The Nation Newspaper

Category: Consumer Watch

  • How not to treat customers

    How not to treat customers

    Mrs. C. Owoh got in touch with Consumer Watch with a complaint that she bought a plastic bottle of Sprite soft drink that was not as full as it should be.

    She went back to the seller who ignorantly refused to exchange it for her, so she stormed The Nation’s office with the unopened drink. We at The Nation seeing the insignificant missing liquid from the bottle wondered why the woman was bothering herself.

    We contacted the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) immediately and Mrs. Peace Ngozi Emele, the Consumer Services Manager, promptly contacted Owoh, apologising for all the inconveniences and invited her to the NBC office at Adidingbi, Ikeja for a resolution meeting.

    At the end, the NBC Consumer Services Manager, in line with the company’s policy, delivered four packs of plastic soft drinks (48 bottles) to the Lagos outskirts home of the aggrieved Owoh.

    This is NBC. An already established brand. A household name. The biggest player in the soft drink market in Nigeria, if not the world.

    What does the wrath of one customer mean to them? But no, they understand what it means to lose even one customer. They understand that customers pay their bills, therefore they go all out to build a strong customer relationship which guarantees customer loyalty.

    This is where I am going to. Mr. Olajide Oladosu, an Estate Surveyor, paid N23,000 for Lenovo A5000 phone on the 30th September, over two months now, all he has to show for the paid phone is the receipt of purchase, a DOA certificate, several correspondences with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria (CPC) and correspondences with the other stakeholders.

    Narrating his story, and making available the correspondences and other relevant documents to the reporter, Mr. Oladosu said that the said phone with product number IMEI 7614 was bought from Edge Baseline Solution Ltd, at No. 11, Otigba Street Computer Village Ikeja, Lagos.

    According to him and contained in the letters of complaints he sent to SON and CPC on the 15th October, he was instructed to charge the phone fully before usage and this he did but got baffled when he found he could not hear from the phone.

    He took the phone which has a one-year warranty back to the shop on the 3rd of October. He was referred to the manufacturers service centre, ‘Ensure Services’ at 13, Ola Ayeni Street, Computer Village, just a few steps from where he made the purchase. Unfortunately being a Saturday, the place was shut but he still left a message on the door.

    Monday, the 5th, Mr. Oladosu went back to the service centre. Seeing it was factory defect, and that he brought the phone back within seven days of purchase without any physical damage, he was given a Dead On Arrival (DOA) certificate which will guarantee a replacement from the seller.

    Explaining, he said he took the certificate to the Managing Director of Edge Baseline Solutions, Mr. Onyiye Ejide, but the man declined to replace it which made him to go back to the service centre again and he was now accompanied with a lady staff of Ensure Services but Mr. Ejide refused to replace the phone insisting that previous ones he replaced in the past were not replaced or paid for by the manufacturer, Lenovo, which has an office at Lagos Island.

    Seeking for justice, Mr. Oladosu had to send complaint letters to SON, CPC and copied EFCC requesting them to compel the seller to refund the money he paid for the phone and also pay him N10,000 for incidental expenses he had incurred.

    SON intervened by inviting all the parties involved to a resolution meeting at SON’s office, Lekki Phase 1 on November 2nd. At the meeting, the seller was asked to refund the money paid for the phone while the manufacturer was asked to pay N10,000 to Mr. Oladosu for expenses incurred.

    Two days after the meeting, SON wrote to Mr. Oladosu asking him to send his account details to effect the payment. Thereafter, SON forwarded the details from the aggrieved customer to the seller so he could pay the money.

    Between then and as at the time of going to the press, the money has not been refunded nor the issue resolved.

    In an interview with the MD of the company, Mr. Onyiye he, said he was about to pay the money when he received a letter from the CPC on the 5th of November, exactly three days after the resolution and mediation meeting at SON. In the said letter, CPC asked him to investigate and furnish the council with his response within seven days in order to enable the council expedite action towards an amicable resolution of the case. “I became confused as I thought the matter had already been settled for us by SON. What should I do now? I wondered. Should I follow SON’s directive or CPC? At that point, I had to contact my lawyer who wrote to CPC.”

