LEARN MORE:
https://mediaaccent..co.ke/2018/04/misconceptions-about-public-relations.html?m=1


https://www.mediaaccentng.com


A major issue that confronts public relations practitioners in Nigeria bothers on credibility.
This perception is borne out of the public's misconstrued impression about what a Public Relations practitioner really does.
This view, is further compounded by fact some PR practitioners do not have a clear idea about what the profession is about.
As a result, some dabble into the public relations profession with skewed motives and intentions.
Here are some common misconceptions
1. PR is not about giving false narratives about brands and organizations - rather Public Relations tells the truth at all times.
2. Public relations is not about offering bribes or inducements to journalists, to coverup the truth - or influence policy makers to initiate policies that add value to their clients.
3. PR is not based on luck, rather its activities and plans are based on, in depth research, scientific and empirical facts.
4. PR is not about putting together social gatherings and events of a similar nature. Granted,Public Relations practitioners organize activities of this nature. However, this is not the profession's sole preoccupation.
5. Public relations is not about fawning at the boss' feet and kowtowing to his whims, rather it's a dignified and noble profession.

LEARN MORE:https://mediaaccent..co.ke/2018/04/misconceptions-about-public-relations.html?m=1

LEARN MORE:
https://mediaaccent..co.ke/2018/04/pr-agencies-vs-pr-consultants.html?m=1

What is the difference
Public Relations Agencies:
There are lots of challenges and
opportunities for growth and development in a PR Agency.
The work is enormous because companies that have in-house public relations departments and those who do not would at one time or the other require the services of an independent PR organisation.
Thus, agencies handle public relations activities of other organisations, corporations, non-profit set ups, governments and
even individuals.

For instance, some corporations may hire a PR Agency to handle its annual report to stockbrokers or its overseas investors. The agency could be hired to partner with other agencies or bodies or even the public relations department of a corporation to do research, planning, communication and evaluation.
Just as it is in advertising agencies, staff of public relations agencies are often assigned to accounts. Usually, an account would include all the public relations activities planned for one particular client.

Accounts are managed by account executives. It would be their job to research into the public relations problems, write messages, and decide on media and placement.
They equally do evaluation of such campaigns. It is common to have public relations staff specialising in various areas of an account.
Some are experts in message designing, media planning
and placement, while others focus on research. In some cases, a staff
could take up more responsibilities than one.
Public relations agencies vary in size. There are some that work as a small part of big advertising agencies while others are full-fledged, fullblown agencies, yet others are one room agencies.


Independent Public relations Consultants:
A PR practitioner may equally wish to ply you trade as a one man public relations consultant. Successful public relations consultants are often persons with broad experience having worked in a few agencies and handled several successful accounts.

They are a one-man agency. Very often they specialise in small areas of public relations like crisis communication, speech writing, international public relations, etc.
In this case the consultant alone bears the responsibility for success or failure.


https://mediaaccent..co.ke/2018/04/pr-agencies-vs-pr-consultants.html?m=1

https://www.mediaaccentng.com

As Nigeria prepares to diversify its energy mix, with the inclusion of Nuclear energy to its electricity grid, Turkey, on the other hand has formally kick started construction of its maiden nuclear power plant – the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant.

A ceremony marking the start of construction, took place in the Turkish province of Mersin, on 3 April 2018. It was attended by Russian President, Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Erdogan.

The Nuclear Power Plant is being constructed by Rosatom – Russia’s largest electricity generating company. Recall, last October, the Nigerian government also signed an agreement with Russia’s Rosatom – on construction and operation of a Nuclear Power Plant and a Research Center in Nigeria.

Addressing those gathered at the ceremony, President Putin said: “The first power unit of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant is expected to be launched in 2023. Thanks to the Akkuyu project, new, modern, well-paying jobs will appear in Russia and Turkey – along with the development of advanced production capacities and technology.”

He added: “The object will use advanced engineering solutions and cost-effective and reliable technologies. The highest safety standards and the most stringent environmental regulations will be observed. I am sure that, in 2023, all of Turkey will feel returns of the energy generated at this high-tech facility.”

Giving his remarks, Turkish President, Recep Erdogan, said the 2023 launch of the nuclear power plant would coincide with the centenary of the Republic of Turkey. “With the commissioning of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in 2023, Turkey will join the family of countries with nuclear power. Akkuyu will meet 10% of all our electricity needs,” he emphasized.

On his part, Rosatom’s Director General, Alexey Likhachev, informed the gathering: “Rosatom is building in Turkey a cutting edge, tried and tested generation III+ nuclear power plant featuring four power units based on the Russian VVER-1200 design which meets the world’s highest safety standards. The model we are building at Akkuyu is already being built in a series. Unit 6 of Novovoronezh NPP and unit 1 of Leningrad NPP-2, based on the same design, are already up and running, with the former in a commercial operation and the latter launched in February. The safe and efficient operation of these units underscores the reliability of our technologies».

Noting that the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is the largest joint project between Russia and Turkey, he added: “It is important to emphasize that the project is progressing according to plan in efficient cooperation with our Turkish partners.”

After their opening statements, the leaders of the two countries signed off on the start of construction work and a symbolic button was pressed to mark the pouring of the first concrete into the base of the reactor building of power unit 1 of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant.

More than 500 people attended the ceremony, including local residents, workers, schoolchildren, representatives of local government bodies, heads of participating ministries and departments, journalists, business partners, and Rosatom representatives. Also present were young Turkish graduates of Russian universities, namely those who earned their degrees just under a month ago and are expected to start work at the project company, JSC Akkuyu Nuclear, in the near future.

On the eve of the ceremony, JSC Akkuyu Nuclear, the project operator, acquired a license for nuclear power plant construction from Turkey’s Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK). In late March, the project company also received permission to build the reactor building of the first power unit of the Akkuyu plant from the administration of the Gulnar district. The pouring of the ‘first concrete’ is an important stage of the implementation process, marking the transition to full-scale construction of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, including construction of the buildings and facilities constituting its ‘nuclear island’.

