The Nation Newspaper

Category: Brand week

  • Reckitt Benckiser unveils Dettol 21 days of healthy hands habit campaign

    In Nigeria 200,000 children under the age of five die every year due to Diarrhoea. 88 per cent of diarrhoeal deaths could be attributed to unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene.

    Once again Dettol realising the importance of continuing these efforts in Nigeria is embarking on a 21 days campaign on the Global Hand Washing day, where they will reach people all over Nigeria with the message of washing their hands regularly for 21 days. Why 21 days because popular belief is that’s the time it takes to build a habit.

    More over in order to increase participation of kids and families and make the habit of hand washing enjoyable Dettol has launched its Sound of Health Sound track which encourages children to wash and keep good hygiene to prevent illnesses

    (Visit: http://www.dettolghd.com/ for details of content and Participation)

    During these 21 days, Dettol will use its new ‘‘21 Days to a ‘Healthy Hands’ Habit campaign to intensify the hand hygiene awareness campaign using various media platforms such as out of home types comprising branded BRT buses, digital billboards as well as print and electronic media . These are all in addition to an interactive theme song which has been produced to promote the campaign.

    Hand washing with soap is one of the world’s most cost-effective preventive health interventions and has been proven to reduce the risk of not only diarrhoea, but also some of its more severe manifestations, such as cholera and dysentery, by 48-59 percent.  Regular hand washing with soap has also recently been shown to reduce pneumonia infections by 25% and levels of school absenteeism by between 20 and 50 per cent

    Dettol has been at the forefront of providing Health and Hygiene messages via its products to Nigeria for the last 50 years. The company’s vision is to have a world where people are healthier and live better.

    In a similar stride Dettol has been conducting mass programs to make a difference to the lives of Nigerians through the following initiatives:

    New Mum Program where they have reached 5 million moms since 2006 teaching them good hygiene habits for themselves and their new born babies;

    The Health on Wheels Program where they have reached 150, 000 families through mobile clinics;

    School Hand Hygiene Program in which they have reached almost a million kids this year across schools in Nigeria while a total of 3 million kids have been reached since they started the programme in 2009.

    According to Reckitt Benckiser, many more Nigerians will be exposed to the message of regular hand washing thereby increasing mass awareness on the immense benefits of hand hygiene.

    Commenting on the “21 Days to a ‘Healthy Hands Habit with Dettol” campaign, representative of the National President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Martins Momoh commended Reckitt Benckiser for the innovative concept. He said the adoption of a healthy hands habit through regular hand wash with soap and water will go a long way in combating many diseases that are caused by germs.

    Also speaking, Deputy Director (Laboratory Services), Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Oyebanji Oyenuga affirmed that incidence of communicable diseases in Nigeria and elsewhere will drastically reduce when people imbibe the habit of hand washing with soap and water.

    “As a laboratory scientist of over 30 years, I can confidently say that the importance of regular hand washing with soap and water cannot be over-emphasized because the unseen germs that cause diseases in human body are real.” He noted that the campaign is well focused, and pledged the readiness of the federal ministry to partner with the company in any area it may desire.

    Speaking in similar vein, the Director, Press and Public Relations, Special Duties Office of Secretary to the Government of Federation, Mrs Philomena Oshodin applauded Reckitt Benckiser and its flagship Dettol brand for blazing the trail in hand hygiene advocacy. She thanked the company for its unrelenting commitment to good health in Nigeria.

    “Your efforts are in line with the Millennium Development Goals part of which is to reduce maternal and infant mortality. With this kind of initiative, your support to government towards eradicating diseases and building a strong, healthy nation is immense. Thank you for the wonderful job that you are doing. We will certainly let government know what your company is doing”, she said.

    Speaking at the media conference to unveil the campaign in Lagos, Ashok Bhasin, Managing Director, Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited/General Manager, Reckitt Benckiser Central Africa Region, said the 21 days’ target is predicated on the research finding on human behaviour and attitudinal change to the effect that it takes a period of 21 days of consistently doing a particular thing to make it a habit.

