The Nation Newspaper

Tag: unveils

  • PETAN unveils activities for U.S. confab

    PETAN unveils activities for U.S. confab

    The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has released programme of activities for the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) scheduled for next week in Houston Texas, United States (U.S).

    In a statement, it said: “Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) is an annual gathering of thousands of people from around the world with interest in oil and gas, comprising policy makers, operators, professionals, manufacturers, business executives, entrepreneurs and visitors. It avails the attendees an opportunity for engagement with key players in the industry. Nigerian delegation includes the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), international oil companies (IOCs), independents, international and indigenous service companies, investors and representatives of government agencies.

    “PETAN is again at the forefront coordinating the Nigerian Pavilion at the OTC May 4th to 7th  at the Reliant Stadium, Houston Texas, USA.”

  • Ecobank unveils Advantage Banking service

    Ecobank unveils Advantage Banking service

    Ecobank Nigeria has unveiled Advantage Banking, a dedicated service for the mass affluent and upwardly mobile segment of society. Advantage Banking by Ecobank offers convenience and ease in carrying out banking transaction for customers within the category.

    The Advantage Banking initiative which suggests the redefinition of banking service in Nigeria is characterised by the design of special products that suit the life style of people within the segment. This would make banking much simpler, friendlier, more engaging and more personalised.

    Unveiling an Advantage Service Lounge in Lagos, its Deputy Managing Director,  Mr. Anthony Okpanachi said service is an extension of the bank’s strategy to offer its customer dedicated banking service across all customer type. According to Mr. Okpanachi, it is designed in such a way to “ensuring our customers get the quality of service they desire. We have a bouquet of lifestyle enriching products available to address their day-to-day banking needs. We provide them a dedicated relationship manager, who follows them, providing all their banking needs where ever they may be or in whatever they do”.

    Also speaking, its Executive Director,  Kingsley Umadia said the vision to create Advantage Banking Service by Ecobank follows continuous interaction with the average bank customer in Nigeria which reveal that there is a dare need to personalise engagement with the individual.

    He emphasised that the customer would rather be treated as a separate entity having his/her individual and peculiar needs resolved in a tailor made fashion to get maximum satisfaction and endearment to the brand. Mr. Umadia emphasised that the initiative is about building a rewarding partnership with customers by meeting their financial, investment and lifestyle needs when it matters most.

    He listed some of the special privileges of the Advantage customer to include a dedicated relationship manager, who follows the customer, providing all his/her banking needs; entitlement to a Zero COT on Salary Accounts; access to e-banking and remittance services; access to overdrafts on salary account that act as extra cash whenever the need arises.

  • Verve unveils new campaign on Africa business

    Verve unveils new campaign on Africa business

    Determined to promote and celebrate Africa’s heritage and promote homegrown entrepreneurs and businesses, Verve International (‘Verve’), a homegrown pan-African payment card brand, has launched ‘Verve, Truly African’-a new platform to celebrate Africans.

    At the unveiling of the campaign in Lagos, recently, the Chief Executive Officer, Verve International, Charles Ifedi, said  over the next three months, Verve will celebrate everything that makes Africa great, and give Africans the opportunity to showcase to the world their unique talent, skills and ideas.

    Part of the event slated for the campaign include: Verve sponsorship of the African Magic Movies Choice Awards (AMVCA), the launch of a new TV commercial, and a social media campaign that asks Africans to tell the world about their aspirations and what it means to be African today.

    “At Verve our vision is to create a totally interconnected continent where all Africans can feel the benefit and take advantage of rapid economic expansion and increasing prosperity.

    “ More and more African entrepreneurs and homegrown businesses are showing the world that they have the skills, creativity, and determination to take on some of the biggest international businesses. Through this campaign we will be giving Africans everywhere the opportunity to showcase their unique talent,” said Ifedi.

    Also, the Chief Marketing Officer, Interswitch Cherry Eromosele said:”We are thrilled to unveil our new ‘Truly African’ campaign to celebrate everything that makes Africa a vibrant and exciting place to be.  Africans, he noted, are using their heritage and identity to build businesses that are truly African in their outlook and provide services highly tailored for tAfrican consumers.

    “At Verve we have created a brand that represents the values and aspirations of Africans everywhere, and this is the essence of this campaign: to capture and celebrate the unique attributes of Africans.

    “As the homegrown payment card that supports millions of direct and indirect jobs across the continent, every transaction made with a Verve card is an investment in Africa’s future.”