Source: https://www.naija.ng/1161592-as-nigeria-gears-nuclear-energy-rosatom-begins-construction-turkeys-maiden-nuclear-power-plant.html

As Nigeria prepares to diversify its energy mix, with the inclusion of Nuclear energy to its electricity grid, Turkey, on the other hand has formally kick started construction of its maiden nuclear power plant – the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant.

A ceremony marking the start of construction, took place in the Turkish province of Mersin, on 3 April 2018. It was attended by Russian President, Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Erdogan.

The Nuclear Power Plant is being constructed by Rosatom – Russia’s largest electricity generating company. Recall, last October, the Nigerian government also signed an agreement with Russia’s Rosatom – on construction and operation of a Nuclear Power Plant and a Research Center in Nigeria.

Addressing those gathered at the ceremony, President Putin said: “The first power unit of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant is expected to be launched in 2023. Thanks to the Akkuyu project, new, modern, well-paying jobs will appear in Russia and Turkey – along with the development of advanced production capacities and technology.”

He added: “The object will use advanced engineering solutions and cost-effective and reliable technologies. The highest safety standards and the most stringent environmental regulations will be observed. I am sure that, in 2023, all of Turkey will feel returns of the energy generated at this high-tech facility.”

Giving his remarks, Turkish President, Recep Erdogan, said the 2023 launch of the nuclear power plant would coincide with the centenary of the Republic of Turkey. “With the commissioning of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in 2023, Turkey will join the family of countries with nuclear power. Akkuyu will meet 10% of all our electricity needs,” he emphasized.

On his part, Rosatom’s Director General, Alexey Likhachev, informed the gathering: “Rosatom is building in Turkey a cutting edge, tried and tested generation III+ nuclear power plant featuring four power units based on the Russian VVER-1200 design which meets the world’s highest safety standards. The model we are building at Akkuyu is already being built in a series. Unit 6 of Novovoronezh NPP and unit 1 of Leningrad NPP-2, based on the same design, are already up and running, with the former in a commercial operation and the latter launched in February. The safe and efficient operation of these units underscores the reliability of our technologies».

Noting that the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is the largest joint project between Russia and Turkey, he added: “It is important to emphasize that the project is progressing according to plan in efficient cooperation with our Turkish partners.”

After their opening statements, the leaders of the two countries signed off on the start of construction work and a symbolic button was pressed to mark the pouring of the first concrete into the base of the reactor building of power unit 1 of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant.

More than 500 people attended the ceremony, including local residents, workers, schoolchildren, representatives of local government bodies, heads of participating ministries and departments, journalists, business partners, and Rosatom representatives. Also present were young Turkish graduates of Russian universities, namely those who earned their degrees just under a month ago and are expected to start work at the project company, JSC Akkuyu Nuclear, in the near future.

On the eve of the ceremony, JSC Akkuyu Nuclear, the project operator, acquired a license for nuclear power plant construction from Turkey’s Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK). In late March, the project company also received permission to build the reactor building of the first power unit of the Akkuyu plant from the administration of the Gulnar district. The pouring of the ‘first concrete’ is an important stage of the implementation process, marking the transition to full-scale construction of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, including construction of the buildings and facilities constituting its ‘nuclear island’.

...sponcors 21 youths for vocational training

In furtherance of the premium he places on education, as a means to unleash the potentials of youths, the Chairman, Eredo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Rasaq Saliu, recently conducted an inspection tour of vocational training facilities - at the Nigeria Opportunities Industrialization Centre (NOIC) Gbagada, Lagos.

He was accompanied by top officials from the Executive and Legislative Arms of the LCDA.

NOIC's Gbagada centre is currently hosting 21 youths from Eredo LCDA. They are undergoing 6 months intensive training in various vocations. They are: Textile and Fashion Design, Hotel and Catering, Computer Studies and Electrical Installation.

The current trainees constitute the first batch of 250 students earmarked for the training and empowerment programme.

Addressing the trainees, the LCDA Chairman, assured them of the provision of empowerment tools.

This, he pointed out, would enable them, ply their vocations at the completion of the programme - thus enabling them contribute their quota towards advancement of Eredo LCDA.

Hon. Saliu added that the programme is an integral part of his cardinal objectives, geared towards curbing youth idleness and criminality.

According to Saliu: " The best way to get youths off the streets - is to get a them engaged and empowered." Consequently, he appealed to the trainees, to justify the confidence reposed in them, by studying hard and excelling in their
vocations.

The trainees, on their part assured the Council Chairman, of their resolve to excel in their vocational studies. They further commended his vision and passion for investing in youth empowerment.

In his remarks, Abraham Adeleke, the Centre's Programme Manager, commended Saliu for initiating the programme.

Shedding light on NOIC's mission, Adeleke said, it seeks to improve lives by teaching appropriate and marketable skills. This, he emphasized, enables youths become self reliant and economically productive.

He added that NOIC's training programmes - place emphasis on 70 percent practicals and 30 percent theory.

Its courses comprise: Agricultural and Animal Husbandry, Auto Mechanics, Computer Studies, Computer Hardware Maintenance, Electrical Installation, Electronics and Fashion Design.
Others are: Hotel and Catering, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Secretarial Studies, Welding and Metal Fabrication, Woodwork and Carpentry as well as Marine Engineering and Navigation.

NOIC is an affiliate of the Opportunities Industrialization Centres International (OICI) - based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It's registered as a community based, nonprofit, voluntary development organisation.

