The Nation Newspaper

Tag: LG

  • LG donates to Lekki motherless babies home

    It was all excitement at the Lagos State motherless babies home, Lekki, as LG played host to over 100 children at a lovely party, as well as donating two units of all new Gencool Inverter ACs and three units of jet cool air conditioners to the home.

    This happened recently, as LG once again demonstrated its love and commitment to the welfare of children in the society as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility [CSR].

    Aimed at putting smiles on the faces of the children, as well as supporting their dreams and aspirations, the event which was a part of the organisations lined-up CSR activities for the year was indeed a fun-filled atmosphere as representatives of the organisation interacted freely with the children numbering well over 100.

    Speaking at the occasion, General Manager, Air Solution, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr.  Cholyong Park, said: “LG will continue to be alive to its corporate social responsibility by providing succour for the needy especially children who are leaders of tomorrow.” He stated further that the air conditioners being donated, if put to good use, will help to give the children some level of comfort while in the home.

    Also on ground to support the LG team was the Managing Director, Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani, who in a short remark said: “It is for me a thing of joy to always contribute towards the upkeep of children anywhere and I am really happy to be here today.”

    The event provided an opportunity for the children to have fun like never before. The Matron-in-Charge of the home headed by Mrs. Olaore Feyisayo, expressed delight at having LG Electronics team in the home and putting together a party for the kids as well as donating some of their products for use in the home. She thanked the company for their kind gesture and commended the initiative.

    However, LG has continued to maintain its track record of always giving back to the society, particularly its host communities. In the past, the company has equally made some laudable donations to several orphanage homes across the country and even in the educational sector their immense contributions are being felt.

    LG Electronics has over the years demonstrated its love for Nigeria through various first-rated CSR activities. Some of which include scholarship awards to best engineering UNILAG students; visit to Idi-Ayunre community in Ibadan where they donated LG anti-mosquito air conditioners, as well as treated mosquito nets to the health centre, beach-cleaning activity to mark World Environment Day where staff of the organisation came together to clean an expansive beach in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State and many other activities.

    The kids danced joyously to the sound of music supplied by the DJ on ground as others engaged in different games that were provided for the party.

  • What manner of LG autonomy?

    A Newly elected Lagos State local government and local council development area chairmen have since resumed work following the administration of their oaths of office on Tuesday July 25. The event which took place at the Lagos Secretariat in Alausa was sequel to the local council polls that held the Saturday before. The local government elections in Lagos followed the nationwide trend of low turnout as residents in the commercial nerve centre of the nation used the day as an opportunity to rest instead of exercising their franchise. Had vehicular movement been allowed, the come out would most likely, have been poorer.

    Certain factors have continuously affected this democratically unhealthy practice. One of such factors is that the voter tends to hold his elected executive in far away State House more accountable than the chairman next door. Another explanation for the apathy for local council polls is the perceived predictability of the process. Take the latest Lagos exercise for example (which is relatively the same in other states of the federation), of the 20 local government and 37 local council development areas’ chairmanship seats for grabs, the ruling All Progressive Congress went victorious in all 57. So at the end of the day, the local council polls is seen more like a rigged referendum in favour of a sitting governor than a fair competitive exercise to pick a chairman. Take the optics of it for a moment: is it not an oddity that a strong political party would win more than a third of the votes in the general elections across a state but can’t win a councillorship seat in a ward within its political stronghold?

    Some have suggested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) be given the mandate to conduct the grassroots elections instead of the States Independent Electoral Commission. I think this constitutional proposal negates the principle of true federalism that we want for our nation. Also the INEC-conducted local council area elections of the Federal Capital Territory over time have followed the low-voter-turnout and ruling-party-victory patterns observed by elections conducted by SIECs. In other words, it is beyond who conducts the election. Just as INEC was knocked in the past for its impartiality but is becoming more credible, the SIECs should also be given some time to be built up as strong independent institutions.

    Recently, both chambers of the National Assembly voted for local government autonomy in its constitutional amendment exercise. This autonomy is what the National Union of Local Government Employees has eternally canvassed for. This move has received a measure of acceptance from the larger polity but I think before the state Houses of Assembly pass it, we should have a rethink.

    Sovereign local governments may give us a dubious federal structure where states governments become weaker. We already have governors passing the buck of infrastructure to the centre calling some roads federal roads. Autonomous local governments will now make them lazier as they would hands off primary healthcare and education. That aside, states are today insolvent depending on foreign grants to pay salaries and pensions, is it local governments that have been unable to handle floods that we expect to pay salaries?

