The Nation Newspaper

Tag: identity

  • Not the Buhari identity

    There is hardship in the land today, let us not mince words about it. And the suffering majority is angry; an anger borne out of hunger and frustration. Nigerians did not expect what they are getting from the present administration. They knew that things were bad, terribly bad before the last presidential election, but they were hopeful of a better tomorrow under a new government. So, they went for change, coincidentally, ‘’change’’ was the slogan of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which wrested power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The people did not expect things to be rosy under the APC government from day one, but they did not also expect that they would be called upon to make more sacrifices before things got better. To be sincere, Nigerians have made a lot of sacrifices in the past. While their leaders were stealing the nation blind, they were living and sleeping in hunger. Many families were virtually fasting daily because they could not get food to eat.

    Nigerians voted for President Muhammadu Buhari to wipe away their tears. After much suffering under successive PDP administrations for 16 years, they were looking forward to things being different under Buhari. Things may yet be different under this administration, but so far the suffering is something else. There is nothing cheery about what the people have been going through in the past 10 months. It is as if nothing has changed in terms of the government in power. Why are things so hard? When will they get better?  Are we still under Jonathan?  Some are wont to ask. We are not under Jonathan. But, if we are to believe the present government, we are still suffering from the mess it left behind.

    The suffering masses are bearing the brunt of this mess. They have been wondering whether they made a mistake by voting for ‘’change’’. They have been criticising the government for not improving their lot despite its election promises. They have become tired of hearing that the Jonathan administration left behind a mess. They already know that; they are only interested in what the Buhari administration is doing to clear the mess.

    The economy keeps going down, with the exchange rate of about N300 to the dollar, caused by the falling oil price. The industries are not running at full capacity because of unstable power supply and what some have termed harsh foreign exchange (forex) policy and to compound it all is the biting fuel scarcity. In the past three months, motorists have been going through hell trying to get fuel for their vehicles. In a society where electricity is unstable, you can imagine what many are going through to get fuel to power their generators at home and in their small shops.

    Many of these budding entrepreneurs, such as barbers, welders, fashion designers and printers have folded up because of light. Where will they get money for fuel when business is not booming? The fuel crisis was never this bad even under the worst of administrations. In the tense days of the late Abacha when Nigerians were going on strike almost everyday the fuel crisis was not this menacing. Even when we went on strike over the fuel price hike under Jonathan the situation was not this serious. Today, marketers are also blaming the ‘harsh’ forex policy for their inability to import fuel, leaving the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to carry the whole weight of the problem on its head.

    When will respite come? May? No, not again, says Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Ibe Kachikwu, who has now changed it to April7. So, in the circumstance, our suffering and the long queues at filling stations continue until  then. For now, the government should put some palliatives in place to cushion the people’s suffering. At least if fuel scarcity is not going to end soon, the government should do something about power supply. It should let there be light so that we will no longer rely on generators, which require fuel to run, for domestic and business uses. It is sad seeing Nigerians on queue at filling stations with generator fuel tanks because the outlets are not ready to dispense petrol in jerry cans.

    They sell the product at an exorbitant rate of N150 per litre yet their pumps do not measure up. The pumps have been tampered with to shortchange customers. What people are buying is less than what is being sold to them. Almost all the filling stations are guilty of this practice and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) is looking the other way or pretending not to know what is happening. DPR knows what is happening, but it cannot act because some of its top officials are part of this huge scam. All the filling stations have made a killing from this fuel scarcity and their prayer is that may it never end.

    The government must come to our rescue before these Shylock marketers and dealers finish us off. At the end of the day, it is the government, especially the president, that will carry the can for what is happening and not these people who believe that they are in business to profiteer. The earlier the government did something the better. Mercifully, President Buhari knows that the people have been criticising his administration for not meeting their expectations. He has promised that in the next three years they will see wonders.

    We believe him, but he should know that his first year has not been impressive. Will this be the face of his administration? I do not think this will be the Buhari identity. Having said that, the president must convince Nigerians that he is equal to the task at hand.  If he must know, many have given up on his administration  because, according to them, morning shows the day. So, the sooner he delivers on his election promises the better for him and his party. Otherwise, there is political danger ahead!

