The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Business

  • We’re not leaving Nigeria, says PZ

    Conglomerate giant PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc says it is not leaving Nigeria and that claims of its departure from the country is totally false.

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PZ Cussons Mr. Christos Giannopoulos in a statement issued on Friday said “the trading statement issued to the London Stock Exchange was clear on our continued operations in Nigeria ‘Whilst these conditions prevail, we will maintain our strong market shares in key product categories in Nigeria until growth returns to the market.”

    Christos Giannopoulos noted that “this year 2019, we are celebrating 120 years of PZ Cussons making life better and adding value to Nigerians. In our 120 years of doing business in Nigeria, we have faced different conditions and come out stronger at the end.”

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    He confirmed to company’s consumers, employees, business partners and stakeholders that “Nigeria still remains a market of interest for us and have made no plans to leave Nigeria. Our factories in Ikorodu, Aba and all our distribution centres around the country are operational and will continue to be.”

    Different social media platforms went abuzz on Thursday with news that PZ Cussons had concluded plans “to leave Nigeria as a result of the tough condition”.

    The PZ boss described this media buzz as “totally false and misleading and creates the impression that PZ has decided to leave Nigeria.“

  • Educating entrepreneurs

    Eden Business Accelerator held a workshop aimed at supporting entrepreneurs to lead and grow innovative start-ups into flourishing businesses, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    In Nigeria, there is a real need to address the lack of significant and relevant business training.

    To this end, Eden Business Accelerator held a workshop in Lagos to prepare entrepreneurs for economic challenges.  Those who attended the workshop learned the scientific approach to creating and managing startups.

    During the workshop, Dolapo Adejuyigbe,  a Business Development professional highly experienced in formulating strategies, instructed the participants  on how to use the Business Model Canvas approach. He delivered an expansive training, starting with the explanation of each of the building blocks to how they can be implemented in a business model canvas.

    According to him, the most important things for a new startup are having the right value proposition for the right customer segment and, more importantly, it has to be a unique value proposition.

    He said behind any successful business, there must be a solid and well structured business model.

    Adejuyigbe said founders working on customer development, should not only   focus on the current state of the market but also on how it may evolve.

    He said small business owners have to get feedback from customers about current pain points and how  their solution can address their immediate needs.

    As entrepreneurs, he said they wear many hats, but as they  start growing their business, it is very important to identify which one of those hats need to be turned over to others so they  can scale the business.

    According to him, keeping the customer service quality at an acceptable level is a challenge.

    He said   opportunities in the market are endless, but the biggest challenge is focus.

    He urged entrepreneurs to ensure they are solving customers’ problems and not getting distracted elsewhere.

    To achieve this, he advised them to remain in constant communication with the target audience.

    A senior Pastor, Eden Centre, Mayowa Alli, said the church organised the programme to provide services to young entrepreneurs and start-ups.

    Alli,African Venture Builder,is looking to build the next generation of African multinationals across technology & consumer.

    The Clergy said the challenge of business owners is failing to figure out a scalable business for a big enough market.

    According to him, businesses will fail when they are not solving a market problem.

    He said there  was  a challenge of putting the team together.

    He said startups owners needed people who were business-minded and who were passionate enough about what they are doing.

     

  • Turning adversity to business, career success

    At a day’s forum organised by a faith-based organisation, Join Value, in Lagos, top women entrepreneurs shared insights on how to turn adversity in business and career to success. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    A faith-based organisation, Join Value, last week held a forum aimed at enhancing women’s participation in businesses and careers.

    The programme with the theme:  Total Woman Conference, brought successful female entrepreneurs together to share their personal and inspirational business journeys to success.

    One of the speakers at the event,  No Left-Overs Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mrs Ayodeji Megbope, narrated how she transited from being a trained confidential secretary at Corona School, Lagos, for nine years, to being one of the country’s “Queen of Moin-Moin.“

    To achieve this, she signed up for a six-month Montessori programme to understand everything about the business. But by the time the programme ended, she lost total interest and was no longer motivated to run a play group, because it was no longer exciting for her.

    Her journey into selling moin moin started the day her sister-in-law visited her while she was making the delicacy and she grudgingly gave her some to taste. It was the turning point in her life. Her husband gave her N1, 000 to  make moi moi from  the beans. That marked the beginning of NO LEFT-OVERS, a full-scale catering service, in 2007.

