History-making, Niche Radio Station, WFM 91.7 Hits the Airwaves

At last, the wait is over as the first radio station for woman and the family in Nigeria and by extension, Africa commenced its test transmissions at exactly 00:00 GMT on Thursday, October 29, 2015 broadcasting on 91.7 frequency modulation channel – FM.

St. Ives Communications (owners of the radio outfit) secured operating licence to float the station from the National Broadcasting Commission – NBC and broadcast to Ogun State with extended coverage to parts of Lagos State and environs.

Strategically situated in Arepo community Ogun State with close proximity to Lagos State, WFM 91.7 hits Nigerian homes with clean clear signals as it commences test transmission on its newly installed state-of-the-art broadcast equipment, which according to the installation engineer, Dean Gay (a US citizen), “is the very latest in broadcast technology today.”

According to Gay who lives and works in Abuja, Nigeria, “from the microphone to transmitters, to consoles, servers, even mast, everything you have here are the very latest in radio broadcast technology and they are all of very high quality. They are the most sought-after equipment in the industry today.”

Emirates gets Benfica fans on their feet

Emirates got Benfica fans cheering this week with a tongue in cheek activation at Estádio da Luz in Portugal that gave Benfica supporters a few pointers on how to share their passion for the club, the Emirates way.

Moments before the huge derby match against rivals Sporting Lisbon, eight Emirates Cabin Crew made their way to the centre circle of the pitch and proceeded to give a very special Benfica supporter demonstration. Taking their cues from the traditional airline safety demonstration, the eight crew stood facing Lisbon football fans and gave an impassioned, witty and entertaining demonstration on how to support the club, including the placement of a scarf over the shoulders in a sign of “benfiquism”.

Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Marketing and Brand said this of the activity; “This activation is a perfect example of the way we like to connect with our customers through sponsorship. It was light-hearted, fun and combined our passion for football with Benfica supporters’ passion for their club. We wanted to take the opportunity to do something that the fans in the stadium would remember and we think this worked. We may even try an adaption of this on one of our flights and see how the passengers react.”

The activation in the stadium complemented the #HelloLisbon competition hosted on Emirates’ social media channels which invited fans, at the match and watching at home, to creatively capture how they support Benfica and win two Economy Class flights from Lisbon to anywhere on the Emirates route network.

To watch the ‘demonstration’ in full visit: https://youtu.be/jAF2hZxdFRE

adidas Outdoor invites you to #claimfreedom

adidas is on the search for its next Adidas Outdoor athlete, and its encouraging those with an interest in sports and the outdoors to apply for the 'position'.

#claimfreedom kicks off with a call to action made by some of the best adidas outdoor athletes such as Kevin Jorgeson, Sasha Di Giulian, Sam Sutton and Pete Henke, inviting the outdoor community to join, share and realise projects with and through adidas Outdoor.

"With the #claimfreedom activation we want to encourage and invite outdoor enthusiasts to live without limits", says Rolf Reinschmidt, General Manager adidas Outdoor. "Whether it is about climbing, skiing, running, biking or flying – the world is an open playground and we are looking forward to helping the most courageous, creative and unexpected projects turn into reality".

Everyone hungry to create is invited to submit a project through a dedicated landing page on www.adidas.com/claimfreedom by December 15 2015.

Projects will be brought to life between March and May 2016. Each idea will be documented, celebrated and shared globally on adidas Outdoor social media channels.

Marek Zmyslowski Takes A Bow As Jovago Nigeria MD

Marek Zmyslowski has stepped down as the Managing Director of online hotels booking platform Jovago Nigeria. He has been replaced with Kushal Dutta who served as Head of Revenue Management before his appointment received the mantle of leadership from Zmyslowski.

Speaking at a handover ceremony held yesterday at The FourPoints Hotel, Lagos, Paul Midy, Chief Executive Officer of Jovago said, “Kushal has made countless contributions to Jovago’s success. We are positive that he is the kind of leader we need at Jovago right now. In his new role as Managing Director, Kushal will continue to serve the company with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration.”

Dutta who will build on the company’s local successes and further accelerate the corporate expansion of the organisation while speaking to newsmen said, “I am delighted to lead Jovago Nigeria’s operations. As a team, we are pleased to carry on the vision and continue to increase our impact as Africa’s largest hotel booking platform.

“I clearly realize the scale of the assignment ahead and we are dedicated to expanding our portfolio within Nigeria, and around the world,” says the MD who has gained deep experience working for a wide variety of international businesses across the Africa region.

During Kushal’s tenure, Jovago has raised its annual profit and revenue forecasts  by 25 percent each month on the back of positive results. Staff strength has grown to a total number of 150 in Nigeria and 500 employees across Africa. The company has also accelerated the integration of indigenous assets with the recent launch its local language service to over 160 million people nationwide.

Jordan Brand Introduces the Spike Forty

Jordan Brand yesterday launched the Spike Forty, the third silhouette in the Spike Lee Franchise. Following the Jordan Spizike and Jordan Son of Mars, the Spike Forty takes cues from Jordan Brand's iconic shoe lineage and Lee’s own authentic bond with basketball — signified by a contract signed between the acclaimed filmmaker and his hometown team in 1990.

Jordan designers leveraged Tinker Hatfield’s sketch vault and iconic aspects of the Air Jordan V, the game shoe unveiled in 1990, in creating the Spike Forty. The shoe features a clear outsole, reflective material and lace toggle — all reminiscent of the Air Jordan V — as well as additional details on the lace tips and tongue. The modern, crafted textile and molded TPU based upper represent Jordan DNA, while a phylon midsole with heel unit zoom air adds comfort.

The Spike Forty is available at select retail stores and Jordan.com for a suggested retail price of $180. Starting December 1, the Spike Forty will be available to customize on NikeID.

Top 4 Mobile App development companies in Nigeria

The persistent rise in the use of smartphones and tablets within the country has led to a mobile revolution in Nigeria. Essentially, people - business and individuals - now tend to seek mobile solutions and thus, enhancing the growth of the mobile app development industry.

While there is already a long list of both old and budding mobile app development companies as well as freelancers, quality and excellence has marked out a few dedicated mobile app developers and put them on the top Jovago.com’s list of Mobile App companies in Nigeria. read on to discover these companies.

Pixie Technologies  
Pixie technology is a top-notch mobile app development company based in Lagos, Nigeria, that specializes in user experience design and mobility, creating value-added mobile apps on various platforms for the specific needs of the user.

