The Nation Newspaper

Category: Brand week

  • LG redefines home entertainment

    TV viewing is a popular pastime in Nigeria. This relaxing activity serves as a way of rewarding oneself after a hard day’s work.

    75 years ago, television was introduced with skepticism and awe. No one truly believed it would change the way we view the world. Now more than ever people are more attached to their television. A TV set is now being considered as a status symbol by householders; and increasingly a lot of attention is being paid to the quality of TV adorning living rooms.

    In the early days of TV, a tube delivering images in black and white was considered to be okay. But with the advent of colour TV and availability of contents for colour TV, the black and white TV has lost its charm. it is no more relevant as globally there have been a mass migration to colour TV. Over time, there has been advanced introductions such as the LCD, LED and 3D TVs, which has brought about tremendous improvement in picture quality.

    Recently I was at the atrium of the Ikeja shopping Mall in Lagos to witness the unveiling of the 84-inch Ultra High Definition TV by LG Electronics, a global leader in Consumer Electronics. the launch of the TV which is the world’s first 84-inch Ultra Definition (UD) Cinema 3D Smart TV as well as the first of its kind to be introduced into the Nigerian market was witnessed by a mammoth crowd.

    The LG 84-inch ULTRA-HD TV, also known as 84LM9600, is the world’s largest Ultra High Definition TV. The sheer size of the display, which is equal to 4units of 42-inch TVs, delivers an unparalleled picture resolution of 2160p which is 4 times higher than full HD. It is incredibly vivid and crisp, even when viewed from close distances.

    The LG 84-inch ULTRA-HD TV comes complete with an enhanced sound which no other TV currently offers. Its 2.2 speaker system delivers a sound output of 50W, boasting two woofers, which delivers an incredible depth and energy, bringing eye-encompassing visuals to life with exhilarating sound.

    Speaking on this milestone achievement, the General Manager, Home Entertainment division, LG Electronics, Mr. Steve Ryu said: “It is obvious that our industry is driven by innovation and Ultra Definition which is our latest invention will transform viewing experience.

    “This is indeed a watershed moment in TV history because the Ultra HD 4K technology will make it possible for consumers to enjoy crystal clear picture quality. The LG 84-inch ULTRA-HD TV offers quadruple the detail of a full HD 1080p unit, with 8 million pixels.”

    The new LG 84-inch ULTRA-HD TV uses LG Resolution Upscaler Plus hardware which delivers higher detail from the existing SD/HD external sources. It provides the most convincing 3D viewing experience currently available outside of a movie theatre. The TV’s Triple XD Engine comes with a TruMotion of 240 Hz with the benefit of fast screen refresh rate which guarantees quality viewing of fast movies and sports.

    The LG 84-inch ULTRA-HD TV also has Smart TV ecosystem, featuring well over 1,000 applications. It comes complete with 3D glasses as well as LG’s Magic Remote, now upgraded to understand voice commands allowing users to intuitively access and navigate the Home Dashboard with ease.

    Guests at the event, with the aid of the LG 3D glasses, were able to try out the device for the first time; they were enthralled by the breathtaking viewing experience the massive display gives with many admitting that with a new technology like the LG 84-inch ULTRA-HD TV there is bound to be a resurgence in family time which has been recently observed to be waning.

    For tech enthusiasts wanting to put themselves at the cutting edge of what’s possible. The Ultra HD is a compelling trend. They are able to reproduce colors that can’t be seen in the color space of their HD counterparts. Most importantly, they are simply stunning to look at.

    There is a growing concern about the lack of Ultra HD content. While this will undoubtedly change in the future, LG is already offering very sophisticated resolution upscalers to convert 1K content to 4K. Indeed, Ultra HD is the next step towards the future where we have truly lifelike video at home and LG is passionately leading the pack.