    ‘‘Interestingly, the main focus of the hand washing campaign is to educate the children, who are the ‘agents of change’ to cultivate the habit of hand washing.

    Dettol, the world’s no.1 antiseptic brand is renowned for protecting millions of families from germs globally. With its passion and commitment to health and hygiene, the 21 Days to a ‘Healthy Hands’ Habit with Dettol will further go a long way in improving the hand hygiene situation of millions of household in Nigeria and significantly help to reduce death arising from preventable diseases.

  • Mimicking kalo-kalo with coin dispensing ATMs

    Gone are the days when slot machines popularly known as kalo-kalo was democratised in Lagos. Then, you do not have to visit a hotel casino to play the money game. Almost all the major streets in Lagos had jackpot shops. The game was as popular as Premier Lotto was (Baba Ijebu) is in Lagos today. How time flies.

    To play jackpot in Lagos today, you must be ready to visit a highbrow hotel. Jackpot has become exclusive game for the higher class. I hope lotto will not suffer similar fate in the future. I pray not. My prayer is not because of my love for the game. Rather the number of people lotto businesses have gainfully employed in the state. If you doubt my enthusiasm, take a census of the red-coloured PoS terminals at bus stops, market places, and open areas in Lagos.

    I remember my first and last slot machine game at a corner shop in Mushin, Lagos. It was a wet evening in November 1986. I had always been tempted to enter the jackpot shop whenever, a passed through this particular street. This day I decided to look at what was going on in the shop. Alas, I met three drunk elderly men in the shop playing the monies game.

    The first thing that attracted me was the flashing lights. The light was on each of the machines. The machine were carefully designed and installed to attract the players. After watching these elderly playing and packing many coins dispensed by the slot machines, my appetite grew the more. After a brief hesitation, I approached one of the slot machines; I put One Kobo coin into the coin slot and draw the handle. The machine did not dispense anything at the first two attempts.

    However, on my third attempt, the machine dispensed 20 coins in One Kobo denominations. At that point, I became very greedy and wanted to win more. I slotted my entire jackpot and remaining 70k on me but the machine refused to dispense again. I became very sad with myself.

    As I was stepping out of the shop, my big cousin sighted me and he shook his head. Two days, later he asked me of my experience at the casino. He asked me if I want to be like the men, I met at the shop playing the game, of which my answer was negative. That was how my cousin talked me out of going to casino.

    However, 26 years after, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is making me to recollect my street education at the street corner casino. When I read it in the newspapers sometimes ago that the apex bank will facilitate the introduction of ATM that can dispense coins to encourage the citizens imbibe the culture of spending them, I immediately pictures myself drawing the slot machine handle.

    The Head of Shared Services, CBN, Mr. Chidi Umeano had told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the plan was in tune with the currency restructuring exercise. He said the coins dispensing ATMs would hasten the acceptance of coins by Nigerians and change the misconception about their use.

    Umeano said, “To achieve this plan, what is needed is to facilitate the inclusion of a process called ‘add-on’ to the ATMs. “Good enough, the existing ATMs have the add-on feature that will easily make them adapt to coins dispensing.”

    He said that the apex bank would ensure that newly deployed ATMs had the add-on‘ feature among others. Umeano said, “It is very possible to achieve Automated Teller Machines that will dispense coins. This add-on feature can be activated on the ATMs at any time by the CBN and this is not new because it is being practiced in advanced countries. “This proposal is in consonance with our cash-less policy and also in line with the CBN’s effort to encourage Nigerians to appreciate coins.”

    To the best of my understanding, I do not see how cash machine whether note or coin dispensing complement cashless initiative. The cash-dispensing feature of an ATM has never been cashless friendly because it only stimulates the desire of consumers to use cash.