    To buttress his explanation and prove that he was ready to make the refund, he showed the reporter a text message he sent to the buyer the next day 3rd after the meeting with SON. The text read “Gd morn Mr. Jide, how are you?, hope good. Pls kindly come for the cash refund of Lenovo A5000 and also come along with the ticket issued to you at the Lenovo Service Centre. Tnx.”

    However, according to Mr. Oladosu, a bitter telephone exchange had passed on between him and the seller that day. He said he saw a missed call from the seller and he called back and he was asked to come to their shop for the refund but he refused, insisting that they bring the money to his Ibadan base.

    However, two days after that conversation, SON sent a letter to Mr. Oladosu demanding his account details which was forwarded to the seller.

    Nevertheless, why did the seller allow this simple matter, [yes, simple matter] to escalate to this level? Measuring his words, he said he was not ready to bear the cost of the replacement as similar past experiences has shown that the manufacturer  through their   distributor, ‘Technology Distribution Ltd’, 5 Redemption Crescent Gbagada, will not pick the bills.

    Presenting a copy of receipt he issues to customers, he said he was not in a position to bear the cost of product replacement resulting from factory defect. Stated in the receipt, he said that goods bought in good condition are not returnable nor cash refundable. Also in the receipt customers are advised to test and confirm their stock before leaving the sales point. It is also stated in the receipt that warranty implies return to service centre for technical attention and accessories are not covered by warranty.

    So, the problem was created because of lack of synergy between the seller, distributor and manufacturer. If the manufacturer had paid for past phones replaced by the seller, he would have gladly replaced the one brought by Mr. Oladosu.

    At the Lenovo service centre where the DOA was issued to Mr. Oladosu, the Managing Director Mr. Veetus Vinu, expressed surprise that the case had lingered adding that once the centre issues the DOA letter that it automatically guarantees the customer a new phone from the seller.

    Speaking with Lenovo Country Manager, Mr. Shadrach Oturu, on phone, he said he was aware of the case and had asked the seller to provide an immediate swoop for the buyer, adding that he did not know that the matter had not been resolved. However, Mr. Ejide swiftly denied that he ever asked them to provide any swoop for the aggrieved customer.

    Putting a call to the manufacturer’s service delivery manager, Nkechi Okolo, who has been managing the case, though initially she did not show any eagerness to talk, she later called back to say that she did all in her power to pacify the customer. Alleging that he was a difficult customer, she said wrong information from the distributor that the said phone was a grey import which Mr. Oladosu overheard was another thing that aggravated the man.

    This is a clear case of mismanaging a customer, no matter how difficult he may be. From the chat I had with the Lenovo country manager who fixed an appointment for clarification on the matter and never kept it and the service manager’s initial insistence on speaking at her own time, it clearly shows their low regard for their customers and their understanding of customer service.

    A customer should not be made to bear the consequences of the lack of collaboration between the manufacturer, distributor and the retailer.

     

  • Nigeria’s economic policy tripod

    Nigeria’s economic policy tripod

    Monetary and financial stability, investment in infrastructure, and structural transformation of the economy have emerged as the thrusts of economic policy of the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Domestic and global investors can be assured that this policy trifecta is not just the priority of President Buhari, it is also what is needed to transform Nigeria’s well-known economic potentials into reality for the benefit of the citizenry and various Nigerian market participants.

    The ideal of monetary and financial stability is shared everywhere by policymakers, investors and the consumers. In this regard, there is strong agreement between the monetary and fiscal authorities to uphold socio-economic and financial stability in Nigeria. This is part of the policy direction that business leaders and investors have been anticipating. We now have the good news of the affirmation of the saliency of stability. This should instil investors’ confidence in Nigeria and spur new investments in the country.

    However, sections of the market had been apprehensive about whether stability is feasible for Nigeria, especially with the downward pressure on the naira exchange rate, and under the present circumstance of lower oil prices. Agreed, the fiscal headwind of lower oil prices would suggest accommodation of a floating currency, but with the attendant downside risk, including monetary, and potential financial instability. This cannot be the right policy to implement even for a day; its negative effects would remain long after the policy has wound up.  But then, knee-jerk recursive currency devaluation has never been the only policy option the country has in responding to the cycle of lower oil revenue.