  • Young John cries out on Identity theft

    Young John cries out on Identity theft

    Reigning producer Young John D wicked producer is having a raw deal on the internet as fraudsters are prowling the cyberspace, duping some artistes. This is following reports some faceless persons are claiming to be ‘D Wicked Producer.’

    Addressing the issue, young John’s manager Oladipupo Onabajo porpulaly known as Dipson told The Nation that some mischievous persons disguise as Young John to dupe up and coming artistes of their money.

    “We have been hearing rumours and complains from upcoming artistes calling and telling me they have been duped by Young John and so on and I will tell them it’s not possible,” said Dipson.

    “When I asked them to narrate the story to me they go all about saying Young John told them to bring some amount and meet them at Lekki Roundabout which is not possible. As a matter of fact, we don’t stay on the island. Young John lives on the Mainland. Maybe sometime soon we will but for now, to all up and coming artistes, Young John stays at mainland.”

    Dipson also denied rumours about Young John signing artistes.

    “Please, always verify something before you Jump into it. Don’t look at the price tag they are giving to you. Please and please, always verify and make sure you are on the right track.”

    Young John however has a new song currently rocking the airwaves titled “Gbagbe”.

  • Fidelity Bank targets the millennial in new identity

    Fidelity Bank targets the millennial in new identity

    Brands pass through various stages. To remain active from one stage to the other, many try to stay connected to market forces. For Fidelity Bank Plc, the unveiling of its new brand identity “Millennial or digital natives”, appears to have been informed by the need to focus on the youth, while retaining its older generation of customers, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    There’s no such thing as the millennial – the generation of children born between 1982 and 2002.  This bold proclamation by a global advertising intelligence firm, Exponential Interactive, has continued to elicit responses from brand owners, especially the conservatives who want to maintain their grip on old generation  consumers and capture the market force.

    Hence, every business owner, with foresight on future growth and relevance in a market full of uncertainties, is constantly preparing the ground to carry the demography tailoring product and service design that suit its needs.

    This new thinking is understandable. The baby boom generation (people born during the demographic post–World War II, approximately between the years 1946 and 1964) are ageing, while trend spotters are mapping the millennial as the next target market. This position is further affirmed by a recent market intelligence forecast which stated that the “Millennial” generation is projected to surpass the outsized, as the nation’s largest living generation.

    Exponential analysed data revealed that three major forces have shaped the millennial experience: the economy, globalisation and social media.

    According to the firm, these forces define important millennial populations, and within each of these categories, are several subgroups, each with its own specific needs and preferences. While there is some overlap across categories, marketers find it important to map the groups they want to target, and how to appeal to each one, individually.

    This, perhaps, explains why Fidelity Bank Plc, is changing its conservative market orientation.

    Last week, the bank changed its brand identity-logo and colour to align with the new market realities.

    Established in 1988, the brand’s new identity comes with a block logo with green, deep blue, on two sides and light white line dividing the colours in a diagonal form, making the green and blue form triangles. The bank explained that the deep blue colour is a testimony of its “rich, solid background as a bank. It holds an accommodative path which inspires us to go into the future.” It said, the green colour symbolises fertility, growth and progress to the future, while the white line at the middle signifies safety, purity and a guiding light.

    But beyond the logo and new identity, trend spotters believe the bank is smarting out of its conservatism to connect with the new market forces before it gets cut in the web of market dissonance.  Hence, during the unveiling, the bank explained that the rebranding exercise is to bring about convergence in its services, to suit both the old and new generation customers.

    According to a brand analyst at Brandish, Mr. Ikem Okuhu, banking used to be this conservative. “Change used to be slow and very slow sometimes. And that sometimes explains why it takes some of them, well-schooled in the traditions of money management ample time and caution to change from the authodox ways it is seen by the external community.

    In the Nigerian banking ecosystem, it perhaps remained only a few banks and Fidelity Bank that were yet to refresh their logo and by that token, refocus their marketing dynamics.”

    Chairman of the bank, Dr Christopher Ezeh, said the bank is taking away its old garment for a new one in order to serve the customers better.

    However, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo, said the  changing trends mean that “over time brands age and require renewal.