    Instead making this tier of government autonomous, we should make them administrative departments, not political entities.  What this implies is that instead of having to continuously cast meaningless votes that produce stereotypical results for handicapped executives, the governors appoint senior civil servants to manage all the government agencies in the local council. These council managers will serve as intermediaries between the local community and government.

     

    • Ayodele Okunfolami

    Festac, Lagos

  • Oyo NUT and LG autonomy

    Oyo NUT and LG autonomy

    SIR: The protest embarked upon by some members of the National Union Teachers, Oyo State, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Wednesday, July 28, is welcome development. The NUT was enjoying its fundamental human rights to protest against a policy that would be injurious to her health.

    The state government and security forces deserves accolade for allowing the peaceful protest to hold. Although, it appears the protest was in tandem with the state government position on local government administration. However, if the NUT was to support the Local Government autonomy; the protest would have been stopped for constituting a breach of public peace. Disruption of an NLC-led peaceful protest over non-payment of salary few years ago and harassment of the leaders, I think including the leaders of July 29, protest is still fresh in memory.

    The NUT Oyo State wing failed to state her position on local government autonomy and this is rather unfortunate for an association saddled with such enormous responsibility of imparting knowledge into our future leaders. From the inscription on the placard carried by the protesters and the speech of a leader, Niyi Akano, the NUT is against local government autonomy because “experience had shown that the local government tier lacked the capacity to run and fund primary education effectively particularly because that is the bed rock of education”.

    From the above, one realizes that NUT does not want autonomy for local councils because she does not have the power that is resources to fund primary education. What the above means is that the NUT do not know what local government autonomy means and this is rather unfortunate. Simply put, autonomy means power that would be granted local governments in the constitution that would make them fiscally independent of states control. Presently, the joint account system being operated by state and local government has turned the local governments into an appendage of the states and crippled her financially.

    It is a known fact that local government councils are the government closest to the grassroots and are the facilitators of the development there until the joint along crippled them. I believe protesting members of NUT know this. In all honesty, it is a common knowledge that there is corruption in local governments, but this is not peculiar to it as the revelation from EFCC of billions stolen by the operators of federal and state government showed.

    The roles of local governments in the development of the grassroots cannot be overemphasized. Therefore, it is preposterous for the NUT to throw out the baby and the bathwater because of lack of resources in the local government. As Akano concluded, the primary education should be placed under state government for effective funding. This is better than outright rejection of LG autonomy and that should have been more befitting clamour of the NUT, now that the call for restructuring of the Nigeria polity is gathering momentum.

     

    • Adewuyi Adegbite,

    ayekooto05@gmail.com

  • LG launches Gencool dual inverter air conditioner

    LG Electronics has introduced its new Gencool air conditioner with dual inverter technology into the Nigerian market.

    Unveiling the product to the media in  Lagos, the company’s General Manager, Air Condition and Energy Solutions, Mr. Cholyong Park, said that with the current demand of consumers seeking energy efficient products, the introduction of the product  will help  consumers save as much as 70% on electricity consumption with an increased cooling capacity of 40%, thereby reducing bills.

    According to him, the air conditioner features a 40% torque vibration reduction resulting in the quietest operation of outdoor unit, while the 15 degrees tilted skew fan minimizes the surface friction of the blade when in contact with the air.

    ”Clean, fresh air is essential for good health; LG is committed to providing advanced technologies that are energy efficient and ecofriendly.  The All Newgen Cool comes with multi-protection filter that removes up to 99.99% particles providing a safer living environment and is capable of making a big difference to air quality in the home,” he said.

  • LG launches Neochef microwave oven

    LG launches Neochef microwave oven

    There was palpable excitement in the LG Hall as Head, Corporate Marketing, LG Electronics, West Africa. Mr. Rajesh Agnihotri, unveiled the latest LG Neochef microwave oven which is set to take culinary and microwave oven cooking to a whole new level.

    Speaking at the event at the Ijaiye Ogba, LG brand store recently, Agnihotri explained that the ergonomic Neochef oven was designed to meet the needs of Nigerian consumers who desire tasty meals as well as innovative, smart energy-saving technologies and products.

    Noting the unique features of the product, the company’s marketing manager, Mr. Paul Mba, said the NeoChef features a simplified intuitive control interface to streamline operation and a range of hygiene-enhancing features such as anti-bacterial easy clean that help users keep their ovens as clean as possible.

    Explaining further, Mba said that the new microwave oven which is equipped with a unique smart inverter comes with a 10-year warranty on the magnetron, stressing that there is no cooking job the NeoChef can not handle.