Their core specialties are in game application development, custom mobile application developments, mobile website development, widget development, mobile interface design, mobile apps with GPS, Google map and GPRS technologies, scalable, robust, interactive and user-friendly design and mobile apps for social media, business and finance.

Cittrex
Cittrex is a nationally recognized mobile app development company. Since its incorporation, the IT company with proven skills and practice in web technologies has conscientiously positioned itself  as a leading developer of mobile applications, with specialization in platforms including iPads and iPhones (iOS) using Objective C, Andriod Phones (OS2.x) using J2ME, Blackberry (RIM) using J2ME and Windows Phones (Win 7) using C# and Objective C.

Nokia Networks, China Mobile sign $1b agreement covering 2015 contracts

Nokia Networks and China Mobile have announced a comprehensive framework agreement for mobile communications equipment and services valued at more than one billion USD (930 million euros).

The agreement was signed on October 29 by Li Huidi, Executive Vice President at China Mobile, and Hans-Juergen Bill, Executive Vice President at Nokia and also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nokia Networks GmbH & Co KG in Germany, in the presence of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Under the agreement, Nokia Networks provides its TD-LTE-Advanced technology and 2G/3G/4G core network solutions including Voice over LTE (VoLTE). Software and professional services, including network planning, implementation and care, will support China Mobile's 4G network rollout during 2015 and beyond. The operator plans to deploy one million TD-LTE base stations by the end of the year to build the world's largest TD-LTE network.

Nokia's network infrastructure capabilities and technical expertise will also help China Mobile drive the evolution of China's Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem by offering connectivity for healthcare, connected cars and other IoT applications. In addition, Nokia Networks and China Mobile Research Institute (CMRI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on their strategic cooperation in the evolution and development of 5G.

WISCAR Set To Graduate And Induct Mentees At Seventh Anniversary Celebration

The former FIRS executive  chairperson; Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okaru will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Women In successful Careers (WISCAR) annual graduation and induction ceremony scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 21st, 2015 at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos by 10am.

The seventh edition of the event will mark the graduation of WISCAR’s sixth stream of successful Mentees, and the induction of the seventh stream. This year’s event themed “Women Leading Change” is coming on the heels of President Buhari’s leadership and his change campaign.

The panelists for the event have been carefully selected amongst women leading change in their various fields of endeavor consisting of: Prof Remi Sonaiya; First female presidential candidate, Lynda Saint – Nwafor; Chief Technical Officer MTN Nigeria- Managing the largest network in Africa and Yewande Sadiku; Executive Director – Stanbic IBTC.

Speaking on the upcoming event; Mrs. Amina Oyagbola founder of WISCAR and also Human Resources Executive of MTN said “We chose the theme Women Leading Change for this year’s event to highlight the importance of the contribution of women to the growth and development of the nation and ensure equal opportunity and empowerment of women for real development to occur in our country.”

 “We look forward to learning from their experiences and insights and the event promises to be an inspiring afternoon of great learning, networking and a celebration of excellence and achievement.” She added.

A key highlight of the event is the presentation of the distinguished WISCAR award to the deserving WISCAR which has been awarded in the past to Aloma Mukhtar; former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Ayo Obe; Human Right Activist and Oby Ezekwesili; former Vice President World Bank and Minister of Education and Solid Mineral.

Emirates partners with Oxford University to launch data science lab

Emirates has launched a data science lab in a five year partnership with Oxford University.

Employing a team of world-class scientists, engineers, social scientists and domain experts from Emirates and Oxford University, the Oxford-Emirates Data Science Lab will examine new ways of forecasting demand and optimizing seat inventory across the airline’s global network driving immediate, tangible benefits to the Emirates Group.  Longer term, the lab’s focus will be to redefine the customer experience through improved personalisation with individual customers.

From left to right, …Gary Chapman, President Group Services and dnata, Donal Bradley, Head of Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division (MPLS) Oxford, Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline and William James, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Planning and Resource Allocation, Oxford. 

Located at the Oxford Centre for Information (OCI) at the University, the Oxford-Emirates Data Science Lab will draw on data science, machine learning, mathematics and big data to help place data at the heart of the organisation and streamline business processes. Part of the recently-launched Emirates Group Enterprise-Wide Transformation strategy, the Lab will support the whole Group, including Emirates airline, Emirates SkyCargo and dnata, the air services provider.

Speaking from the lab’s official launch at Oxford University, Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates, said: “In the age of the digital economy, we have witnessed first-hand how technology-based innovation can transform brands and disrupt entire industries by placing the customer at the heart of the business.”

“The Oxford-Emirates Data Science Lab will provide us with a best-in-class dedicated team who can test and develop new business solutions using big data and real-time analytics, helping to the transform the Group into a customer-centric, travel experience company.

AIG MDs Highlight Trust As E-Commerce’s Greatest Challenge In Nigeria

The Managing Directors of Kaymu, Hellofood, Carmudi, Lamudi and Easy Taxi – members of Africa Internet Group (AIG) have identified trust as the greatest challenge faced by e-commerce in Nigeria.

This was stated at the Fireside Chat held by iDea Nigeria, a Lagos-based incubator and accelerator for techpreneurs in Nigeria on Friday October 23rd 2015.

Obi Ejimofo, Managing Director of real-estate marketplace Lamudi.com.ng, opined that the only way to build trust is through consistency. The challenge is to continue to innovate.  "At Lamudi we are constantly evaluating ourselves to improve the quality of our agents, our response time, customer feedback and so on. As a result we came up with the Dial4Home, a hotline which enables people speak directly to an operator who will guide them through their property search and more recently the mortgage calculator which calculates the mortgage cost on each property you buy on Lamudi.”

L-R: Guillame Leblond MD Hellofood, Obi Ejimiofo MD Lamudi, Sefik Bagdadioglu MD Kaymu, Adaora Asala MD Easyatxi and Amy Muoneke, MD Carmudi  at the Fireside Chat held by iDea Nigeria

According to Kaymu Md, Sefik, the issue of trust is prevalent everywhere in the world and companies need to come up with ways to earn the confidence and loyalty of their stakeholders. At Kaymu we are passionate about building and maintaining trust within our online community as such we provide cash on delivery as well as online payment solutions through Kaymu Safepay, which serves as an escrow service.

"We are constantly seeking ways to expand Kaymu in the e-commerce eco-system while impacting on peoples lives daily. One of the ways is by removing the distinction between online and offline. We have launched the Kaymu Village within communities, a physical location which accelerates interaction between buyers and sellers. We want to build inspiring stories, like that of Chioma Agha, one of the sellers on our platform who was selected to meet with Barack Obama and so we have created the Entrepreneurs Club which provides a platform for sellers and entrepreneurs to exchange ideas", Bagdadioglu added.

