The Nation Newspaper

Tag: services

  • NIMET to commercialise services

    NIMET to commercialise services

    • Fed Govt to stop funding of agencies in three years

    The Nigeria Meteorological Agency has disclosed its intention to embark on full scale commercialisation of its services as a way to reduce its dependence on government funding.

    Already, the federal government has warned that it will withdraw its allocation to aviation agencies in the next three years.

    Confirming the commercialisation plan, the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka said: “All the agencies have prioritised their work because oil prices have gone down and government resources are not a full pot right now.

    Osita noted that the commercialisation move if achieved will increase the contribution of aviation to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    The minister made this known in Abuja during the commissioning of the NiMet Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre and Scientific and Technical Information Library.

    He said: “This government is investing huge sums of money in the provision of infrastructure, as well as human capacity development, in the Aviation parastatals in order to strengthen their capacity to increase Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), eventually become independent of Government funding within the next three years and scale up the contribution of aviation GDP from the present 0.6per cent to at least five per cent.

    “It is my expectation that NiMet will deploy the resources at their ICT centre, as well as other facilities in achieving this objectives, particularly in driving the commercialisation initiatives,”he added.

    Speaking on the need to go into full scale automation, the minister said: “The high cost of service delivered from Nigerian aviation sector is principally because of the manual and laborious nature of work being done, if we automate most of our processes, we will achieve more.

    “I’m impressed with the level of ICT implementation in NiMet knowing full well that my major thrust in the service is the automation. I believe automation is the future of Nigeria public sector, I believe automation is the future of Nigeria. It creates transparency, it makes you work smart and it ensures that the deliverables are clearly defined.

    Continuing, the Minister said: “I think the level of automation in NIMET is a standard that all other aviation agencies must look at and must adopt. It is not enough that we mouth these words of automation but we must be early adopters of automation. We must implement them and see to it that the benefit of automation is passed on to the customers.

  • Subscribers bogged down by poor data services

    Subscribers bogged down by poor data services

    More than a decade after the telecoms’ revolution, the quality of data services provided by the operators has remained a nightmare to subscribers. Data consumers say the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) should do more to protect them from exploitation, reports LUCAS AJANAKU.

    From the way he behaved at the event, it was clear he had long waited for an opportunity to express his displeasure on the quality of services (QoS) he got from his service providers. So, when the regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), provided telecoms consumers an opportunity to interact with its officials at the last Lagos International Trade Fair, organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), at the Cricket Oval, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, Mr. Taju  Onitiju used the opportunity to decry the poor quality of services and the depletion of his ‘credit’ through continous delivery of text  messages, which he had  sent. According to him, at the last count, sent messages were more than 500.

    As a manifestation of his frustration, he ‘ignorantly’ accused the NCC, which had sanctioned the operators, of complicity in the cleverly orchestrated fraud being perpetrated by the telecoms operators against their customers in the country.

    Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo and Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB), NCC, Dr Atoyebi, took time to assure the audience, including Mr. Onitiju, that the regulator takes the issue of consumer protection seriously because it is one of its core mandates.

    Data users also suffer QoS challenge. While there is key performance indicators (KPIs) set down by the NCC with the consent of the telcos for voice calls, it is not clear if there is any such parameter in the data segment of the industry.

    The CAB, however, said it has been inundated with an avalanche of bitter complaints by data subscribers through its the Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP), Consumer Outreach Programmes (COPs) and Consumer Town Hall Meetings (CTMs). Thus, it was not a coincidence that the last TCP convened in Lagos by the NCC had Data Service Delivery: The Way Forward as its focus.

    Director, CAB, NCC, Mrs Maryam Bayi, defined data service as the distribution of internet service on demand to the user regardless of geographic or organisational separation, adding that it is also the ability of network operators to provide data services to consumers on demand.

