BrandArena : February 2016

Monday, 29 February 2016

Why Korede Bello Is Marking Fifth Birthday Today

For the fifth time ever, Mavin Records act, Korede Bello born February 29, 1996 (a leap day) clocks 20 years old today.

Having being born a leap day (Feb. 29) in Lagos State, Korede will only be able to mark his birthday once in every four years.

Korede became one of Africa's promising acts after his infamous "Korede Bello wink" in the music video of "Dorobucci", a chart-topping song by Mavin Records artistes.

He is best known for his hit single "Godwin", a semi-gospel and pop song which topped many music charts in Nigeria.

He holds a National Diploma certificate after studying Mass Communication at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and reportedly running his Higher National Diploma programme at the Institute presently.

Dangote Bags Outstanding Company of the Year Award

For its contribution to the Nigerian economy, the Dangote Cement Plc has won the most Outstanding Company of the year award by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

According to ACCI, the Cement Company has distinguished itself above others through its support for the development of the Nigerian economy.

President of the ACCI, Mr. Tony Ejinkeonye, said the award was in recognition of the company’s sustained contribution to the growth of the economy.

The Regional Director, North Central, Dangote Cement Plc Dolapo Alli, Abuja Representative of the Dangote Group Hashem Ahmed, Manager Dangote Cement Plc Mustafa Yelwa and Media Relations Specialist Jibrin Abubakar received the award on behalf of the company.

Speaking, Mr. Hashem Ahmed expressed appreciation for the award and said it would further spur the Group to sustain its support for, not only the country’s economy, but Africa as a whole.
He said already thousands of jobs are being created on the continent.

English Premier League football club Everton have announced that British-Iranian billionaire Farhad Moshiri will become the club’s major shareholder after striking a deal to acquire a 49.9-per-cent stake in the club for £200million.

Moshiri, 60, has sold his stake in Premier League rival Arsenal to business partner Alisher Usmanov in order to complete the deal. He will pay about £87.5m (€111m/$121m) for the shareholding, valuing Everton at £175m.

Moshiri, who has a net worth of about £1.3bn, according to business magazine Forbes, will snap up Robert Earl’s 23-per-cent stake, whilst chairman Bill Kenwright and director Jon Woods will dilute their respective shareholdings to 26 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively. There is an agreement in place for the Monaco-based businessman to increase his stake over time and ultimately become the majority owner.

Moshiri will work alongside Kenwright, who will stay on at Everton for an interim period. He is expected to focus on exploring stadium renovation plans.

Oscar Awards 2016: Complete List Of Winners

The 88th annual Academy Awards was held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The biggest award of Oscars evening went to “Spotlight,” which pulled out a win for best picture in a very split year.

Leonardo DiCaprio finally clicnhed his first Academy Award for his performance in the 'Revenant'. The Hollywood superstar was named best actor at the 88th Academy Awards, with Brie Larson named best actress for Room.

LIST OF WINNERS:

Best Picture – Michael Sugar, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin and Blye Pagon Faust for ‘Spotlight’

Best Actor – Leonardo DiCaprio

Best Actress – Brie Larson

Best Direction – Alejandro G Inarritu for ‘The Revenant’

Best Original Song –‘Writing’s on the Wall’ from ‘Spectre’ for Jimmy Napes and Sam Smith

Best Original Score – Ennio Morricine for ‘The Hateful Eight’

Best Foreign Language Film – Son of Saul (Hungary)

Best Live Action Short Film – Benjamin Cleary and Serena Armitage for ‘Stutterer’

Documentary Feature – Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees for ‘Amy’

Best Documentary Short – Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy for ‘A Girl In the River: The Price of Forgiveness’

Best Supporting Actor – Mark Rylance

The cinema culture is fast returning at an appreciable pace after it declined in the 1990s. Today, cinemas like Ozone, Silverbird and Genesis Deluxe around the country are witnessing reasonable attendance. While the many rediscover the joy of blockbuster movies on a big screen, there are some persons who may be hell-bent on diverting your attention from the screenplay and this can be annoying. Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal gather some of these annoying things that Nigerians do at the cinema.

The prolific commentator

They are better commentators than Andy Gray and John Motson. However, they do not to run football commentaries but annoying movie commentaries at the cinema. They will narrate every scene, they cannot keep their emotions under wraps and they always have something to say about the movie. They cannot simply keep their mouth shut. This kind of people can be very frustrating.

The phone talkative

Your phone rings every second in the cinema hall and you pick it every time it rings. Even if you are a businessman, your phone should be on silent rather than disturbing others with your calls. It is better to just switch it off when you are at the movies. In addition, remember that you are on a date with your significant other, you should make it an eventful evening for her. However, for some people, they do not really care, they will convert the cinema into a phone call hub even though there is a clear sign that you should switch off your phone.

The selfie addict

You cannot do without taking pictures even in the cinema. You flip out your phone, pose and click! These pictures are immediately uploaded on social media. It is either you take your pictures before or after the not everyone will be happy with the lousy display of your photography talent.

Professor Kevin Urama, who was appointed in 2013 to head the Research Lab of Swiss based investor advisor Quantum Global, has left his post to join the African Development Bank as a Senior Policy Advisor on Inclusive and Green Growth.

Having launched Quantum Global group’s Research arm and steered the fledging team through its early incarnation, Professor Urama left the group with the agreement of the Board and took up his new post in early January 2016.

A seasoned development economist with extensive Africa-wide and global experience in inclusive green growth and sustainable development, Urama holds a First Class Honors degree and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. From Cambridge University, Professor Urama holds a Master of Philosophy degree with distinction, a Ph.D in Land Economy and the 2002/2003 James Claydon Prize for most outstanding Ph.D. thesis in economics from St. Edmund's College.

His responsibilities will include guiding and supporting Bank-wide efforts on energy, climate change, agriculture and natural resources management. He will also provide technical advice to the Bank's Senior Management Coordination Committee and ensure cross-complex coordination and alignment of activities to deliver on the High 5 priorities of the Bank to accelerate delivery on the ground in countries and across regions.

