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Tag: global

  • Hyundai launches ‘global luxury’ Genesis

    Hyundai launches ‘global luxury’ Genesis

    Hyundai Motor has announced an all-new global luxury brand – Genesis – that will deliver ‘human-centered’ luxury through a range of new models that feature the highest standards of performance, design and innovation, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

    The new Hyundai Genesis is a brand that would compete with the world’s leading luxury car brands. Refined performance, athletic elegance in design and human-focused, are part of innovations that elevate the Genesis brand.

    Created for a new generation of discerning consumers, Genesis will be a stand-alone brand that operates alongside the company’s popular Hyundai Marque. Capitalising on its success in the fast-growing global car market, Hyundai Motor will launch six new Genesis models by 2020 to compete with the world’s most renowned luxury car brands.

    The name – Genesis, – which also means new beginnings, hints at the new values and standards that, the brand will bring to the global luxury car market. Initially on sale in the Korean, Chinese, North American and Middle Eastern luxury car markets, the Genesis brand will expand its reach to Europe and other parts of Asia as the model range grows to full strength.

    Setting the brand’s cars apart from competitors, innovation will begin with the consumer, with customer requirements directing development. This philosophy echoes the vision of Hyundai Motor to be a ‘lifetime partner in automobiles and beyond’, with the ‘Modern Premium’ brand direction of Hyundai reinterpreted for the new Genesis Marque.

    The Genesis brand seeks to create a new definition of luxury, one that will provide a new platform for future mobility centered on people. By anticipating human needs at every touch point, Genesis models will embody four key aspects: Human-focused innovation, refined and balanced performance, athletic elegance in design and hassle-free customer experience.

    “We have created this new Genesis brand with a complete focus on our customers who want smart ownership experiences that save time and effort, with practical innovations that enhance satisfaction. The Genesis brand will fulfil these expectations, becoming a market leader through our human-centered brand strategy,” said Euisun Chung, Hyundai Motor Company Vice Chairman.

    Genesis models will boast outstanding driving dynamics and design, with innovations tailored to closely-meet the needs of customers. The new model line-up will distance itself from the traditional technological overload of brand-focused competitors, concentrating instead on a personalised, hassle-free customer experience. Continuing the customer-oriented approach that flows through every Genesis model, sales and service staff will provide rapid and attentive service to customer’s requests.

    To elevate and differentiate the Genesis brand from Hyundai, a distinct design identity, emblem, naming structure and customer service offering is being established.

    Genesis models will be badged with a new wing-type emblem, redesigned from the version used on the current Genesis model to create an even more luxurious look. This emblem firmly cements the Genesis models as a collective family of luxury models under the Genesis nameplate.

    The Genesis brand will also adopt a new alphanumeric naming structure. Future models will be named by combining the letter ‘G’ for Genesis with a number, 90, 80 or 70 etc., representing the segment.

    Woong Chul Yang, Head of Hyundai Motor R&D Center and Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor said: “The Genesis models will provide technological innovation, excellent driving performance and luxury to customers. Every Genesis model will be created with the needs of our customers in mind, so the resulting car will perfectly meet their needs without any unnecessary burden or excess.”

    Fitted with the latest proactive safety technologies, intuitive convenience features and IT connectivity, Genesis models are engineered to provide excellent ride comfort while retaining confident sportiness.

    To develop a distinctive and differentiated design for the new Genesis brand vehicles, Hyundai Motor has created a Prestige Design Division. From mid-2016 Luc Donckerwolke, who was previously responsible for the design of Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, SEAT and Skoda models at the Volkswagen Group, will lead this new division alongside his role as Head of the Hyundai Motor Design Centre. The work of the new Prestige Design Division will be overseen by Peter Schreyer, as part of his group-wide design responsibilities as President and Chief Design Officer (CDO) of Hyundai Motor Group.

    “In creating the design signature of Genesis brand cars, we set out to display confidence and originality, creating highly desirable products that present new charm through innovative styling and proportions,” Schreyer said.

