The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BIGGER

  • ‘Nigeria’s economy growing bigger, stronger’

    ‘Nigeria’s economy growing bigger, stronger’

    Binatone Nigeria Managing Director Mr. Prasun Banerjee, in this interview with TOBA AGBOOLA, speaks on how the company is surviving despite the tough economy. He talks about his brand and the innovations targeted at winning consumers.

    As a brand, what has your experience been like in Nigeria?

    It has been a wonderful thing. Although, last year was a little bit difficult, but we were able to cope and stabilise. I will say that we have come out of it and that is why you can see many good products being introduced into the market. We have a long term strategy and that is what has helped us. The same thing with the country. The government has put in place long term strategy and this will help the economy.

    Also, we have been in Nigeria for the past 40 years and we will be celebrating 60 years this year, globally. We have learnt how to keep our cost low so that our products can be affordable, with high quality. We ensure that what we import is of good quality, with two years warranty. So, our aim is to create good value for money. We have a trusted brand in Nigeria for well over four decades. Over the years, we have identified that Africans, particularly Nigerians, like style. They are proud of their homes and want the most beautiful things to take a pride of place in their living rooms. They like practicality, advanced technology, unquestionable quality and of course, an attractive price.

    How has the Federal Government’s policies on imported goods affected you? 

    We don’t have problem with the government policy as regards regulations. The only problem we have is the delay at the Apapa Port. This also caused delay for us and you know one needs to pay for demurrage at the end of the whole thing. But, the government is already addressing this challenge. Efforts are being initiated for improving ease of doing business and we are quite satisfied with the progress the Federal Government  is making to ensure a conducive business atmosphere.

    Government has come up with the procurement policy that says expatriates should not be used for any skill that can be sourced locally. How are you responding to this?

    Absolutely, we are doing that. We have very limited expatriates only wherever required, basically the Managing Director. Across all our  products and divisions, we have locals running the business.

    What is your expansion plan and what are the challenges associated with such efforts?

    We will be opening another assembly in the next two weeks. We want to go into various categories of products and of course, with innovation. In order to expand, one needs to invest, get space in the showroom, and in order to get this share of space, they need to do visibility exercises in terms of product display and demonstration. We have demonstrators, who we train on a regular basis on key features of the products and how to handle and sell them. Some merchants are our first point of contact with the customers. The trained demonstrators are one of the touch points that we have. In terms of availability, we were limited to certain class of retailers, now we have started expanding our retail network. We only had a few supermarkets and retailers in Alaba, but now we have big retail shops across Nigeria.

    We are working with the top retailers in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja. The second touch point we have is in terms of the display. The customer gets to have a touch and feel of the product. He gets it near to his house; he does not have to travel far to get the product. So, our products are available in every supermarket and top retailers across the 36 states and the FCT. Abuja looks after the entire Central and North; Port Harcourt looks after the East; Onitsha looks after Onitsha and Enugu and Lagos looks after Lagos and the Southwest. We have a service centre that is well equipped with trained engineers to take care of consumers even when they have complications beyond the two years covered by the warranty.

    During this process of expansion, have you observed a need to branch into the hinterland?

    What we are doing is to expand step by step.  Once we see that a certain market has potential, we open a branch there. Onitsha was big for us; our next target is Kano or Kaduna to cover the entire North. We have a vast team of people here. I would like to also point out that all the fans that you see here are assembled in Nigeria. We have an assembly unit here in Nigeria and we are planning to assemble some other items here as well. We have given employment to many local people and we have also done good business and generated revenue for the government.

    How are you coping with competition, especially from new brands that are springing up?

    Competition will always be there. Whenever there is a demand for a category, there will always be competition. But we believe that we give good value for money in proposition. We give a product, which is affordable, has value for money and at the same time, gives peace of mind. Our core philosophy is to try and get the product across a wide spectrum of the society at very affordable price. We don’t just give value for money; we also give value to many. We are available, pan Nigeria and one of our strengths is giving the consumer peace of mind.

    One of the ways we do that is by placing two-year warranty on each of our products. We’re already dominant in cooling products for the home, we felt the pulse of the consumer to produce the world’s first 2-in-1 Music Fan. We are market leader in fans and have an assembly unit here. We are also looking at assembling other kitchen appliance products and also help the government to accelerate its made-in-Nigeria initiative.

    How are you responding to the demand for products that meet the energy challenges of the Nigerian environment?

    To take care of the energy challenges, we have rechargeable fans and we will be launching more fans with rechargeable capacity. We know that this is a challenge in Nigeria and there is an opportunity there. So, we are one of the pioneers of rechargeable fans in Nigeria.

    Are you also looking at making fans that could use solar energy?

    We have another company, which is based outside the United Kingdom (UK) and which does that. Discussion is going on but there is no product right now that is commercially available to take care of that challenge. But I am sure that if there are driverless cars, there should also be solar fans.

