The Nation Newspaper

Tag: campaign

  • UBA launches summer campaign

    United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has launched its cards, summer campaign, with the theme #SummerCrush with UBA Cards.  The lender said in a statement that it understands the relevance of the summer season to Nigerians who use their cards abroad, online or in-store and have created a campaign about how the UBA Card can help its holders to achieve their desires this season and beyond.

    “Be it a vacation with the family or an item to purchase, there is a UBA Card story behind every memorable summer experience,” it said.

    UBA cards are accepted in over 200 countries and are protected with second to none technology to ensure the security of all cardholders. Cardholders are encouraged to share their summer desires on UBA’s social media pages to qualify for amazing prizes.

    To encourage card usage, UBA has introduced instant card issuance for international and domestic cards. UBA is the first bank to issue instant international cards in Nigeria. Customers can walk into UBA Business Offices and get their cards in less than five minutes.

  • Keep campaign promises, public officers advised

    Keep campaign promises, public officers advised

    Public office holders have been urged to keep their promises and recognise their office as public trust.

    A Professor of Law at Bayero University in Kano Tabiu Mohammed, and a cleric, Sheik AbdulMajeed Imran Eleha, enjoined elected officials to keep their campaign promises to avoid the wrath of God.

    They spoke yesterday at the Pre-Ramadan lecture of the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA) at UNILAG main auditorium, Akoka.

    Speaking on Public Trust: An obligation for credible leadership, Prof Muhammad said governance is about trust and accountability, adding that negative political culture caused the nation woes in the last political dispensation.

    He advised that the fight against bad leadership and governance should not be left for office holders, noting that the citizenry should engage in effective monitoring.

    Muhammad asked the governed to adhere to the laws and be effective in ensuring that public officials kept their mandate.

    Anyone who fails to uphold public trust, whether as leaders or the led, should be punished for it, he said, asking Nigerians not to be complacent because President Buhari had a good track record.

    “The leaders should recognise and popularise trustworthiness as a social value. Government should condemn betrayal of public trust and see public office as a trust. They should ensure that they set clear standards and established strong democratic institutions. The leadership must be careful of what is coming into the coffers of the state and where public fund is to be expended. Accountability and personal probity should be guaranteed. There should be no legal immunity,” he said.

    Sheik Imran admonished leaders to ensure that justice and rule of law thrive at all levels of government.

    The cleric, who urged Nigerians to cooperate with the Buhari administration to ensure its success.

    Earlier, UMA President Akeeb Oladokun said the lecture’s theme was carefully chosen to contribute to the national discourse on setting agenda for the federal ans state governments.

    In attendance were UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Prof Rahamon Bello; Emeritus Professor Laide Abbas; Alhaji Adetola Kazeem (SAN); All Progressives Congress (APC) National Legal Adviser, Dr Muiz Banire; a former Lagos State Independent Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Musibau Oyefeso; wife of the late Justice Muri Okunola, Alhaja Ramdat Okunola; former UMA President Alhaji Lere Alimi; representative of Olorogun Sunny Kuku, Alhaji Lai Alabi; Prof Fatimat AbdulKareem; Complete Sports Managing Director Alhaji Mumuni Alao; former Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Alhaja Sekinat Yusuf, and Dr Khalid Adekoya; Dr Ahmad Rufai among others.

  • PR campaign at UNILORIN

    PR campaign at UNILORIN

    Some 300-Level students of Mass Communication and Library and Information Sciences of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have held a Public Relations (PR) campaign to satisfy the requirement for grading of MAC 312 (PR Techniques). The course requires students to practise what they learnt in class.

    The students were divided into two groups, each was expected to carry out a planned action meant to solve a hypothetical problem, using a named company as a case study. The identified problem was expected to be solved by their PR strategies.

    The groups are Springboard Creative Services and Public Relations Agency and Mouthpiece Public Relations Agency.

    Members of the Springboard group approached Maggi Nigeria Plc to organise a public lecture aimed at orientating students on stereotypes related to the use of maggi seasoning in preparing delicacies. The guest speaker was Mrs Deborah Opaleke, a lecturer at the Department of Home Economics and Food Science.