    What cashless scheme entails are the end-to-end cashless transactions that cut off the usage of cash in consumer purchases. This is the reason that Point of Sale (PoS) terminals and web are the preferred platforms for cashless initiatives. I think issue of coins dispensing ATMs is unnecessary distraction to the cashless initiative drive.

    SOLA FANAWOPO, specialist communication analyst contributed this piece from Lagos

  • Latina berths in Port Harcourt

    The La Casera Company Plc has taken its sugar-free, real fruit proposition of their Latina range of carbonated soft drinks to the Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    With an experiential campaign, the company treated residents of the metropolis to the unique taste of the Latina Spanish Pear and Latina C ocktail drinks.

    According to the Brand Activation Manager, Port Harcourt, Mr Johnny Okoruwa, the Latina range was being introduced to the people of the city as they were known to be selective in their choice of drinks and knew a good thing when they see and taste it.

    “The residents of Port Harcourt are quite enlightened and picky about what they eat and drink – this is why we believe the Latina Spanish Pear and Cocktail drinks will fast become popular with the city’s largely youthful and professional population. The health and fitness angle is also bound to appeal to young and older persons who actively check their sugar and calorie intake”, he said.

    Many of the Garden City’s residents who enjoyed free samples of the Latina drinks at strategically positioned stands across the city were keen on giving them a trial run. Mr James Ukandu, a businessman, said he would be lured to add the Latina variants to his list of favourite drinks by their claim of being sugar free and containing real fruit extract.

     

    “One thing I’ll say for them is that they do have a unique taste. But the major draw for people like me who are watching their sugar intake for health reasons is the “No Sugar” claim as one would be able to enjoy these drinks without fear of consequences”, he explained.

    On her part, Miss Queen Opara, a student, has already developed a fondness for a particular variant.

    “I really love the Latina Cocktail because the taste reminds me of so many things at once and the red colour is a favourite of mine”, she enthused.

    With the brand offerings of Vivacity, Well Being and Great Taste, the Latina Experiential Campaign continues in towns and cities across states in Nigeria.

     

     

  • MTN Link Forum berths in Enugu

    In continuation of the eight-city business connect and mentorship programme, the MTN Link Forum’s train recently berthed in Enugu, hosting young budding Entrepreneurs and Professionals within and around the state to a night of  networth.

    The forum, aimed at helping entrepreneurs and professionals on the MTN Network, connect to their passions and aspirations saw a massive turnout of participants who arrived the venue very early, enthusiastic to get inspired and motivated by resourceful and accomplished individuals, the likes of Dr Chukwuemeka Ujam, Hon Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Enugu State and Dr Ifediora Amobi, Executive Director, African Institute for Applied Economics, Enugu.

    Sharing knowledge from his life experience, Dr Ujam encouraged participants to dream big and work towards achieving it irrespective of what challenges comes their way. “I am one of those who believe that to be successful in life, people should learn to rise above their mistakes and move on. Mistakes are bound to happen, however let your mistakes guide you. Learn from people who are ahead of you, take their advice where necessary to guide your judgments and most importantly embrace God,” he advised.

    Speaking on capacity building, Dr Amobi stated that the role of ICT cannot be over-emphasised as it plays a key role in achieving success in this modern day. According to him, the world is a global village and the only way to stay connected and have access to useful information that can aid self and business growth is to embrace the culture of Information Technology. “The MTN Link Forum indeed provides young entrepreneurs and professionals with opportunity to not only learn from the success stories of others but also exposes them to all the needed information to enhance their business,” he stated.

    Expressing his delight on the forum, one of the participants, Nwaenyi Anselm Nnaemeka, a banker simply stated “I am wowed. MTN has made my life richer.”

    Other activities at the event were musical performances from Mr Raw and Fashion Parades by Ola Creations and Chennas Fashion both Fashion houses operating in Enugu State.