    “For us, the motivation behind our rebranding project is a combination of several factors. Our business environment is changing and we realise that to remain true to the customers we serve, it is imperative that we stay in tune with the times.

    “We are not just giving our brand a new look, more importantly, we are actively changing the way we do business; becoming more focused on our customers’ needs and exceeding their expectations. Rebranding, therefore, makes this contract visible to our stakeholders. Major global brands also constantly evolve to remain relevant with the times and so it became obvious that we needed to reposition our brand as a modern and forward thinking bank,” he stressed.

    While stating that about 43 per cent of Nigeria’s population are youths, Okonkwo said any institution which fails “to connect with the youths today will lose tomorrow.” To connect with the group, the bank has also invested in technology to suit the needs of the new market force whose older generation rely on assistance in accessing digital experience in the banking sector, he stated.

    As a result, Fidelity Bank said it is leveraging on technology to drive into the future market. “We are leveraging technology to improve customer service experience. Your bank has re-positioned its electronic channels and banking products, to not only reflect our refreshed identity and the regulatory mandates of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), but also as a re-affirmation of our commitment to you.

    “We have implemented a bespoke online banking system that offers an improved modern interface and consistent features across all web based platforms. This is in consonance with our commitment to support the Federal Government’s cashless initiative by providing better customer experience and convenience across electronic channels.

    “Beyond that, our improved electronic banking system has drastically reduced the turn-around-time for online customers set up at all touch-points, a clear testament of our resolve to continually surpass customer expectation.

    “Today, customers can conduct bank-to-bank transfers seamlessly via our mobile platform. To support our innovation, we are in the final stage of migrating our core banking platform from Finacle version 7, to Finacle version 10,” said Okonkwo

    This, according to the bank, is meant to enhance its operational efficiency, strengthen innovation capabilities and support scalable growth.

    “Finacle version 10 will enable us to implement services such as enhanced SME banking, management information system reporting, application monitoring, and disaster recovery automation,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the bank has enjoyed strong performance in the last 27 years. The 2014 FYE, gross earnings of the bank grew by 4.3 per cent to N132.4 billion from N126.9 billion in 2013 while the Profit Before Tax increased by 71.9 per cent to N15.5 billion from N9 billion.

    By the first half (HYR1) of this year, the bank consolidated on its performance momentum of 2014 by recording a modest growth in critical indices despite the challenging operating environment.

    “Our operating income increased by 14.1 percent to N42 billion from N36.8 billion in HYR1 of 2014.”

    With the change in brand identity, Okonkwo assured that the bank’s promise and commitment to customers, whether old or young, remains strong.

  • A brand new identity

    A brand new identity

    An identity is much more than a name or card tucked into a pocket or worn round the neck. Osun State has demonstrated that your identity is your total being, your core values, your worldview, your sense of self-worth, your standards. In the past four years, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has championed the rebranding of the state. Osun a dara rallies the people to a collective duty to keep the state from failing. Omoluabi stresses the virtues of the exemplary citizen.

    “The state of Osun” may have drawn some criticism especially from outside the state, and, of course, the critics were entitled to their rights, while the state savoured its preferences, to say nothing of its own liberties. Still, there is more to renaming the state. Aregbesola speaks of ethical and philosophical revolution, and getting Osun citizens to recognise their rights and liberties to determine their own fate.

    This captures the new identity of the new Osun and its citizens. You find it on the streets of Osogbo, the state capital, and beyond. Four years on, gloom is giving way to enthusiasm. A sense of dignity of labour has replaced the melancholy of yesteryear.

    Young people are happy to be part of the state’s collective aspirations. They control traffic, clean street, mould bricks, rear animals and women drive thrash trucks. Their pay may not be a fortune but they seem happy not just to work for themselves but also contribute to the growth of their state.

    Young shoemakers talked proudly of their work. At a garment factory, Osun youths relished their skills.

    At Ilesha, a sprawling, hilly and serene ancient town, history is made. Youths trained in the state’s jobs scheme, OYES, assemble and repair GSM phones and tablets at Rlg, a telecoms firm located there. The firm’s headquarters is in Ghana, but it is partnering with OYES, providing jobs for the state’s youths and much-needed technology for the state. It is said that nowhere else in the country is there any such firm as Rlg.