    In the early vestiges of the display industry, technology paths were fairly evident. The move from black and white TVs to color TVs was a no-brainer. The landscape is more complex now, and it is not always clear which direction the industry will take. Manufacturers are well aware of this, and have turned to the one source that probably has the clearest idea of which directions the industry should head in: consumers. Big companies like LG Electronics have invested a lot in Research & Development with the consumer in focus in order to find out which concerns are most important to them. The insights gained help manufacturers to better understand the market and be more competitive in terms of developing technologies that will be embraced by the public. The results are fascinating; despite the plethora of supplementary features and options, the foremost concern of the average consumer remains the same as it always has: picture quality.

    Thus far, reactions to the stunning display have been extraordinary, with observers dazzled by the breathtaking picture quality.

    LG’s mammoth 84-inch Ultra HD TV puts LG firmly in the driver’s seat in terms of ushering in a new Ultra HD era and taking a leadership role in encouraging the adoption of the technology. LG’s Ultra HD TV have received recognition from around the world for its achievements in furthering display technology and harnessing sensational, life-like picture quality.

    LG pays close attention to the needs and wants of consumers; in many ways, it is the consumer that influences LG’s decision making paradigms. The result is a range of products that have immediate appeal among consumers.

    With this state-of-the-art panel, LG has once more demonstrated leadership by spearheading the ULTRA-HD TV technology.

    LG Electronics is committed to making consumers happy through its products and services with the goal of improving on its technology for better performances that meet the end users’ peculiar needs.

  • Firm launches business portal

    Nigeria’s first full service Public Relations Consul-tancy, The Quadrant Company, is set to launch Qlichy, an innovative business portal to link people searching for up-to-date information on businesses and organisations in Nigeria on April 22.

    Qlichy is the foremost portal with strengths in e-commerce, news aggregation, content dissemination and networking in Nigeria.

    Speaking, the Managing Director, The Quadrant Company, Bolaji Okusaga, disclosed that most common business problems of information sourcing and dissemination would be eased-off by Qlichy.

    “Qlichy is poised to improve the way business is conducted in Nigeria, being primed to advance e-commerce to enable all businesses that sign-up on Qlichy to enjoy seamless transactions on our portal on the Interswitch platform.”

    One of Qlichy’s strengths is the rendition of business intelligence solutions that pundits say would revolutionise the public relations industry by helping take full advantage of the power of the internet in Nigeria.

    The portal, Qlichy.com, has the potential to expand opportunities for organisations, by maximising their digital presence while reaching consumers, stakeholders and other businesses in a unique and cost effective way.

    Qlichy.com will also serve as a platform for business and industry leaders to lead thoughts in their various sectors, public discussions on current issues and publicising of news and events on brands in Nigeria.

    According to Okusaga, the portal will afford anyone looking for current information on businesses to get what they need in one click. It also provides a thought leadership platform through which brands and corporate bodies can engage the world on industry opinions and ideas.

    “Qlichy is a cross between a social network, a business directory and an e-commerce platform. The opportunities for business are evident and as an industry leader, we are keying into these prospects,” he said.

    He called on businesses to sign-up with Qlichy because of the various advantages the portal brings to the table.

  • Social Marketplace

    My wife did not believe online stores that promise to deliver orders at your doorstep. Therefore, she tried to prove me wrong. On this fateful day at the office, she ordered a Nokia phone and within an hour, a call came from the office reception that a representative of an online store was around to meet her. Surprisingly, she jumped down stairs just to confirm. After paying and closing the deal, she called me and we laughed over the whole thing.

    Nigerians have caught the act of online shopping, and gradually orders are been placed across the country via the internet. According to Euromonitor International, global market research organisations, Nigerians spent a whooping N49.9 billion shopping online in 2010 and N62.4 billion in 2011. This indicates a 25 per cent growth rate in one year.

