The Nation Newspaper

Tag: screen

  • Piracy, indebtedness: book publishers to screen sales reps

    Piracy, indebtedness: book publishers to screen sales reps

    If book publishers can ascertain the integrity of their sales representatives, it will reduce the level of indebtedness by the latter, while also promoting a long lasting relationship between the two parties.

    This is the view of the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), which hopes that in line with global best practices, there should be a new paradigm with respect to approach to their sales representatives.

    Country Manager, Cambridge University Press, Aladesuyi Lawrence, spoke on the theme: ‘Book distribution and the future of publishing in Nigeria’ during a seminar as part of the just concluded Nigerian International Book Fair (NIBF) held at University of Lagos multipurpose hall on Wednesday, last week.

    Aladesuyi lamented that for years, book publishing firms in Nigeria,  have been at the mercy of sometimes dishonest sales representatives who often help themselves to the sweat of publishing companies by refusing to remit cash from sales of books collected from them.

    Aladesuyi said unlike in saner climes, this trend has been allowed to prevail in Nigeria because this is a society where background checks are hardly carried out on prospective business partners.

    He said: “If I registered a company 20 years ago and I want to use it today, I need to revalidate; but to do that, a discreet check must be carried out on me on my various activities including why I refused to sustain that company. But we are happy that now background checks are gradually being carried out in Nigeria because people want to take informed decision.

    Some reps will owe Cambridge (Press) and still run and register with Longman Press. The advantage (of verifying prospective sales reps) is that you are dealing with somebody you know. Human beings are relatively different. Unfortunately, we are also in a society where people commit crimes and damn the consequences. But if you want to carry out a plan today and somebody has to do a check of your activities 20 years ago, these things won’t come up.”

    Aladesuyi who challenged publishing firms to take a leaf from Cambridge style of distribution, described as ‘wasteful’ the manner in which distribution is being executed.

    “Some of us run offices in each state of the federation. Some of us have vans to distribute nationwide, while those who don’t have contract them out. All these make business becomes unproductive,” he noted

    Rather than incur huge bills, Aladesuyi suggested that publishing firms  could have regional distributors at the zones, adding that they could then dump the books at the regional offices for their clients to pick up later.

    President of Nigeria Publishers Association, Gbadega Adedapo, urged government to address inconsistent electricity supply, and ensure improved policy on importation of printing materials.

    Gbadega described the seminar as an eye-opener for NPA to start doing things differently in the book distribution chain.

    He said the event was also to checkmate those who masquerade as sales reps but eventually pirate books.

    “We had always  thought that only the poor patronise pirates, but we realised that it also includes the rich probably because the awareness is not there, while others simply find it difficult to identify the original from fakes. This is why we must as well acknowledge the integrity of our book sellers,” he concluded.

  • Largest LED advert screen unveiled

    Maryland Mall has inaugurated a light-emitting diode (LED) advertisement screen described as the the largest in sub-Saharan Africa and the 50th in the world.

    Accordingly, it took Purple Capital Partners Limited about 18 months to finish the mall, which sits on a land size of 7,700sqm and funded by Stanbic IBTC and Axa Mansard.

    Also, it was learnt that the firm mounted the largest LED billboard measuring 60 metres long and nine  metres high within three months, believing that the board would offer brands great value.

    The LED screen is a major attraction and has features such as a Twitter fountain scroller, video playback capability and a Feedticker.

    Media said these would make the LED a socially-interactive board and one advertisers could utilise for full engagement of the public.

    The managing partner at Purple Capital Partners Limited, Olaide Agboola, said the platform would be a major advertisement point for biggest brands in the country.

    He said Stanbic IBTC, which funded  the mall, has taken a slot on the screen. “We have other strong brands and we are having discussion with others to come on board,” he said.

    Agboola said research revealed that over 5500 vehicles passed through the axis in all directions every hour, adding that this would attract as many eyeballs as possible, which is the traffic that most brands are yearning to have.

    He said: “In every sense of it, the exposure every brand will get is quite significant. This is clearly a major hub for any advertising activity.”

    Explaining whether Purple Capital, which is not an advertisement agency, would contract the board to an  agency for  management, Agboola said the company hoped to continue to get technical support from Rotter Panel in Holland, the suppliers of the board while there would be local training and self-marketing of the board by the company.