    The MTN Link Forum which has held in Calabar, Port Harcourt, Benin, and Ibadan will also make appearances in the FCT and Lagos respectively.

     

    DDB boss is Brand Person of the year

     

    As part of the Marketing Edge’s mission of promoting the brand idea, plans have been concluded to confer the chairman of Casers Group, Mr Enyi Odigbo with the award of Brand Personality of the year 2011.

    The award ceremony, which is billed to hold on October 23, 2012 at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers will be attended by over 300 top corporate leaders in the Integrated Marketing Communications sector and the clients’ side. Odigbo will be crowned in recognition of numerous achievements in the brand building business and for his contributions to the growth of creativity in advertising business in Nigeria. Former Managing Director, Samsung Nigeria, Mr Enang Idonrenyen will also deliver a dinner talk on contemporary marketing issues at the event.

    Explaining the rationale for the choice of Odigbo for the prestigious award, publisher and chief executive officer of Marketing Edge Publications, Mr John Ajayi said the doggedness and incomparable but admirable entrepreneurial spirit demonstrated by Odigbo in championing the cause of advertising and marketing practice over the years is second to none.

    Ajayi said: “Mr Odigbo’s recent nomination as one of the world’s top agency innovators and breakthrough thinkers at the 2011 Global Innovators Summit in New York clearly places him in the elite group of advertising agency executives and marketing leaders worldwide.”

     

    Dubai Lynx confirms Jury heads

     

    The Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity is the leading awards and festival for creative excellence in advertising and communications in the Middle East and North Africa and the must-attend event on the region’s industry calendar. Holding at the Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, next year’s event will take place 10-13 March.

    Stepping up to lead two of the seven juries will be Sylvia Vitale Rotta, CEO of Team Créatif, presiding over the Design jury and Iain Jacob, President of Dynamic Markets, Starcom MediaVest Group, who will head up the Media jury.

    Sylvia Vitale Rotta founded Team Créatif with Nick Craig in 1986. Since then the design agency has become a reference point both in the French market and abroad. With 165 collaborators from 10 different nationalities, Team Créatif works in 49 countries, including Brazil, where it has a subsidiary in São Paulo and also now Jakarta. A design ambassador around the world, Sylvia was the President of the first Design jury at Eurobest and also the President of the Design Lions Jury at Cannes Lions 2009.

    Commenting on her appointment Sylvia Vitale Rotta says, “It is an honour for me to be chosen as President of the Dubai Lynx Design category. I have worked extensively in the fast moving MENA region and I have personally experienced the importance and the power of design in branding and packaging as well as retail and digital. This will be fundamental in bringing even more value to branded Products and their corporations. Whether they be local, big or small brands or mega international brands! Enjoy the event and lots of success for this creative get-together in the region.”

    Iain Jacob, began his career in advertising at Boase Massimi Pollitt (now DDB) and Bartle Bogle Hegarty. In 1995, he co-founded Motive Communications, BBH’s award-winning separate media company, after which he was given responsibility for the UK operations of Starcom Motive. In 2005 Iain was made the CEO of Starcom Mediavest Group EMEA, and joined the Global Board of SMG. This new role gave him a great deal of exposure to fast growing markets such as the Middle East and Russia as well as the more established Western European countries. In 2009 Iain was made President of Global Innovation, alongside his EMEA role. In this role he was tasked with helping build out SMG’s content business, Liquid Thread and also performance marketing disciplines for the company. In 2011 Iain was elevated to President Dynamic Markets following a global reorganisation. This added Australia and Canada to his European duties.

    On being jury president Iain Jacob says, “I feel very privileged to be asked to serve as the Chair of the Dubai Lynx Media category. I passionately believe that great ideas and innovation are what really changes the fortune of brands. The Middle East is also a region that I hold very close to my heart, its vibrancy and diversity of culture are second to none, its creativity absolutely deserves global recognition. As judges, this is what we will celebrate.”