    This sudden shift in the purchasing cycle of Nigerians is traced to the change in the buying and selling medium adopted by the sellers and the buyers. The increased level of technology infrastructure, too, is another factor responsible for the change in buying habit. These transactions are done over the internet, and with the proliferation of smart phones, it is easy to access the internet and make a purchase. Based on this, market watchers are estimating that the value of online shopping may go as high as N150 billion by 2014.

    Since there is virtually nothing that cannot be purchased online, will traditional form of marketing and purchase be extinct? In my previous write up, I asked a question: will your business be in existence in the next 5 years? The truth is traditional form of marketing and purchase will not give way to online purchase but I see a 50/50 sharing ratio between these modes of transaction. Is your business positioned for such a change? Getting your business online is not expensive compared to the profit and customers you will miss.

    I recently did a presentation in-house on Scaling at Social Media and my case study was on online shopping. After the presentation, the conclusion was that online stores need social media to engage people to shop online. Social media allows them to market people instead of advertising to people. You may be wondering why getting online is necessary, here are some reasons:

    Convenience:  The first thing about this method of shopping is the incredible convenience. You save yourself the stress of going all the way to the mall to shop, considering the traffic, the stress, crowd in the mall and even the risk you are exposed to. Expenses are reduced in terms of transport fare, impulsive purchase and buying meals. It is so much fun that you can even shop in the middle of the night. My wife shopped from the office in less than a minute without hindrances to her normal office work and it was delivered right on time. I did many e-books shopping online because, once I pay, I downloaded the items immediately.

     

    Prices: One fascinating thing about online shopping is the cheap deals and better prices you get. Most of these shops get their products directly from the manufacturers and the place of the intermediary is eliminated. In fact, you get discounts and rebates daily. You can as well compare prices across different online shops to make a good buy. Most online shops make comparison and research of products and prices possible.

     

    Quality: Since most of these products are direct from the manufacturers, the chances of getting fake product are reduced. Most online shops have the policy of returning the product if you do not want the product.

    Discreet purchases: A colleague bought for his wife some lingerie last valentine and I asked why he did not go to a shop to make a direct. His reply was quite understandable. He said, “Deji, I will be embarrassed pointing to what I want in front of other customers”. I think I will do same next valentine. You enjoy your privacy while shopping online. For instance, you can shop online while working and minimise the page if you want your privacy.

    Is your business positioned for the next phase of transaction cycle? It is never too late to get your business online and reap the huge and awesome benefits of both forms on purchase.

    Deji Bankole, a social media-savvy commentator, contributed this piece from dj2rhyme2002@yahoo.com

     

  • Chicken Republic refreshes brand equity with innovation

    Chicken Republic refreshes brand equity with innovation

    Owners of hospitality brands who are worth their salt know that healthy tasty meals, nice ambience and excellent customer relations are very important ingredients that will drive traffic to their outlets and make customers prefer them any time. Thus, forward-looking service providers are not known to joke with being continuously innovative on how best they can serve and satisfy their patrons in order to make them come back again and again.

    Aligned to the need to strengthen positive and maximum leisure experience for lovers of good food, Chicken Republic, a world-class modern African Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) has introduced its variant of crispy chicken named Spicy Crunch™ as well as the commencement of the revamp of its restaurants in a bid to offer its customers extraordinary dining experience.

    The latest initiatives, according to the management of Chicken Republic, are part of a global market repositioning strategy by the leading restaurant which has presence in 14 Nigerian cities and Ghana. Established in 2004, the world-class chicken QSR has 65 stores in the two countries.

    Explaining the rationale for the initiatives, the Head of Marketing and Public Relations, Chicken Republic, Mrs. Susan Rotimi, told journalists during the experiential soft launch of Spicy Crunch at the revamped Bode Thomas outlet in Surulere, Lagos, that the steps were part of the company’s commitment to help customers get more out of life. The Marina and Jibowu outlets have also been revamped while work is in progress at the other restaurants across Nigeria and Ghana.

    According to her, the new variant with rice, which is being offered at a promo price of N600 till May 28, is seasoned to perfection with Chicken Republic’s signature West African spices.