Spanish football club FC Barcelona have announced that they will continue to display the logo of the United Nations children’s charity (Unicef) on the back of their shirts for a further four years.

As part of the extension, the five-time European champions will pay an increased sum of €2 million (US$2.2 million) a season to aid Unicef projects worldwide as well as the offer of free advertising.

Barcelona and Unicef first joined forces in 2006 and the club’s star player Lionel Messi is one of the fund's global goodwill ambassadors. The club previously had the Unicef name on the front of their shirts, and prior to that they were one of the few sides in world soccer not to display a corporate logo. However, they agreed a lucrative sponsorship deal with Qatar Sports Investment (QSI) in 2012.

According to the latest Deloitte Money League rankings, the Spanish champions are the second most valuable sports team in the world, worth €2.8 billion (US$3.16 billion), and the world's second richest soccer club in terms of revenue, with an annual turnover of €560.8 million (US$618 million).

A+E Networks brings Roots to Africa

A+E Networks is bringing a new adaptation of the iconic TV series Roots to a whole new generation of viewers in Africa. Developed by HISTORY, the eight-hour event miniseries boasts a stellar cast of award-winning actors and will premiere on HISTORY from Sunday, 12 June 2016.

A+E Networks will also simulcast Roots on Lifetime, to share this significant TV event with a wider audience across Africa.

Based on the bestseller by Alex Haley, Roots is an historical portrait of American slavery recounting the journey of one family’s will to survive despite enormous hardship and inhumanity. It follows the story of Kunta Kinte who is captured in his homeland in the Gambia and transported to colonial America where he’s sold into slavery. The original 1970s series propelled the issues of race and discrimination to the forefront of public consciousness across the globe.

The A+E Studios production features an all-star cast including: Academy Award® winner Forest Whitaker as Fiddler, Academy Award winner Anna Paquin as Nancy Holt; Golden Globe Award winning and Emmy Award nominated actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Tom Lea; Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose as Kizzy; Chad L. Coleman as Mingo; Erica Tazel as Matilda; and Derek Luke as Silla Ba Dibba. Laurence Fishburne plays the role of Alex Haley.

Newcomers Malachi Kirby and Regé-Jean Page play the roles of Kunta Kinte and ‘Chicken George’. Kirby was handpicked by executive producers Will Packer and LeVar Burton, who played the original Kunta Kinte in the earlier version.

Excitement, accolades as Airtel rewards last batch of RedHot Promo winners

Leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has fulfilled its promise to its customers as it staged a colourful ceremony, last Friday, in Ikeja, Lagos to honour and reward the last batch of winners in its just concluded Airtel Red Hot Promo 3, a consumer reward initiative that also produced many millionaires.

The winners comprising customers from different parts of the country were presented their tickets for an all-expense paid trip to Dubai with top executives from the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Consumer Protection Council (CPC), friends and relatives of winners in attendance.

L-R, Head, Public Relations, Airtel Nigeria, Adefemi Adeniran; winner of all-expense trip to Dubai in Airtel Red Hot Promo Season 3, Abisu Mamiyo; Deputy Manager, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Onyemenam Daniel and a winner of all-expense trip, Veronica Ette during the Airtel Red Hot Promo 3 final prize presentation held on Friday in Ikeja, Lagos.

Among the winners were a civil servant from Katsina, Kabiru Musa; school teacher from Akwa Ibom, Veronica Ette; Bauchi-based politician, Abisu Mamiyo; Kaduna-based music producer, Abodurin Babatunde; businessman, from Anambra, Nnamdi Onuzulike; an account officer with a Lagos-based water treatment company, Noel Ukeje; a businessman, Sodiq Oladipupo and Ademola Abimbola, an entrepreneur from Lagos.

“Airtel deserves huge commendation for this great offer given to customers. I am impressed. The company fulfilled my dream to experience Dubai. It is a trip not everyone can afford, but Airtel made it possible for me to enjoy my holiday,” Ademola Abimbola who chose to travel with children said.

According to Airtel, the Red Hot Promo 3 is a strong demonstration of Its resolve to reward, excite and uplift its customers for their patronage and loyalty, while also offering amazing opportunities to new customers.

Natures Gentle Touch marks one year presence in Kaduna

….Exhibits at 37th Kaduna international trade fair

Recare Limited, manufacturers of Natures Gentle Touch, the only hair product formulated for Nigerian women this week marked one year presence of its product range during an affinity program with stakeholders at the 37th Kaduna International Trade Fair.

“The company made its entry into the Kaduna market about a year ago during the 36th edition of the International Trade Fair and the demand has since been overwhelming” that is according to Daniel Komla, Recare Field Education Manager.

Komla added that “we are proud of the level of acceptance and the one-year track record of sustained patronage and positive results recorded by customers who have used our products. We are also happy to have carried out a free hair analysis for up to 316 women which helped them to identify the hair challenges they had and allowed us recommend various products to help them overcome hair breakage, dandruff, and in some cases alopecia”

Also commenting, the company’s Marketing Manager, Mr. Kunmi Balogun noted that the Kaduna International Trade fair is an opportunity for companies that wish to connect and broaden the relationship with their stakeholders in and around the region.

OMD named most creative media agency for 10th consecutive year

OMD was awarded Global Agency Network of the Year for the 10th consecutive time by the Gunn Report for Media

The Gunn Report for Media is the industry standard for evaluating media creativity, innovation and effectiveness. The report summarizes media agencies’ overall performance from January to December 2015 based on the results of global, regional and national media award contests spanning most markets in the world. Most importantly, it recognizes the vital role media agencies play in today's highly competitive and fragmented communications landscape.