     

    Benefits

    The importance of data services to global technological revolution and contribution to national economic and social development cannot be overemphasised. Data services, through broadband would facilitate services such as e-government, e-commerce, e-agriculture, telemedicine, e-education and a host of other benefits. A frequently cited World Bank study found that low-income and middle-income countries experienced “about a 1.38 per cent point increase in GDP (gross domestic product) for each 10 per cent  increase in (broadband) penetration” between 2000 and 2006.

    The World Bank further found that the development impact of broadband on emerging economies is greater than for high-income countries, which “enjoyed a 1.21 percentage point increase in per capita GDP growth” per 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration.

    Mrs Bayi said data services are able to eliminate redundancy and streamline costs. This is because critical data is housed in one location, enabling data to be accessed and/or updated by multiple users while ensuring a single point of reference for updates.

     

    Data service challenges

    Although data services have many advantages, it have some potential drawbacks. These include server downtime from data service provider, data loss in the event of a disaster, and inadequate security of the data, both in its stored location and in transmission among users.

    She said the CAB has, through its Complaint Management Database, identified four major complaints by the subscribers.

     

    Consumers’ headaches

    She said: “Sourcing from our Complaint Management Database, we have compiled the most prevalent consumer complaints on Data Service Delivery. These include inability to browse; abnormal depletion of data; unsuccessful data renewal; and unauthorised service renewal.”

    Inability to browse happens when internet service browsing is not active and a user is unable to connect to the internet. “Subscribers complained most often that they have Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE) on their phone, but they cannot connect to the browser and yet their data bundle expires at the end of the month because there is no allowance for data roll over,” Mrs. Bayi said.

    Abnormal depletion of data is another  nightmare of the subscribers. This occurs when there is minimal or no internet activity while the resulting data usage does not correspond with actual usage.

    Another issue is unsuccessful data renewal, which happens when the data bundle purchased had expired. Consumers so often purchase data, transaction confirmed as monies have been debited, but data renewal fails and there is no active data bundle.

    The issue of unauthorised service renewal is another sore point of the subscribers. For mobile subscription, it happens when consumers’ voice credit gets depleted on expiration of data bundle plan without consumers’ authorisation, thus resulting in drop in air time balance.

    Speed is another challenge. Some of the operators promise the speed they lack the technology to provide just as they lie about the technology deployed to roll out services to the consumers. The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah lamented that the service quality being provided by the operators have become worrisome, lamenting that some of the operators providing services on 2G claimed they are doing 3G and even long-term evolution (LTE) or 4G.

     

    Operators react

    Reacting to the complaints, representatives of the telcos and internet service providers (ISPs) said  most of the complaints arose from the consumers’ ignorance about the working of their mobile phones while others are as a result of the operating environment challenged by a myriad of circumstances.

    Customers Service Executive at MTN, Akinwale Goodluck, blamed the quality of mobile sets used for some of the data hiccups, adding that grey markets continue to flourish because of the issue of affordability. According to him, the amount of data consumed is also important, stressing that the firm has embarked on education and enlightenment for the subscribers. He said the auto-renew of data service for customers was in their interest because if it was not done, data charges immediately go into their voice account, adding that MTN compensates the customer any time it discovered it has indeed, erred.

    An official of Airtel, Ibe Nwandu, said data connectivity is solely dependent on network availability and coverage. Since it is not easy to give what one does not have, coverage continues to be a challenge. To him, the customer is king, so the telco has threshold of notifying customers on their data services. He said the telco has provided options for customers to opt in and out, adding that the organisation would continue to work hard to improve customers’ experience.

    Head, Network Operations, Globacom, Mr. Aremu Olajide, said the firm has invested massively in equipment swap nationwide. According to him, more 3G cites are being built while fibre optic cables are also being laid to complement microwave.

    Olajide did not rule out occasional service disruptions, which may occur when there is fibre cut and transitioning to microwave that may take a little time to achieve. He said there is need for customers to know what they use their mobile phones to do, adding that the telco refunds after genuine complaints are established. He added that text messages are usually sent to customers in respect of auto-renewal.

