The Nation Newspaper

Tag: promote

  • NTDC to promote tourism assets

    NTDC to promote tourism assets

    Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Director General Mr. Folorunsho Coker has promised to create a brand to promote the tourism assets in Borgu community in Niger State.

    He said new forms of tourism now exist in addition to the traditional ones, hence the need to use technology to drive the promotion and marketing of the Nigerian tourism assets.

    Coker spoke when he received the Emir of Borgu Kingdom, Muhammed Sani Dantoro (Kitoro IV), in his office  at the Corporation’s headquarters in Abuja.

    He expressed the readiness to work with the people in charge of the tourism assets of Borgu to explore the potential, which according to him, will hugely benefit the community, Niger State and Nigeria.

    The NTDC boss, who underscored the importance of Public-Private-Partnership in the bid to promote the Nigerian tourism assets, said: “joint venture is the way forward to sponsoring tourism promotion and development in Nigeria.”

    “We will work towards making Borgu International Dubar live up to its name, while also working on a digital campaign to market the tourism assets of Borgu to tourists, the community and the international community,” Coker noted.

    The Emir of Borgu, HRM Dantoro, earlier in his speech described the appointment of the NTDC boss as apt, saying it came at when the Nigerian government is diversifying the economy of the nation.

    “We know Coker will make the Corporation and the nation proud by improving the lots of the nation’s tourism industry, hence we are here to liaise with the NTDC to explore the tourism potentials in Borgu to the benefit of the community, state and the nation at large.

    “It is of note that Borgu’s landscape is dotted with enviable tourism potentials: It has the first National Park established by the federal government; the only West African English Speaking College of Wide Life School and the landmass is a combination of culture and agriculture. All these are readily available for exploration,” Dantoro said.

    The Emir of Borgu disclosed that the willingness of the Niger State Governor to develop tourism in the state, while he promised to establish a resort to be called Shagunu.

  • Herbal Pro partners Smooth FM to promote good health

    Herbal Pro partners Smooth FM to promote good health

    •Sponsors ‘Get it Show’ 

    Herbal Pro Limited has partnered Smooth 98.1 FM to air a health and wellness show called ‘Get fit with Lepacious Bose’.

    Lepacious Bose is the ambassador for EZ slim weight loss pill, manufactured by Herbal Pro.  The debut of the programme has been aired.

    The firm’s Managing Director, Kishore T. Uttamchandani, said the show is aimed at informing, educating, and providing an interactive platform where issues centred on health and wellness can be discussed.

    “Herbal Pro is passionate about healthy weight loss and general wellness using herbal solutions, such as EZ Slim and others we are planning to introduce. We are excited to partner Smooth 98.1FM as part of our other avenues for educating people on the best health and weight loss practices.

    ‘’Our brand ambassador Bose has a lot to share when it comes to healthy living and weight loss and we are glad we have this avenue for her to share it, Uttamchandani said.

    Kishore also announced that the  show would be aired every evening of Tuesday and Thursday.

    During the maiden edition, EZ Slim, Bose  announced that Herbal Pro would soon be unveiling more herbal drugs to improve the health as well as combating stress, fatigue and ensuring a better quality of life.

    Bose also said free packs of EZ Slim would be given to select listeners who call into the programme.

    Herbal Pro would also give out free packs of EZ Slim on their Instagram page @EZSlimNG to promote healthy weight loss as well as give back to loyal customers, she added.

  • NTDC to promote Nigeria through technology

    NTDC to promote Nigeria through technology

    THE newly-appointed Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, has pledged to use new technology in the promotion and marketing of Nigeria as a destination.

    He said this when representatives of  the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Travel (ANJET) paid him a courtesy visit.

    Folarin-Coker, who was reacting to a 13-point agenda presented to him by the ANJET, which is the umbrella body of tourism and travel writers in the country, during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja,  noted that modalities of marketing Nigerian destinations has gone beyond traditional brochures, flyers, leaflets to the online technology.

    He said  the marketing of Nigerian tourism is better driven through the platform of new technologies provided by the social media, which he posited, has the capacity of reaching millions in one single message, hence his resolve to leverage on it to promote and market the country’s attractions.

