The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Guinness

  • Guinness world record dance breaker, Pinki Debbie praises mum for feat

    Guinness world record dance breaker, Pinki Debbie praises mum for feat

    The Guinness world record breaker for long dance individual, Odumewu Deborah Sunmisola a.k.a Pinki Debbie has described her mum as the ‘ginger’ or driving force behind her at a recent media chat.

    The 23 year old record breaker who danced for 137hours said: “Dancing is my hobby, I do it at every opportunity I get.”

    She also said “her mom loves dancing too. She encourages me when doing street dance competitions, school choreography and others.”

    Pinki Debbie, the first born of four children, said she started dancing fully while she was in the university in 2011.

    “I joined a dance group ‘Reflection’,” said Pinki Debbie who hails from Ogun State.

    “I wasn’t a professional dancer as at then but I knew I could dance well.”

    She also revealed how she started getting the attention from fans in 2013 when she started posting videos online before she became a professional dancer in 2016.

    When she was asked how she felt joining other like Kalamandalam Hemaletha of India and Kaffy of Nigeria in the Guinness Book Records, Pinki Debbie said she was humbled and overwhelmed.

    “It wasn’t easy while on it but I’m grateful and excited,” said the dancer who also thanked her sponsors such as Puma, Aquila Records and IBD Impex Ltd while revealing her future plans.

    “There are people who are even better than myself but they don’t believe in themselves,” she said.

    “I want to start a dance school, consulting firm in terms of promotion via social media platforms.”

    She also advised up and coming dancers to believe in God and themselves and to be humble, focused and hardworking.

  • Guinness Nigeria’s N40b rights issue records full subscription

    Guinness Nigeria Plc has secured additional N39.7 billion new equity funds from its existing shareholders as shareholders picked up the entire rights offered by the brewer.

    Guinness Nigeria had offered 684.49 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N58 per share to existing shareholders on the basis of five new shares for every 11 shares held as at the close of business on March 15, 2017. Application list for the rights issue opened on July 24, 2017 and closed on August 30, 2017.

    Listing documents at the weekend showed that 684.49 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each were added to shares outstanding in the names of Guinness Nigeria. With the listing, total issued and fully paid up shares of Guinness Nigeria has now increased from 1.5 billion shares to 2.19 billion shares.

    Diageo Plc, United Kingdom (UK), the majority core investor in Guinness Nigeria, was expected to inject additional N21 billion in Guinness Nigeria by subscribing for its rights. The rights issue provided another window for Diageo to inject capital into the Nigerian subsidiary after the multinational backed down from its earlier proposal to acquire additional equity shares in Guinness Nigeria.

    Diageo had withdrawn from its plan to acquire additional shares of up to 15.7 per cent in Guinness Nigeria from minority shareholders, citing the challenging market conditions in Nigeria. Diageo had in September 2015 announced that it was considering acquiring 15.7 per cent equity stake in Guinness Nigeria through its wholly owned subsidiary, Guinness Overseas Limited.

    Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Peter Ndegwa, said the net proceeds of the new capital raising will support the company in executing its strategy in the context of ongoing external economic challenges.

    According to him, the rights issue will allow the company to deliver on its strategic objectives and give all its shareholders a unique opportunity to increase the number of shares they hold.

    “Our expectation is that funds raised will help mitigate the impact of increasing finance costs, optimise our balance sheet and improve the company’s financial flexibility,” Ndegwa said.

    Chairman, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Babatunde Savage, said the supplementary new issue is part of the company’s long term plans to continue to invest in its business in Nigeria.

    “We have been here in Nigeria for 67 years and, while it has been challenging in recent times for many Nigerian businesses, we remain committed to this market as evidenced by our decision to offer this Rights Issue. We are grateful for the support that we have received from our shareholders and other stakeholders up to this point,” Savage said.

    Last year, Guinness Nigeria became the first total beverage alcohol company in Nigeria by acquiring the rights to distribute international premium spirits like Johnnie Walker whisky and Baileys liqueur in Nigeria and later commissioning a N4.7 billion spirits line for locally manufactured spirits at its Benin plant.

  • Guinness relaunches ‘drinks catering service’

    Guinness Nigeria Plc reintroduces Nigeria’s pioneer drinks catering service, Party Serve. ‘GN Party Serve’ is Guinness Nigeria’s drinks catering service, designed to serve all events requiring drinks and drinks services, regardless of event scale or size.