Africa the ‘new China’ when it comes to appetite for retail

The African continent is experiencing rapid retail expansion, and is being compared to China in 1987 when it was predicated to be the next big thing.

A.T. Kearney’s 2015 Global Retail Development Index has listed Sub-Saharan Africa as the ‘big story’ for 2040, similar to that of China 30 years ago, where today, retailers are expanding four to five times faster than retailers in the United States and Europe.

Recognizing this potential, DHL is playing a key role in growing retail on the continent via its current footprint of 5 800 retail outlets across Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), not by building its own bricks and mortar branches but by partnering with local business owners who act as DHL resellers. Steve Burd, Acting Vice President of Sales for DHL SSA, says, “Thousands of vendors – such as electronics stores, travel agents and stationery stores – now offer DHL Express services, alongside their existing product offerings. These small businesses benefit from commission on all DHL sales, an increase in foot traffic as well as being associated with a global brand. We believe that the rising middle class, coupled with market and infrastructure development will continue to drive demand in the retail space in the years to come.”

He points to the 2015 A.T. Kearney 2015 Global Retail Development Index™ which listed three Sub-Saharan Africa countries – Botswana, Nigeria and Angola – in the top 30 developing countries for retail investment globally. “Zambia, Namibia and Ghana were outlined as fast emerging and likely to be included on the list in the coming years.”

When looking at the local 2015 African Retail Development Index™, Burd says that it is refreshing to see that smaller markets are emerging and rivaling Nigeria and South Africa, historically considered the continent’s powerhouses. Gabon, Botswana and Angola were listed as the top three countries respectively in the African index, followed by Nigeria, Tanzania and South Africa.

MultiChoice, PEP Stores Establish Retail Partnership In Nigeria

In an effort to increase customer touch-points across the country, MultiChoice Nigeria, the nation’s leading video entertainment company has partnered with PEP stores.

Speaking about the official announcement of the partnership in Lagos, Caroline Oghuma, Public Relations Manager, DStv, explained that the essence of the partnership is to enable more Nigerians have access to DStv and GOtv products in their neighborhood.

According to her, potential customers can now get these decoders at the official rate in the PEP stores in their neighborhoods. “We are aware that PEP stores are associated with product affordability, so the partnership will enable anyone who walks into a PEP store pick up both DStv and GOtv decoders” she remarked.

L-R: Caroline Oghuma, Public Relations Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria; Kofo Awonuga, Financial Manager, PEP and Aderoju Ope-Ajayi, Channel Relationship Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria during the Media Briefing for MultiChoice/PEP Partnership announcement held at PEP office Allen, Ikeja Tueday, 27 of October, 2015.

Addressing the media at the announcement of the partnership, Kofo Awonuga, Financial Manager for PEP stores Nigeria, said with 32 branches of the stores located nationwide, PEP customers who want to pick up DStv and GOtv decoders can get them in all PEP outlets stores across the country.

Ms. Awonuga, stated that the 32 PEP stores across the country provide a comfortable space for people on a limited budget to shop with dignity and pride.  PEP seeks to continually delight its remarkable customers with relevant assortment and best prices.

While explaining that there are no provisions for after-sales services at PEP outlets at this initial stage of the partnership, Oghuma noted that officials of PEP would gladly provide customers with guidelines on how to get authorized dealers and installers for after-sales services.

Brand Africa Announces 2015 Best Brands In Africa

2015 Africa's top 100 brands have been revealed by Brand Africa. MTN were the big winners of the night with the Grand Prix for Africa's Best Brand, as well as being the Most Admired Brand in Africa, while Apple was named the valuable brand.

Non-African brands took 77% of the Top 100 brands. While African brands have remained relatively stable at 24%, 25% and 23% in 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively, the number of non-African countries of origin has steadily diversified from 17 in 2013 to 19 in 2014 to 21 in 2015. Nigeria has over taken South Africa as the leading African nation. The Top 10 countries with the most number of brands on the Top 100 Most Admired Brands are the United States (21%), Nigeria (11%), UK ( 9%), Japan at 8%, France (6%), Netherlands (5%), Germany (4%), Italy (4%), South Africa (4%) and Kenya (4%).

Two thirds (64%) of the Brand Africa 100 list is evenly spread between electronics (16%), apparel (14%), auto manufacturers (13%), telecommunications (11%) and alcoholic beverages (10%).

Top 10 most admired brands in Africa:
#1 MTN (South Africa) (+1)
#2 Samsung (+1)
#3 Coca Cola (-2)
#4 Nike (+6)
#5 Adidas (+2)
#6 Nokia (-2)
#7 Airtel (+4)
#8 Toyota (-3)
#9 LG (0)
#10 Mercedez Benz (+7)

Top 10 most admired brands - African:
#1 MTN (South Africa) (+1)
#2 GLO/Globacom (Nigeria) (-6)
#3 Dangote (Nigeria) (+9)
#4 Tusker (Kenya) (-8)
#5 Mukwano (Uganda) (+42)
#6 Simu TV (Tanzania) (-)
#7 Zenith Bank (Nigeria) (-)
#8 Peak Milk (+2)
#9 Sasko (South Africa) (-)
#10 Star Beer (Nigeria) (+40)
( ) Represents numerical change in rank between 2014 and 2015.

Grey Group EMEA is agency of the year

The 2015 EACA Euro Effies winners were announced in Brussels’ Cercle de Lorraine business club on Tuesday, 21 October 2015.

Grey Group EMEA scooped three Gold awards (FMCG and Small Budget (2)), four Silvers (Brand Experience, Consumer Goods, Long-term Effectiveness and Product/Service Launch) and two Bronzes (FMCG and Retail). The agency was also rewarded with €100,000-worth of free advertising spots from Euro Effies partner, Euronews.

Gold awards were awarded to ZenithOptimedia for their “Aygo. Go fun yourself.” campaign created for Toyota Motor Europe, to TMW Unlimited for the campaign ‘’Turn off to turn on“ created for Reckitt Benckiser and to Grey London for the campaign “Gillette BODY” created for Procter & Gamble.

Silvers were awarded to TMW Unlimited and Reckitt Benckiser for “Turn off to turn on”(2), JWT London and Mondelez for their “Coffee Vs. Gangs” campaign, Grey London and Procter & Gamble for “Fairy: the longer lasting brand legend” and ‘’Gillette BODY”.

A bronze award went to Grey London for their “Sweeet” campaign created for United Biscuits.