    “We have to accept that the dynamics of tourism marketing has changed and then proceed to embrace it. In the same manner, we also need to identify our key products in comparative terms. What do we have that others don’t have? That is what we have to identify and market,”he said.

    Folarin-Coker revealed parts of his blueprint for the industry which include prioritizing the growth and development of the domestic industry.

    “Right now, our entertainment and hospitality have become our selling point, and with that we identity our niche market and age bracket of that market.

    ”Our fashion and film industries under the entertainment are already known all over the world. We need to key into these markets and indentify the segment of the society shopping in that market.

    ”My focus for now will be the development of the domestic industry which I believe is much more sustainable and which, if properly done, will drive the international market for us. If we are able to get it right, then, the international segment will naturally take care of itself. We have to start from home,” said Folarin-Coker.

    The DG, who promised to study with his management team the 13- point agenda presented to him by ANJET, described the journalists as ambassadors of Nigerian tourism who have the capacity to make or mar any attempt at repositioning the industry.

    “For you the journalists, you are the ambassadors of Nigerian tourism, so for that, we must reach a pact to safeguard our products and objectively point out the way forward. This is so because in this digital age, your words carry effect and reach to influence opinions and viewpoints around the world,” adding that himself and the NTDC are now corporate members of the travel journalists’ body in order to strengthen the bond of relationship for the mutual benefits of all.

    Earlier, the writers in the presentation read by the leader of the delegation, Andrew Okungbowa, had charged the DG to, among other things, restructure the corporation, create a model for Nigerian tourism, restructure and repackage some of the country’s tourism products, evolve a tourism plan of action, improve on data collection, produce a workable tourism calendar, liaise with relevant stakeholders and governments at all levels to grow the domestic brand, as well as restructure domestic tourism.

    The five-member ANJET delegation was received by the entire management board of the NTDC.

  • ‘Promote Yoruba unity’

    A group, Oyo Youth Forum (OYF), has urged a security expert, Sunday Adeyemo (a.k.a Sunday Igboho) to use his position as the Akogun Oodua Ile Yoruba to promote peace and unity in the Southwest.

    Speaking with reporters in Ibadan at a reception organised for him, OYF President Segun Oluwafemi said the reception was organised for to appreciate and encourage Igboho to continue to promote unity and stability in the Southwest.

    Oluwafemi described Igboho as a right activist always fighting for the Yoruba.

    He said Igboho played a very commendable role in promoting peace in the Southwest.

    Adeyemo thanked OYF for appreciating him and also promised to continue his good works. He thanked traditional rulers in the Southwest for their support and advice.

  • Police promote 2,058 senior officers

    Police promote 2,058 senior officers

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) yesterday announced the promotion of 2,058 senior police officers to their next ranks in line with its resolve to ensure prompt elevation of deserving officers.

    Mr Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations of the commission, said in a statement that the beneficiaries included a Commissioner of Police promoted to Assistant Inspector General of Police and 99 Superintendents of Police elevated to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police .

    Others are 754 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) promoted to the rank of Superintendent of Police and 1,203 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP) to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.

    It also said that one Police Inspector was elevated to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASPII).

    The Chairman of PSC, Mr Mike Okiro, said the promotions were based on merit, seniority and availability of vacancies, the statement said.

    It reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensure that deserving police officers were promoted when they were due as motivation.

    The statement urged the promoted officers to continue to give their best in the service of the nation, pointing out that the security of lives and property of Nigerians and others living in Nigeria was not negotiable.

    The statement said the list of the promoted officers had been conveyed to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, for implementation.

  • K1 to promote Geely automobile

    K1 to promote Geely automobile

    As Governor Biola Ajimobi of Oyo State prepares for the take-off of Geely Automobiles project, one celebrity who is expected to influence fans to patronise the relatively new product is Fuji music star, Wasiu Ayinde, aka K1 De Ultimate.

    Sources say everything is in place for the auto brand that will be assembled in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, before the end of the first quarter of this year, and K1 will soon be launched publicly as its brand ambassador.

  • DFID, KACCIMA to promote local rice

    The retailsector project of Growth and Employment in States (GEMS), a Department for International Development (DFID) funded  project in Nigeria, in collaboration with Kano Chamber of Commerce Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA) , has organised the first Kano made- in- Nigeria Rice Fair.

