Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, the Governor of Ogun state, Dr. Ibikunle Amosun amongst others.

Speaking at the event, the Nigerian President represented by Architect Namadi Sambo- Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, congratulated P&G on the opening of the state of the art plant and commended P&G on the company’s dedication towards the country as exemplified with the new plant investment.

Also speaking, Mr. Laurent Philippe, P&G Group President for Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA) explained that P&G is proud to have been part of Nigeria’s growth for over 20 years and is committed to continue investing in Nigeria in a bid to Touch and improve lives of people in Nigeria. He noted that the company’s dedication to investing in Nigerian closely supports the Government’s Transformation agenda, “We share the same purpose and a partnership between the two is both natural and essential”.
 

Jos to pioneer digital switch in Nigeria

Jos in Plateau state is set to lead Nigeria in switching from analogue to digital television broadcasting, according to the state’s commissioner of information and communication Olivia Daziem.

During a familiarisation visit to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Jos, the commissioner said the state government had inaugurated a committee to implement the switch which has submitted an interim report, with the process to implement it progressing smoothly.

“A lot of attention is going to be focused on Jos, where the digital switch will commence. The director general of NBC (National Broadcasting Commission) has always said this is the first time we are doing it and Jos is starting it in Nigeria, and we should make it work. We will. The committee has submitted its interim report and very soon the committee will be mobilised,” she said.

Manchester United to extend kit deal with Nike

According to UK newspapers the Mirror and the Mail, English Premier League football club Manchester United is set to agree a new world-record kit deal with US sportswear giant Nike.

Nike has supplied United kits for the past 13 years and its current deal expires at the end of the 2014-15 season. Both newspapers reported the fresh terms will be worth more than £600m (€728m/$1bn) over a 10-year term.

The figure of more than £60m per year is almost double the £31m current world leader Real Madrid is said to secure from Adidas on an annual basis under an agreement running from 2012 to 2020.

Rival sportswear firms Adidas, Puma and Warrior are speculated to have showed interest for the United contract before Nike successfully made its case for a lucrative renewal.

France Telecom to exit from African markets?

France Telecom (also known as Orange) is planning to exit several African markets where its "operations are weak", reports Business Daily Africa.

Orange Africa operations include Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Guinea and Senegal.

According to reports by Daily Nation, news of a planned exit of France Telecom from the Africa market has ushered in an exciting period in the Kenya telecommunication market, coming shortly after announcement of the buy-out of yuMobile.

France Telecom holds a 70 per cent stake in Telkom Kenya, which operates mobile phone services under the Orange brand.

Denials

Orange Kenya CEO Mickael Ghossein has denied any knowledge of reported plans by parent company Orange France to exit Africa, Business Daily reported. TMT Finance had said that Orange, formerly France Telecom, was planning to leave several markets in Africa where its operations are weak.

Pictures: BATIA Farmers' Productivity Award Ceremony

L- R Mr. Freddy Messanvi, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Director, Mr. Francisco Toso, Area Operations Director, West Africa  both of British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) and Senator(Barrister) Adeniyi Ademuyiwa, member of the committee on Agriculture, Oyo State at the 2014 British American Tobacco Agronomy Iseyin (BATIA) farmers’ productivity award ceremony held in Iseyin today, 7th March, 2014.

L- R - Mr. Francisco Toso, Area Operations Director, West Africa and Mr. Freddy Messanvi, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Director both of British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) presenting gifts to the deserving Igboho2 farmer at the 2014 British American Tobacco Agronomy Iseyin (BATIA) farmers’ productivity award ceremony

L- R – Abimbola Okoya, Managing Director, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF),  Mr.Badamosi Ayinla, Ogboho2_Fomu Farmer (Beneficiary), Mr. Sola Dosunmu, Area Head of Regulatory Affairs, British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) and Mr. Freddy Messanvi, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Director

SuperSport and BTV to broadcast Africa Youth Games

South African sports broadcaster, SuperSport, and the local broadcaster, Botswana Television (BTV) have acquired the rights to broadcast the Africa Youth Games 2014 which will be hosted by Gaborone, Botswana, from May 22, 2014.

SuperSport and BTV are expected to provide live and free-to-air coverage of the tournament, including the opening and closing ceremonies.

“We have agreed in principle with both channels. They both showed an interest in televising the competition. We are at the tail end of our negotiations, we expect to reach an official understanding soon,” said Tuelo Serufho, Chief Executive Officer of Botswana Africa Youth Games Organizing Committee (BAYGOC).

Sony to Kick Off CSR Program "Dream Goal 2014" leading towards 2014 FIFA World Cup

image credit: Sony

As an official FIFA partner, Sony yesterday announced the launch of "Dream Goal 2014", a special CSR program leading towards the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, in 12 countries including host country Brazil and across Latin America, Africa and other regions.

Sony has been engaging in various efforts to support children around the world and help shape a better, more sustainable community under its CSR philosophy "For the Next Generation." These have included a range of activities at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa that brought together the power of Sony's products, technologies, innovation and employees to support children facing social issues such as poverty and limited access to education that are being addressed by the UN Millennium Development Goals.

As part of "Dream Goal 2014", Sony and streetfootballworld gGmbH (hereafter "streetfootballworld"), the leading network in the field of social change through football, will launch the Street Football Stadium Project.