    One of the pertinent policy options is for the country to ratchet up investment in infrastructure. To do so is to stimulate the economy and avoid a recession that could be precipitated by austerity measures and economic instability. Therefore, President Buhari has said his Administration will invest in road and rail transport infrastructures as well as support the power sector. A plan to raise $25 billion infrastructure bond has been hinted at by the Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, giving further credence to the Government’s commitment to investment in infrastructure.

    At a time of lower revenue, this policy choice is definitely audacious. But these infrastructure investment plans can prove to be the masterstroke that will remove the constraint of lack of infrastructure which is the staunchest barrier to broader domestic investment, trade and economic growth. This will pave way for structural transformation of the economy.

    For Nigeria to overcome the harsh adjustments that arise every so often when the price of oil falls, structural diversification of the economy has to happen with much stronger results. One aspect of the restructuring relates to government raising more revenue from a wider tax net. The other aspect is for Nigerian businesses to export finished products and services, thereby broadening the sources of foreign exchange flows into the economy.

    The Nigerian Export-Import Bank has continued to support the Government policy for non-oil exports growth through its advisory and financing activities. More than half a decade of working with Nigerian SMEs at NEXIM Bank has continued to reveal the potentials in Agro-processing, Manufacturing, Solid Minerals and Services (MASS) sectors. I often come in contact with the passion, sheer resolve and innovativeness of Nigerian entrepreneurs in the SME space, especially in the MASS sectors where we have focused our interventions as the Trade Policy Bank of Federal Government of Nigeria.

    The other major hurdle Nigerian real sector businesses face is high cost of lending. But, since Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, came into office last year, he has been advocating a paradigm shift in which the real sector would benefit more from supportive monetary policy. This stance has been put beyond question at the November 2015 Monetary Policy Committee meeting when the Bank decided to bring down anchor interest rate by 200 basis points (from 13% to 11%) – the first rate reduction in six years; reduce Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) from 25% to 20%; and make manufacturers the target of lending of over N770 billion that the combination of these decisions will inject into the banking system as additional liquidity.

    It is also very good that the CBN, one of the shareholders of NEXIM, has recently declared that it is disposed to providing additional funding opportunities to enable the Bank provide more facilities at single digit lending rate to the SMEs towards boosting non-oil sector exports.

    This is a positive follow-up to the import curbs the CBN introduced a few months back through its forex sales policy. The use of both policy and financing instruments to spur local production to promote import-substitution and export-manufacturing sits quite well with the fiscal programme the Federal Government has been hinting at. And so the required synergy and coordination of monetary and fiscal policy are in action.

    No doubt, what Nigerian businesses need are roads and other modern infrastructures, not a weaker naira. What will create sustainable economic growth and improvement in the welfare of Nigerians is a virile local manufacturing industry, not availability of imported toothpick. And what will help remove downward pressure on the naira is more export revenue from the non-oil sectors, not devaluation at every turn of lower oil prices.

    The authorities needed courage in their decision for this policy tripod. They surely need to be resolute and stick to the decisions. The authorities also need the support of Nigerians as well as local and international financiers.

    To complement our resources at NEXIM, the Bank has been in a collaboration with Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). In a recent interview by Ignite – the quarterly journal of Nigerian Export-Import Bank, Afreximbank CEO, Dr. Benedict Oramah spoke of some of the instruments the Bank uses to support SME manufacturers as well as financial institutions offering trade finance services in Africa. NEXIM Bank is working with the Cairo-based Development Finance Institution to identify local opportunities in Nigeria’s non-oil sectors for financing. Both institutions are also working on regional initiatives to facilitate intra-Africa trade.

    To address the issue of trade debt, which can be very knotty in international trade, NEXIM Bank is working with Afreximbank to introduce “factoring” to Nigerian SME exporters. Factoring is a risk-mitigating instrument in which a business owner sells accounts receivable at a discount to a third-party funding source to raise capital. This instrument can help Nigerian non-oil exporters participate more in export value-chains.

    In one form or another, the world’s economies are implementing programmes of adjustment in responding to a slower global growth. Nigeria is not alone in making the necessary policy adjustments which are very capable of transforming the structure of the economy in very remarkably positive ways. This is why we all need to support the change agenda and the transformational policies of the government.

