In 2008, BUA Group acquired Lafiagi Sugar Company from the federal government with a promise to build a refinery and conclude plans to make Nigeria a sugar-producing hub.
Twenty-three years before that transaction, the facility had been in the hands of Mehta Group of India, which, like BUA, failed in most of the agreements entered into with the government.
For many years, BUA did not develop the nursery, nor did it have plans to establish plantations or invest in backward integration projects from where it would source its raw sugar. Its plan has focused mainly on importation of raw sugar and refining it to make huge profits, while leaving the nation continuously dependent on Brazil and other countries for raw sugar.
Seeing the import-inclination of the likes of BUA, then-Minister of Trade and Industry Olusegun Aganga developed Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) to chart a course for the industry.
In the words of Aganga, “The Plan has estimated that our demand for sugar would breach the 1.7 million metric tonnes (MMT) mark by 2020. To be able to satisfy this from domestic production, we will need to establish some 28 sugar factories of varying capacities and bring about 250,000 hectares of land into sugarcane cultivation, over the next 10 years.”
True, BUA has 15,000 hectares of land in Lafiagi, Kwara State, but the company has only done little in terms of plantations and backward integration.
This was why the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Adeniyi Adebayo visited BUA Sugar in Kwara State in December 2019, the outcomes of the visit were mostly promises – which the company has been dishing out since 2008.
“What we are trying to do is to produce not only plantation of raw sugar but also refined sugar. So, as you saw when we went round the factory, you will see that we have all the equipment for us to be able to complete this project by December next year, God willing. We have the equipment that will make us produce 10,000 tons per day,” Abdul Samad Rabiu, BUA chairman, had told the minister.
Fifteen months after the visit, the backward integration project is still at an inchoate stage, and no meaningful development and announcement have emanated from it.
The usual excuse for the likes of BUA is the emergence of COVID-19. But, was there COVID-19 between 2008 and 2019?
The reality is that BUA is taking advantage of poor monitoring of the Sugar Development Plan targets set for producers under NSMP to abuse the policy and ensure that the target is not achieved.
Despite that BUA’s work on its sugarcane plantation is still some way behind others currently, the company opened a new export-focused sugar refinery in Bundu Free Zone in Port Harcourt to perpetuate importation of raw sugar.
The company performed poorly in the backward integration objectives, yet it is requesting to increase its import quota of sugar in 2021 by 66.7 percent from 360,000 MT it was allocated in 2020 to 600,000MT.
In fact, as pointed out earlier, it took the company up to eight years to begin work on its Lafiagi site. Even at that, most of the work is at the nursery stage. Its 15,000 hectares of land are still fallow, with excuses of community conflicts, which other players also have.
The key question again is: should BUA be talking of sugar export when the country still has a huge supply-demand gap? In 2012 when the NSMP was developed, Nigeria only produced two percent of its sugar needs. Nine years down the line, the gap is still huge.
No doubt, the new export-focused sugar refinery by BUA is a good feat as it will create jobs for thousands of Nigerians and help the country earn the much-needed foreign exchange.
But the bigger question is whether Nigeria really needs to start exporting sugar at a time it still has a huge demand-supply gap.
Sugar consumption in Africa’s most populous nation has been declining since 2016 due to consumers’ health consciousness and low purchasing power. Yet, the country spends millions of dollars yearly importing the sweetener —a narrative NSMP was targeted to change.
Africa’s most populous nation spent a whopping N263.8 billion in 2020 importing sugarcane mainly from Brazil amid acute FX shortage, data from Nigeria’s Foreign Trade Report said.
The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), in its midterm 2017 review of the three sugar-producing companies, scored Golden Sugar Company – owned by Flour Mills 58 percent in its assessment, which was higher than the other companies reviewed.
Flour Mills-owned Sunti Sugar Estate is considered the most productive backward integration programme in the industry.
This is not surprising, considering the level of investments made by FMN in the last three years.
Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned FMN’s N50 billion Sunti Golden Sugar Estates in March 2018, featuring 17,000 hectares of irrigable farmland and a sugar mill processing 4,500 metric tons of sugarcane per day.