20 winners from 5 countries across Europe were selected by an international jury of senior agency and client representatives chaired by Josep Hernandez, Senior Director of Communications Planning at Mondelez International, with the United Kingdom winning 9 awards, Germany 7 and Denmark 2. Agencies from Spain and France walked away with one Euro Effie Award each.

Leading tech agency joins AfricaCom as media partner in Africa

DUO Marketing and Communications, a specialist B2B Tech PR and digital marketing agency, is joining this year’s AfricaCom conference as a media partner. AfricaCom is taking place from 17 to 19 November in Cape Town and the theme is innovation, transformation and leadership for a digital Africa.

“The digital economy is evolving at a rapid pace and as a digital PR consultancy servicing technology clients, we’re well aware of how digital consumption is impacting our clients, their customers and partners,” says Judith Middleton, CEO of DUO Marketing and Communications.

The conference brings together senior decision makers from the entire digital ecosystem who need to find ways to maximise investments, fuel innovation, drive transformation and encourage leadership for Africa to become a digital world leader.

AfricaCom will have more than 300 visionary speakers and the conference provides an opportunity for knowledge sharing, business networking and industry peer meetings.

Chevron announces senior management changes, quarterly dividend

Chevron Corporation has announced that two of its top executives will assume new roles effective Jan. 1, 2016 .

Michael Wirth will become executive vice president for Midstream and Development. Wirth is currently executive vice president, Downstream and Chemicals. Pierre Breber , presently executive vice president, Gas and Midstream, will become executive vice president, Downstream and Chemicals. Both will continue to report to John S. Watson , Chevron's chairman and chief executive officer.

"Mike and Pierre are experienced leaders, and these moves will allow both to apply their broad experience and management skills to new areas that will generate greater enterprise value," said Watson.

In his new role, Wirth, 55, will have responsibility for corporate strategy, business development, supply and trading, gas commercialization, and the company's midstream operating units engaged in transportation and power.

"Mike has systematically improved our downstream performance through portfolio optimization and efficiency," said Watson. "He will now focus on Chevron's companywide asset portfolio and strategy while leading the company's midstream activities."

Standard Bank consolidates its East African presence with Ethiopia office

Standard Bank Group has expanded its already extensive East African footprint with the official opening of a representative office in Ethiopia. This means that Standard Bank, which is Africa’s largest bank by assets, has a continent-wide footprint in 20 African countries.

The representative office, which is based in Addis Ababa, was opened by Standard Bank Chief Executive, Ben Kruger. It will act as an entry point for clients seeking to invest in Ethiopia and will be administered by Standard Bank’s head office in South Africa

The growth potential for the East African region continues to attract significant investment. With an established presence across four of the key markets in the region, namely Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, the opening of the Ethiopian representative office is indicative of the group’s commitment to the region.

“As a bank rooted in Africa, our vision is to build a leading financial institution that delivers superior products and services for all our customers. We are able to leverage our strong position on the continent, our strategic partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), and our sector expertise in natural resources, to facilitate capital investment in support of growth and to connect African markets to each other,” says Mr. Kruger.

Ethiopia’s remarkable growth has been underpinned by high public investment and a growing consumer base. The country boasts the second largest population on the continent, behind Nigeria, at around 90 million. GDP growth has averaged about 10.0% over the past 5 years. Heavy public investment in agriculture, energy and transport are likely to continue to support growth in the medium term as the government ramps up its productive sectors.

Sub-Saharan Africa economies among world’s top improvers of business climate, says Doing Business Report

Sub-Saharan Africa economies continue to implement reforms to improve the business climate for domestic entrepreneurs, with members of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) particularly active during the past year, says the World Bank Group’s annual ease of doing business measurement.

Doing Business 2016: Measuring Regulatory Quality and Efficiency, released today, records a total of 69 reforms in 35 economies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Of these, 14 of OHADA’s 17 member countries implemented 29 reforms.

The reforms implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for about 30 percent of the 231 reforms implemented worldwide during the past year. The region also boasted half of the world’s top 10 improvers, i.e. countries that implemented at least three reforms and moved up on the global rankings scale, with Uganda, Kenya, Mauritania, Benin and Senegal.

The region stood out in implementing reforms under the Getting Credit indicator. Of the 32 reforms made globally, 14 were carried out in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Kenya and Uganda making significant progress.

“Despite great improvements, governments in Sub-Saharan Africa will need to continue working on closing the gap in many key areas that impact the ease of doing business, especially increasing access to reliable electricity and providing effective commercial dispute resolution – two areas where the region scores the lowest globally,” said Rita Ramalho, Manager of the Doing Business project.

On Getting Electricity, it takes an average of 130 days for an entrepreneur to get a new electricity connection and, once connected, customers experience frequent outages lasting almost 700 hours per year – making SubSaharan Africa the region with the highest duration of outages globally.

Guinness Nigeria Rewards Distributors, Supports Their Business Growth

This was the focus of the 2015 national Distributors’ Conference and Awards Night organised by the leading brewer in Lagos. Themed, Partners for growth, the event also provided a platform for Guinness Nigeria to announce new trade incentives and to receive feedback from distributors from across the country.

Speaking at the occasion, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Peter Ndegwa commended the distributors for their contributions to the growth and success of the company’s business in the previous fiscal year. He noted that their efforts have helped the company maintain its market leadership.

“As partners in progress, Guinness Nigeria will keep its promises and work hand-in-hand with all its distributors to ensure that they grow their business in a very responsible and sustainable manner. We will also support our distributors with tools and training initiatives to develop their human capacity as well as their business processes,” he stated.

Ndegwa further charged the distributors on the need to ensure that consumers are inspired by the Guinness Nigeria brands by keeping in line with the company’s track record for delivering great innovations. “It is very important that the brand continues to enjoy the trust and the respect which it has built with the Nigerian people over the years,” he said.

Etisalat Holds Free Eye Surgeries in Bauchi

About 50 Nigerians in Bauchi State have regained full sight after benefitting from a Free Eye Surgeries programme sponsored by Nigeria’s most innovative telecommunications operator, Etisalat in partnership with Charity for Cheer Foundation and the State Government.

The programme, a CSR-based intervention initiative designed to support the company’s host communities as well as vulnerable Nigerians, held at the Bayara Specialist Hospital, Dass Local Government area of Bauchi State with 50 patients suffering from cataract infections successfully operated upon during the three days.

Speaking at the flag-off of the initiative, the Vice President, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko, who was represented by the company’s Head, Government and Community Relations, Mohammed Suleh-Yusuf, said the initiative reflects the company’s dedication to delivering on sustainable community support programmes that complement the efforts of partner governments to the utmost benefit of the people.

