Cristiano Ronaldo Wins Globe Soccer Honour, Targets Ballon d'Or Triumph

Cristiano Ronaldo added to the numbers of his personal trophy cabinet on Monday as he won the best player of the year at the Globe Soccer awards in Dubai.

Ronaldo has enjoyed arguably the greatest year of his career, breaking the record for the number of goals in a single Champions League season as he led Real Madrid to their 10th European title, while maintaining his better than a goal-per-game ratio across five prolific years in Spain.

Ronaldo is nominated alongside Manuel Neuer and Lionel Messi for the Ballon d'Or—which will be awarded in Zurich on Jan. 12, 2015—after a year which included a second Champions League victory for the 29-year-old.

Ronaldo will look to finish 2014 on a high on today (Tuesday) when Real take on AC Milan in a friendly in Dubai before the La Liga season resumes after its winter break in the new year.

Pictures: Chef First Lady Reality Show Prize Presentation

From left, Chaperon, Mr. Chef First Lady Reality Show, Moji Oyetayo, Managing Director, Bayswaters Industries Limited, Mr. Piyush Nair presenting the key of a brand new X I 35 Hyundai Sport Utility Vehicle ( SUV)  to the winner of the maiden edition of Mr. Chef  First Lady Reality Show, Miss Juliet Onyinyechi Ofodile and Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Xmedia Communications Limited,  Mr. Tunde Lawrenson during the presentation of prizes to the winners of the Maiden edition of Mr. Chef First Lady Reality Show held on Friday in Lagos

the winner of the maiden edition of Mr. Chef  First Lady Reality Show, Miss Juliet Onyinyechi Ofodile receiving the brand new X I 35 Hyundai Sport Utility Vehicle ( SUV)

From left, Mr. Chef Reality Show Contestants, Ebelike Preye,  Elizabeth Akongwubel both with their cheque of 100,000,   winner of the reality Show, Juliet Ofodile with her cheque of 1.5 million she won, Chaperon, Mr. Chef First Lady Reality Show, Moji Oyetayo, first runner –up, Sophia Okoroafor with her cheque of 1 million Naira she won,  Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Xmedia Communications Limited,  Mr. Tunde Lawrenson, other contestants seond runner-up, Ruth Ifeoluwa Obi with her cheque of 100,000 with her cheque of 500,000 Naira and Miss Funke Segun  during the presentation of prizes to the winners of the Maiden edition of Mr. Chef First Lady Reality Show held on Friday in Lagos

Infographic: How JUMIA Redefined e-commerce in 2014; empowering Nigeria and Nigerians!

2014 has been a record breaking year for e-commerce and Jumia in Nigeria, and to end the year, the Jumia team have released an infographic with amazing facts, figures and records broken in 2014.

Since Jumia’s launch in 2012, the team has been committed to empowering Nigerians, building trust in online shopping and emerging as the online retailer of choice for Nigerians.

Have you ever wondered how high orders placed in 2014 at Jumia would be when stacked up on each other? You simply have no idea.  220 Burj Khalifa placed on one another will be a dead ringer.! Or do you want to know the longest call ever received from a customer in 2014 or even maybe the farthest distance covered in delivery of a single item. Other amazing facts you may want to know is what brands Jumia customers bought the most, how many customers visited the page and awesome stuff the leading online retailer is doing for society, and this is just a tip of the iceberg.

In 2014, in a move that further redefined the ecommerce industry in Nigeria, Jumia secured new rounds of investments in the initial sum of €120 million from MTN Group, Africa’s leading Telecommunications Company, a move that has been seen by many as the strongest alliance in Nigerian corporate circles. This investment, among others made by existing shareholders, strengthened JUMIA’s position as the leading online retailer in Africa. This saw the launch of the MTN ‘Be Better’ campaign.

“The Be Better campaign taps into the desire of Nigerians to live a better life for themselves and their families, looking at various facets of their lives. MTN therefore encourages Nigerians to enrich themselves with the power of information powered by the internet on their mobile devices. This way they can make better decisions, learn and do new things!” Bayo Adekanbi, CMO, MTN Nigeria.

New York Forum AFRICA 2015: 4th edition to hold in Gabon in May

The 4th edition of the New York Forum AFRICA, the only pan-African economic forum to be held in Africa in 2015, will bring together more than 1500 business and political leaders on May 29-31 2015 in Libreville, Gabon.

The theme for NYFA 2015, organized under the High Patronage of His Excellency Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Gabonese Republic, is Invest in the Energy Continent. It will focus on the new dynamism in the continent, its entrepreneurs, economic and investment opportunities, the growing energy sector, jobs creation, as well as education and innovation, to draw up a roadmap for the continent’s transformation.

Participants will take part in action-orientated debates and panels, as well as sector-specific breakout sessions and workshops to define concrete actions for sustainable and efficient investment into the energy of the continent. Which reforms are efficient? Which economic diversification strategy works best? How should the expansion of sectors such as transportation, telecommunications, financial services, tourism,… best be supported ?

The NYFA2015 Marketplace, a meeting place for business and political stakeholders to design partnerships and exchange opportunities will include an Investor’s Lounge. A carefully curated selection of African start-ups, each with an invention that has the power to bring about significant change, will be invited to showcase their work.

Akpos In Christmas Gift Palava

This is a hilarious video  put together by Kaymu.com.ng starring Nigeria’s favorite comedic character Akpos who is in a bit of dilemma over what gift to get for Karo his girlfriend.

Akpos typically has a poor taste in gifts, you’d be surprised at how this Christmas goes!

Click here to watch and don’t forget to drop a comment!

Etisalat Revs Up Data Offering with SmartPak

Nigeria’s most innovative and fastest growing telecommunication company, Etisalat, in response to its subscribers’ varied preferences in regards to data consumption, simplicity, control and preference, has introduced the Etisalat SmartPak.

