The Nation Newspaper

Tag: partnership

  • CNN, Dangote Industries grow long-term partnership

    CNN, Dangote Industries grow long-term partnership

    CNN International Commercial (CNNIC) and Dangote Industries are expanding their long-term partnership by renewing Dangote’s sponsorship within CNN Marketplace Africa, launching a new brand campaign on CNN TV and Digital, and – in a media-first – integrating Dangote Industries with a video series on cinematic storytelling network Great Big Story.

    This partnership makes Dangote Industries the first African brand to be part of Great Big Story, which was launched by CNN and Turner in 2015 to tell amazing stories that appeal to today’s global generation of intellectual, curious and connected consumers. Since launch, Great Big Story has told more than 1,650 original stories from over 95 countries, has 10m+ fans around the world and has an average age audience of 29.

    Dangote is associated with the Great Big Story series Eyes on Africa, which tells the stories of individuals across the continent making a difference in their communities. All videos are introduced with Dangote Industries branding and use sophisticated data-driven targeting to reach key audiences via social media, Great Big Story’s app and website, and on Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

    In addition, CNNIC’s branded content studio, Create, will produce a 360-degree campaign called Touching Lives, comprising a new branded film to air on both CNN US and International TV networks, as well as documentaries and interactive content for a Dangote Industries content hub promoted using native advertising across CNN Digital.

    Touching Lives marks a departure from previous campaigns by telling the story of how Dangote’s multi-faceted business activities impact the lives of ordinary Africans.

    “Dangote Industries has been a true innovator for many years now, and we are delighted to extend its relationship with CNN with this media-first,” said Vice President, Advertising Sales, CNN International Commercial, Cathy Ibal.

    “This exciting new partnership is part of a wider trend amongst leading African brands who are moving towards creative marketing solutions that combine the very best in data, content and platforms. By harnessing the power of TV, digital and social across CNN and Great Big Story, Dangote Industries’ powerful message will resonate in Africa and beyond.

     ”Entrepreneurship holds the key to the future economic growth in Africa and at Dangote Group, we are passionate about creating African success stories,” said President & Chief Executive, Dangote Industries, Aliko Dangote “Through this partnership, we aim to re-create the continent’s narrative, showcasing innovation, resourcefulness, resilience and more importantly, the success stories of our entrepreneurs who are challenging the status quo and breaking new business frontiers.”

  •  EFCC advocates media partnership to tackle crimes

     EFCC advocates media partnership to tackle crimes

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Port Harcourt zone, has advocated a media partnership to tackle financial crimes in private and public sectors, the Head of Operations, Nnaghe Obon Itam, has said.

    He spoke yesterday with reporters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

    Itam was the director of Internal Affairs, EFCC, Abuja. He took over from Ishaku Salihu as Port Harcourt head of Operations.

    Itam said:  ”We depend on your goodwill and not just your cooperation, the collaboration of the media in enlightening, educating and informing the populace about our activities. We want the media to partner us to tackle financial crimes.”

    He said with the synergy by the media, the commission would tackle corruption.

    “Until the cancer of corruption is dealt with, we may not realise the development we desire. If we don’t tackle corruption, we will not develop the economy.”

    Itam said the commission would fight corruption, which had ravaged the country.

    He decried bunkering and pipeline vandalism in Niger Delta, stressing that the commission is determined to reduce crimes in the region.

    Itam said: “When you have a corruption- laden government, the economy will also be corruption-laden.”

  • KADCCIMA visits The Nation, seeks partnership on Fair

    Kaduna Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KADCIMA) is partnering with The Nation Newspaper on the forthcoming 39th Kaduna International Trade Fair holding between the 23rd February to 4th March.

    The Chamber’s President, Dr Muheeba Dankaka, disclosed this during a courtesy call to the Corporate headquarters of the newspaper, earlier in the week. Dankaka was accompnied by other  members of the Council.

    In her speech, Dankaka commended The Management of The Nation for the giant strides they have made in repositioning journalism as a profession and solicited for the cooperation and improved synergy with the paper towards the overall success of the fast approaching Trade Fair in Kaduna state.

    The delegation also thanked The Nation for its consistent coverage of events at the Trade Fair every year.

    The theme of  this year’s event, is: “Promoting Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for International Competitiveness.”