    “Chicken Republic is committed to developing best-in-class ambience that offers customers more than an eating experience. This is the way we are living our commitment to helping our customers get more out of life,” she said.

    Mrs Rotimi explained that the new product offering was part of the ongoing market repositioning strategy aimed at serving the consumers better. ‘‘In our response to consumer need based on resaerch, there is a big demand for crispy chicken that is not oily and moist. Crispy chicken is a product that Nigerians love but they complained about what is available out there. So, we decided to give them something they really love to have, and the testimony has been fantastic. Again, another testimony about our new product offering is the authentic fresh West African spices that we use and the fact that we understand the African palate; and our customers love us for that. This is what Spicy Crunch is all about,’’ she said.

    On the revamp of the outlets, the Head of Marketing and PR said the initiative was in demonstration of the visionary and market leadership of the Chicken Republic brand, assuring that the company will continue to offer soulful, African spiced chicken delivered in a world-class modern environment. ‘‘We realise the importance of constantly raising quality and standards to improve customer satisfaction,” she said.

    Mrs Rotimi said the company has recorded a 70 per cent increase in sales year-on-year of revamped stores, a development which is said to be the result of the fresh modern ambience the revamped restaurants offer. She stated that the company is well focused in its commitment to the delivery of extraordinary customer satisfaction premised on quality product, product innovation and consistency.

    Also speaking, the Chief Operations Officer, Mr Kofi Abunu stated that the revamp of the outlets and the introduction of the Spicy Crunch initiatives were among several initiatives being implemented by the company to strenghten the Chicken Republic brand in order to deliver more value and benefits to the consumers so that they could get more out of life.

    According to him, the company in acknowledgement of the consumer as king, has continued to place the consumers at the centre of everything the company is doing, even as he assured that the vision of Chicken Republic was to make life better for the customers and other stakeholders alike by being a vibrant brand that delivers value at all times.

    ‘‘We are always committed to doing our best so that we continuosuly offer the best to our customers in terms of quality offerings. Our motto is ‘quality, kindness and value’, and it is on these pillars that our operation is premised. This new product offering and the revamp of our outlets, therefore, represent another step forward in our strive for excellence through innovative brand evolution,’’ Abunu said.

    “Product variety is a key driver of delivering extraordinary satisfaction to our customers. Our guests love our soulfully spiced chicken and anything we introduce that builds on our authentic West African spiced chicken seems to be a hit, so we’re introducing Spicy Crunch to further reinforce our brand as a destination for wholesome, sizzling meals delivered in a fresh modern restaurant environement”.

    He stated that Chicken Republic remains optimistic about its operations and confident that the investment made in key areas of its business will deliver strong competitive edge and position the brand for an upward growth in the QSR sector.

    A customer, Mr Frank Afam, praised the new initiatives by the management of Chicken Republic, saying the marketing repositioning strategy would go a long way in builidng brand loyalty. He said he has made the QSR his number one choice over the years because of the authentic fresh African spices for which Chicken Republic offerings are renowned.

     

  • Hook,line and social media

    Brands need social media. Social media – web and mobile-based technologies such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, LinkedIn and BBM and others that readily turn any message into interactive dialogue among individuals in a community, organisation or a country – does not need brands. On the contrary, brands need social media.

    According to recent reports, this year, social media is one of the most powerful news and updates sources. Because of this and similar reports, brands desperately need social media to be successful, to be social media savvy, to connect with grassroots, to sell their goods, and to be successful.

    Brand managers have these reports and they do understand that, in the 21st century where technology has blurred marketing boundaries, no brand succeeds on its own. In addition to the traditional media, brands need the efficacious power of social media.

    Reason: brands jostle for the attention of several millions of individuals who populate the social media scene. Brands need the attention and wallets of these people, as such; brand custodians would play all games, through different marketing gimmicks, to grab their targets.