    Verve is an African payment solutions company. Part of the company’s offer is a pan-African chip + PIN payment card. The Verve card is the leading payment card brand in Nigeria, with over 14 million cards in active use, significantly more than any other provider.

  • Polo Avenue unveils Spring /Summer Collection

    It was an opulent shopping affair at Victoria Island, Lagos a few days ago when Polo Avenue Luxury Store unveiled its Spring/Summer collection.

    The new season collection included goods from international luxury brands, such as Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo, among other leading international brands.

    The Polo Avenue Store is a subsidiary of the Polo Luxury Group, an American firm which provides luxury goods in clothing, leather goods, fashion accessories, shoes, and fragrances. The   growth of the Polo Luxury Group and the growing demand for luxury goods in Nigeria led to the formation of Polo Avenue, a multi brand specialty retail store, which provides customers easy accessibility to top tier international luxury brands.

    At the event, guests from all works of life had opportunities of seeing top designer items firsthand, making purchases from all collections available. One striking feature in this store is that goods sold here goes for the same price at its other outlets across the globe, thus eliminating the cost of travelling abroad to buy designers items.

    The Boutique Manager, Polo Avenue, Ms.Titilola Akinkugbe, reiterared that the spread of the boutique would save lovers of quality products the stress of travelling abroad. “Rather than flying a plane abroad to buy the same products that we have here, it is advisable to get same items here at the same price. We give you what you are going abroad to look for and at the same rate, you are not paying more,” she said.

    She added that another  unique attribute with the boutique is that old stocks are available on discounts unlike abroad, where one is not sure of getting old stock except he places order for it.

    “This has given us an edge over others; we have numerous customers from far and near; we also welcome prospective ones. At Polo Avenue, we are aware that Nigerians love colours, therefore we have brought in top colourful designs from some of the best designers in the world. This season’s collection is unique with its burst of vibrant colours and feminine feel, appealing to more women across the country,” she explained.

    Ms. Akinkugbe said stocked goods in the Polo Avenue Store are available at fair and comparative prices which can also be compared with prices of same luxury goods internationally. Her words: “Although  no African designer feature in this season’s collection, we continue to project and promote the creativity of African  luxury designers by retailing  their goods for purchase within the store.”

    Executive Director , Polo Luxury Group Jennifer Obayuwana, at the event unveiled the new season’s brand Ambassador, Ms. Osas Ighodaro. He described her as the “obvious choice” because  “her drive in  positively representing women by being the best in her field, finely complements the Polo Avenue brand which continues to celebrate the positive successes of women across all works of life”.

    Adding glamour to the event was  the unveiling of the Polo Avenue brand ambassador for the year. Ighodaro told The Nation Shopping that she was proud to be the ambassador of Polo Avenue. She thanked the Polo Luxury Group for selecting her, adding that the Polo Avenue brand is of particular interest to her as the brand represents innovation in fashion to Nigerian and African luxury customers at large.

    She added that she was glad to represent the brand in providing goods to meet the inner desires of various women and across numerous spheres of life.

    After one year, Polo Avenue intends to spread its tentacles to all parts of the country and  Africa, including Ghana.

  • Foundation unveils Sally The Artist

    Director-General, of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Dr. Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo, will on February 22 exhibit some of works as part of activities to mark her 50th birthday. She will present a charity art exhibition tagged: Sally The Artist,  featuring her paintings and a coffee table book containing over 150 of her paintings at the Banquet Hall of the Civic Centre on Victoria Island, Lagos at 4pm. It be followed by a dinner at 6 o’clock.

    Earlier in the day, a thanksgiving mass will hold at the Holy Cross Cathedral (Catholic Church), Lagos Island, opposite City Hall, Lagos, by 8am. On Monday, there will be a service at the Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Musa Yar’Adua Street on Victoria Island, Lagos, at 1p.m.

    A statement by The Sally Mbanefo Foundation (organisers of the event), said the  would be hosted by Mbanefo’s expatriate friends, brothers and sisters in Lagos. The proceeds from the sale of the coffee table book will be used to build vocational skills acquisition schools for the under-privileged, starting with Lagos State. The statement added that subsequently, It is intended that the school will be run from proceeds of the annual auction of Mbanefo’s paintings and sculptures.

     

  • Bespoke unveils record label, signs Project Fame act

    Bespoke unveils record label, signs Project Fame act

    Popular event center, Bespoke, last Friday, launched a record label, signing Project Fame’s Season 7’s 2nd runner-up, Christian Kwabena, as its first artiste.