Tolu Ogunkoya, MD & CEO of mediaReach OMD

“The recognition of creativity through awards is important to our agency culture at OMD. It is not only a critical measure of our performance, but also a reflection of how much harder we are pushing ourselves and our media partners to better our work year over year. And we know that award winning campaigns deliver better ROI to our Clients who expect us to go the extra mile every time. To achieve this 10 times in a row, acknowledges our global commitment and common ambition for sharper insights, smarter ideas and stronger results” says Mainardo de Nardis, CEO OMD Worldwide

“Our global culture cascades to local markets. With many local initiatives, we encourage our teams to produce works that deliver on objectives to overcome Business Challenges” says Tolu Ogunkoya, Regional Managing Director, mediaReach OMD.

FedEx acquires TNT Express recently. The acquisition of Dutch parcel company TNT Express NV, was unconditionally approved by European Union regulators ending a six-month antitrust investigation that had been one of the biggest hurdles toward the near-$5 billion deal.

The merger would allow FedEx to acquire an extensive ground network in Europe and Nigeria, making it a bigger player in the burgeoning e-commerce market.

Expanding in Europe and other overseas market including Nigeria is just one aspect of FedEx’s strategy to grow revenue and profit. Fedex aims to gain market share in the European market, especially in Europe’s fast growing e-commerce market. On similar terms, Red Star Express, a licensee of FedEx in Nigeria stands to gain from this merger as it will open up cost synergy opportunities.

This deal poses a formidable challenge to other players in the market. FedEx’s unmatched global air network and TNT’s road network in Europe could make this new entity the forerunner in the market. The Merger is the third-largest company in Europe's international express-delivery market behind DHL and UPS, and would "provide significant value to the employees, customers and shareholders of both companies, and even here in Nigeria”.

In December 2015 over 300 cases of car theft, traffic robberies and breaking and entering of cars was recorded through unofficially in Lagos state. A research carried out by Carmudi Nigeria on car theft and traffic robberies in Lagos state showed an escalation of traffic robberies and breaking and entering of cars in the last quarter of 2015 with December having the highest figure.

The research placed the figure at about 20 cases per week including traffic robberies and breaking and entering of parked cars. It also showed a reduction in cases of carjacking/hacking. Car hacking is a situation where the thief gains access to the car via remote control or reprogrammed key.

This is a huge number when compared to other states in Nigeria forcing the law enforcement agencies to double surveillance and patrol of traffic prone areas such as the Eko Bridge, Oshodi Apapa express way, etc which has led to the apprehension of some of these criminals.

In a bid to offer more protection for cars owners in Nigeria and also assist the security agencies in the fight against traffic robberies and car theft,

Carmudi, Nigeria’s number 1 car site and Concept Nova a fast growing information technology and software development company have partnered to provide a premium anti-glass break solution called C-Protect for car buyers and owners in Nigeria. C-protect is an invisible film which can be applied to car windows, windscreens and glass vents protecting the glass from breaking in the event of accidental break, vandalism or robbery.

Kaymu Celebrates #3YearsofChoice on its Third Birthday

February has marked Kaymu’s third year as a powerful player in the e-commerce ecosystem of Nigeria and Africa at large. This month was filled with initiatives that spoke to Kaymu’s commitment to the community. Throughout the month, Kaymu merchants have offered exclusive deals on historically top-selling products.

Earlier this month, the Kaymu team honored International Childhood Cancer Day by gathering donations of toys and clothes and spending the day with the children at the pediatric oncology ward at LUTH.

Last week, Kaymu revamped its desktop site, not only improving the user experience through an incremental increase in the speed of the Page Load Time, but also in the features that differentiate Kaymu as a social marketplace. The new desktop site is optimized for buyers and sellers to communicate, keep up with new product releases and exclusive deals, and experience a fusion between a social network and a traditional marketplace.

Commenting on the decision to celebrate #3yearsofchoice, Kaymu Nigeria’s Managing Director Sefik Bagdadioglu said, “Since its inception, Kaymu has created so much access and opportunity. For the young emerging entrepreneur, Kaymu has fostered a dream to strive for more, to grow a business, to leverage on the growth in internet penetration. We have influenced the lives of over 50,000 merchants since launching in 2013. In parallel, this has enabled us to create an incomparable amount of choice for our buyers, whether in terms of assortment or price point. Kaymu is truly for everyone and this is why we’re celebrating three years of choice.”

Umbro’s new Medusae football boot has been given the magic treatment with a new marketing campaign by creative agency Love.

A limited edition shoe box of tricks has been designed that replicates the back of a well-known magician’s prop. When opening the box there is an empty space, however, when closing the box the boots appear out of a secret compartment.

The front leather part of the new Umbro Medusae boot is of striking red color, while the rear, laces and tongue are navy. Yellow accents are present in the form of the lower part of the studs and the lateral cage, while all brandings are white.

The launch is also backed by a film on Youtube with magician Ben Hanlin. He poses as a regular sales assistant tricking customers and Wales and Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey by making the boot magically appear.

USA midfielder Mix Diskerud has been chosen to be the face of the Umbro Medusae soccer boots.

Why Marketers Are Still Reluctant To Explore Mobile Video Ads

Video is well known to be one of the most powerful engagement tools for an advertiser, thus emerging as one of the top digital advertising formats on both desktop and mobile.

Globally, digital video is gaining traction rapidly on social-media sites. And advertisers in search of new ways to take advantage of it over competitors have continued to look for ways to increase their brand awareness and engagement through it.

The fusion of captivating audio, vibrant graphics, and compelling text produces a richer consumer experience. Combining this winning formula with relevant content, video ads are effective in converting customers to loyal fans.

Mobile video has tons of momentum. It more than doubled from 2013 ($720 million) to 2014 ($1.5 billion) and is predicted to reach $6 billion by 2018, which would put it at about half of all online video spending, according to AppLovin and AppsFlyer, mobile marketing and mobile attribution companies. By 2019, eMarketer estimates, mobile’s share of total digital video ad dollars will reach 47.7%.

So with all these capabilities and benefits, why hasn’t mobile video spending exploded? Why have advertisers not gotten into mobile video advertising extensively yet?