    She described as false, the notion that maggi seasoning could cause cancer. She warned against excessive use of the seasoning in food, saying: “Anything that is abused can cause negative effect in the body; too much of everything is bad.”

    Mrs Opaleke said maggi does not have any negative effect, noting that it could only enhance the flavour and taste of food without diminishing its nutritional and dietary value.

    Mrs Opaleke also said cooking with maggi seasoning could provide a source of iron and sodium for the body, which helps in the formation of blood and prevents sickness.

    The event featured gaming, dancing and cooking contest, where two of the students, Aminat Usman and Aminat Borokini prepared various meals that were served to guests at the event. The students also held a procession across the campus to sensitise their colleagues on the abuse of food seasonings.

    In his remark, a former Head of Mass Communication Department and MAC 312 lecturer, Dr Lukman Azeez, said he was happy with the performance of the students, saying the campaign was meant to equip the students with the practical knowledge of PR techniques and strategies.

  • Campaign funds: Bishop urges EFCC to investigate CAN, TAN

    Campaign funds: Bishop urges EFCC to investigate CAN, TAN

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been urged to investigate Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and individuals accused of receiving money for campaigns in the last general elections.

    Diocesan Bishop of the Anglican Communion, Kaduna, the Most Reverend Josiah Idowu-Fearon, spoke at the 20th synod of the church.

    The theme of the Synod was  “A New Look At Holiness”, which was taken from the book of Leviticus 19: 1-4 and 11-14.

    He said: “Nigerians are aware that many became criminally rich during the last administration. Organisations that have been accused of receiving money for campaigns like the TAN, CAN in particular, and individual office holders should be investigated by the EFCC, and as much of the misappropriated national wealth as possible should be returned for the development of our country.”

    Rev. Fearon admonished Buhari to stay clear of any faulty foundation laid by his predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

    “He should closely look at the foundation laid before building on it to avoid a cataclysm that may be worse than what he is inheriting. That means, there should be some probes, but not within his first six months in office,” the cleric said.

    He added: “Mr. President is advised to sanitise the Armed Forces, get them well equipped, and flush out the remaining Boko Haram insurgents within his first six months in office.

    “Within the first six months, we encourage Mr. President to have achieved something to give some hope to Nigerians.  We suggest he makes fuel available by removing subsidy so as to use the billions being paid to marketers who, in spite of that, hold Nigerians to ransom.

    “We suggest to the President to get the companies responsible for the power sector to either make power generation and distribution effective, or set up appropriate, trustworthy and action-oriented machinery within constitutional provisions to re-evaluate their contracts.

    “We want to state the obvious so as to give the President some ideas for his consideration and action. It is obvious, the stakes are high; Nigerians who voted for you have a very high expectancy level. You cannot afford to fail by disappointing them.

  • FCMB unveils new thematic campaign

    FCMB unveils new thematic campaign

    First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has continued to transform and position as a leading retail bank in Nigeria with the launch of a new thematic campaign tagged: “A World of Opportunity”.

    This followed the unveiling of the bank’s refreshed corporate identity, which has led to a replacement of its former colours of black and gold with a vibrant combination of purple and yellow that speaks to a wider audience.

    The thematic campaign, tied to the refreshed corporate identity of the bank, tells compelling stories of life and business aspirations of diverse Nigerians and how FCMB supports them to bring such dreams and aspirations to reality. The campaign tells the story of the diverse base of the customers that FCMB serves.

    The campaign comes in two television and two radio commercials, conveying FCMB’s delivery of great customer experience and service on its channels and electronic banking platform, and how it enables its customers, through those services, to fulfill their life aspirations. It also showcases the new warm, friendly, approachable and energetic brand identity of FCMB and its values as a simple, reliable and helpful Bank.

    In the first television commercial, titled: ‘’Waiting’’, the audience is taken through the thoughts and aspirations of diverse Nigerians in a typical office day. From the office cleaner to the manager and Chief Executive, the story line captures the fact that everyone has something that they are aspiring to achieve. In essence, this commercial imaginatively portrays the more diverse retail and business customer segments FCMB now serves.

