The Nation Newspaper

Tag: firm

  • Firm holds lecture on investment Thursday

    A law firm, Rosberg Legal Practitioners & Arbitrators, will on Thursday hold its Executives Annual Lecture.

    Its theme is: Managing risks in cross-border businesses: practical tips for Nigerian businesses and foreign investors seeking to invest in Nigeria.

    It will hold at the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Lagos.

    A statement by the Managing Partner Mr. Greg Nwakogo said the lecture series was a social initiative that brings business executives together annually to stir conversations on topical issues that affect business and governance.

    “It is imperative that we discuss at such fora the necessary safeguards investors need to consider and which should allay their fears and ultimately make our economy prosperous. The event is free of charge but by invitation only,” Nwakogo said.

    Those expected at the event are Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Director General /Chief Executive of the Consumer Protection Council Mr. Babatunde Irukera and Group Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Plc Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni.

    Others are Former Assistant Secretary-General International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration, Paris, France Mr. Jose Ricardo Feris and Head, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Nigerian Bottling Company Mrs. Chinwe Odigboegwu.

  • Firm sues NNPC, Total over contract

    An oil and gas consultancy firm, Contraco Limited, has sued the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and others at the Lagos High Court for $31 million (about N11.16 billion) for allegedly denying its client a contract it won after a competitive bid.

    The others are Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, Samsung Heavy Industries Company Nigeria Limited and Hyundai Heavy Industries.

    The suit before Justice S.S. Ogunsanya is over a contract for the supply of an Oil Offloading Terminal for OML 130 (Egina Field Development).

    The contract, worth $3.9billion, with a capacity of 200,000bpd, was awarded to Samsung.

    It is the largest Floating Production Storage Offloading unit ever installed in Nigeria and the largest FPSO built by the Total Group worldwide.

    Contraco said Total published an invitation in 2009 for tender pre-qualification for the contract, which was a production sharing contract between Total and NNPC for the supply of an Oil Offloading Terminal for OML 130 – Egina Field Development.

    Hyundai indicated interest in the Tender and commenced talks with the Contraco to act as its consultants to the bid which was done in 2011.

    According to Contraco, at end of the evaluation of the commercial bids, its client, Hyundai, was adjudged to be the lowest responsive evaluated bid.

    The plaintiff said by Section 24 (3) of the Public Procurement Act, its client won the bid and should ordinarily have been awarded the contract.

    Contraco said when the NNPC continued to delay the contract, Hyundai wrote former President Goodluck Jonathan on July 29, 2012 to ensure that it was awarded the contract on time.

    The claimant said rather than award the contract to Hyundai, NNPC gave Samsung the opportunity to amend its bid without giving Hyundai the same opportunity, a move which the plaintiff said contravenes the Public Procurement Act.

    Contraco said since NNPC and Total had allegedly illegally seized the contract from Hyundai, it (Contraco) was denied one per cent commission which would have been $31million.

    The plaintiff, therefore, prayed for “an order against the defendants for payment of the sum of $31m being  one per cent commission the plaintiff would have realised having fulfilled its obligation under the Consultant Agreement dated April 11, 2012 but for the defendants’ intentional interference with the Consultant Agreement dated April 11, 2012 between the plaintiff and the 3rd defendant.”

    It also asked the defendants to pay N30million as cost of its legal fee.

    Total and Hyundai have entered conditional appearances and have filed preliminary objections challenging the competence of the action on jurisdictional grounds.

    They are also challenging the plaintiff’s locus standi (legal right) to file the claim.

    The case will come up on June 21.

  • Firm unveils 2000-seat event centre

    Allied Thrust and Systems Limited (ATSL) has opened its multi-million naira event centre, Funplex at Magodo, Lagos.

    The event, which started with a special red carpet reception, was attended by crème-de-la-crème of the society, top executives in the corporate world, hospitality industry and celebrities.

    Funplex Event Centre is part of a mix called the Funplex Resort, which houses an amusement park (Funplex Parks and Rides), a hotel for lodging (The Grant Suites), a quick service restaurant and bakery for all sorts of catering needs (Ticklers restaurant and Bakery), and an outdoor bar with a fully air-conditioned indoor lounge (Concourse Bar) that boasts of the best grill in town.

    It is a multi-purpose event complex that houses a gym, spa, beauty saloon, cinema, a bush bar, an underground club house and event halls that have the capacity to sit 2000 guests comfortably.