    Her sister-in-law, on tasting the food, requested that she make more for her and her friends.

    Defying shame, Megbope took up space in front of Corona Schools gate. She would show up in a rickety Peugeot car, with wraps of Moi-Moi in a cooler to sell.

    After four months of selling at the school gate, Megbope got her first big break. On one of her trading days, she met a parent, who owned an oil servicing company. The parent informed her that she needed a caterer, who could provide lunch on daily basis for her workers of about 70.  The money she made from the catering business helped her move from the school gate to an air-conditioned office.

    With her customer base increasing, her product line also increased from the sale of just moin moin to sales of other foods. Today, No Left Overs has the capacity to cater at parties and events attended by hundreds of people. It’s a story of N1000 to 50 staff.

    She urged all women to follow her steps and break out of bondage and self-pity through entrepreneurship.

    According to her, a lack of confidence is a killer to success for women.

    She advised them to push through challenges to achieve success and don’t take no for an answer.

    Citing her case, Megbope said  she could  never forget those days of waking up at 3am to remove beans chaff, even when there was no light. She said illumination from a tourch light usually held by her husband served as alternative

    If Megbope’s story looks ordinary  Adenike Oyetunde’s case evokes pity and sympathy, but she refused to be pitied. Although a lawyer, she is a cancer survivor and amputee. Fate seemed unfair to Oyetunde as she also lost her dear father to cancer. Since her amputation, 12 years ago, Oyetunde has dedicated her life to helping and encouraging cancer patients and amputees.

    According to her, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (cancer of the bone) at age 20 and was advised to have her right leg amputated.  The sad news about her health and the sudden loss of her father expectedly found her battling with depression. But everything she’s done since has proven that she has risen above her challenge.

    Today, she serves as a source of inspiration to many, proving that anything can be done if the mind first believes it is possible- a reason she explained accounted for her turning her misery the best of situations.

    She has inspired thousands, raised many and given some the lift they desperately needed – through Amputees United, which she founded to raise funds and provide support to amputees.

    Since founding the organisation, she has reached many Nigerians and watched the magic of giving help back to people to rebuild their shattered lives.

     

  • Show Me, Tell Me

    A. You open your eyes wide as the long, red grains shimmer brightly, dancing seductively in the whirl of steam they emit. You inhale deeply and become intoxicated as the steam sashays, whirling and rising slowly into your nostrils. As in a trance, your hand reaches for the cutlery and your mouth tastes its hot, delicious tanginess. You feel its oily stickiness glide through your oesophagus and you exclaim in delight before you hear yourself exclaim. Ooh la la!

    Ten minutes later, the intricate designs on the ceramic plate are all you see as move your chair a few metres backward.

    Sweet, irresistible, smoky jollof rice. Finger-licking Cuisine does it like no other. They also provide home delivery services so you can eat to your heart’s content within the safety of your home, in utmost comfort and with reckless abandon.

    B. Finger-licking Cuisine cooks the best jollof rice in town. If you are looking for delicious party jollof rice, look no further. They also provide home delivery services.

    As a prospective buyer, which of these advert copies did you connect more with? Advert A which is longer and more descriptive or Advert B which is shorter and more direct?

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    Even though you know it is a fictional advert, I bet you will spend the next few hours – or days – dreaming about Finger-licking Cuisine’s jollof rice because of the lucid way in which Advert A appealed to your five senses.

    When writing an advert copy for your business, do not just reel out the facts. Give your customers an experience of your product or service. Let them feel, taste, smell and see the goodness in your product before they come in physical contact with it. You can also use still and motion images to aid this process. Of course, in all you do, ensure that what they see is what they get.

    So, what do you think? How can you apply these tips in your work and business? Please send your comments and questions to iniwrites@sw-advantage.com.

  • Is free Wi-Fi the new competitive advantage?

    Loyalty programs have become a regular staple in the retention strategies of most Nigerian businesses – whether big or small. Yet, the bulk of customers, especially those of a service business, want much more than the momentary appeal of coupon codes and loyalty points.

    In a world where consumers are bombarded with a flurry of product options at neck-breaking speed, brand loyalty can seem like a camel passing through the eye of a needle.