    How would you compare your market shares in Nigeria with the UK and other African countries?

    Nigeria is a very huge market filled with a young population. Nigeria is one of our home countries. It is a huge opportunity for us that our fans are coveted in every household in Nigeria. Our products are well accepted here in Nigeria. We are not premium products, we give value for money and value to the many products. They are products, which the middle class will always like to buy. For instance, Nigeria is the second biggest appliance market in Africa (after South Africa).

    All top international brands have strong presence in the market. Market is predominantly for mid and lower end products across all product categories. Of course, the Nigeria electronic market has always been doing great and remains a major market for Binatone to continue to explore. As far as Nigeria is concern, we are introducing very innovative products. We have launched many products and we still intend to launch. In short, there is big market in Nigeria.

    Which new products are you bringing to the Nigerian electronics market?

    Binatone has recently launched its innovative Tower Music Fan. Binatone’s new Music Fan brings all of this in its new product offering – the Binatone Tower Fan with digital music. The audio is available via Bluetooth to play any pre-loaded or streamed music from any smartphone and it also allows audio to be played via USB, SD Card, or even a 3.5mm audio. A stunning tower fan with a built-in digital audio system that will reclaim that nostalgic place in the home that first radios once held. The innovation we have experienced in the past two to three decades is unprecedented and what we can achieve with technology is becoming limitless, and this puts a larger than ever onus on product development teams to be able to focus and deliver truly meaningful innovations. Our product is unique, offering for the consumer. Two essential products in one saving valuable space in the home, the Binatone Music Fan is truly destined to be the new centre piece of any home with its style, music and coolness.

    How does the company hope to impact positively on the Nigerian economy?

    Despite the recession we have been growing in business, thanks to our product innovation and keeping our prices low. We have contributed both to the Nigerian exchequer as well as providing jobs to talented and meritorious Nigerians. Apart from direct employment, we also give a lot of indirect employment through the various agencies we hire, which assist us in our business development.

    How are you tackling counterfeiting of your products?

    Whenever you have genuine products, fakes will be present. So, it is something we have to work on. We have been working with Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in identifying and destroying fakes and taking the perpetrators to court. Some cases are still in court. What we do is that whenever we see any product being converted to a fake, we try to exit that model and launch a new model.  We try to keep one step ahead of the fakers. I advise customers to buy from authorised agents and distributors of our products and from leading electronic outlets and supermarkets where there are no fakes.

    How is this impacting on your bottom-line?

    It is not really affecting our bottom line because as I said, we also try to stay a step ahead of the fakes. It is not really a big threat.

    Do you have challenges bringing in your raw materials?

    Initially, most manufacturers had that challenge, but in the last two months, there have been changes. Foreign exchange has been readily available and relatively stable. There is big hope for manufacturing in this country.  I think once the forex gets available freely, markets will again bounce back and boom. I don’t have too much to complain about in terms of bringing in raw materials because we are getting good support.

    What are you doing differently from others?

    We are not doing anything extraordinary. I am not a magician. I will say God is guiding us to go on the right direction. But one thing I know is that, when you produce quality goods, you don’t have to show off. Consumers themselves will determine what the market of the products should be. If I give you my products and you enjoy using them, then I think you will become my customer. If you buy a product and you are not able to use it, will you buy it a second time? The answer is no.

    How has it been managing Binatone?

    I have been managing the affairs of Binatone Nigeria for one and half years. During this time, we have been able to do good business. Although, there have been some economic challenges, but Binatone as I said earlier is a well-known British brand that has been in Nigeria in the last 40 years. It started with electronics and over a period of many years, it shifted its product offerings to fans, kitchen appliances, power products like UPS and stabilisers. We are leaders in fans. We have a wide range of fans. We recently introduced a tower fan with a Bluetooth speaker, which means that if you switch on your fan, you can pair your phone to the Bluetooth speaker and listen to music. The purpose is to launch this one of a kind product that is not available anywhere. We are happy that we are launching it in Nigeria for the first time.

    What are the things that drive you as a businessman?

    It is God. We are all guided by God. Every step we have taken has been guided by God. We have the faith that you can achieve anything you set out to do through God’s help. It is also our belief that you don’t ask your country what your country will do for you. You ask yourself what you can do for your country.  We make sure that we do our part. We belong to the country and it is important that we play our part.

  • TIFF JUST GOT BIGGER

    TIFF JUST GOT BIGGER

    WITH that charitable culture of transforming the way people see the world, through film, not only has the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) lived its vision by profiling Nigeria, the biggest story-telling country in Africa in its city-to-city spotlight of Lagos, the festival just got bigger with the Cannes outlook by taking fun to the street.

    Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood and all the other ‘woods’ took over Downtown Toronto, as celebrities are confronted a pestering attention of thousands of fans hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars.