     

    • Orya is Managing Director/CEO, Nigerian Export – Import Bank and Honorary President, Global Network of Export-Import Banks and Development Finance Institutions(GNEXID)

     

  • ‘Cadbury commited to developmental initiatives in Lagos’

    ‘Cadbury commited to developmental initiatives in Lagos’

    Cadbury Nigeria, the front-runner in confectionery and beverages, has reiterated its commitment towards the development of Lagos State through its various developmental initiatives.

    This was revealed recently during a courtesy call on the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, by Cadbury Nigeria Leadership Team led by Managing Director, Cadbury West Africa, Mr Roy Naaman, Finance Director, Mrs. Yimika Adeboye, Company Secretary/Chief Counsel, Mrs. Fola Akande, Manufacturing Director, Mr Nasir Malik, and Head Corporate and Government Affairs, Mr. Bala Yesufu.

    Speaking during the visit, Managing Director, Cadbury West Africa, Mr Roy Naaman, reiterated that Cadbury has enjoyed a cordial relationship with the government and people of Lagos State over the years and grateful for the warm reception accorded to Cadbury Nigeria in the state.

    He went further to say that “On our part, we shall remain a responsible corporate citizen of the state and continue to partner with the government through employment generation, participation in various developmental initiatives, contribution to the state treasury in different forms and stimulation of socio-economic activities in the state.”

    In his remarks, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, opined that Cadbury’s newly inaugurated factory is good news for the Lagos economy and a boost to the states’ efforts to bringing investments to the state.

    “As a state, we have a duty to support Cadbury not just because you employ our citizens and the social responsibility activities you undertake, but to ensure we keep enjoying the quality and consistency your brands bring to our community.”

    Speaking on the visit, the Head, Corporate & Government Affairs, Cadbury Nigeria, Mr. Bala Yesufu, noted that the courtesy visit was not only to express appreciation to His Excellency for unveiling Cadbury’s state-of-the-art factory recently but was also  necessitated by the need to continually build, strengthen, nurture and sustain relationship with government at all levels.

  • ARM’s assets hit N400b

    The Asset & Resource Management Company Limited (ARM) has marked its 21 years of existence with its subsidiary, ARM Pensions growing assets under management to N400 billion.

    The ARM Group Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Jumoke Ogundare said the company has evolved from being an investment management firm into Nigeria’s largest non bank financial institution. She said its success has been driven by staff and core values.

    Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, she said:  “Our business success is ensured by the support of our over 2,500 staff. We plan to continuously foster an inclusive, diverse and thriving workplace in the coming years.”

    Ogundare also stated that ARM’s vision was recently revised from being a West-Africa focused business to an Africa focused business to reflect its actualisation of its West Africa reach and to signal its foothold in Africa through its acquisition of Mixta Africa.

    Managing Director of ARM Pensions, Wale Odutola, said the company remains committed to serving its customers interests and improving service delivery using invaluable customer feedback gathered from dedicated customer experience channels.

    He said: “ARM Pensions has in 10 years of operations, grown its assets under management over N400 billion, paid out over N60 billion in pensions funds and has over 600,000 customer base.”

    This, he said, explains why ARM Pensions was voted the 2015 Best Customer Service Company in the Pensions category by the Nigerian Customer Service award.

    “In October ARM Pensions launched the #Iam10 campaign, to thank their customers for their unwavering support on its journey of growth and success.  The campaign started in November with an enhanced interactive extension tagged “#10 years from now.”

    This creative initiative allows users to create their ambitions in the form of a picture that can be downloaded and shared on social media. This extension speaks to what the ARM Group stands for…Realising Ambitions,” he said.

    “As the company continues to drive its brand essence of ‘making tomorrow look good’, we are also supporting healthy living and fitness through our Corporate Social Responsibility initiative – Run for the Future. This is a 5km Run and or Walk aimed at creating awareness on the importance of exercise and healthy living.”

     

  • Graduate interns urged to maximise training opportunity

    Participants at the ongoing three-day Graduate Internship Employability and Career Development of the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) training at the Centre for Management Development, Lagos, have been urged to maximise the opportunity being avail to them by the training and make their life better.

    The GIS Director, Mr. P. M. Papka in his speech delivered by Deputy Chief Consultant, Supreme Management Training and Consultancy Limited, Dr. Olubisi Fasuyi, said the aim of the scheme is to provide the unemployed and underemployed graduate youths with internship opportunities that will expose them to skills and experiences relevant to the current labour market and enhance their employability.