“Etisalat is committed to delivering sustainable community support programmes. We are truly passionate about helping our host communities because we believe that corporate organisations should make positive impacts on the host communities in which they operate. The Free Eye Surgeries Camp is a rewarding experience that helps visually impaired and vulnerable persons recover their full sight to enable them remains productive members of their immediate communities,” he said.

4 Reasons Nigerians should avoid online dating

There’s no arguing the fact that online dating has gained popularity in Nigeria and personal introductions as well as matchmaking are no longer the predominant way Nigerians employ to find the right person with whom to share their life.

No doubt finding that someone that is special is a figment of many people’s dreams, however, while online dating has created an easier channel for contact and reduced the relationship frustrations well as the seeming depression that comes with being single, it also proffers a number of risks and disadvantages.

Jovago.com, Africa’s no.1 online hotel booking service explores some of these risks as well as disadvantages and offers 5 reasons why Nigerians should avoid online dating.

There is a huge chance your love interest is a scam artiste
There are so many scammers and con artistes online, especially in the online dating scene. They post false pictures and put up fake identities and ply on the emotions of these people who come online, desperate for love, affection and attention. They play on the victims sentiments and dupe them either by controlling them into sending them expensive gift or money, or simply by just stealing from them after gaining their trust. Thankfully it is easy to spot these culprits if you are sharp, if your love interest is making demands for money or asking for gifts before you have met them, it is certainly a red flag.

It is a cheater’s arena, you are not the only one
It would be naïve to think that a love interest if focused on just you online, especially before you have met them. While it is possible, it is very rare. Most times, people make the heart breaking discovery that the person they have been talking to and thinking is their special one actually has their own several other special ones. Attractive men and women online get as much as 1000 requests or more per day and it is certainly very difficult to create a unique intimate relationship with so many other options available. Also most people online are adulterers or unfaithful partners looking to have some fun on the side.  It is always best to avoid any sort of emotional involvement until things get physical and you have a level of assurance that the person is single and genuine.

Airtel holds Pink October, joins world to promote cancer awareness

As part of efforts to continuously build a healthy workforce and encourage employees to achieve work-life balance, leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has organised a breast cancer awareness seminar tagged Pink October under its Employee Knowledge Series for October.

The highly informative and interactive Knowledge Series is in line with the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, marked in countries across the world every October to increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of the disease.

The seminar held at the Banana Island Headquarters of the telco was facilitated by healthcare and lifestyle experts who discussed several issues including breast cancer detection and prevention, nutrition, physical fitness among others.

Speaking at the event, Human Resources Director, Airtel Nigeria, Gbemiga Owolabi noted that the telco as a responsible organisation puts great emphasis to the wellbeing of its employees in order to help them succeed both in their career and personal lives.

“The importance of health and wellbeing cannot be over-emphasised. That is why the organisation provides opportunities to inform and enlighten employees through the Employee Knowledge Series.

“As the month of October is known worldwide as a period for raising awareness about cancer, we find it very timely to organise this seminar to empower staff with information they need to know about the diseases, early detection, prevention and treatment. We know definitely that the programme will benefit everyone and also help the organisation build a healthy workforce.”

3 Signs you are hooked on touchscreen gadgets

A few decades ago, the idea of touchscreens - a computer display screen that is also an input device- seemed incredible and was only a contraption found in high-grossing sci-fi movies.

Today however, they are everywhere! Almost every gadget or device had a touchscreen version, from television sets, computers, electronics and some kitchen appliances. It’s such a part of our eco-system that developers have since ensured that our lives in public and private spaces are occupied by this innovation.

There is no doubt it took generations and several major technological improvements for touchscreens to attain the kind of presence it has today, and as it is, touchscreens are certainly great for almost everything, however, while advantages of having a touchscreen display abound, there is an unhealthy addiction that comes with using it for long. There are now situations where the user becomes inordinately dependent and the touchscreens have more influence over the user than anyone else or anything else.

Jovago.com, Africa’s no. 1 online hotel booking service, explores the signs that reveal this touchscreen user addiction.

Lack of interest in non-touch screen gadgets
The touch screen makes it easy to access your gadget and even interact with it much faster than with other devices embedded with keypads or knobs, and so, most users easily become dependent on this ability to speedily scroll through icons, selecting songs and contacts. As a result, they lose interest in gadgets that do not have the touchscreen feature, limiting themselves only to for the ones that do, even if the specification is inferior to other options.

If you find yourself placing the touchscreen features as a must-have on your list of preferred specifications, you certainly have an addiction.

You have difficulty using buttons and knobs on gadgets
It is amazing that while most people complain that the touchscreen is quite limiting as the screen is very sensitive and difficult to use when it is very cold or their fingers are wet, others cannot function without them. These set of people instead have difficulties with using gadgets with knobs and keypad.

Cristiano Ronaldo joins blood drive

To encourage more young blood donors around the world, Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed a partnership with healthcare group Abbott.

He will be the face of an international multi-platform Abbott campaign. Ronaldo, 30, is the first global ambassador for the 'Be The 1 movement'.

"We can all make a difference by donating blood," said Ronaldo. "Each donation can benefit up to three people in emergency situations and for long-term medical treatments. That’s why I am enthusiastic to be partnering with Abbott to bring awareness to the importance of blood donation and to encourage people around the world to become lifelong blood donors and help save lives.”

The website for the effort, BeThe1Donor.com, includes information on joining the campaign, as well as the impact of blood donations around the world.

Nakhid missed out as Fifa confirms presidential candidates

Fifa has confirmed that seven candidatures have been received for the presidency of world football’s governing body, with former Trinidad and Tobago international midfielder David Nakhid the omission from the officials who were thought to have entered applications by Monday’s deadline.

Fifa said that its member associations have put forward Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Musa Bility, Jérôme Champagne, Gianni Infantino, Michel Platini, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and Tokyo Sexwale. The presidential election to succeed Sepp Blatter at the helm of world football is scheduled to be held at the Extraordinary Fifa Congress in Zurich on February 26.

The 51-year-old Nakhid is based in Lebanon, where he runs a football academy, and first announced his intention to run for the Fifa presidency in August. The holder of 35 caps for Trinidad and Tobago between 1992 and 2005, Nakhid last week said he had successfully secured the five nominations from national associations needed to become a candidate and had submitted his paperwork to Fifa’s election committee. He added that he had won support in the Caribbean and from other confederations but his backers did not want him to disclose their identity.