    Dankaka explained that the theme was chosen to compliment the efforts of the Federal Government towards revamping the economy by encouraging investments in agriculture, manufacturing, trade, services, and technology.

    The 10 day event begins on February 24 and ends on  March 5 at the Kaduna International Trade and Investment Center.

    According to her, this year’s event which is the 39th in the series and will create an avenue through which investors from various parts of the country and across the globe would exhibit their goods and services for the growth of the nation’s economy.

    Speaking on behalf of the management, The Nation’s Online editor, Mr. Lekan Otufodurin, assured the team of the company’s readiness to partner with the Chamber and urged them to always advertise in The Nation to enjoy wider overage.

     

    In his speech, the Advert Manager told members of the Council that The Nation is one of the widest circulating newspapers in the country, ensuring the same daily edition for readers anywhere across the nation.

    “We know you advertise with us and we appreciate your efforts. Our source of revenue is the advert we get from you  and others and I want to assure you that our correspondent wiil be there at the event to report your activities,” he said.

    Osirike assured the Council of a robust relationship if they advertise in The Nation and make the paper to survive.

     

     

  • Harnessing EU, AU Summit partnership potentials

    The 5th European Union and African Union Summit slated for November 29- 30, is underway in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire. Africa’s and Europeans’ heads of states and governments are expected with leaders of the continents’ institutions and organizations.

    This year’s summit has a very interesting central theme – ‘Investing in the Youth for a Sustainable Future’. The triennial meeting which was last held in Brussels, Belgium in 2014 is expected to reach key decisions that would provide political guidance towards effective strategic and development partnership that is expected to address future socio-economic challenges.

    The focus on youth is both apt and pertinent, considering that more than 60 percent population of Africa is made up of youth.  Unfortunately, they lack guidance and lose faith in the leadership of their respective countries. The apparent despondency of the average African youth can be understood as their countries do not have any social security programme for them.

    Poor education policy and ineffective planning coupled with deficit funding over the years have become a bane in socio-economic advancement of the continent. World Bank in its 2015 report revealed that half of the youth in sub-Saharan Africa are out of schools. This number makes the region to have the highest rate of exclusion. According to UNESCO Institute for Statistics and the Global Education Monitoring (GEM), poverty and armed conflict contribute significantly to the low youth enrolment in schools.

    There is no doubt that Africa tends to have much younger population than her European counterpart. This should be seen as potential economic opportunity that if well harnessed can be mutually beneficial to both continents. Unfortunately, this youthful population accounts for the surge in illegal migration into Europe, a crisis situation that is not likely to cease soon. These youth are fleeing from a distressed economic situation and war; they are in search for greener pastures abroad. African leaders should be blamed for neglecting the critical mass of their youth.

    The proposed marshal plan for Africa by European leaders should be revisited in this summit. This development package was conceived to create jobs at home countries to dissuade those intending to flee their countries. But in rather resorting to engaging brutal forces to deal with these migrants, they have unwittingly supported human right abuse.

    French president, Emmanuel Macron’s plan to set up what he calls Hot Spots in Chad and Niger where refugees could apply for asylum instead of risking their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean, is seen as a welcome development. However, as brilliant as this may sound, the host countries believe it would create confusion that may not be easily controlled.

    In addressing this intractable migrant crisis, Judith Sunderland, associate director for Europe and Central Asia division at Human Rights Watch offers a solution that Europe should grant humanitarian visas to the refugees.

    Expectedly, developments on the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) which was launched 10 years ago in Lisbon, Portugal would also feature prominently in the Summit. The purpose for this programme was to move the partnership between these continents beyond donor/recipient basis and to maintain a sustainable cooperation based on mutually complementary interest.

    So far, this partnership has delivered tangible results in key areas especially at both political and operational levels. Visible efforts have also been observed in management and resolution of conflicts through Africa-led International mission in Central African Republic in 2013. African Union Mission in Somalia and Africa-led International Support Mission to Mali. These and many other interventions received funding and support from EU.

    Also, the EU and AU cooperation on election monitoring has helped to consolidate democratic cultures and structures. African democracies, elections, rule of law and good governance have also been deepened. Trade, regional integration and investment have equally received a boost under this partnership.

    However, the recent revelation that most light weapons illegally flooding Nigeria come from Turkey, should be of concern to Nigerians participating in the summit. The disclosure by Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, a couple of months ago that France provided a base for financial transaction that funded the proscribed IPOB activities in Nigeria should equally be of concern.