    But businesses that differentiate themselves from the competition often stand a better chance of rewriting the rules of the game, eventually grabbing a substantial share of the market. So, apart from offering generic incentives as a way to shore up loyalty, businesses could raise the stakes a few notches higher by offering a critical and sustainable solution to the customer at no extra cost.

     

    Today, for instance, discerning businesses are fast hopping on the free Wi-Fi train, a model that has already influenced about 49% of business and leisure travelers to choose one hotel over another. This shift in brand preference is not peculiar to the hospitality industry alone. In 2015, a joint survey by Air Tight Networks and IHL Group, showed that 27.5% of retailers saw a significant spike in repeat purchases and rising loyalty levels due to the deployment of free, in-store Wi-Fi service.

     

    Nigeria, despite ranking number one in internet affordability in the 2018 Inclusive Internet Index by The Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), broadband access remains a luxury for many people and businesses who rely on broadband connectivity to meet both personal and business obligations.

     

    Why you should offer free Wi-Fi to customers

    For businesses in the service segments, especially restaurants, lounges, bars and merchant locations, moving a customer from a fickle fan to a die-hard follower can seem daunting, considering the plenitude of options and competitive offerings that are always available to the customer. But a clearly articulated retention strategy that zooms the lenses on meeting the consumer’s intrinsic needs can be a game changer.

     

    For most consumers, particularly Generation X and Millennials, the availability of a Free Wi-Fi service at a favorite hangout location remains the perfect icing on the cake – one which not only guarantees a sense of satisfaction, but one likely to prompt several comebacks. Executed correctly, as seen in the hundreds of businesses that have embraced free Wi-Fi offering, this incentive remains a sure-fire way to grow footfalls, exceed customers’ expectations and improve retention.

     

    Against the age-long notion of what influences buying behavior, customer experience is racing fast to outpace price as the single most essential differentiator in the marketing mix. According to a 2017 study by Gartner Inc, a world’s leading research and advisory firm and member of the S&P 500, customer experience is the new battleground where a brand either fortifies its competitive advantage to stay relevant or become weakened by the realities of the external environment, including changing customer expectations.

     

    In 2014, research by one of the world’s largest Wi-Fi service platforms, Devicescape, showed that 62% of customer-facing businesses recorded a significant growth in foot traffic and higher customer spending, following their introduction of a complimentary Wi-Fi service to the customers.

     

    “The survey results show how important the provision of customer-facing Wi-Fi has become for retail businesses. The availability of Wi-Fi is no longer an innovation limited to the large retail chains—small businesses are now offering the same services in their establishments, for both employees and customers. In the near future, small businesses will consider Wi-Fi as fundamental to their success as electricity or running water,” iGR founder and President Iain Gillott said in his reaction to the study.

     

    The Red Cheetah advantage

    In March this year, lovers of fast and reliable internet services woke up to the launch of Red Cheetah Free Wi-Fi in Lagos, a digital lifestyle offering from the stable of SWIFT Networks Limited. The service, which is currently available at over 400 top locations, including Barcelos, Hard Rock Cafe, Tastee Fried Chicken, Sweet sensation, SLOT, 3CHub, amongst others, aims to reach an initial 10,000 locations across Lagos in the short term.

    Supported by advertising revenue from leading partners and global brands, many Nigerian businesses have found the platform an indispensable tool for attracting new customers and retaining existing ones. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SWIFT Networks Limited, Mr. Charles Anudu, urged Nigerian businesses to maximize the Free Wi-Fi service as a valuable incentive to drive customer retention and improve the bottom-line.

    “As a critical enabler of economic growth and access to opportunities, we believe that brands that embrace Red Cheetah will take the early lead in distinguishing themselves and ultimately be the biggest winners in the race for the heart and loyalty of the millennial customer,” he stated.

    Alasa wrote from Lagos

  • Govt’s policies impeding ease of doing business, claims MAN

    The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN)  yesterday lamented that the confidence of local and foreign investors in the manufacturing sector on ease of doing business was being threatened by regulatory burden and complexities caused by revenue drive by the three tiers of government.

    Speaking at the 10th edition of its Breakfast Meeting for CEOs and Managing Directors of member-companies in Lagos, the Chairman of MAN, Ikeja branch, Otunba Francis Meshioye, said the regulatory burden foisted on manufacturers by federal, state and local governments was threatening the survival of the sector.