    Commenting on these announcements, CEO of Lions Festivals Philip Thomas, said: “The Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity showcases the best of the region’s creativity and reflect changes and progression within the industry; which is why it’s fantastic that we can welcome Sylvia and Iain on board as jury presidents, they are both enormously well respected and influential within their industries.”

    The all-new Dubai Lynx 2013 website launches today, with up-to-date information on the Awards and Festival as well as details on how to submit entries and register to attend. Anyone interested should see www.dubailynx.com.

  • Gulder Ultimate Search 9: Expectations, suspense, surprise

    Gulder Ultimate Search 9: Expectations, suspense, surprise

    The Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) train landed in Usaka hills and forest, Akwa Ibom State, this week. It is the ninth edition of the award-winning reality show from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc designed to empower young Nigerians as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR). This year’s edition will be full of surprises as captured in this preview by JIMI DAVID.

    The die is cast. The posturing is over. Now it’s time for the real thing. It will surely be the defining moment for the 12 finalists of the 2012 edition of Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS). By now, the chosen 12 will be sequestered in the belly of rugged Usaka hills and forest, Akwa Ibom State, venue of this year’s edition. They would surely have felt tremors running through their bodies when this year’s anchor, Nollywood hunk Chidi Mokeme was introduced to them during the final selection party recently in Lagos.

    After a seven-year hiatus from the reality TV show, Mokeme’s return will surely spell something different for GUS this year. The Anambra State-born actor did not mince words when he was officially introduced to the audience as well as the 12 contestants. For the 12 contestants, the journey to winning the ninth edition of GUS is far from over. If anything, the journey just got a whole lot harder.

    Indeed, the journey has certainly been an interesting one for the 12 finalists. The 12, who would be going to the jungle to slug it out for who becomes the Jungle King, or Queen, as it were, are: Ujam Emmanuel, Nuhu Haruna, Ogbuefi Michael, Ifet Aniobong, Ojezele Pascal and Adah James. The others are Kofya Brown, Bornford Patience, Ayo Ojueromi, Uzor Osimkpa, Udodi Onyinyechukwu and Ezeh Priscilla.

    They were a part of the thousands that made it from the regional screening held in Makurdi, Owerri, Benin and Lagos. Making it past the regional screening was anything but easy for them; they had to undergo strenuous physical tests, including, sprinting, swimming and others.

    Passing the physical test was just one step of the hurdle as they also had to go through oral interviews before a panel.

    Then the 30 qualifers were assembled in Lagos for psychological evaluation before they were whittled down to the final 12.

    Now that they have made it to the main stage of the competition, they must all be at their best to stave off competition.

    Exciting prizes await the winner. The cash prize is N9 million.

    The highest since the inception of GUS, a an SUV and N500,000 wardrobe (or swagga) allowance also await the winner. That is in addition to entering the GUS Hall of Fame reserved for only a few. There is also an additional incentive of N1 million for the best female in the competition.

    Apart from the winner, the other 11 participants will also be rewarded with cash pruzes ranging from N1 million for the 11th placed contestant to N3 million for the first runner- up.

    Last year’s edition was won by Christopher Okagbue who, against all odds beat 30 others to the top prize.

    This year’s edition will see Akwa- Ibom State hosting GUS for the first time since its inception. The competition has moved across some of the most rugged areas across the country from the Snake Islands, Lagos to Ososo Hills and Forests in Edo State, to Shere Hills in Plateau State, to NIFOR forest in Edo State, amongst others.

    For Chidi Mokeme, his return would surely be a welcome relief for followers of the TV reality show. While Tin Tin and more recently Bob Manuel Udokwu have performed as presenters in the GUS, many followers have still expressed preference for Chidi Mokeme. Now, that he is back as anchor, it remains to be seen whether he would pick up from where he left, and even do better than his performance in the first two editions or whether he has become rusty.