It is not uhuru yet for 5G or fifth generation of wireless technology. 4G is still the trend for now but its funeral is nigh as it will soon go moribund and replaced by 5G. In summary, 5G will leapfrog 4G thus making it irrelevant.

This is an inevitable future which quite a handful of technology companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Google among others are presently spending billions of dollars to make it a reality. 5G will become the new definition of internet speed. So what does the arrival of 5G into the tech world truly mean? Innovation village identify 4 incredible ideas.

Download movies within 5 seconds

5G will allow movie addicts to download high-definition movies in less than 10 secs. This is super fast when compared to the 8 minutes it takes 4G to perform the same download. You can see the astonishing gap. But, 5G internet will not come cheap as tech companies will have to install new towers and hardware to enable 20 gigabits per second. The 20 gigabits per second will make it possible to download a full-length in less than 5 seconds. A long way to go but like they say it is not rocket science!

Connect millions of new devices via networking

Speed may be the focus of fifth generation technology but there are other purposes it is meant for. It can connect millions of new gadgets from smartwatches to wearable technology and other Bluetooth devices. All these gadgets will be linked to your mobile phone thus simplifying the syncing process. It can also help in monitoring your devices through the use of sensors embedded in these devices. Interesting!

Following Barclays’ decision to end its sponsorship deal, the Premier League has hired Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R as its first advertising agency.

RKCR/Y&R bagged the pitch after going up against Adam & Eve/DDB in the final round. M&C Saatchi took part at an earlier stage in the process, which was handled by Robin Consulting.

The WPP agency will begin working on the advertising, digital and social media account immediately.

The win is a big boost for Jon Sharpe, Y&R’s new CEO who took over from Ben Kay at the end of last year.

MG Auto Becomes Liverpool FC Official Chinese Automotive Partner

English Premier League club Liverpool have signed a new partnership with Chinese automotive firm, MG Auto.

The 18-month deal will run until the end of the 2016/17 season and see MG Auto promoting itself as the club’s official Chinese automotive partner.

As part of the arrangement, Liverpool players Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and the captain, Jordan Henderson, will appear in a televised advertisement for the company which will air early next year.

MG Auto is planning to launch a Liverpool FC-themed vehicle, the MG GS, to celebrate the partnership.

The deal comes as Liverpool have reportedly been looking to China for investment and sponsorship of their redeveloped main stand at Anfield.

LinkedIn to Debut Its First TV Commercial During the Oscars

The 88th Oscars Award night on Sunday, February 28 will welcome an interesting first-time television advertiser - LinkedIn, a business-oriented social networking service.

According to the firm, the campaign, “You’re Closer Than You Think” is one of the first major marketing efforts by the company since combining its public relations and marketing teams into one unit.

It is also inspired by its vision to create economic opportunity for the global workforce.

The commercial, which includes a voiceover by LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner, grew out of NASA’s decision in 2015 to use LinkedIn to seek potential recruits for its astronaut program. LinkedIn found that a surprising 3 million members of the platform in the US qualified for the openings.

IEEE OAU Partners Terragon Group to hold Professional Awareness Conference

The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE), Obafemi Awolowo University Ile‐Ife Chapter will be organizing a 2‐Day Students’ Professional Awareness Conference (SPAC) in partnership with Africa’s leading digital media company, Terragon Group, themed ‘The Complete Professional.’

The Conference scheduled to hold on the 25th and 26th of February, 2016 will host over 300 students from other top tertiary institutions in the country namely University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Covenant University and the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.

According to Mrs. Anurika Azubuike, Head of Marketing, Terragon Group, who spoke about the company’s participation at this year’s event, the move was part of the company’s NextGen initiative, a mentorship and coaching platform designed to develop the local mobile ecosystem by giving students developers and technology enthusiasts an avenue to showcase their innovation and skills.

Mrs. Anurika Azubuike

Azubuike stated, “Terragon Group is passionate about growing the local ecosystem. We have done this over the years working with different small businesses and assisting with getting them to where they need to be to become successful online especially through mobile, and investing in a dedicated research team through which we carry out periodic research to contribute to data available for our local markets. These research reports have become a go‐to resource for marketers, brand managers and business owners who need adequate data to make key business decisions.

“Our NextGen Initiative was borne out of the need to grow more skills and knowledge in the younger generation and rising talents within the technology space. Through the program, we will give students the opportunity to practice what they have learnt theoretically and in their classrooms, and get them to bring those learnings to real‐life experiences to test their theories, giving them an inside view of the industry and create immense skilled value for the technology space in the country.”

Skye Bank, Experts Chart Way Forward For SMEs

Financial experts have identified lack of knowledge among operators of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country as the bane of their success.

Speaking at an SME seminar organized by Skye Bank Plc. for MSMEs operators in the North Central zone in Ilorin on Thursday, the Group Head of the bank's Retail Banking, Nkolika Okoli, said the people had failed to access opportunities presented to them by government and finance houses due to lack of knowledge to develop their businesses.

L-R: Regional Manager, Kwara & Oyo North, Skye Bank Plc., Bimbo Akorede, Head, Small Business, Skye Bank Plc., Ayodele Olojede, Guest Speaker, Managing Director, Padson Industries, Ilorin; Hezekiah Oladipo Adediji, Deputy Director , Regional Head, Taxpayer Services, FIRS; Mr. Oluwafemi Ayara and Group Head, Retail Banking , Skye Bank Plc., Nkolika Okoli at the monthly Skye Business Seminar held in Ilorin today, 25th February, 2016.

Okoli who said funds are now available through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervention fund and the Bank of Industry, however, said that SMES were not coming forth to access the fund provided by these channels.

"So, we are here to teach them how they can access these funds. There's actually fund for SMES at single digit.

"The Challenge of MSMEs is mainly lack of knowledge, including complaints about access to finance and access to market. The aim of this seminar is to support operators of MSMES to grow. Our value promise to all MSMES is that we nurture business for growth. We are consciously looking for small businesses to nurture from small to growing and to establish.