    King Street West, the festival hub and location of the Bell Light box (festival offices and screen halls) and Hyatt (industry pavilions and residences) was hot and compact, as the Peter and University intersections were closed for traffic, thus transforming the arena into a pedestrian promenade with side seats, light tunnel, musical performances, gaming spots, outdoor screenings, fun rides and more.

    The festival kicked off with the world premiere of ‘The Magnificent Seven’, with Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawk leading the star-studded cast of the directed by Antoine Fuqua. This was just as the city-to-city spotlight on Lagos State kicked off with the premiere of Kemi Adetiba’s ‘The Wedding Party’ at the historic Elgin Theatre.

    It was a first-of-its-kind for Nigeria, thus making way for a colourful celebration as the cast and crew of the romcom, comprising Kemi Adetiba, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Banky W., Iretiola Doyle, Sola Sobowale, Adesua Etomi, Zainab Balogun, Beverly Naya and Mo Abudu rocked the red carpet in the best of gorgeous attires.

    While ‘The Magnificent Seven’ revisits the story told in the original 1960s western as well as the Akira Kurosawa film (The Seven Samurai) that inspired it, ‘The Wedding Party’ is a hilarious comedy that plays up the happenstances of a typical Nigerian party.

    “There’s a much stronger role for female characters in this Magnificent Seven,” said Bailey. “It’s a much more diverse range of the characters’ ethnicities, reflecting what the Old West was actually like.

    “You often didn’t see those clearly in classic westerns of the last century, but you do now, because this is a western for 2016,” he added.

    Incidentally, one may not entirely divorce ‘The Wedding Party’ from this kind of female characters looking at it from the angle of an insecure virgin bride, two overbearing mothers who can’t stand each other, a high strung wedding planner, a sexy ex with vengeance on her mind, two loyal bridesmaids ready to go to war, plus; the director as a first-time female feature film director.

    TIFF has been variously described as the Olympics of film business with more than 80 countries being represented. It is an ensemble of filmmakers, star actors, buyers, talent agents, studio houses and distribution agents.

    The festival is the last gate to the annual Oscars, and films like ’12 Years a Slave’, ‘The King’s Speech’ and ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ are known to clinched the Oscars, having been first recognised with People’s Choice Awards at TIFF.

  • The bigger picture

    Sitting before my computer on Thursday afternoon, a lot of headlines ran through my head, with every topic looking like a weekly column idea. In fact, I started writing many in my mind’s eye but shelved them, especially those that I wrote on sheets of paper while in Benin City.

    Indeed, in one’s quiet moments, the head is free of life’s baggage. Rather than sleep away the time, one tries to scribble down interesting trends of the beautiful game. I plead guilty of being a football writer, even though I played cricket in my younger days.

    Truth is, if the business of soccer thrives, those firms which cannot find the space to identify their goods and/or services with the beautiful game would shift their attention to other sports with the right followership and men who can convince the corporate world not to sulk over its inability to identify with soccer.

    Sports, such as cricket, boxing, basketball, golf and table tennis, have robust marketing initiatives which have been used to activate some of the programmes executed today. It is true that they need more, except that soccer, which ought to be the elixir for other sports, is burdened by the intrigues of failed NFF people.

    Let me not bore you with these intrigues but look at the bigger future for soccer as it is being showcased by other nations. I hope this bigger picture can be appreciated by the coaches of our national teams, if they truly want the game to move up.

    I cringe when I hear ex-internationals distort facts in pushing their case for them to run the game, as if that is the norm in other climes. The last time I checked, the three FAs in which ex-footballers are in charge as Federation presidents are Chile (Arturo Salah), Portugal (Fernando Gomes) and Spain (Ángel María). Their countries are listed among the top 10 in FIFA rankings.

    In descending order in FIFA’s rankings, England FA has Gregory “Greg” Dyke (born 20 May 1947), a British media executive, journalist and broadcaster, as chairman of The Football Association (FA). He was Director-General of the BBC from January 2000 to 29 January 2004.

    In Uruguay, the FA President is Wilmar Valdez (born 10 July 1965), a Uruguayan football executive. At 21, Valdez started working for his hometown’s club Rentistas. Valdez also worked as a sports journalist for a while. At Rentistas, he served in various positions, including Secretary General and President, for four years.

    Portugal’s FA president is Fernando Mendes Soares Gomes (born 22 November 1956), a retired Portuguese professional footballer, who played as a striker for FC Porto, Sporting Lisbon and Sporting Gijon. Brazilian FA President is Marco Polo Del Nero (born 22 February 1941); he is a lawyer and sports administrator.

    One of the three FA presidents, who is a former footballer, is Spain’s Ángel María (born 21 February 1950). He played as a midfielder. He is the acting President of UEFA. He wasn’t an ex-international.

    Germany’s FA president isn’t a footballer, yet his country is the defending World Cup champions. Reinhard Dieter Grindel (born 19 September 1961 in Hamburg) is a German journalist, politician (CDU) and football administrator. From 2002 to 2016, Grindel was a member of the Bundestag (Lower Chamber of the German Parliament). On 15 April 2016, he was elected president of the German Football Association (DFB) and resigned as a member of parliament.