    Some of these games include asking you to download free cool logo and use it as a screen saver, new singles of a popular musician; or if that fails to deliver the number, you are enticed to record and upload your own music on a particular site to win a particular gift, or get opportunity to mingle, giggle and wriggle. “Catch the fun while it lasts!” The brands scream in ecstasy. That is the catch.

    Guess what, the target, mostly youths, believe this sweet-sounding words hook, line and sinker. Who wins? It is not the target.  The brands win. That is why the brands keep going back to the social media space to recruit ardent fans, raving fans to fan the embers of their brands. Do not blame them. Much of the space on social media is free. However, that is the main reason brands need the social media. No, it is not only that, some brands have limitless pocket.

    I think the bottomless pocket of some of these brands (and the social juice they can get) attracts them to social media circle. This (bottomless pocket) gives brands opportunity to acquire social media muscle and bask in the social juice it brings.

    This used to be the exclusive preserves of the traditional media [newspaper, magazines, television and radio], but not any more, not any more, not any more. If a campaign breaks and it does not hit your Facebook page, it does not hit your Twitter handle, it does not hit your BBM anonymously, such campaign has not gone viral. If it has not gone viral, it has not succeeded. If it has not succeeded, it has failed. Ask a social media-savvy brand manager.

    That is the power of social media platform. In addition to this is the ability to connect with the target at an emotional level and hit their passion points and create a hero out of a zero; generate emotion and keep it in motion, create meaningful content and be in contact, engineer powerful engagement and keep the arrangement, sustain interest and build large followers.

    If you look at it with 20/20 eyesight, it is clear that social media allows the brands to set up infrastructure for their target and make the connection that makes the biggest difference (like the ones described above. I am sure you must have participated in one or two social media games).

    The birth of BlackBerry, different web-based applications platform and social sites have provided canvasses brands to tell their stories, to promote their ideas and be all to all people. That is why brands would always be grateful to social media dais.

    As social software that mediates human and brands communication, social media is the only platform that brands can flaunt their social juice, as it gives brands relevance, responsibility and recall, all year round, twenty-four-seven. Therefore, if a platform stays and sleeps with you that long, you are wont to believe everything it says hook, line and social media.

    As Internet-based applications that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content, social media also packs extreme believability. This is where Cynthia Osokogu comes in. Cynthia made that same mistake of believing the content of her BBM. Cynthia was a victim of social media mistrust. Save the gory details.

    You remember her. Great. My job is not to regurgitate the ordeal she went through but to save a soul, by preventing a reoccurrence. That Cynthia paid the ultimate price does not mean the social media platform is evil. It is just prove that majority of social media fans are gullible. They would believe every twit. They would believe every ping. They would believe every contact. That makes them vulnerable to physical, viral and fraudulent attacks.

    Kindly note, social media platform is a social gathering of friends and acquaintances. Invariably, this indicates that you could meet genuine friends, strike legitimate business deal or find your bride while chatting in some professional chat rooms. On the other hand, social media space can be likened to clubbing.

    In a restaurant, you could make new friends that would last a lifetime, meet a dupe, or be swindled by a woman who happens to be smarter than you are! Does that make clubbing evil?  Answer to that question is not available on this page.

    What you would get here is this: brands look for critical mass to strike the numbers, the critical mass are available on social media space, and brand custodians would do all to lick those numbers. If you have a Twitter handle, Facebook page, BBM or LinkedIn profile, look out. If the message it too good to be true, and you cannot authenticate the source, it is too good. Delete it. Ignore it. Watch who you follow. Follow whom you watch. As my mother would say, keep to well-lit streets after dark.

    Be careful with your BBM. Know your pings. This is not a revelation. It is a reminder. In her wildest dream, Cynthia would never think those pings are death messengers. She was innocent. She was blameless. However, she has offered a great lesson on how not to deal with BBM contacts: Not every contact should be contacted. Not every contact has a contact address. Be wary of contact who insists on physical contact, unless you are sure. If you are not sure, delete the contact.

