The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dubai

  • Dubai to host entertainment exhibition

    From October 31 till November 2, no fewer than 80 exhibitors and 2,000 visitors are expected at the 2016 Prolight and Sound Middle East in Dubai, organiser, Messe Frankfurt Middle East GmbH said

    The event, which will present series of seminars to provide players with an all-in-one platform for education and networking in the African, Middle East and Asian entertainment industry.

    Chief Executive Officer, Exhibition and Trade Limited, Nigeria, Omonigho Itoya, who spoke in Lagos, said the event remained the only international trade show in the entire Middle East and Africa dedicated to technology and services for the entertainment, event, media and creation industry.

    Itoya noted that the current economic diversification effort in Nigeria would yield more result if investment and effort is concentrated on promoting the entertainment industry.

    According to her, growing market from bars, restaurants, night-life, entertainment venues and hotels and resorts has positioned the event as a must for industry players to stay abreast of innovations in the sector.

    CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, Ahmed Pauwels said: “With market trends indicating the demand for pro lighting, sound, and audio equipment is heading in the right direction, we’re delighted to present an annual platform of ground-breaking products dedicated to the entertainment industry,”

    “We are providing a highly interactive networking, developmental and sourcing platform, where the world’s premier brands will present their latest product lines, from stage lighting and DJ equipment to special effects and multimedia, or audio and AV systems to infrastructure and furnishings.”

    Expected exhibitors include Bose; Monacor; Bosch Communications; Adam Hall; Martin Professional and Sennheiser.

     

     

  • Nigerian students shine in Dubai

    Nigerian students shine in Dubai

    STUDENTS of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) in Delta State, put up a remarkable performance at the just-ended yearly Technical Conference and Exhibition – PetroBowl competition – at the World Trade Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE). It was organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

    Five universities won tickets to represent Nigeria at the African regional contest held last  March, at the University of Benin (UNIBEN). Of the five, only FUPRE, Niger Delta University (NDU), and Igbinedion University, Okada, made it to the event through sponsorship.

    Delta State University (DELSU) and Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) could not make it.

    Thirty-two universities participated in the global contest. FUPRE got to “Elite 8” by defeating two world-class universities – University of Manchester in the United Kingdom (UK) and University of Houston in the United States (U.S.). the institution eventually emerged the fifth Best Petroleum University in the world.

    Petro Bowl Competition, initiated in 2002, is a platform for student-chapters of SPE to exchange ideas on latest techniques in the petroleum industry. They are asked technical and non-technical questions about oil exploration and best practice.

    FUPRE has represented Africa three times. In 2014, it emerged African champion in the regional contest, and represented Africa at the World Petro Bowl in Amsterdam, Netherland.

    Also last year, FUPRE represented Africa at the global contest held in Houston, Texas. The team leader, Stephen Ibrahim, a 500-Level student of the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, told CAMPUSLIFE that his team members gave their best performance and brought their experience to bear in the contest. Coming fifth in the contest, he said, would give the team a leverage to review its performance and come out stronger in future contests.

    A member of the team, Bilau Adeniran, also in 500-Level Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, said he was proud of the team’s achievement. He said: “I show my deepest gratitude to Almighty Allah for everything. I am proud of my team. The competition did not give us victory only but also made us a family.”

    SPE is the largest individual-member organisation of serving managers, engineers, scientists and other professionals in the upstream segment of the oil and gas industry, with more than 168,000 members in 144 countries. The Society has 368-student chapters across the world.

     

  • Dubai Parks and Resorts on the move

    Dubai Parks and Resorts on the move

    Dubai Parks and Resorts is set to bring unprecedented amazing themed park experiences to millions of visitors across the world, including Nigeria beginning from October 31, 2016 when it officially opens the new Wonderland.

    With a focus on becoming the largest integrated themed park in the Middle East, six cumulative experiences await visitors including Motiongate Dubai; Bollywood Parks Dubai; Legoland Dubai; Legoland Water Parks; Lapita and Riverland Dubai all fused into the 25 million square feet Dubai Parks and Resorts landscape.

    The park is designed to offer new heights in entertainment with the Motiongate Dubai showcasing everything Hollywood while Bollywood Parks Dubai brings to life first-hand experience of the globally celebrated Indian movie industry and the Legoland Dubai and Water Parks, the very first of its kind in the Middle East region.

    To attract visitors from Nigeria and West Africa, Dubai Parks and Resorts recently signed partnership with four leading travel management companies in the country – Tour Brokers International, Wakanow, Quantum/Ajala, based in Lagos and All States Travels based in Abuja, to provide exclusive information and marketing support services on behalf of Dubai Parks and Resorts to teeming Nigerian and West African visitors.