    It has modern facilities like air conditioning systems, well-furnished VIP suites/changing rooms, a standard performance stage and entertainment technology systems.

    Other facilities include glamorous lights, such as mood lights, disco balls and five-star conveniences, standby generators, car park attendants and an ample car parking space for over 350 vehicles.

    The event centre delivers the industry’s finest level of expertise to small, medium and large organisations as well as individualswho desire the perfect venue for weddings, social and corporate events.

    Allied Thrust and Systems Limited Managing Director, Mr. Emeka Nwasike, said the opening was a dream come true.

    According to him, the dream was ignited when Allied Thrust and Systems Nigeria Limited, which won a BoT contract with Centre for Management Development (CMD) with a proposal to build a conference hall for the centre.

    However, the company has surpassed that dream by erecting a magnificent edifice which not only houses halls for events but also facilities like bush bar, gym, cinema, etc.

    “This feat is borne out of our love for hospitality and our desire to be a strong contender and pacesetter in the industry. Already, you can see that Funplex Resort is a one-stop-shop for fun and entertainment. Our goal is to provide Nigerians with an event centre that can cater for all their corporate and social needs,” he said.

    Former Director-General of CMD, Dr. Joseph YakubuMaiyaki, who was in office when the institute and ATSL signed the agreement for the company to manage CMD Guest House facility, described the project as a good example of a public-private partnership.

    He disclosed that the concession was done as an alternative means of generating income for CMD, adding that though the institute is government funded, the institution felt there was a need to develop other ways of generating more funds.

     

     

  • Firm unveils cloud cover device in Abuja

    Cloud Cover Distribution Limited has launched its Internet Wireless Mobile Service devise to make internet services available across the country and support the tourism and hospitality industry.

    Its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Nick Dixon, the device now operates not only in Nigeria, but in over 100 countries of the world including Europe and America.

    While launching the device at the Transcorp Hotel Abuja, he said users of the device would not need to do SIM registration or fresh data capturing as the device operates on Cloud Sim Technology which cut across the seven networks of service providers in the country.

    He said the company is in partnership with seven different service providers to enable users of the device switch to any of the networks depending on the degree of service available with any of the networks at any location.

    Mr Dixon further stated that the WiFi device was specifically designed for the Nigerian market to support tourism and the hospitality industry, the growing population of internet users in schools, hospitals, parks and other places and ensure that users have value for money as far as telecommunication services are concerned.

    He said the unit cost of the device is N100,000 and that the device could operate on both 3G and 4G technology.

    Speaking at the function, the Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Malam Ishaq Moddibo Kawu lauded the company for bringing such innovation to Nigeria, saying apart from the opportunities for job creation and expansion in the telecommunication sector, it would also improve the level of service delivery by service providers.

  • Firm retains global arbitration ranking

    Hogan Lovells’s global International Arbitration group has been ranked among the 10 most active in the latest Global Arbitration Review (GAR) rankings.

    The group was ranked sixth, up by two spots from last year’s rankings. This is the ninth consecutive year that GAR has recognised the group within the prestigious top 10.

    In addition to moving up in its global ranking, the group also received the 2018 award for the most important decision of the past year for their work in Slovak Republic v Achmea, led by partners Markus Burgstaller and Karl Pörnbacher.

    The GAR 30 ranking was revealed at the Annual Awards Dinner in Paris.

    Unlike other arbitration law firm rankings, GAR ranks firms on a variety of criteria, including the number of arbitration hearings conducted over a two-year period, hours billed for arbitration, and the amount in dispute in those cases.

    Final rankings are also based on the number of arbitration appointments handled by firm members and the number of individuals who appear in GAR’s sister publication: Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration.

    Hogan Lovells Global Head of International Arbitration Dan González said: “This ranking is a testament to our leading international arbitration practice and the hard work and dedication of our entire team. It exemplifies our deep bench of experience and commitment to client service – an achievement we are all proud of.”

    London international arbitration partner Markus Burgstaller said: “The landmark Judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Slovak Republic v Achmea, issued only a few weeks ago, has already had a major impact on international arbitration in the EU and will continue to do so in the years ahead.”