    The second commercial titled: ‘’Maybe Today’’, shows a young professional man working in his office reminiscing about his father, who had come from a humble background, but through hard work and commitment, he prepared a solid foundation for his son to build upon. Through the eyes of the young professional, the audience is taken back in time to see his father affectionately watching over him and also preparing for a day of hard work to provide for his family. As the audience is brought back to the present day, it becomes clear that the young professional reminiscing about his father has not only followed in his father’s footsteps, but has become a successful business owner with the support of FCMB.

    The Divisional Head, Retail Banking of FCMB, Mr. Olu Akanmu, said: “The new FCMB brand thematic campaign tells the story of the diverse base of the customers that we serve at FCMB. It does not matter where you are; we support you to fulfill your life and business aspirations at FCMB. Our convenient electronic banking platforms and best-in-class relationship management, deliver great experience to our customers as we support them to achieve their great dreams for themselves, their families and their businesses.”

    Akanmu reiterates: ‘’Nigerians are inspirational and hard working people. FCMB is the bank for all Nigerians, walking with them as a partner to fulfill their life and business aspirations in the true spirit of its brand pay-off line of “FCMB- My Bank and I.”

  • Campaign for Senate Presidency disrupts proceedings

    Heightened campaign by senators for various positions in the Eight National Assembly yesterday disrupted Senate proceedings.

    Those aspiring for positions, especially the office of the Senate President, and their supporters took their campaign to the floor of the upper chamber to the amazement of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided.

    Office seekers were observed dashing from one seat to another in their bid to lobby their colleagues to back them.

    The open campaign became almost embarrassing as the clause-by-clause consideration of the National Tobacco  Control Bill was going on.

    The consideration of the Bill had to be temporarily suspended for the presiding officer to address the near rowdy session.

    Senator Chris Ngige (Anambra Central), who was speaking on the Tobacco Control Bill, was the first to raise the alarm that he was being distracted by those campaigning for the Office of the Senate President.

    Ngige said: “Mr. President, please could you tell all these campaign co-ordinators to allow us treat this Bill. They are disrupting the chamber and we are not allowed to give the Bill the utmost attention it deserved.”

    Following Ngige’s observation, Ekweremadu was forced to call those involved to order.

    Ekweremadu said: “All campaigns for Senate Presidency are hereby suspended until the end of proceedings. Dear colleagues, please take note.”

    The Deputy Senate President’s order did not quite help matter as the supporters of the principal actors persisted in their push to gain some mileage against their opponents.

    The same scenario was enacted last week during the induction of new senators and members of the House of Representatives.

    Front-runners in the race for the office of the Senate President are Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Account, Senator Ahmed Lawan, Minority Leader Senator George Akume and Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment Senator Bukola Saraki.

    Observers said that the open campaigns in the Senate chamber could introduce some element of desperation by aspirants.

    Already, various caucuses have been formed by senators to push the aspiration of their preferred candidate.

     

  • Mr Biggs Make a Difference campaign for children

    Mr Biggs Make a Difference campaign for children

    It is that time of the year again when  businesses celebrate the Nigerian child. Mr Biggs, the number one quick srvice restaurant (QSR) brand that focuses on  children and family has launched this year’s children’s day activation tagged Make a Difference Campaign. It’s a two-pronged campaign aimed at connecting with children on their special day and rewarding loyal customers to the brand.

    This marketing initiative leverages on corporate social responsibility (CSR) values to create the needed vibe and hype which resonates with the brand’s target consumers and pull foot traffic to the restaurants.

    Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the brand’s Marketing Manager, Mrs Eustesia Ogunsusi said: “Giving to charity is an age long initiative and as children-friendly and family brand, Mr Biggs seeks to lend credence to this move in a unique manner riding on her expansive network of restaurants to touch lives across the nation in a one–swoop activity. This implies that charity homes benefitting from this event will cut across all regions of the Mr Biggs operations simultaneously. This initiative will be sustained as an annual national campaign.”