The Etisalat SmartPak offering is designed to provide subscribers with data for their preferred consumption platforms. The packages are positioned to give subscribers unlimited access to the content they use most in an easy to understand format that suit their lifestyle, enabling them maximize value.

Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher, speaking on the new product said the Etisalat SmartPak is different from the all-purpose Easyblaze bundles which charges customers for size of data they want; rather each pack provides unlimited access to specific services.

“The Etisalat SmartPak fits each consumer’s internet needs by offering internet services in terms of their desired content; be it social or business content. For example, a customer who prefers chatting and does more chatting can subscribe to ChatPak for access to chat apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat and 2Go, rather than data access in Megabytes and Gigabytes.” Willsher said.

Audience and Brands unveils MyBrandi Mobile Billboard in Nigeria

Committed to exceptional media value creation using research driven communication platforms for success and result oriented organizations in Nigeria. Audience & Brands Consulting Limited, a company established to support the growth of data-driven media ideas in Africa has unveiled MyBrandi a four- face first P6 LED hydraulic 360 degree rotational mobile electronic billboard into Nigeria Out-of -home Advertising market.

The mobile electronic board which comes with a combined feature of audio visual, static pictures could also be used as activation rig that provides on the spot engagement and interaction for brands.

Speaking at the media experience, the Consulting Head, Mr. Oborgu Ugochukwu disclosed that, the company aspires to become the centre-point for unadulterated media ideas across media platforms in Africa.  ‘Our motivation is to create marketing communication ideas that differentiate the brands we serve from viral me-too syndrome that dictate the Nigerian marketing communication space owing that our communication platforms deliver expansive awareness for our clients’ he added .

Oborgu relaying some of the unique features of MyBrandi,  said, the board is a four-face, hydraulic, 360 degree rotational mobile billboard that combines audio-visual and wireless microphones to deliver brand messages in the most unusual and effective way.  Brands messages could  sermonized on the move, activation can conveniently be carried out using MyBrandi mobile platform to entertain bystanders who are attracted to brand activation stand on streets, highways, markets, places of worship, schools, hotels, bars or any place of interest to the brand and its consumers.  We go after the eyeballs and locate wherever there is traffic congestion all through the day. 

Merry Christmas To You All

A little smile, A word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for the coming year, These make a Merry Christmas!

Thank you for your support and comments on our blog.

Mobile app on Nigeria’s heritage launched

A new app focusing on Nigeria’s heritage has been launched by the School of Media and Communication of the Pan-Atlantic University.

The app called the Centenary Project mobile app is powered by the Google Cultural Institute. The Centenary Project is an innovative initiative is attempting to create digital archives of various aspects of Nigeria’s creative and cultural history.

The project is also seeking to visually showcase the archives to a larger audience through available digital media platforms. Focusing on film, art, music, photography, literature, fashion, politics and other fields of historical interest, those involved in the project will research, capture, curate and publish stories and narratives of the past 100 years.

Patrick Enaholo, the coordinator of the project said the initiative was based on the recognition that, despite the controversies that have trailed the centenary celebrations. “Nigeria’s first 100 years as a nation still presents us with an opportunity to look back at our history in order to recall familiar stories, to discover untold accounts and, most importantly, to imbibe positive lessons for the future.”

According to him, the project is based on the belief that there is a need for Nigerians everywhere to learn about different aspects of the country’s history in a systematic, organized and accessible way -one that is free of bias, polemics or controversy.
 

NCC: 49.6 Million Phone Lines Inactive in Third Quarter of 2014

Latest telecoms market information released by the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) has shown that a total of 49,641,091 phone lines in the country were dormant at Q3 2014.

The NCC information also underscores the declining fortune of fixed telephony in the country as active fixed lines have dropped to just 190,791 by Q3 2013.

The September 2014 statistics reveals that 1.33 per cent active subscriber growth was when pitted against August 2014 statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

While the total number of connected of lines by the end of September 2014 stood at 184,148,420, the number of active lines was 134,507,329, an indication that 49,641,091 lines representing 26.95 per cent of the overall connected lines in the country were dormant for the period under review.

Football Star Unveils His Statue At Personal Museum

Portugal and Real Madrid football star, Cristiano Ronaldo has unveiled a 2.4-metre- tall statue of himself in his home town of Funchal on Madeira.

The World Player of the Year travelled to the Portuguese island from Morocco after helping the La Liga side claim the Club World Cup, their fourth trophy of 2014, with a 2-0 win over Argentine side San Lorenzo on Saturday evening.

The bronze effigy reportedly weighing in at around 800 kilograms, was sculpted to add to the extensive collection of memorabilia at the Portuguese forward’s personal museum.

The CR7 Museum already boasts golden boots, signed balls and various medals collected by the Portugal captain over the course of his career, while there are also many photographs from the player’s career.

The 29-year-old has enjoyed a 2014 to remember, having helped Madrid lift the European Champions League, European Super Cup and Spanish Copa del Rey, as well as the Club World Cup.

Jovago.com MD Emerges The Only European On Top 10 Most Important Africans In Tech List

Marek Zmyslowski, Managing Director of Jovago.com has emerged one of the Top 10 Most Important Africans in Tech in 2014. The list, which also featured President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Omobola Johnson, Nigeria’s Minister of Communication Technology, was put together to recognize  influential technology leaders as well as entrepreneurs who greet the technology scene with innovative concepts and inspirational ideas. 
 

In light of his dedication to improving the African Technology industry, Zmyslowski was recently nominated as one of 2014’s Most Important Africans in Tech. Zmyslowski, was the only non-African on the list which also had the likes of Omobola Johnson: Minister of Communication Technology – Nigeria; January Makamba: Deputy Minister of Communication, Science & Technology and Member of Parliament – Tanzania; Chinedu Echeruo: Tech Entrepreneur & Founder of Hopstop.com and Tripology.com – West Africa and President Paul Kagame – Rwanda. See more here.