    The theme of the breakfast meeting was: The Nigerian Manufacturing Sector: Current Issues and Strategic Options. It had special emphasis on: The Impact of Legislation, Regulations and Policies on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria.

    Meshioye said government’s unprogressive regulations and policies were undermining the manufacturing sector’s ability to successfully launch new businesses, expand existing ones, and create jobs. “This generally negates the objectives of the ease of doing business initiative and other reactionary interventions by the federal and state government,” he said.

    He regretted that despite being the engine of economic growth, the manufacturing sector in Lagos and Nigeria was under siege. “It’s as if politicians and regulators want the sector to collapse,” he said.

     

     

    Meshioye, therefore, said manufacturers expect the government to put in place progressive legislations specifically focused on improving existing regulatory policies that will boost the profitability of businesses and ease entry barriers for entrepreneurs.

    While commending the federal and state governments for their developmental efforts in improving the ease of doing business, he, however, said government’s regulatory policies should not be such that will erode the gains of the manufacturing sector.

    Meshioye said although the economy technically exited recession in the second quarter of last year, the exit remains largely volatile, with the manufacturing sector in Lagos still battling to survive the myriad of challenges facing it.

    He listed some of the challenges to include the expansion of the list of taxes, levies and fees payable to the state government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) without consulting stakeholders; the difficulties created by the bottlenecks in the implementation of the harmonised inspection of workshops; traffic gridlock at the ports.

    He said these challenges exist alongside other conventional ones such as high interest rates and multiplicity of taxes and levies by MDAs, among others. “These challenges are the resultant effects of legislation, regulations and policies being implemented by the government, which together increase the cost of doing business and the misery index of the citizenry,” he said.

    MAN President Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs aligned with Meshioye, noting that manufacturers in Lagos state have in recent times been challenged by the introduction of some tax heads and increment in taxes/levies without consultation with stakeholders who are expected to pay the fees.

    Jocobs, who was represented by the Association’s Council member, Engr. Reginald Odiah, also said despite the state government’s agreement to harmonize inspection of factories and work places, complaints received from MAN members showed that MDAs in the state are yet to implement the agreement.

    He also appealed that the over 150 per cent increment in environmental development levy and petroleum storage permit payable to the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) be reviewed downward.

    The MAN president also pointed out that the biennial review of the Environmental Audit Report by LASEPA as against three yearly review of the same document by the National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Agency (NESREA) was imposing a huge cost on manufacturers.

    Jacobs further drew the state government’s attention to the upward review of the land use charge, saying that this has compounded the woes of manufacturers who are already at the verge of collapse on the weight of high operating cost.

    He also accused the state government of not being enthusiastic about patronising made in Nigeria products. “The state government has exhibited high level of reluctance. We appeal that the administration directs a reversal of this trend by ensuring that patronage of made in Nigeria products is enshrined in the procurement policy of the Lagos state government,” he said.

    In his presentation, the guest speaker, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), said over regulation and multiple taxation that have been pain in the neck of manufacturers were the result of lack of synergy amongst various government agencies, adding that the three tiers of government should meet and harmonise their taxes..

    Usoro, who is Founder and Senior Partner of Paul Usoro & Co, identified other issues that have been militating against the ease of doing business for manufacturers to include inefficient power supply, insecurity, freeze in the lending activities of banks, and lack of maintenance culture, among others.

    He said because of lack of lack of maintenance culture, government at all levels appears to be rebuilding infrastructure from the scratch. “It is important to work on the attitude of people particularly in the area of maintenance culture, which we don’t have, otherwise Apapa port, for instance, would not be this bad,” he said..

    To make the ease of doing business work, Usoro said government should see manufacturers as strategic partners, while the executive order should be be streamlined and harmonised with existing laws.

    The Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, promised to look into multiple taxation and other issues agitating the minds of manufacturers in the state. “We will continue to look into your challenges and proffer solutions,” he said.

    The MAN breakfast meeting for MDs/CEOs is a yearly event that provides a veritable platform for effective interactions by over 300 chief executives on economic challenges that threaten the survival of the manufacturing sector and also helps proffer ways to mitigate the threats.

  • How to avoid business data breach

    Technology is taking the lead in every facet of life. To win in the marketplace, businesses must innovate or they die. To succeed, businesses must adopt new technologies, introduce new products and ferret out new partners to expand. All these increase security risks to the business and if these risks are not mitigated, security breaches caused by data loss and intellectual property theft can cause significant damage to a company’s brand and reputation, LUCAS AJANAKU writes on how to play safe.