In line with its raison d'être aimed at giving back, Agents of Hope, a nongovernmental organization based in Michigan, USA, donated learning aids to pupils of Local Government Primary School, Igoboye - situated at Eredo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Epe, Lagos, Nigeria.
Further Underscoring the basis for the gesture, Sola Salako, Founder, Agents of Hope, stressed it was in recognition of the premium which his organisation places on education - as a foundation to enable future leaders compete favourably in the global economy.
Salako added that the educational aids, comprising: note books, bags and pencils were informed by needs assessments conducted on the school. While promising to sustain the intervention, Salako hinted at plans to institute a international teacher exchange programme, between local teachers and tutors based in Michigan, USA.
In his remarks, Hon. Adeniyi Saliu, Chairman Eredo, LCDA, commended Agents of Hope for the gesture. Saliu added that the event was significant to him, since the school benefitting, happens to be his alma mater.
He further pledged the council's resolve to revamp education in the council area - by entering into other partnerships with well meaning organisations.
The LCDA Chairman stressed he always harbored a genuine desire, not to only serve, but to ensure that pupils in the community are assured of a good head start to put them on a sound footing.
This, he pointed out, would enable them compete favorably with their peers across the globe. Hon. Saliu further emphasized good education has the potential to deliver many out of poverty.
On her part, Oluwatoyin Badejo, representative of the First Lady of Lagos State, Bolanle Ambode, commended the LCDA and Agents of Hope for their initiative. She further called on other well meaning individuals and organizations to take a cue from Agents of Hope.

https://mediaaccent..co.ke/2018/03/agents-of-hope-partners-eredo-lcda.html?m=1

The publics in public Relations are those groups with common interest affected by the policies of an institution, company, profit and non-profit organisations.
Each organisation tends to have its own particular set of target publics. These target groups are normally identified by their involvement in specific situations or issues which are also of concern to the organisation. Each issue, problem of interest creates its own publics.
Some common classifications of publics:
Latent public: This target grouping comprises those affected by an organization's policies, but may not be conscious of it.
Active publics: This grouping comprises those who are not only aware of how they are affected but take steps to demonstrate it.
Active publics are broken into the following:


LEARN MORE HERE: https://mediaaccent..com.ng/2018/03/the-publics-in-pr.html?m=1

By Dominic Nwelih
The purpose of this is to give you knowledge and tools to help you move forward
in your career and to benefit the organization.
Integrating social tech into your day isn’t just about doing what’s popular or cool this quarter,
it’s about learning to use a powerful set of new tools and techniques that can change the game.
There seem to be three kinds of managers at this point in the social adoption curve: the
thought leaders, the dragged along, and the naysayers.
Two of these aren’t helping themselves,
or anyone else for that matter. Somewhere between being a thought leader and being dragged
along is a place where a manager is quick to adopt new methods of doing things, but not on the
bleeding edge.
This is where most of you should be. If you feel you’re behind, you probably are.
If you feel you’re too old to learn new tricks, you probably are. If you feel you’re too busy to
invest any time in this field, you have your priorities out of whack. Or, you could choose to suck
it up and embrace social technologies for what they are— a powerful new set of tools.
PERSONAL USE
There are two critical ways to apply social tool skills. The first is in how you use the tools in
your daily routine, and the second is how you implement the tools with your team.
With
everything you’ve read to this point, it should be easy to see how each of the bullet points below
can be yours if you’re willing to invest the time.
This lists the direct benefits of leveraging social
tech on a personal level:
• A much-improved network of contacts. No matter what you do for a living, there’s value
in having a robust network of people you can reach out to when you need to get
something done.
Social tools allow you to keep hundreds of contacts fresh, as opposed to
the past, when keeping even 30 or 40 up to date was a chore.
• A better river of information. You can build your own continuous learning process, and
done right, this translates into a high career IQ.
• An ability to become a recognized expert online. Social tools give you a new ability to
share your unique expertise online. You have the potential to invest a little time each
day, sharing the observations, ideas, and resources you discover so others can benefit.
This leads to an active and large list of people who want to follow what you say, and that
translates into being a recognized expert. In many ways, this can help your career.
• The improved ability to manage remote workers. There are unique dynamics for
managing remote workers well. Social tools give you the ability to communicate in
better ways than strictly over the phone or e-mail. They also facilitate collaboration and
improve communication among team members.
• The creation and nurturing of a stellar online reputation. With every day, it is more
commonplace for people to search online to learn about you. Most people would be
shocked if they could see in real time who and how many people search for information
on them.
This includes people you’d like to do business with, sell to, hire, or influence.
What they find online will have a huge impact on how they’ll relate to you going
forward.
• A reputation within your organization as a leader with skills and vision. When people
around you evaluate your performance as a manager, they take into account many things.

READ MORE HERE :https://mediaaccent..com.ng/2018/02/improtance-of-social-tech-to-your-career.html?m=1