According to Zmyslowski, “I feel so extremely honored to have been recognized amongst these African leaders as a Tech Influencer in Africa. Since moving to Nigeria to set up Jovago.com, I have come to appreciate and love this beautiful continent and I am proud – as a Polish man, to know that I am making a significant impact”.

Zmyslowski, who is of Polish descent, started his career in Europe. His first entrepreneurial steps led to failure. However, the 27-year old stayed persistent and it paid off - when he took the big chance. Fascinated by the rising economy in Africa, Zmyslowski left his home country to start a business in Lagos. In his recent TEDxIfe talk, Zmyslowski emphasizes the challenges and importance of a competitive market: “Back in school, my coach said that runners only break world records when they have opponents behind them, not when they finish alone.” He further enthuses about opportunities in the growing African e-commerce sector at the TEDxIfe event in Nigeria. In the spirit of “ideas worth spreading,” TEDxIfe revealed the defiant, challenging and unusual models being used by the speakers to encounter reality and make a difference. 

Intel Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bitflux Communications

L-R: Country Manager, Intel Nigeria, Olubunmi Ekundare; Director, Bitflux Communications Limited, Biodun Omoniyi; and Business Development Manager, Intel Nigeria, Stanley Muoneke; during the official Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony between Intel Nigeria and  Bitflux Communications Limited, on Monday the 22nd of December in Lagos.

Mantrac Hosts Power Solutions Seminar for Consultants

In a bid to continually engage and inform stakeholders about its unique offerings and superior product technology, Mantrac Nigeria Limited, the authorized Caterpillar dealer in Nigeria, recently organised a seminar for consultants involved in power projects across Nigeria - the biggest power solutions market in Africa. Tagged ‘Consultant Day’, the seminar took place at the InterContinental Hotel, Lagos.

(L-R) Mantrac - Large Projects Manager, Julian Carrasco, General Manager Power Systems Sales, Ibrahim El Bassiouny, Segment Manager (Nigeria), Investor and Large Projects, Mohamed Abou El Wafa and the Managing Director, Edmund Martin-Lawson at the Mantrac Consultant Day in Lagos

The seminar served as a platform for consultants to know more about Caterpillar’s total power solutions and gas product range in order to achieve optimal efficiency for their various power projects. It was also an opportunity for consultants to interact with Caterpillar and Mantrac’s product specialists.

 

The event which had in attendance senior Caterpillarand Mantrac personnel, featured presentations from CAT Territory Manager - Electric Power Projects, Swann Piguet and Julian Carrasco, Mantrac - Large ProjectsManager.

 

Speaking at the event, Managing Director Mantrac Nigeria, Edmund Martin-Lawson, stressed the importance of consultants in the power sector to Mantrac. “Consultants are very important to our business because they specify the power solutions that are required or can also specify which solutions a project must use. We try to educate them to understand the benefits of our products in the projects they handle. When it comes to fuel consumption, affordability, fuel efficiency, reliability and durability, Caterpillar is a clear leader.” he said.

Federal Government Introduces Pneumonia Vaccine in Nigeria

The Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) was launched in Lokoja Kogi State on December 22, at the launch were National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the arm of Federal Ministry of Health responsible for Routine Immunization in Nigeria, also at the event were representatives of The World Health Organization (WHO), The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), The Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), Clinton Health and Access Initiative, GlaxoSmithKline and other partners in the routine immunization landscape in Nigeria

The Kogi State Governor, His Excellency Capt. Idris Wada described the introduction of the new pneumococcal conjugate vaccine as an essential response to reducing pneumonia in Nigeria.

R-L: The Executive Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Architect Yomi Awoniyi; : Executive Director/CEO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ado Muhammad and Managing Director,GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Mr Lekan Asuni at the National Launch for Pneumonia Vaccine  introduction in Nigeria by the  National Primary Health Care Development Agency held in Lokoja Kogi State  on 22nd December,2014.

The Governor, who was represented by his deputy, Arch. Yomi Awoniyi, said the newly introduced vaccine is a laudable initiative that is capable of protecting young children against pneumonia and other diseases, and disclosed that it is another strategy aimed at reaching every child at risk of pneumonia. He further called on stakeholders who are in the fore front of disseminating information on immunization and other health sectors to influence the acceptance of the newly introduced vaccine.

Speaking at the launch, the Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Ado Muhammad said by the time the nation achieves full time national coverage of the vaccine, Nigeria will avert over 600,000 childhood deaths over 3 years. He assured that the Federal government will ensure the availability of the "lifesaving" vaccines for the Nigerian child towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG4).

Why PR agencies should adopt the ‘AMEC’ measurement standard - Philip Odiakose

In world over today, the importance of measurement can never be over emphasized. According to the world acclaimed scientist, Galilee Galileo, “Measure what is measurable, and make measurable what is not so.” In recent times, measuring PR effectiveness is being overhauled with the establishment of the Barcelona Principles and dispensing with outmoded (and possibly harmful) methods like AVE.

But will the industry, especially locally, make the shift? This is a multimillion dollar question that is still begging for answer. AMEC (the International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication) held its first ever Measurement Week from 15- 19 September,2014 to educate communications and public relations practitioners about the latest best-practices in measuring the effectiveness of their communications and reputation campaigns. AMEC is the global trade body and professional institute for agencies and practitioners who provide media evaluation and communication research.

Philip Odiakose

With more than 50 events on six continents, AMEC CEO, Barry Leggetter, hailed the success of this ground-breaking event, being the biggest ever media measurement educational exercise held globally. Since AMEC launched the Barcelona Principles of Measurement in 2010, the organization has continued to promote these best practices in media measurement.

The USC Annenberg’s Generally Accepted Practices (GAP) for Public Relations study found that spending on communication measurement increased from 4% to 9% as part of US PR budgets between 2009 and 2012. However, up to 80% of respondents claimed that their communications budget remained flat or was even decreasing. Clearly, public relations practitioners need to provide better measurement of ROI on their activities as budgets tighten.