    Known as Bespoke Entertainment, the unveiling of the new outfit, was attended by Vahyala Kwaga, Legal Officer, Ultima Limited, producers of MTN Project Fame reality show.

    Addressing the press at the event, Mr. Tunde Praise, Managing Director, Bespoke Entertainment, said the reason the company delved into music business is to add value to the entertainment industry.

    “For the past two years or so, we have had a lot of people come to us with proposals to run record label business. But the thing about life is you don’t do something because people want you to do it; you do it because you feel it is the right time to do it. The music industry has changed. I actually waited to get it right. Now I am floating a company in which I have six partners and two out of those partners are international partners. 960 Music, Ultima Limited and MTN Nigeria, as well as international partners- House of Kwame Ghana and G and G South Africa,” he said.

    Praise said the choice of Kwabena, also known as Krissy O, was right, because the artiste can stand the test of time.

    “I have an artiste who is already loved. Most of you don’t know Christian is Ghanaian. He came from Ghana and struck us down in Nigeria with exceptional performances. He entered the Hall of Fame as the most outstanding performer in the history of Project Fame for seven years. Christian can sing in Yoruba, Igbo, Ghana, pidgin English and English language, so what else are you looking for in an artiste. He’s handsome. He’s good looking. He’s tall. The ladies love him, the guys raise their eyebrow. What are you looking for?” he asked.

    He revealed that the four-year contract signed with the artiste is worth millions of naira, adding that “Christian is the only Project Fame alumnus who has gotten a proper music contract after leaving the Project Fame house and is not a winner. His contract comes with a beautiful house in Lekki. He also has something to cruise around town. His contract comes with a monthly allowance, wardrobe, food and all that.”

    Apparently elated, Krissy O who already has two singles; Bum Short and Jogodo, said, “I’m overwhelmed. I’m really thankful to God for making this possible. I want to thank Bespoke for giving me this opportunity to be to explore and tour the world.”

  • Payporte unveils BBA’s Tayo, Toke Makinwa as brand ambassadors

    Payporte unveils BBA’s Tayo, Toke Makinwa as brand ambassadors

    For the much-celebrated first runner-up in the last edition of Big Brother Africa reality show, Tayo Faniran, the dividends of his stewardship in the house is beginning to materialize, as online retail shopping brand, Payporte Global Systems Limited, has picked him as one of its brand ambassadors.

    This feat followed the model’s appointment by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as a youth ambassador.

    Tayo, who was presented to the press by the management of Payporte, at the Protea Hotel Leadway, Maryland, Lagos, Tuesday, has a female co-ambassador, in popular on-air-personality, Toke Makinwa, who is the model of the currently running Payporte TVC.

    Tayo and Toke, by their appointments, are expected to use their popularity in the society and traffic on the social media, to position the brand in the minds of their fans; identified as youths, urban professionals and mature adults in the society, as well as engender their patronage of the brands’ wares.

    It is the first time since the brand berthed in Nigeria, that it is signing brand ambassadors.

    Speaking at the event, Payporte’s MD/CEO, Mr. Eyo Bassey, said he is optimistic that Tayo and Toke will impact on the brand positively.

    According to him, “Payporte is very happy with its choice of ambassadors and very excited about this new journey. We are a fast growing online business with the young, urban professionals and mature adults as our target audience and our brand is strongly committed to delivering best services; we are very confident Toke and Tayo will do an exemplary job in not just retaining our brand values but in also promoting those values.”

    Talking about their new endorsements, the celebrities expressed their enthusiasm, promising to help to grow the brand. “We are very excited and look forward to an amazing business, yet friendly partnership with Payporte.”

    Payporte launched in 2012 and caters to a wide variety of customers, providing an ever expanding offering of products which include; fashion and accessories for men, women and kids, furniture, foot wear, home appliances, furniture, trendy gadgets, electronics and lots more.

    The brand also offers what is known as ‘Affiliate Program’ and has presence in five African countries; Egypt, South Africa, Ghana, Morocco, Kenya and two offices in  Nigeria – Lagos and Abuja.

  • Jonathan unveils President’s Cup for teenagers

    Jonathan unveils President’s Cup for teenagers

    To discover foootball talents in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday unveiled the President’s Cup to be competed for by teenagers in the country.

    The President unveiled the cup after he was decorated as the Grand Patron of the President’s Cup before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja.