By Emmanuel Ugwu

The proverbial excuse of the lazy American student is ‘‘the dog ate my homework.’’ We now have an analogous fable of the corrupt Nigerian official: ‘’the snake ate my loot.’’
Philomena Chieshe, a female cashier at the Makurdi office of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, told auditors who asked her to account for the 36 million naira she had collected from sales of scratch cards a self-exculpatory cock and bull story that harks back to Eve scapegoating the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Mrs. Chieshe told her interrogators that some phantom python consumed the money.
The Nigerian daughter of Eve improved on her great grandmother’s blame-game. Eve blamed the serpent for deceiving her into eating the forbidden fruit. Philomena blamed the serpent for eating the forbidden fruit.
Eve confessed that she reached for the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, plucked it, ate it and passed it on. But Philomena would not enter the mitigating plea that the devil beguiled her. She declares her absolute innocence. She was never tempted to touch the cash. She did not have an appetite for the money. A malicious mystery snake ‘’ate’’ it... to incriminate her!
Two headed python
The legend of the money-eating snake exemplifies the ridiculous height the imagination of a crook can leap, under pressure. In order to escape punishment, Philomena’s mind created a special species of a voracious snake that fed on the staple of Nigerian naira notes. Her flight of spiritual fancy separated her agency from the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the money and placed culpability on the invisible snake.
This snake-ate-the-money fable shows that corruption works from the inside out. It first twists the mind. Then, it perverts behavior. And finally, it primes a defensive readiness to emit lying vanities.
It is worthy to note that prior to the visit of the hard-nosed auditors, the cashier had been coexisting with the snake. She never raised alarm about the routine visits of the snake to her vault. She wasn’t spooked that a strange snake had become a frequent caller.
The cashier also did not worry about a snake eating her up. It stands to reason that a snake capable of ingesting millions of naira might swallow a human being on a luck day. But she didn’t send for a snake charmer. She didn’t feel threatened in any way. She kept showing up at work. She kept doing her job with poise. She kept being the snake's nanny, feeding the beast money.
As much this fable is a product of a stupidity, it is equally an indictment on the very system that cultivated it. Philomena’s fairy tale was authored by an ergonomic environment which empowered her to receive cash revenue and stash it anywhere she chose. The heists that occur in corruption-friendly arrangements naturally match the available opportunities to steal without fear of consequence.
In 2017 alone, JAMB remitted 8 billion naira to the coffers of the federal government. This amount is out of proportion to the meager 50 million –less than 1% –which is the total sum the selfsame organization paid in annual returns between 2010 and 2016. Interestingly, the increase in revenue didn’t arise from any hike of UTME registration fee. The wide difference in the remittance figures was simply due to the transformation of the revenue collection architecture. The former registrars of JAMB maintained a regime of loopholes. The new man, Ishaq Oloyede, blocked the leakages.
The 36 million naira was found to be missing only because the federal government ordered an investigation into the outrageous disparity between past and present remittances. Without the probe, the theft would never have come to light.
To be sure, this snake food bill of 36 million naira is only a tiny dot in a scam constellation. Only after the auditors have toured all the JAMB offices and thumped all the books can the big picture of the snake feast in JAMB emerge.
The most neglected truth is Nigeria’s putative war against corruption is that many public establishments in Nigeria are hardwired to run on graft. The rules, operations and transactions in countless public offices in the country are designed to maximize freedom to perpetrate fraud.
An effective war against corruption must dismantle structures that provoke greed and taunt the instinct to steal. It must prioritize the institutionalization of sensitive internal mechanisms that police transparency; so that loud and disruptive warning automatically go off whenever there is an occasion of a violation of the standard procedure. This is the way to disincentivize stealing of public funds.
In many government offices, particularly revenue-generating agencies, the system suggests corruption to officials who function within it. When a new recruit is introduced to that system, he can only maintain his good breeding for a short while. Over time, exposure to the permissive culture of that milieu and the habits of colleagues will re-socialize him and crumble his moral defenses. His conscience will blend with the convention. And he will be another damaged man.
The working of Philomena’s office literally made it difficult for her to do only kosher official duties forever. She could not have restrained herself from stealing when she was free from supervisory scrutiny, regular auditing and any obligation to provide regular statements of account.
It was only natural that, in the absence of checks and balances, she came to the point where she advised herself that the money in her custody was hers for the taking. If she left the treasure trove to gather dust, she would be the loser. A transfer would take her out of that station and her replacement would reap the fallow fortune.
Here’s the most subtext of this improbable snake story. It is that corruption does more than deepen the misery of the poor. Corruption is a potent attack on the life of the poor. It imposes a sentence of doom on their future.
Many Nigerian parents cannot obtain a JAMB form for their children because the cost is way beyond their means. Some brilliant kids have been driven to artisan apprenticeship because their family could not afford it. Thousands have to skip an entire year to toil at menial jobs to earn the money in order to sit for the university entrance exam.
It is a shame that some ‘civil’ servants steal the sweat of these poor kids. And it’s a bigger shame that we are just waking up to this protracted robbery. It goes to show that how inured we have become to wickedness.
In a broad sense, the the-snake-ate-the-money fable of the JAMB cashier is a product of our myth building heritage. Our ancestors were wont to articulate allegories to explain and extract meaning from nature. They conjured up legends about why the tortoise has a ‘’broken’’ shell.
It is sobering that, in this present civilization, we do not have a better light to shine on our realities.
We cast our broken country within the framework of fable metaphors. We call Nigeria a ‘’zoo’’. We codename our in-country military operations ‘’Crocodile Smile’’ and ‘’Python Dance.’’ We lament our territory as an Animal Farm where ‘jackals and hyenas’ prey on ‘small animals’. We say we are a nation where rats evict the president from his office.
I can't think of anywhere else in the world where a civil servant would make bold to say that a demon snake ate public funds in her care.

Source: http://saharareporters.com/2018/02/13/unique-nigerian-legend-money-eating-snake-emmanuel-ugwu

In the course of nurturing a business relationship with a client, its imperative to understand how him/her expresses love. Once you understand this - you well, on your way - to building an enduring relationship the client.
Studies has shown there are five ways people express or receive love.

Known as the five love languages. They are: Quality Time, Acts Of Service, Physical Touch/Connection, Words Of Affirmation and Receiving Gifts.

Quality Time:
Clients who fall in this bracket crave undivided attention.
They love to know and feel that a person cares about them and takes them seriously as a client.
Accordingly, poor listening skills, distractions and postponed appointments are huge turn off to this category of clients.

Acts of service:
Clients who speak this love language respond well to people who go the extra mile to make a client feel special. Such acts that strikes a chord with clients in this category, include: doing extra work, or responding to their demands over the weekend.

Words of Affirmation:
Clients who fall in this segment, love unsolicited compliments. Words like: " You are the best" "Wow, you were awesome" " You did really great" , resonate well with clients who speak this language.
Physical Touch/Connection:
These sort of clients care mostly about the personal connection they have with you.