    Like his counterpart in Airtel, Etisalat’s Director, Customer Care, Plato Syrimis, said coverage remains a challenge. Though the last operator to join the fray, he said, the telco is not giving excuses, but working hard to build more 3G cites. He also said the firm is taking the issue of consumer education seriously as it would help them to save their credits from being depleted unnecessarily.

    Director at Spectranet, Chief Ezekeil Fatoye, said the firm operates on the 2.3 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum  and began offering services on WiMax, migrating to LTE, which limited its coverage, as customers of WiMax could not migrate to LTE. He said customers affected by the technology upgrade were compensated, adding that the network has since been optimised and back, and running.

    Gbolahan Thomas of Smile Communications, said his firm was not guilty of any of the ‘charges’ arguing that the organisation has empowered the customers to do a lot of things on their own. He said the Smile Block is a technology that the firm has put in place to block sites such as YouTube that are heavy data depleting. He said there is also 24/7 customer care support lines, adding that its data renewals are effected through its army of agents present in every nook and crannies of the country.

    Lynda Amaechi of Visafone and Chukwuka Igoro of Cobranet said customer education is central to the issues around data usage and depletion. Lynda said customers could opt out of any of the telco’s services at will, adding that self service on IVR has also been strengthened to help customers.

  • Mitel, Elpazio partner on services

    Mitel, Elpazio partner on services

    Elpazio Limited, a technology solutions provider and the hospitality industry, is riding on the back of the recent rebranding of Mitel Networks Limited, a global industry leader in communication and collaboration, to strengthen its services.

    Its General Manager, Mr. Emeonye Nwazota, said the new Mitel harnesses the original and proud Mitel heritage plus that of Astra,Telepo and Oasiys, to forge a strong business with one mission and one vision.

    Elpazio is the authorised Mitel Networks partners in Nigeria.

    Nwazota said: “The introduction of the new Mitel brand follows some strategic mergers and acquisitions, including the integration of four companies in just over a year. The new Mitel also comes with a new logo and other redefined brand elements, encapsulating a re-energized brand identity.”

    Nwazota said Elpazio, which also got restructured, transformed and rebranded recently from EIL Telecom Limited, is re-positioned for new and emerging opportunities in the industry and determined  to push the new Mitel brand in the region.

    “In this digital world, the success or failure of any company depends on one thing – the voice of the customer,” he said.

    Mitel’s Chief Marketing Officer,  Martyn Etherington, explained that the development of the renewed brand began with an extensive and research driven brand and market assessment, working with the company’s customers and partners. “They, our customers and partners communicated, loud and clear, that their success depends on making connections. And they demand choice and flexibility to take advantage of constantly evolving technology,” Etherington said.

  • Banking thrives on quality customer services

    Banking thrives on quality customer services

    Customers’ kingship in the marketplace is taken seriously by forward looking organsiations. This year’s International Customer Service Week celebrated by banks, presented opportunity for lenders to show customers how much they cherish them. Sterling Bank used the occasion of the event to tell a story of its continued commitment to its customers, COLLINS NWEZE,  writes.

    The need to properly address customer’s concern prompted quality conscious organisations across the world to set aside the first week of October, annually, to promote customer service and honour contributors to service excellence.

    Nigerian banks have taken steps to demonstrate their commitment to excellent customer services by embracing the 2014 International Customer Service Week was celebrated between October five and 10.

    The week-long celebration, is traditionally devoted to recognising the significance of customer service and honour the people who serve and support customers with the highest degree of care and professionalism.

    Leading financial, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, hospitality and communications companies as well as other service-oriented organisations around the world join the celebration.

    However, the 2014 Customer Service Week may have come and gone, but the footprints and the glamour added to the celebration by Sterling Bank Plc will linger in the minds of its customers nationwide especially those who had what could best be described as the ‘One Customer’ experience.