    It is not in doubt that Africa has a longer political and economic relationship with Europe than other continents. Therefore, this partnership holds the much needed hope for the continent’s economic emancipation and technological advancement.

     

    • Itaobong Etim,

    Calabar.

  • LSSTF seeks partnership with private firms

    LSSTF seeks partnership with private firms

    The Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) has called for partnership with Chief Executive Officers of corporate security organisations.

    Its LSSTF Executive Secretary, Dr Abdurrazaq Balogun said there is no alternative to the present Public Private Partnership (PPP) for the funding of security in the state. Though recognised the contributions of the private sector, he noted that the Lagos State Government remains the highest donor to the fund.

    He noted that it was critical for professionals in the private security space to collaborate with the government to improved security services. He also buttressed the need for the database of duly licensed private security companies operating in the state including details of their guards.

    Balogun emphasised the need for intelligence sharing between private firms and law enforcement agencies in line with community policing strategy.

    Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Director of Security Mr. Tayo Amu, stressed that security is very expensive and there is need to think outside the box to fund it.

  • DAWN Commission charges S’West states to key into open government partnership

    The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission has charged the government of the South West state to fully key into the Open Government Partnership (OGP) so as to achieve the Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP).

    The acting Director General of DAWN Commission, Mr Seye Oyeleye gave the charge during an experience sharing session on FSP implementation for the Commissioners for Finance and Economic Planning and Budget, the media, civil society organizations and the private sector in the six states of South West.

    The meeting which took place in Ibadan, Oyo state was organised by DAWN Commission in collaboration with the Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn, a Programme of the Department for International Development (DFID).

    The DG said objectives of the meeting was to enable the states to showcase good practices on budget matters for the purpose of replication across the region and beyond

    The six South West states including Lagos, Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun and Ekiti shared ideas and experiences at the meeting. They also used the avenue to identify common challenges and obstacles that each of the state was facing and provided practicable solutions.

  • Boosting agric productivity through partnership

    Boosting agric productivity through partnership

    Agriculture in Ogun State has enormous potential to strengthen the economy and improve the lives of farmers. Some challenges are obstructing the opportunities, but the government is collaborating with international organisations to bridge gaps in supply chains and alleviate the plight of farmers, reports DANIEL ESSIET.

    Ogun State government is striving to boost the agricultural sector and promote export growth.

    This is as rising demand for food in local and export markets has increased earnings’ prospect for farmers.

    Addressing the 2017 National Trade Promotion and Knowledge Fair in Abeokuta, last week, the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, said increasing the productivity of the state’s farm sector was essential in  meeting its economic growth targets and boosting food availability.

    Represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Adepeju Adebajo, Amosun said by supporting agriculture, the state was helping to develop a more-diverse and competitive sector that can create jobs and promote economic growth.

    In a state that is highly agrarian, with agriculture accounting for over 70 per cent of the total number of the employed, the governor said it made economic sense for Ogun to develop the sector and encourage greater export.

    According to him, agriculture has a bright future and the government is doing all within its powers to tackle issues affecting the competitiveness of the sector, including the cost of doing business, regulation, access to capital and critical infrastructure improvements.

    In addition, he said the government was pushing investments in rural areas to increase smallholder productivity and farm incomes by strengthening capacity building, service delivery and market linkages.

    He said the theme of the fair “Market and Product Development for Competitive Rice and Cassava Value Chains” was in consonance with the state’s agenda of improved agricultural production.

    According to him, value chain is a topical issue in sustaining agriculture and the state will leave no stone unturned in promoting it.

    He added: “The issue of agricultural value chain has become topical in the promotion of sustainable agriculture in Nigeria. Agricultural activities should not stop at production level. Consideration should be given to processing and marketing as it prolongs the shelf life of products and guarantee good reward for farmers’ effort.”

    The overall efforts of the state, according to him, have been complemented by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which has stepped in  to  assist. One area, IFAD partnership is helping the state, according to him,  is rice and cassava production.

    Having fulfilled its counterpart funding for 2014 and 2015 of N124 million, he said the state was able to draw N420 million from the fund.