    Hogan Lovells was also singled-out for its experience with investment treaty disputes, including many instructions from both investors and governments such as China, Mexico, Mongolia, Panama, Slovakia, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

    GAR also noted the continued strengths and growing presence in emerging markets such as Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

  • Firm hails govt for support

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lekki Concession Company (LCC), Mr. Mubashiru Hassan, has hailed the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration for its support.

    Hassan, who spoke at the inauguration of LCC’s Operation Centre near Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, said the government had assisted the company to realise its dream of offering superb services to motorists and other road users.

    He said the centre, with many facilities, would boost the firm’s operations.

    “This structure was put in place because of road users. We want to ensure their comfort and safety. We want to prioritise security on our roads. We established the Operation Centre to facilitate movement in Ikoyi, Lekki and their environs.

    “We have put in place a team to maintain what we have on ground and raise its standard. The security of road users is of utmost importance to us. You can hardly hear of robbery or car-snatching on our road because of the security put in place.

    “If you drive on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, you will not see potholes because we maintain the road regularly. We still have the ambition of taking over other express roads, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, if given the opportunity by the government,” the managing director added.

    He said to ensure that the Lekki-Epe Expressway was not defaced, LCC’s security officials regularly apprehended hawkers to prevent hawking of goods and maintain the cleanliness of the road.

    Hassan said: “Besides preventing defacement and dirtiness on the expressway, we want to avoid a situation whereby hawkers will be knocked down by motorists. The safety of people on our road is our priority.”

  • Firm gives displaced children free food

    New Castle Food Limited, producers of Nau Nau foods, has donated food items to 45 displaced children in Linking Hand Foundation.

    The children, who are between the ages of 7 and 15, were displaced last year from Otodo Gbame community, Lagos and are under a free pre-school progamme of Linking Hand Foundation.

    Speaking at the event, the Marketing Manager, New Castle Food Limited, Ms Nsikan Osoh, said the donation of the food items was part of the company social responsibility to vulnerable and helpless children in the society.

    She said: “The challenge with food security is real in Nigeria as tons of food waste every day and it is incumbent on us to provide food to children who may not have access to good food. We gave tons of food items to children in Internally Displaced Camps across the North and we are willing to do more and help children in need.

    “Our food was developed by Nigerians for Nigerians. We are starting construction on our factory outside Lagos in early 2017. Based on our market research, many people want to have the product sooner. Until the factory has been completed, we are working with a world class manufacturer to produce the Nau Nau food.”

    The founder of Linking Hands Foundation, Mrs. Efe Farinre, said the pre-school programme was founded to use education to harness the enormous potentials of the hapless children and engage them.

    She said: “Thank you New Castle Foods for today’s free food and for making our dream to give these indigent children a healthy meal-a-day as part of our No Limits Education Project, a reality.

    “Many times I am overwhelmed by the so much there is to do in meeting the needs of the less privilege in our society. I often wonder how it would all be done. Then I remind myself that ‘every little makes up the big’”.

    Farinre , who noted that foundation sought for the displaced children from the forceful eviction carried out in Otodo Gbame last year, said: “We are providing them with free-school programme that would help in preparing the children for the next academy year in any public school around the area.

     

     

     

     

  • Wellness firm battles obesity

    A wellness company based in Malaysia,  United Arab Emirates, (UAE) and Philipines with branches in parts of Europe and Africa,  including Nigeria,  Ever Dynamic Marketing (Edmark), has expressed it’s commitments in eradicating obesity and it’s attendant health complication among the people of the world.

    The company, which made the statement at its  2018 first quarter weight loss campaign(P4 lose to win 90 days  challenge), in Port Harcourt,  the Rivers State capital, disclosed that over 2.5 billion people, including children are faced with the problem of overweight across the world.

    It said this overwhelming statistics have led the company to search for the solution  over 25 years ago to help the sufferers regain and maintain their health.

    In the company’s profile made available to the media at the event,  it has range of products that are reportedly potent in burning out excess fat in the body and rebuild,  rejuvenate the body system to its original healthy status, and that the 90 days challenge is a way to practically take those seeking to reduce their excess weight sucessefully through the journey with ease and fun.

    “Remark expo is a concept of exhibiting the opportunity that the company any offers to all Nigerians, a way to reclaim and maintain their health,  a path towards financial freedom,  and a mean to better their lives.

    “It is one of the many ways the company seeks to assist it’s independent distributors with their efforts in expanding their business teams locally and internationally.