    Globally, Information Technology (IT) trends are adopted by businesses to increase productivity, profits, and efficiency and lower operating costs.

    Therefore to be competitive and relevant in the marketplace, firms must not only innovate to survive and thrive, they must also be confident that their data, applications as well as customers, are secure. Security must be an integral part of any innovation programme. Without the security component of innovation programme, businesses run the risk of data breaches, customer dissatisfaction and damage to the brand.

    The cost to businesses with respect to data loss, revenue and disruption of operations has increased. According to Ponemon Institute’s 2016 Cost of Cyber Crime Study & the Risk of Business Innovation,  there is a rise in businesses’ revenue losses  yearly.

    Consequences

    The gamegroup.com says the average data security breach takes less time to pull off than it does to prepare a cup of coffee.

    In fact, 93 per cent of successful data breaches occur in less than one minute; yet, 80 per cent of businesses take weeks to realise a breach has occurred.

    There are many costly consequences of compromised data. This is why 86 per cent of business executives believe cyber security threats, such as weak data security, are increasing becoming a source of grave concern.

    Speaking during Micro Focus Secure the New Roadshow in Johannesburg, South Africa, Micro Focus SECURE Portfolio Sales Manager for sub-Saharan Africa, Marianne Van der Pluym, said: “The impact of cyber threats can be as devastating to businesses as natural disasters.”

    The world is feeling economic pressure as a result of cyber-attacks, with Norton describing cybercrime as “a silent global digital epidemic”.

    Van der Pluym said: “Last year, override malware took down Ukraine’s power grid, meaning that cyberattacks can affect critical infrastructure. Cybercrime can also affect major institutions, like the Bangladesh Bank who lost $81 million when its SWIFT software was hacked. In 2015, the European Aviation Safety Agency had to ground 10 planes as a result of a cybersecurity breach.”

    The impact of data breaches on business reputation can be as catastrophic as the financial loss, as evidenced by attacks on global companies such as Equifax, Yahoo, and Uber, which lost share value, and consumer and investor trust as a result.

    Revenue loss

    Significant revenue loss as a result of a security breach is common. Studies show that 29 per cent of businesses that face a data breach end up losing revenue.

    Of those that lost revenue, 38 per cent experienced a loss of 20 per cent or more.

    A non-functional website, for example, may cause potential customers to explore other options. But any IT system downtime can lead to work disruptions.

    Brand reputation damage

    A security breach can impact much more than just your short-term revenue. The long-term reputation of your brand is at stake as well.

    For one, you don’t necessarily want your emails leaked. In most cases, you need these emails to remain private.

    However, customers value their privacy, too – and breaches often involve customer payment information. Potential leads will be hesitant to trust a business with a history of shoddy data security.

    Intellectual property loss

    Loss of revenue and damaged reputation can be catastrophic. However, in some cases, hackers will also target designs, strategies, and blueprints.

    Businesses within the manufacturing and construction industries are more prone to this threat. Smaller businesses tend to believe they won’t get hit. But 60 per cent of hacks target small businesses. This is because they’re easier to attack.

    Losing intellectual property can impact the competitiveness of your business. Some rivals would not hesitate to take advantage of stolen information.

    Hidden costs

    Surface-level costs are just the beginning. There are many hidden costs related to breaches as well.

    For instance, legal fees may come into play. Also, you may need to spend more on PR and investigations, not to mention insurance premium hikes.

    Regulatory fines are another reality that many businesses overlook. In 2015, for example, the FCC slammed AT&T with a $25 million fine. This was a result of a breach that led to the disclosure of information related to thousands of accounts.

    Online vandalism

    Some hackers fancy themselves as pranksters. In these cases, a security breach might only lead to few word changes on your website.

    While this seems relatively harmless, it can actually cause a lot of damage. Subtle changes are harder to notice.

    For example, a hacker might change a few letters or numbers on your contact page. They may also add vulgar content to some of your webpages.

    Way forward

    Data breaches are more common today than ever before. In 2016, the number of global data breeches increased by 86 per cent compared to the previous year.

    Cyber-attacks are continuing to grow in both frequency and severity, and as businesses become increasingly digitised, security has become more important than ever.