  • Cross River signs pact on power, ITM with Dubai firm

    Cross River signs pact on power, ITM with Dubai firm

    Cross River Governor Ben Ayade has signed a pact with a Dubai based firm, Skipper Seil, to provide 100kva solar lighting generating system.

    He also signed another agreement for a 26 megawatts gas power turbine at the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resorts.

    As part of the agreement, there will be a training of trainers at the Institute of Technology and Management in Ugep.

    At the agreement signing ceremony held at the Governor’s office in Calabar,  President of the firm, Mr. Jitender Sachdeva, gave the assurance that his firm would commence construction in two months.

    “We will work very hard, fine tune all the activities and try to be on ground after the PPA in December. I want to assure you that the plant in Tinapa for 26 megawatts will give a boost to electricity and will be completed in 18 months,” Sachdeva said

    He said his firm chose to invest in the state due to the investment friendly policies of the Ayade-led administration and because “the state is peaceful and safe”.

    On the Institute of Technology and Management, Ugep, the President, Skipper Seil group, said “in addition to our Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), we have sent our team for the study of the technical Institute here in the state, and I can, with pride, say we are going to associate with your state in education as the Institute is now fully geared to start.”

    Sachdeva expressed confidence in Ayade’s zeal and doggedness. He described him as “one of the few governors in Nigeria today who are paying salaries on time,” adding that “your projects are moving, your garment factory has been completed and I see you getting energy all the time even in the night and morning.”

    Ayade said the 100kvm solar power intervention will serve as a grid for industrial zones across the 18 local governments in the state.

    According to him, “solar power is a new way to go, because it is one way of reducing carbon emission to the atmosphere. It also creates new job opportunities for young people who are now interested in going into solar energy.”

    The governor also hinted that discussions were at advanced stage for the immediate communities where the power plants will be located to enjoy power supply from the plants.

    On the intervention on education by the Dubai-based firm, Ayade said: “My original dream was to build a builder’s academy. I will like to see the superhighway and seaport being constructed by a team of Cross Riverians who have been trained by our skill school.

    “It is our strong hope that Skipper Seil will provide the Indian technology which today is indisputable anymore,” adding that “truly, truly, ITM will take a true breath of full technical capacity while upgrading it to a polytechnic to allow it have some federal interventions and sustain its philosophy to provide skilled hands-on training.”

  • $1.5m Dubai Property: Rep backs Buratai

    $1.5m Dubai Property: Rep backs Buratai

    The Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Solomon Ahwinahwi, has said calls by some that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to resign or be removed is not in good faith.

    Ahwinahwi, who spoke with reporters at the weekend, said the reason for such call was not weighty enough and  would distract him from winning the war against the Boko Haram insurgents.

    The lawmaker said since the property was declared by Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the issue of corrupt intention of criminal concealment does not arise.

    His words:  “Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, having spent over 35 years in the military,  held several command positions and served in many international missions, where salaries and allowances were paid in foreign currencies, and was involved in agriculture since his junior officer days. And possibly securing facilities from banks, lend credence to the fact that the property in Dubai may not be a product of corruption.”

    The deputy chair said Buratai delivered on what President Buhari promised Nigerians and that troops continue to rescue hundreds of Boko Haram abductees, adding that under him, soldiers regained the respect they deserve.

    The lawmaker said he has followed the record of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai since he was appointed that everyone is aware of how well he has done.

    “For instance, local governments in control of Boko Haram have been reclaimed, and the Maiduguri-Dikwa-Gamboru road, shut since 2013, was reopened on July 6; with bombing greatly reduced.

    “That is why I have chosen to come out to say those distractors should please allow this man to work.

    “The achievements of the Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai in containing Boko Haram in the Northeas, including rehabilitating Boko Haram war-ravaged areas and victims ( IDPs) are noteworthy.

    “These are achievements that should call for commendation and award instead of the unpatriotic call for his resignation and removal,” Ahwinahwi said.

  • BRAIN TO PERFORM AT DUBAI SUMMER REUNION

    ORGANISERS of this year’s Dubai Summer Reunion Party has announced Brain as one of the guest artistes that will be gracing the occasion billed to hold in Dubai between August 7 and 15, 2016. The Magikal Entertainment hiphop act who recently dropped his debut EP, “Hurricane Season”, is scheduled to perform alongside artistes such as Dammy Krane, Jyhbo, Q-Dot, Opa6ix, Chinadex and others.

    The annual event which is being packaged by Billy Entertainment UK provides a big platform for showbiz and entertainment practitioners across the globe to converge in Dubai to have fun, party and network during the Summer time.

    The seven-day holiday package include activities such as pool party, clubbing, tourist attractions, shopping at the Dubai Mall, Dhow cruise dinner, Desert Safari, Aqua Parks and many more. The package also includes an exclusive All White Yacht Party for only 100 people on Thursday, August 11.

