The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Consistency

  • ‘Consistency, creativity hallmarks of LIMCAF’

    Leading art collector and founder Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF), Omooba Yemisi Shyllon, who was special guest at this year’s Life In My City Arts Festival in Enugu, speaks on the need to re-orientate the minds of collectors and the public on the value of art, Assistant Editor (Arts) Ozolua Uhakheme reports.

    What is your impression of the Life In My City Art Festival so far?

    Well, I am impressed by the commitment of the organisers as they have been very consistent. And through this exhibition a lot of artists have emerged that are going to blaze the trail. I am super-impressed. I have seen a work that is on realism, whoever that artist is, I see him or her making impact in the world.

    Apart from organisation and consistency, what else stands the festival out?

    I am impressed by the sense that this is a complete departure from what I have been complaining about. I have been complaining about the fact that our artists are deviating away from super composition, deviating away from draught and design appropriately and introducing some good creativity in their works. And they are moving into the height of hyper impressionism and abstractism,  which is dangerous because there is a thin line between that and what an ordinary mechanic can do, a thin line between that and what a cobbler can put together.

    I am getting worried but this is a complete departure. I can see here some great works of art. When I walked in here, one of the first works that struck me is the mix media work like a chest board with brooms, Nigerian flag. And I told my partner that this work is good for a museum. I said this is creativity and these are the kind of works my nation should be satisfied with and buying them as part of national collection.

    I hope that there are our thinkers and planners would begin to look at folders like these with the ability to identify works that will go into national collection for the benefit of generations unborn. Because these are very true identity of our culture, the representation of our culture and combining with our education and normal academic or what I will call school tutoring  to produce fantastic work of art so am impress.

    Is there a viable market for these quality of works in this part of the country?

    Well, there is a problem. In the east, there has to be a real restructuring of the minds of the consumers, and the potential consumers to begin to appreciate art. There is a tendency to associate themselves with material things that will give them value for money instead of non-monetary value, which unfortunately art gives in monetary value on a long time base compare to some of the things they are used to. So, I think to grow the market here there is need for the press to work with artists and liaise with corporate entities with a view to organizing think tanks and critical thinking movement and not to see artwork as distant object of demonic nature.

    Unfortunately, many Nigerians see the National Museum to represent a place where demonic things are kept and people at a distance look at the museum and keep off. They don’t even want to get closer. When schools send children there the teachers go there with a lot of hesitation and fear about associating themselves with works in the museum which they see as devils.

    One of the things we need to do as stakeholders is that we need to encourage things like these in museums and carry out educational programmes to get the public closer to what museums are doing. A lot of people are made to believe that works of art are for people worshiping idols.

    Interestingly, in Europe were Christianity came from, the church was the major patron of works of Michael Angelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, etc and the efforts of the church have allowed the works of these artists to be celebrated century after their death.

  • Consistency is vital for Pillars, says Aloma

    Consistency is vital for Pillars, says Aloma

    Idris Aloma believes that consistency in the second round of the Nigerian topflight will be vital in reviving Kano Pillars’ season.

    “As you can see we are sweating it out in training, everyone knows what’s at stake and working hard to be ready,” Aloma told Goal.

    “Like I have always said, I am a champion and anywhere I find myself I give my best. The Kano Pillars  squad is a fantastic one and we are going for the real deal. We aren’t under any sort of pressure but we are determined to perform and make the fans happy again.

    “The start of a league is important but it really doesn’t matter, what matters most is the consistency through the 38 matches we shall play. We have played 19 and have 19 more matches to go so there’s still an equal opportunity for all the teams and the difference at the and of the season will be those who took their chances and those who failed to take their chances,” he said.

  • Enyimba’s captain promises consistency

    Enyimba’s captain promises consistency

    ENYIMBA’S captain Chinedu Udoji has promised fans of the club that there will be a high level of consistency when the People’s Elephant hit the continent.

    Udoji, 26, who was at the 2015 Federation Cup final to see Lobi Stars play Akwa United led Enyimba to its seventh NPFL title last season.

    “First let me congratulate the 2015 Federation Cup champions, Akwa United. They truly deserve to be champions,” Udoji said to News24.