    “We want to make sure that every business can negotiate directly to get on the board,” he said.

    Also speaking, Tosin Oshinowo, the architect of the building said the big screen was part of the plan from the beginning. She said the whole planning was for horizontal and vertical revenue opportunity.

    The Chief Executive Officer,  Stanbic IBTC, Sola David-Borha, commended Purple Capital for its discipline and focus. “This successful delivery of the Maryland Mall project showcases the fact that domestic investment fuelled by the indefatigable spirit of Nigerian entrepreneurs is key to driving social harmony and national economic growth,”

    In the same vein, the Chairman, Purple Capital Partners Limited and Capital Bancorp Ltd, Omotola Mobolurin, expressed delight on the completion of the building on time.

  • 93 DAYS’ SCREENS IN DC

    ANTICIPATED Nigerian movie, 93 Days was, on Friday, September 2, screened at the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in its Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Washington DC.

    In attendance were the cast and crew of the film who were joined by other officials from the White House. According to information, the screening received an impressive turnout as guests enjoyed and commended the phenomenal masterpiece that has been created by talented actors, producers and director in Nigeria.

    The screening afforded the producers of 93 Days to discuss the motivation behind the movie and how Nigeria is delighted to its story to the world through.

    Directed by Steve Gukas, the movie is a compelling story of courage, determination and sacrifice as displayed by the team at the First Consultant Hospital, the Nigerian Government and well-meaning organizations in combating the Ebola virus that broke in 2014.

    Present at the screening were Hollywood actors, Danny Glover (who plays Dr Ohiaeri) and Tim Reid (who plays Dr Sam Adeniyi Jones), Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, Associate Producer, producers/executive producers of 93 Days,Bolanle Austen-Peters, Dotun Olakunri, Steve Gukas and other dignitaries such as Jimmy Kolker, Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs HHS, Dr Benjamin Ohiaeri, Owner First Consultant’s Hospital, Dr Sam Adeniyi Jones,Director Office of Global Affairs  HHS, Dr David Brett-Majors, US Department of Defense and Former WHO expert, Kent Brantly, American Ebola survivor, Dr Morris Ibeawuchi, Nigerian Ebola survivor, Bockari Stevens, the sierra Leonean Ambassador to the US, Denas Morris, Center for Disease Control, Elizabeth Sadove, US Food and Drug Administration, Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Amanda Jacobsen, US Department of State.

    Thank you for putting together such as beautiful movie that really told the story and elicited all the feelings of the Lagos experience. I hope the film makes it to many theatres and audiences, said Richard Balliram, HHS- ASPR Division of International Health Security.

    The movie hits cinemas nationwide from September 16.

  • Varsities can screen, say VCs

    The Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) has chided the Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu for not consulting widely with stakeholders before banning the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    Its Secretary-General, Prof Michael Faborode, said the minister’s pronouncement did not take away a university’s right to select its students as the law empowers its Senate to screen applicants before admission.

    Faborode was the guest speaker at the 11th convocation lecture of Covenant University (CU) Ota, Ogun State.  He spoke on: “Benchmarking the quality and relevance of Higher Education for National Development” at the CU chapel last Thursday.

    He said: “AVCNU does not feel that we should make a public pronouncement (on the minister’s directive). Remember, when the minister made that, he also said there would be clarification on how the screening would be done.

    “But for us, the issue is very clear. Remember, Post-UTME came out of necessity because at the time, the level of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam was seriously questioned. It is true that things have improved to some extent; but I feel it (minister’s decision) should have been more consultative and we would have conducted studies to verify the present situation like we did when we started post-UTME.

    “But why we feel there was no need for outcry is that the fundamental right of universities to conduct screening cannot be taken away. The Senate of every university must screen whoever comes into the university and must guarantee the quality of certificate they are awarding. These are fundamental tasks that still remain and have not been threatened.”

    Speaking on how universities in Africa can up their ranking globally, Faborode, a former vice-chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife (OAU), urged them to collaborate.

    “The time has come for African universities to create global academy of commons – a global community of scholars, who although responsive to the local and national needs of our society, nevertheless transcend national polities to practice a ‘science’ that produces collective knowledge for the human community.

    “Such a system would allow our universities to develop to imbibe the corpus of scientific knowledge, apply it to our context, re-imagine and innovate it, and contribute it back to the global economy. It will also allow us to produce graduates who are simultaneously African; citizens of both nation and the world.”