At full capacity, the estate can produce one million tons of sugarcane with roughly translates into 100,000MT of sugar yearly.
Dangote scored 45.8 percent in the target set in the backward integration plan, including several projects, new sugar factories, land developed, land under sugarcane, out-grower farms, sugar produced, and job creation, while BUA scored 17 percent.
Dangote Group, which operates Savannah Sugar, is investing $3.8 billion in sugar and rice and promises to produce enough sugar to satisfy the country’s demand in 10 years.
Latif Busari, former executive secretary of NSDC, had revealed in the mid-term review that BUA produced zero ton of sugar out of the 15, 600 metric tons promised by the company during the period under review.
Dangote produced 20, 200 metric tonnes, being 28 percent of the 72, 000 metric tons it promised to produce, while Golden Sugar produced 800 metric tons, being one percent of the 57, 750 metric tons the company ought to have produced during the period.
BUA’s lackluster performance in the NSDC performance review document is a testament that the company is abusing the backward integration policy for its gain and not for economic growth.
Understanding NSMP
To curtail Nigeria’s heavy import reliance and reduce the deleterious effects of excessive sugar importation, the Federal Government, in 2012, introduced the NSMP as a policy roadmap for attaining self-sufficiency in sugar production.
Under the NSMP, investors would make sizeable investments in the industry within 10 years to guarantee self-sufficiency in the production of the sweetener.
In return, investors in the sugar industry who participate in the backward integration programme will receive incentives in form of a five-year tax holiday, a three-year concessionary import duty tariff of five percent, with a five percent levy, on imported raw sugar for their refineries.
The Backward Integration Policy (BIP), which is a crucial aspect of the NSMP, was introduced as a way of harnessing Nigeria’s sugarcane resources, creating jobs and a ready market through the value chain, while bridging the country’s 1.7 million metric tons of sugar demand.
Through NSMP, Nigeria has begun boosting its sugar production steadily while gradually reducing the importation of the commodity.
Africa’s biggest economy now produces an average of 16,791MT of raw sugar per annum since the NSMP took effect, according to the analysis of National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) data. But this is down to the progress made by Golden Sugar and Dangote Refinery – as earlier acknowledged by the Sugar Council.
Checking Abuse, Making NSMP a success
Experts believe that the NSMP is going to liberate the country’s economy for heavy import reliance as sugar remains the second most imported agricultural commodity after wheat in the country.
However, they stress that the policy must be well implemented for it to be successful and translate to economic growth.
According to them, allowing saboteurs to abuse the policy will not only pose threat to the sugar industry but other commodities where the BIP is replicated.
Hence the federal government must go back to the Sugar Plan and monitor the level of backward integration progress made by each company.
Henceforth, allocation of raw sugar importation should be done on the basis of progress done in backward integration programme. Companies that have nothing on ground should get little or no allocation for raw sugar imports, while those making investments in BIP projects should be able to bring in sugar for refining.
This is not a strange model. It worked in the cement industry, which has made the likes of BUA Group a conglomerate today. The then President Olusegun Obasanjo granted Dangote and Lafarge import allocations based on their BIP projects. The advantage of the policy was that it forced all the players to invest in its own raw materials locally, which is the summary of what backward integration entails.
Nigeria still has a long way to go before it attains self-sufficiency in sugar production. However, with the right investment and effective monitoring of the backward integration, the country can become a net exporter of this commodity and a key player in the global market.
Exporting refined sugar may look economically sound and can tempt policy makers due to the FX-earning opportunity, but it is like robbing Peter to pay Paul as the same FX would still be used to import raw sugar. Who then gains from the whole transactions?
Democracy is a unique form of government and one of its enticing features is the separation of power. This is the principle that spread the power of the state between the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary– a system that effectively promotes checks and balances.
But this feature is serially lacking in Nigeria, although the country is widely viewed as a democratic nation. While Nigeria, just like most democratic nations, has its government structured along with the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary, it practically operates with an executive domineering on the two other arms of government.