    “You may recall that at the onset of your engagement as an intern of the Graduate Internship Scheme, you had been energized to take maximum advantage of the opportunities that the scheme provides for you. These are in terms of personal and social skills that you would acquire, leading to self-discovery, a redefinition of self-esteem, self-actualisation as well as work skills, which are necessary for you to make a head way in your working or business life,” he said.

    He noted that since the inception of the scheme, many firms and graduates have benefited, stressing that while the graduates are securing opportunities to develop their employability and business acumen, many firms have partnered to mentor the graduates.

    “Out of the graduates that have served out their one year term, some have moved on to other employment, while others have been employed by the firms themselves. Firms are joining this partnership everyday and they are bringing different experiences, lessons and ideas onto the table. The GIS is contributing to the renewed growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and cooperative societies through increased competent and skilled manpower. 25,186 graduates have been deployed, with 68 percent males, 31 percent females and one percent vulnerable.

    “So far 9,387 have exited the scheme, with over 1000 having secured jobs or started own businesses; records are still being compiled and result would certainly be good. Some of the graduates have won YouWiN grants to expand businesses they set up using GIS stipends, and many have set up and saved through cooperative associations with potential to secure funding from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Rather than seek for work, they are now becoming employers.”

     

     

  • How Etisalat is building community innovators

    How Etisalat is building community innovators

    Recently, Nigeria’s most innovative telecommunications company, Etisalat, rewarded two young Nigerians, Obi Brown and Chijioke Ezegbo, for their innovative product and idea geared at making invaluable impacts on individuals and organisations using mobile broadband technology.

    Mr. Brown’s winning product in the Most Innovative Product Category, Study Math Lab, is a repository of over 1300+ videos solving math problems in over 49 topics in the NERDC curriculum for senior secondary school Math. The videos are solved by a team of Math teachers led by WAEC Chief Examiner.

    For Chijioke, winner in the Most Innovative Idea category, his Dedicated Traffic Mapping Device (DTMD) winning idea is a GPRS enabled traffic navigation device with voice over  interface  which is affixed to a vehicle windshield (just like a rear view mirror) to help users navigate their way through traffic by accessing real-time traffic data and suggesting shorter or alternate routes.

    Etisalat, in celebrating these innovative Nigerians, had presented them with a seven million naira cash reward in the ratio 5:2, a publicity campaign and mentoring session at the EDC of Pan Atlantic University.

    The celebration of the young men was not another bolt from the blue, but rather a stark reflection of the company’s belief in and support for innovation. Matthew Willsher, Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, while speaking recently threw more light on this.

    “We believe as an innovative company that we should support innovation and entrepreneurs throughout the country, and so what we do is organise the prize to encourage people to apply. We also provide prize money that people could invest in their innovative products and ideas to make them a reality as well as a mentorship to follow through and help people actually deliver on their innovations. The world is driven by innovation and Nigeria needs innovators whose ideas and products can drive development and help people live as they should. So we are pleased to provide a platform to mobilise the nation’s teeming crop of young and undiscovered innovators to impact all areas of the society,” he said.

    Echoing similar sentiments, Funke Opeke, the accomplished CEO of MainOne and Member, Board of Innovators underscored the place of innovation in the nation’s drive for economic growth in a fast changing world environment.

    According to her, “Change is a process that is indeed a journey of creation. It comes about by each of us seeking to innovate to bring new perspectives in terms of the challenges that face us a people and as a nation. Etisalat can look back into the last seven years of operations in Nigeria and see the amount of innovations it has brought to telecommunications services in Nigeria.”

    Matthew Willsher, while offering insight on this revealed that innovation is at the core of the business functions of the company.

    His words, “Innovation is at the core of our operations at Etisalat.  It is the strength on which we thrive. We are an innovative company with core functions in telecommunications where we have shown serious interest in our customers who always want to improve their lives, improve their businesses, who always look for new opportunities. As a company, we are very delighted to partner and come up with innovations and bring them to our customers, but we still have a responsibility to the larger host community.”