…Atedo Peterside, others canvass support for growth amid Nigeria’s current economic position

The focus of the 2016 Standard Bank West Africa Investors’ Conference which held at the Expo Centre, Eko Hotel and suites in Lagos from 23 – 25 February, 2016 was on the opportunities presented by Nigeria’s current economic position. The opportunity to diversify the economy, invest in critical sectors and stimulate growth of the SME space to put the country on the path to sustainable development.

This was the position canvassed by stakeholders at the Standard Bank West Africa Investors’ Conference, now in its 7th edition which had the theme, ‘Unlocking Nigeria’s potential…growth through diversification.’

L-R: Director-General, Debt Management Office, Dr Abraham Nwankwo; Chairman, Stanbic IBTC, Atedo Peterside; Statistician General of the Federation/CEO, National Bureau of Statistics, Dr Yemi Kale; and Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs Sola David-Borha, at the 7th edition of Standard Bank West Africa Investors’ Conference, held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos on Tuesday, February, 23rd.

Nigeria’s economy has been at crossroads in the wake of the slide in commodity prices, a situation that has triggered a growing debate on how best to uplift the economy. The debate has centered on achieving a more balanced, broad-based and diversified growth path that is not subject to fluctuations in the global oil market.

Chairman of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Mr. Atedo Peterside, in his welcome address, stated that the theme was partly derived from the government’s agenda for broadening revenue sources against the backdrop of lower commodity prices. Diversification of the economy has become imperative considering the growing needs of the populace for new jobs and other welfare packages that will help reduce poverty levels, he said, adding that concerted action is required to drive sustainable economic growth.

On Nigeria’s much debated foreign exchange regime, Peterside said the “the point to realize is that “economic diversification can only take place meaningfully if new capital investment activity takes place to take maximum advantage of increased domestic competitiveness.”

Nutritionists and paediatricians have revealed that water drinking is not necessary for babies in their first six months when they are undergoing exclusive breastfeeding.

The experts, which included Professor (Mrs) Ngozi Nnam, the President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), Dr, Ngozi Ibeziako, President of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), Mrs. Stella Umunna, a retired Deputy Director/ Head of Nursing at Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital in Anambra State and Dr. Patrick Eze, former National President, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), made the declaration at a one-day symposium organised by Promasidor Nigeria Limited on Tuesday in Enugu. The theme of the symposium was ‘The Nutrition Wisdom of Infant Feeding Choices”.

L-R Professor (Mrs) Ngozi Nnam, President of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), Mr. Kachi Onubogu, Commercial Director, Promasidor Nigeria and Daryl Gehlig, Category Director(Dairy), Promasidor South Africa at the event

They also encouraged that women should be supported by their husbands, mothers-in-laws, government and the society in general to exclusively breastfeed their babies in the first six months and to apply wisdom in introducing alternatives afterwards.

While harping on the need for massive enlightenment campaigns for women and their husbands on the importance of breastfeeding, Mrs. Stella Umunna said, “they should be made to understand that Water is not necessary when a child is being exclusively breastfed in the first six months.

Her position was supported by Dr, Ngozi Ibeziako, who stated that parents should understand that 80 percent of breast milk is water. She also appealed to health workers to assist in informing women on the benefits of breastfeeding while also advocating for baby-friendly hospitals and work places.

After 13 years of production, Rolls-Royce replaces Phantom

After a 13-year run as the maker of ultra-luxury cars, Rolls-Royce is ready to replace the Phantom limousine which is worth 350,900-euro ($386,000). The renowned British car-manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Sir Frederick Henry Royce, Rolls-Royce is set to start building vehicles with lighter aluminum frames.

The eighth generation of the Phantom will debut in 2018, including a planned sport utility vehicle that could be available that year. BMW gained control over the 112-year-old carmaker in 2000. Rolls Royce is now competing with other ultra-luxury producers such as Bentley by entering new model segments. Rolls-Royce, the market leader in making cars costing more than 200,000 euros, is also considering adding electric models.

Meanwhile the Coupe and Drophead Coupe variants won’t be renewed, the U.K. manufacturer said in a statement on Tuesday. A special collectors’ range of 50 cars, dubbed the Phantom Zenith, will mark the end of the Coupe versions this year and feature a special tailgate with seats for country picnics.
According to CEO of Rolls Royce, Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, the new model will be a “contemporary and beautiful Phantom enhanced with cutting-edge technologies and design innovations.”

Rolls-Royce’s deliveries last year fell 6.8 percent to 3,785 vehicles after demand in China contracted 54 percent. That compares with deliveries of 1.9 million cars by the German parent’s namesake BMW marque.

Frost and Sullivan joins 2016 Education Innovation Summit

Frost and Sullivan– the Growth Partnership Company which enables its clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership – has been named as a strategic partner for the upcoming 2016 Education Innovation Summit.

The Summit, which has been organised by IT News Africa and sponsored by Telkom, will see education and technology executives convene at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg on the 17th of March 2016 to discuss vital topics surrounding the education and technology sectors.

Purpose of the Education Innovation Summit:
At the administrative level, technology can make education systems more efficient by helping teachers and administrators streamline routine tasks and improve assessment and data collection. In the classroom, technology can be a powerful catalyst for pedagogical change, as students use technology to take a more active role in personalising their own education, and teachers take on new roles as facilitators of knowledge rather than knowledge transmitters.

Nigeria’s leading pay TV platform Multichoice, owners of DStv, has announced a slash in the prices of its bouquets as well as introduction of two new sport channels.

The new channels are Super Sport 11 (DStv Channel 231) and Super Sport 12 (DStv Channel 232), they will be dedicated to showcasing the English Premier League (EPL), the Spanish La Liga and Euro 2016. They will be available on the DStv Compact Bouquet.

The DSTV Compact Bouquet was revamped in July 2015 to include over 95 world class channels at a monthly subscription of N6, 000.