    Brain is currently in the studio working on new singles and collaborations.

  • Ex-lawmaker sponsors 10 to Dubai

    Ex-lawmaker sponsors 10 to Dubai

    A former Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Risikat Adegeye has sponsored 10 youths to Dubai in United Arab Emirate (UAE) for a tour.

    Mrs Adegeye, who represented Amuwo Odofin Local Government Constituency, said the trip was meant to change the orientation of the beneficiaries to community development.

    “This is part of my resolve to make life meaningful to the youths who are in dire need of a positive change in their lives. The tour is a veritable tool to redirect and refocus our youths’ mindset towards the growth of the community in particular, and the society at large,” she said.

    A beneficiary Olubodun Olapeju Alaba thanked Mrs Adegeye, noting that she and others least expected her kind gesture towards the youths.

    “We know her very well to be a generous, caring and a loving mother but taking us on a tour beats our imagination. She remains a priceless jewel to us and it is our prayer that she lived to fulfil her heart desires,” Alaba said.

  • Lalong: I was not duped N5b in Dubai

    Lalong: I was not duped N5b in Dubai

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has dismissed a report by an online media, Meganews, alleging that he was duped of N5 billion in Dubai.

    The governor described the report as laughable, malicious, mischievous and a figment of the writer’s imagination, which he said can only qualify as the worst kind of armchair journalism, lacking in credibility, objectivity, balance and fairness.

    Lalong, who reacted through his media aide, Mark Longyen, asked the public to ignore the story for lack of facts.

    “Such stories are mere handiwork of opposition political elements desperate to paint him black.

    “Ordinarily, such stories should be ignored because responding to it amounts to giving it credibility. This response however became necessary so as to expose the falsehood in it.

    Longyen warned that running an obscure online media outfit like Meganews was not an outright license for the said medium and opposition to conspire against the reputation of a serving governor. Such defamatory and libellous stories carry legal consequences, which the culprits may soon face, he added.

    “The governor challenges the authors to produce evidence, if any, from the records of their investigation and show proof as to when and where the N5 billion Dubai property transaction took place, which bank was used, as well as all the parties involved.

    “Failure to do so will compel government to contact relevant security agencies to investigate the source of the story,” Longyen said.

    He urged the public to beware and not fall victim of such malicious reports emanating from unregulated online media outfits.

  • Lagos, Dubai sign multi-billion dollar investment pact

    Lagos, Dubai sign multi-billion dollar investment pact

    •Project to create jobs, transform state

    A historic partnership that will see Lagos developing into the first Smart City in Africa was inked on Monday by the Lagos State Government and the City of Dubai.

    The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Lagos Smart City was signed at the Emirate Towers, Dubai by the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem and the Chief Executive Officer of Smart City Dubai LLC, Mr. Jabber Bin Hafez.

    The signing of the MOU was witnessed by the Chairman of Dubai Holdings, His Excellency, Ahmad Bin Byat, who is also the deputy prime minister and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    A Smart City is a growing concept that draws from the success of Dubai’s innovative knowledge-based industry clusters to empower business growth for companies and knowledge workers globally.

    Ambode, in a statement issued yesterday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said the Smart City (Lagos) is expected to bring multi-billion dollars investments to the state, create thousands of jobs and transform the Ibeju-Lekki axis and the state.

    “This is a deliberate attempt by us to establish a strong convergence between technology, economic development and governance.

    “The MOU is between Lagos State Government and Dubai Holdings, LLC, owners of Smart City (Dubai) to develop a sustainable, smart, globally connected knowledge-based communities that drive knowledge economy,” Ambode said.

    The governor stated that the collaboration was part of the larger vision to make Lagos safer, cleaner and more prosperous.

    He said: “A Smart-City Lagos will be the pride of all Lagosians just as we have Smart City Dubai, Smart-City Malta and Smart-City Kochi (India). We are encouraged by the fact that we do not, as a government, need to develop at a slow pace, but take full advantage of the digital age and fast-track development of Lagos to a real megalopolis that we can all be proud of.

    “The future is ours to take. It also marks the first smart city in Africa when completed.”

    He added that apart from creating jobs for the people, the project would also become the world’s first carbon neutral city.

    “Lagos,” he said, “will become an important centre for innovation in smart technologies, wellness and destination for green tourism.”

    Byat said the Dubai authorities were impressed with the conduct and readiness of Lagos State and were eager to proceed with the project.

  • Dubai on roadshow to woo tourists

    Dubai, the commercial capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is one of the favourite destinations for Nigerian travellers. It is a top leisure destination for both leisure and business vacations for many Nigerians. This is attested to by the volume of flights from Nigeria that terminates in the city either directly or indirectly.