    Several social media contacts hide under aliases. Aliases are guises. Guises are masks. Masks hide dirt. Dirt tells bad story. Bad story is bad. Ask questions. Probe aliases. Be social media-wise. Have fun. Life is short. Do not shorten it further. Remember Cynthia. For social media addicts, happy pinging. For Cynthia, adieu.

     

  • NB unveils promo

    Star Lager beer produced by Nigerian Breweries Plc has unveiled a promo with the theme Star League – Text & Play.

    Speaking at the briefing in Lagos, Mr Walter Drenth, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, said: “Over the years, Star Lager Beer has risen to become the number one favourite beer (Lager and Stout) in Nigeria. As the undisputed Lager market leader (exit 2012), Star is, undoubtedly, the biggest beer brand in Nigeria. The brand has continued to keep its consumers actively engaged all-year round through its exciting consumer engagement platforms that cut through music, football and consumer promotions.”

    He said Star upgraded its packaging (Staniol and new body and back label) in July last year to re-assure consumers of its premium quality and modern feel. The packaging upgrade saw the introduction of new brand communication and the launch of a new brand pay-off based on the Star brand story: Shine On.

    Said Drenth: “It is an innovative platform where consumers would be actively engaged throughout the duration of the promotion, while they stand the chance to win exciting prizes in the process. It is unique, interesting and different. The Star League-Text & Play will run from April 2 to May 31.

     

    The promotion is a crown cork based one- that means consumers will buy and open a bottle of Star, enjoy the rich taste, look under the crown cork and there they find their ticket to be part of the exciting Star League. There will be two categories of winning crown corks: The crown corks will have codes with differentiated points in 5 bands of 10pts, 20pts, 30pts, 40pts and 200pts.

    To participate, consumers will send by SMS the code under the crown cork with their full name, age and state of residence to short code 30383. Consumers must have a mobile telephone line from any of the mobile service providers in Nigeria, registered in their name. The SMS system will work with all major telecoms operators in the country.

    The mobile phone number used to send the code will be used to register the consumer on the Star website and Star database. They will automatically get a response with the number of points earned per crown cork and a directive to check their “standing” on the “League Table” at (www.star-nigeria.com). This applies to every subsequent successful entry. The consumer will accumulate points over the period of the promo using the registered mobile number. With every subsequent successful entry, they will get a response with the cumulative points to date on that particular phone number.

    What makes the promo more exciting is that consumers will have the opportunity to view their position by the points accumulated on a specially designed League table per State of entry on the Star website. At the end of the Offer Period, participants with the highest points from each “State League” will be rewarded as follows:

    For each of the 36 States and Abuja: Top 15 winners get iPads® with customized sleeves; Next 550 winners get Premium head phones whileNext 1000 winners get Exclusive Star DVDs.

    Noted for holding its consumers in very high esteem and for doing things in unique ways, the brand will add a personal touch to the winning experience. Hence, the prizes will be delivered personally to the different winners wherever they may reside in the country at their advised and verifiable physical addresses.”For Star, this is the least of its gestures at appreciating the consumers’ unwavering love for the brand”, Drenth concludes.

    Coming from a rich heritage, STAR has remained contemporary and grown in the face of increasing competition through continued innovation in response to consumer needs.Just a few weeks ago, Nigerians witnessed yet another remarkable chapter with the successful launch of STAR Music –the one stop shop for music, videos, hotgists and so much more in and around music and entertainment world. STAR Music birthed the launch of the First-of-a-Kind Music Application in Nigeria.

    The App called “Star Music is a two-way interactive App that is already changing the way consumers experience music. In partnership with some of the biggest names in entertainment MTV BASE and Nigerian Entertainment Today – consumers can watch videos, stream and download their favourite songs, create their own playlists, enjoy breaking news on their favourite stars while interacting and sharing the fun with each one another.

