The Nation Newspaper

Tag: prospect

  • Nigeria: Cocoa beans farming has prospect

    Nigeria has thrown its weight behind the global efforts to turn cocoa beans farming into an economically-viable venture.

    To this end, the country has joined the  sustainable and traceable cocoa farming team. It participated with other cocoa producing nations at the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) Technical Committee meetings held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

    Present at the meeting on “Sustainable and Traceable Cocoa” were Chairman, National Mirror Committee on Cocoa, Mr. Shamsideen Olusegun Aroyeun from the Cocoa Research  Institute of Nigeria  (CRIN); Margaret  Eshiett; Abdulkadir Jelani Abubakar, and Benjamin Grace  all of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON); and Jayeloa Olayinka of CRIN.

    According to Mrs. Eshiett, who led the Nigerian delegation to the meeting, ISO members have been instrumental in the development of the current draft ISO 34101 series of standards in sustainable and traceable cocoa beans.

    She stated that the draft ISO 34101 series of standards was aimed at specifying requirements for a management system for the farming of cocoa beans, making production more sustainable.

    The SON Lead Delegate added that the draft standard features a dynamic farm development plan, using a stepwise approach to improve the economic, social and environmental impact in the coca value chain.

    The series, according to her, will help support the professionalism of cocoa farming around the world and support cocoa farmers to produce sustainably.

    She further stated that when work is completed on the standards, the use of the ISO 13401 series of standards will have valuable impact on the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their families. She said it will help them transform their farms into economically viable businesses.

  • 2016 economic prospect not good, says LCCI

    2016 economic prospect not good, says LCCI

    Nigeria’s foremost private sector business association, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has painted an admixture of a cautious optimism for the nation’s economy on the one hand, and a bleak outlook on the other for next year.

    While it posits that the N300billion projected funding of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) by the commercial banks would boost lending to the sector, grow agriculture and create employment as well as increase the chances of the countries foreign exchange earnings in non oil export, its thoughts on declining global oil prices and its consequence on government’s revenue, as well as firms honouring contractual obligations to their financiers, were bleak, suggesting that the economy may yet tread a turbulent trajectory in 2016.

    LCCI’s Director-General, Muda Yusuf, in a statement yesterday,  entitled,  Economic and Business Review in 2015 and Perspective for 2016, said: “The targeted N300 billion by the Nigerian banks to boost lending to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and the agriculture sector in 2016 will boost SMEs development and employment and thus increase,” but nonetheless observed that the declining international spot oil price and its fallout will create unease for the economy in the coming year.

    As he put it: “With the declining trend of global oil price and its attendant impact on government revenue and foreign reserves, general business outlook will remain tense. Implications on cost of and access to credit will be undesirable. Businesses, especially those with high foreign exchange exposure, will continue to face challenges of meeting foreign obligations to suppliers and partners,” stressing that “this will also impact contractual trust and integrity.”

    He had no kind words for the Insurance sector either. In his words: “The insurance industry will remain largely underpenetrated with insurance density at about 0.225 per cent. Therefore, significant change in this industry with respect to growth and penetration remains bleak even as the sector is still highly fragmented,” he stated, pointing out that the declining Gross Domestic Product (GDP)  is also expected to strain, to a large extend, the performance of this industry.

    On the much trumpeted subsidy removal, Yusuf, argued that subsidy arrears payment and end of subsidy regime, would likely result in improved market efficiency and profitability as downstream sector players explore pricing dynamics to boost investment. The expected deregulation in the downstream sub-sector, in his view, “will be a game changer”.

    He warned of the likelihood of default across the business spectrum in 2016 due to cash flow hic-ups. “Risk of default in financial obligations in both public and private sectors will be high as macro-economic conditions and cash flow, remain tight,” Yusuf said.

    The LCCI chief expressed optimism that in 2016, GDP growth is expected to rebound ( as against its decline in the 3rd quarter of 2015, when it dropped to 2.84 per cent ), to about 3.5 per cent, if, as he put it, “the right mix of fiscal and monetary policies are put in place to stimulate the economy and attract domestic and foreign investments.” He said while the recovery is expected to be driven by increase in government expenditure, the growth in oil sector may be constrained still by low price and investment drive.