    Faborode who also lamented that underfunding has been a major factor for stunted growth of universities in Africa, called authorities to up their investment at the tertiary level.

    “To bridge the knowledge gap and close the global development, Nigeria especially, must increase the level of their investment in funding higher education, as well as embrace bold initiative for diversified funding by other stakeholders.

    “One of such is to mobilise resources from the private financial sector with government collateral support and loans. A necessary corollary is the adequate provision of scholarship and bursaries to brilliant and indigent students to remove inequity. The universities too need to accentuate their internal revenue generation through entrepreneurial and commercial engagement, applied research output, endowment and philanthropy etc.”

  • Residents urged to screen for cancer

    Rural dwellers over 40 years in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been advised to continuously screen themselves for cancer-related symptoms  in order to detect the disease early and be treated before it develops.

    This advice was given by a non- governmental organisation under the auspices of Project Pink Blue,  in collaboration with Sandvik mining and construction company limited at an awareness and free screening programme organised for residents of Utako community in Abuja.

    Marshal John, the Managing Director of Sandvik mining and construction limited, who organised the cancer awareness and screening exercise,  explained that the event is part of their corporate social responsibility  in ensuring that they look after their immediate communities.

    John said that last year, they ventured into supporting a group in the fight against malaria and this year, they have also looked at it that out of every eight women, one is diagnosed of cancer. “So, we thought it is very important to partner with other organisations in the fight and creating awareness against cancer.

    “It is very important that we talk to our immediate community, and our immediate community here is Utako, we have been in Utako for two years now and the people have been nice to us and it is a way of giving back to them.  So, as a result of that we are going to be scanning over 30 women and 20 men for the various diseases related to cancer.

    “We are making sure that we educate them on cancer,  that even if they do not have it,  they will go back to their people and educate them on the disease. We are also thinking that we will discuss with our office to set up a trust fund for Cancer patients in the FCT on yearly basis,  we are hoping that before our next awareness programme which will be next October we will have the fund available,  no matter how little the fund is,  what matter is for us to start from somewhere and continue to work with the people,” he said.

    Executive Director of Project Pink Blue, Runcie Chidebe, Executive Director Project Pink Blue,  explain that they are community based cancer NGO which engages in providing breats,  cervical and prostrate cancer awareness and also providing support for people who are battling with cancer.

    “We are providing free screening,  which is very important because it ensures that cancer is discovered when it can be treated,  but once cancer is discovered at late stages it becomes a problem. We have cancer survivals that we work with in our network,  because they were treated since they were detected early.

    “We saw the need to reach out to our immediate communities,  who are only concerned about sickness like Malaria and they know less about Cancer. When this disease kills people,  they do not see it from the scientific side that it is a dangerous thing,  they see it at probably witchcraft,  because of ignorance. That is why we have decided to create this awareness for them to know about the disease and how to prevent it,” he said.

     

  • ‘Screen Amaechi now’

    ‘Screen Amaechi now’

    The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group has urged the senate to screen ministerial nominee Rotimi Amaechi without further delay.

    It urged the lawmakers not to give in to attempts of blackmailing the former Rivers State governor by some individuals.

    The group, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, noted that the senate has screened former Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola; his Ekiti state counterpart, Kayode Fayemi, and others, relying on conventions.

    The statement signed by Comrade Philip Agbese noted that applying different sets of rules for the screening of candidates could amount to re-writing Nigeria’s laws to selectively suit one group at the expense of others.

    It said:“He should have ordinarily been allowed to take a bow and go just like the senators have done to many of the other nominees.

    “Unfortunately what we are seeing is a parliament that has increasingly allowed itself to be arm-twisted by individuals with vested interests to prolong what should have been the straightforward screening of the nominee.

    “This will amount to selective justice and negates the principle of fair trial if the senate decides to constitute itself into a court of law by passing a guilty verdict on Amaechi on account of the internal politics of  Rivers State.”

    The group added:  “The senate would thus be playing to the gallery if it fails to understand the fundamental right of a citizen to remain innocent until proven otherwise by a court law.

    “The senate must therefore not give her ears to the voices of anti-democratic elements in Nigeria to deliberately cause a stampede to the expected changes and reforms which Nigerians are yearning for on daily basis.”