    Mokeme is not the only exciting addition to the GUS. This year’s edition has been tagged ‘The Gate Keeper’s Fortune. The Gate keeping role in this edition has been assigned to three former champions in GUS; Dominic Mudabai, Michael Nwachukwu and Christopher Okagbue – winners in the fourth, fifth and eight editions.

    The three ‘wise’ men, who were voted back by the public in a poll that involved all past winners would also put the contestants through their places in the competition. This is the first time past winners of GUS will be returning back to the show in that capacity and it certainly promises to be an exciting affair.

    With all of the excitement the GUS is generating, the exciting TV series has certainly entrenched itself in the hearts of followers.

    When it berthed on national television nine years ago, there was a deluge of reality television series. Yet GUS, Nigerian’s first and only 100 per cent local content reality television show, has managed to worm its way into the hearts of TV viewers across the country.

    Today, Gulder Utimate Search is one of the most followed reality TV shows across the country.

  • PRCAN holds AGM, elects new exco

    The Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) will hold its 2012 Annual General Meeting (AGM) today. A major highlight of the event, which will take place at Hotel 1960 Eagles Park, Ikeja, Lagos, is the election into the executive committee of the association.

    According to PRCAN Executive Secretary Victoria Bassey, election would be conducted by a two-member election committee made up of CEO Neo Media and Marketing Ehi Braimah, and CEO Winning Concepts Public Relations Mike Meze, while the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) will send observers.

    Offices to be contested for are President, Vice President, Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General, Publicity Secretary and Treasurer. By the provisions of PRCAN Memorandum and Articles of Association (Memart) every past president automatically becomes an ex-officio member.

    The outgoing officers include Dr Phil Osagie, President; Chido Nwakanma, Vice President; and John Ehiguese, Honourable Secretary General. The others are Muyiwa Akintunde, Assistant Secretary General; Yemi Odusote, Publicity Secretary and Alima Atta, Honourable Treasurer. Nn’emeka Maduegbuna, a past president, will retain his seat as Ex-Officio member.

    The AGM will also discuss the Presidential Address on the “Statement of Affairs of PRCAN 2010-12”, and the Financial Report for the same period.

     

    PRCAN, the consulting arm of the NIPR, is established by a bye-law. Membership is exclusively restricted to consulting firms whose key executives must be NIPR members and registered to practice public relations in Nigeria. PRCAN is incorporated as a company registered by guarantee.

     

    Its primary objective is to promote professional reputation management in Nigeria within the public and private sectors. It is also committed to maintaining professional standards and discipline among members and providing facilities/professional capacity for the public and private sectors to meet their PR consultancy needs.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Etisalat backs Lagos Governor’s Cup

    Etisalat backs Lagos Governor’s Cup

    As part of its commitment to support the development of sports in Nigeria, Etisalat has thrown its weight behind the 12th edition of Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis tournament for the fourth consecutive year. The company has also restated its commitment to uplifting and share in the passion of Nigerians in the area of sports.

    Speaking at a press conference to kick start the tournament, Head, Events and Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Ms Modupe Thani, said the company was proud to be associated with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the tournament, expressing the belief that the relationship will help to develop the game of tennis. She praised the LOC for organising the tournament, and described sports as a unifying factor which brings people together.

    “Etisalat Nigeria has been a supporter of the Governor’s Cup since 2008 and in doing so, aims to not only improve the quality, flare and passion for the game in Nigeria but also extend the reach of talented Nigerian players by exposure to their international counterparts. We are also committed to promoting and developing other sports activities in Nigeria including football, through our official partnership with FC Barcelona European football Club,” she said.

    She praised the planned participation of this year’s tournament which will involve 55 countries, saying that efforts in promoting the tournament so far have been effective. She also added that the company was ready to give its support in whatever measure to ensure the success of this year’s tournament.

    Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis, Chief Pius Oluwole Akinyelure, noted that this year’s tournament will involve players from 55 countries as against 35 countries which played in last year’s tournament. The countries playing this year include; the United States, Spain, France, Russia, Britain, Slovakia, Poland, South Africa, Ukraine, Italy, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Sweden, Tunisia, Denmark, Bulgaria and Pakistan, amongst others.

    Speaking on behalf of the President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Sani Ndanusa, the Vice President, NTF, Mr Adeyemi Owoseni praised the efforts of the sponsors as well as the LOC. He said the championship has over the years provided a solid platform for tourism in Nigeria and an easy avenue for players to meet and contest with top tennis players from across the world.

     

  • DN Meyer,FRSC collaborate on traffic laws

    DN Meyer Plc, manufacturers and marketers of premium decorative paints, industrial and protective coatings, has reiterated its commitment to helping the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) safeguard lives and properties on Nigerian roads. The company partnered with FRSC to educate the public on the new traffic laws in Lagos State.

    The Human Resources Manager at DN Meyer, Mr Kunle Obadina noted that, Nigerians need training and proper education on traffic laws to support the FRSC’s efforts at safeguarding lives. He stated that the company is partnering with the organisation to ensure the public is strategically sensitised on the new traffic laws. “DN Meyer is a committed, responsible and caring corporate citizen. We are strategically constituted to improve the quality of human lives in our operating environments. We work to ensure the welfare of our employees as well as the educational and environmental safety of our host communities,” he said.

    The training was presented by the Ojota Unit Commander, Mr Leye Adegboyega, who took participants through the basics of the new traffic laws for Lagos State which consists of 59 traffic offences and penalties attached.

    Factors leading to accidents and loss of lives such as human factors, mechanical factors and environmental factors were looked into and it was advised to use the defensive driving techniques e.g application of seat belt, drive at comfortable speed, bear in mind that the aim of being of the road is to move for safety.

    Some of the laws and penalties include: failure to give way to traffic on the left at a roundabout attracts N20,000 for first offender and N30,000 for subsequent, vehicle licence violation N20,000 subsequent N30,000. Others, bribing of marshal on duty, assaulting of marshal, fire extinguisher, driver’s licence driving without spare tyre all attracts penalties.

    Adegboyega advised participants to cherish lives by driving with care and also considering other road users while driving to curb down the level of accidents. There were 50 participants in attendance

    He presented the new traffic laws manual to participants on behalf of the FRSC.

     

     

     

     

     

    The unit Commander further revealed that they would be embarking on an aggressive public enlightenment programme to enforce the new national licence system, which makes it possible for a user to be identified without encumbrances. He advised all applicants to log on to www.nigeriandriverslicence.org for further information.

     

    Mr. Bello Adewale, Fleet and Logistics Manager, DN Meyer Plc commended FRSC for their contributions towards road safety in Nigeria as a whole and promise on behalf of all participants to contribute their quota in ensuring a accident free nation at large

     

    DN Meyer Plc was incorporated in 1960 and converted to a Public Company in 1979. Its extensive range of products include Architectural Paints, Wood Paints, Auto refinishes, Industrial and Marine, Road lining Paints, Roof coatings, Tube coatings, HP coatings and Adhesives.

     

     

     

  • Enterprise: Airtel challenges youths on collaboration

    Enterprise: Airtel challenges youths on collaboration

    Nigerian youths have been urged to collaborate to beat economic challenges frustrating their efforts at realising their entrepreneurship potential.

    Chief Marketing Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Olu Akanmu, made the call in Ikeja, Lagos, at the unveiling of Airtel Nigeria’s new thematic campaign tagged Padi Na Good Thing O. The campaign seeks to enthrone Airtel Nigeria in the minds of Nigerians as the network for friendship.

    He reminded Nigerian youths that times have changed and those who desire success must change with the times, maintaining that young people who wish to transform their talents to success must embrace collaboration.