    He said the exchange rate volatility is expected to persist fuelling high inflation of about 10-11 per cent, stating however that correction towards Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) in the form of exchange rate adjustment is likely in the first quarter of  2016, suggesting that this will reduce the pressure on external reserves.

    Yusuf drew attention to the deplorable state of access roads to the Lagos Ports, saying the subsisting situation has resulted in negative contribution to business as it has lead to congestion at the ports resulting from the delay in the evacuation of cargo, high demurrage paid by importers to Terminal Operators and Shipping Companies as a result of delays [which were not their own making] in the clearance and evacuation of cargo in the ports and high cost of transportation for evacuating cargo, among other challenges,

    He urged the Federal Government to fix these roads as a matter of  urgency, in addition to the completion of the Trailer Park within the vicinity of  the Tincan Island Port.

  • Prospect of good harvest excites Buhari

    Prospect of good harvest excites Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed delight at the decision of the emir and the people of his native Daura to honour him with a reception.

    He was also elated at the abundant rainfall in the country, saying with the development,  there would be abundant harvest this year.

    This, he said would represent a sharp turnaround in the fortunes of rural communities.

    President Buhari, who is a farmer and was at his farm in Daura at 7 am on Saturday, said he felt reassured about food security when he saw evidence of the good harvest on the way to his farm.

    He congratulated the emir and the subjects on the prospect of a good harvest this year.

    Alhaji Umar Faruk said the people were proud of the President and his achievements, pledging their commitment to his success.

  • Dangote Cement’s 5,000 job prospect excites Senegal

    Dangote Cement’s 5,000 job prospect excites Senegal

    Leading cement manufacturer,  Dangote Cement Plc has rolled out products from its $300million cement plant in Senegal amid excitement by the country’s government on the prospect of direct employment of about 5,000 of the locals by the company.

    The establishment of the cement plant by Dangote is said to be the single largest investment in Senegal by an African and the Senegalese government promised to protect the company to achieve its optimal production capacity.

    Both the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Senegal, Katyen Jackden and Senegal Director of Mines, Ousmane Cisse commended the doggedness of the Chairman of Dangote Cement in seeing the plant through despite various setbacks.

    Speaking in Dakar, during a ceremony to announce the formal commencement of production at the plant, the Senegalese Director said the government of Republic of Senegal was happy with Dangote as the single largest investor in the country, urging other African entrepreneurs to emulate the business acumen of Dangote.

    The new plant located in Pout district of Senegal, about 75 kilometres East of Dakar, the country’s capital, has a nominal capacity to produce 4000MT per day and 1.2MT per annum. The plant is expected to create more than 5,000 jobs, with a total production capacity of 1.5 million tons annually.

    Nigerian Ambassador explained that Dangote has through his investments in African countries built bridges of friendship across nations, fostering unity and integration among African countries.

    According to her, Dangote Cement has done Nigeria proud with the commencement of production and that she was happy that Dangote Cement has been instantly accepted in the marker because of the high quality grade.

    Dangote Cement, she stressed, needs all encouragement to flourish and that her office would be willing to help in that regard because “Dangote has proven a worthy Nigerian Ambassador in business.”

    Ambassador Jackden used the opportunity to thank the Senegalese government and its people for the support and opportunity given to a foreign investor like Aliko Dangote, stressing that ”Dangote has been able to bring cohesion among African nations with his investments.”

    In his address of welcome, Luk Haelterman, the Country Head of Dangote Cement, said the Dangote Cement offered the best choice for consumers as it is the only 42.5 grade high quality cement available in Senegal market and that the commencement of production will boost the housing sub-sector of the Senegalese building industry.

    ”Senegal with a population of 14 million people is a market with ever growing demand for cement because quite a lot of constructions are going on. There are two existing cement plants before Dangote came on board.

    “But today, Dangote has become the biggest and best because we remain the only company producing the 42.5R, which is better than what we met on ground, which is the 32.5R,” he added.