    Off Ilesha Road, the federal government’s old and abandoned industrial centre has come to life. With huge resources poured in by the Aregbesola administration, new machines and other equipment have been acquired to drive technology in the state.

    Gradually, the image and identity envisioned by the Aregbesola administration has appeared. Osun citizens are happy to take their fate in their own hands. They seek to produce what they need and generate their own funds. They no longer want to flee their state to overstretch the resources of such places as Lagos State.

  • Fascinating Nigeria :The Country’s new identity

    Fascinating Nigeria :The Country’s new identity

    Though virtually every knowledgeable person about tourism would agree that Nigeria, as a tourist destination,has huge potential. However, the country always struggles when it comes to attracting a large number of in-bound tourists.

    The highest number of tourist arrivals into the country constitutes mostly business tourists who come to explore business opportunities in the country. With the rather positive outlook of the Nigerian economy and the forecast that it would be bigger than the South African economy by 2020, many international investors are being attracted into the country on business trips because of this.

    Religion has also helped in boosting the number of tourist arrivals into the country. Outside business, probably the biggest tourist attraction into the country is Pastor T.B. Joshua. On a weekly, if not a daily basis, tens of foreign tourists troop into the country from within and outside Africa to visit the Synagogue Church of All Nations. They come in search of solutions to both physical and spiritual problems. That they keep on coming might just be an indication of usefulness of these trips. There is no doubt that without Pastor Joshua, these people would probably not dream of visiting Nigeria.

    There is also the annual Shiloh by the Living Faith Church Worldwide held in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State. Thousands of Christian pilgrims from all over the world also troop into the country for the annual programme normally held in the month of December.

    Outside the Christian churches, the annual Osun Osogbo festival attracts its own tourist traffic to Nigeria. The tourists that visit Osogbo for the festival are little eclectic, ranging form the adventure seekers from Asian countries like Japan, researchers from countries like Germany and Osun worshippers form South America, the Caribbean and North America. This festival holds annually in August.

    Despite all these prospects by religious organizations and other private initiatives, the Nigerian tourism industry has not properly flourished. The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has the mandate to develop and market Nigerian tourism, while the policy formulation to drive the tourism industry forward rests on the parent ministry, Ministry Tourism, Culture and National Orientation. While the NTDC has embarked on different activities in the past to develop and market the tourism endowments of the country both locally and internationally, the full benefits of these efforts have not been achieved. This is because the blueprint for the tourism development of the country is lacking. To address this , the Federal Government some years ago decided to develop a tourism master plan that would serve as a blueprint for the development of tourism in the country. The project was to be jointly financed by the Nigerian government and a counterpart funding coming form the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). This was done. The committee was led by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr. Franklin Adejuwon, a tourism expert. The UNWTO sent some experts to work with their Nigerian counterparts. After close to three years on the field and at the cost of millions of naira, a master plan was produced. It was presented to the then president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Since then, every effort for the implementation of this master plan has not been successful. In other words, there is actually no particular plan on ground to grow the Nigerian tourism and develop it.

    However, this has changed with a recent press conference by the Minister of Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, that the Nigerian tourism would have a new brand identity: Fascinating Nigeria. Duke said plans had been completed for the launch of a new brand identity. According to him, the project had been on for some time.

    He said: “We have been working on this for the best part of one year with virtually no resources at our disposal. On January 9, for those who may have been following the activities of the Federal Executive Council, the tourism brand identity was approved for Nigeria. Then it became expeditious for us to work aggressively towards that brand Nigeria launch. As I speak to you, it has been resolved that the first week of July, 2013, that brand will officially be launched in Abuja.

    “ In pursuant of that, we have been developing the collaterals that will support the brand. You will agree with me that there is no bookshop you go to any where in the world that you see respectable collateral about Nigeria. There is no mission of Nigeria that you go to, anywhere in the world, that you find materials that speak of the various endowments of this country and I think that Nigeria deserves more, as the biggest black nation on the face of the earth, as the source market for the tourism revenue of other countries. I sat and listened to President Jacob Zuma as he related to our president that Nigerians are the greatest contributors to his country’s tourism revenue. He also said he was going to open a South African Tourism Office in Lagos, Nigeria. I think that Nigeria deserves a swift, appropriate and dignified response. Not a response in that kind of sense, but that we also have something that we can be very proud of.