MultiChoice’s Managing Director Mr. John Ugbe, made the announcement recently. He noted that due to the country’s economic challenges, the company decided to slash prices to enable more Nigerians enjoy quality entertainment at no extra cost.

“One of MultiChoice’s key priorities is to put our subscribers’ needs at the heart of everything we do and since these have been tough economic times for everyone, we realised that our subscribers could use some good news. We are excited that we can now deliver the best football action in the world to our Compact subscribers while ensuring that this development doesn’t negatively impact them financially,” he said.

An amiable relationship is not restricted to visiting malls, watching romantic movies and having late night dinners. Dating partners should also go on vacation regularly because it is a proven fact that couples that travel together stay together.

However, if the girl you are about to date dislikes travelling, Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal shares the following 5 reasons why you should immediately search for another beau.

She may not love you

They may have flight phobia which makes them dislike travelling. But this is not enough reason for them to outrightly reject travelling with you. The advantages of spending time with you should far outweigh any other excuse. Versatile travellers love and appreciate one another. If its true love, your partner will jump at most travel opportunities to be with you.

No opportunity to try something new

Addicted travellers are always encountering and having refreshing experiences. From meeting new people, speaking a different dialect, tasting an appetising cuisine and engaging with locals are moments couples should cherish. For example, junketing from Lagos to Port Harcourt will expose you to a whole new chapter of life especially for partners leaving Lagos for the first time. So why should your partner resist such an exciting vacation break?

MTN pays N50 Billion And Withdraws Lawsuit Against NCC

MTN Nigeria has withdrew the law suit levied against the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) at the Federal High Court in Lagos and has paid N500 billion to the regulatory body.

The NCC had imposed a N1.04 trillion fine on MTN Nigeria in October 2015 for its failure to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered or improperly registered subscribers.

The fine was renegotiated to N780 billion, however MTN still hoped for a lesser fine and filed the lawsuit which has now been dropped.

Speaking about the withdrawal, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Ferdi Moolman said, “This is a most encouraging development. It demonstrates a willingness and sincerity by both parties to work together towards a positive outcome.”

The telecom giant recently brought in former United States Attorney General Eric Holder to assist in their negotiation process.

Dubai’s DEAL 2016 show could propel Africa’s theme park and amusement industry

Africa’s amusement, entertainment and retail industry is set to benefit by participating in Dubai’s DEAL 2016 (Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure) show. DEAL is the largest amusement and entertainment exhibition in the Middle East and Africa region and will exhibit the latest innovations that can soon be part of the African amusement industry sector.

Compared to the global gross domestic product (GDP) average, Africa has been experiencing a rapid growth. Reports have revealed that six out of ten fastest growing economies globally are in Africa, a USD2 trillion economy.

Over 12% of the visitors from the last year’s show were from Africa. International Expo Consults (IEC), the organizer of the event, predicts this percentage to grow exponentially due to the rapid transformation of the African themeparks and amusement sector. DEAL 2016 is set to unveil state-of-the-art innovations and is forecasted to grow by over 40% this year, a leap from last year’s 35% growth.

The show last year unveiled cutting-edge inventions including 9D park rides and augmented reality games, among other family entertainment centre (FEC) equipment. International and regional exhibitors and visitors will converge for the annual trade show this year including a large number of African stakeholders.

The days of having to remember complicated passwords, or leaving your accounts vulnerable by using a generic one, may soon be over. Yes! MasterCard has announced that the firm will begin expanding a feature which allows facial recognition software to act as biometric security in mobile payments.

Successful trial of the software carried out in the US and Netherlands last year boost the credit card giant confidence in the payment option which is expected to be launched over the next few months by large financial institutions in the United Kingdom, Canada and some European nations.

According to the president of enterprise security solutions at MasterCard (MA), Ajay Bhalla, the technology will become commonplace around the world within five years.

Nigeria, SA and Kenya Top Attractive Africa Countries For M&A Activity

Despite political turmoil in many countries, a prolonged downturn in the commodities cycle and related currency risk, Africa’s top economies have maintained investor interest with strong momentum in M&A across the majority of sectors, according to the fourth edition of “Deal Drivers Africa”, published recently by Merger market in collaboration with Control Risks, the leading business risk consultancy.

South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya are seen as the most attractive target countries for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the continent.

After several years of steadily increasing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity, African deal making has made the final step to firmly entrench itself into the global marketplace. 100% of respondents believe that cross-border deal making between African countries will continue to increase. Respondents expect most foreign buyers of African companies in 2016 to come from Europe (41%), Asia-Pacific (39%) and North America (16%).

Energy, mining and utilities are expected to generate the most M&A activity in Africa (79%), with industrial & chemicals being viewed as the second busiest sector in the next 12 months (72%). Regulatory uncertainty, particularly compliance and integrity issues, are highlighted as the principal obstacle to M&A activity in Africa (86%), followed by operational and security risks (77%) and cyber security is given highest importance by 60% of respondents when doing an M&A deal in Africa.

Today at Mobile World Congress, HomeSend, the international payment and money transfer hub, announced the expansion of its global framework agreement with Vodafone Group for M-Pesa, including the launch of remittance services into five new markets during 2016.

The two companies will work together to enable the real-time, mobile receipt of remittances by M-Pesa users in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Albania. In addition to Kenya, HomeSend has already launched connections for inbound remittances with M-Pesa in both Tanzania and Romania.

HomeSend continues to rapidly expand the reach of their network, with coverage expected to reach more than 70 markets in 2016. These will include 20 new Mobile Money markets, bolstering the interoperability of HomeSend’s network and providing their customers with the ability to send and receive remittances globally via a mobile phone.

Focused on broadening their network and service offering, HomeSend will provide a fast, safe and convenient way to receive remittances by enabling MasterCard payments cards to be used. Several markets are expected to go live with this solution throughout 2016.