Uefa president Platini is currently serving a 90-day suspension handed out as he is investigated by Fifa’s Ethics Committee, and Uefa’s decision on Monday to put forward general secretary Infantino gives Europe another strong candidate in the event that Platini is barred from the election process.

Fifa said today that Platini’s candidature will not be processed by the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee as long as the ban is valid and in force. Should such a ban be lifted or expire before the Fifa presidential election, the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee would decide, depending on the respective exact point in time, on how to proceed with the candidature concerned.

Orange joins Uefa Euro 2016 as global partner

European football’s governing body Uefa has signed up telecom giant Orange as a global sponsor with exclusive worldwide rights, and Official Telecommunications Service Provider for UEFA EURO 2016.

The tournament will mark the second time that Orange is working together with UEFA to deliver Europe’s premier national team footballing event and the third biggest sporting event worldwide. As part of its UEFA EURO 2016 campaign, Orange will be developing exclusive offers, giving consumers an opportunity to connect to what is essential for them.

As Official Telecommunications Service Provider, Orange will be providing all fixed and wireless communications services for the tournament. This includes the responsibility for delivering live match signals from the ten stadiums in France to broadcasters and fans around the world, as well as providing staff, officials, media, referees and volunteers with connectivity through approximately 25,000 access points and mobile services throughout the tournament. Over 800 engineers and experts from Orange will be dedicated to delivering UEFA EURO 2016.

Guy-Laurent Epstein, Marketing Director of UEFA Events SA, commented: “We are very pleased to welcome Orange as a Global Sponsor of UEFA EURO 2016. Orange’s contribution to the transmission of the TV signal will ensure that fans around the world are able to experience the excitement of the tournament at its best. In parallel, our partnership will help UEFA to deliver the most digital and connected event ever. We are delighted to be welcoming back a true partner who will be essential not only to the fans’ global experience, but also to the success of the tournament.”

Orange becomes Euro 2016’s eighth global sponsor, joining Adidas, Carlsberg, Coca-Cola, Continental, Hyundai/Kia, McDonald’s and Socar. The tournament’s final two global sponsors are expected to be named in the coming weeks.

Scanfrost Unveils Omotola as Brand Ambassador

Celebrity brand endorsement has become a common phenomenon in recent times. Almost all the top brands in Nigeria have snapped up one celebrity or the other to drive equity and boost their following and engagement. And with a huge fan base validated by her over one million facebook likes, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde is a potential asset to any brand.

Recently she was signed-on by Scanfrost as a brand ambassador in what has been rumoured to be a multi-million naira endorsement deal. Being happily married with four children and still flourishing in her acting career and business, Omotola was a natural choice for the home appliance manufacturing company.

“Scanfrost is proud to be associated with legendary actress, singer, philanthropist Omotola Jalade Ekeinde as she becomes the new ambassador for the leading home appliance brand,” the company said while unveiling the actress.

According to the brand promoters, Omotola represents and creates an image that resonates with the target customers of the brand and will play vital roles in achieving the marketing projections of the company. The brand is equally confident that the 37 year old actress will bring equity to the brand and improve its market share.

Scanfrost has been in Nigeria for over 35 years and is known for its durability, value for money and great after sales services‎.‎ Historically‎, the brand is known for chest freezers and display coolers‎.‎ In 2007‎,‎ Scanfrost extended its product portfolio to a range of household appliances including cooking range‎,‎ microwave ovens‎,‎ refrigerators‎,‎ air conditioners‎,‎ washing machines and kitchen appliances‎,‎ while strengthening existing portfolio‎.

Union Bank Unveils New Brand Identity

Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, yesterday unveiled a new brand identity at a launch event in Onikan Stadium, Lagos.  The bank says the idea is to create a refreshed brand that is in line with Union Bank’s strategic ambition to become a highly respected provider of quality financial services in Nigeria.

The unveiling of the new brand identity came barely 24 hours after releasing its impressive quarterly report, the bank also changed its brand mantra from “big, strong and reliable,” to “building simpler, smarter bank.”

Speaking at the unveiling of the new identity in a ceremony held in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer/ Managing Director of Union Bank, Mr. Emeka Emuwa, said: “We believe that critical milestones we have achieved in the past three years have laid a solid foundation for us as a bank. The launch of this refreshed identity signals a new phase in Union Bank’s transformation as we set our sights on attracting a new base of customers while remaining focused on providing simple and smart banking solutions to all our customers.”

Emuwa pointed out that Union Bank had been a trusted name for Nigerians for nearly a century, saying that the bank would continue to leverage on its heritage as it embraces a rapidly changing world.

Also speaking at the event, Chairman of Union Bank, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, said: “I am very proud of the strides the bank has made during my time as Chairman and I commend the board, management and staff on their hard work over the years and I am sure the bank continue succeed as it embarks on a new phase with a refreshed brand identity.”

Visa Partners Total to Reward Customers

In a bid to improve card usage for purchases, Visa has gone into partnership with Total Nigeria Plc to reward customers who use their electronic payment cards to buy fuel at Total service stations in Lagos state.

The promotion aims at educating consumers and businesses on the convenience of making payments for fuel and other commodities through e-payment.

The campaign will run for seven weeks, beginning from October 19, to December, 6, 2015, with seven Total service stations to give out N1000 worth of free petrol daily to 10 Visa card users who buy petrol worth N3000 and above.

The seven stations giving out free fuel are pre-selected.

Cardholders also stand a chance of winning free fuel for a year through a raffle draw by sending SMS to a short-code which will be provided at the service stations.

Speaking about the partnership, Country manager, VISA West Africa, Mr. Ade Ashaye said: “At Visa we are committed to developing creative ways of driving the cashless policy in Nigeria through e-commerce and we understand that card payments are more secure than cash payments for both buyers and sellers.

“This is why we have partnered with Total to launch the ‘Total fuel campaign with Visa’, to ensure that personal finances are managed effectively with minimal costs by our cardholders. Also, consumers will not only be able to enjoy the usual benefits of paying with their Visa card, but they will also be rewarded for it.”

Twitter Best Practices for Businesses

Twitter is a great platform for businesses, especially small and medium businesses (SMBs), to raise awareness around their products and services. Regardless of the industry, whether a bakery or an IT services company, you can use Twitter to grow your business and connect with potential customers through engaging with them on Twitter.

According to the Customer Insight Study conducted by DB5 and Twitter in 2014, 50% of Twitter users visited or shopped on the websites of the companies they followed. Additionally, 60% of Twitter users purchased from an SMB because of something they saw on Twitter, while 43% of Twitter users plan to purchase regularly from the SMBs they follow.