  • Gwandu, others discuss 5G at global telecoms forum

    Mr Bashir Gwandu, a former acting Executive Vice Chairman  (EVC) and Executive Commissioner, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) was  one of the chief presenters at a two-day conference  organised last week by the Wireless World Research Forum to discuss challenges and implementation in the new generation of communication technology, the 5G, which proposes a total connected  life.

    It provided a platform to discuss global standardisation, global co-operation and interoperability, looking at how a user-centric approach can be used to identify and overcome the obstacles and challenges connected to a 5G future.

    Presentations were made by some industry leaders and experts, and specific sessions for this year’s event included:  Building a Globally Agreed Vision for 5G Development and Deployment, Creating the 5G Architecture, Overcoming the Obstacles to 5G Deployment, Revolutionary New Use Cases and Implications for Industry, New Business Models and Commercial Opportunities Across Different Sectors (using the Automotive Industry as a sector case study).

    Some of the features expected of the 5G as raised in the conference includes very low sub-millisecond round-trip latency (delay) of 5G signal, Better security to avoid hacking, better location identification, ultra-broadband speed of over 10Gbps, distributed content and processing, much better coverage and availability, low power consumption, high-order Mimo antenna systems, use of sub-6GHz or the spectrum between 6GHz and 100GHz, and whether or not the network should evolve from the 4G-LTE or simply new type of network, etc. Projected applications include machine to machine to people communications, autonomous cars and robots, and super wireless cloud computing etc.

    The 5G has already been tested inJapan by Huawei and NTT DOCOMO using sub-6GHz bands and in a public place, unlike previous experiments, which are usually conducted in a lab.

    The carrier managed to reach peak speeds of 3.6 Gbps where as the fastest average 4G LTE speeds come from Spain at 18 Mbps.

  • Global views on pensions

    Britain may be entering uncharted territory with the biggest shake-up in pensions for decades, but there are lessons to be learnt from around the world.

    Under the pension reforms, which began three years ago, all employees will be automatically enrolled in a pension scheme. In April this year, retirees were given unprecedented freedom to spend their pension savings as they choose rather than having to buy an annuity.

    The Melbourne Mercer Global Pensions Index, which reviews pensions around the world, ranked Denmark top, because its schemes are well-funded, provide good benefits and its private pension regulations protect consumers effectively.

    Australia was second, followed by the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Canada, Chile and then the UK in eighth place out of 25. India was ranked the lowest because of funding weaknesses that throw its future sustainability into doubt.

    The report notes that all over the world pension systems are under pressure from rising life expectancies, government debt and a turbulent global economy. Japan is now experiencing a negative savings rate for the first time since it began gathering data in 1955

    The retirement landscape is also shaped by attitudes to saving and how we regard older people. In Japan, there is a strong savings habit and a cultural imperative to care for parents in old age. State benefits, relative to average earnings, are comparable to the UK.

    Whereas this country has seen the demise of final salary schemes in the private sector and an increasing number of workers moved into pensions that do not guarantee a set income for life, Japan maintained these better quality employer schemes for longer.

    Adrian Walker, retirement planning manager at Old Mutual Wealth, says: “A key worry for the UK is the fact that Japan, which has historically boasted the highest savings rates in the developed world, is now experiencing a negative savings rate for the first time since it began gathering data in 1955.

    Keeping mum: Japanese pensioners can lean on their children for help. “In some respects this is a positive, as Japan’s ageing population draws income and boosts consumer spending in a long-stagnant economy. But there are risks associated with Japan drawing its savings at a faster rate than the younger generation is putting aside for the future.”

    Australia’s retirement savings system brought in its equivalent of automatic enrolment in 1992, starting with a low minimum contribution, which will reach to 12per cent by 2025. This is much higher than in the UK, where total contributions from employees, employers and the Government began at 4per cent and will reach eight per cent by October 2018.

    Relative to average wages, state pension benefits are much more generous than in the UK. Retirees are not required to buy an annuity and the products are barely used.