    Colombia’s FA president is Ramon Franco, a businessman. Chile’s president Arturo Salah is a former Chilean footballer and manager. Belgium’s federation president is Francois De Keersmaecker and he is a lawyer. Argentina’s Luis Segura is a business entrepreneur.

    England, Brazil, Germany, Argentina, France, Spain, Belgium and Uruguay are not being run by their ex-internationals. Note that these countries are in the top 10 in FIFA’s current rankings, with not a few being former World Cup champions like the reigning kings- Germany.

    The trend shows that lawyers, business men, journalists and politicians make good soccer federation chairmen. It is very revealing that a journalist presides over Germany’s FA. Need I restate that the Germans are the World Cup kings?

    What most ex-internationals in Nigeria, who disturb the media with the infantile wish, fail to understand is that the essence of any enterprise is profits and losses. And it isn’t a venture for half-baked and unprepared people not versed in the rudiments of business. Our players still see soccer administration like an inheritance, forgetting that there are many people who are eminently qualified.

    Besides, our ex-internationals must know that they won’t be interfacing with Lilliputians from other climes, hence they must equip themselves properly before seeking positions of importance, such as NFF’s headship.

    Most times when I hear or read about these advocates for ex-internationals running our football, my mind goes to reconciling all that they achieved as players – tears run down my cheeks. Perhaps, if they equipped themselves, they would be talking about owning clubs in their states that would serve as models on how the game should be run.

    Again, I laugh at these ex-internationals because only a few of them have contributed to the local clubs which made them. These gestures come when they are in the twilight of their careers – more or less like forward purchase stuffs or as public relations stunts initiated by their friends and lackeys.

    Clubs, such as Rangers, 3SC, Bendel Insurance, Heartland, Kano Pillars, Enyimba etc shouldn’t be run by any state government, given the exodus of players from these clubs to Europe. Our players must learn to put their money where their mouth is. Is it out of place if five top former players of 3SC in Europe decide to pay the players’ annual salaries as their contributions to the club’s existence?

    Is 3SC’s yearly budget up to N700 million? I doubt it. That is the equivalent of $2 million which is what the club’s ex-internationals and those still playing can cough pay. Not so here. They would tell you that the money would be misappropriated. But if they pay it into a bank and get the bank to do their biddings in terms of payment, the players would get their dues. If our players are serious about their cry to run our football, they must go back to their local governments and states to contribute to the grassroots development of the game.

    If those players who left Enugu Rangers FC for Europe contribute 10 per cent of what they earn playing European football to the club’s management, they won’t need government funding. What have those players who left Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan to play in Europe done for the club’s management now that the Oyo State government is indebted to the players and coaching staff for five months? Ten per cent from their one month salaries would make 3SC the richest in Nigeria. Only a few of our ex-internationals and those still playing have bought jerseys, boots etc for their former clubs.

    What they do when they visit the country is to drive around the cities in posh cars, with musical sets at the loudest volume to increase the nuisance value that we already have on the streets. Back in their European bases, they dare not do so. They know the penalties involved if caught by the authorities. Not so here, where those who should reprimand them join in the boogie sessions – awaiting when the big star leaves the place like a rocket, leaving in his wake wads of naira flung into the air with multitudes falling over themselves to pick up the crumbs.

    Those who excel in those places would definitely get the votes to qualify them to run for their state FA elections. Once in that setting, it would be easier for them to contest the NFF elections and run the office, if the Congress deems them worthy of such an exercise. Nothing qualifies an ex-international without requisite educational qualifications to run the NFF than the educated mind, who chose the academics. A literarily empty head cannot lead people. Indeed, most of the educated footballers have moved on to other ventures and won’t want to touch the NFF with this kind of rancorous setting.  State FAs run by ex-internationals have been riddled with tales of impeachments and accusations of their leaders running a one-man show.

    One will stand at the roof top to campaign for Adokie Amiesimaka, if he decides to run for the NFF president. I will have advertorials in many media houses explaining why we need Felix Owolabi (Phd) as NFF president, if he takes the plunge.

    I will proceed on vacation to support Edema Fuludu, if he shows interest in NFF president’s job. These (Amiesimaka, Owolabi and Fuludu) are ex-internationals and Africa Cup of Nations winners. The list of educated players is endless. They combined sports at the highest level with quality education, which is the distinguishing line between them and the rest of the pack.

    We want people who are cerebral to articulate the federation’s road map to the corporate world. We need men with pedigree, such as Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who distinguished himself at the state level. The current NFF board has the right mix of technocrats to lift the game, if given an opportunity to deliver on their campaign promises.

    Football management at the NFF isn’t a job for charlatans or political jobbers. It is a job for those who have given life to moribund institutions, not those who want to use the platform to improve their CVs, enrich their international passports, lobby for positions at FIFA and CAF and travel with every team in a bid to collect estacodes in foreign currencies.