Natures Gentle Touch launches Website

In a bid to enable women have easy access to hair care solutions, international hair care brand; Natures Gentle Touch, manufactured by Recare Limited has launched its official website. The website, www.naturesgentletouch.com will serve as a resource centre for hair care needs.

Speaking about the development, Chief Executive Officer, Recare Limited, Mr. Ramesh Hullur stated that the website reaffirms the brand’s commitment to solving hair and scalp problems. ‘’Our customers are in constant need of solutions to their hair and scalp problems and developing this website makes it easier for them to reach us from anywhere in the world. Customers living in Nigeria can also take advantage of our online store on the website. They can make retail purchase of our products from the website and have it delivered to them within three to seven days depending on their location, ’’said Hullur.

The website comes with a user friendly menu, which makes it easy for visitors to quickly find information that interests them. On signing in, visitors are prompted to a live chat, where they get to consult with a trichologist.

Marketing Manager, Recare Limited, Mr. Austen Umeania pointed that users are required to register their personal details on the website to take full advantage of its services. He said, ‘’Registered users on the website will receive notification e-mails on new posts and status of their transaction in the case of purchasing an item on the store.’’
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ICT Minister, ITU Deputy Secretary General Visit Etisalat Exhibition Stand At ITU World 2014

Dr. Omobola Johnson, Honourable Minister of Communication Technology at the recently concluded ITU world conference in Doha visited the Etisalat Stand shortly after Speaking during the official opening of the Nigerian pavilion which was sponsored by Nigeria's most reliable network, Etisalat, in partnership with other stakeholders.

The Minister highlighted similarities between the theme of the ITU conference “Future in Focus” and the Nigerian government.

She said, “The theme of ITU world 2014 resonates with the Nigerian government as we work to build a better and brighter future for our people. Nigeria has developed key policies and initiatives that have set the foundation for the widespread use of ICT by government and businesses. Conversations at the ITU Telecom World on key trends, developments, business models and applications will be invaluable in helping us in to build a better future in the ICT industry.”

Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko commended the Ministry and NCC for developing clear policies to guide the industry and promoting healthy competition among the operators.

PathCare promotes change in the medical industry, recognises Dr. Adadevoh, others

The PathCare Doctor’s Forum, recently organised a one-day symposium to mark PathCare Laboratories’ 10th Anniversary at Muson Center in Lagos. The Symposium, which was themed “Improving the Quality of Healthcare in Nigeria”, turned out to be one of the most attended and significant medical events of the year with well over 500 medical doctors in attendance.

The organisers emphasized that continuing education in the medical field plays very vital role in ensuring that medical doctors stay abreast of the advancements in the field, offering ample opportunities for networking, sharing of knowledge and acquisition of new insights by doctors.

“I’ve not seen such a large gathering of medical doctors and experts at an event such as this in recent times” said Dr. Jide Idris, Honourable Commissioner of Health Lagos State, while commending PathCare on the contributions they have made to improving healthcare in the Country over the years.

The Symposium addressed key healthcare challenges pertinent in Nigeria today and proffered practical solutions on subjects such as  “handling Cardiac Emergencies” which is a leading killer in Nigeria today and the process of “Ebola Surveillance” to sensitise doctors on their important role in avoiding another outbreak in Nigeria emphasizing that vigilance is even more important now, as EVD is still a potential threat to the Country.

Critical insights were shared on how to curb the perennial problem of mass exodus of patients seeking medical care abroad by Dr. Richard Ajayi of Therapia Health/The Bridge Clinic during his lecture titled “Scaling up private health systems in developing countries”. While Dr. Olumide Okunola of the International Finance Cooperation (IFC) presented vital information on how doctors can access finance to improve the standards of their practice in Nigeria. Dr. Ladi Awosika, CEO of Total Health Trust and Ivan Welch, the MD of Thebe Health, discussed the need for improvement in the current status and alternatives in the provision of Healthcare Insurance.

Red Star Express Chairman wins Pan-African Leadership Award

For exceptional leadership and committing resources to the development of Africa, the Chairman of Red Star Express Plc, Alhaji (Dr.) Mohammed Hassan Koguna, has been honoured with the prestigious Pan-African Leadership Award, by the African Students Union Parliament (ASUP).

The coveted award is bestowed on outstanding leaders who have distinguished themselves and impacted humanity with regards to innovation, profitability, Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability of their organizations. It also takes recognition of an individual that has been influential and inspirational; and has overseen strong financial performance for his organization through leadership and vision, taking his institution to the next heights in the industry.

Speaking on the Award, the Speaker of the Union, Culibaly Ahmed, from the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, Rwanda, stated that, the parliament is the umbrella body of all students across the 54 member states of the African Union. The students’ body is established to foster corporation and harmonious coexistence among member states’ students for the purpose of academic exchange programme, development and economic stability in the continent.

“The parliament has taken her time to scrutinise leaders, public office holders, business moguls and individuals who have committed their time and money to serve the common good in the Pan-African ideology. At this point that youths need to have exemplary leaders and role models, we are carefully selecting such leaders like your highly respected person and honouring them with the PAN-African Leadership Award.”

Nigerian Music Rocks On Twitter

The year 2014 has been a remarkable year in the Nigerian music and entertainment industry on twitter. This year, Twitter acted as a real-time soundtrack to the biggest moments Nigeria music and the world as a whole.

With lots of Bangs from Nigerian Music Industry, which trended on twitter, one can’t but emphasize on the uniqueness of some like #Shoki, #Dorobucci #Skelewu, #Etighi, #Limpopo just to mention but few.