    After over 63 years on the saddle, Star remains a major force in the market and is poised to increase its dominance in the market even further through continued innovation and always taking the lead in responding to consumer needs.

     

  • Diamond Bank to enhance service delivery in Delta

    Diamond Bank Plc has hosted a customer forum for its customers in Delta State. The event was held at the Chevron Club in Warri, Delta State.

    Executive Director, Regional Businesses, South Directorate, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr Victor Ezenwoko stated that the job of the bank is service and if one is not being serviced well, the bank has failed in its responsibility.

    “Our job is service. Banking is like the job of an insurance agent. If one is not doing well and fails to listen or take corrections one has failed in his responsibility. We might be working and think we are doing well and that our customers are happy while that is not the case. We are here today because without our customers we will be nowhere. Some have been with us from the get-go and their businesses have grown and their children are grown also and they are still with us. We are here to ask how we have served you and how we can do better,” Ezenwoko said.

    ATM Service Supervisor, Mr Chukwudi Ibeh spoke on the importance of cashless banking as it has been embraced in Lagos State stating that it is of great importance and he further encouraged Deltans to embrace the culture.

    Group Head, Technology and Business Solutions, Mr. Edafe Omojughare highlighted the benefits of having a cashless Nigeria.

    He said: “We have the infrastructure in place and I can assure you that your online transactions are safe with Diamond Bank. You can do immediate transfers. You can download the Diamond Mobile banking application on your smartphone and even transfer foreign currencies.”

    Head, Customer Experience, Diamond Bank Plc, Mrs. Shirley Uyakonwu said: “Alongside hosting forums like this, there are other opportunities that allow for feedback from you. Customers may choose to complain by telephone, in person or in writing. We have the toll-free phones in our banking halls and ATM points where you can call for complaints or enquiries. There are people by the phones waiting for you to call”.

     

    Continuing, Mrs. Uyakonwu said, “There is the dedicated email address, complaints@diamondbank.com, complaint/compliment cards in branch banking halls, an online complaints form on our website and also face-to-face interactions with customers. We also have the customer satisfaction base where we have a consultant who goes through our database to find out how we are dong from our customers.”

    Some of the customers of the bank used the opportunity to clarify some issues. Mr. Dukuye Erakpouri, Regional Manager Diamond Securities asked for more information on the measures put in place to help voluminous cash withdrawals.

    Responding, Mr. Edafe Omojughare, Head of Technology of the bank, said the bank has put in place several measures to ensure that customers’ funds are safe. The event had in attendance His Royal Majesty, James Omeruo, Ogurimerime, Ukori 1, Ovie of Agbor Kingdom who served as the Chairman of the occasion, WAZOBIA FM, Honest Akpos who compered the event, Nigeria top comedian, Gandoki and others

     

  • BATN supports BusinessDay’s conference

    This year’s Business Day’s An-nual Giving Back Conference

    themed: Investing in the Environment – Alternative Sources of Energy for sustainable Future with sponsorship considerations from British American Tobacco Company, (BATN) was held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos on Tuesday.

    Discussions centered on sources of energy that would improve the economy, benefit the poor without harming the environment. The crux of the discussion was BATN’s presentation, tagged: Protecting the Poor and Vulnerable from the Effects of Climatic Change.

    According to Head, Corporate Affairs, BATN, West Africa Area, Oluwasoro-midayo George, this year’s discussion is imperative “because increased economic growth comes with adverse impact on the environment with the children, women, the poor, the elderly, and the sick as most vulnerable in communities.”

    This, she revealedm has seen her company focus its giving back to society efforts on agriculture to empower the people with knowledge that can take them out of poverty and equip them to protect their environment while engaging in economic activities. “Agriculture is a sure way of alleviating poverty in Nigeria, employing over 70 per cent of the population and contributing over 10 per cent of the gross domestic product, so any action that strengthens that sector, is bound to impact on the population positively,” she said.