    Making a presentation on the occasion, the Director of Sales and Marketing, Serigne M. Dieng said that Senegal with 14million people and a growing GDP of +4 percent as of 2013 has cement market of 3MT per annum and consumption rate of 230kg.

  • Iwobi a big prospect for Nigeria — Siasia

    Iwobi a big prospect for Nigeria — Siasia

    Dream Team VI Chief Coach, Samson Siasia has showered encomiums on Arsenal Football Club midfielder, Alexander Iwobi and already tipped him for great showing in the colours of Nigeria.

    Without mincing words on the talent, skills and abilities of the 18 year old talented midfielder Siasia told NationSport that the player will definitely fulfil his potentials in no distance future with the Super Eagles with what he has seen so far from the five days the player stayed with the rest of the players in camp.

    The former Super Eagles handler also disclosed that he would like to have Iwobi to play for his U-23 national team in one of the two friendly matches against Tunisia in Tunis, which the player’s father Chuka Iwobi had promised to persuade Arsenal Coach, Arsene Wenger to ensure the release of the midfielder for the game.

    “As a former International and a coach who had been with players of immense talents, I would say without bias and prejudice that Alex Iwobi is a bomb ready to explode for Nigeria. He is a big prospect and Nigeria is surely blessed with a player that will be a huge asset for the country. I am very happy with the boy for choosing to play for Nigeria. No wonder England also tried to woo him. I am elated to have him in my team.

    “He still needs polishing, but that won’t be a problem because the boy is ready to learn and he has enjoyed his stay with the rest of the players. He also told them he would like to be in Tunis for the two games,” Siasia stated.

    Siasia is also happy that the Tunisia friendly would be a very good test for his team before the All Africa Games qualifying match against Gabon next month.

    “I must thank the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for arranging this game for us. The boys are aware of the huge task ahead and are ready to perform against Tunisia because that will definitely test their readiness for the Gabon match. I am happy because it is a two-legged match which will afford me to have more assessment of my team. We still hope to travel on Tuesday (tomorrow)”, Siasia disclosed.

    “Talking about Alex joining the team in Tunis for the Tunisia match, his Dad has promised to talk to his Coach in Arsenal for the club to release him for the match since he has good relationship with the Coach. So, the NFF is also aware of this and will work in conjunction with Alex Dad to secure the player’s release for at least one of the two friendly games against Tunisia. But he will have to join from England because he is travelling back to England tonight to beat the dead line given to him to return”, Siasia also disclosed.

  • ‘APC has prospect in Kogi’

    ‘APC has prospect in Kogi’

    The Minority Whip of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Adebola, in this interview with JAMES AZANIA, speaks on the quest for power shift in the Northcentral state.

    How vibrant is the  All Progres-sives Party (APC) in Kogi State?

    It’s not as if there are is no vibrant opposition, but the structure of politics itself is against the emergence of the kind of vibrant opposition you are talking about. And, really, you don’t need a party to build an opposition. Every man on the street is an opposition; once their right and their welfare are not attended to. We are all opposition as long as our interest, our right, our welfare are at stake. The whole country is looking up to us as an alternative, but the nature of politicians we have here, they only respect democracy to the extent that it will satisfy their interest. Once it goes outside their interest or their view of what is on ground, the next thing is that they bring in all these sort of tendencies that are not democratic. It’s not that there are no opposition members here, but the party has been structured and totally hijacked by forces that are not truly democratic. You can’t deceive yourself. You can’t deceive people outside. People see us when we are practising real democracy he people know when we are agents of change. So, until we have people that are serious minded, genuine in their attendance of democracy, that is when opposition can emerge. Not the way we are going about it.

    What does the loss of Ekiti in the recent election portend for the future of APC?

    I think it is an eye opener, that we need to understand the people that we govern better. But, in a larger sense, if the APC gets itself together I don’t see it as a setback. It’s a challenge. It is something we can overcome, but that still depends on how well we are able to see it as a challenge. A lot of things has to change; fundamentally, structurally and we don’t have a lot of time to do that. More transparency, more democratic culture, and I am sure we will triumph. It’s unfortunate for the party what happened in Ekiti.