    “Using linear power control between 300 and 1,200 watts to evenly cook or defrost food all the way through, the smart inverter effectively preserves nutrients while locking in flavour. The smart inverter also boosts efficiency, as its 1200-watt maximum power output gives the NeoChef the ability to cook dishes more quickly than conventional models,” emphasised the company’s marketing manager.

    While pointing out the features of the oven to media men, Mba, speaking unreservedly, said “the microwave oven eliminates trim and parting lines with its sleek, unified tempered glass front. This minimalist, glossy front combines with a refined matte exterior to allow the NeoChef to seamlessly blend in with the decor of any kitchen.”

    Commenting on the newly launched product, General Manager, West Africa Operations LG Electronics Mr. Jiung Park, said: “With a minimalist design that appeals to consumers of all stripes, LG’s striking new microwave oven represents the company’s dedication to creating appliances that can add both functionality and class to any kitchen.” He stated further that “the NeoChef is powered by LG’s unique smart inverter technology; the microwave efficiently and effectively reheats and defrost food, decreases cooking times and makes it easier than ever for users to prepare delicious, highly-nutritious meals.”

    Speaking in the same vein, MD, Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani, MD Fouani Nigeria Ltd, said: “The NeoChef can be used for melting ingredients such as chocolate or cheese and precisely preparing a variety of foods with its specialised settings. LG’s advanced microwave can even be used to make healthy lactobacilli-infused yogurt more quickly than most home yogurt makers. The microwave’s healthy fry feature is even capable of preserving the distinct taste of each dish while making them healthier, with less oil and 72 percent less fat. Making pop corns at a home has never been this easy with the LG NeoChef microwave oven.

    Confirming that, Asika, a staff of the company demonstrated the microwave healthy fry feature and the less time it can take to cook by preparing popcorn in the presence of all. It came out tasty and fresh to the satisfaction of all present.

    Equipped with a number of convenience-enhancing features, the NeoChef makes it easy to prepare complex dishes. Its innovative hexagonal stable turntable offers increased stability to the turntable with its six points of support, solving the issue of possible spillage when the food being cooked is not exactly centred. With energy-efficient interior LED lamp that is three times brighter than conventional models, users can easily monitor the entire cooking process. With its compact exterior size, the microwave is at home in any kitchen while it is still able to accommodate large and tall dishes with its increased internal capacity.

    The NeoChef also packs a number of features designed to increase cleanliness and streamline the cooking experience. The anti-bacterial easy clean coating makes cleaning the microwave interior simple and straightforward. The microwave’s interior can be thoroughly cleaned twice as fast and with half the effort required for conventional microwaves. In fact, it takes just three wipes to thoroughly clean the NeoChef while conventional microwaves typically require seven. The coating also makes it harder for dangerous contaminants to take root, eliminating 99.99 percent of harmful bacteria.

    The microwave oven which comes in silver colour and black sells for N58,000.00 and N50,000.00 respectively. The introduction of LG NeoChef microwave oven would no doubt bring about newer and richer cooking experience while consumers try their hands on new delicacy for their respective families.

  • Ondo LG dissolution and PRP

    ON the surface, the March 31 judgement of a High Court in Ondo State ordering the dissolution of the 18 local governments sworn in by former governor Olusegun Mimiko should not raise eyebrows. It however does. The case was originally instituted by Balarabe Musa’s Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), but long since abandoned because the reason for going to court, non-inclusion in the ballot in last year’s local government poll, had been resolved. Someone, somewhere, some say agents of the new All Progressives Congress (APC) Rotimi Akeredolu government, revived the case and asked for the LGs to be dissolved.

    Alerted to the case, the PRP chairman and the party’s lawyer, Femi Aborishade, and other party supporters thronged the court to confirm that they had discontinued the case, and that in any case, they should be heard. Justice S.A. Sadiq, however, reportedly disregarded the PRP leaders and their lawyer, and chose to recognise another lawyer claiming to represent the party, one Segun Agodo, a stranger to the case. The PRP, which had participated in the election, insisted it had no reason to ask for the LGs dissolution, but the court went ahead anyway. Indeed, it was the APC that had boycotted the election last year, though the party’s name and symbol were on the ballot. It had claimed that it had a case pending in court questioning the composition of the state electoral body, OSIEC.