#Dorobucci, (the eclectic step and amazing lyrics were produced by Mavin crew under the umbrella of a creative and dynamic producer DON JAZZY. It is widely accepted by Nigerians in diaspora. Upon its release, #Dorobucci received high buzz on twitter. The song has been downloaded more than 12million times thanks to its trending on twitter.

The hash-tag #(Dorobucci) became an house hold name to an extent that people acclimatized/ infuse there names with it. For example, #Doroshola, #Doroade, #Dorostephen and the likes.   

Stuttgart extends kit partnership with Puma

German football club VfB Stuttgart has signed an extension to its kit partnership with sportswear company Puma.

The new deal, described by the Bundesliga team as ‘long-term’, extends an association first formed in 2002, when the German brand began supplying kit and equipment to all of the club’s squads.

Stuttgart are currently languishing in 15th place in the Bundesliga table, just two points ahead of bottom club Werder Bremen.

Behold... The Blackberry Classic

Competition in the smartphone global market in 2014 has been quite interesting. Blackberry has continued to show that it is ready for the competition amongst other giant brands with its range of devices been released lately.

Blackberry has announced the BlackBerry Classic - a device that comes with a full QWERTY physical keyboard, physical navigation keys, and a nearly indistinguishable design from BlackBerry smartphones from years ago, such as the Bold.

BlackBerry says this phone will appeal to those looking for the traditional BlackBerry experience that made those devices so popular so many years ago.

In size, the Classic is quite smaller than the flagship Passport, which was launched this year. The Classic has a 720 x 720 pixel, 3.5-inch touchscreen, a physical QWERTY keyboard and trackpad. The phone is powered by a dual-core Qualcomm processor, with 2GB of RAM. There is an 8-megapixel camera on the back of the phone, with a 2-megapixel unit on the front.

Growing Impact of Technology on Hotel Booking in Africa

The impact of technology on African businesses cut across various sectors such as e-commerce, banking, and telecommunications to name a few. One sector that has been overlooked in the whole of Africa is tourism. Before now, hotel booking and reservation were mostly done at the reception of hotels. This improved to an extent when the use of GSM mobile phones and email penetrated the continent. At this point anyone looking to book a hotel would simply get their preferred hotel’s contact on the internet and then call or send an email.

The impact of this technology at this point offered some opportunities for hotels to increase sales and some new challenges also emerged. Lack of added services such as ease of payment (Online or Mobile Money) and hotel booking portals meant that hotels were often forced to cancel a good amount of these bookings when payments are not made early enough or another client willing to pay cash walk into the hotel. This is where online booking portals come in.

Over the years several indigenous hotel booking portals have emerged, most of which are limited to one or two countries which is as a result of lack of funding. Also this sub-sector has attracted huge foreign investment that has created jobs and enabled many more hotels in Africa to be covered. Now a business traveller in Africa can book accommodation in any hotel in multiple states and countries on just one hotel booking portal. This is the case for one Mr Francois whose review on Trustpilot says it all.

Jovago.com is an online hotel booking service headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, and founded by Africa Internet Group and has MTN as one of the investors. Jovago, Africa’s No.1 booking portal, facilitates the booking process for its users to provide them with the best hotel booking experience with fast, transparent and easy-to-use services. Jovago has over 10,000 local hotel listings across Africa and over 200,000 hotels around the world.

Genevieve Nnaji looks stunning in new Fashion TVC for Jumia

The arrival of Genevieve Nnaji as a true fashion icon did not just start today. The Award winning Nollywood actress has been known for not only her amazing acting talent that has won her numerous awards, but for also being a woman of simplicity and great style.

Recently, with the launch of her clothing line St Genevieve, she has given women an opportunity to be simple and chic, infusing her personal style into creating fabulous dresses for Women.

The St Genevieve clothing line, available exclusively on online retailer Jumia.com.ng, offers contemporary office wears and sexy dresses you can wear to special occasions. They come in a wide range of colours, patterns, sizes and styles.

In this video to showcase the Fashion line, Genevieve takes us through a Journey of style evolution.

In her own words “This is a collection of my personal style for ladies that want to look confident and chic. Think fashion, think St Genevieve, and you can get it exclusively on Jumia”’

REVEALED: Top Google Searches in Africa 2014

Google has released a list of the Top 10 Global Trending Searches throughout 2014. Each year, Google releases a list of the topics that individuals have searched for the most over the past 12 months. And here are the people Nigerians searched this year. 

According to Google, these are the top 10 Global Trending Searches for 2014 and it’s heartbreaking that the death of comic genius Robin Williams may have gotten the highest score, as more people searched the late comedian’s name on Google than anything else this year but I’ll be focusing more on the top searches in Africa which include: Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Kenya.

Global Trending Searches:
1. Robin Williams
2. World Cup
3. Ebola
4. Malaysia Airlines
5. ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
6. Flappy Bird
7. Conchita Wurst
8. ISIS
9. Frozen
10. Sochi Olympics

Most searched for in Nigeria
1. Linda Ikeji
2. Whatsapp
3. Nigerian Newspapers
4. Arsenal News
5. News
6. Livesscores
7. Chelsea News
8. goal
9. Sahara Reporters
10. Google Translate

Musical Artists Explode On Twitter

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the influx and use of Information Communication Technology(ICT) has been on the increase likewise the new media. The use of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn, 2go, Eskimi, has brought more advantage than disadvantage to the world through its ability to provide information in many perspectives, and helping to link up friends, business partners, and the likes. Social media is a powerful tool that possesses both advantages and disadvantages -- Twitter is no exception.

Twitter, specifically, disseminates information through 140 characters backed by an hastag that leads the user to the concerned page for more information. The 21st century's rapid information production rate can make it difficult for one to keep up with the times. Twitter provides quick and brief notes on current trends, which makes it easier to stay updated on the latest and greatest.