    If the people of Ekiti have made their decision, that means there are one or two lessons we must learn as a party and I think we have what it takes, if there is the will.

    How can the party regain its composure?

    One, people-friendly culture. Two, the party must clearly differentiate itself from the practice of existing political parties, in excellence per se. We cannot afford to do things the way other political parties are doing it. In most cases, we keep saying we are opposition and what other parties are doing we do it; imposition, by-cutting the electoral laws, even internally. So, if we can place ourselves above board, I think it will go a long way for our system

    Are you saying there is no internal democracy in the APC?

    There is, but it’s not enough to the extent to which we think it should be. We think we can do better than what we are doing now. There have been some challenges, especially in some states. We have to create a platform within the system with which we can reappraise ourselves; we can challenge ourselves, we can oppose ourselves, all for the better, not just a one directional thing, or group thing, or a caucus thing or a leaders’ thing. It has to be something that looks up to a new generation, built in transparency and in progress.

    There are crises in some APC chapters. How can they be resolved?

    It’s what I told you. It’s a problem which we have created for ourselves. If we had allowed the democratic process to play its way, even if there is going to be crisis, the crisis is going to be minimal. When you feel aggrieved, when you feel you have been cheated, when you feel you have not been consulted, that is what brings political crisis. But, if we institutionalise the process, if there is a loss it won’t be a bitter thing, you will know it’s the system that has defeated you and you will go and re-strategize, but often times most people are angry because it is not the institution that has defeated them, it is the people there. So, let us build the democratic culture round the institutional process and all these challenges will reduce naturally. That is my view. We still have a lot of chances to make a lot of positive difference.

    Now, we have an exco, which should reach out, soothing nerves, making sure everybody come to the table, examine various interests, then see how we can parley it together, make it work together for the good. I think the APC has a lot of future. But, it has a lot of issues to address within itself.

    Do you believe the APC is an alternative to the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015?

    Yes. With the precedents, with what is happening now, APC is an alternative to PDP any day.

    What does the APC possess that can make the party dethrone the PDP, especially at the federal level?

    Naturally, and with the mood of the country, they are suited as an alternative, with the lots of challenges which the country has gone through since 1999. I think people will want change and see something different. Remember that PDP has been in power since 1999 and of course, nothing has changed; is it poverty? Is it insecurity? Is it provision of basic facilities? Is it inflation? Mention it, all factors are not improving significantly. So, I think the APC in that regards has a chance, because people will want to see something different. That is the number one chance they have. And, number two, I think they have been able to pull themselves together from different areas of the country, this is also an advantage. Then, number three, I think Nigeria is a youthful country, which is why we have to be careful in all the decisions we make as a party. If the APC can position itself as the party of the youths, I mean, about 70 per cent Nigerians are less than 35 or 40, If APC can start from the ideals which we have been talking about, if it can position itself as a party of the youths, I think it will also have an advantage well over other parties.

  • Montverde’s Abdul Bello becomes top prospect

    Montverde’s Abdul Bello becomes top prospect

    Abdul Bello is not afraid of many things. One thing, however, terrifies the native Nigerian, who moved to the United States to play football nine months ago.

    “I am scared of girls … seriously,” said Bello, a Montverde Academy offensive lineman. “I do not like to talk to a girl; very stressed about that. It is hard for me. Sometimes I sweat when I talk to a girl.

    “I try to be myself and try to be friendly, but sometimes people take what you say to mean something different … especially girls, so I just try to be very, very careful.”

    It’s been a difficult transition for Bello, but he is finding everything a bit easier these days. One thing that hasn’t been too difficult for the 6-foot-6, 295-pound Nigerian is American football.

    The former boxer has picked up the intricacies of being an offensive lineman. His athleticism has been a big help, and his desire to learn has also added to his ability to catch on quickly.

    Colleges have taken notice. He is one of the top-rated linemen in the country already, and he’s only played five football games. He is ranked as the No. 5 offensive tackle in the country by national recruiting website 247Sports.com. He keeps his drive and his focus to make his mom proud.

    Mariam Bello owns a retail textiles shop back home in Uyo, Nigeria, which is the capital of Akwa Ibom State. It’s an urban area of about half million people. Her shop specialises in paper goods, such as tissue paper and paper towels.