A typical indication is a recent revelation by a former chief justice of the country, Walter Onnoghen, on how the executive masterminded his removal from office. Onnoghen was pushed out from the country’s judicial top position in 2019, and for the first time since that controversy, the retired jurist shared inside details on how his ouster was perfected by the Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
“Before my suspension, I was confronted with no allegation,” Onnoghen recalled during a book launch in Abuja on Friday, before he went on to reveal that “there were rumours that I met with Atiku in Dubai. But as I am talking here today, I have never met Atiku one on one in my life.” This is unbelievable and exposed the deep flaws in Nigeria’s democracy.
The Chief justice of Nigeria is the head of the country’s judicial system, and his or her stay and exit in his office shouldn’t be at the whim and caprices of a president. Unfortunately, that was not what Onnoghen’s experience is telling us, and once again, spotlights the undue advantage that the executive exercise over the two other arms of government in Nigeria.
This is an anomaly that is gradually becoming a norm, and consistently, sends an awry message about the country’s democracy. To be sure, the chief justice, as Onnoghen was then, was not immune to scrutiny just like every other public officer, but the kind of manipulation that saw his exit was shambolic.
Pause and cast your mind back to the lines of events that culminated in Onnoghen’s ouster. Out of nowhere, a faceless organisation questioned the integrity of Onnoghen’s asset declaration document, and in a flash of light, the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) filed out an interim order for his suspension. And capping it all was the speed which Buhari, who is widely known for dragging foot in the application of orders, bounced on the order to ease Onnoghen out of office.
The truth, which was not too hard to decipher, was that Onnoghen was caught up in the absolute misapplication of power. Going by his recent revelation, his removal from office was simply political and revolved around the 2019 general election, which the incumbent feared could bring an unpleasant outcome through an independent-minded judicial review.
That suggests an overreach from the executive, who though consistently professes democracy, continue to act in a way that undermines it. Onnoghen’s episode is a typical example of this awkward behaviour and just like many other similar scenarios, brought to the fore the ills of Nigeria’s democracy.
Over two decades ago, Nigerians settled for democracy because of the highly tempting checks and balances feature that the system of government promises. But here we are and things are looking awkward, reminiscent of the terrible experience of the military regime, where the legislature is non-existent and the judiciary is largely influenced by military leadership.
Take a look around and you’ll not miss this salient truth, which has significantly distort our democracy. If you’re still at a loss, take an objective review of the legislature and you’ll be alarmed at how it is nearly reduced to an appendage of the executive. The same pattern is not lacking in the judiciary, though, it could still pretend all is well.
But how long can this defect continue? Hard to predict, but what is certain is that this is not the democracy we opted for.
Ponzi and Pyramid Schemes have become the order of the day, targeting unsuspecting Nigerians and swindling them of their hard-earned money. They usually come under the guise of making fast money (usually high return on investments) on a consistent basis and need more referrals to let older entrants cash out.
One of the biggest Ponzi schemes in Nigeria, MMM has stolen millions from Nigerians despite the founder having a 4-year jail sentence years prior to the entrance of the scheme in Nigeria & Africa.
Many Ponzi and Pyramid schemes these days even have CAC records and licences to operate as "investment" companies. In the end, if an "investment" seems too good to be true, promises overtly consistent returns like 10-30% returns every month. It probably is a scam.
Have you (or someone you know) been affected by a Ponzi Scheme? What's your story? and how do you know what to look out for in order to spot a Ponzi scheme?
It is a needless debate but the federal government is doing everything to turn the proprietary of a £4.2 million (N2.4 billion at the official exchange rate) to be repatriated to the country by the UK government, into one. The money was realized from parts of assets recovered from a former Delta state governor, Chief James Ibori, by the British government.
On Monday, Nigeria and British governments signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on returning the money to Nigeria, and controversy set in when the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of Federation, Abubakar Malami, hinted that the money would go to the federation account and not the Delta state treasury. Things got even messy when Malami noted that the money will be deployed to completing the Second Niger Bridge and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, among other projects.