    “We have been very consistent from last season and we are resting at the moment, we want to take this form and concentration to the continent. The expectations are very high and I’m promising our fans that we shall maintain this form and show deep consistency on the continent next season,” Udoji stated.

    Nigerian clubs have continued to struggle on the continent and since 2012 no Nigerian club has played in the group stage of any competition on the continent but Udoji insisted that such situation won’t mount any pressure on his team.

    “The last remains in the past and right now we are looking into the future. It’s sad that no Nigerian club has played in the group stage since 2012 but like I said earlier we are looking into the future with so much optimism. That’s why a preparation template has been set out. We shall make Nigeria proud, that I promise,” said Udoji.

  • NECA urges consistency in auto policy

    NECA urges consistency in auto policy

    The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has expressed concern over calls by some individuals on President Muhammadu Buhari to jettison the National Automotive Policy.

    Its Director-General, Mr. Olusegun Oshinowo, said one of the greatest challenges the country has faced, which had stifled its sustainable development is policy inconsistency and lack of continuity.

    He said the time had come for the the government to put economic interest ahead of political considerations.

    “Government should imbibe the culture of adopting well-intentioned policies of past governments. The Automotive Policy is one of such that needs to be sustained,” he said.

    Oshinowo urged Buhari not to pander to the whims and caprices of those calling for policy reversals, adding that it would not be in the interest of the economy.

    He said: “Government should sustain and deepen the policy through its faithful implementation, without any waiver or threat of possible reversal, except for the recognition of certain categories of non-luxury heavy duty vehicles that cannot and will not be assembled in Nigeria.

    “President Buhari will do well by ignoring the clamour to lower import tariff on automobile products, as this will negatively impact on the policy. It will end up promoting importation, which is not in tandem with the contents and spirit of the automotive policy, to promote assembling in the country.”

    Oshinowo reiterated the need for the National Automotive Industry Development Plan to be backed by an Act of the National Assembly to ensure commitment and prevent reversal, thereby promoting backward integration and diversification.

    The National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) was hailed as a welcome development when it was initiated. It was designed to stimulate growth in the automotive industry and the economy. It was also designed to be of immense strategic importance to the economy, being a critical employment multiplier.

  • ‘Consistency, innovation required to build sustainable brands’

    ‘Consistency, innovation required to build sustainable brands’

    Guillaume Roux, Group Managing Director/CEO of Lafarge Africa Plc, at a news conference recently, spoke on the giant strides made by the conglomerate in the over 50 years of its existence in Nigeria, especially in the area of affordable housing, environmental protection, innovation and sustainability of the Lafarge brand thus far. Toba Agboola was there

    FOR the Group Managing Director/CEO of Lafarge Africa Plc, Guillaume Roux, sustainability is very key to Lafarge Africa. For a company which sets stores by the ideals and ideas of good deeds, the only way to become a sustainable  enterprise, an entity that pursues culture sustainability , it’ll involve  transforming the entire value chain from the supply of materials to product design, operations, sales and marketing, and end-of-life management.

    Urbanisation and rapid development have made the building industry play an integral part in our daily lives. This formidable sector has helped create roads, homes, schools and offices in which we live, learn and work.

    As a world leader in building materials, Lafarge, both in Nigeria and globally, has over the years won accolades in recognition of its many sustainability initiatives – from corporate governance to environmental sustainability, human resource best practice and corporate social responsibility and continues to lead the charge.

    “We have been operating in Nigeria for over 50 years, with over 98 per cent of our employees as Nigerians. Lafarge’s commitment to building better cities is unwavering, hence we initiated projects to help provide access to affordable housing for Nigerians,” Roux said.

    He said as a brand that is passionate about the environment and its preservation for future generations, Lafarge has led the pack in awards globally recognising this culture.

    “The Environmental Excellence Award in 2010, Water Management Solution Award in 2012, British Precast’s Sustainability Champion Award in 2011 for the third year running, the Fleet of the Year Award in 2012 and a host of others are worth mentioning here,” he said.

    It is obvious that corporate responsibility is not an empty term for Lafarge, but the whole meaning of the company’s commitment to the future and of the positive contribution intends to make to the society, future generations and to better cities. Lafarge has a robust and realistic sustainability plan known as “Sustainability Ambitions 2020”, which is a roadmap that signifies its desire to put people and the environment at the heart of its concerns.