    “Stories about Perth having more taxi drivers aged 75 and over than anywhere else need to be put into context, however,” says Mr. Walker. “The current compulsory savings system was in its infancy when those taxi drivers retired and may be a reflection on the previous regime rather than a need for compulsory annuitisation.”

    Surprisingly, state pension provision in the US is more generous than the UK relative to average salaries. The US is an interesting comparison because there is no NHS and those approaching retirement must therefore consider how they will replace workplace medical insurance.

    Yet, surprisingly, state pension provision is more generous than the UK relative to average salaries.

     

  • Local brand, global outlook

    Local brand, global outlook

    • In 16 countries and counting, Dangote Industries morphs into a great Nigerian multinational

    About a decade ago, Dangote Group was a large trading concern dealing in an assortment of commodities.

    Yes, it was a monopolistic shark exerting commanding control in its areas of business like rice, sugar, cement and whatever else it set its mind to import. It also enjoyed some sweetheart deals and waivers from a series of Nigerian governments.

    But all these will not detract a nit bit from the Midas of Aliko Dangote and his rampaging ambition to rule the world of commerce and industry.

    In 2006, Dangote decided to transform his huge trading outfit into a real sector business and in just nine years, Dangote Industries has become the largest manufacturing conglomerate in Africa with strong presence in 16 African countries.

    Just last week, the company opened its $600 million, 3.0 metric tonnes cement plant in Tanzania. This plant is reputed to be the largest in East and Central Africa.  It is also reported to be the largest single investment in Tanzania. The investment which comes with a 25-hectare jetty will provide employment to about 7000 people when fully operational.

    Apart from Nigeria, its home country and Tanzania, its most current plant, Dangote has major mining and manufacturing concerns in Cameroun, Zambia, South Africa, Congo Brazzavile, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Senegal and Ghana.  According to reports, the firm is said to have already awarded contracts worth $4.34 billion for the construction of 11 new cement plants – ten in Africa and one in Nepal, Asia.

    The industrialist, who is also recorded as Africa’s richest man, considers cement production as strategic for the growth and development of Africa in a dual-pronged way — cement is most essential for construction while cement manufacturing is a huge source employment creation.

    Though his critics also think that with so much expansion across the continent, it would be expected that cement would be cheaper in his home country, Nigeria, the price of the commodity has nevertheless  reduced drastically in recent times to about N1500 per 50 kg bag (less than 1dollar) from an all-time high of about N3000 about two years ago.

    It is interesting to note that Dangote Industries has made bigger and more impactful investments in some of these African countries than long-established multinational corporations with colonial linkage had made in decades. It has therefore become more imperative that eventually, only Africans can catalyse the development of Africa.

    During the inauguration of the Tanzania plant, Aliko Dangote underscored this point when he noted that, “one of our key strengths lies in our ability to understand the peculiar needs of Africans and how to do business successfully on the continent.  That is why we made Africa the centerpiece of our multi-billion dollars investment. We believe that it is only Africans who can develop Africa. We are also motivated to create an African success story because we believe that entrepreneurship holds the key to the future economic growth of the continent.”

    There is no gainsaying that if Africa could by some alchemy, clone half a dozen more Dangotes, she would have no need to keep looking to the West for grants, aids and development support. He is also a challenge to other African leaders and money men, especially those who ship stolen money and  wealth acquired on African soil into vaults in the West for safe-keeping. Such funds help fuel the growth of already developed economies; when they are not lost entirely.

    The Dangote paradigm is commendable and worthy of emulation. Though many Nigerian banks and telecommunications firms have gone across the borders to the West coast and beyond, Dangote is unique in its sheer size, structure and specialization.

    It is indeed a worthy Nigerian brand gone global and spear-headed by an eminent Nigerian ambassador.

  • ‘Attaining global healthcare standard possible’

    ‘Attaining global healthcare standard possible’

    Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Dr. Paul Orhii has said the country can attain global standards in healthcare services and even play a leading role in the sector.