    The problem of poverty is core and must be strategically tackled for Nigeria to make the required progress. “We focus on sustainable agricultural practices working with experts and government to apply sustainable systems of least adverse environmental impact while ensuring economic growth and wellbeing of the communities.”

    To this end, BAT working through its foundation, the BATN Foundation is focused on “sustainable agriculture to increase peasants ability to make wealth using environmentally friendly measures,” she said.

  • Nigeria to host Xperiential marketing conference

    All is set for the maiden edition of XMC, the Xperiential Marketing Conference planned for Lagos, Nigeria in June.

    Redbutton International, the conveyers of XMC 2013 birthed this conference out of a need to further empower marketing executives with strategies that not only deliver their brand message, but immersive, powerful experiences that forge connections and evoke the right emotions in consumers.

    Across the world, marketers understand that there is a need to infuse the NEW. Strategies are being reinforced. Objectives are being modified and perfected. Campaigns are being integrated. And live experiences are getting refined and reinvented. This serves as the primary basis for having the 2013 Xperiential Marketing Conference The 2013 Maiden edition is themed “Experiential Marketing Paradigm; What Today Is Saying about Tomorrow”.

    The event will hold on June 28 and 29 at The Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos from 8.00am – 5.00pm daily.

    The conference, which is expected to become the largest yearly experiential marketing conference and exhibition in Africa, inviting international participants from America, Europe and Asia, will attract strong opinion and key influencers in the marketing communications industry like company directors, CEOs, marketing managers, brand and communications managers, account directors alongside entrepreneurs and SMEs.

     

  • Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is world’s best

    Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is world’s best

    South Africa’s first single grain whisky, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, has been voted the World’s Best Grain Whisky at the yearly Whisky Magazine’s World Whisky Awards (WWA) in London.

    Andy Watts, master distiller of Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, said the win was overwhelming news for the brand and South Africa.

    Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky became the first South African whisky to be awarded this coveted accolade, ahead of those from traditional whisky-producing countries, such as Ireland, Scotland and the United States. The whiskies were assessed blind, based on three tasting rounds, by an independent panel of judges that included some of the foremost international whisky palates.

    Distiller of Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, Jeff Green, said: “This isn’t just a win for Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky but for South African whisky-making.

    “Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, launched in 2009, was created to express the extraordinary properties of South Africa’s very best home-grown grains, fermented and distilled locally. With a distinctive South African taste profile, the maize is the same as that which was imported into Scotland up until the mid 1980s to make Scotch whisky.

    “The whisky is proudly South African in profile. By taking the World’s Best Grain Whisky title we have amply demonstrated that South Africa can make exceptional whiskies. The 2013 title follows last year’s win by Three Ships 5 Year Old of the WWA’s World’s Best Blended Whisky, puts South Africa as a whisky producing country, squarely on the map.”

     

     

    Green says that South Africa’s warm climate contributed to the excellence of its whiskies. He explained that the maturation process was accelerated by the faster interaction between wood, spirit and air to produce whiskies of great smoothness. “Essentially, the higher ambient temperatures mean our whiskies reach maturity at a younger age.”

    Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is uniquely double-matured to allow the maximum interaction between the cask and whisky. The whisky spends three years in specially selected ex-Bourbon casks and is then re-vatted for a further two years in a fresh set of casks, resulting in attractive toffee, floral and vanilla aromas softened by sweet, spicy undertones, with a warm mouth-feel and a smooth finish.

    Inspired by the Bain’s Kloof Pass and its natural beauty, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is distilled and matured at The James Sedgwick Distillery, situated near the foothills of the Bain’s Kloof Pass in Wellington, in the Western Cape, South Africa. The whisky pays tribute to Andrew Geddes Bain, the pioneering pass builder who planned and built Bain’s Kloof Pass which connected Wellington to the interior in 1853.