    Customers who visited branches of the lender nationwide during the period were excited by the experience they got and the colour added to it. From the decoration of the banking hall to banners with the message: “Enjoy Exceptional Banking Service as We Celebrate You, Our Customers” strategically displayed, the One Customer T-Shirts worn by the staff and the various gift items on offer to customers, the customers of the bank could only wish that the celebrations never end. Better still, they definitely look forward to the celebrations in 2015.

    Specifically, the bank rewarded its loyal customers during the week by giving out various gift items such as hand sanitisers, branded phones, petts tablets, pocket cards, TV sets, fridges and other unique gifts. This confirms the stance of the bank as one that appreciates its customers.

    “At Sterling Bank, we view Customer Service Week as prime time to recognise our awesome customers through a week-long celebration with activities every day to give our loyal customers the Sterling Bank customer experience”, the lender said.

    A customer with the Kaduna branch of the bank who won a bed side fridge and spoke on condition of anonymity said: “Sterling Bank added a new dimension to the Customer Service Week celebrations as it gave out various gift items to its walk-in customers in all parts of the country and l am a beneficiary of that. This shows the premium that the bank places on its customers and we are really happy about that”. The customer also spoke about how the bank had enhanced customer satisfaction during the customer service week.

    “One thing is to provide quality service. It is another for such products to meet the expectation of the customer to ensure they are satisfied. Sterling Bank has in many ways exceeded their customers’ expectationsby providing consumer – centric products and services delivered in a timely manner. The bank has succeeded in further consolidating its relationship with its customers who are satisfied with its product offerings  coupled with what it did during the Customer Service Week”.

    Mr. Kingsley Okpara, an Engineer based in Aba explained that customer appreciation the Sterling way is unique as it will have a multiplier effect on the bank. His words: “I was surprised when l came to Port Harcourt to pick up some money at the Rumuola branch of the bank and received a gift for doing so. It is fantastic and will affect how I  perceived Sterling Bank henceforth and I  will tell the story to other people”.

    Mrs. Juliana Adebisi Lamikanra who banks with the Dugbe branch of the bank in Ibadan was surprised when she won a fridge on the last day of the week. She said: “Initially l thought it was a joke when l was asked to take part in the lucky dip. l was expecting to win a pen, pencil or at best a school bag, but l was shocked when they read out what l won and, it was a fridge. It was also presented to me on the spot. This is great. It is interesting to note that  banking is no longer about taking deposit and giving out loans, but that of rewarding and celebrating customers as well.”

    A source at the bank who spoke on the basis of anonymity said that the Bank celebrated its customers because “Our success story so far is attributed to the overwhelming support we have received from our customers. This is why we consider them the most important to us and hence the reason for us as a responsible financial institution to celebrate them during the Customer Service Week”.

    Over the years, Sterling Bank has remained consistent in the provision of  quality customer service across its service points and “we are using the celebration to leverage on our  planned enhanced customer service initiatives during the week”, the source said.

    Some of these initiatives already put in place by the Bank to make life easy for the banking public include the opening of additional branches to take the Bank’s quality banking products and services to the door steps of its customers, development of additional customer oriented products and services and deployment of additional Automated Teller Machine points to ensure that customers have access to the bank’s delivery channels at no additional cost.

    In GT Bank, Guest Tellering, an exercise in which top executives of the bank serve as tellers in various branches was  in practice. Skye Bank has equally inaugurated a public-friendly customer care centre, the ‘Yes Centre’, to enhance customer satisfaction and experience. Other banks have also found their unique way of communicating to customers at such times.

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) insists that customers’ expectations have taken a quantum leap in the new global financial landscape. “Financial services no longer involve providing only standard products to customers. The need for financial products to be personalized and customized to the individual needs of corporate and retail clients is the order of the day. Banks would, therefore, need to be more proactive and innovative in packaging and marketing their products,” it advised.