    She added that during this year’s campaign, Mr Biggs will partner with Coca-Cola to excite consumers through a combo meal offer. “Customers can enjoy their great tasting Mr Biggs rice and chicken meal with a 50cl Coca Cola PET drink for just N1000.It is a discount offer. And anyone who participates in this activation stands the chance of winning a Mr Biggs meal ticket worth N4,000. This will be decided via an in-store raffle draw.”

    Ogunsusi added that Mr Biggs change collection boxes are also available at the restaurants for customers to drop their change after products are purchased, stating that the proceeds will be collated and given to charity homes. “We are assuring our esteemed customers that all processes will be transparent and customers will be updated regularlythrough the use of the media.This campaign is driven through traditional and newmedia channels. The brand will enjoy maximum exposure on Facebook given its target market to pull foot traffic to the restaurants. There will be alot of in-store communication to reinforce the message and induce buying decision.”

    There will be online activities where customers will earn reward by tagging along, liking the Mr Biggs Facebook page or  activities that will be posted on-line for customers’ participation.

    Customers are therefore advised to get connected at www.facebook.com/mrbiggsonline and be alert for all updates.

    The Campaign begins today and  ends May 31.

  • omosexy takes women empowerment campaign to S/A

    omosexy takes women empowerment campaign to S/A

    Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, will be in the eye of the world again. This time, it is not for her role in a new movie, but for one of such projects that have earned her accolades such as Times’ 100 superwoman in the world.

    Omosexy, as she is fondly called, is expected to be in South Africa to join the popular ONE Campaign, leading other celebrities in a new campaign for women empowerment.

    Tagged Poverty is Sexist, the project, which portends that women and girls are most seriously affected by poverty, seeks women empowerment, as a way to eradicate extreme poverty.

    The initiative, which was conceived to support the Africa Union Year of Women Empowerment, was first launched on Thursday 16 April by the ONE Campaign in Abuja, Nigeria, at a policy forum that was attended by representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), Equity Advocates and Save the Children Nigeria among others.

    From April 27, Omosexy will be in South Africa to participate in a music thriller, accompanying a campaign song that will be performed by top African female singers, including Omawumi (Nigeria), Judith Sephuma (South Africa) and Victoria Kimani (Kenya). The song will be co-produced by Cobhams Asuquo and Masterkraft.

    The campaign has a petition which calls on African leaders to fast-track the fight against poverty, by investing more in women and girls, and ensuring that resources put to the service of women and girls are transparently and accountably used.

    The song will be used to promote the campaign across the world, and will be officially launched in Nigeria, Mozambique, and South Africa, during the World Economic Forum for Africa and the African Union Summit.

    “I am fortunate to be a young woman living her dreams, a trailblazer of my generation. But I also recognise that many women and girls are not so fortunate. Women and girls are hit hardest by the effects of extreme poverty, but when we invest in women and girls, we increase and accelerate the chances of overcoming extreme poverty  for everyone. That is why I have joined the ONE Campaign’s Poverty is Sexist Campaign, and I call on the public to join me by signing the petition on www.one.org/sexist,” said Omosexy, about her new role as ambassador for ONE Campaign.

  • Youth groups kick against campaign of calumny against Tinubu

    Youth groups kick against campaign of calumny against Tinubu

    A combined youth groups-Badagry Division Youth and APC Campus Connect, have  described the recent media war by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against the national leader of the All Progressives Congress Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a mere propaganda that is doomed already.

    The groups said when the opposition failed in their machinations; it resorted into campaign of calumny against Tinubu in order to assassinate his character.

    Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos the groups’ spokesperson Eniola Opeyemi, said the two groups are also throwing their weight behind a legal suit instituted by Tinubu against a popular private television station for broadcasting alleged defamatory documentary against his person.

    Said the groups:”The continuous attack on Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s image is politically driven to score cheap points. We are learned and therefore can’t be blindfolded. The opposition has designed their propaganda some of which they are now pushing through certain media organisations to reduce the status of the Tinubu who represents a new face of politics.

    “Asiwaju, unlike the self-centered politicians in the PDP, have worked to ensure that more people especially youths are employed through his lofty policies when he served as two-term governor of Lagos State, and till date, he still uses his influence to make more families happy. We support Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. We trust him for getting more people established than the so-called self-acclaimed leaders of the Yoruba race.”