    Rice fair, aimed at creating a link between rice producers and rice marketers, is to discourage the importation of foreign rice to the country the Federal Government.  It is to also encourage promoting locally produced rice, creating market for it and also raising the awareness of the public on Nigerian rice brand.

    Addressing participants at the fair, the Head, GEMS4 Wholesale Retail Sector Project, Mr. Tunde Oyerinde, said the project is a market development initiative and that the project has the mandate to stimulate market system changes that encourages growth and access to funds which  will in turn result into the creation of 10,000 new jobs as well as  increasing the income level of 500,000 people, especially the poor, rural  dwellers and women.

    According to him, it is disheartening to note that despite the increase in the consumption of rice, integrated commercial mills are not producing at full capacity. Oyerinde noted that it is also good to hear that the mills have started processing local rice rather than processing imported rice. “We would like to see new relationships developed and also wish to see supply chain deals signed between commercial rice mills, major distributors and the banks,” he said.

    Earlier in his welcome address KACCIMA president Farouk Rabi’u Dansulaika stated that the initiative will strengthen the chamber’s support to local rice market with the zeal of making it a center for export as against importation of rice.

  • Professor, others get $4.5m to promote vegetables

    To promote indigenous vegetables, professor of Soil  Science at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife , Duro Oyedele, will receive $4,450,000 million for a project to promote indigenous vegetables.

    The project, which will be in partnership with the Osun State University, University of Parakou, Republic of Benin, University of Manitoba and University of Saskatchewan, Canada, is to advance the Under-Utilised Indigenous Vegetables (UIVs) in Southwestern Nigeria and Benin Republic.

    In Nigeria, according to findings,  more than 1,000 farmers increase their yield and income by using improved farming practices to grow UIVs. These improved farming practices were developed during the field research carried out in Southwestern Nigeria. In Benin, fertiliser micro-dosing and rain water harvesting techniques also helped more than 10 thousand farmers achieve equally beneficial results with other crops despite degraded soil.

    The team of Nigerian, Beninoise and Canadian researchers are now combining these two innovations to bring the farmers’ practices to 50,000 farmers. The recommended farming techniques will be spread through demonstration trials, outreach efforts, supports and trainings for seed producers and marketers, by establishing local committees to address issues such as productivity and marketing.

    Support to indigenous vegetables farming and processing business will increase demand and improve income of 1,000,000 West African farmers and the  University of Manitoba  in Canada.This project is among the four international projects that have been collectively awarded $17 million by the  International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. They are part of an effort to scale up the most promising research supported under IDRC- Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF).

    The CIFSRF is a  programme of IDRC, Canada, undertaken with financial support of the government of Canadian provided through Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Canada. The fund support research to increase food security in developing countries while fostering collaboration between developing-countries researchers and Canadian experts.

  • Promote embedded power generation, Nebo tells NERC

    Promote embedded power generation, Nebo tells NERC

    •NIPP Transmission Station inaugurated

    MINISTER  of power, Prof Chinedu Nebo has directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to create incentives, such as tax holidays and cost-reflective tariff, among others, to woo investors to build embedded power generation plants to boost supply.

    He spoke in Lagos after inaugurating the Niger Delta Power Holding Company’s 330/132/33kv transmission substation, 2x300MVA on 330/33kv and 2x60MVA on 132/33kv facilities built under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).

    Nebo, who represented Vice President Namadi Sambo, said the adoption of embedded power generation is key to solving the nation’s power problems because it is easier to build embedded power plants and get them connected to the national grid.

    He said the government has put in place a policy that will ensure the implementation of embedded type of power generation.

    He said: “Embedded generation is the fastest way to bring  light to Nigerians. We have policies that give that direction. What we are working on now is to incentivise the investors because it is much easier to and much more proficient to do 10 different 20 megawatts (MW) power stations than to do one 200MW power station.

    “Building a 200MW power station will take you three-to five years but you can deploy these other ones within a year. So embedded generation is the key and NERC has been directed to ensure that whatever needs to be done by the regulatory agency to make sure that people are incentivised to do embedded generation.”