BBC Advertising increases its presence across sub-Saharan Africa

BBC Advertising, part of BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, has increased its presence across sub-Saharan Africa, by launching a local team in market.
News Article Image for 'BBC Advertising increases its presence across sub-Saharan Africa'

The decision is the latest in a series of announcements, across the business, focused on increasing the focus on emerging markets where key growth opportunities have been identified.

The newly established team, based in Johannesburg, is being led by Isla Macleod, Regional Sales Director, Africa, who joined BBC Advertising in 2009 and previously held the of position of Digital Business Development Director EMEA in London. In this new role, Macleod is responsible for the generation and delivery of advertising sales within market, including sponsored and branded content across the BBC World News channel, as well as partnered content across BBC.com and the BBC World Service in all 50 sub-Saharan nations. She is also focused on building a team of home grown talent with local experience.

Currently supporting Macleod is Zione Akule, Digital Sales Director, South Africa. Akule joined the company in April 2015 having previously worked at Mediacom and graduate Malerie Pistorius, who was recently appointed TV and Online Media Planner. Recruitment is also underway for a Head of Commercial Partnerships Southern and West Africa for BBC StoryWorks, the content-led marketing arm of BBC Advertising. The successful candidate will be responsible for the creation, development and execution of relevant content packages tailored to regional client objectives.

Govt-owned media to be restructured for optimum performance - Minister

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that government-owned media organizations will be restructured and reinvented in order to position them to compete favourably with other broadcasters.

The Minister gave the assurance when he received the National Executive Committee of the Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) on a courtesy visit in Abuja on Monday.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed

While responding to the issue raised by RATTAWU on the low patronage of public media, he said the government media organizations have to be retooled to provide compelling contents that will make them attractive to viewers and advertisers.

“As long as we do not improve on the quality of NTA, and other public media, we cannot compete with others. We need to restructure, we need to reinvent NTA, FRCN and all our other publicly-owned media because that is the only way we can compete favourably with other broadcasting outfits ” Alhaji Mohammed said.

He reiterated that under his watch, no public media organization would deny access to the political opposition but emphasized that the media, especially the broadcast outfits, should always adhere strictly to the provisions of the Broadcasting Code in the performance of their duties.

Cowbellpedia Introduces Mobile App To Fight Maths Phobia

As part of the build-up to its 2016 Secondary School Mathematics Television Quiz Show, Cowbellpedia has developed a multi-level mobile app that will allow students to practice Mathematics questions everywhere with a lot of fun.

Festus Tettey, Head of Marketing, Promasidor Nigeria Limited explained last week in Lagos, that the move was part of measures to stimulate greater interest by students in Mathematics, which is regarded as the bedrock of science and technology. The Mathematics Association of Nigeria, MAN has identified Mathematics phobia as a major drawback for the interest of students in the subject.

This Cowbellpedia Mobile app, according to Tettey, can be downloaded on Google Play Store and Apple Store. He added that this year’s competition will be in two stages: Qualifying Written Examination and TV Quiz Show. The National Examination Council NECO will conduct the Stage One examination according to him on Saturday, March 19, 2016. NECO is an examination body in Nigeria that conducts the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination and the General Certificate Examinations in Education in June/July and December/January respectively.

Under this year’s arrangement, NECO will deploy its massive infrastructure to improve the conduct of the examination across the country. Tettey added that the Stage One of the Mathematics Competition is open to students from 10 - 18 years of age attending full time Secondary Education in both Public and Private Schools in Nigeria. Entry into this competition is FREE.

Segun Ogunsanya

As a result of a recent change in the structure of its Africa operations, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, has been appointed head of Nigeria and Ghana operations of Bharti Airtel.

With this change, which takes effect from 1st April, 2016, the Managing Director of Airtel Ghana, Lucy Quist, will now report to Mr. Ogunsanya.

Bharti Airtel recently announced the top level changes for its Africa operations, noting that the new structure would further enhance the level of empowerment and enable faster decision making as well as speed to market.

The recent structure also elevated Mr. Christian de Faria, who was formerly the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for Airtel Africa, to the position of Executive Chairman, Airtel Africa.

In his new role, Christian de Faria will continue to support the vision of Airtel Africa and lead all matters relating to legal, regulatory affairs, shareholders as well as Mergers & Acquisitions.

A Wake-up Call To Policymakers, Business Leaders And Civil Society

Without immediate and urgent action, the world will miss the newly agreed global goal of universal Internet access by 2020. This is the key finding of the Alliance for Affordable Internet’s (A4AI’s) 2015-16 Affordability Report, released today, 22rd February.

Analysis shows that, on current trends, the world’s least developed countries will only achieve universal access in 2042 — more than 20 years past the target date set by the global community. As a result, at least one more generation in many countries will grow up excluded from the opportunities associated with Internet access.

In order to accelerate progress, the UN must set a more ambitious target for getting broadband prices down, the report argues. Even in those countries that have met the current target threshold of 5% of average income, income inequality means that nearly half a billion people — primarily women and the poor — remain priced out of the digital revolution.

The Alliance’s Affordability Drivers Index ranks Colombia, Costa Rica and Malaysia as
nations best placed to drive prices down fast.

According to the report, income inequality, gender discrimination, and poverty mean access remains unaffordable for over 70% of people in the world’s least developed countries.

The high cost to connect continues to exclude billions from the digital revolution. The global goal to provide affordable, universal Internet access focuses specifically on connecting people across the world’s least developed countries, yet 70% of people in these countries cannot afford a basic, 500MB per month broadband plan.

All is set for the upcoming Olashore International School’s entrance exams scheduled to hold on February 27th. The exam which is open to primary school students that will be 10 years old by September of 2016 across the country is scheduled to accommodate years 7, 8, 10 and 11 (JSS1, 2, and SS1, 2) at 12noon.

The Venues are; Lagos Preparatory School 36-40 Glover road, Ikoyi, Lagos; Premier International School, 26 N’djamena Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja; Groove School 1 Sanni Abacha Link Road, GRA Phase 3, Port Harcourt, Rivers state; Lakeland School, Ogunnu Road, Warri, Delta State; and Olashore International School, Iloko-Ijesa, Osun State.