    The groups lampooned Federal Government for its failure to provide enough employment opportunities despite its repeated promises, adding that young graduates out of frustration now beg for financial aid, steal, or rob while young ladies are involved in prostitution.

    The groups also scored Federal Government ‘very low’ on security, using the abducted schoolgirls from Government Secondary School Chibok Borno State by the Boko Haram sect in April14 last year as a case in point.

    “Insecurity is another heavy burden that hangs on the nation, needless to say that the President has not just shown sincerity in tackling major threats to the peace of the nation.

    “Nigeria has witnessed the highest number of terrorist attacks than ever in the history of the country, the worst of all is missing of Chibok girls which triggered the #Bringbackourgirls hashtag and subsequently the campaign. However, we fear that less than a month to the first year anniversary of the Chibok abduction, Nigeria might just be bidding farewell to the poor girls, owing to government lackadaisical attitude.

    The groups urged President Goodluck Jonathan to take a cue from smaller neighbouring countries’ approach to tackling Boko Haram.

  • APC’s campaign fund victory

    APC’s campaign fund victory

    Triumph of the rule of law

    ACTION Congress of Nigera’s (APC) court victory over the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in a suit the party filed against the commission challenging the latter’s banning of its campaign fundraising platform is a triumph of the rule of law and integrity of the new media. The APC had in late January sued the commission, asking for N25billion as damages, for ordering Etisalat, MTN Nigeria Ltd, Globacom Ltd, Airtel Nigeria Ltd and Visafone Communications Ltd. to discontinue its sms platform created to enable the party get donations from willing members of the public for its presidential campaign.

    The idea was to make Nigerians who are sympathetic to the party’s cause donate N100 each to its presidential campaign fund whenever they sent ‘APC’ as sms to 35350. But, the commission, in a letter dated January 19, 2015, ordered the other respondents to shut down the platform, with a warning that they should “avoid running political advertisement/promotions that will portray them as being partisan.” For effect and maximum compliance, the commission was said to have threatened to sanction any of the telecommunications service providers which failed to comply with the order.

    But Justice Ibrahim Buba who delivered judgment in the matter awarded the APC N500million as damages, to be paid jointly and severally by the respondents. He said the APC had a right under the constitution to press for the enforcement of its fundamental human right if violated, dismissed the NCC’s counter-affidavit and held that the action of the respondents was illegal and unconstitutional.

    The APC deserves praise for taking the matter to court. Many such illegalities had occurred and indeed keep occurring in the country daily because those concerned do not challenge them in the court of law. By its decision to sue the commission, the party has helped to deepen our democratic culture. At least the commission now knows its limits under the law as far as such matters are concerned; that is assuming it took its action out of ignorance in the first place. Even if it did with the intention of pleasing its masters, the outcome is enough to make it realise the folly of such decision.

    Campaign contribution is a symbol of freedom of expression and political choice. We therefore wonder how such right can be abridged by a government agency that is supposed to have a responsibility to all Nigerians, irrespective of religious or political affiliation. Moreover, this is a partnership that the NCC itself should profit from because the platform was basically business and not political per se.

    It is disturbing that for a country where moneybags have hijacked the political process the NCC would discourage a venture that has the potential of reducing the influence of such moneybags in the polity and thus give the party some form of economic independence. This was the way political parties were funded in the country many years ago, and it somewhat ensured a sense of collective ownership because no single individual could lay claim to ownership of the party so funded.

    It is disheartening that many government agencies see themselves as appendages of the government instead of the public institutions that they should be. It is better for us all if they can be made to realise that they belong to all Nigerians and not to the government of the day. In the specific instance, the NCC even forgot that it allowed a similar platform for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which set up the short codes designated: 6661, 662, 6663 and 6664 managed by one Wagitel Communications Limited to raise funds for the campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan and the vice president, Namadi Sambo, in 2010. Our public institutions should do with less of such discrimination in their own interest and that of the country at large.

    We commend the court for disposing of the matter expeditiously. We can only hope many of our courts would emulate the record time within which the matter was decided.