    Speaking at the launch of Party Serve, Marketing and Innovation Director (Guinness & Spirits), Adenike Adebola remarked “We are very excited about Party Serve as it gives us additional opportunity to service our consumers directly. From party planning to execution, Party Serve will assure that the critical drinks service is professional, seamless and cost effective. We welcome everyone planning a party to take advantage of our special offers and unbeatable prices.”

  • Guinness, Sprite back Carnival to set Suya record

    Guinness, Sprite back Carnival to set Suya record

    In its quest to set a world record of world’s longest Suya/Steak of 50ft, top brands like Sprite and Guinness Nigeria have thrown their weights behind the Lagos City Suya Carnival scheduled for October 1, 2017.

    The record which is first in this category will see a procesion move through Awolowo way in Ikeja with a VIP session at the Ikeja City Mall car park.

    According to the executive producer of the carnival, Kehinde Talabi, the carnival which is organised in conjunction with the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture is in commemoration of the Lagos at 50 celebrations.

    The event is also in conjunction with the Guinness Book of World Record in Lagos, Nigeria.

    Talabi while assuring security added that the event will bring so many people together and afford opportunities for small businesses to showcase themselves.

    The event’s producer, Mr Timothy Nostradamus said that the event will take a three-course shape. The first will be a morning session of yoga, spa and other exercises at the carnival ground. The second will be the carnival proper and the kick off of the grilling of the 50ft long Suya steak on the carnival ground. And the third session holds at Quilox night club, Victoria Island.

    Also, Mr Damilola Odujinrin, the Experiential Execution Excellence Manager at Nigerian Bottling Company said the reason Sprite has endorsed the carnival is that of the belief in the landmark achievement while supporting the Lagos State government.

    “We are always willing to support indigenous events as well as Lagos State. For us, we have carefully carried out a food test, which revealed that Suya goes down well with Sprite. The feeling consumers get after eating suya and drinking Sprite is better felt than imagined,” Odujinrin said.

    The Lagos City Suya Carnival is organised by Suya Stops in conjunction with Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

  • NSE market indicators dip further by 0.08%

    NSE market indicators dip further by 0.08%

    A total of 174.65 million shares valued at N2.83 billion were traded in 3,783 deals on the Nigerian Stock Exchange ( NSE ) on Tuesday.

    These were against the 162.74 million shares worth N1.54 billion traded in 3,225 deals on Monday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NSE market capitalisation depreciated further by N9 billion or 0.08 per cent to close at N12.012 trillion from N12.021 trillion recorded on Monday.

    The All-Share Index, which opened at 34,873.07, lost 26.25 basis points to close at 34,846.82.

    Seplat led the losers’ chart with a loss of N6.76 to close at N450 per share.

    7UP followed, depreciating by N4.48 to close at N85.82, while Nigerian Breweries dropped N2.01 to close at N167.99 per share.

    Total Oil dipped by N1.9 to close at N223.1, while PZ Cussons depreciated by N1 to close at N24 per share.

    Conversely, Nestle topped the gainers’ table with N23.9 to close at N12228.9 per share.

    It was trailed by GTBank which gained 54k to close at N38.54 per share.

    Stanbic IBTC gained 5k to close at N40, while Unilever appreciated by 2k to close at N42 per share.

    Also, Guinness up by 15k to close at N96.8 per share.

    GTBank was the toast of investors, trading 33.84 million shares worth N1.29 billion.

    FCMB came second, trading 12.58 million shares worth N12.88 million, while FBNH sold 12.53 million shares valued at N65.22 million.

    Mansard traded 11.62 million shares worth N23.12 million, while Zenith Bank sold 10.56 million valued at N232.62 million.

  • Guinness names corporate relations director

    Guinness names corporate relations director

    Guinness Nigeria Plc has announced the appointment of Viola Graham-Douglas as its Corporate Relations Director, effective June 1.

    Mrs. Graham-Douglas started her career in the banking industry in Nigeria and worked in varied roles with reputable banks.  She joined Lafarge Africa Plc, formerly WAPCO Cement, as Treasury Manager, and subsequently became the Company Secretary/Head of Corporate Services before being seconded to the Lafarge Group Headquarters in Paris. She also served as Managing Director, Atlas Cement, another subsidiary of Lafarge and Country Communications Director before moving to take up her current appointment as Guinness Nigeria’s Corporate Relations Director.