    He was speaking to journalists who visited the agency’s facilities in the Southeast and Southsouth.

    “Nigeria has the capability to be independent and also lead globally in the provision of effective and efficient healthcare delivery services if the exploits of NAFDAC are maximally sustained, encouraged, broadened and adequately financed,” he said.

    Dr. Orhii expressed the hope that with the commitment of the workforce under him, especially the management cadre, the agency would achieve its mandate towards the citizenry, in service delivery and socio-economic advancement of the country.

    He argued that NAFDAC under his watch has made some remarkable achievements and innovations that have boosted the country’s healthcare status and reputation internationally,  adding that the conceptualisation, adoption and construction of modern technological facilities has remained the unique Nigerian approach to global anti-drug counterfeiting initiative.

    Dr. Orhii noted that the introduction of Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) which drafted in the use of mobile handset (GSM) owners in the fight against counterfeit and substandard drugs was widely commendable, having given over 100 million GSM users in the country the power to detect counterfeit drugs, thereby participating in the fight against the menace in the country.

    The NAFDAC boss maintained that the construction and equipping of the agency’s scientific laboratories in the six geopolitical zones to ultra-modern status has earned Nigeria World standard certifications and acceptance.

    “We are indeed committed to making  Nigeria a prosperous health care  providing nation of note capable of competing in the international fora  as indicated by our recently facilitated World Health Organisation (WHO GMP) Good Manufacturing Practice  Certification for numerous indigenous pharmaceutical plants  of which four namely May and Baker Nigeria Limited, Evans Medical Plc, Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited and CHI Pharmaceuticals Limited has for now been positively considered and have been duly certified  by the WHO and thus already participating in international drug production and export trade,” he explained.

    Collaborating Orhii, the Deputy Director and Head of NAFDAC ultra-modern Scientific Laboratory in Agulu in Awka Anambra state, Charles Nwachukwu said, the Agency has witnessed a lot of innovation and upgrading since he assumed office as the DG five years ago.

    Nwachukwu spoke when the media team visited the Agulu centre. He said although the Agulu centre had started operation before Orhii took over the mantle of leadership, the centre was furnished and equipped under the current NAFDAC leadership.

    Completed and commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2009, Agulu facility has a total of 18 laboratories, comprising 10 typical and eight non-typical labs.  It is apparently one of the eight other facilities the agency has across the country to ensure the mandate of ensuring that good quality and safe regulated products are circulated and sold within and outside the country.

    The Laboratories are strategically located in Lagos (The food laboratory in  Oshodi, Drug Laboratory in Yaba), Kaduna, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, Agulu and Calabar for the confirmation of regulated products, including locally made and imported finished products, raw materials (both locally sourced and imported) including medical devices.

    Speaking on the leadership style of the current DG, Nwachukwu described him as passionate about   sustainability of standard and quality of the Agency’s mandates and structures and facilities to ensure they maintains their original status. He said it informed the DG’s decision to award contract for the maintenance of the facilities and environment at cheapest cost but great value for money.

    The contract was awarded in accordance with due process (bidding),”  Nwachukwu said.

    In his pre-inspection briefing, Nwachukwu spoke on the centre’s job specification, staff strength and cliental, when he said,

    ”We have a total of 157 workers in this building, this however exclude the labourers, (gardeners and cleaners). There are 39 permanent staff, 18 interns, three corps members and 97 students on Industrial Attachment (IT).

    “Our job in this Laboratory Centre is basically to do the analysis of regulated products, including drugs, food, cosmetics medical devices, herbal preparation, water, raw material used in manufacturing food and drugs, and chemicals both locally made and imported products to ascertain whether or not they are safe for human consumption, confirm their indication and contra-indication as specified by the manufacturers and import

     

  • 9/11 and changing face of global terrorism

    9/11 and changing face of global terrorism

    In September 11, 2001, the world was in a state of confusion as news broke out about the vicious escapades of 19 deadly hijackers who hijacked four commercial passenger planes flying towards the east coast of the United States.