    Experts said that customers’ perception of quality services varies from person to person. Moses Obinna, a market leader in Balogun Market, Lagos, says he is always excited when his bank calls him or sends birthday message to him on his birthday. “I only want to know that my bank cares for me, my family and business,” he said. Another customer of a new generation bank, Idris Akintola says he is interested is getting a timely statement of account and account balance any time he needs it. But to another motor parts dealer at the Ladipo Market, Lagos, Okeke Okorie, a good customer service simply means giving customers the freedom to choose what they want. “Banks are forcing customers to use ATMs even when there is large scale fraud associated with the product. Anytime I make withdrawals across the counter, my bank charges me N100. It is a sad experience,” he said.

    Analysts insist that service-oriented banks should be able to boost staff morale through motivation, reward frontline representatives, promote teamwork among their workforce, raise companywide awareness of the importance of customer service and remind customers of their commitment to their satisfaction. Achieving this, he added, requires adequate staff training, designed to improve service levels, productivity and performance in the customer contact centres.

    Experts say that customer services transcend the way phone calls are answered or promises are kept. It is even beyond listening effectively, dealing with customers’ complaints or improving on turnaround time. Good customer services means to personally know the customers and recognize their individual needs. It is doing what you say you will, when you say you will, how you say you will, at the price you promised – plus a little extra tossed in to say “I appreciate your business.”

     

    Global practice

     

    According to reports, the International Customer Service Association customer service week was created in 1988. In 1991, the Customer Service Group became the nationally recognised sponsor, providing employers with celebration materials and how-to information.

    Reports have it that the Customer Service Group also serves as a resource for professionals who want to share plans and ideas for the event. In 1992, the congress of United States declared customer service week as a nationally recognized yearly event. Same year, President George H. W. Bush signed the Customer Service Proclamation.

     

  • Community relishes free medical services

    Not less than 1, 500 residents of the ancient town of Owo in Ondo State have benefited from free medical service courtesy of the family of one-time legislator in Old Western State House of Assembly, the late S. B. Aruwajoye. The free Medicare was provided for the community to mark the 30th anniversary of the late Aruwajoye.

    The beneficiaries will receive free treatment for high blood pressure, diabetes and eye problems.

    Speaking on behalf of the estate while inaugurating the programme, the newly installed Aruwajoye Ogbeni Oja of Owo Kingdom, Chief Akinboro Aruwajoye, said the gesture aimed at continuing the good works of their late father.

    He said the children decided to embark on the mission to further ensure healthy living of the people, even though they had been involved in the development of Owo community in the past.

    According to him, the late Aruwajoye, who was noted for his contributions to the development of Owo town, left a legacy of kindness and service to humanity which the children were trying to sustain.

    He said: “Our father left legacies of kindness and service to us as his children and to the community.

    “We have enjoyed goodwill from people. We therefore reasoned that it is imperative that we should also give back to the society in order to enhance the welfare of the less-privileged and contribute to the development of our community.

    “During the time of our late father, the community lacked water, electricity, telephone services and other amenities. He worked hard towards providing some of these services which helped in developing the community even from the council level.

    “We want to encourage well-meaning sons and daughters of Owo to join hands with others to render services that will impact positively on the lives of the people.”

    He, however, said the medical mission was a way of enhancing the health of members of the community, especially the aged.

    Aruwajoye said: “We considered those amenities and services which our people lack and which are essential for their well-being. That informed our choice of high blood pressure as one of the health issues that have caused death of many people in our community.

    “We also carry out tests on people to ascertain their diabetes status and eye problems. We are not just carrying out tests on them; we are also providing drugs and eye glasses.”

    The Head of the mission, Dr. Tony Olekwu, said the group was impressed with the turnout of people for the medical treatments.