  • Can Senate screen Service Chiefs?

    It was one of the things many Nigerians expected President Muhammadu Buhari to do immediately he assumed office on May 29. By the evening of his inauguration, they were waiting to hear that he has sacked the Service Chiefs. There was no such news until last Monday when Buhari gave the Service Chiefs the boot. Also sacked were the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, and National Security Adviser (NSA) Sabo Dasuki. The public was so much interested in the military chiefs’ fate because it believes that they were partisan under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Indeed, Dasuki and Badeh, who were sacked along with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin and Chief  of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu had unwittingly played into politicians’ hands with the way they discharged their duties. The military is known to be a non-political institution, which primary duty is to protect the nation’s territorial integrity. It has to be above political fray to discharge its constitutional responsibility.

    It can only be above the fray by not straying into political matters, which are better left in the hands of politicians. But at a stage, the military or better still its leadership, allowed itself to be used by politicians. The military leadership kowtowed to the immediate past Jonathan administration in everything for what many believe to be filthy lucre. But, why it did what it did is best known to it. Without any qualms, the military took sides with the ruling party in elections without regard for its operational rules, which state that it should distance itself from such matters. At best, it could only help the police in maintaining law and order.

    It was under the guise of maintaining security during elections that the military helped then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the Ekiti State Governorship Election on June 21, last year. Till today, some military personnel are still aggrieved with what happened in Ekiti. One of such officers is Captain Sagir Koli, who spilled the beans on how the military rigged the Ekiti poll for PDP. To save his life, Koli fled the country.

    There is a lesson to be learnt in all this by the new security topshots – Maj Gen Babagana Monguno, NSA,  Maj Gen Abayomi Olonishakin, CDS, Maj Gen T.Y.Buratai, COAS, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, CNS and Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar, CAS. They should strive to ensure that they are not used to fight political fights that do not concern them. They should leave politicians to their wily ways and concentrate on how to save the nation from Boko Haram’s stranglehold. If they cannot defeat Boko Haram and rescue the Chibok girls the change of guards would have been in vain. The sack of their predecessors will only have meaning if, in the discharge of their duties, they meet the people’s expectations.

    But the billion naira question is, is their appointment subject to the Senate’s approval? The answer is capital NO. The Constitution does not confer such power on the Senate. Although, Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 1, 2013, in his verdict in a suit filed by activist lawyer Festus Keyamo, held that the appointment of Service Chiefs is subject to the Senate’s approval, he may not have attuned his mind to the provision of the Constitution in arriving at that decision. His verdict was based on Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation, which states :

    The president, may, upon consultation with the Chief of Defence Staff and subject to confirmation by the National Assembly, appoint such officers (in this Act referred to as ‘’Service Chiefs’’) as he thinks fit in whom the command of the Army, Navy and Air Force, as the case may be, and their Reserves shall be vested. Was the judge right to have used this provision without recourse to the constitutional provision, which grants the president power to appoint his Service Chiefs without seeking the National Assembly’s approval? Again, in my layman’s view, the answer is no and in support of my submission, I cite Section 218 (2) of the Constitution, which reads :

    The powers conferred on the president by subsection (1) of this section shall include power to appoint the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and heads of any other branches of the armed forces of the Federation as may be established by an Act of the National Assembly. From the foregoing, we can see that there is a conflict in both provisions. The Armed Forces Act says that the president may consult the CDS and subject to the National Assembly’s confirmation, appoint the Service Chiefs.

    But the Constitution states that the president will appoint the CDS and the Service Chiefs without recourse to any other authority. Service Chiefs are not ministers, who the Constitution, in Section 147 (2) says can only be appointed by the president subject to the Senate’s confirmation. Being the nation’s supreme law, what lawyers call the grundnorm, the Constitution supersedes any other legislation. Where there is a conflict, the constitutional provision prevails. And in this instance, it cannot be different. The Senate is not constitutionally empowered to confirm Service Chiefs.

    We cannot blame former President Jonathan for sending the names of the immediate past Service Chiefs to the Senate for confirmation based on Justice Adamu’s verdict. He acted in accordance with the exigency of that time. But we can save Buhari from making the same mistake two years after that verdict or we will continue to live a lie – that the Senate is empowered to confirm Service Chiefs, while the president is duty bound to send the names of Service Chiefs to the National Assembly.