    He continued: “The problem that we have always  is lack of transmission infrastructure. There is so much congestion in the Lagos line, so there is need for expansion, making available much larger transmission capacity so that current and voltage coming into Lagos will always be stable and reliable. One major significant solution is this one transmission substation. It gives relief to Ikeja West substation and makes it easier for power to get around in very good quality and reliable form.”

    He noted that about 6,000 megawatts (MW) of power can be generated if gas is available but the challenge  is the activities of vandals,  adding that the only way to stem vandalism is by digitising the entire gas and oil pipelines, which requires a huge sum of money.

    He added: “The fact is that quite recently, there has been contract for the monitoring of the pipelines but you know that vandalism in my own opinion, especially with regard to gas pipeline is pure sabotage. So, no matter what you do to stop it, people will find ways of making it difficult for the power that is available in Nigeria to be distributed to Nigerians. These are very unpatriotic people. One way and that is extremely expensive and Mr. President is committed to that is by digitising the entire gas and oil pipeline and you can do this by integrating fibrotic cabling throughout. You know we are talking of thousands of kilometres of pipelines and the cost is quite prohibitive. But unless that is done, we will still be at the mercy of these vandals. For instance, we can generate between 5000MW and 6000MW of power if the gas is available. But when the gas pipelines are shut down on a regular basis, there is no way we can get there. We cannot establish if the pipeline vandalism is political or economic but all we know is that it is pure sabotage. But the fact is that some people have been arrested, prosecuted and convicted and yet it continues just like armed robbery.”

     

  • World Bank to promote solar power

    The World Bank Group has launched the ‘Scaling Solar’ initiative to help create a viable market for solar power projects in Africa and increase supply of energy for millions across the continent.

    In  a statement issued by Ejura Audu of  Africa Communications,  the  bank announced the launch of Scaling Solar at the Powering Africa Summit in Washington DC.

    The summit is a gathering of African ministries, and utility companies that came to discuss ways of improving access to energy in the continent.

    Scaling Solar aims to create a viable market for private solar power projects in Africa that will help governments increase the supply of energy for millions of residential and commercial consumers across the continent. Scaling Solar reduces the development time and uncertainty for bidders and investors, while lowering tariffs for utilities, which ultimately benefits consumers.

    “The World Bank Group is committed to promoting sustainable universal access to modern energy in Africa, and Scaling Solar is a key step towards attaining this goal,” said Jean Philippe Prosper, IFC Vice President for Global Client Services. “By quickly delivering affordable electricity to previously unreached populations, significant progress can be made on other development goals,” he added.

    Africa has some of the world’s most abundant solar resources, yet more than a third of the population lives without electricity. Investors developing private solar projects in Africa are often deterred by a variety of obstacles, including the unique features and structures of the different markets, high transaction costs, heavily negotiated agreements, and high perceived risk and cost of capital. As a result, the region continues to struggle with slow, relatively expensive and ineffective solar development, which impedes access to electricity, the World Bank Group said.

    The World Bank said that large-scale photovoltaic solar power can be quickly and economically developed to increase the supply of electricity to national grids and improve the reliability of power services for households and businesses. Scaling Solar provides a straightforward package to help countries determine the size and location of projects, then auction them competitively to developers. The initiative combines World Bank guarantees, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, (MIGA’s) investment guarantees, and IFC financing to mobilise privately funded solar projects that are connected to the grid.  A simplified process and suite of contract templates significantly speeds this process to enable initial electricity production to begin within two years of initiating an engagement.

    “The countries we work with in Africa to support the development of solar energy look to the World Bank Group for our full suite of services – from technical knowledge and innovation to guarantees and financing,” said Anita Marangoly George, World Bank Senior Director for the Energy and Extractives Global Practice. “Through Scaling Solar, we are able to respond nimbly and effectively to this growing area of demand.”

    Scaling Solar builds on the World Bank Group’s experience in promoting small and larger-scale solar power development in emerging economies around the world and on South Africa’s successful Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPP).

    Scaling Solar will lower the cost of solar by helping governments to procure solar power competitively and enhance the provision of sustainable energy in Africa.

    “This initiative offers a framework that allows countries to rapidly and efficiently mobilise private capital into solar projects with high development impact without having to start from scratch,” added Edith P. Quintrell, MIGA’s Director of Operations.