    In recognition of this, the Dubai Tourism bureau is making efforts to woo Nigerian travellers and carve greater share of the Nigeria’s international travel market. The tourism bureau was in the country last year for the Akwaaba tourism fair.

    Based on the success of the first foray in the Nigerian market at the fair, the bureau embarked on a roadshow to three key cities in Nigeria to introduce to those in the travel trade and the public some of the products and services Dubai has for Nigerian tourists.

    The team from the Dubai Tourism bureau was led by Stella Obinwa, the head of Dubai Tourism, Africa Region.

    She spoke on why Dubai is attracted to the Nigerian market. She said: “Nigeria is such a wonderful market for Dubai that I would be here over and over again. We will do as much as we can to support the travel trade and the consumers to visit Dubai.”

    Asked to describe the experience of her bureau in Nigeria so far, Obinwa confirmed that the roadshow was a follow-up to the success of Dubai Tourism’s participation in 2015 Akwaaba.

    “ I have not heard of any unsuccessful part of whatever we’ve done in Nigeria in the past six or seven months. Akwaaba was very successful for us. It was Dubai Tourism’s first time there, and for our first time, we won this International Stand Award.

    “ Our station was the most active. We actually came with about five companies for that trip, and based on the experience, we decided to do the roadshow. For the roadshow, we brought in about 24 different brands and between now and the next seven hours, all the representatives of those brands will be here.

    “We are doing three cities, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja. Our intention is not to just keep on informing you about Dubai. We want to inform the broader public, which means touching the East, North,  South and  West. Hopefully, Abuja would cover all of the North for us, Port Harcourt would cover all of the East and South South and Lagos covers the West.

    “The format is a truly very informative roadshow. Each of these brands will be given a time slot to do a full-blown presentation of what they have to offer in Dubai, specifically what they have to offer to Nigerians. Then, we would all get to network and mingle. The invited guests for the roadshow have one-on-one chance with each of those representatives that come from Dubai to really cement the relationship and form a better plan of what they want to sell in Nigeria and how those Dubai companies can help them. So, we believe that we are making the environment to grow business for people of two different countries, Nigerians and Emiratis.”

    Obinwa said it was based on the importance Dubai attaches to the Nigerian market that top tourism and hospitality groups in Dubai were part of the show.

    “ We have a captain from the Dubai Emigration Service on this trip. He will start the presentation to explain the whole visa process and he will also explain the different kinds of visa that Dubai has to offer. Even in my short conversation with him, he told me about different kinds of visa that I wasn’t even aware of. I think it is going to be fabulous  information. That is on the government side. Then, we are bringing in Dubai parks that are opening this summer.

    “It will take you at least a whole week to visit the whole parks. We brought in  Starwood Hotels and  Emaar Hotels.We are bringing in Amani , Buri Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. We also have a few destination management companies, Emirates Holidays, Emirate Airlines and Damac Properties. They are comparable to Emaar.

    “We tried to bring properties or activities that we know will interest an average African, in particular the  Nigerian.

    “In everything we are doing in African market, we are starting with Nigeria because Nigeria gives us our biggest volume, but we are also focusing on East and South Africa as well because you are here, you are not seeing what we are doing.

    “ It was in South Africa, in the beginning of April, that we announced that we are going to do a FAM trip for 500 African agents and we would pull all those agents from all over Africa, 10 different countries to be exact and we will pay for them for five days and five nights to explore Dubai.

    “ You know it is easy to sell what you have seen and touched, and it is not just the best performing travel agents. We keep only focusing on the best performers; we will only have a limited market.

    “We are also interested in those that have paid attention to Dubai, but need that little bit of more information to help them grow their business. The only way we can grow this market is to increase our touch point and not just focus on five or six touch points,”she said.

    She also talked about the bureau’s experience  in the World Travel Market (WTM).

    “We also won an award there. WTM Africa is in its third year and in the first year, quite a few companies participated, and they were comparing to other international travelling exhibitions in London and Berlin.

    “The second year, a lot of companies didn’t participate. When I joined Dubai Tourism, I said Africa could not be compared to other continents. Africa is an emerging continent, an emerging market. We have to give it time to grow, so we have to be in that South Africa WTM to show that we are committed.

    “It was so well done, and one thing we always ask our Dubai participants is: do you want us to do this again next year?  They all signed up for next year even though it is 12 months away, “she said.

    “The three-city roadshow was held in Lagos- Federal Palace Hotel, then it moved to Port Harcourt-Hotel Presidential and then Abuja Sheraton. It was the same format every where.

    “In Lagos we invited over 180 guests, in Port Harcourt about 100 and in Abuja about 150. Airlines and National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) gave us a list of travel agencies,”she said.