     

  • My airport bigger than yours

    My airport bigger than yours

    •Airports have become prized items of political bragging rights in Nigeria.

    Previously, airports were built, equipped and operated by the Federal Government, from geopolitical and economic considerations.

    The oldest, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, lived up to their billing; as gateways to the outside world for the most part, though they could not boast and still cannot boast the sophisticated technology on which modern aviation depends.

    They were complemented by airports in Kaduna, Ibadan and Enugu, capitals of the three regions that made up the Nigerian Federation.

    Reconstruction, after the civil war, fuelled by oil revenues, witnessed a huge expansion in the air transportation network, with an airport in each of the 12 state capitals, configured from the former regions.

    Creation of more states led to the demand for airports in the new states.  Where the Federal Government was not forthcoming, the states took matters into their own hands.

    The result is today’s proliferation of airports across the country. Only a few states do not have one facility or another designated as an airport.  But no fewer than 17 such facilities have been declared redundant by the aviation industry.  Yet, more airports are being constructed or planned.

    Despite the grim economic outlook, Ekiti State has begun clearing a site for an airport.  Such is the frenzy with which Governor Ayo Fayose is pursuing the project that he did not even consult those who hold customary titles to the land; nor offer compensation for the economic trees on their farmlands before he sent in bulldozers to clear the site in the state capital, Ado-Ekiti.

    Even if Ekiti had abundant resources, it would still be hard to justify the project.  Akure airport, in neighbouring Ondo State, located less than an hour by road from Ado Ekiti, has been little more than a white elephant since it was built some two decades ago.

    The old regional airport in Ibadan, some two hours from Ado-Ekiti, is more a sentimental reminder of the glory days of former Western Nigeria than a functioning, thriving concern.

    Despite its contiguity with Kano, of which it used to be a part, and easy access to the Aminu Kano International Airport, Jigawa spent an estimated N6 billion to build its own airport.  Former Governor Sule Lamido was going to pass the cost on to the Federal Government, as a price for remaining in the fold after the defection of several PDP governors to the Opposition, and for supporting and Dr Jonathan Goodluck’s reelection bid.

    It is not clear whether the deal was ultimately consummated.  But there is no justification whatsoever for Lamido spending N6 billion on the airport, or for Dr Jonathan underwriting the cost. The airport is at best a monument to Lamido’s misplaced priorities.

    Building an airport, as the Federal Government has found and state governments are discovering, is the easy part.  Maintaining it is a different proposition.  Even where an airport serves commercial routes, the revenues it generates rarely offset maintenance costs.  The airports that lie idle most of the time are for all practical purposes financial sinkholes.

    They also pose security challenges, poorly manned and policed as they are. Even at the so-called Port Harcourt International Airport, one of the better facilities, herds of cattle have on several occasions breached the runway, resulting in accidents or near-misses.

    The more sensible thing is to raise the more viable and strategic of the existing airports to global standards, instead of dissipating scarce resources on vainglorious airfields that add no value to the economy or the well-being of the people.

  • FastJet predicts bigger loss

    FastJet Plc, seeking to become the first discount airline with a network spanning sub-Saharan Africa, predicted a wider full-year loss and reined in expansion plans as an economic slowdown linked to falling commodity prices weighs on revenue.

    FastJet shares fell as much as 6.7 percent after the London-based carrier said there’d be a “material increase” in its full-year loss amid a weakening of the Tanzanian shilling and Zambian kwacha versus the U.S. dollar, in which it reports earnings, buys fuel and rents planes.

    Revenue per passenger is also falling in real terms as Tanzania cuts public spending ahead of October elections, FastJet said. The introduction of international routes from Zimbabwe and Zambia will be delayed to mid-November and early December, pushing revenue gains into 2016, it said.

    “African currencies have lost considerable value against the U.S. dollar, which, combined with a worldwide reduction in commodity prices, has caused an economic downturn in both Tanzania and Zambia,” Chief Executive Officer Ed Winter said in the release. The shilling has weakened 25 percent against the dollar this year and the kwacha by 72.4 percent.

    Winter added that he’s “confident” of meeting forecasts for 2016, when house broker Liberum Capital estimates the company will post a pretax profit of $10.7 million. Liberum now estimates 2015 losses at $31.1 million, compared with $19.5 million previously.

    FastJet shares fell as much as six pence to 84 pence and were trading 4.4 percent lower at 86 pence as of 10:45 a.m in London, paring gains this year to 23 percent and valuing the company – which began flying in November 2012 – at 57 million pounds ($87 million).

    Operating losses in the first half decreased by 26 percent to $12.8 million and passenger numbers surged 56 percent to almost 364,000 from a year earlier, even with the same three Airbus Group SE A319 jets. The fleet size has since increased to six planes, including the first owned example.