    According to BBC report, two of the aircrafts were deliberately flown into the two main towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, with a third hitting the Pentagon in Virginia while the fourth plane never reached its intended target. Reports had it that it crashed in Pennsylvania. It is believed that the passengers and crew overpowered the commandeers who wanted to expropriate the plane.

    Notwithstanding, the total loss of life on 9/11 was about 3, 000 including the 19 transgressors who forcefully took over the planes. The Osama bin Laden-led Al-Qaeda group is believed to be responsible for the barbaric act. The attack remains epochal in the nation’s history.

    There were series of major attacks carried out on US forces prior to the September 11 attack. Some reported cases include the shooting down of two American Black Hawk helicopters in Somalia in October 1993, killing of 19 Americans in a bombing incident at a military housing complex in Saudi Arabia in 1996, the bombing of US embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi in 1998 claiming 223 lives, and the suicide attack on the USS Cole in 2000 which killed 17 servicemen and wounded 39.

    No doubt, the quest to maintain peace and build the national security of the state has always been a politically sensitive issue. The greatest threats to national security have been political, social, economic, environmental, ideological and religious differences. These have given rise to insurgent groups over the years.

    Historically, insurgent groups have thrived in countries with weak government structures and unable to maintain national security. To call a spade a spade and not an agricultural instrument, there is no justification for any violent act resulting to the killings of innocent people whether in America or anywhere in the world. Hence the attack on the World Trade Centre in New York, the hitting of the Pentagon in Virginia and the crash in Pennsylvania are morally and politically wrong and must be condemned by every right thinking person.

    Although several scholars have argued for and against it, most prominent are the views of Mackinlay and Kicullun. Kicullun argues that insurgency has changed over time and space. Mackinlay, however, observed that nothing has changed about insurgency, whether from Mao to Osama bin Laden. Both sides of the argument cannot be ignored. For Kicullen, modern insurgency is viewed from four distinctive levels, which are the level of policy, strategy, operational art and technical technique.

    The then President of America, G.W. Bush, noted that the attack was “evil, and a despicable acts of terror”. He concluded that the US was “at war with a new and different kind of enemy”. Judging from this statement, it is obvious that the September 11 attack has changed the nature of insurgency and transnational terrorism owing to the fact that insurgency has moved from villages to cities. It also opened up an era of crisis, upheaval and militarisation of American society as well as a far-reaching overhaul of US military doctrine. More so, the attack marked the onslaught of the “Global War on Terrorism” (GWOT), used as a pretext and a justification by the US and its NATO allies to carry out a “war without borders”, a global war of conquest. Notwithstanding, Al-Quaeda is a US intelligence asset.  Osama bin-Laden was a once a CIA agent. He was 22 years old at the time he was undergoing guerilla training sponsored by the Central Intelligence Agency.

    Ironically, while Washington accuses Iran and Afghanistan of supporting terrorism, the historical record and evidence indelibly point to the “state sponsorship” of Al Qaeda by the CIA, MI6 and their counterparts in Pakistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. This is a story for another day.

    Without dwelling much on the analysis, it is quite important that the world should be at peace with one another at this point in time when global tension is becoming ubiquitous. We must collectively unite to end violence and every act of terrorism.

    I have never read or heard of any religion that says we must kill one another. That is the more reason why the issue of insurgency and terrorism must be tackled without any religious sentiment so that the death of the September 11 heroes and those of the past attacks will not go in vain.

    Let all aggrieved persons seek legal means of getting their grievances settled. The law is clear on how to create a state or leave a union. A referendum will show and determine if truly their people want a state on their own or not.

    The killing of Osama by the Obama led administration ten years after is a clear indication that no one is above the law. The world can live in peace if only we can tolerate one another. The global crisis is caused by politics and it can best be settled with politics.