    Mrs. Graham-Douglas is a Law graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife (OAU) and was called to the Nigerian Bar. She holds a Master degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom as well as an MSc in Investment Management from Cass Business School, in the United Kingdom. She is also a British Council Chevening scholar.

    Mrs. Graham-Douglas is expected to drive the corporate relations agenda of Guinness Nigeria. She will oversee the relationship between the company and its critical internal and external stakeholders. Sustainable development and implementation of the corporate social investment of Guinness Nigeria also falls under her purview.

     

  • Infinix Mobility partners Guinness

    Infinix Mobility partners Guinness

    Infinix Mobility, Nigeria’s leading smartphone brand, is partnering Guinness Nigeria, to bring football lovers premium entertainment during the EPL season with the ‘Matchday Made Of Black’ activation.

    The deal for the activation during the EPL season started last month and has made stopovers in Lagos and Owerri. It will tour three more cities in the coming month while Infinix will offer fans gifts.

    ‘’This is a first for Infinix as the partnership brings the brand closer to its fans in some of the biggest cities in Nigeria and also fans who share common love for football,’’ Olamide Amosu, Communication Manager, Infinix Mobility, said.

    “Infinix aims to empower fans and consumers during this EPL season and we are able to do so with Matchday Made of Black Activation. We welcome everyone to participate in the cities we are visiting with loads of gifts to be won in April and May.

    “Consumers being at the centre of the brand is what Guinness has always been known for,” Rob Hobart, Marketing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, said.

    “The Matchday Made of Black activations is no different as it is simply giving consumers a different experience of the two things they love most- Guinness and Football.

    ‘’Lagosians had the first taste of it and we moved to Owerri to give consumers nothing but the best football experience in a way only Guinness can. There are two things you can be sure will always bring Nigerians together, Football and theirfavorite Guinness. What better way to show this than an infusion of Guinness and Football.’’

    ‘’As a brand,” he continued, “We celebrate those who are made of black- those who continually carve their own path without inhibitions. Football is one of the media where our consumers get rid of all inhibitions and as a brand; we cannot but stay true to their passion.”

    Customers and fans should expect more from the Guinness ‘Matchday Made of Black’ with Infinix as the tour continues.

    This month, both brands will visit Enugu for the Chelsea vs Man Utd match on Sunday, Benin for the Tottenhamvs Arsenal match on April 29 and the final stop in Ibadan for the Arsenal Vs Man Utd match on  May 6.

    There will be lots of gifts to be won at all Guinness viewing centres during the activation. Fans will win free Infinix smartphones and accessories courtesy of Infinix Mobility,, the firm said.

  • Guinness unveils seven boreholes in Cross River State

    Guinness unveils seven boreholes in Cross River State

    Guinness Nigeria Plc has constructed seven hand pump water boreholes in Bebi Community, Obanliku Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State. The boreholes, which will provide more than 7,000 persons with all year-round access to safe drinking water, were unveiled at a commissioning ceremony to mark this year’s ‘World Water Day’.

    The company’s Corporate Relations Director, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, who represented the Managing Director, noted that the company will continue to play a leading role in enhancing access to safe drinking water in Nigeria.

    “The boreholes we are commissioning today are the latest addition to the range of water projects Guinness Nigeria has delivered in states across the country as part of Diageo’s flagship ‘Water of Life’ programme. Since 2007, our ‘Water of Life’ programme has provided clean drinking water to over 10 million people in 18 countries in Africa.  Under the aegis of the ‘Water of Life’ programme in Nigeria, water facilities have been constructed in 35 communities across the country. We are pleased to note that through these water projects, Guinness Nigeria has helped over 1.5 million Nigerians access clean water and ultimately improve their overall health and wellbeing,” he said.

    Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Water, Cross River State Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Dan Ebri, praised Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to initiatives that promote access to safe drinking water in Nigeria. He said: “I commend Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to interventions that tackle the challenge of water scarcity in rural areas especially in Cross River State.

  • Court to hear winding-up suit against Guinness March 28

    •‘We’re not indebted’

    Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari of the Federal High Court in Lagos will on March 28 hear a winding-up petition by a company, Pharma-Deko Plc, against Guinness Nigeria Plc over an alleged N175,699,317.99 debt.

    Pharma-Deko Plc is praying the court to wind-up Guinness Nigeria over its inability to pay the alleged debt, and to appoint a receiver for the drink company.

    The petitioner, in an affidavit deposed to by its production manager, Olukayode Isola, said it had a canning contract with Guinness Nigeria, which was allegedly breached.

    It said parties went to arbitration, at the end of which an award of the sum was made last July 1.

    Pharma-Deko said efforts to get the debt paid failed despite several demand notices to Guinness Nigeria.

    But, Guinness Nigeria has urged the court to strike out the suit in its entirety for want of jurisdiction.

    In a statement, the company said: “Guinness Nigeria denies that it is indebted to Pharma Deko Plc in the stated amount or any amount at all and its solicitors have filed a robust defence to Pharma Deko’s claims in court.

    “The amount claimed by Pharma Deko Plc in the court process is an insignificant amount when compared with the revenue, cashflow and balance sheet of the company and management is very confident of being able to repudiate the claims in court.

    “The management of Guinness Nigeria wishes to assure its employees, customers, shareholders and other stakeholders that it is capable of meeting its financial and other obligations to its various stakeholders and that it continues to operate as a going concern.”

  • 2017 Kia Niro sets Guinness World Records

    2017 Kia Niro sets Guinness World Records

     Introduces Santa Surprise Promo

    Arriving at New York City Hall in downtown Manhattan, the 2017 Kia Niro officially received a Guinness World Record title for the lowest fuel consumption driving across the United States from coast to coast (hybrid car).  The new record-setting mark is an incredible 76.6 mpg.

    An elated Kia Motors America Vice President, Product Planning Orth Hedrick said: “We’re extremely pleased with the Niro’s record-breaking performance. We set out to build a vehicle that offers real-world utility, great looks and fantastic mileage, and setting the Guinness World Record title confirms our achievement.”

    The Niro EX was driven by Wayne Gerdes of Carlsbad, California, and co-driver Robert Winger of Williamsburg, Virginia, 3,715.4 miles from Los Angeles City Hall to New York City Hall using only 48.5 gallons or 4.1 tanks of gas. The vehicle was not altered in any way for the attempt.

    The Niro, an Urban Crossover Hybrid Vehicle, is the first dedicated Kia hybrid and was conceived to bridge the gap between outstanding fuel economy and compact crossover usefulness. In addition to its athletic and attractive design, the Niro’s long list of features includes: a specially-designed, innovative hybrid system to provide a more dynamic and engaging driving experience; a spacious cabin with lots of room for five occupants and their gear; a full array of advanced driver assistance features — available Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist and Lane Departure Warning; and advanced telematics and entertainment equipment and a seven-inch touch screen and available Smart Cruise Control, navigation and premium audio system.

    The Niro will be available in five trim levels: FE, LX, EX, Touring and in a limited-quantity Launch Edition. The FE is EPA rated to achieve 52 mpg highway/49 mpg city/50 mpg combined, while the LX reaches 51/46/49 mpg and the Touring at 46/40/43 mpg.

    In the spirit of the yuletide season, Kia Motors Nigeria has inaugurated a service promo to reward customers with cash discounts and surprise giveaways when they bring their cars for after-sales service to its centres across the country.

    The promo is to reaffirm the brand’s commitment to providing the best affordable and premium services to customers geared towards making their ownership experience more enjoyable in the phase of the recent economic recession.

    A statement by the company’s Chief Operation Officer, Gitesh Yagnik stated that it has become imperative for Kia to offer a highly competitive and discounted preferential service package for its customers to enable them enjoy the optimum service offering from the company following the current cash crunch in the country. He stressed that the scheme is to celebrate the season with the customers by doling out surprise giveaways and offering a discounted service package.

    “The scheme is aimed at giving Kia customers best-in-class service offering at a discounted price to help keep their cars in great shape without compromising exceptional service delivery for a guaranteed quality and ownership experience.

    “We at Kia have always exceeded customer expectations by providing special offers throughout the year addressing their needs and aspirations to own Kia cars. The scheme is available in all our service centres across the country to enable all our customers avail this very special offer,” Gitesh said.

    The service scheme is valid till December 25.