    Two of the biggest global risks for the year, as identified by The World Economic Forum (WEF), are cybersecurity, and data theft and fraud – which topped the list alongside climate change and natural disasters.

    These high-profile data breaches have alerted organisations to the importance of safeguarding their data and networks, both now and for the future.

    “It isn’t that easy to protect your enterprise’s data anymore. Good IT security strategies can be very effective in protecting networks, but cybercrime has evolved to a new level of complexity, and we now need a universal approach,” said Van der Pluym.

    Micro Focus, in partnership with Mybroadband, offers steps to be taken for businesses looking to protect their data. These are:

    Govern, secure identities

    Use complex passwords and different passwords for different sites, don’t click on unknown links in emails, only visit secure sites, and be wary of public Wi-Fi.

    Understand, manage data

    Protect your data with encryption, monitor your network diligently, and back up regularly.

    Protect data while preserving its format.

    Format-Preserving Encryption (FPE) securely encrypts structured data while preserving the original formatting of the plaintext data.

    Secure, govern apps access

    Continuously monitor changes in application risk, perform deep security scans, and protect applications in real time.

    Use analytics-driven decision making to respond to threats

    Real-time information and analysis of security events as they occur allows for quicker threat identification and mitigation.

    To enable businesses to easily implement these steps, Micro Focus has developed an information risk platform – an open, intelligent, and comprehensive approach to “Secure the New”.

    “Our information risk platform offers a layered approach to ensure that enterprises have a deep, postured response to security. We can help you to conquer your digital transformation and deliver security intelligence and risk management at the core of everything you do,” Van der Pluym said.

    The solutions comprise a best-in-class, enterprise-grade security platform with built-in scalability and analytics to drive security. These innovations include native, real-time log parsing, security data enrichment and normalisation; built-in security analytics and enhanced dashboards; intelligent real-time event data from Azure Active Directory to SIEM solutions; data-centric security hosted by AWS; and secure app testing both in DevOps and in production.

  • How new farmers approach agriculture as business

    How new farmers approach agriculture as business

    The number of new entrants into farming is rising, despite the grim picture being painted by practitioners. However, young farmers are unperturbed because they see agriculture as business, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    A growing number of young Nigerians  are joining a movement of highly educated, ex-urban, first-time farmers, who are capitalising on the booming consumer demand for local foods.

    In some states, such as Ogun, Oyo and Osun, their number has grown by 20 per cent since 2015, with a few of them operating farm sizes of between 100 and 500 acres. The farms are critical to the rural economies, as they generate jobs and supply mainstream markets.

    One of them, the Managing Director of Niji Foods, Mr Kolawole Adeniji, has become a successful farmer. He is the founder of Niji Group engaged in agricultural machinery fabrication, crops and livestock production, and food processing. He started by producing food processing machines for corporates and supplying farmers. Today.

    Passionate about agriculture, food and sustainability, he has not only changed his life, but brought hope to about 100 persons, employed on his farms, spread over 3,000 acres of land in Oyo State. His cassava  farm is also a learning centre for young and old farmers and students as it teaches them how to process food.

    Once everything on the farm is ready, Adeniji goes ahead and farm. He plans his farm meticulously and build fences, watering points and stock handling facilities sufficient for harvest.

    He monitors his progress throughout and assists in terms of budget and purchases for the farm. He is among the successful private sector operators, who are cultivating and processing cassava on a large scale. His firm processes cassava into gari, fufu and high quality cassava flour. He receives requests for cassava-based products from Europe, the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK).

    He believes knowledge is key to success and guides other farmers. Having been in cassava farming for many years, he understands why farmers fail to have a good produce and what can be done to minimise the risk.

    He has started Niji Institute of Sustainable Agriculture (NISA)  where aspiring farmers are  exposed to intensive agricultural practices.  According to Adeniji, an  optimistic attitude is his greatest asset.

    Another of such is Atinuke Lebile. She  is a  noted  agri-entrepreneur, mostly engaged in farming, processing and marketing of innovative bio-fortified food products. Her story is a success. She grows cassava and her impact has positively encouraged other young farmers to scale up and become a larger part of the commercial food system.

    Her passion for feeding the nation and ensuring food security made her the Chief Strategic Officer for Ogunmod Farms and Farmers’ Academy.