Over time, it’s been observed that Twitter users love to visit Twitter in order to stalk celebrities on Twitter. On Twitter, users have a kind of close-and-personal access to celebrities. It gives users free admission to the private lives of his or her favorite stars. It allows them to view celebrities as they truly are (as actual human beings).  Twitter is the best social network for keeping in touch with one’s fans, It’s built on conversation and personal interaction, it’s an easy platform for self-promotion. In order to get the most out of Twitter, Celebrities have an organised posting strategy that complements their other profiles, By becoming part of a wider community based on your fanbase, genre or local area, and By discreetly pointing fans back to your latest release, download or tour details.

As a result of all these, fans keep following their favourite stars on Twitter, while Celebrities on their part, clamor for more fans, because it offers them the opportunity to engage directly with fans. It's seen as being more open than Facebook or any other social platform. Artists can follow any band they're into and connect with them easily. It also makes that artist-to-fan communication much easier than it ever was before, and different artists utilize it in different ways.

British Airways Provide insider’s guide to London shopping

As one of the world’s commercial hubs it’s not that surprising that London is also one of its great shopping capitals and few visitors leave without an indulgent memento or two, or maybe a lot more.

What can be daunting is where to shop for what, given the sheer variety of retail real estate from Boxpark, the first pop-up mall, to the rich tailoring tradition of Saville Row.

Londoner and British Airways says that any Nigerians wanting to cash in on the New Year sales should definitely include Oxford Street on their itinerary. With more than 300 shops and designer outlets it’s sure to offer a bargain or two.

Kola Olayinka, British Airways Regional Commercial Manager West Africa, top tip is not to overlook the side streets as these are often home to smaller shops stocking unexpected treasures.

Regent Street offers some well –known shops such as Hamleys and as well as good mid-priced fashion shopping for any Nigerians who is willing to shop for fashion during the yuletide period. The rejuvenated Covent Garden is a must-see for hip fashionistas. Technogeeks can lose themselves in the massive Apple store, while their trendy partners browse handmade jewellery.

Up to 70% Off As Kaymu Launches Christmas Discount Week

As Christmas draws near, Nigeria’s leading online marketplace Kaymu.com.ng is offering up to 70% cash savings on some selected products for 7 days.

The great Kaymu deal which started on the 15^th and will end on the 22^nd of December,2014 will feature only fashion products below #4500 for both his and hers.

This follows the launch of kaymu Christmas Store which was a huge success and attracted free shippingfrom November till December 15^th.

The Discount week was introduced to ensure online shoppers get more value for their money this festive season. during the festive season.

Christmas only comes around once a year, let Kaymu help you make the most of the occasion! Check out the extensive range of discounted products here

Coca-Cola extends Rugby World Cup relationship

Soft drinks company Coca-Cola has renewed a deal to sponsor the Rugby World Cup for the 2015 edition of the rugby union national team tournament in England.

Under the deal, the Coca-Cola Company will make its water (glacéau smartwater) and Powerade sports drink brand available to hydrate the world’s top 20 teams as they compete to win the coveted Webb Ellis Cup.

With exclusive soft drink pourage rights at all Rugby World Cup 2015 venues and fanzones, the world-renowned brand will also be keeping fans hydrated as they cheer on their favourite teams.

The partnership was announced at an event in London as Coca-Cola unveiled former Ireland and British and Irish Lions star Brian O’Driscoll as the brand’s ambassador for Rugby World Cup 2015, who participated in a surprise training session for young players. Coca-Cola has been an ever-present at Rugby World Cups since South Africa’s historic victory on home soil in front of Nelson Mandela in 1995 and the 2015 deal underscores the continued strength and appeal of the Rugby World Cup brand in the global sponsorship marketplace.

UBA Ghana Introduces New Electronic Banking Products To Customers

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Ghana has presented to the public a first of a kind cardless ATM withdrawal service that allows a third party to withdraw cash on its ATM without a card.

The breakthrough innovation in the banking sector was part of three ATM Value Added Services which the bank outdoored to the public, on Tuesday at its Head Office in Accra.
Apart from the cardless ATM withdrawal, the value added services allow customers of the Bank to pay their bills (utility), DSTV subscription fees and also purchase mobile recharge credit on their phone or for third parties.

The Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa, Ghana, Mr Oliver Alawuba revealed that the addition of the Value Added ATM services is a continuation of the bank’s trail blazing initiatives in the Ghanaian banking industry.

“These newly added services which are powered on the e-Transact platform is aimed at creating a branchless banking which we perceive as the future of banking in Ghana. We see branchless banking as a future of banking in Ghana which therefore means that we must empower customers by providing them several options to access financial services” He added.

Rome's 2024 Olympic bid confirmed

The Italian government confirmed that Rome will bid for hosting the 2024 Olympics.

The Italian capital, which last held the summer Games in 1960, shelved plans to bid for the 2020 event two years ago due to concerns over costs in crisis-hit Italy.

“We are confident that we can make it,” explained Prime Minister Matteo Renzi yesterday, December 15, announcing the bid during an event at the Italian National Olympic Committee.

“We are running to win, not just to take part #italy2024,” Renzi later tweeted. Rome is now the first candidate city to throw its hat in the ring for the 2024 Summer Games. Once again Italy is trying to get the Olympics; two years ago, former PM Mario Monti stopped Rome's bid for the 2020 Olympics by refusing to sign a necessary guarantee letter.

The 2020 Olympics were eventually awarded to Tokyo.

Woolworths opens second store in Ghana

Woolworths has opened a new store in Accra's upmarket West Hills Mall, the retailer's second store in Ghana.

The West Hills Mall store stocks a comprehensive range of men's, women's and children's clothing as well as beauty, footwear and accessories.

"We are delighted to be able to meet our customers' growing expectations and needs by opening a new store in a great location and we are optimistic about our future in Ghana," said Paula Disberry, Woolworths Group Director, Retail Operations.

"Ghana remains a compelling growth opportunity for Woolworths. The economy has shown successive year-on-year economic growth, coupled with rising household incomes, increasing urbanisation and a significant emerging middle class."

Woolworths currently has 63 stores in 11 African countries outside of South Africa including Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Mozambique and Mauritius.

NYSC extols Promasidor as Platoon 1 clinches trophy for Volleyball contest

(L-R) Yagazie Augustine, Head of Games and Sports, NYSC Orientation Camp, Lagos; Mrs. Kehinde Soniyi, most valuable player in the Volleyball competition held for female Corps members in the state; and Mr. Ubi Torsam-Ubi, Brand Manager-Coffee/Loya, Promasidor Nigeria Limited; at the finals of the contest held on Friday

National Youth Service Corps, Lagos Secretariat has commended Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk, for consistently sponsoring the female volleyball competition among the youth corps members in the state.

The commendation was given as Platoon 1 won the gold medal in the tournament organised for the ‘Batch D’ of the corps members deployed to the Lagos Orientation Camp located at the Iyana-Ipaja area of the state.

Mrs Bose Akinrele, the Camp Director, who gave the commendation, described Promasidor as a pace setter that every other responsible corporate entity should emulate in terms of giving back to the society where businesses operate from.

She said the company has consistently created excitement for the Corps Members lodged at the Orientation Camp and that it has continued to make their stay there enjoyable. Apart from this, Mrs Akinrele said the tournament has helped to bring the sporting skills of the corps members to the fore.

Meanwhile, the Head of Platoon 1, Mrs. Kehinde Soniyi, who coincidentally emerged the most valuable player in the tournament, applauded the team spirit exhibited by the platoon 1 players throughout the various stages of the competition.
 

Managing Director of Quantum Global Research Lab appointed a member of Green Growth Knowledge Platform’s Advisory Committee

Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP) Steering Committee, the Global Green Growth Institute, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United Nations Environment Program, and the World Bank, appoints Prof. Kevin Urama, Managing Director of QGRL a member of GGKP's Advisory Committee.

Nigerian born, Professor Kevin Urama, the distinguished academic and economist will shortly take a seat on the steering committee of the Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP). Recently appointed the Inaugural Managing Director of the groundbreaking Quantum Global Research Lab (QGRL) (http://www.quantumglobal.ch), Professor Urama gained a First Class Honors degree and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a Master of Philosophy in Land Economy with a Distinction and a Ph.D., with a prize for the most outstanding thesis in economics and related subjects, from St. Edmund’s College of the UK’s University of Cambridge. 

He was named the Technology Executive of the Year by the Africa Technology Awards in 2012 and is an extraordinary and adjunct Professor at the School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University, South Africa and Sir Walter Murdoch School of Public Policy, the University of Murdoch, Western Australia, respectively.  He is also a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and member of several intergovernmental and international scientific panels.

Founded by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Bank, the GGKP has a global partnership of over 30 international organizations, research institutes and think tanks. The GGKP helps to identify major knowledge gaps in green growth theory and practice and address those gaps by promoting collaboration and coordinated research; and using world-class knowledge management and communications tools to give practitioners and policymakers the analysis, guidance, tools and data necessary to support a green economy transition. Read more: http://www.greengrowthknowledge.org/about/advisory-committee.

Zambian FA extends partnership with MTN

MTN logo

The Football Association of Zambia (Faz) has extended its partnership with MTN with the renewal of the sponsorship deal for the next three years.

The development was revealed last Friday in Lusaka during a joint FAZ-MTN press briefing.

The contract reportedly worth U$3million (K19,200,000.00) for the first two years and is subject to revision in the third year will see MTN Zambia continue with the role of main sponsor of the Senior National Soccer Team and the FAZ Super League.

Twitter Moves The Train With 2014 Calabar Carnival

The On going 32 days of non-stop entertainment, anchored by Africa's biggest street party, Calabar Carnival comes alive on twitter.  This year biggest and longest multi-dimensional, multi-faceted tourism leisure and entertainment programme in West Africa will be through the eyes of twitter.

This Cross River State Festive Season Carnival is undisputedly the most colorful in Africa where close to a million participants from all over the world exhibit their talents and share the lovely moments on twitter.  The Carnival Calabar takes place on the 26th and 27th December each year and is the highlight of the 32-day Calabar Festival which runs from 30th November to 1st January

The 2014 event is  Hash-tagged “#Calabarfestival2014 #CelebrationTime #1stDryRun.

According to the Chairman, this year’s Calabar Festival, promises to be best in terms of packaging, organization and security. He proceeded that “This year’s festival promises to be another 32 days of non-stop entertainment, anchored by Africa's biggest street party, Carnival Calabar”. “Adequate security has been put in place to ensure a hitch-free celebration and we guarantee that the 'green, clean & serene' ambience of the city will be maintained”.

Calabar Carnival

 The First choice Carnival in Nigeria and the biggest self-sustaining socio-cultural event in Africa came alive at the Streets of Calabar on November 30th, 2014, as the annual tree lighting ceremony of #CalabarFestival2014 was declared open with theme #CelebrationTime by deputy governor Efio Cobham @EfiokCobham  on twitter.It is Africa world-class street party compared to likes of Notting Hill carnival and Rio De Janeiro Carnival in Brazil .

This Christmas: A survival guide to Taxi Safety in Lagos and Abuja

It’s that season again, where all the Nigerian’s living in different areas of the world return home to celebrate the festive season with their loved ones. Most of them are usually referred to as the ‘I Just Got Back’ (Hashtag #IJGB) mostly because those four words are usually the next set of words out of their mouths after a brief introduction (If you’re just meeting them) or a short conversation.

Asides from this being the season where Nigerians in diaspora return, Nigeria also gets visited by tourists, looking to explore the city and have a nice vacation. One of the major aspects of everyone’s itinerary is movement, having heard so much about the country, the cool spots, the landmarks, the new spots they all itch to explore at touchdown. A few get a designated driver and car, while others go for the next best option – Taxi! 