     

    • Sheyi is a Master’s student of Conflict, Development and Security, University of Leeds, UK

     

  • Experts seek action on UN global goals

    Experts seek action on UN global goals

    The Executive Director of Network of Non-governmental organization of Nigeria, (NNNGO), Mr. Oluseyi Oyebisi has called for a national plan of action to achieve the new global goals for sustainable development in Nigeria.

    Oyebisi made this known at an event organised by Save the Children, ONE Campaign, The Nigeria Network of NGOs, CSDEVNET and The Future Project held University of Lagos.

    The Sustainable Developments Goals are a new global targets recently ratified by over 150 heads of state and governments across the world at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

    Oyebisi said, “Nigeria can only implement the new sustainable development goals if there is a national plan of action on the sustainable development goals by the federal government which will set the pace for private sectors and other stakeholders’ involvement and participation in its implementation.

    He said that the federal government’s stance and posture toward the full adaptation and implementation of the new sustainable goals is imperative for the goals to be achieved.

    These goals, he said, should be adopted and consultation should be done in all the ministries, agencies and departments of government on how it relate to them and fashion out ways government and other stakeholders can key into the goals.

    He said, “Tackling poverty, promoting inclusive education for all, promoting healthy environment and affordable and efficient energy for all are among the new SDGs which must be pursued vigorously by everyone”.

    He opined that monitoring and evaluation of the new goals should be put in place to ascertain the effectiveness of the goals periodically.

    Oyebisi, who lamented that Africa, especially Nigeria could not meet the just concluded millennium development goals because there was enough political will and coordinated approach by government agencies who would have galvanize all other stakeholders toward meeting the goals.

    He opined that funding for the implementation can be source from curbing illicit corrupt funds, aids and grants, taxes and foreign direct investment.

    Also speaking at the event, the Executive Director of One Campaign, Edwin Ikhuoria challenged Nigerians to own the new global goals and hold government accountable for its implementation.

    He said, “The office of the citizen is the most important office that can exist. The citizens must know and understand their power to determine what leaders do and hold them to account for the common wealth entrusted in their hands to govern.

    He noted that gone are the days when a leader will blatantly squander resources and nobody can mention it for fear of being a target of high-level vindictiveness.

    “Nigeria has moved from where it used to be, but today at the end of the MDGs, Nigeria can only boast of meeting maybe 2 or 3 of the targets! The rest are not met. What happened? He asked.

    On the essence of the programme, the Campaign Advisor of Save the Children, Hope Udoma said that we are here to light up and amplify our voices to the rectification and implementation of the new global goals.

     

  • The Nation man Akioye wins Global Fellowship

    The Nation man Akioye wins Global Fellowship

    An Assistant Editor at The Nation, Mr. Seun Akioye, has won the Climate Change Media Partnership Fellowship (CCMP) 2015. The CCMP is being run by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network. The fellowship will enable him to cover the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, France from November 30 to December 11.

    Of 100 applications received globally, 20 journalists from around the world were chosen. In choosing Akioye, the organisers said they were impressed with his experience and focus for COP21, which distinguished him from other applicants.

    With the fellowship, Akioye will join a prestigious but restricted list of international environmental journalists working towards accurate and sustainable reportage of  climate change issues.

    Formed in 2007 by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN), Panos London and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the CCMP has been supporting journalists to gain a multifaceted understanding of climate change’s global impact, through the coverage of the UN climate summits.

  • World Economic Forum selects Waltersmith as global growth company

    THE World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced  the selection of Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited, a wholly indigenous Nigerian oil exploration and production company as a member of the Forum’s Global Growth Companies (GGC).

    According to Olivier Schwab, Head of Business Engagement at WEF “when choosing entrants to our community of Global Growth Companies, we assess companies on their business model, annual revenues and growth rates, executive leadership and market position. Waltersmith is a dynamic company with a clear potential to shape the future in its relevant business sectors and so is a per fect fit to our GGC community.”

    With the selection, Waltersmith becomes a member of a group regarded as the most dynamic, high-growth companies, which are trailblazers, shapers and innovators, committed to improving the state of the world.

    Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited was incorporated in 1996 as a joint venture between Waltersmith and Associates  Limited, a Nigerian investment company, and Petroman Oil Limited of Canada, to operate as an oil exploration and production company. In 2001, Waltersmith became a wholly indigenous company after the divestment of Petroman Oil.

    Responding to the honour, the company’s Chairman/CEO, Mr Abdulrazaq Isa said: Waltersmith is delighted and proud to be selected as a member of the Global Growth companies of the World Economic Forum.  This is clearly a recognitioin of the giant strides the company has made in the past 10 years in the realization of its long term goals and objectives. Waltersmith is focused on creating a resilient and robust enterpreise with a clear vision of being an integrated energy company, with interests in gas, power and petroleum refinery. The emergent Waltersmith will have a significant impact on employment while making important contributions to the national GDP.”

    With alomost 400 members from about 65 countries, the world Economic Forum believes each GGC has the potential to become a leader in the global economy arising from their business models, growth records, leadership and unique markets.

    Membership nominations come from WEF’s network of media leaders, existing GGCs, Forum members and partners, faculty members and the general public. The WEF selection committee of regional business experts evaluate the nominees on the following stringent criteria: the company’s sustainable growth over a five-year period, major influence inb the industry of operation or national competitive skills, visionary leadership and global corporate citizenship.

    The GGC membership is a platform for executives from high-growth companies to network with other businesses, as well as leaders from government, civil society and academia, to discuss global, regional and industry issues while advancing a sustainable and responsible path of growth.

  • Boosting global competitiveness through service delivery culture

    Boosting global competitiveness through service delivery culture

    Despite Nigeria’s huge customer base, leveraging on quality service delivery culture to build brand equity remains a herculean task for most businesses. But The Workplace Centre Limited (TWPC), a human resource and information technology consultancy firm, is set to reverse the trend. TWPC is  to host business managers, chief executives and social entrepreneurs to its customer service training. The aim is to provide insights into consistent service delivery strategies that will revolutionise customer service culture. Assistant Editor OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE reports.

    Most successful global brands are built on a track record of excellent service delivery culture. But this is not the case in Nigeria where, despite an intimidating customer base of about 170 million, most companies and businesses have not been able to make their products and services irresistible.

    The verdict by brand analysts and managers is that Nigerian entrepreneurs, despite being acknowledged globally for their tenacity and ‘can do spirit,’ have not been able to ride on the platform of a robust service delivery culture to build brand equity.

    This much was confirmed by a recent ‘Africa’s Top 50 Companies’ published by African Business Report, in which only seven Nigerian companies made the list. The survey, which jolted not a few business owners, brand experts and stakeholders, added that many local brands failed in according their customers the required excellent service delivery. The belief is that when compared to some businesses that invest immensely in excellent customer service strategies, Nigerian businesses still have a long way to go. The ‘care-free’ attitude of most brand managers and chief executives is said to be largely responsible for the poor level of patronage of local brands.

    But the situation appears set for a reversal. The Workplace Centre Limited (TWPC), a human resource and information technology consultancy firm, has concluded arrangements to engage managers, supervisors and client interfacing executives on how to make strategic decisions to transform their organisations’ customer relationship management and to emotionally connect and add value to every interaction. Specifically, the firm is set to host business managers, chief executives and social entrepreneurs to its customer service training scheduled for the 24th of this month, in Lagos.

    The training is aimed at providing insights into consistent service delivery strategies that will revolutionise customer service culture in Nigeria.

    The forum, tagged: “The Customer Amazement Revolution Master Class” will, according to its organisers, expose participants to current trends in customer service relations, drawing from the wealth of experience of speakers, including Shep Hyken, a customer service expert and the award winning author of books, such as The Amazement Revolution; Benjamin  Ola Akande, the 21st president of Westminster College, Missouri, United States; and the immediate past Dean, George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology, Webster University, among others.