    Expatiating, Etisalat boss said: “We are going to keep going with it, we are going to keep supporting entrepreneurs and innovators and deliver growth for Nigeria. This is really important because at every place in the world, nations need innovators, but innovators need some support and as an innovative company, we believe that we can help support that.”

     

  • Lagos certifies 63 youth-based organisations

    Lagos certifies 63 youth-based organisations

    63 youth-focused organisations have been duly certified by the Lagos State government.

    At a formal ceremony where the groups were presented with their certificates at Onikan Multipurpose Youth Centre, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Adebule-Akinbile, assured the organisations of support from the current administration of Mr. Akinwumi Ambode.

    She said government will continue to initiate and implement policies and programmes, with other relevant government agencies to enhance good working relationship among youths at the grassroots. Mrs. Akinbile stressed that the need to conduct a verification exercise by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, arose from the state government effort to have a data base of all registered voluntary youth organisations to ensure their functionalities.

    She added that the initiative does not limit the functioning of others who are yet to be verified, but are advised to collaborate with the ministry on the requirements for registration and verification since it’s a continuous exercise.

    “I want to assure you that we shall continue to initiate and implement policies and programmes with other relevant government agencies that would impact positively on our youth at the grassroots. The certificates awarded to you today should be a stepping stone towards promoting the good image of the state government in the areas of youth development and as youth ambassadors,” she stressed.

    Earlier, while welcoming guests to the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Hakeem Muri Okunola called on more voluntary youth organisations to come on board.

    Okunola said the initiative hopes to promote qualitative working relationship with National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter being the apex youth body, local youth councils and youth-focused NGOs that are duly registered with the ministry.

    According to him, “As you’ll all agree with me, that public private partnership is one of the policy thrusts of the state government under the leadership of Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, hence there is need for collaboration at all levels to complement the efforts of the State Government in youth development activities and building a Lagos of our dreams.”

  • Jega, Fashola others for Genesis award

    Jega, Fashola others for Genesis award

    Immediate past INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega and the immediate past governor of Lagos state and Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase and others have been as recipients of the prestigious awards.

    The award, which is the brainchild of the Genesis International Magazine, is slated for December this year.

    In a statement issued by the publisher, Dr Yomi Agbabiaka, he said the magazine is presently conducting polls on her website, genesismagz.com,  for interested readers and fans to enable them take part in the poll.

    Speaking on their preparedness, Dr Agbabiaka enjoined all Nigerians to cast their votes for the nominees, and assured that Genesis International website is available 24hours and in every part of the world.

    “Our dream is to make this an annual event and making the selection a very transparent and all inclusive one. 2015 has sure been a very trying year particularly with the transition in government and the dwindling oil prices and its effects resonating on all other spheres of business in Nigeria. Despite these challenges however, many businesses still posted huge successes as a result of their dynamic leadership.

    “Genesis International Magazine chronicles the giant strides of these CEOs with one emerging top of the bunch. Our team has come up with three most outstanding CEOs in Nigeria for 2015 from a list of over 30 contenders and we present them to the reading public to vote for their preferred choice to become the first winner of our annual CEO Of The Year Award: Bisi Onasanya – First Bank Plc, Tunji Oyebanji – Mobil oil Nigeria, Michael Arumemi-Ikhide – Arik Air”, the publisher noted.

    According to Agbabiaka, these CEOs have been credited because they have been able to make a difference in highly competitive markets. They have demonstrated effective management capabilities through hard work, resilience, research and an understanding of the Nigeria business climate, as they moved their companies forward.

    Justifying the need for the award, Agbabiaka said that the award will be given to Nigerians who have contributed immensely to the development, growth and unity of the Nigerian nation through one action of theirs or the other. 2015 for example has been a year of landmark events that have shaped the course of the year both in public and private life.

    “It is the year that Nigeria and Nigerians voted and effected a change of government, for the first time in her history, from one political party to another! In spite of the global decline in oil prices and by effect a somewhat ailing economy, Nigeria and by extension Nigerians stood firm in their resolve to move forward.”

     

    The change mantra has become a singsong all over but these wouldn’t have been possible without the effective, visionary and unbiased leadership roles of some Nigerians with sterling qualities.”