     

  • Back-to-school shopping gets bigger

    Back-to-school shopping gets bigger

    Back-to-school, the second largest seasonal shopping period after Christmas, usually opens up opportunities for retailers to make brisk business. It is a period when more shoppers, particularly women, troop to both the virtual and physical stores to buy school items for their wards, TONIA ‘DIYAN reports

    Back-to-school shopping is the second largest seasonal shopping period of the year in terms of consumer spending. It represents an even greater challenge to retailers and manufactures because of its nature.

    However, retailers have been meeting shoppers’ numerous demands as they kick-started promotional offers early in May. They are expectant of bumper sales as back-to-school shopping is in full swing in major markets, stores and online.

    Online retailers are not left out, as findings have it that they have invested plenty of money into selling supplies to schools, other businesses and directly to shoppers.

    Over time, back-to-school shopping has become, perhaps, the most prolonged shopping period of the year, with sales starting two months before school vacates and one month after classes resume.

    However, when it comes to back-to-school sales, retailers and shoppers might not be on the same page all the time as some shoppers still believe that the best sales are in September after school begins because the rush would have subsided and items cheaper. More than a quarter of parents The Nation Shopping spoke to, said they plan to finish their shopping after the start of the new session, some for economic reasons, while others because they dread the rush in the market presently.

    To some shoppers, when retailers hold special sales months before the start of a new school session, it doesn’t guarantee the best bargain. Some say they are more comfortable waiting till the last minute, because retailers are constantly adding new sales.

    This belief however hasn’t stopped retailers from stocking up items for the season, neither has it stopped some of them from putting up promotions. One thing is sure—prices of these items will become fairer when to the retailer, it will seem the season for the items is rounding up.

    A retailer in Aswani Market, Dumebi Akonuwa, said she had introduced ridiculous discounts on all back-to-school items and that made parents and their wards  respond in an impressive manner.

    Visits to some shopping places in Lagos where mainly back-to-school items are displayed reveal that retailers are giving away cheap prices on back-to-school items. They are also giving out price-matching guarantees to customers in an effort to stay relevant and competitive.

    Some retailers are offering two times less the original prices of items such as under wares, stationeries, school uniforms, school shoes, etc. There are some other retailers who are known for their sharp back-to-school promo, they attested to the fact that they have obviously started selling early and would make sure they stay relevant throughout the season.

    Also, owners of bookshops in Mushin, Lagos and its environs said they are responding to competition so they don’t lose out on sales. They are happy parents and guardians. They believe this is the time when a retailer needs to attract shoppers with something other than product. It is important to use price and time.

    Retailers are busy serving the needs of millions of shoppers who seem to hold all the cards when it comes to getting cheap merchandise. These retailers prefer to mark down items (place items on discounts) to help them clear their stock. And they’re doing it out of a need to keep shoppers with hundreds of other options interested, especially during crucial buying seasons such as back-to-school.

    On the other hand, while sales remain unstable, school sales have helped push online retail revenue up slightly. Secondary school pupils in particular are very savvy when it comes to shopping via the web. It seems they were born with computers in their hands; they know how to use the internet to their advantage, so they’re surfing the web with a view to getting the best prices and the best deals.

  • Bigger threat to humanity

    AS we watch man threaten its very existence with its inhumanity to itself, our focus is very dangerously taken off a bigger peril. While we plant bombs and launch arsenals in a bid to win unwarranted wars, a silent war against the human race is being declared by an even bigger threat to humanity.

    An ongoing epidemic of the Ebola virus is spreading throughout West Africa. The world’s deadliest Ebola epidemic is currently ravaging many communities in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, among others. So far, the World Health Organization has reported a total of 888 Ebola cases, including 539 deaths since February this year. In a statement, the organization expressed how dire the situation has become by labeling it a ‘precarious’ one which had surged at an unprecedented rate. Figures released by WHO in April indicate that there have been 157 suspected cases, including 101 deaths. Essentially, what we are witnessing is the slippery slope that has the potential of leading to the most severe outbreak of Ebola ever recorded in recorded history, both in the number of cases and fatalities.

    With news that a man in Lagos just died from the virus, the impact of Ebola has just become all too real to Nigerians.

    The man was a Liberian who had been quarantined when he arrived in Lagos on Sunday, July 20 with symptoms of the Ebola virus. His death is the first recorded case of one of the world’s deadliest diseases ever in Nigeria.

    In Liberia, there have already been 21 cases, including 10 fatalities, of which five have been confirmed as Ebola. Mali has seen nine suspected cases with tests showing that two of them did not have the virus. Also, one death has been recorded in Ghana since the outbreak started. Various organizations, including the US Center for Disease Control, European Commission and ECOWAS, have been donating funds and have mobilized personnel to help counter the outbreak.

    Heads of West African governments have met under WHO auspices and have agreed on a coordinated regional strategy. However, much more is needed in terms of effort, cooperation and funds and much more is required from every single person living in the West African region, in terms of awareness.