    To meet the increasing demand for quality customer service, co-founder and Managing Partner, TWPC, Mrs. Bola Adeniyi-Taiwo, urged business owners, managers and social entrepreneurs to join hands with her company, which offers unparalleled quality services in its areas of expertise, to promote the much-needed amazement revolution in customer service delivery.

    She expressed optimism that if stakeholders in Nigeria heed the call for a consistent amazing customer service, more consumers of goods and services within and outside the country would increase their demand for products, which would in turn reduce  unemploymen in the country. This, she noted, will help the nation gain global competitive advantage.

    Adeniyi-Taiwo, who emphasised that TWPC is guided by strong values and high ethical standards, said the company’s mission is to provide innovative solutions and excellent services that maximise client’s return on investment. According to her, the best way to do that is not to view customer service as a cost, but as an investment in building future and long lasting relationships that would create customer evangelists.

    Quoting Shep Hyken, she said: ‘Hitherto, one unhappy customer would tell 12 people about his experience. Now, one customer may have 500 Twitter followers to spread the message to.”

    For Tobi Oni, a stakeholder, the theme of the forum is “apt and timely.” According to him, there is no better time for such a thought-provoking event that is designed to change the face of service delivery in Nigeria and Africa at large. He noted that apart from several economic challenges, thousands of Nigerian businesses have collapsed due to the inability of their owners to manage stardom by adopting amazing customer service culture that can give their customers reasons to come back. “I expect owners of dead and living companies to attend the TWPC training and specifically learn from the masters (Hyken and Akande among others). We should start looking forward to practicing the much needed consistent service delivery system,” he told The Nation.

    Mr. Oni is right. Not a few industry experts and stakeholders agree that the importance of quality customer service training cannot be overemphasized for businesses regardless of their sizes, services or market focus. As Adeniyi-Taiwo pointed out, for instance, “The most successful companies take customer-service farther by applying it directly to their employees. When a service or sales team regards and treats one another with the same consideration and respect that they would offer the customer, amazing team spirit is created and the overall work dynamic of the establishment is improved.”

    She, however, added that there are certain skills, tools and priorities that are essential to the growth and development of amazing customer service. “We must have the technical knowledge, financial and material resources as well as the required infrastructure and up to date technology to attend proactively to our customer’s needs. The benefits that excellent customer care skills provide to every business are endless,” she noted, adding that not only can it make the difference between an immediate sale or lack, thereof, it can also make or break a potential long term client relationship.

    The TWPC Managing Partner further stated that all things being equal, almost everyone will choose the company that recognises and meets their needs consistently over the one that does not. She said when dealing with quality customer service, the most immediate and important factor is establishing an orientation of respect, which is one element that is immediately felt by the consumer. “This alone can lead a hesitant customer to make an instant purchase or cause them to walk right out of the door. After the respectful attitude is established, then it is vital to anticipate and very importantly focus on the customers’ needs. This is when active listening skills are essential,” she admonished.

    Indeed, such admonishment could not be timelier. At the moment, Nigeria is largely perceived as a nation where businesses/factories are commissioned daily, without adequate plans to relate the sustainability of the business to customer relationship management. Nigeria and Africa consume mostly imported products and always rate their service delivery higher. This, according to customer service experts, hinders Africa’s quest for cultivating unparalleled quality of its service delivery.

    “We are basically a consuming nation; we applaud service delivery of foreign brands and multinationals because we have failed in ours. We praise others for doing what we can do to protect and secure the future of our brands. I believe several local brands can compete internationally if only the correct measures are put in place,” Gbenga Osho, a former manager with one of the defunct local fast food outfit, said.

    Interestingly, these are issues that will engage the minds of participants and resource persons at the training.  Already, world’s number one customer service guru, Shep Hyken, has given his words that ‘The Customer Amazement Revolution Masterclass’ would engender more competition among businesses within the same segment leading to positive change in the perception of service delivery in Nigeria.

    Founded in February 2013, TWPC is a state-of-the-art skills development centre that provides employability and entrepreneurial skills develop-ment as well as human resources and ICT services to its clients.