    She co-founded,Cato Foods and Agro-allied Global Concepts, an agro-processing company dedicated to developing innovative food products from bio-fortified crops, which now partner HarvestPlus, an international food support organisation..

    Atinuke works with rural communities to mentor young, out-of-school girls on various entrepreneurial and leadership skills through her initiative called Mentor A Girl Child (MAGIC) and SheAgric Initiative, where she encourages potential female farmers, empowers and motivates women and youths in agriculture value chain to ensure food security, poverty reduction and curb unemployment in Africa.

    There is no shortage of success stories when it comes to young farmers making the difficult transition from small to commercial farmers.

    Another exciting story is that of Pelumi Aribisala, a young emerging farmer, who owns more than 500 acres of farm land in Osun  and Oyo states for mixed farming. He is an innovative farmer engaged in  vegetable farming. He also plants maize and cassava. He has created a platform for farmers with the aim of empowering them to make agriculture a profitable business.

    According to him, one of the toughest challenges for emerging farmers is they are not recognised as genuine farmers, or taken seriously enough by the larger agricultural community.

    Lead Agribusiness and Digital Marketing Consultant, Agritechnovate Solutions Enterprises, Kalu Samuel, is a successful watermelon farmer and business owner. He is the head of an organisation which empowers youth through agriculture.

    He plants watermelon and the  whole process takes about three months, depending on the climate and the variety of watermelons, as some mature early.

    To him, capital is a major barrier for  young farmers, who want to start or expand their businesses. He also has to deal with dishonest middlemen, find genuine seeds and pay for expensive inputs.

    He is now mentoring youths interested in the agricultural sector. His goal is to change the perception among the youth that farming is for the poor.

    Brote Urban Farm Chief Executive, Innocent Mokidi, an accounting graduate from Edo State, comes up as another success story. He started out in 2013 as a poultry keeper with 1,000 birds. Today, he is a proud owner of an integrated farm in Abuja with greenhouses to grow vegetables. The instant success, which accompanied his business has made him a reference point in commercial farming, particularly to youths.

    GoGreen Africa Initiative Executive Director,  Adeniyi Sola Bunmi  is  a successful  plantain farmer from Ogun State, who produces more than 1000 tonnes of plantains and moringa annually.

    He is also the Chief Executive Officer of Natural Nutrients Limited and promoter of the Youth in Agribusiness Development and Innovation (YABDI), an agricultural entrepreneur training arm raising a new crop of agropreneurs.

    However, one of the biggest challenges faced by these farmers is lack of access to production credit, mostly because they have no collateral.

  • Time is Now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women’s Lives

    Time is Now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women’s Lives

    Statement by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women for International Women’s Day

     

    This year’s theme captures the vibrant life of the women activists whose passion and commitment have won women’s rights over the generations, and successfully brought change. We celebrate an unprecedented global movement for women’s rights, equality, safety and justice, recognizing the tireless work of activists who have been central to this global push for gender equality.
    What we see today is a remarkable gathering of strength among women all over the world, demonstrating the power of speaking with one voice, as they call for opportunity and accountability, drawing momentum from grassroots networks and coalitions that stretch right up to government leadership. These movements grow from the work of multigenerational activists—from the late feminist human rights leader Asma Jahangir of Pakistan, to the powerful new generation represented by young women like Jaha Dukureh of The Gambia, UN Women’s Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa on ending FGM and child marriage.
    Healthy societies have a wide mix of voices and influences that provide the checks and balances, the differing threads of experience and perspectives, and the debate that shapes good decision-making. Where voices are missing, there is an important gap in the fabric of society. When those quietened voices count in the millions, we know there is something wrong with our world. Similarly, as we see and hear those voices rise in strength and solidarity, we feel the power of something right.
    We salute those who have bravely spoken out to gain access to justice, such as those from the #MeToo movement, who in recent months have found their voice in social media in more than 85 countries to expose those who have preyed on the less powerful and shown how when women support one another, they help to overcome stigma and ensure that their stories are believed.
    We commend the women who spoke out in the International Criminal Court where their testimonies have held to account those who used rape as a weapon of war. We celebrate activists who campaigned for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people, and we recognize those who advocated for legal reform in countries such as Tunisia, to end a provision that allowed rapists to escape persecution if they married their victims. We acknowledge those who have taken to the streets in India to decry the murder and rape of young children, turning protests into broader-based movements that engage entire communities. We honour the indigenous leaders who have stood up for their custodial rights to land and traditional practices, and the human rights defenders who have even lost their lives for their cause.
    The feminist movement must continue to increase the diversity and the number of people working on gender equality, bringing in individuals and groups—such as men and boys, young people and faith-based organizations—to support and shape the agenda, so young men and boys learn to value and respect women and girls and so men can change the way they behave. Today’s activism needs to alter the way we listen to women and the way we look at them, recognizing the power of stereotypes to influence how we value people. A movement of women that can address these issues is critical, but we also need a movement of male feminists.
    This has to be a tipping point; an end to impunity and the silent suffering of women in rural and urban areas, including women domestic workers. Today’s activists must empower those most likely to be left behind, the majority of whom are women, as our latest report, Turning Promises into Action reveals. Across all regions, women are more likely to live in extreme poverty than men. This gender gap is as high as 22 per cent for the 25 – 34 age group—women’s peak reproductive years, starkly highlighting the dilemma so many face of reconciling income with care—for which policy change and action is so needed.
    UN Women has a special relationship with the women’s movement; we arose from that activism. Civil society has had a historically crucial role in leading global action on gender equality by promoting reform, highlighting the complexities of the challenges facing women, influencing policies, participating in monitoring, and upholding accountability. We must deliberately create stronger support for women’s political activism and a broader space for women’s civil society voices so that our efforts combine to target those who truly need change most. The culture of gender-based poverty, abuse and exploitation has to end with a new generation of equality that lasts.