    Immediately the court dissolved the LGs on March 31, though their tenure was to expire in April 2019, the state government announced new caretaker chairmen. Earlier, however, the 18 chairmen, all of whom belonged to the PDP and feared what injury the new APC government was capable of inflicting, had gone to court to bar the government from sacking the LGs. The former Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi, assented to their request and barred the government from interfering with the councils. But the APC was reported in February to have appealed Justice Kumuyi’s January 17 decision and was waiting for its determination when the idea of reviving the PRP case occurred to some bright minds in the APC. The government’s lawyers, however, said they were not aware of the case, let alone any appeal. But in March, the government had frozen the accounts of the LGs. Eventually, not even the PRP was allowed to have a say in the case they were purported to have filed, a case both the PRP chairman and lawyer had said was overtaken by their participation in the LG poll.

    The manner the Ondo State government cleverly tweaked the legal process, and the collusion of the judiciary among other insalubrious measures, probably prompted Mallam Musa to suggest that the APC had become a fascist government far worse than the incompetent PDP government it replaced. Few Nigerians will disagree with the PRP national chairman.

  • Ondo LG dissolution and PRP

    On the surface, the March 31 judgement of a High Court in Ondo State ordering the dissolution of the 18 local governments sworn in by former governor Olusegun Mimiko should not raise eyebrows. It however does. The case was originally instituted by Balarabe Musa’s Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), but long since abandoned because the reason for going to court, non-inclusion in the ballot in last year’s local government poll, had been resolved. Someone, somewhere, some say agents of the new All Progressives Congress (APC) Rotimi Akeredolu government, revived the case and asked for the LGs to be dissolved.

    Alerted to the case, the PRP chairman and the party’s lawyer, Femi Aborishade, and other party supporters thronged the court to confirm that they had discontinued the case, and that in any case, they should be heard. Justice S.A. Sadiq, however, reportedly disregarded the PRP leaders and their lawyer, and chose to recognise another lawyer claiming to represent the party, one Segun Agodo, a stranger to the case. The PRP, which had participated in the election, insisted it had no reason to ask for the LGs dissolution, but the court went ahead anyway. Indeed, it was the APC that had boycotted the election last year, though the party’s name and symbol were on the ballot. It had claimed that it had a case pending in court questioning the composition of the state electoral body, OSIEC.

    Immediately the court dissolved the LGs on March 31, though their tenure was to expire in April 2019, the state government announced new caretaker chairmen. Earlier, however, the 18 chairmen, all of whom belonged to the PDP and feared what injury the new APC government was capable of inflicting, had gone to court to bar the government from sacking the LGs. The former Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi, assented to their request and barred the government from interfering with the councils. But the APC was reported in February to have appealed Justice Kumuyi’s January 17 decision and was waiting for its determination when the idea of reviving the PRP case occurred to some bright minds in the APC. The government’s lawyers, however, said they were not aware of the case, let alone any appeal. But in March, the government had frozen the accounts of the LGs. Eventually, not even the PRP was allowed to have a say in the case they were purported to have filed, a case both the PRP chairman and lawyer had said was overtaken by their participation in the LG poll.

    The manner the Ondo State government cleverly tweaked the legal process, and the collusion of the judiciary among other insalubrious measures, probably prompted Mallam Musa to suggest that the APC had become a fascist government far worse than the incompetent PDP government it replaced. Few Nigerians will disagree with the PRP national chairman.

  • Now that Ogun LG election is over

    SIR: The newly elected 57 local council chairmen in Ogun State were on Monday sworn in by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade. At the ceremony, the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, urged them to lead by example and contribute to the development of their respective local councils.

    The election of the chairmen of the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LG/LCDAs) last Saturday brought to a close the month-long electioneering in the state.

    The APC, despite being the party to beat, did not leave anything to chance. The party did not take the electorate for granted. Even the state governor had to mount the rostrum in the three senatorial districts of the state to campaign for the party’s candidates.

    The APC won all the chairmanship positions and overwhelming majority in the councillorship posts. Two things account for this. The sterling performance of the Amosun administration, which has endeared the party to the electorate and the intra-party disputes within the opposition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The PDP is torn apart in Ogun State and is virtually non-existent. Most of the other parties only exist on the pages of newspapers.

    Now that the council chairmen have been inaugurated, they should hit the ground running. Ogun has fertile agricultural land and so there should be no room for excuses. They should take their cue from Senator Amosun by getting value for money for every project executed. They should be frugal and think out of the box in order to raise the revenue of their council areas.

    One must congratulate the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) for conducting a peaceful, free and fair election and the people of the state for trooping out to elect their leaders. The state government deserves commendation for providing a secure ambiance for the poll to take place.

     

    • Kayode Salawu,

    Ilaro, Ogun State.