    The fund, he explained, facilitated the capacity building of over 4000 farmers on good agronomic practices, construction of 20km farm access roads in Obafemi-Owode, Ijebu North East and Yewa North Local Government Areas, and  building of cassava and rice processing centres.

    The fund, he added, enabled the state to provide agro-inputs such as fertiliser, cassava cuttings, rice seeds and herbicides for 3,044 farmers in five local  government areas, cassava and rice processing  equipment to  six farmer organisations in Yewa North, Ijebu North East and Ifo Local Government Areas. The fund, he added, faciliated the  development of 500 hectares (ha) of farmland for cassava and rice cultivation across the five local government areas.

    He informed the forum that payment of 2016 and 2017 counterpart funding has been approved and released.

    The National Programme Coordinator, IFAD-assisted Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD-VCDP), Dr. Ameh Onoja, said the agricultural value chain, included the set of actors and activities required to bring agricultural products from production to consumption, including processing, storage, transportation, marketing, and retail.

    Onoja underscored that food security remained a critical issue , given expected population rise.

    According to him, the programme presents an opportunity to reduce pockets of poverty and build the capacity of smallholder farmers to move from subsistence farming to commercial market-driven agriculture.

    The programme, he explained, seeks to address multiple problems faced by farmers and rural households through a set of integrated, consolidated, and area-specific interventions responding to local constraints and opportunities.

    Specific interventions, he maintained, included strengthening farmers’ groups and building their technical and business capacities; increasing the productivity of food and high-value crops through improved agri-inputs and technologies, and enhancing access to markets for farmers.

    He said the programme is ready to support the Ogun State government‘s strategic plan of improving food security and agriculture productivity.

    Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Technical Quality Control, Mrs. HectarAkani praised  Ogun State government for keying into its agricultural policies especially in the areas of cassava and rice value chain development programme.

    The minister said the objective of the fair was in line with the Federal Government’s plan to boost agricultural market and increase waste to wealth through cassava value chain.

    Special Adviser to the Governor of Ogun State on agriculture, Mr. Akin Lawson  said IFAD and the state government are working topromote and make the state a leading destination in the national rice andcassava production.

    A long-term vision for  Ogun State agriculture, according to him,  is to move towards more value added, productive and competitive agriculture to ensure that farm incomes continue to grow .

  • Fayose seeks partnership to boost healthcare

    Fayose seeks partnership to boost healthcare

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose yesterday called on corporate bodies and well meaning individuals country to support his administration’s efforts at providing quality health care services for his people.

    Fayose spoke in Ado-Ekiti at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, where a telecommunications company, MTN, provided surgery and glasses for people with sight problems and other challenges.

    The governor said his administration had taken steps to uplift healthcare services.

    He said his efforts led to the accreditation of courses at the College of Medicine, then School of Nursing, among others.

    “When we came on board, we took steps to get programmes in the College of Medicine and the School of Nursing accredited as we know the importance of producing quality doctors and nurses,

    “The School of Nursing recorded 100 per cent success in its final examinations. We have also given out glasses to people and embarked on free health schemes across our rural area.

    “Health is wealth and we are ready to take it to a higher level in the state,” he said.

    The governor commended leader of the team, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, for considering the state.

    Adelusi-Adeluyi, a pharmacist and one-time secretary of Health, in Chief Earnest Shonekan’s Interim Government, described Fayose as an unusual governor.

    He said though Fayose was also known for doing unusual things, he helped to take the state to greater heights.

  • Firm denies partnership with the Lagos govt

    A subsidiary of CFL Group, Masters Reality Int’l Concepts Ltd yesterday denied having any partnership with  the Lagos State Government on its plan to build Ikeja IT Mart.

    The company, in a letter by its counsel, Mr. Lukman Imam, demanded the retraction of offensive statements he made against it in the media.

    In a statement, the Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development, Mr. Abiola Anifowose had denied partnership with the firm and enjoined residents “to alert the state government if they notice such development, so that they do not fall prey to fraudsters.”

    Anifowoshe had, also, said in his statement that the information from the company “is false. Lagos State Government did not issue any permit to him because his plans are not in sync with the state government’s regeneration plan so it is not possible for him to obtain approval from the appropriate authorities.”

    In its four-page letter with other support documents, the firm asked “to retract the offensive statement issued by you to the press and re-erect our fence unlawfully and maliciously demolished at Simbiat Abiola Road, Ikeja.