In a season where a lot of people harbour the fear of safety and worry about how to seamlessly explore the city in peace and comfort, Easy Taxi advises on a few guides to follow to ensure a safe and enjoyable taxi experience this season.

Airport Pick-Up: The first thing you’ll want to do after a long flight and when you finally get out of the airport after immigration is settle into a comfortable car. If you do not have any family or friend coming to pick you up from the airport, ensure you have contacted a licensed taxi company and have them send a reliable driver to chauffeur you out of the airport to your hotel or choice location.

Nigerian, Consolidated Breweries’ Shareholders Approve Merger

The shareholders of Nigerian Breweries Plc and Consolidated Breweries Plc have approved the proposal of the two companies to merge the two firms.

The shareholders’ approvals were obtained at two separate Court ordered meetings held separately  in Lagos recently.

Managing Director/CEO of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Nico Vervelde and Managing Director of Consolidated Breweries Plc, Mr. Boudewijn Haarsma, in a joint statement, thanked all shareholders for their active support for the proposal by their overwhelming vote of approval.

The statement also confirmed that the name of the enlarged company arising from the merger will be Nigerian Breweries Plc. Following this shareholder endorsement, the companies will proceed to the final stage of the regulatory process with the aim of perfecting the scheme by the end of 2014.

The merger of Nigerian Breweries Plc and Consolidated Breweries Plc is expected to create value for all key stakeholders, drive benefits from increased economies of scale and enhance operating and administrative efficiencies.

Etisalat appoints new CEO for Sudan

Etisalat Group has announced the appointment of Sulaiman Salim Al Kaabi as acting CEO of Canar, an Etisalat subsidiary in Sudan.

Etisalat said Al-Kaabi brings to the role 16 years of professional experience within Etisalat Group. After graduating from Etisalat College of Engineering in 1998 where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Telecommunications, he joined the company, he has gotten extensive international experience serving in Etisalat Group’s operating companies in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

His most recent appointment was as the Chief Operating Officer of the company’s operations in Cote d’Ivoire.

UNILAG’s representative emerges overall winner in 2014 Onga campus cooking contest

A 22-year old law student of University of Lagos, Miss Temitope Oyedija; has emerged the overall winner in this year’s Onga National Campus Cooking Competition thereby winning the star prize of 2014 KIA Rio full option.

With the Okro Soup and Garri she prepared at the Grand Finale of the competition held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the university, Oyedija dazzled other regional winners who represented 13 other universities in the country.

Kachi Onubogu, Executive Director, Commercial, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, sponsors of the competition; who made the announcement said cooking is a universal art done in every part of the world. Based on this, he said Promasidor’s target is to make the competition premium amongst the youth in Nigeria.

Onubogu stated that as a national competition, the cooking contest launched in August 2014 was activated in 14 campuses spread across the country such that many willing students could gain access to participate.

Overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of all participants in the competition, the Commercial Director advised all the finalists to see themselves as winners. His words: “We are proud to have all of you here today. See yourself as a winner whether or not you clinch the star prize. As long as you are one of the 14 contestants here today, you are a winner. You will go home with a prize.”

Kering explored options to sell sportswear maker Puma

As efforts to revive the brand drag into a fifth, fashion holding company Kering, the owner of Puma, has explored a possible sale of the sportswear company, according to the Bloomberg news agency.

Kering owns about 86 percent of Puma, having acquired control of the sporting-goods maker in 2007.

The report, citing people familiar with the matter, said that Puma contacted potential buyers earlier this year to gauge interest. Sovereign wealth funds from the Middle East and Asian investors were among those approached.

Puma, which has a market valuation of about €2.5bn ($3.1bn), became a strategic investor in German Bundesliga football club Borussia Dortmund earlier this year. In July, Lars Radoor Soerensen, a former executive at rival Adidas and fashion companies Bestseller and Esprit, was appointed as Puma’s new chief operating officer, replacing Andy Koehler, who stepped down for personal reasons just one year after entering the role.

Coca-Cola, Partners Friends Africa to Celebrate World Aids Day in Nigeria

In commemoration of World AIDS Day 2014, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited in partnership with Friends Africa (Friends of the Global Fund Africa), a pan-African NGO, organised a week long HIV/AIDS outreach in Lagos, enabling about 4,000 persons to take the HIV test.

The programme, implemented in collaboration with Access Bank, First City Monument Bank, Lagos State Agency for the Control of AIDS (LASACA), Society for Family Health (SFH), Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, among other partners, was aimed at creating more awareness about HIV/AIDS; promoting acceptance and inclusion rather than stigmatisation and discrimination of people living with the virus; providing opportunity for Lagosians to access free HIV counselling and testing (HCT).

Nearly 4,000 persons, mostly women and youth, took the test to ascertain their HIV status at the mobile HCT centres activated in four locations: Campos Square, Sangrose Market and Oluwole Market on Lagos Island and at the University of Lagos campus in Akoka, from December 1 to 6, 2014. About 70% of those tested did so for the first time. A few persons who tested positive for the virus were counselled and referred to the Lagos General Hospital for enrolment on follow up counselling and treatment programme.

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Another highpoint was the celebrity-studded novelty match played at the Campos Square sports centre on Saturday December 6. The match tagged ‘Superstars Play for Life’ was sponsored by Coca-Cola and featured 16 former national and international football stars including Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha, Emmanuel Babayaro, Emmanuel Okocha, Victor Agali, Dan Amokachi, Teslim Fatusi and Celestine Babayaro trading tackles with a team of 12 Nollywood, music and entertainment celebrities, among them Sound Sultan, Hafiz “Saka” Oyetoro, John Njamah, Emmanuel Mordi and DJ Steel. The celebrity team was complemented by 5 officials of Coca-Cola Nigeria and suffered a 2-6 defeat.