Receiving gifts:
Such clients should not be mistaken to be materialistic. What they really appreciate from you - as opposed to the gift - is the thoughtfulness, gesture and efforts put into purchasing such gifts. This, underscores the fact they are: important, loved and cared for.
While clients may speak all
five love languages - it's important to note every individual has a dominant love language.

READ MORE: https://mediaaccent..co.ke/2018/02/client-love-language-languages.html?m=1

On wednesday, Eredo LCDA, in partnership with Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, a non-profit organization, conducted free: Breast, Cervical and Prostate Cancer screening for residents of the community. Held at Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus Ground, Odoragunshin, Eredo-Epe, the programme was part of activities marking World Cancer Day.

In the course of celebrating the event, the organizers staged a walk for cancer awareness. They also had an interactive session with residents on causative factors, preventive measures and treatment options. The facilitators also referred patients to tertiary health institutions – for further treatment.

Underscoring the basis for conducting the programme, the LCDA’s Chairperson, Mrs. Olajumoke Saliu, stressed it was in fulfillment of one the LCDA’s cardinal health objectives – targeted at preventing avoidable deaths and increasing average life expectancy among residents. This, she pointed out, could be achieved through early detection and prompt treatment of various forms of cancer. Consequently, she advised residents of the community to get screened for cancer.

She informed residents of the community: “World Cancer Day is the one singular initiative under which the entire world can unite together in the fight against the global cancer epidemic. It takes place every year on 4th February to save millions of preventable deaths by raising awareness about cancer, a disease that afflicts 1 in 3 Nigerians.”

She added, World Cancer Day targets misinformation, raises awareness, and reduces stigma. Giving a demographic insight on the prevalence of cancer, across Nigeria’s population, the LCDA’S Chairperson revealed, breast and cervical cancers are the most prevalent types of cancer among women; while prostate cancer is the most common among men

Underlining the need for early detection, as a means of preventing avoidable deaths due to cancer, Saliu told the gathering: “Every year about 500,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed, mostly in stages 3 and 4 when the disease is already terminal. People across the world lose their loved ones to cancer and sadly there are 4 million people out of 8.2 million who have died prematurely. However, if detected early, many types of cancer can be cured.”

She spoke further: “According to the statistics, it has been noted that most of the cancer cases and cancer deaths (47% and 55% respectively) occur in less developed areas of the world. If it is not controlled, this condition may get worse by 2030. So, it is very necessary to get control over such situation at all the corners of the world.”

In his address, Dr. Olufemi Olaleye, Medical Director, Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, advised residents, to make it a habit to go for regular health checkup He further enjoined them to adopt a healthy lifestyle, diet and exercise regularly. Olalelye also taught women in the community, ways to conduct self-examination – to detect early formation of breast cancer.

Beneficiaries commended the LCDA, describing the Programme as an eye-opener. They further expressed hope such programmes would be sustained.

Source:
https://mediaaccent..com/2018/02/eredo-lcda-optimal-caner-care.html?m=1

Rasaq addressing journalists at the event
Inspired by the need to ensure residents make adequate input in the formulation of its 2018 budget, Eredo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) – situated in Lagos State’s Epe Division – last Thursday held a consultative forum with inhabitants on the subject.
Held at the council’s secretariat, the event was attended by stakeholders in the community. They comprised: Traditional Rulers, Market Men and Women, Artisans, Security Operatives, Trade Unions, Non-govermental Organizations, as well as members of the council’s Community Development Association (CDA) and Community Development Committees (CDSs).
Addressing stakeholders at the event, the LCDA’s Chairman, Hon. Saliu Adeniyi Rasaq, said the programme was in fulfillment of one of his campaign pledges – for an all-inclusive government.
Rasaq told the gathering: “The main purpose of this stakeholders’ meeting is to present to you our vision and mission aimed at the development of Eredo LCDA and to welcome ideas from you the community for the development of our local government. We believe in symbiotic process of governance.”
In the course of deliberations, the stakeholders identified key areas of need in the community, to include: economic empowerment, grading of new roads, security, waste disposal, clearing of drainages, education and transportation.
Earlier, while enumerating some developmental strides, he’s made since he was sworn into office in the last six months, Razaq informed residents – his administration is presently grading link roads in the LCDA.
The council boss, further stated, his administration, has been able to sustain a cordial relationship in the market sector – by providing modern toilets – at Mojoda Market.
Razaq listed other strides, to include: upgrading of Ibowon Fish Market, completion of Ganiu Olayemi Office Complex and provision of affordable shops and stalls at Pobo Market, among others. He added: “Also we assisted cattle rearers – in terms of logistics for the of rejuvenating Otedola Market.”
In the area of tourism development, he disclosed his administration – allocated plots of land at Sungbo Eredo area – to Lagos State Parks and Gardens Ageny (LASPARK) - for tourist beautification purposes.
The council is also employing more staff to complement the workforce of existing gardeners in the LCDA.
Rasaq, commended, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, for ongoing massive investments in world-class road infrastructure in the LCDA – besides provision of other amenities. These investments, he pointed out, has improved living standards in the community – besides attracting investments into the LCDA.

Photo caption: Rasaq addressing journalists at the event.

Source: https://mediaaccent..co.ke/2018/02/eredo-lcda-consults-residents-on-2018.html?m=1

Read more here: https://mediaaccent..co.ke/2018/01/how-to-manage-public-relations.html?m=1

Managing your own Public Relations ( PR )initiatives as it relates to you business and promoting mutual understanding amongst the publics involved would serve as a critical management function that seeks to project a favorable image and perception about you organization in the eyes and minds of all the stakeholders.
Managing your own Public Relations, as opposed to hiring external PR consultants to act on your behalf would to a large extent reduce costs significantly and enable you have direct contact and maintain relationships with the right mediums, bloggers, journalists, influencers and opinion leaders.
Herein underlines the need to develop a robust plan to engage various stakeholders and the right mediums for disseminating information among the publics of particular interest to you and your organization.