The project will aim to provide safe playing environments and educational workshops for over 14,000 children. Sony will also introduce "Siyakhona Media Skills Program" with FIFA, an evolution of the "Siyakhona Project" that has been carried out since 2009, to support young leaders in 11 countries with media skills training programs using Sony products.

Peugeot ties with Facebook to launch #KickItToBrazil campaign

French car manufacturer, Peugeot has tied up with Facebook to launch a football-themed digital campaign called 'Kick it to Brazil', as it looks to capitalise on interest in this summer's World Cup.

The football-themed campaigned, which launched recently in Paris, will follow the journey of a football as it travels across more than 30 countries in 100 days, aided by a mix of bicycles, planes and Peugeot vehicles.

Peugeot has paired up with Facebook to launch a digital campaign, Kick It To Brazil, which the car manufacturer says is to “advance its social and environmental responsibility goals in Brazil”.

Peugeot which is not an official World Cup sponsor, will transport a football across 30 countries, before arriving in Brazil on the eve of the tournament.

Zuriel Oduwole Visits Hollywood

Zuriel Oduwole’s appeal continues to grow with her recent visit to the set of Disney Studios TV show Austin and Alley, where she met with the cast members. Also visited by her was the set of the new hit TV show "Instant Mom" by Nickelodeon, with Tia Mowry and veteran actress Shirley Lee Ralph at the world renowned Paramount studios.

Zuriel Oduwole

She also met with talents from Disney's super hit show Lab Rats. Aside from seeing the live tapings of some of the shows, Zuriel was specially invited by the parents of the actors, with the singular aim of being an inspiration to these young professionals, as her accomplishments so young were well beyond what most of the actors had done.

The actors and some managers on set were very impressed by the number of African, European and American world leaders she had met and interviewed, and were very inspired by what one child can accomplish, especially with her signature Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up project focusing on Girls Education in Africa.

An accomplished documentary film maker herself, she was a real source of encouragement to these youngsters in Hollywood, some of whom had heard about Zuriel, but never quite met her.

Ghana to host West Africa Telecom summit in April

On 4 April 2014 Mobile World Magazine will be hosting the third West Africa Telecom Summit in Ghana at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.

The West Africa Telecom Summit will address some of the top demands of consumers and businesses all across the region with the focus on consolidating the growth in the sector and provide an understanding of the dynamics that propel it and forecasts future trends & expected developments.

The summit will bring together senior executives from major telecom and ICT companies looking to share their insight and understanding, as well as an unrivalled line-up of speakers and commentators who will offer their expertise.

Huawei opens first store in South Africa

Global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, Huawei, has opened its first store in Africa, based at Vodacom World in Midrand, Johannesburg.

Huawei Key Account General Manager for Vodacom, Mr Bruce Wong, says the store cements the device maker’s “commitment to South Africa and the continent.”

“We have expansion plans in place to open additional stores in other parts of South Africa in the very near future. The launch of our store in Johannesburg is just the beginning," he said.

While acknowledging the fact that Africa has great potential and is a key market for Huawei, Wong added that: "Launching a local store is a key element to cater to the growing demand from our customers and further establishes our brand in the country.

The launch of its Johannesburg store also coincided the introduction of the E5730 Mobile Wi-Fi, a high-speed packet access mobile hotspot for customers who own multiple Wi-Fi enabled devices.

Promasidor launches Onga Cubes into seasoning market

(L-R) Star performer of the show, Flavour, Onga brand ambassador, Kate Henshaw, Kachi Onubogu, Executive Director – Commercial of Promasidor Nig. Ltd, Chief Keith Richards, MD/CE of the company and Paul Orhii, Director-General of NAFDAC during the launch of Promasidor’s Onga Cube variant in Lagos on Thursday.

Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk, has launched Onga cubes into the Nigerian seasoning market following a successful penetration of Onga powder which was introduced into the market in 2004.

Speaking at the launch of the new product in Lagos on Thursday, Mr. Kachi Onubogu, Executive Director, Commercial of Promasidor said, "After almost 2 years of insightful and innovative work by the Promasidor team, I am happy to welcome Onga Cube into the Promasidor Nigeria family of brands."

He remarked that the new Onga Cube would come in singles of 4g and in two variants of Onga Cube, which could be used for any type of dish while Onga Chicken, which is a special blend, with superior chicken flavour that could be used to create excitement in the kitchen.

He said the new cube would be packaged 50 cubes in a pouch and 24 pouches in a carton, adding that Onga in cubes is a completely different formulation from the existing Onga powder because we did a complete reformulation from scratch, paying particular attention to what the consumers want in an ideal brand of seasoning cube.

British Airways Uncovers Fliers’ Quirky Habits

New Ipsos MORI research commissioned by British Airways has revealed the range of emotions fliers go through when they travel and the quirks that make them feel comfortable.

The study found that travellers experience seven different emotions when they fly: enjoyment, conviviality, belonging, security, control, empowerment and vitality.

Most travellers feel the need to start in control, often exhibiting behaviours such as ticking off check-lists and fibbing to partners by telling them the flight leaves earlier than it really does in order to get to the airport in plenty of time.

Once there, people continue with the control phase and are super organised. Documents are at hand (and regularly checked on), ready for each checkpoint. Travellers are already clutching their 100ml liquids in a plastic bag at security before being asked to and the time they have to spend in duty free has been calculated with precision in advance. They also take the time now to organise what items they will need to hand on the flight and what should be stored in the overhead lockers.