    “It was a big deal for my mom. It’s kind of hard in Nigeria, raising four kids. She’s the only one who supports my family,” said Bello, whose father died in 2001. “It took like $6,000 to bring me here, so she had to borrow money from different places. … That’s enough for me to get motivated and for me to make it in this game.

    “She tells me on the phone, ‘Do not allow those big boys to break your bones.’ ”

    Bello’s mother had no idea what her son was getting into heading off to the United States to play football. She just knew a good education was part of the equation, and she did not want him to be a boxer.

    “It’s not any problem to communicate back home. I try to talk to my mom every week,” Bello said. “She doesn’t really understand what I am doing, but I tell my sisters and they explain it to her. In Nigeria, no one knows what football is.

    “I had only seen football on TV or movies. When I first saw it, I loved the outfits, the agility. … I just love everything about the game.”

    Montverde assistant head coach Walter Banks, who is Bello’s mentor, says the “sky is the limit” for the 16-year-old football prodigy wrapping up his junior year.

    “When I first saw him run, I thought this is a kid who’s gonna be pretty good because I had never seen a kid, 6-6, 300 pounds moving as well as he did,” Banks said. “He was so raw, but once we started practicing with him with techniques and stuff like that, and he started getting it. It only took me about two weeks to think, ‘OK, this kid can be great.’”

    Banks has watched Bello grow both on and off the field. Bello hated most everything American when he first moved to Montverde. The most difficult thing to swallow was the food. He hated everything he tried.

    “It was very hard. The food was not my thing,” he said. “But if I do not eat, I do not get stronger.”

    He has simple logic he applies to all phases of his life. To be strong, one must eat. To get better, one must work.

  • Eagles duo weigh up Confed prospect

    Eagles duo weigh up Confed prospect

    •Promise total concentration in Brazil

    NIGERIA defenders, Efe Ambrose and Godfrey Oboabona, have said they are bracing up for this year’s FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

    Both players played huge roles in ensuring that Nigeria’s Super Eagles emerged champions at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    Ambrose and Oboabona have been named in Nigeria’s 25-man roster for the busy June schedule that includes the FIFA 2014 World Cup qualification and the FIFA Confederations Cup. Ambrose, 24, is confident that the African champions will put up a good show in Brazil this June.

    “Nigeria is one of the best teams and we want to go there and try to win the tournament. We want to call on our fans to give us their backing and ours is to execute the games as they come,” said Celtic defender, Ambrose.

    Sunshine Stars centre-back, Oboabona, said the squad are ready to take every game at the FIFA Confederations Cup one at a time.

    “For me I’m thankful to God for this opportunity and at the same time, I’m grateful to the coach (Stephen Keshi) for believing in myself and other players based in the domestic league.

    “At the Confederations Cup we will give our best. But we will want to only take each game as they come,” said the 22-year-old defender.

    Nigeria will kick-start their busy schedule for June with an international friendly against Mexico in Houston, USA on May 31.

    The African champions will then head to Kenya and Namibia between June 5 and 12 for crucial FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifiers before jetting out to Brazil for the Confederations Cup.

    Nigeria’s games at Brazil 2013:

    June 17: v Tahiti (Belo Horizonte)

    June 20: v Uruguay (Salvador, Bahia)

    June 23: v Spain (Fortaleza)

  • When it’s a scary prospect

    HER mind was in turmoil and she just could not sleep. Steven, why did you do this to yourself? This was the best guy that she ever dated and it’s painful that he also did not make it. Yes, nobody came close to him in terms of the good times spent together. Then it all looked like there was prospect and just when she thought of wrapping up all the fragments of her life around him, a can of worms tore them apart. “I started seeing a change of attitude and I became very confused. A friend then confided in me and told me that he was on drugs. I couldn’t believe it and I decided to confront him with the piece of information.”

    So, how did it go? “Surprisingly, he was not ready to open up. For the very first time, I saw him getting angry and wild. From that point, I did not need anyone to tell me it was true and my heart began to sink. How and why did he allow himself to get into this kind of mess? A few weeks after he had a quarrel with a friend and he beat the guy to a state of coma. He ran away and a few months after Steven called to inform me that he had travelled out. He also told me not to look for him or wait for him. It was over.”