As you use Twitter to boost your company’s profile and reach, here are some best practices that have helped businesses across Nigeria reach their target audience:

1.  Learn the basics of Twitter - To start off, you need to familiarize yourself with Twitter’s numerous features. Learn how to compose a Tweet, how to best use Hashtags (https://support.twitter.com/articles/49309), and how to find relevant Twitter users that you can engage with to increase your reach (https://support.twitter.com/articles/14022). This could range from thought-leaders in your industry to other businesses, or even influencers that are of interest to your company .

Tip: join the conversation by Tweeting using a relevant Hashtag.  For example if you bake cakes, this could be  #CakesInNigeria, which may show you people who are looking for where to buy a cake in Nigeria.

2.  Ensure your Twitter profile is up-to-date - It is important to ensure your Twitter profile fully represents you, as this will be the first thing a potential customer sees. Make sure your profile photo, header photo, and details in your bio, are all up-to-date.

Tip: include your website URL in the bio section so that consumers can find out more information after visiting your Twitter page.  For example e-Commerce store @ShopKonga have a frequently updated page with a header photo and website link.

Female Tech MDs take center stage at AIG /Idea Hub Fireside Chat

At the recent Idea Hub Fireside Chat that held last Friday, startup founders converged to meet with the Managing Directors of the Rocket funded Africa Internet Group to share knowledge, case studies, exchange notes and possibly co create.

Of the AIG companies present Carmudi and Easy Taxi now have female MDs; these companies have joined the league of the inclusion of more female top execs in tech firms.

Both ladies took over the baton of leadership from their male colleagues and continue to make their companies thrive under their leadership.

At the event Amy, MD Carmudi Nigeria advised startup founders to focus more on identifying their target market so they can properly utilize their resources. On been a part of Carmudi she said ‘it's been great contributing to Carmudi's innovative growth. Carmudi offers convenience and we are constantly developing new ideas and innovation that allows the buying and selling of cars online via the Carmudi platform easier.'

Adaora encouraged the founders to put proper internal structures in place so it can last throughout the business cycle. As for differentiation, Easy Taxi was a pioneer in the Nigeria and is still expanding. ‘’In big cities taxis will never go away as a means of commuting so having others in the taxi app space allows for diversity and gives customers an option (but it is important to ensure your business stands out) to choose based on why this business is here and it's immediate impact on the livelihood of residents”.

Airtel and Eaton Towers Conclude Tower Sale Agreement in Burkina Faso

Bharti Airtel Limited (Airtel), the third largest mobile services provider globally, with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa (through its subsidiary company Bharti Airtel International (Netherlands) BV), and Eaton Towers, a leading independent telecoms tower company in Africa, today announced the conclusion of the sale and purchase of the tower assets of Bharti Airtel Burkina Faso.

The tower sale agreements allow Airtel to focus on its core business and customers, to deleverage through debt reduction, and will significantly reduce its on-going capital expenditure on passive infrastructure.

For Eaton Towers, the acquisition gives the scale necessary to provide shared telecoms infrastructure solutions, with its customers benefiting from lower operating costs, expanded network coverage and capacity and improved quality of service.

Commenting on the development, Christian de Faria, CEO – Africa, Bharti Airtel, said: “We are pleased to close this fourth transaction with Eaton Towers and we continue to explore other opportunities to work together. Airtel continues to sharpen its focus on its core business and delivering best in class experience to its customers in Africa.”

Terry Rhodes, CEO of Eaton Towers added: “ The successful conclusion of our transactions in four countries with Airtel, together with the deal to acquire 2000 towers from Mobinil in Egypt, will mean Eaton Towers will have over 6,000 towers and the most diversified tower portfolio across Africa. We value the partnership with Airtel and have improved the operating performance in each of the portfolios we have acquired.”

Making of the Chef Season 2: Power Oil Partners Rhodium Chef Global

Nigeria’s leading premium cooking oil brand – Power Oil has partnered with Rhodium Chef Global LLC on the season 2 of Making of the Chef Nigeria reality cooking competition.

Power Oil is the leading healthy premium cooking oil brand endorsed by the Nigerian Heart Foundation, produced by Raffles Oil LFTZ Enterprise and also distributed by MULTI PRO Enterprise Limited, subsidiaries of the Tolaram Group.

Speaking on the sponsorship, the Head of Public Relations & Event, Tolaram Group, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju noted that Power Oil is proud to partner with Rhodium Chef Global on the season 2 of the Making of the Chef competition to empower your young Nigerians to becoming world class Chefs.

Ashiwaju noted that the brand was particularly impressed with the opportunity to train successful participants in the competition at Stratford University, USA which is in line with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) focus of Tolaram Group to empower Nigerians in different field of endeavor.

He added that Power Oil as a heart friendly oil brand fits well with the vision of Making of the Chef reality cooking competition as there is no better cooking oil than Power Oil, a low cholesterol, healthy, hygienic and money for Value product.

Also commenting on the partnership with Power Oil, the creator of the project and Creative Director, Rhodium Chef Global, Mrs. Idono Gbenro commended Tolaram Group for supporting the initiative to identify, educate and empower young Nigerians who aspire to venture into culinary arts.

Gbenro explained that audition for the season 2 of the competition will commence between Wednesday, October 21 and Saturday 24, 2015 simultaneously in Lagos, PortHarcourt and Abuja in which 20 aspiring chefs would be shortlisted from an entry of regular people from all walks of life in Nigeria.

PHOTOS: INTERSWITCH PARTNERS WITH VISA TO OFFER CARDHOLDERS ACCESS TO QUICK

Divisional CEO, Financial Inclusions Services, Interswitch, Mike Ogbalu, CMO Interswitch, Cherry Eromosele and GMD, Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe

GMD Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe with Country Director, Visa West Africa, Ade Ashaye

Country Director, Visa West Africa, Ade Ashaye, GMD, Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe and DCEO, Switching and Processing, Interswitch

7UP, SCOA, Indomie, Others Support SPANFEST 2015

To show support for historical diversity and encourage cultural integration among youths, top patrons and sponsors like 7UP, SCOA Motors and Indomie partnered the Society for the Preforming Arts in Nigeria (SPAN) to organize this year SPANFEST. The 15 days bi-annual community festival tagged ‘Voice of the Voiceless’ starts from the 7th – 22nd of November, showcasing memorable breathtaking Music, Dance and Drama events in Lagos.