  • Depositors demand improved online services

    Depositors are clamouring for improved e-payment platform services. They complained to The Nation about poor Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) services, poor network at Point of Sale (PoS) terminals and online payment services.

    A real estate developer, Shina Aguda, said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cash-less initiative, which pioneered the e-payment services is noble, but must be improved to achieve result.

    He said in almost all cases where he used the ATM, the services always failed. According to him: “I have never used the ATM without it having a network issue and this has cost me a lot because I have to keep changing ATM cards on regular basis and this is not fair at all”.

    He said poor network services remained a challenge that the CBN and other stakeholders must address in customers’ interest.

    Aguda said banks could improve their technology and networks in order to replicate the seamless services witnessed in other countries.

    He advised the CBN and banks to take adequate measures that would guarantee safety of customers’ transactions especially those that use internet banking platforms.

    Another customer, Mr Kunle Adeshina, a businessman based in Lagos, said PoS is a better alternative to cash, adding that it is safer.

    He said carrying huge cash attracts risks that should be avoided, noting that poor quality network has made use of PoS frustrating for customers.

    Adeshina said most customers were interested in using e-payment platforms, adding that it is only quality service that will sustain such interests.

    An estate manager, Kenneth Opara, said service quality varies from bank to bank. He advised banks to deploy the right technology in improving services and customer satisfaction.

  • Should churches use comedian in services?

    Should churches use comedian in services?

    For some time now, some churches have been inviting comedians to anchor their services. This practice has become controversial in the Christian community, reports Sunday Oguntola 

    Hell was literally let loose in a new generation Church a few weeks back. The general overseer was fuming. He was livid that the youth department had spent a whopping N750, 000 on honorarium to invite a popular comedian for its annual summit. The comedian, who requested for N1million to anchor the occasion, was persuaded to accept the cut.

    The general overseer, who was away on a foreign trip when the deal was sealed, was furious such amount was expended on someone “who is only interested in cracking ribs.” He wondered if any spiritual enrichment took place when the star comedian featured and castigated his pastors for allowing such ‘ignominy’ take place right under their nose.

    “I thought with all the teachings here and the seriousness we attach to the gospel, none of you will think of such infamy. How on earth can you bring a comedian to our pulpit? How can you expend N750, 000 on a comedian who did nothing but make jests? How much value did that add to you as a Christian? I am ashamed to be your general overseer,” the church founder stated.

    But the youth leadership was unimpressed by the stance of the general overseer. They felt he was too conservative and outlandish. “With due respect sir, I don’t see anything wrong in bringing a comedian to the church,” the youth pastor mildly started.

    “These youths come to church when they are happy. All we wanted was a bait to bring them before we preach the word to them. What we paid is very inconsequential sir if you consider what having five steady members from the summit will bring to us. Besides, we paid from our purses and did not approach the treasury for the fund. We were just trying to help and we see nothing wrong in what we did.”

    The general overseer was boiling by the time his youth pastor finished. He castigated the exuberance displayed by the department and insisted using a comedian in a service was inimical to the church’s health. The youth pastor, utterly disappointed, tendered his resignation. The general overseer was happy. According to him, the pastor was a bad influence polluting the youth department.

    Using comedian as anchors and comperes in churches has become a trend these days. It is not uncommon to see A-list comedians in churches, cracking ribs and smiling to the banks. The trend, our correspondent observed, is prevalent among new generation churches, especially model parishes.

    Those who embrace the idea confided in our correspondent that it is simply to shore up attendance, especially among the youthful elements. “You need more than persuasions to bring youths to church these days. You have to go the extra mile and use popular faces to interest them,” a youth leader, who craved anonymity, said.

    He argued that it is just like using popular singers and artistes to drive membership. “If you ask me, I don’t see anything bad in this. I mean we invite gospel artistes and singers, so why not Christian comedians? They light up the atmosphere and bring humour to play.