    “The collaterals that we present to you today will be supported by a number of activations in the mass media within the limit of our own resources. That is what I came to share with you this afternoon.

    “At the appropriate time, first week in July, we will also share with you various brand strategies which we have developed in the ministry. It is my belief that when we have this going, we will be talking about an identifiable Nigerian tourism brand.

    “I love to hear people talk about Incredible India, Malaysia Truly Asia, Kenya or whatever they are. Our brand identity is Fascinating Nigeria because there is no where else in the world that this appellation best suits. Whether it is in business, nature’s endowment, agriculture, investment climate, whatever, but tourism is the first letter of recommendation and our culture is the major collateral for this to activate.”

    Anybody that has been privileged to have gone round the country would not have any problem accepting the Fascinating Nigeria as a brand identity for the country. There are so many things the world needs to see about Nigeria. Is it the rich diverse culture or the people or the eco-tourist attraction of the country? The endowments are so vast. The only problem of just mouthing a brand identity without the necessary depth is that it would sound hollow.

    All the countries that have developed their tourism with its concomitant tourism benefits did it based on clear-cut action plans. They develop tourism master plans and based on the plans, they begin the process of implementation. The viable plans come first before the brand identities. Nigeria needs to do the same.

    The Minister of Tourism must be commended for its effort in creating a brand identity for Nigeria, but the implementation of the tourism master plan, which has not yet been done, should come first. Mouthing a brand identity without a plan of action to develop the Nigerian tourism is like putting the cart before the horse. If this is not done, after the euphoria and noise about catch-phrase, the tourism will still be in the same position.

    The most difficult in destination building is to develop content that would, to a very great extent, determine the identity. Nigeria needs to go back to the master plan and look how it can be implemented. If there are grey areas in the plan, it could be rectified. If this is not done, all the euphoria of brand identity would just be all motion and no movement.

  • We want identity of tanker owner, say fire victims

    Residents of Murtala Muhammed Way, Benin City, the Edo State capital, were counting their losses yesterday after a petrol tanker fire which killed a commercial bus driver, burnt 13 vehicles and four motor-cycles.

    The victims said their only demand was for the owner of the tanker to be identified.

    They urged the state government to help them identify the owner for possible payment of compensation.

    A tanker conveying fuel on Wednesday lost control and fell into a ditch, spilling its product on the road.

    An explosion which occurred thereafter burnt the vehicles and motor-cycles.

    A commercial bus driver, Kingsley Oghagbon (40), was burnt to death while attempting to take his bus away from the fire.

    The fire lasted for one hour before it was put out by men of the State Fire Service.

    Electric poles and transformers were also burnt.

    Residents said the whole street was on fire.

    Eighty-five year old Paul Isibor, who lost his new Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), said he was sitting outside when he heard a noise.

    “The petrol started flowing and people started running.

    “I called my children to safety. In less than five minutes there was fire everywhere. I have never seen this kind of thing before.

    “The fire got to my SUV I bought last week and a bus parked in my house.

    “But I am happy that my house is in tact. The youths tried and they even used sachet water before the firemen came.

    “The government should look for the company that owns the tanker.”

    Another victim, George Omusi, said he parked his bus only to be told a few minutes later that it was burnt.

    He said: “We appeal to the police to help us locate the owner and see how he or she can assist us.”

    Oghagbon‘s brother, Charles, said his late brother heard about the spilled fuel and rushed out to take the bus away.

    He said the bus caught fire immediately his brother switched on the ignition.

    Charles said the brother ran out but fell on the road, which was already burning.

    Ehigie Pius, whose car was also burnt, said he was in his shop when the incident occurred.

    He said the tanker was descending the slope when it fell into the ditch and they later heard a noise.

    Rev. Efosa Torui said they were still waiting for the owner of the tanker to show up.

    He said there was no plate number on the tanker and that they are confused.

    At the secretariat of the Petroluem Tanker Drivers union in Benin, the drivers said their chairman was not around.

    Those who spoke said they were yet to get information on who owns the tanker.