    “P4 lose to win 90 days challenge” started in Nigeria in 2014 and was meant to give residents a platform to fight obesity and regain their health, using the range of products for therapy  by the company.

    “Not less than 1,200 persons have successful recorded glaring results since the inception of the program,  with over astounding 10, 600 kilograms of weight loss.

    “With the string of individuals having succeeded in their weight loss journeys through Remark’s customized P4 Lose to win 90 days challenge,  the growing demand and escalating number of distributors have boosted and presence of the company y and it’s products within Nigeria and beyond.”

    The company is said to have 29 offices across the world, with 17 in Africa and 10 in Nigeria.

    Reacting to the 90-day challenge,  Mrs.  Gift Emele,  a trainer with the company said “the company has noticed that no country has in the last 35years been able to successfully profered solution for weight loss,  whereas the problem of obesity and it’s consequences are fast revaging the society.

    “Basically, Edmark is into the business of creating awareness on weight management, for in the past years.

    “And today,  new set of persons that would begin the 90 days (three months) journey of weight loss,  even as the last set who had gone through it is releases and rewarded for cooperating with the company to achieved their desired results.”

  • Firm empowers women at tech summit

    Andela, a network and technology firm has hosted Andela Women in Technology Summit where participants were empowered with knowledge that would boost their economic status.

    The event, in celebration of International Women’s Day, further reinforces Andela’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.

    The conference, hosted at EPIC Tower in Lagos, led with the theme ‘Investing in Tomorrow’s Leaders.’ Over 100 women in tech and business met to take part in lively discussion and debate with Andela’s female executives, senior technologists and developers, including Director of People and Culture, Taiwo Judah Ajayi; Talent Acquisition Manager, , Jessica Akano;  Product Manager, Feyikemi Olabiyi and Technology Leadership Evangelist, Mercy Orangi.

    They were also joined by Lagos’ leading female tech influencers including Keynote Speaker Chika Uwazie  alongside  the CHIEF Technology Officer & Engineering Lead at Tress App, Esther Olatunde;  Android Engineer at OffGrid Electric, Moyinoluwa Adeyemi ; General Manager, LASPARK Lagos, Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola and[General Manager, MEST, Neku Atawodi, who discussed the role of stakeholders and leaders in promoting diversity in the tech community.

    The event concluded with a fireside chat, named after the theme, with Executive Director, Junior Achievement Nigeria, Simi Nwogugu  and moderated by Communications Manager, Andel, Oluwasola Obagbemi.

    Since launching in 2014, Andela has played an instrumental role in paving the way for women in the tech industry through its commitment to attracting and developing female talent. The company’s various initiatives include multiple all-female recruitment cycles as well as building safe and empowering communities for women in tech, such as Tech in Pink and Ladies in Tech.

  • Firm lifts local content in maritime, energy

    An indigenous logistics firm, Fortune Global Shipping and Logistics Limited, has unveiled plans to showcase its strength in the global market.

    Its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Eric Opah, said the company had taken advantage of local content development policy to deliver logistics services and expand its coverage to the oil and gas sector.

    He decried the failure of logistics firms to expand to the global market, urging the operators to brace to fly the Nigerian flag higher in the international market.

    Opah said his company had taken the bull by the horn by establishing a branch in Houston, United States, and in Ghana.

    “Today, we are expanding to other countries. We have discovered that Nigerian brands do not usually extend to global markets. Most logistics companies only rely on what they can do within Nigeria. They don’t get to the helms of affairs internationally where decisions are being made.

    “Foreign multinationals are here in Nigeria, but we don’t have our own brand in that market. So, Fortune Global has taken the bull by the horn, and expanded its operations to Houston, United States. We are also in Ghana, as part of our vision to look out to strategic places to support in energy logistics,” he said.

    Opah said the firm also played a critical role in building the Egina Floating Production and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, which sailed into Nigeria some weeks ago for further integration.

    According to him, Fortune Global Shipping handled the clearance of the FPSO and the export of the pressure tank from Lagos to Goje in South Korea.

    The managing director noted that Fortune Global Shipping has capacity to handle over 2000 TEUs of cargo volume and over one million tonnes of airfreights yearly.

    He said the company had recorded some milestones in the Forcados Yokri and Shell’s FOID, among other projects in the oil, gas and maritime sectors.

    Opah noted that the industry has not grown due to factors, such as implementation of regulations and financial support.