    “They make people relax and give room for the church to reach people through some other means other than the preachy angles. It is just as simple as that and we should not spiritualise things in this direction,” a female member of a Pentecostal church in Abeokuta stated.

    The parish priest of St Peter’s Anglican Church, Lekki Lagos, Rev. Asoliye Douglas-West, sees nothing wrong in the practice. He said: “Obviously, and without doubt, the art of comedy is a talent. Every individual has benevolently received some gift of endowments from God. So do the comedians.

    “Then why should we restrict the choice of arena where such talents could be displayed? The church is a very dynamic institution which is not alienated from the environment but in due manner connected to the world, otherwise atrophy would encroach on its fabric.

    “The church is also a platform where potentialities could be identified, nurtured, and energies channelled into creative and profitable enterprise. There is nothing out of place inviting comedy artistes to anchor programmes in the church for as long as they do not poke obscene fun at the revered personality of Jesus or diminish the Holiness of God.”

    Douglas-West added: “Comedy contains satires and caricatures which mirror ills and contradictions of the society. Beyond the rib-cracking jokes and wisecracks, the issues bordering on the wellbeing of society highlighted should provoke the thoughts and conscience of the listening audience to cause a change in our attitude and relationships.”

    But the general overseer of House Favour Church Egbeda, Rev. Bayode Olubo, frowned at such practice. He said: “I hate it because it is a means of desperation. I know they want to use them to invite youths but Jesus would never do that. When comedians come, they offer no inspiration, even if they are Christians.”

    He said the pulpit is a sacred place that must be protected by all means. “The church is the only property of God on earth and it must be protected with consciousness. The Holy Spirit has left many churches because such comedians pollute the altars.”

    The General Secretary of Lagos Chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev. Toyin Kehinde, said there is nothing wrong in inviting comedians to social functions organised by Christians. He, however, said comedians must never officiate in services because they don’t instruct Christians on righteousness.

    “There are Christian comedians, but are they teaching us to be better Christians? Are they praying for us to be healed? Are they coming to instruct us to be disciples? There are also Christian bankers and drivers who work elsewhere and come to church for instructions. Should they also start functioning in churches because they are Christians?”

    Kehinde, who is general overseer of Agape Generation Church Maryland, said churches must rededicate themselves to instruction in righteousness and leave inconsequential acts that tend to subtract as against adding value to their mandates.

    To the President of International Church Growth Ministries, Dr Francis Akin-John, humour is a necessary ingredient among Christians. He pointed out that even God laughs and is humorous. “God has a good sense of humour. Even Psalm 2 says that God laughs. We can be humorous but we must never be jesters.”

    Comedians, he explained, are jesters who trivialise serious issues of great values to the church. “Bringing comedians turn churches to commercial and entertainment centres. People just laugh off serious issues of eternity. These comedians jest on pastors, the church and even God.”

    He pointed out that Ephesians 5:14 warns against jesting that is not convenient, warning to get over the practice of bringing comedians to anchor their services for whatever reasons. “It is wrong and God is not happy about it,” Akin-John maintained.

  • Shared services project

    The Executive Director, Operations and Technology,Mainstreet Bank Limited, Anogwi Anyanwu, has announced the completion of the first phase of the firm’s Group Shared Services (GSS) project.

    Speaking on the project, Anyanwu said the first phase improved the bank’s ability to respond to customer needs in promptly and efficiently.

    He cited some of the benefits recorded so far to include consolidation of 41 Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) centers and 34 clearing centers into one centre thereby ensuring prompt processing and delivery of service. The project, he said, has also led to an end to end processing of many hitherto branch functions from the Group Shared Service Centre.

    Other benefits of the first phase of the project include standardisation of services across the bank, centralised processing of basic customer requests, prompt and seamless funds transfers, instant advice to customers on various types of transactions, and card issuance on the electronic card request management (e-CRM) platform which facilitates processing of all  card requests under 24 hours.