    Yes, it’s obvious that they could never flow together again. He would definitely be uncomfortable with the fact that I knew he needed help. It took some months for the news to sink in, then suddenly the blanket realisation that it was all over swept over her. Perhaps, it was better it happened at that point because she just could not put the pieces together immediately. Sadly, she had been robbed of yet another emotional opportunity.

    Memories of some of the happy moments shared filled her heart and it was as if he was still there; his ever-smiling face, chubby cheeks, sexy eyeballs and rich tenor voice. Oh no! Where is she going to start from now? How come she didn’t suspect that something was going on? Just before her romance with Steven, she had a nasty experience with a guy who was not comfortable with her success and she knew that she wasn’t going to fly with him. Luckily, or was it unluckily, she met Steven who encouraged her and was an easy-going fellow. But now that they had come to the end of the road, she was scared of starting another relationship again.

    When the emotional matter is more than a fling, then you would discover that a lot of women who are busy, successful and inspiring, sometimes have issues with the guys in their lives. A number of these women actually have men who are intimidated by them and their successes crossing their paths. The reality is that Real Men don’t mind if a woman has a great career, or if she makes more money than they do.

    So what is the big deal? Can being successful reduce the amount of emotional current you dish out? Of course, that isn’t true and it is important to stress that what matters is that the woman still has space in her heart for a great relationship. Nothing actually stops her from your dream woman and all you need to do to reap from her emotional vibes is to make yourself available.

    Like women, there are different kinds of men. While you have great guys, you also have those who just cannot put their act together. Experts believe that Real Men are mature and grounded on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. They might not have everything they want in their life but they are on a great path and open to growing on a deeply personal level.

    The opposite of a Real Man is a Boy. A Boy will become uncomfortable when he gets too close to his own emotions, or too close to a woman who truly sees him inside and out, for better and worse. A man knows who he is will listen, learn, and communicate even when he sees or senses that the woman in his life is unhappy or disapproving of something about him or his actions. The things that will make a Real Man appreciate and admire a woman are often things that a “lesser” man would be annoyed, frustrated, or put off by.

    So, the big question we need to ask ourselves is what does a Real Man look for in his woman? Well, a Real Man certainly would be looking out for a total woman, someone who is a playful. This is something that drives men wild and invites them into a deeper level of “connection” and bonding with a woman faster than plain old talk about feelings and experiences. Men were raised to express themselves and connect with those around them through action.

    For men, teasing is a universal way of bonding and communicating that is like an unspoken language that all men speak. Some women feel uncomfortable with teasing or making fun of a man. But for men, it’s again another way they connect socially. The funny part is, the more you can tease a man and have him laughing and wanting you to be serious for a minute… the more he’s going to be wanting to get close to you and know you better. A Real Man also wants a woman who is independent.

    Unfortunately, lots of women mistakenly believe that men are looking for a “weaker” woman who will make them feel like they are stronger, smarter and more powerful. Men who have their own lives are not looking up to a woman to validate their lives. Neither are they searching for a woman who they can “overpower” so that they feel better about themselves.

  • Outdoor advertising: Challenges and prospect

    Outdoor advertising: Challenges and prospect

    CONTINUOUSLY, rationalizing advertising spend on media, taxes the various conventional media vehicles on the critical issue of relevance and value-addition. For advertising media products and services providers at times like this, value-focused marketing is imperative. To the extent that insight on intricacies peculiar to various media vehicles will help marketing efforts by media platform, it beneficial to learn from on experienced professionals. The following is an excerpt of a paper on the value of outdoor advert media, challenges and prospects for practitioners by the President of Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Mr. Charles Chijide, at a seminar. We at MC&A DIGEST see this is a good piece for our readers in the business of outdoor advertising. Happy reading:

    Characteristically, out of home advertising is focused on engaging the target audience when they are out of their homes (in other words, when they are on the move). The role outdoor advert media are challenged to play bestows on them so much responsibility which has necessitated a lot of aggression, creativity, persuasion and target audience engagement abilities. It is also very obtrusive in nature, ranking the highest need for a measure of opportunity to see, among advert media vehicle options. For well over 50 years, dedicated practitioners have consistently deployed this unique media vehicle for the development of advertising in our local market. From a humble beginning when the conventional billboards and posters were all there was to date, a lot has happened to up the standard and quality of services delivered by this sub sector. We now have global standard digital display panels in Nigeria. Today, we can boast of well over 100 different outdoor media formats displaying across the country.