    “If you fail, refuse or neglect to comply with the above demands, we shall be constrained with no other option but to take appropriate legal actions against you, your office and the state government.”

    The letter read in part that Master reality “has never presented, claimed or made any representation that it is in partnership with any tier of government for its project on the land situated at Simbiat Abiola Road, Ikeja. The project is a private driven initiative.

    “We categorically assert that there is no where (written or unwritten, directly or indirectly) where our client claimed that there is an approval or plan for the project. We restate that your statement is a calculated attempt to misled the public and project our client in bad light.

    “It is shocking and disheartening that you expressly referred to our client as a fraudster in your ill conceived statement to the press. It is astonishing and unthinkable that a reputable conglomerate that has paid well over N11 million in respect of its various projects particularly Alade Market, Ikeja can be offhandedly referred to as a fraudster.”

    “Your libelous reference to our client as a fraudster has adversely affected its enviable reputation, good standing and meritorious rating in the business community particularly among its partners, foreign associates, bankers, investors and subscribers.”

  • Senate okays private-public partnership for refineries’ repairs

    •Oando gets nod for Port Harcourt plant’s job

    The Senate has finally endorsed the private-public partnership (PPP) for the repair of the country’s four refineries.

    The lawmakers kicked against the government initiative, given that the contract given to Eni/Agip and Oando to repair Port Harcourt Refinery did not follow due process.

    The Upper Legislature had suspended a contract awarded to Eni/Agip and Oando Plc to rehabilitate the Port Harcourt Refinery, claiming that it did not follow due process; the Senate constituted an ad hoc committee to probe the deal.

    At the hearing with stakeholders, panel endorsed the arrangement. The Joint Upstream and Downstream Senate Committee probe followed reports that the refinery was to be privatised or concessioned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with Oando and Eni as the preferred consortium.

    Its Chairman, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said: “We’ve heard extensive summations from all parties involved regarding this concession process. Inevitably, partnerships between the public and private sectors are necessary to provide the required funding to rehabilitate our nation’s refineries. We are committed to due process, and in seeking to achieve these goals, sound principles of corporate governance and extant laws must be adhered to, for the greater good of the Nigerian people. Indeed we will come up with recommendations aimed at improving transparency in the oil sub-sector of the economy and at the same time encourage investors.”

    At the event were the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive Officer of Oando PLC, Massimo Insula, Managing Director Nigerian Agip Oil Company, and Aniebor Kraghas, Chief Operating Officer, NNPC.

    Tinubu denied  that already it had a deal on the matter.

    He said: “We’ve issued several rejoinder statements as well as clarifications by the NNPC, ENI, explicitly stating that there is no existing mandate for the concession, sale, equity transfer or privatisation of the Port Harcourt refinery or any of the nation’s refineries. As a crude exporter and supplier of refined products to the country, our expression of interest in the refurbishment and upgrade of the refineries is as a funding partner. Our proposed participation in this effort is an opportunity to drive the country forward and ensure product security is realised. We are wholly committed to the government’s vision to become a petroleum product self-sufficient country in the short to medium term, and ultimately be a net exporter. The Port Harcourt Refinery remains a national asset, under the full control of the NNPC as far as we are aware, and there is absolutely no concession deal in place.”

    Last year, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the Petroleum Resources Ministry to  engage investors with refining experience and funding capacity to partner local players that understand the downstream oil market to revamp the refineries.

    To strengthen international relations, the Italian Government through ENI (an Italian oil and gas company in which it owns 30.3 per cent shareholding), supported the rehabilitation of the country’s refineries, specifically the Port Harcourt refinery, in which it has a long history of technical involvement.

    Earlier this year, Dr. Kachikwu met with ENI CEO, Claudio Descalzi, to discuss further cooperation between the Italian firm and the government.

    The NNPC and ENI, through its local subsidiaries, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Nigerian Agip Exploration (NAE), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote activities that would  boost economic development.

    Kachikwu said: “There is absolutely no concession framework for the Port Harcourt Refinery or any of the refineries.

    ‘’Our mandate has always been to grow our production levels year on year, cost-savings for the country, and increased dollar revenue. To propel this initiative, we realised we needed scale-up in the technical know-how in our 100 per cent indigenously-operated refineries, as well as private sector participation to crystallise the rehabilitation programme.”