Below are steps you should take in managing your own PR

Read concluding part here: https://mediaaccent..co.ke/2018/01/how-to-manage-public-relations.html?m=1

Read more here: https://mediaaccent..co.ke/2018/01/how-to-manage-public-relations.html?m=1

Managing your own Public Relations ( PR )initiatives as it relates to you business and promoting mutual understanding amongst the publics involved would serve as a critical management function that seeks to project a favorable image and perception about you organization in the eyes and minds of all the stakeholders.

Managing your own Public Relations, as opposed to hiring external PR consultants to act on your behalf would to a large extent reduce costs significantly and enable you have direct contact and maintain relationships with the right mediums, bloggers, journalists, influencers and opinion leaders.

Herein underlines the need to develop a robust plan to engage various stakeholders and the right mediums for disseminating information among the publics of particular interest to you and your organization.

Below are steps you should take in managing your own PR

1: Create a media list:
One of the first measures you should put in place in the course of managing my own Public Relations is to create your own media list.

The proposed list should contain names of the right newspapers, blogs, electronic media and trade publications that are popular amongst your target audience or publics.

The list should also comprise names of journalist that cover the particular topic your business is engaged in, as they would serve as the influencers whose articles or reports are likely to influence your target audience.

To nurture relationships with the media it would be necessary for you to conduct outreach programmes to them frequently. You would also need to pitch them with news stories whenever your business or organization has something newsworthy to publish.

2: Creativity
In order the gain attention from the media, you would have to be creative in your approach. Being more creative would give you an edge when competing with other businesses or organizations also seeking attention from the media.

Consequently, you would have to come up with ideas for engaging stories about your organization that would be of interest to the news media. This would also culminate in organizing events and programmes that seek to add value to society in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

3: Taking advantage of speaking events:

Another measure you should put in place in the course of managing your own PR is taking advantage of speaking events. Whether it's a trade show, seminar or workshop speaking at events or forums would afford you an opportunity to directly convey messages as it relates to your stakeholders. If done properly this could solidify our position as a thought leader in the business you engage in.
Honestly addressing issues as it relates to your activities could engender trust among our stakeholders.

4: Blogging:
Blogging serves as a unique form of owned media, that would afford you an opportunity to reach out to your target audience directly. It is important to note that the essence of blogging is not to sell your products and services, but to offer useful information your targeted audience would find engaging and of immense value.

5: Issuing press release:
Another tool you should use in managing your own Public Relations is through issuing well written and edited Press Releases, that boasts good and creative content. To achieve this you would need to write and properly edit a press release before it’s sent out.

A well written and edited press release when pitched to the media is more likely to be published as it reduces the stress and workload a journalist or news editor may have to put up with in editing your story before its published.

Consequently, the press releases you issue must not lack facts, consistency and objectivity. You should also follow the inverted pyramid style of writing a news release, in which information is written in a descending order of importance.

Source: https://mediaaccent..co.ke/2018/01/how-to-manage-public-relations.html?m=1

NIGERIAN ARMY HAS TAKEN DELIVERY OF INNOSON MOTORS

To make good it’s promise, the Nigerian Army has started taking delivery of some of the vehicles it has ordered from Innoson Motor Manufacturing Company which it further configured fit for deployment into Operation LAFIYA DOLE theatre of operations.

http://opera.pulse.ng/news/local/innoson-supplies-army-with-vehicles-to-fight-boko-haram-id7845280.html?link_time=1516005395

BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK
JAN 12, 2018
Contrary to the statement credited to Femi Adesina, a senior spokesperson to President Muhammadu Buhari that his son, Yusuf, was ready for "discharge" from an Abuja hospital Saharareporters has authoritatively learnt that he was ferried out of Nigeria through the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport early this morning.
Yusuf is headed for treatment at St. Josef Hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany according to Presidency sources.
Yusuf Buhari
The departure of Yusuf to Germany followed earlier departure last night by his sister, Mrs. Halima Buhari-Sherif and the official physician to the first lady, Kamal Mohammed. Both arrived Stuttgart earlier today on a Bombardier Challenger 600
Presidential jet with registration number 5N-FGZ.
Yusuf was injured in a power bike accident in Gwanripa neighbourhood in Abuja while drag racing with a friend, Bashir Gwandu. Mr. Adesina claims Gwandu was not injured in the crash as earlier reported in newspapers and social media outlets.

SOURCE: http://saharareporters.com/2018/01/12/yusuf-buhari-departs-nigeria-germany-air-ambulance-get-further-treatment-head-injuries

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday carried out a major cabinet reshuffle, dropping three commissioners and appointing five new ones. In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, the three affected cabinet members are Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola, Mr. Femi Odubiyi and Mr. Anifowoshe Abiola. The newly appointed cabinet members include Mr. Hakeem Fahm (Ministry of Science and Technology); Mr. Ladi Lawanson (Ministry of Transportation); Mr Segun Banjo (Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget); Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye (Ministry of Commerce and Industry) and Mr. Hakeem Sulaiman (Communities and Communications). The Statement added that major deployments have also been effected. Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye from Commerce and Industry to Physical Planning and Urban Development; Mr. Steve Ayorinde from Ministry of Information and Strategy to Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan from Communities and Communication to Ministry of Information and Strategy; Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi Etti from Ministry of Wealth Creation to Ministry of the Environment; Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf from Ministry of Youth and Social Development to Ministry of Wealth Creation; Mr. Agboola Dabiri from Central Business District to Ministry of Youth and Social Development. Others include Dr. Samuel Adejare from Ministry of the Environment to Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development; Engr. Ade Akinsanya from Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development to Ministry of Works and Infrastructure. In the same vein, the statement also added that Mr. Benjamin Olabinjo has been moved from Special Adviser Commerce and Industry to become Special Adviser Civic Engagement, while Mr. Kehinde Joseph moved from Special Adviser Civic Engagement to become Special Adviser Housing. Mr. Deji Tinubu, Special Adviser Sports has been redeployed as Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce and Industry and Mr. Anofiu Elegushi moves from Special Adviser Transport to become Special Adviser, Central Business District. The new Commissioners are expected to be cleared by the State House of Assembly while the other redeployment and postings take immediate effect. According to the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Bello, the new appointments and redeployments are intended to create a new vigour and vitality for service delivery which has been the hallmark of the Governor Ambode administration.