SPANFEST kicks-off with Ten days of intensive performing art workshops alongside international professors who will unveil the new voice in Nigerian artists using the mediums of dance, music and drama. This will be followed by four performance nights to reveal the diversity, rich cultural heritage of the people and a grand finale with 200 dancers, musicians and actors on one stage.

L-R: Creative Director, I-Xtreme, Ice Nweke; Jazz Artist, Helen Isibor; Founder of SPAN, Mrs. Sarah Boulos and Yemi Amusan, during the press conference announcing SPANfest 2015 in Lagos... recently  

According to the founder of SPAN, Mrs. Sarah Boulos, “I have faith that SPANfest 2015 will also rekindle in our community a desire to invest in performing art education and performances to sustain a vibrant and healthy environment in our Lagos – the city we cherish. Only then will Lagosians live and experience the full potential for which they were created and find purpose as well as a sense of significance in their city.”

Other activities lined up as part of SPANfest 2015 are the Movement in Moments, A Musical Adventure, Hear Word, Performing Arts Management and Motivational Talks, The Era (Era of Legends) and the Voice of the Voiceless - a performing art piece of music, dance and drama.

Double Celebration As Gulder Promo Winner Welcomes Baby, Car Same Day

It was double celebration for Simon Tyohemen as he not only won a brand new Hyundai Elantra saloon car in the on-going Gulder Ultimate Promo but also had his wife delivered of their first baby that same day. The 27 year-old student of Animal husbandry at the College of Agriculture Yandev, Benue State said he considered himself a lucky man to have received such blessing on the same day.

Speaking while receiving his prize at the headquarters of Nigerian Breweries Plc in Lagos, Tyohemen said the historic event will forever linger in his memory. He said tears of joy streamed from his cheeks as he received a call just few minutes after his wife gave birth to a baby boy that he has also won a brand new car.

Tyohemen said; “For me, it was double celebration because my wife gave birth the same day I won the car. I used to see the Gulder promo billboard in Gboko, Benue where I live, but I never had enough airtime on my phone to try it. But one day I just decided that any time I have enough credit on my phone I will try the promo. It was the work of God. I drank 3 bottles of Gulder. I text the code and kept on playing the game. I text up to 3 codes and then I stopped because my credit finished. I was surprised when they sent a message to me that I have won a car from Gulder Ultimate Promo.  I never expected it; at first I thought it was 419. So they called me again that I should come to Lagos, so I told my wife and she was very happy and she encouraged me that it is true, that it is real”.

He said given his poor family background, he never thought of owning a car in the short term, let alone a brand new one but providence had something better in store for him for which he was grateful.

Speaking also, Simon’s elder brother, Cletus Tyohemen said he never believed in any promo until he saw his brother take delivery of the car he won courtesy of Gulder. The Lagos-based businessman expressed appreciation to Gulder for fulfilling its promises to its consumers irrespective of where they are. “For me, this is another reason to believe in and keep patronizing this brand (Gulder). At this time when the economy is bad, it is rare to see companies being as truthful as Nigerian Breweries. I am grateful to them for this,” he said.

Nigerian Breweries Plc Unveils First Ever Locally Brewed Apple Cider, Strongbow

Strongbow Apple Ciders, the world’s biggest and most popular cider brand is set to enter the Nigerian market this month courtesy Nigeria's leading brewing company, Nigerian Breweries plc.

Commenting on the product launch, Senior Brand Manager, Strongbow, Ngozi Nkwoji said, “Strongbow is an alcoholic drink that is globally popular and that Nigerians will love, especially those who want to try something new.  We believe Strongbow will be best enjoyed by young Nigerians as they wind down after work or on a night out with friends, we call this the Golden hour. The Golden Hour is that time of the day just before the sun goes down, it signifies a time to let loose with friends and to enjoy the refreshing taste of ice cold Strongbow.”

Strongbow apple Ciders is made from real apples with a refreshing crisp taste.

At the recent product launch to trade partners in Lagos and Abuja this month, the Sales Director, Nigerian Breweries, Hubert Eze said, "Strongbow premium apple ciders is made from real apples and is a natural and healthy alternative which is  enjoyed by both men and women. Strongbow apple ciders is the first ever locally produced cider in Nigeria and is very distinctive, stylish, with no sweeteners and has a very unique and premium package."

Marketing Director, NB, Marco Maria Maggi, Sales Director, NB Plc, Hubert Eze, Senior Strategy Manager, NB, Tony Agenmonmen, Senior Brand Manager, Ngozi Nkwoji. 

The introduction of Strongbow apple ciders marks an important milestone, as it now becomes Nigeria’s first ever locally brewed cider. In addition, Nigerian consumers will get to experience the cider making process and sample of the world’s famous Strongbow in a purpose built exhibition at the Ikeja City Mall on 29 – 30 October, 2015.

AJEAST Nigeria Takes BIG COLA to Abuja

AJEAST Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of AJE Group worldwide, has recorded another feat. The producer of Big Cola, Orange and Lemon has expanded its business tentacles to Abuja and other northern part of the country.

During its official launch in the Federal Capital Territory, AJEAST Nigeria, through Theo Williams, its Country Manager, disclosed that the soft drinks, which are sold in 650ml PET bottles and other pack sizes, are produced from state-of-the arts production lines that ensure and guarantee the highest hygienic and quality standards obtainable. “This is truly remarkable as no other player in Nigeria has given consumers great tasting, superb quality and quantity. The ‘Think Big’ brand will have a recommended retail price of N90.00 per 650ml bottle, and give consumers more value for less,” he said.

L-R: Regional Sales Chief Northern Nigeria AJEAST Nigeria, Famuyiwa Olu Kayode; Country Manager, Theo Williams; National Sales Manager, Abdul Akeem Wahab and Head of Marketing, Michael Daniels all of AJEAST Nigeria at the Regional commercial introduction of Big Cola in Abuja on Saturday October 24, 2015.

Williams added that a communication campaign targeted pan-Nigeria has been developed to support the launch of the drinks. This includes radio commercials, outdoor billboards, in-store promotions and major events, to mention a few.

“An aggressive ‘Think BIG’ sampling promotional campaign will be conducted to avail our discerning consumers a firsthand experience of the uniquely rich taste of BIG brand flavours. The ‘Think BIG’ promotional campaign will be at a retail point near you, so gear up to experience the ‘Think BIG’ brand”, he explained.

The 10th largest producer of soft drink by volume, worldwide, which started 27 years in a garage, is now a truly multi-national business with operations spanning Latin America, Asia and Africa. This has in ripple effects, provided gainful job opportunities for thousands of people as well as putting a smile on the consumers’ faces.