    Ebola was first discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). The virus is named after the Ebola River where one of the first recorded outbreaks occurred. Bats are believed to be largely responsible for the Ebola virus. Studies have shown that the virus was originally transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission, with fruit bats of the ‘Pteropodidae’ family considered to be the natural host. The largest-ever outbreak was in 2000-01 in Uganda, with 425 cases, about half of whom died, according to WHO estimates. From the time the virus was identified in humans, pharmaceutical researchers have been unable to develop an effective drug or vaccine to combat the disease.

    The treat of Ebola cannot be underestimated by any of us or by the governments within the region of West Africa. It is a ruthless killer; one of the world’s deadliest viruses, killing up to 90 percent of those infected. Much like so many other incurable and harsh diseases before it, the public seems to be somewhat carefree about learning the facts of it at a time when it can be controlled. Granted, at this very point, the Ebola virus is a huge threat to all of humanity but, at this time, it is also a threat that can be brought under control because the epidemic is still in the early stages.

    We must protect ourselves from Ebola. And we can do so by first knowing the facts about the virus and doing everything possible to prevent its spread. We must empower ourselves with knowledge of the symptoms to look for and our government must immediately start a nation-wide awareness scheme.

    The disease itself is contracted through contact with infected blood or through the exchange of body fluids from an infected person or animal. Early symptoms of the disease include, fever, headache, chills, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, backache, and joint pains. Later symptoms include bleeding from the eyes, ears and nose, bleeding from the mouth and rectum, eye swelling, swelling of the genitals and rashes all over the body that often contain blood. It could progress to coma, shock and eventually death.

    Presently, there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the Ebola virus but anyone infected must be admitted into hospital as soon as possible if they are to have any chance of survival.

    The view of Ebola from Nigeria is extremely disturbing. The news that the virus has reached Ghana, where a single US citizen was reported to have been infected, is one that Nigerians and the government needs to take very seriously.

    Presently, there has only been that single case reported in Ghana, but that one case is all the warning we need! The question now is; exactly how prepared is Nigeria to prevent and combat this scourge, in the event it needs to? Is the Federal Government equipped enough to forestall or limit the Ebola plague if indeed it needed to do so? The fact that the Federal Government is currently inundated with a profound level of insecurity in the nation, primarily by murdering, blood thirsty, evil and crazy insurgents; does it have the wherewithal to preempt such a potential plague? Proactively, other countries across West Africa have already begun bracing themselves against the spread of the epidemic, with countries like Senegal closing the border it shares with Guinea. Liberia and Guinea are now currently doing all they can to try and control the virus from spreading further.

    While Nigeria has not reported a case of Ebola, the Federal Government through the Minister of Health, Oyebuchi Chukwu, recently admitted that there is a real threat to Nigeria judging by the rate at which the virus has been moving.

    The Minister said, despite the threat, preemptive measures, such as the production of information leaflets, have been taken by the Federal Government. If so, that measure is just not adequate enough in preventing the entry of the deadly virus into the nation’s borders. It is outrageous to think that the mere sharing of leaflets is adequate enough to fight an uncompromising killer like Ebola.

    The problem of our porous borders must be addressed, not only to combat security but monitor the influx of disease as well. A ferocious awareness and sensitization campaign, giving the public information on the risk factors and protective measures of Ebola, through mainstream media, social media, in hospitals, schools, markets, industries and government offices must be launched with immediate effect.

    The awareness campaign has got to be educative and shocking, particularly in pointing out that the virus is highly infectious and has no known cure or vaccine. Furthermore, the government should ensure that health workers and practitioners have all the information they need in addition to providing them with extra protective gear such as gloves.

    While we ponder on the sub-regional scourge of the Ebola virus, its fatal effects, the current threat to Nigeria and the ,realization that there is no known cure for the disease, halting the spread of the virus must involve every Nigerian.

    Everyone should be alert, involved and be on the lookout for any signs of the disease. Everyone should do their bit by learning more about Ebola, protecting themselves, ensuring that their environments are cleanly maintained and also improving on personal hygiene, like washing hands often.

    We must all maintain methods and practices of disinfection, cleanliness, observation of contacts, rodent control and precaution in any interaction that requires the exchange of bodily fluids.

    Infection can occur through eating fruits that have been contaminated with by bats with the virus. As a result, it is vital to wash every fruit before eating. Likewise, the creative manner in which some Nigerians devour bush-meat has to be carried out with utmost caution, because if we have learnt anything from these kinds of diseases, it is that their natural reservoir is usually wild animals, especially wild monkeys and wild rodents.

    For now there has been only one reported case of Ebola in Nigeria; one hopes it stays that way. One also hopes the spread of the virus in other West African countries can be brought to a complete halt. As individuals, we each have a responsibility and duty of care in disease control. Let us invest our time into learning about the Ebola virus, let us each make an effort to stop its spread.