Source: https://techpoint.ng/2018/01/10/akees-pencil-and-toothpick-factory/?utm_content=bufferbcecd&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

BY Victor Ekwealor

In the second quarter of 2017, Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, commissioned the AKEES pencil and toothpick factory. It was going to be the first of its kind in Nigeria.

Others said the factory itself was propaganda and did not exist. What was true and what was not?
During the Techpoint Innovation Tour, the Techpoint team visited the sleepy town of Ekom Iman in Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State where the factory was reportedly situated.

We saw the factory in its entirety and even got some pleasant shockers.
Located in a 1,000 sqm warehouse styled house,the factory truly produces pencils and toothpicks.
Speaking on the initial skepticism, General Manager of the facility, Engineer Bassey Friday Moses says he was disappointed that even people from Akwa Ibom State and environs joined doubting Thomases.

“At the time, they said the governor commissioned an empty hall and rented people for show. If anybody at any point felt this establishment was a scam, all they had to do was walk in and confirm for themselves instead of spreading rumours.”
On a tour of the expansive facility, Bassey pointed out that unlike similar projects in specific locales, the AKEES Pencil and Toothpick Factory was a true Nigerian project because of its tribal diversity in hiring workforce. Of its 62-man workforce, every region in Nigeria is duly represented to a great extent.

Pencils are usually made from cylindrical wood pieces carved from felled trees, but there is another method that is both cheaper and, most importantly, environmentally friendly.
The AKEES Pencil Factory uses old newspapers instead of wood to make pencils. This reduces deforestation, recycles old newspapers and cuts production costs by nearly half.
Bundles of old newspapers used as raw material
As beautiful a prospect as paper over wood is, how strong is a ‘paper pencil’? Bassey says the durability question is a general concern.
“People think wood is harder and more durable than paper, but that is not the case. With the right production processes, they’re are both on the same level in durability.”
According to Bassey, national dailies are more suitable for production than local papers because of their quality and resultant strength.
Apart from newspapers, other materials needed in pencil production include; urea formaldehyde, processed graphite, pencil sleeve, eraser, and ferrule. The graphite comes in 2A, 2B and 2.5B(HB) grades. When these materials are set, it is production proper.
Even in its seeming simplicity, the pencil production process is one of the most interesting industrial processes you will ever see.
After the graphite is cut to size, it is manually placed in trimmed newspaper spreads pre-slathered with urea formaldehyde.

Urea is the glue that holds the newspaper and graphite together in the rolling machine where it is folded into a compacted wet cylindrical mass.
Wrapping graphite in urea formaldehyde and newspaper
Still not looking anything like a pencil, these wet masses are sun dried for a minimum of 24 hours before a 40 – 45 minute bake in the dryer where an operator turns them over every few minutes for even dryness.
Drying in the sun before baking in the oven
To confirm if they are properly dried, the pencils are sharpened. Wet ones do not sharpen well and are thrown out.

From the sharpener, it’s a one way ticket to an abrading machine where they are smoothened and slowly begin to resemble actual pencils.
Like a fashion fitting session, the sleeve section is the most important step in the actual ‘pencilfication’ of these writing materials. Here, naked discoloured pencils finally get identities as they are clothed with a coloured cylindrical nylon wrap called sleeves.

Loosely hanging on the pencil’s frame at first, the sleeves are shrunk to fit by heat from a laminating machine.
Pencils rolling out of the laminating machine
Finally, the pencil’s feet is shod with an eraser after the ferrule — a small ring under a pencil that holds the eraser in place — is attached.
Running 8 hours a day, 3 major production machines combine to give a daily output of 30,000 – 60,000 pencils. Bassey says the disparity between numbers is a direct result of the minimal capacity of the dryer.
“
The dryer we have now cannot take all the pencils that come of the rolling machine at once so sometimes we have to rollover drying to the next day. But we are planning on getting a bigger one very soon to increase daily production quota.

With its scary machines all spotting shiny spinning blades, the toothpick factory is in the same building on the left side divided from the pencil factory by an the aisle leading up from the factory main entrance.

General overseer of the toothpick section, Mr. Christopher Shawa, couldn’t wait to explain to us how his angle runs.
“Bamboo is the major and only raw material in the production of toothpick,” Christopher explained.
“3 year-old bamboo is best fit, but a maximum of 5 years old is acceptable. Bamboo should be left to stand for 3 days after harvest before entering the factory.” he continued.

When it is eventually ready, the bamboo is sliced into lengths of 1.5 metres to make it fit the different cutting machines available.
A Splitting machine further splits the already cut bamboo into smaller cuts then another machine cuts them into regular toothpick sizes — 6.5cm length and 2.5cm breadth.
Mr. Christopher Shawa cutting bamboo in a Fixed Width Slicer
All these plenty cutting machines all do the same thing, but come in different sizes and blades.
The Sharpening Machine gives rounded pointed edges after the Polishing Machine has smoothened the toothpicks.

Next, they are bleached and sun dried for an hour before being baked in an oven and then polished again before finally heading to the packing section.