    The football competition was initiated by some ex-internationals and football stakeholders to promote youth soccer development.

    Jonathan commended the initiative of the ex-internationals, who he said brought pride and glory to Nigeria.

    According to him, football is one of the unifying factors among Nigerians as he pledged that his administration would partner with the stakeholders and fully support the initiative.

    He said: “We remember how you raised Nigeria’s name among footballing nations, you brought glory and pride to our nation. We are happy with you and of course these efforts to come up with a template, a platform that you will use to build the younger ones so that you can groom them, you serving as their role model so that they would take after you and also take our country to a higher level; it is quite commendable.

    “So, on behalf of the government of the country we thank you for your sincere commitment to continue to drive soccer to project football in our country, so that we will continue to be on top.

    “One thing that all Nigerians know that brought unity to this country is the game of soccer. Whenever you people are playing, those of us who watch do not know the difference between a Moslem or a Christian, we don’t know the difference between a northerner and a southerner or an easterner or a westerner.

    “We also see ourselves as Nigerians and that is the story, you have done very well for this country, we believe the younger ones will emulate you and also do what you have done. For today, I thank you for this, as I formally unveil the President’s Cup and, of course, the customised football for the purpose.”

    Minister of Sports, Tammy Danagogo, who accompanied the ex-internationals, described the President’s Cup as a private sector contribution to football development which will hunt for teenage football talents through tournaments to nurture them for national teams and other clubs.

    Among the former players and officials in the delegation were Kanu Nwankwo, Peter Rufai, Taribo West, Emmanuel Babayaro, Garba Lawal, Austin Eguaveon, Shaibu Amodu, James Peters, Kadiri Ikhana, Manu Garba, Patrick Pascal, Anthony Chinasa and Kashimawo Laloko.

    Others include the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye; President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick; Darlington Anyanwau; Musa Uja; Auwalu Shekarau, Ike Neliaku, and the Directors-General of Nigeria Television Authority, Shola Omole and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Ladan Salihu.

  • Kia unveils locally assembled Rio

    Kia unveils locally assembled Rio

    KIA Motors Nigeria has unveiled its Made-in-Nigeria vehicles at the just concluded Abuja International Auto Fair at the Eagle Square in Abuja with N1.98 milion price tag.

    Delivering to its brand slogan of “The Power to Surprise,” the auto giant said the unveiling is in fulfillment of the promise made to Nigerians that the locally assembled KIA will be available before the end of the year.

    The Made-in-Nigeria KIA vehicles, which included the Rio, Cerato and Optima were unveiled by Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide.

    Oloye Akinjide, who later had a test drive of the Optima, expressed joy and congratulated KIA Motors for the feat.

    She described the car as “the People’s Car”.

    Upon exiting the car after the test drive, the Minister said “Wow, Beautiful ride, Very smooth…..this is a Great Car” and she was thrilled with admiration for the KIA SOUL by saying the model is “incredibly built to complement the youth and the women”.

    The flagship model of Kia, the Quoris also caught the flair of the minister when she was shown around the luxury sedan by Mr. Sandeep Malhotra.

    The stylish compact Rio, Optima and Cerato with thoroughly contemporary and distinctive styling, coupled with maximum versatility and cutting-edge safety and convenience features are truly innovative cars.

    KIA staying true to its commitments offers full style and curvaceous elegance that perfectly captures the glamour of the present. The award-winning cars are engineered and designed to be an expression of individuality. Loaded with smart technologies, generous levels of convenience and safety equipment, they are as dependable and practical as they are desirable and distinctive.

  • Union unveils Moneygram Back to School campaign

    Union unveils Moneygram Back to School campaign

    Union Bank of Nigeria Plc has launched the MoneyGram Back to School campaign expected to run till next month end.

    In a statement, the bank said that as the new academic year approaches, the promotion will allow parents and guardians to send and receive money for school fees and other school related expenses through MoneyGram transfers from Nigeria or abroad.

    Head of Retail Liabilities at Union Bank, Olufunwa Akinmade,  said the bank’s partnership with MoneyGram would give its customers a fast, safe and secure money transfer option to meet their personal and business needs, especially during this ‘back to school’ season.

    “We are also using the campaign as an opportunity to reward our customers,” he said.

    He explained that as part of the promotion, customers who make MoneyGram transfers during the period would receive an instant gift from the lender, adding that Union Bank is able to offer this service as an agent of MoneyGram and the service is available to both customers and non-customers of the bank.