    In all, the growth indices evidenced upon outdoor advertising business and practice are open to common perception. As mentioned earlier, there is a clear manifestation of local presence of global and innovative outdoor advertising products in Nigeria and a huge upscale in the level of professionalism in the quality of service delivery within the industry today. Today, the business and service of outdoor advertising is handled by trained professionals and focused entrepreneurs. Gone are the days when outdoor advertising service was delivered by the barely literate and artisans. The leadership of OAAN has invested so much in improving the image perception of outdoor advertising practice in Nigeria. Our National association is now a registered member of the world outdoor advertising body, FEPE. Among our goals is enabling practitioners and personnel of our registered corporate members access to global practice standards, new learning and insight and the opportunity of interacting with global practitioners through international workshops and seminars. I can tell you outdoor advertising growth potentials in this market are enormous.

    However, so much needs to bring to fore, as very essential learning for aspiring practitioners and the ordinary Nigerian, to enable a good appreciation of the challenges investors and practitioners face, in their quest for survival as practitioners and the optimization of returns on investment, for the entrepreneurs and investors in outdoor advertising practice. To put the revelations that will follow in perspective, let us look at the practice standard in developed economies.

    Globally, outdoor advertising service delivery and business operations face similar constraints, as a result of its nature. And put briefly, the constraints are:

    (1) Space

    (2) Statutory regulations

    On space, for instance, at least 1,500 cities and communities prohibit the construction of new billboards. The States of Vermont, Hawaii, Maine and Alaska in the same US, prohibits all billboards. In Brazil, the City of Sao Paulo, in 2007, banned all billboards within the city. In South Africa, there is an operating manual known as South African Manual For Outdoor Advertising Control (SAMOAC), compiled and published by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Directorate in 1998. This document is a 124 page manual put together based on a pains-taking research project – just for the definition of outdoor advertising, the extent and impact of outdoor advertising and its impact on environmental beautification and tourism. Nobody or group of people engage in any form of outdoor advertising in South Africa without express referral to the contents of this document. I like to read this quote from the forward from SAMOAC:

    “Outdoor advertising and information transfer fulfills an essential function in modern society. It directs guides and informs as to locality, product, activity or service and contributes to economic growth in general. However, if outdoor advertising is not controlled properly it could have a very real impact on tourism resources and the human living environment, as was experienced in countries such as the United States of America. Most advertisements are aimed at the road user and may therefore also impact on the road environment. Control measures are therefore needed to ensure that road environments will be conducive to safe and pleasant driving.”

    The portion I just read captures the reasons for statutory regulations on outdoor advertising, world over. To a great extent, the need for environmental protection is a good reason for government intervention in billboards erection and outdoor advertising generally – such as is contained in SAMAOC. Take our local environment, for example, the landscape and skyline in major cities and busy towns across Nigeria suffered all sorts of “pollution” from billboard structures due to indiscriminate erection. Billboard cluster resulted in menace, such that outdoor advertising made no since due to the abuse owing from indiscriminate erection of boards.

    The other part of government control on outdoor advertising has to do with rates and levies due government agencies and department for the use of permitted outdoor space (also worldwide). Such payments are statutory and ordinarily come through as permits for display of advert messages and use of public space. In properly structured society such levies are collected directly by the municipal or local government councils with jurisdiction over the geographic space billboards are erected and the advert message displays.