  • LG electronics offer 10-year warranty on core technologies

    LG electronics offer 10-year warranty on core technologies

    In a bid to satisfy its consumers and deliver next level convenience, LG Electronics, a leader in home appliances and consumer electronics, recently achieved unprecedented technological advancements with the core technology designed for some of its products.

    This core technology breakthrough gave LG the confidence to back it up with 10-year warranty, first of its kind in home appliance category in Nigeria. The products covered by the 10-year warranty include LGRefrigerators and Chest Freezers, with Linear and Smart Inverter Compressors, LGWashing Machines with Inverter Direct Drive Motor, LGCharcoal Lighting Heater in microwave oven and LGCordless vacuum cleaner with Smart Inverter Motor.

    Speaking on the innovation, at a press conference last week, the General Manager, Home Appliances Division, LG Electronics, West Africa operations, Mr. Jiung Park, said: “At LG, we understand that durability is just as important as strong performance. A large range of our products come backed by 10-year warranty, ensuring worry-free operation year after year. LG Electronics is the first electronic brand in Nigeria to offer a decade-long warranty of reliability on a large array of its product offerings. The 10-year warranty offering covers only specific parts of the selected products from the date of purchase.”

    At the press conference, held at the Lekki Phase 1 office of LG, Mr. Jiung Park noted that LG Door in Door and Side by side refrigeratorutilises LG’s revolutionary Inverter Linear Compressor which enables the refrigerator to consume 32 percent less energy and produce 25 percent less noise.

    Speaking onLG Chest freezer, he explained that it is fitted with a powerful compressor that boast of a 10-year warranty.  On the company’sFront Load / Top Load Washing Machine with Inverter Direct Drive Motor, Mr. Park emphasised that it is designed to provide convenience, energy saving and durability of up to 10 year to consumers. “LG is the first brand globally to offer 10-year warranty in washing machine market.”

    Responding to a question on the performance capability of the LG Cordless vacuum cleaner, Mr. Park noted that “the Vacuum Cleaner was another quantum leap in technology, every vacuum cleaner in the world has cord to power it during cleaning. LG cordless cleaner is cord free, providing consumers cordless freedom. The motor has a guaranteed operational life of 1,200 hours and backed up by LG’s 10-year warranty.”

    LG’s Charcoal Lighting heater Microwave with Lightwave technology which offers a multi-heating system also has a 10-year warranty.

  • LG introduces new OLED Tunnel

    LG Electronics (LG) on Friday welcomed visitors to its IFA 2016 exhibition booth with an awe-inspiring and immersive OLED Tunnel measuring a record-breaking 5mtall, 7.4m wide and 15m in length. A total of 216 separate 55-inch curved OLED signage displays were assembled to create the unique structure comprising 447,897,600, nearly half a billion pixels to display a collection of breathtaking scenes including Iceland’s Aurora Borealis, underwater ecosystems and deep space footage.

    A video titled “From Black to Black”was produced  by LG to include footage that accentuates  the life like colours and the ability to recreate the miniscule details of life which LG’s OLED technology delivers. The footage includes the black ocean with effervescent jellyfish and the gentle movement of whales, as well as scenes from deep black space and the brilliant northern lights on a black sky. LG captured footage of Iceland’sNorthern Lights using 14 separate 8K cameras to record every detail and movement as accurately as possible.

    Other video clips such as underwater scenes and shots taken from space will create a fully immersive environment for visitors, making them feel as if they are swimming in the ocean or floating in the Milky Way. At IFA, attendees will have the chance to see how closely the advanced technology of OLED can recreate the great outdoors inside an  exhibition  hall.

    The impressive scale of the display tunnel is made possible by OLED’s ultra-thin, highly flexible lightweight panels. OLED displays can be custom bent to concave or convex formations without any picture quality distortion, allowing for spectacular digital installations such as immersive tunnel-like environments. Each OLED pixel can switch itself on and off, eliminating the need for backlighting. OLED TVs have the ability to render true black and infinite contrast ratio that delivers vibrant, eye-popping colour and wide viewing angles.

    “It was 50 years ago this year that LG produced its first television and our OLEDTunnel at IFA 2016 is designed to celebrate this milestone with another milestone the coming of OLED TV,”said Brian Kwon, president of LG Home Entertainment Company.”We’re offering visitors to our booth at IFA the opportunity to experience OLED’s revolutionary image rendering capability complete with perfect black, infinite contrast ratio andrealistic colours from any angle.”

    IFA event which will be ending on Wednesday is the world’s leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances.