The Nation Newspaper

Tag: harp

  • FAAN boss, others harp on team work

    The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN),  Saleh Dunoma has canvassed team work among personnel of the authority to improve the quality of services.

    Speaking at the First Quarter Stakeholders Forum 2018 in Lagos,  Dunoma said  quality service delivery was key to the growth and development of aviation.

    He was represented at the event by the Engineering Services Director,  Salisu Daura.

    According to the FAAN boss, working together as a team will ensure improved service delivery in any organisation. He affirmed  that each worker has a role to play in the system.

    Dunoma said: “Service delivery is very key in systems growth. Everybody must be involved in teamwork. Everyone has a role to play to ensure effective service.”

    He urged the agency’s workers to remain committed in the discharge of their duties to improve on the state of airports nationwide.

    Dunoma said the essence of the forum was to evaluate services rendered by FAAN in the previous year to improve on areas of shortfalls to achieve excellent service.

    He said: “Your input in making sure that there is quality service delivery is paramount to the sustainability of the organisation in particular and aviation industry in general.”

    The National Coordinator, Servicom Office in the Presidency, Mrs Nnenna Akajimeli, said the forum was aimed at re-positioning FAAN’s service delivery to boost  its effectiveness and efficiency.

    Akajimeli said the forum further attested to FAAN’s demonstration and commitment under Dunoma and his management team to attain service excellence.

    According to her, government agencies should have a sense of where they were and where they are going by carrying staff along  through engagement and meaningful dialogue with stakeholders.

    Akajimeli noted that service delivery in FAAN could not be achieved in isolation from other fundamental strategies and activities, adding that to get it right, there must be consultations and discussions among stakeholders to share information and experiences.

    She urged them to continue to provide useful input to FAAN to enable it compete favourably in the industry.

  • Rotary: Why we harp on tree planting

    Rotary: Why we harp on tree planting

    ROTARY International (RI) has explained why it harped on annual tree planting and made it a part of its core programmes the world over. Its District 9110 Governor Dr Wale Ogunbadejo said the group believed that humanity would suffer if the earth’s contents were not sustained.

    Speaking at a tree planting forum sponsored by the Gbagada South Club at the Oworoshoki School Complex in Lagos, Ogunbadejo said Rotary had foreseen a long time ago that unless the earth’s resources were replaced by greenery, the world would face a major crisis.

    Rotary Gbagada South President Ademola Olutusin said 33 trees were billed for planting at the event. He said RI has 1.2million members worldwide, adding that if they planted trees, they would make an impact. ‘’That means we would plant 1.2million trees. Every Rotarian must plant a tree to combat climate change,’’ he said.

  • Experts harp on collaborative cancer care

    Experts harp on collaborative cancer care

    Lakeshore Cancer Centre (LCC), Lagos and its partners, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, United States are canvassing more collaboration among oncologists and cancer institutes to stem the cancer scourge in Nigeria.

    Medical Director, LCC, Dr Chukwumere Nwogu, underscored the need for collaboration among key players in cancer care, saying it would promote multi-disciplinary approach treatment and ensure quality cancer care.

    He urged the Federal Government and the private sector to work out a synergy to make cancer treatment available to patients.

    “The government should be heavily involved in cancer treatment. The corporate bodies should be active and less reactive. Firms should bring more of their corporate social responsibility into cancer treatment,” Nwogu said.

    Nwogu said the designated comprehensive cancer centres across the country would tackle the disease.

    “We are presently looking for collaborations to step up screening, treatment and management of cancer. So, oncologists and researchers must come together to find solution to cancer problems,” he said.

    He identified late presentation of cancer cases by patients to hospital as a main cause of deaths because some cases may actually be curable at the outset.

    “Most cancer patients often come in late and by then nothing much can be done because,” he said.

    Nwogu said of the nine radiation centres in the country, only two are functional at a time, adding that Buffalo in New York, the United States, with about two million population, has 20 linear accelerators to diagnose and treat cancer.

    Associate professor of oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Thomas Schwaab, said infrastructure is a challenge in cancer care in Nigeria, noting that this was why his institute collaborated with Lakeshore Cancer Centre to provide equipment to treat the disease.

    He said any centre that wants to collaborate with his organisation should provide infrastructure because it is important to have such in place.

  • Experts harp on training for young entrepreneurs

    Experts harp on training for young entrepreneurs

    The Chairman, Nigeria Opportunities Industrialisation Centres (NOIC), Arch Bishop Magnus Atilade, has urged young entrepreneurs to continue to develop their managerial, marketing and customer relations skills as that remain necessary toward achieving success in business.

    Atilade made this known at the graduation ceremony of a two-week Empowering African for Retailing (EAR) training organised by NOlC for 47 young entrepreneurs held at the office headquarters in Gbagada, Lagos, recently.

    According to the NOIC boss, the best way to achieve breakthrough in a highly competitive economy like Nigeria is to get the right skills set as well as the right attitude.

    Although, he noted that good ideas are needed for businesses to thrive, he said “training is the root of everything, even with your good ideas, without proper and adequate training, it would flop.”

    He restated the commitment of the NOIC in training young people to become better performers, saying: “We believe in the philosophy of self-help, and our programmes in Livelihood Enhancement and Workforce Development focus on empowering individuals and communities with the skills needed to become self-reliant.”

    He promised the graduate of placement in private and public institutions in Nigeria as the organisation is working hard at providing opportunities for its graduands.

    Earlier, the programme Manager of the ERA, Fowowe Samuel, an engineer, said that the essence of the training is to instruct young people in the area of customer service and empower them with skills that would make them efficient and effective when they enter the retail industry.

    He said the retail industry is a major aspect of our economy now and the percentage is contributing to the annual GDP is increasing high. Customer service is a field that cuts across every endeavour of human being and is very instrumental for any business to grow.

    “The project which is a two-year project is aimed at empowering 6,000 Nigerian youths on employability skills in 2014 which is holding concurrently in Kenya and Ghana,” he said.

    In his words, one of the trainees at the event, Kehinde Damilola, who spoke to The Nation, said that the training has opened his eyes to the use of computer as a tool for taking inventory in his business which is novel and would help in positioning his work as an event planner for greater possibilities.

    The project, which drew participants from different professions in Lagos and Ogun states, featured trainings on retailing, fund raising, information and communication technology, safety and security, branding, customer relations, saving culture, logistics, to mention just a few.

  • Harp Music Nite lights up Aba, Port Harcourt, others

    Harp Music Nite lights up Aba, Port Harcourt, others

    LAST weekend, consumers and lovers of music were treated to a musical experience featuring live performances by Harp Premium Lager, from the stable of Guinness Nigeria Plc.

    The first edition of the Harp Music Nite, which held across the four cities of Port Harcourt, Aba, Enugu and Warri, featured performances from three of Nigeria’s most prominent artistes: Flavour, Ice Prince and Seyi Shay.

    Afro Hip-hop star, Flavour N’abania, left the atmosphere at Toscana Bar in Enugu and Sugarland Bar in Aba charged as he ensured the guests were thoroughly entertained with his unique brand of music.

    Also, Ice Prince and Seyi Shay pulled their weights, as they delivered their genres of music to the delight of the crowd at Lesukaa Bar in Port Harcourt and Laurel Bar in Warri, respectively.

    According to Paul Asemota, Marketing Manager, Lager, said: “Our consumers in other parts of the country should expect more of this kind of fun nights as Harp Music Nite will make a stop in other cities across the country to offer lots of fun and entertainment.”

    The Harp Music Nite, he said, served as an avenue to reach out to more consumers of the brand and treat them to great experiences. Exquisite bars across the four cities were packed with enthusiastic consumers of the triple-filtered lager beer, who were eager to watch their favourite artistes perform, while relaxing with their preferred beer.

  • Wema Bank, UBA harp on financial literacy for kids

    Wema Bank and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc yesterday called for all-inclusive approach by parents and the general society in teaching children how to save, plan and invest their money to ensure financial freedom in future.

    Managing directors of Wema Bank and UBA yesterday participated in teaching school children about finance and investment as part of activities to mark the Global Money Week.

    Group managing director, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, called on parents to ensure that their children become financially smart at an early age noting that financially smart kids will become financially smart and wealthier adults.

    Oduoza taught students of Crowther Memorial College , Lokoja, Kogi State, basics of savings, budgeting, pensions, insurance and investments. He also took time after his lecture to answer questions from the students. Students asked different questions on different aspects of finance including savings, the difference between needs and wants, pensions, how to better manage their pocket money.

    “When we were growing up, no one thought us about money. We were thought biology, physics chemistry, economics, but nothing about money. Yet we all grow up realizing money is something we have to deal with everyday. That is why the Banker’s Committee, with the Central Bank of Nigeria, decided to embark on this initiative,” Oduoza said.

    Oduoza also explained that UBA decided to come all the way to Lokoja to carry out its financial literacy training because it realizes such education should not be restricted to students in the big cities only. He advised the students to take an interest in knowing about money as it will make them better adults in future.

    Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, commended Oduoza for taking time off his very busy schedule to personally come to teach the students financial literacy skills.

    “There is no doubt that this initiative will create a generation of adults who will have a better understanding of money, how to make money and most importantly, how to manage it, “ Wada said.

    He said that he personally attended the training because of the priority his government places on education noting that the three priorities of his government are education, education, education.

    He commended UBA’s contribution to education development in the state and called on other financial institutions in the state to contribute to the economic development of the state.

    In the same vein, managing director, Wema Bank Plc, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, taught pupils of Maryland Convent Primary School, Ikeja, Lagos on basics of finance and investments.

    He noted that it is the responsibility of the larger society and not just the family alone, to teach and mentor young people on the right way to live by showing them how to save and manage their resources. According to him, proper financial literacy will help to create the right environment for a secure future for the children, communities and the nation as a whole.

    In her remarks, the Head Teacher of the school, Reverend Sis. Gladys Osagie, thanked Wema Bank for bringing the timely initiative to the school.

    She said the initiative would go a long way in moulding the character of her pupils. Wema Bank also presented financial literacy materials to the school library on behalf of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The initiative was sponsored by the Royal Kiddies Account from Wema Bank. The Royal Kiddies Account from Wema Bank is open to young people from ages 0 to 13years whilst Purple Account is targeted at young adults from ages 13 – 24 years. Royal Kiddies Account offers life assurance as much as 10 times the account balance subject to a maximum of N10million in case of accidental death or permanent disability of the parent or account administrator. The Royal Kiddies Account holder is also eligible for an e-purse electronic wallet. On the other hand, the Purple Account gives its holder access to various electronic and mobile banking platforms as well as other opportunities tailored to their needs.

     

  • Guinness unveils new look Harp with fanfare

    Guinness unveils new look Harp with fanfare

    FUN GALORE. That is how a fan aptly captured the excitement and thrill that heralded the unveiling of the new look Harp premium lager at the 2013 edition of the Harp Rhythm Unplugged held at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Lagos, recently.

    Speaking at the event, Mr. Seni Adetu, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Guinness Nigeria Plc, said the new cool look of the Harp Premium Lager is in line with the company’s tradition of remaining consistent with current and emerging trends, delivering on improvements that are both contemporary and exciting to its consumers.

    “In a bid to always deliver great brands to our esteemed consumers we have redesigned Harp Premium Lager label to further position the brand uniquely as a cool brand, more youthful, dynamic and definitely premium. The cool new look of Harp is also a representation of the unique attributes of its consumers who are stylish and trendy. Harp is a beer that celebrates true friendship and that is what we are extending with this new cool look,” Adetu said.

    Echoing similar sentiments, Mr. Austin Ufomba, Marketing and Innovation Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc said it is a way of showing the consistency Guinness Nigeria Plc is reputed for.

    “At Guinness Nigeria, we are widely known for our consistency in delivering great brands with ground-breaking innovations that gives our consumers unique experiences. Harp premium larger beer is definitely a brand that has redefined the experience in our market from time past with dynamic innovation leading to this moment,” Ufomba revealed.

    Speaking on the quality and the availability of the new look Harp, Mr. Paul Asemota, Marketing Manager, Lager, Guinness Nigeria Plc, explained that consumers should be assured of enjoying the premium brand they have always known.

    The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of the famous the Harp Rhythm Unplugged 2013 show which was hosted by award-winning comedian Bovi and Wyclef with other A-list artistes including: P -Square, D’banj, 2face, Wizkid, Banky W, Olamide, Sasha P among others. Leading artistes Seyi Shey, Flavour Burna Boy and Ice Prince also performed the Harp New Cool look campaign theme song to the delight of the guests.

  • Corps members harp on entrepreneurship

    Entrepreneurship and role of the press towards the advancement of the society were the subjects of discussion when Corps members of the press Community Development Service (CDS) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State held a personal development seminar.

    The workshop, which was held at Radio Gotel boardroom, was attended by substantial number of the serving youths. The president of the press CDS group, Abdullateef Aliyu, said the programme was intended to rededicate Corps members to the service and make them self-reliant.

    He said: “Since our mandate is to publicise the activities of the NYSC through the quarterly publication of Adamawa KOPA newsletter, we believe we should train ourselves on the techniques of newsgathering and news writing so as to effectively and effectually discharge our functions and responsibilities.

    On entrepreneurship, Abdullateef explained that it was in line with the reforms of the Federal Government on self-employment. “The NYSC has undergone a far-reaching reform aimed at inculcating entrepreneurship and vocational skills on Corps members to be self-employed in the face of unemployment challenge in the country. So we believe this programme would help us to achieve the dream of being labour employers,” he said.

    In his lecture, Edgar-Francis Ighata, a corps member and graduate of Mass Communication from University of Benin (UNIBEN), described journalism as a noble profession. He educated the participants on the concept of “five Whys and How”. He said: “News story must be concise, clear and objective especially when writing for broadcast media which are transient in nature. Be simple but don’t be simplistic.”

    Lillian Ezejeluen, a Business Administration graduate of Abia State University (ABSU), while speaking on entrepreneurship, told her colleagues that it was advisable to go into business as the only way to free themselves from the shackles of poverty and unemployment ravaging the nation. According to her, Corps members must be creative to establish businesses that could put food on their table and make them less dependent on government after service year.

    A Corps member, Paul Ekele, said: “This is the best programme I have ever attended since I was posted here. I didn’t study business or journalism but I have been taken through the rudiments of mass communication and I want to commend the initiative of this executive for ensuring that while we strive to better the lives of our host community, we must also improve ourselves.”