    “In my generation,” Akanmu said, “it was common to see someone beat his/her chest and say ‘I made myself.’ But this is no longer so. Young people today flock together, thereby drawing synergy from one another on the journey to success.”

    He said the new thematic campaign was part of Airtel’s strategy to encourage the youth to cooperate, hence, the company chose Half Dollar, an upcoming musician who his friends helped to attain success to champion the campaign.

    According to the CMO, “interpretation of success has changed. Today, youths succeed with friends. When you see a Nigerian superstar from Europe in a club, he flocks with friends. That’s the story that we seek to tell with this new campaign.”

    Nigerian youths who have succeeded seem to share a common storyline, coming from humble backgrounds and succeeding with the aid of friends, associates or family. Their unique tales, according to Akanmu, can be summed up with these words: “I am going on a journey to success. I go with my friends and when I succeed, I will celebrate with my friends.”

    This is a bold endorsement that friends succeed together, hence, Airtel’s the new campaign Padi na good thing O.

    This growing trend has been identified by Airtel as a virtue and the company through its campaign has strategised to encourage youths to cash in on quality friendship to turn talents and passion into success. Fast rising music act Half Dollar, an undergraduate, has seen his music career on the path of success because his friends noticed his talent and supported him by contributing money for him to buy music equipment; helped him register in an Airtel Nigeria-sponsored talent hunt where he shone like a million stars. So, the young man is now on his way to success, which would not have been possible without his friends!

    “Half Dollar’s story typifies that of many Nigerian youths and Airtel would want to see such replicated so that many more youths can achieve their dreams,” he said.

    On his part, an elated Half Dollar, who was on hand to lend credence to the campaign, said: “My friends are my blood and Airtel is the vein. You know that without blood, you won’t be alive. But without the veins the blood cannot flow. I am very excited to be where I am today; all thanks to my friends and Airtel. Padi na good thing O!

     

  • Calypso now in 50ml unifill pack

    Calypso Coconut Liqueur, from the stable of Grand Oak Ltd., has unveiled a new 50ml pack in Lagos. The new packaging is designed to provide a platform for consumers to enjoy the product on the go.

    Speaking at the media briefing, the Category Manager, Mr Charles Nnochiri, said the 50ml pack is for the youth who are the key audience to have more fun and adventure on the go.

    “Calypso is a household brand. I am sure all of you here must have heard of Calypso at one time or the other. Calypso is an adventure brand. It is a brand that comes with a lot of fun and excitement. In fact it is the spirit of fun. We appreciate the fact that our targeted audience, mostly youths between the ages of 18 and 30 years and are a very active group and they love to have their refreshment on the go, so we decided to get a very handy, pocket friendly pack for them to continue to have fun and excitement on the fly,” he said.

    Speaking further, he noted that the company is using the brand to pioneer the unifill initiative. “The pack which can be recycled is environmentally friendly because it can easily be disposed without constituting waste to the environment,” he said.

    He encourage the youth to join the brand’s fan page at (www.facebook.com/calypsococonutliqueur) which has reached over one million fans, an indication that the brand is gaining more acceptance.

    Encouraging more people to join the fan page, he said it was an opportunity for them to win prizes and tickets to cinemas at the weekends.

    He said Calypso had, in the past, held Campus Blast on various campuses in Nigeria and that the brand was engaging the NYSC since the focus is on the youth.

     

    “We are involved in a lot of campus activities such as Campus Blast and also associating with the NYSC by having a lot of Camp Blast. The youth are very upward and forward looking people and we are proud to be associated with them,” he said.

    Calypso Coconut Liqueur is a special tropical coconut flavoured liqueur that is carefully blended for lovers of fun and excitement.

    This unique blend evokes the feeling of adventure, fun, independence, breeze, sunshine, and excitement associated with the tropics. It is an age old secret shared by generations of people of taste and class, and can be enjoyed in many different ways-straight or on the rocks, or along with cola, tonic or even milk.