    World over, the two areas of government intervention stated above remain the key consideration for every outdoor service provider. So as investors or practitioners, managing the incidences of these key components will go a long way to determine the extent of any outdoor advertising business. However, if we add “…in Nigeria” to the topic of this paper, the theme of this forum changes dramatically, immediately because of the peculiarities of the Nigerian market. In other words, localizing the challenges facing outdoor advertising, throws up so many oddities that also require the attention of practitioners and entrepreneurs driven by success.

    As we know, any business concern that does not yield adequate returns on investors’ interest and compensate her human resource is not a successful business. So< return on investment will remain the most important measure of success. In the face of that, let us run through the peculiar challenges facing outdoor business in Nigeria, as follows:

    1. Government policies/ regulation: in addition to global standards of statutory intervention, the local scenario is one of seeming confusion among governments and their agencies. For instance, state governments have technically usurped the local governments’ right to outdoor advert levies through their agencies. But because this arrangement is not harmonized properly in some quarters, outdoor advert agencies find themselves subjected to dual level payment – one to the state government agency and the other to the local government who insists to be paid. This all add up to multiple taxation of some sort, and doubles the cost of such corporate bodies’ operations.

    2. Quality of human resource – outdoor advertising practice is still evolving from the days of old when it was lacking in adequately educated practitioners. But to mention, the industry will be better serviced by a continuous growth in the number of adequately educated practitioners. The good thing is that the trend is growing and the situation is looking better. We like to emphasize, from the standpoint of OAAN that our focus is on achieving high level of professionalism in the industry. We therefore encourage corporate bodies’ consideration for staff training and retraining, and the engagement of highly educated personnel at entry level.

    3. Corporate organizational structure – there is the need to cut cost of operation by considering the concept virtual office and outsourcing. The traditional office setting as we knew it in the 1960s through to the 80s is no longer practicable in today’s business environment. Infusion of technology, sharper focus and competences on the basis of comparative advantage will make better meaning in cost-efficient business management today.

    4. Financial discipline among business owners – business ownership and financial discipline is not one of our strong points in this environment. A lot of small and medium size businesses in this economy are organized around “the owners” so much so that there is no clear distinction between the personal finances of the owner and that of the business. Such practice leads to financial impropriety, indebtedness and business failure.

    5. Clients’ commitment to payment terms and pattern – clearly, not all that glitter is gold in real sense. You would be shocked to know how much is owed to outdoor advertising companies on account of these magnificent and spectacular displays you see in Lagos and Abuja, by the clients. As a result of clients’ indebtedness, most of the agencies are reeling in crippling debt that are threatening their survival. Coupled with the huge investment on those hoardings, the impressive digital display panels, payment to government agencies and cost of operations, debt management is one of the major concerns for any investor in this market. We at OAAN are working towards an acceptable financial management system between our member-companies and their clients that will support healthy business relationship.

    6. Industry practice – underhand dealings and compromises for selfish reasons. This is straightforward. We know of unwholesome practice by some service providers, especially those non-OAAN members. In order to make quick gains, the y compromise industry ethical and practice standard to get businesses. Their most potent tool is outdoor advert rates. They drop rates so badly the unsuspecting client shuns standard practitioners, not considering the dangers of unprofessional service delivery. What happens most times with such arrangement is substandard service delivery, abandoned hoardings and disappointment. So, we implore all those intending to practice in this market to uphold set industry standards.

    7. Innovation, research and strategic planning – lastly, the outdoor advertising practice will do better with research and strategic planning. As in all professionally driven business venture, the need for deep market and consumer insights is the bedrock for success. We must at all times be able to tell what the trends are at the market place, gauge extent of efficiency and effectiveness, understand the target audience expectation, traits and habits. Outdoor advertising businesses must begin to look at introducing more of strategic planning and research for greater effectiveness and ultimate market performance.

    In rounding up, the ingredients for successful business management are globally same – diligence and commitment. As we say in business management thinking global and acting local is the only difference in the small details you find from market to market. Therefore, investors and practitioners must begin to widen their scope in quest for innovative business thinking. Outdoor advertising business is the fastest growing among the three conventional advert media options today. It is also the most resilient to change in the ‘new media world’ driven by digital media. In the new direction, practitioners and investors in outdoor advertising must be challenges by innovative thinking, training and retraining, exposure and new business ideas, to drive success.