From the toothpick section, one final look at the end of the pencil factory line showed Hannah Montana, Ben 10, Spiderman and other cartoon characters singing, peeping and swinging from the sleeves of AKEES pencils.
Packaged pencils ready for sale
While these are the usual designs for pencils, it is worrisome that AKEES pencils do not spot Nigerian and African art, designs and characters.
Bassey agrees this has always been a problem.
According to him, when AKEES started, the foreign designs made people think the pencils were imported. He has two explanations for this and the second is downright disappointing and shocking.
“It is a market penetration strategy. When entering a consumable market, first introduce something the consumers are already used to then slowly innovate with time. After familiarisation, subsequent production batches will come in traditional Akwa Ibom colours; orange and white. Some will spot cultural symbols like masquerades and landmarks. But even if and when we want to make this change, we will have to go to China because pencil sleeves are not produced anywhere in Africa.”
What?
In January 2016, when the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, gave a 2-year timeline for Nigeria to start producing pencils, we all laughed our heads off at “his incompetence”.
But apparently, the minister was speaking from an informed perspective; Nigeria wasn’t and still isn’t prepared to produce pencils.
Apart from bamboo and newspapers, every other material and equipment inside the AKEES Pencil and Toothpick Factory is imported from China.
From raw materials — urea formaldehyde, toothpick bleach, graphite, eraser, ferrule, sleeves — to all the machines. Everything.
Imported boxes of graphite
Considering the abundance of graphite in Nigeria, having to import graphite is ridiculous. Ordinary pencil sleeves which are the simplest parts of the pencils are also imported from China. Bassey authoritatively stated that no country in Africa produced pencil sleeves.
“It is a shocking and sad fact. But we have searched extensively and confirmed it. Surprisingly, it is not a prohibitively expensive venture. It is an industry that can be established comfortably. It is in our plans to produce these sleeves in the nearest future here in Akwa Ibom State.”
For urea formaldehyde Bassey says he believes the Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals company in Port Harcourt has the raw materials but not capacity.
All the machines in the factory can also be produced in Nigeria, but they’re currently not. As expected, this unavailability of machines has taken a toll on productivity.
Good Business
Regardless of all the challenges, Bassey says the pencil and toothpick production is a very profitable venture. He goes ahead to explain the dynamics.
“
I’ve been in manufacturing for over 18 years and I know you don’t just set up and start making money immediately. There should be room to study your market and experiment to a certain extent. Time is also needed for market penetration and dominance. Once you can conquer all these, you break even. Power is still a major challenge we have. We run on generators 24 hours but we still make profit. Even if the margins won’t be as big as when the generators are not in the equation.
The AKEES Pencil and Toothpick Factory by itself is making money. Monthly revenue is between ₦3-4million and Bassey speaks of possibilities of this number shooting through the roof.
“
We recently started negotiations with the State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) to supply them pencils. With the free education policy in Akwa Ibom state, the about 1,160 primary schools in the state get free pencils and other educational materials. One carton of AKEES pencils at ₦14,000 to each of these schools monthly is ₦16.2 million monthly revenue. Two cartons will double that amount and so on.
Apart from the government, Bassey says AKEES has barely scratched the surface in terms of supply.
“Someone once asked why we are not in Lagos and other states, I said “let’s capture our region first”. For now we are focusing on the South-South and South East regions. Primarily, Cross Rivers, Port Harcourt and Bayelsa. At our present capacity, we will never meet demands for others. When we are able to scale the south-south region, we will then have the financial capacity and wherewithal to procure machines, foster automation and eventually service customers in other regions.”
An uncharacteristically visionary government
According to the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS), unemployment has been on an annual rise in Nigeria since 2014.
In a case like this, job creation through entrepreneurship is a feasible remedy, but setting up a business in Nigeria is hard. Nigeria recently moved 24 places to the 145th spot on the Ease of Doing Business Index for 2018.
As much an improvement as this leap is, it still isn’t properly reflective of any real life situation. Power is still one of the biggest problems of setting up industries in Nigeria.
To combat unemployment and low industrialisation levels in the state, the Akwa Ibom State government set up the Akwa Ibom Enterprise and Employment Scheme (AKEES).
The AKEES Pencil and Toothpick Factory is a different kind of government project.
Politicians like to show shiny new projects, so most of them ignore or outrightly scrap projects started by their predecessors no matter how seemingly viable.
Governor Udom Emmanuel realised this was going to be a problem that will defeat the goal of industrialising and empowering the state so AKEES was formed.
According to Bassey, the companies begin as government establishments run by caretakers and private individuals. Over time, the operators and managers pay a premium to the government to cover the cost of setup. This payment continues until they own full controlling shares of the industries.
Bassey points to a PVC production company in the area around the pencil factory. He says the entire land area and surrounding has been earmarked by the government for these kinds of companies with dedicated power lines for uninterrupted electricity coming to the area.
Finally, Bassey confirmed AKEES is indeed the first operational pencil production factory in Nigeria.
“There are toothpick factories scattered all over Nigeria. For pencils, this is the first functional one that also makes toothpicks. I know one factory that was set up but never ran for a single day” he said.
Branded packs of pencils and toothpicks
With the right market strategy, research and development, companies like the AKEES pencil and toothpick factory scattered across Nigeria may just be the permanent solution to Nigeria’s unemployment and economic woes. Even though still nascent, the AKEES model can (and should) be replicated across Nigeria.

Source: https://techpoint.ng/2018/01/10/akees-pencil-and-toothpick-factory/?utm_content=bufferbcecd&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Opin

What do u think?

From their looks can our Innoson (first pic above) compete with India's Maruri Suzuki. Recall, the Nigerian Army once imported the Maruti Suzuki en masse , to support its field operations and peace keeping missions across West Africa.

Can the Innoson give the Maruti Suzuki a good run for its money?

[quote author=Shiifi post=63863301][/quote]
Naija army say dem test am and e pass all the endurance test...biko support your own.

Shiifi:
Shior

wetin do am?

What are your thoughts?

Yay or Nay?

Good start, humble beginnings or bad start?

Hmmmnn, was Christ even born on that day u call Christmas...but that's toipc for another day.

Abi o

You right

And they told us he was in stable condition.

So