  • Campaign stirs excitement across Lagos

    Residents of Lagos who visited Ikeja City Mall last weekend went agog as leading IT firms, Intel, Lenovo and Microsoft, delighted passers-by with their recently launched “Best of Both Worlds” Campaign, using the riveting performance of contortionists who uniquely showcased the innovative and creative abilities of the Lenovo laptop with the flexible movement of their bodies.

    The event solidified Intel’s pact with innovation and creativity in the Nigerian information technology industry.

    The Best of Both Worlds Campaign, which was launched in Nigeria in November, highlights the practicability of using the 2-in-1 device that offers the flexibility of a convenient switch between PCs and tablets whenever and wherever. The Best of Both Worlds Campaign also highlights how consumers can get more productivity, creativity and self-expression out of 2-in-1 device, for the price of one.

    Speaking at the event, Marketing & PR Manager, Intel West Africa, AdimI siakpona, noted that Intel, in partnership with Lenovo and Microsoft, was proud to showcase the Lenovo Yoga series to Nigerians as a package that offers its users the best of both worlds in one unique and sleek device.

    According to Isiakpona, “The devices in the Lenovo Yoga Series are powered by Intel’s best processors and Microsoft Office and Windows capabilities. This affordable device gives innovation and flexibility a fresh meaning. The device is a laptop as well as a tablet, offering a dynamism for personal preferences of the user. We believe that the contortionists portray the uniqueness, flexibility, and exciting offerings of the device quite nicely.’’

    He added that ‘’Through the Best of Both Worlds Campaign, Intel remains committed to making sure that users are aware that the Lenovo Yoga series brings the flexibility of modern life to full view, and shows the exciting experiences offered by 2-in-1 devices.”

    As part of the activities for the mall activations, several lucky individuals, including Idowu Tamilore, Efuaye Uwaya, and Imoh Iniakpaniko won Lenovo smartphones during the raffle draw.

    The climax of the event was when Kiya Iyemfapwa won the grand prize of a brand new Lenovo Yoga Series laptop during the raffle draw.

    Overwhelmed, Iyemfapwa said she was extremely grateful to Intel, Lenovo, and Microsoft, for their generosity.

    In her words, “I never thought I would win it when I dropped my name for the raffle draw but I guess it goes to show that nothing is impossible. I just came to the mall to see my friends and now, I am going home with a brand new laptop. I am so excited. I’m grateful to Intel, Lenovo, and Microsoft for this laptop. This is definitely a great way to end the year for me.”

    Popular media personality, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, who was recently unveiled as the campaign ambassador of the Best of Both Worlds Campaign, will be visiting the cities of Abuja and Port Harcourt to talk about the campaign, using the dynamism of his career and the relatability of the campaign message to his person.

     

  • S/Sudan appoints Nigerian debt management advisor

    S/Sudan appoints Nigerian debt management advisor

    A staff of Nigeria’s Debt Management Office (DMO) has been appointed as the Debt Management Advisor to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning of the Republic of South Sudan.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Natagwandu was recently engaged by the South Sudanese government to help drive and develop the country’s debt management office.

    Speaking when a delegation of South Sudan’s debt managers visited the DMO in Abuja, the Director General of the DMO Dr Abraham Nwankwo noted that the DMO had resolved to focus on Africa when the agency decided to export its debt management skills and share ideas.

    Nigeria’s DMO Nwankwo promised will help South Sudan to develop its debt management office.

    Before his employment in South Sudan, Natagwandu was the team leader strategy at the DMO and he was picked from an international array of applicants from Africa and Europe in a recruitment exercise conducted by the World Bank.

    Nwankwo said there was greater need for South-South cooperation in Africa “so that we mutually reinforce ourselves economically. Nigeria Nwankwo said will always be its brother’s keeper.

    Also speaking during the visit, the Director General, Directorate of Macroeconomic Planning of South Sudan Mr Philip Boldit, urged Nigeria to walk its talk of being the leader in Africa.

    Boldit, said he was a “little bit disappointed. Nigeria is a very large country. Nobody is going to invite Nigeria to take leadership position. You have to impose yourself. You have the population. You have the knowledge. You have education. This is leadership. We (other African countries) cannot leave Africa to be run by other people when Nigeria is here. Senegal will come to struggle with you for leadership because they have the francophone behind them. South Africa will come up but don’t leave your position.”