  • Wapic redefines insurance business with service excellence

    Wapic redefines insurance business with service excellence

    With its rich history of impressive rating by A.M. Best, the world’s leading issuer of financial-strength ratings which measures insurance companies’ ability to pay claims, Wapic Insurance’s standing as a solid player in the insurance sector is incontrovertibly affirmed.

    However, the series of industry defining innovations emerging from the staple of the leading West African multi-line insurance company has made pigeon-holing the firm into the frame of its acclaimed solid financial power somewhat difficult. This is attributable to the rub-off effect of the company’s highly successful transformation programme on the insurance industry, which has refined service quality, brought innovation to product offerings and increased stakeholders’ confidence in the sector.

    In the last three years, Wapic Insurance has demonstrated that service is as important as financial ability to fulfill obligations to customers.

    In a recent chat, its Managing Director, Mrs. Adeyinka Adekoya, defined what the company is about, saying: “Wapic insurance is about service and providing options to customers.”

    Adekoya disclosed: “Claims turnaround time in the company does not exceed 48 hours upon execution of a discharge voucher because of its efficient claims management process. She also revealed that “through its wheel of innovation, Wapic Insurance has offered insurance customers in Nigeria options through its bouquet of exciting products developed to meet their needs.

    “Customers subscribe to the services of insurance firms because they do not want to experience any hiatus between when an incident occurs and when claims are paid. This means that they want immediate restoration, which is actually what we offer at Wapic Insurance,” hinted Mrs Adekoya.

    The company’s claims payment record corroborates this statement and signals Wapic Insurance’s uncommon understanding of the insurance market in Nigeria. In 2016 and 2017, total claims paid by the company were N2.8billion and N3.2billion. Similarly, gross written premium within the same periods surged by 13 per cent and 23 per cent to N8billion and N9.8billion.

    While these indicate the company’s ability to fulfill its obligations when due, the deeper insight gleaned from its recent financial report reveal that Wapic Insurance met these obligations at an impressive rate of 100 per cent. Beyond institutional commitment to exceptional service, Wapic Insurance’s value proposition is built upon a solid corporate governance and risk management framework that ensures delivery of exceptional service experiences and innovative product solutions to its clients.

    At the moment, Wapic Insurance maintains treaties with world-class reinsurance companies to bolster its claims management systems and maintain its market leadership through quick and efficient claims payment.

    As the leading multi-line insurance company in the West African region providing solutions covering life, general and special risks, the company seeks to underwrite the insurable risks exposures of corporate and individual customer. The company is also a lead underwriter in numerous big-ticket and highly technical transactions.

    Established in 1958 and listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange since 1990, Wapic Insurance is on a mission to transform into a diversified financial services institution, delivering value in a sustainable manner to customers and stakeholders while playing a lead role in the transformation of the industry.