    So, while man-kind faces the threat to its very existence through the self-inflicted bombs, missiles and wars it imposes on the human race, it would be worth our while to unite and battle the bigger threat currently to humanity… the threat of the Ebola disease.

  • ‘Akwa Ibom bigger than anyone’

    The Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Umana Umana, yesterday said the future of the state is bigger than any individual or group.

    Umana, who spoke in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, urged citizens not to see the infrastructural development in the state as a measure to create unemployment, but an indication to generate employment.

    The SSG said the governorship position has always been an open contest.

    “People from other senatorial districts contested with former Governor Victor Attah and even Governor Godswill Akpabio.

    “As we speak, our brother from Eket Senatorial District Frank Okon is still in court challenging the re-election of the governor.

    “People should forget the primordial issue of zoning and allow the best man to continue the infrastructural renaissance in the state.”

  • Will Moses be bigger than Mikel?

    Will Moses be bigger than Mikel?

    Victor Moses and Mikel Obi shone at the 2013 AFCON with suggestions Moses the younger of the Chelsea stars could be the bigger act soon.

    Mikel may have won several major honours with ‘The Blues’ including the UEFA Champions League last season, while Moses is still waiting for his first major piece of silverware at club level. But while it took Mikel eight years to make a major impact with the Super Eagles, Moses became an African champion a year after his long-awaited debut in Rwanda.

    Moses with his bag of tricks down the wings, vision and thorough passes was without a doubt the standout star of the 2013 AFCON.

    Former Nigeria skipper Sunday Oliseh saluted Moses as the best player of the tournament.

    “Moses was outstanding, he was everywhere, he did extremely well, making something happen out of nothing. He is a team player who carries the team. He really lived up to expectations,” praised Oliseh.

    Ex-Nigeria World Cup star Tijjani Babangida told MTNFootball.com Moses is a big asset for Nigeria.

    “I expected Moses to do well at the Nations Cup. I said he will be an important member of the team and will propel the team to do well which he did. He is a great asset for the Eagles,” remarked Babangida.

    What is even more compelling about Moses at the AFCON was that he achieved all that on his debut appearance at the tournament.

    Mikel and Moses are two different players, while one is a defensive-minded player, the other is often part of the attack and so weighs in with his fair share of goals.

    Moses is four years younger than his compatriot at Stamford Bridge and one often for the spectacular, unlike Mikel who is known to do the dirty jobs for Chelsea.

    Former Nigeria international Garba Lawal told MTNFootball.com that both Mikel and Moses are poised to lead this new generation of Nigeria stars to greatness.

    He said Moses is a youngster just coming up, while Mikel is a lot more experienced despite the fact he will only be 26 in April.

    “Mikel was outstanding at the AFCON. He has experience on his side even though he is still young and he has been there at the top for some time now. He has won laurels to show he is a successful player and he still counting,” Lawal argued.

    “Moses, on the other hand, is a new comer to the big stage. He is an upcoming player and we would have to wait and see how far he could go. Football is about continuity, not playing few games where you do well, then you play badly in some. He must be consistent before we can ever start talking about him winning more laurels. We should also note that Mikel has kept getting better.”

    Another former Eagles skipper Mutiu Adepoju told MTNFootball.com that both players are different and so there is no basis for comparison.

    “Moses and Mikel are big stars for the Eagles and their club, but they cannot be compared as they both are different players who play different roles on the field,” said Adepoju.

  • 2013 NATIONS CUP NO PLAYER BIGGER THAN NIGERIA — KESHI

    2013 NATIONS CUP NO PLAYER BIGGER THAN NIGERIA — KESHI

    SUPER EAGLES Head coach Stephen Keshi has declared that no player is neither bigger than the country nor the team hence, none is guaranteed a shirt in the final squad for the 2013 nation’s cup in South Africa.

    “There is no player that is bigger than the team; if he’s not given us what we want he won’t even be able to pick up a jersey,” he declared.

    Keshi maintains that selection of players is only based on merit rather than favoritism.

    “The set of group you have here is not about favoritism or sentiments, if you’re good you are if not so maybe next time you might have improved then we bring you back.”

    Speaking further with Brilafm.net, the former Hawks of Togo and Mali boss stated that the technical crew wants what is best for Nigerians.

    “We want Nigerians to be happy and that is the only commitment that we have so if a senator’s son is coming to play, he better be good otherwise we send him back,” Keshi said.

    The Super Eagles are set to depart the shores of the country for America after they procured their visas during the week and former Super Eagles striker, Patrick Pascal says winning Venezuela should be uppermost on their minds.

    “The Venezuela game should be taken seriously, no teams plays a match and says winning it is not important,” he said.

    Speaking with Brilafm.net, the former Royal Antwerp and Shooting stars player emphasized the importance of winning mentality.

    “From now till January any match the super eagles are playing, winning it should be their objective because we are going to the nation’s cup to prove a point, whether it’s a friendly match or not.”