    It is in our collective interest for the Attorney-General of the Federation, whenever he is appointed, to challenge Justice Bello’s contentious judgement at the Court of Appeal and if need be, the Supreme Court. We will be expanding the law, rather than allowing this contentious verdict to remain the law, if the attorney-general, who was a party in the Keyamo suit, takes this matter ‘’upstairs’’ as lawyers would say. Otherwise, the Senate will continue to exercise the power it does not have, while the president will continue to act contrary to the Constitution.

  • StarTimes to screen International Champions Cup live

    Coming on the heels of clinching the exclusive rights for the Bundesliga, the management of digital pay TV, StarTimes have said they are further renewing their bid to boost television viewing experience for subscribers, by screening the prestigious International Champions Cup live on its digital terrestrial and digital satellite platforms.

    The 2015 International Champions Cup North America which will be played between July 11 and August 5 will feature the best clubs in the world, competing across 12 regions in Canada, Mexico, England, Italy and the United States.

    Manchester United will face Spanish giant, Barcelona, at Levi’s Stadium while English Premier League champion, Chelsea will also face current Spanish League leader Barcelona at FedEx Field in Washington D.C.

    In total, 10 teams from around the globe, including England (Manchester United F.C., Chelsea F.C.), Portugal (FC Porto), France (Paris Saint-Germain F.C.), Mexico (Club América), Spain (Barcelona), Italy (ACF Fiorentina) and the United States (San Jose Earthquakes, Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls) will compete in the 2015 edition.

    “We are very excited to have exclusive rights to broadcast the International Champions Cup 2015. Football is Africa’s favourite sport and this tournament will certainly be enjoyed by all our subscribers on StarTimes Sport 2, StarTimes Sports Premium and other StarTimes sport channels,”said Gary Rathbone, Director of Sport at StarTimes.

  • ‘Don’t screen Obanikoro’

    ‘Don’t screen Obanikoro’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has reiterated its stand that former Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro should not be cleared for ministerial appointment.

    In a statement in Lagos by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party said Nigeria must not continue to reward persons with questionable character in a nation where good and quality people were not in short supply.

    “Ekitigate scandal is such a weighty and monumental fraud that cannot be swept under carpet as it rocks and undermines the very foundation of our democratic journey.

    “Obanikoro and his co-travellers in the Ekitigate scandal must be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others. When offenders are not punished the hearts of the people are schemed to continue to do wrong.

    “What is the purpose of reappointing the former minister who has just lost out in a primary, if not to continue to use the exalted position to plunder our common patrimony at this critical point in the nation’s history?

    “We in Lagos APC reject Obanikoro, we denounce this reappointment, and we strongly urge the Senate not to confirm him in the interest of the country and democracy.”

  • Tears off the screen

    THERE were moments of gloom for the Nigerian entertainment world. Moviedom was thrown into a mourning when, in the month of April, its matriarch and pioneer, Amaka Igwe passed on to eternal glory.

    According to reports, Amaka had gone to Enugu in company of her husband for a pre-production preparation for a new Igbo sitcom when the sad incident occurred. She was said to have suffered asthmatic attack and was immediately rushed to a hospital, but died before getting there.

    Amaka is survived by her husband of 21 years, Charles Igwe, three children, and an aged mother. Born Amaka Isaac-Ene, the deceased was an accomplished writer, producer, director, entrepreneur and teacher.

    She founded the BoB TV Expo, and was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Top Radio 90.9 FM, Amaka Igwe Studios, and the newly-launched Q Entertainment Networks. Amaka hit national limelight as the writer and producer of the award-winning TV soap, Checkmate and Fuji House of Commotion.

    The entertainment world was yet to recover from the death of Igwe when, in the month of June, the news of the passing on of one of its musical greats, Kefee Don Momoh nee Obareki broke. The singer reportedly fell into a coma while on a flight to Chicago, United States. The plane was forced to make an emergency landing and she was rushed into the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital in Los Angeles. She died few days later.

    Again, in October, the industry recorded another death, when it woke up to the news of the demise of Taiwo Oshadipe, one half of the popular Oshadipe Twins singing duo. The sensational and dynamic identical set of twins Taiwo and Kehinde Oshadipe are known for contemporary, inspirational and specifically gospel music.