According to the principal, Mr Derek Smith, the school is set to hold the exams at various venues to the reach of prospective candidates; His words: "The school is set to hold the exams at various venues to the reach of potential candidates. We are committed to raising the standards, and remain one of the top schools in Nigeria and Africa. This is a reflection of the increasing demand of Nigerians for secondary school education in Nigeria that is of global standards, while reflecting a sense of value, discipline and best practices.”

The Chairman, Board of Governors, Prince Bimbo Olashore, stated that "Olashore International School is a leading academic institution where future leaders are nurtured by providing our students with life skills, leadership training, arts, sports and global exposure while preserving our core Nigerian culture and societal values. This entrance examination however offers an opportunity to parents who wish to enroll their children and wards in the school for international standard education and learnings beyond the classroom, which are our core offerings."

Centurion Law Group is continuing its commitment to training and development with the introduction of the Centurion Business Mentorship Program. This Pro Bono initiative will provide complimentary legal services to start-up companies and small and medium-sized enterprises.

The program is designed to support young and innovative entrepreneurs with legal and business advice, including corporate structuring, labor and employment, and tax and customs issues. The pilot program will first be made available to businesses in Cameroon, with plans to expand it to other Centurion markets across Africa.

“African entrepreneurs and businesses can only reach their full potential when they are given the right legal support,” said NJ Ayuk, CEO of Centurion Law Group. “The dreams of African start-ups and entrepreneurs should not be put on hold, slowed, or held back because of the lack of legal support. As a pan-African law firm, we believe we have an obligation to support them and we will provide that support.”

The program is designed for entrepreneurs who want to know how to launch a successful company and navigate the legal and business environment of African markets.

Participants in the program will be provided with advice in such areas as corporate structuring, labor and employment, and tax and customs issues. Eligible applicants can download an application form from the Careers section of the Centurion website. They should send the filled application form and a cover letter detailing their interest in the program to info@centurionlawfirm.com.

A Review Of Proposed 2016 Budget: 10 States That Are Investing In Housing Projects

The newly appointed administration have estimated a total national budget of N6 trillion and have proposed N433.3 billion to be allocated to the power, works and housing sectors. Leading real estate portal, Lamudi Nigeria looks into 10 states of the Federation and how much of their state budget is estimated to be allocated towards housing projects.

In the wake of President Muhammadu Buhari’s assurance that development in infrastructure will be given high priority, it is no surprise that the proposed 2016 budget for capital expenditure has risen by 20 percent since 2015.

This increase in funding allocation and attention to the housing sector of the country will hopefully bring about much needed influx in foreign direct investment (FDI) and boost the construction sector of the country. Therefore, research into the state’s housing budget is a much needed exercise to ensure that the plans of the Governors and ministers are in-line with that of the Presidency.

A look at the infographic below shows how much funding each state has proposed to allocate to housing projects.

Jovago Unveils #MyNigeria Campaign

Africa’s leading hotel booking portal, Jovago.com, has launched an innovative campaign tagged #MyNigeria. The … which commenced on the 18th of February 2016 gives social media users the opportunity to have pictures of beautiful landmarks from across the country promoted worldwide.

The initiative is driven towards promoting the nation’s domestic tourism and hospitality industry as well as showcasing Nigeria’s exciting landscape says Kushal Dutta, Managing Director of Jovago.

According to Dutta, “This #MyNigeria campaign is different from all the other initiatives we have launched because it is engaging, social and taps into our sense of patriotism.

“Through this project, we are able to promote this nation as a tourist destination and show the world the Nigeria the media never talks about. When people drive through the streets, they see many wonderful monuments and landmarks but these places are left undiscovered because many do not know they exist. We would like to change that,” he said.

The #MyNigeria campaign which is currently running on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook is coming on the heels of the $84 million funding Jovago and the Africa Internet Group received from world leaders in insurance and mainstream investors, AXA Group, confirming Jovago’s strategy to boost its operations and local presence in Africa in order to meet the needs of domestic and international travelers.

Barcelona Football Club (FC) of Spain has announced plans to establish a Youth Academy in Lagos.

The senior management staff of the football club led by Director of Business and Member of FC Barcelona Management Board, Pau Vilanova Vila-Abadal disclosed the football clubs decison during a courtesy visit to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambodeat the Lagos House in Ikeja.

Governor Ambode who was delighted with the decision, pledged the maximum support of the government in ensuring the successful take-off of the project. He added that the development was in sync with his administration’s philosophy for sports development.

According to Governor Ambode: “This visit by FC Barcelona is coming at a point where I believe strongly that we have nothing else to say than to say we are committed into this partnership because we know the partnership will give us the first FCBEscola in Africa. I was made to understand that this is the first of its kind in Africa and so Lagos is priding itself as a major receptor of the next academy to be established in Africa.

Nokia today, 22 February, announced it has established the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) together with Facebook, Intel, Deutsche Telekom, EE, Globe, SK Telecom and other operators, equipment providers, systems integrator and technology companies from around the world. The overall target of TIP is to accelerate sustainable global growth of high quality, scalable and affordable telecommunications infrastructure by driving innovation in collaboration with the industry.

Nokia provides TIP with both experience and credibility from the mobile communication ecosystem. As a founding member of TIP, Nokia wants to promote transparency and open architecture, and explore new business models to improve people's lives through better connectivity.

The TIP promise is to simplify network and product architecture to gain higher performance, simpler network operation and increased automation. The industry will benefit from a growing ecosystem that will provide connectivity to places that previously were unconnected.

Nokia's planned contributions to TIP include publishing an open specification for the operability interface associated with the radio access run time environment, which traditionally is vendor specific. This open interface will allow development of innovative new radio solutions for new market segments, allowing operators to "mix-and-match" between vendors within a given end-to-end-solution.

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