  • Adibba.com, Smile partner for improved services

    Adibba.com, Smile partner for improved services

    TO evolve innovative ways of solving consumer challenges and provide convenience, Adibba.com, one of the fastest growing online retail stores in the country, has partnered Smile Communication to provide increased access to Smile products and services.

    The deal, described as a technical partnership, would ensure that users of Adibba.com services have access to Smile products and services at home via Adibba.com site.

    By placing its products online, Smile now adds the convenience of door-to-door delivery and same-day activation to the list of customer services its offers. The service will be coordinated by adibba.com’s professional delivery network.

    According to the Chief Executive Officer, adibba.com, Chris Udeji, “this partnership is one designed to create convenience for our customers and other consumers willing to join the growing consumer base of the business. Customers would have Smile products delivered to them wherever they so desire as long as Smile service coverage is in that area. This partnership will fulfil both companies’ desire to make access to Smile services easy, convenient and worry-free”.

    Explaining the mechanics, Udeji said a consumer needs to log on to adibba.com, search for the Smile icon and click on it and select the device they want to purchase. “If you already have a Smile Subscriber Identification Module (SIM), you can purchase airtime using your debit card and once the purchase is confirmed, the product will be delivered. The SIM card will be automatically registered and activated for Smile customers,” he explained.

    On the partnership, the General Manager-Sales & Distribution, Smile Communications, Ken Esenwah, said: “Adibba.com was picked after a painstaking screening procedure. We found out that Adibba.com possesses the capacity and technicality Smile requires to venture into this type of partnership and we are very excited to announce that consumers would find this offer irresistible.”

    He added that Adibba.com customers, who purchase Smile products from Adibba.com, would have their products activated and would also receive free delivery of the products.

    Other benefits attached to the partnership, he said, are that customers will receive the products at home or office.

    There is also hassle-free registration and activation of the products. Besides, Adibba.com is an online shopping platform that provides its customer base with an ever-growing variety of products at competitive prices.

    Smile provides a super-reliable, high-quality and affordable 4 G LTE broadband Internet. It also offers high-speed connections of 6Megabutes per second (Mbps) on average up to 21Mbps. In addition, Smile’s products are easy to use and offer multi-user access.

    Apart from offering Smile products and services, Adibba.com product offering include power solutions, such as inverters, inverter batteries, and mobile phones; top brands and accessories, such as computers, electronics, laptops, tablets, and electronics accessories.

    Other products include fashion – men’s and ladies’ clothing and accessories, Ankara style, shoes; beauty and personal care, body skincare, fragrances, hair centre, makeup; home and living: home appliances, kitchen and dining, kitchen appliances, home safety, and home décor; food and drink, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and food (cereal, beverages, etc.).

  • Unity Bank deepens retail services

    Unity Bank has emphasised its commitment to deepening retail banking services in the country through branch expansion.

    In a statement, the bank said the plan is not only in line with its strategic direction, but also a natural progression from its history and antecedents of being close to the people.

    It said the bank’s on-going savings promo tagged ‘3-in-1 Savings Advantage’, especially the road-shows, which took place in Lagos, Abuja, Bauchi, Dutse and Port Harcourt.

    The bank’s Divisional Head, Retail Banking, Usman Abaji, said the road-shows were part of a plan to deepen the bank’s retail thrust.

    He noted critical lessons to be leant from road-shows, especially as it relates to feedback from the people.

    He expressed confidence that the lessons would be internalised and harnessed to further fine-tune the bank’s retail banking offerings and its savings promos.

    of Unity bank, Ado Yakubu Wanka disclosed the bank’s strategic direction, indicating plans to introduce more life-enriching retail products that will cater for the needs of retail banking services consumers.

    The road shows, which lasted for about two weeks covering some days in the month of June and ending in July, afforded the bank the opportunity of taking banking services to customers and non-customers in the places of their primary business in a much informal atmosphere.