    The 2013/14 CSR report of the company shows that the company’s annual budget appropriation on community development between 2006 and 2012 had continued to witness a steady growth from an expenditure of N77 million in 2006 to N189 million in 2013. An authoritative source confirmed that the CSR budget for year 2014 was over N200 million.

    The various community development initiatives are deployed to address the needs of their local communities to provide programmes in artisan training, graduate trainee programme, employability trainee programme and community computer learning, among others.

    According to Roux, “Our Sustainability Ambitions 2020 will help us to make a net positive contribution to society. This is not about philanthropy. It’s about defining our role towards society while at the same time creating value for shareholders, customers, employees and communities.”

    As part of the company CSR campaign, about 4, 000 Nigerians, recently, have so far benefited from its affordable housing scheme project.

    The scheme tagged ‘Ile Irorun’ was initiated by Lafarge Nigeria in response to the challenges of urbanisation in the most populous country in Africa, with a housing gap estimated at about 16 million units.

    Thus far, over 4,000 Nigerians have benefited from the scheme, saying that this is a major step towards the realisation of Lafarge’s ambition to help build better cities in Nigeria.

    “Lafarge’s commitment to building better cities is unwavering, hence we initiated this project to help provide access to affordable housing for Nigerians.

    “With the development of the real estate, the mortgage system is beginning to come up, that is the way we can have a good growth in cement consumption. In Nigeria, 70 per cent of cement consumption is for individual homes builders with 17 million housing deficiency.”

    Interestingly, the company has been working with LAPO Microfinance Bank, ultimately to provide the professional expertise and LAPO provides the finance as this would bring a sustainable solution to the needs of local population in terms of housing.

    Roux described the scheme a major step towards the realisation of Lafarge’s commitment to building better cities is unwavering, hence the company initiated  projects to help provide access to affordable housing.

     “This scheme will be the start of hope for many and we embrace the momentous difference it will make in their lives and businesses.”

    Also, as the perfect example of a corporate citizen, Lafarge was the first player in the cement industry that pledged to reduce its carbon emission. Its target of a 20 per cent reduction per ton of cement between 1990 and 2010, which was achieved in 2009, has been attributed to the organisation’s strategy of innovation and energy efficiency. It continues to research and develop new avenues to create products that will bring about a 30 per cent reduction of carbon emission, in line with its Sustainability Ambitions for 2020.

    Realising that the raw materials used to produce building materials are non-renewable and finite, Roux said Lafarge has gone top-notch by incorporating into its products, materials that are sourced from demolished buildings. This initiative, according to him, has helped create a virtuous circle for transforming materials and conserving natural resources.

    As a market leader in building solutions in Nigeria, Lafarge Africa Plc is setting the sustainability standard for our great nation with the commitment to building better cities with safety as its core value.

    In 2014, the company received several awards, including the Africa Best Employer brand awarded by the Employer Branding Institute of Mauritius in confirmation of Lafarge’s focus on diversity, inclusion; and investing in people development, health and safety.

    The same year, Lafarge in Nigeria was awarded the Capital Finance International, Best Corporate Governance in West Africa in recognition of its efforts to protect minority stakeholders during the creation of Lafarge Africa Plc, which is a combination of Lafarge Nigeria’s operations and Lafarge’s South African assets.

    On the merger with Holcim, another leading building materials firm based in Switzerland, Roux said the merger would benefit investors, customers and other stakeholders of Lafarge Africa Plc.

    He said the objective of the merger is to create the most advanced building materials group, considering the fact that both firms are leaders in their area of business.

    “It is a merger of equals between the two groups who share the same values and standards of professionalism and performance, while also benefiting from very complementary geographic portfolios,” Roux said.

    He explained that the merger is  high value-added creation project to their customers, shareholders, staff of both companies  and their local suppliers, noting that by combining their forces, the two groups will offer the best products, solutions and services in cement, aggregates  and concretes.

    “With a global, diversified and balanced geographical presence, LafargeHolcim will benefit from both accelerating demand in growing markets and the economic recovery in developed countries. With the merger, our combined know-how will enable us to become more innovative, more competitive and faster off the market to meet the extraordinary challenge of global urbanisation – there will be two billion new country dwellers by 2050,” Roux said.