“In consonance with existing framework engaged in the management of previous recoveries, the Federal Executive Council has directed that the instant repatriated funds should be deployed towards the completion of the Second Niger Bridge, the Abuja-Kano expressway, and the Lagos-Ibadan expressway under the coordination of the Nigeria Social Investment Authority (NSIA),” Malami was quoted to have said during the signing of the memorandum of understanding.
That decision is outlandish, to say the least, and expectedly, sparked a fierce debate among Nigerians. Whether on the media space or public gatherings, Nigerians have expressed divergent views on the controversy. For some, the federal government was right to claim ownership and determine usage but that argument didn’t go well with some others who pointed out that since the money was from the Delta state treasury in the first instance, the state should get back the money.
In law, and even morally, recovered assets should be returned to the treasury it originally belonged to, no matter how difficult it took to get it, or who helped in facilitating the recovery. In the past, a lot of assets that were unlawfully frittered from different states were returned to the rightful owners. Those recovered assets were sent to the state’s treasuries where they were unlawfully taken and for the benefits of the people who are entitled to them in the first place.
This is what a renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, tried to point out in his argument that the £4.2 million should be returned to the Delta state government. Falana, who went through memory lane to point out instances of similar recoveries returned to state governments, wondered why the federal government will be taking a different approach on that of Delta state.
“The £4.2m does not belong to the Federal Government,” Falana declared in a statement, recalling that “The money confiscated from Governor Joshua Dariye in the UK was recovered by the Federal Government, repatriated to Nigeria and returned to the Plateau State Government.” Continuing, Falana noted that “The money confiscated from Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha in the UK was recovered by the Federal Government, repatriated to Nigeria and remitted to the account of Bayelsa State Government.” So, why should the case of Delta state be different?
If assets are confiscated from Ibori, who at no time was a federal minister or served at the federal level, then how could Malami or anyone at the central government justify the glaring attempt to deny the Delta people what rightly belongs to them? The excuses of the Delta state government not owning up to any money been lost is at best, flimsy and a calculated move to divert what obviously belongs to the people of Delta.
Just as the Commissioner for Information in Delta state, Charles Aniagwu, alarmed, the plan by the federal government to appropriate the money is the height of wickedness because the people of the state lose on both ends. “Why should Delta State money be used in building Lagos-Ibadan Expressway or Abuja-Kano rail?” Aniagwu queried. As with most arguments against the federal government move, Aniagwu maintained that the money belonged to Delta state and that the state “would have understood if the Federal Government had said it wants to receive 20 percent, but to take all the money is wrong.”
Indeed, it will be wrong and a dangerous scheming to shortchange millions of Deltans who are the original owner of the money. The arguments advanced that by returning the money to Delta state, the bad conduct of state government would be rewarded, are at best specious and runs against the principle of fairness and justice, because it intends to deprive people of Delta state what rightfully belongs to them for the benefit of others without their consents and inputs.
With this context, the right thing to do is to return the money to the Delta state government treasury. That will not just be impactful on the people who originally own it, but show that they will not be shortchanged under any guise. That is fairness and justice, and the federal government should not act differently.
By Oke Umurhohwo, a Political Analyst and Strategist. He tweets via @OkeStalyf and can be reached on oke.umu@gmail.com
Having carefully designed his birthday colloquium to project his presidential aspiration and offer himself as the most suitable choice to succeed Buhari, Bola Tinubu stepped to the podium on Monday and set off a big debate on his capacity for the job he will be seeking in a few months time. Turn to any of the commonly used social media platforms, and you will most certainly notice Nigerians debating the proposition.
So, what did Tinubu proposed and why is it generating reaction? Uncomfortable with the country’s unemployment figure and the implication on security, Tinubu proposed that young Nigerians should be massively recruited into the military. That is, draft 50 million youth to the military to cut off potential recruitment sources for terrorists and other criminal activities.
“Recruit 50 million youths into the army, take away from their (the bandits’) recruitment source,” the former Lagos state governor had noted in his speech at the colloquium to mark his 69th birthday that held in Kano. This recommendation, no doubt, provided a clear insight into Tinubu’s mindset, particularly on solving the unemployment crisis.
In fairness to Tinubu, the high unemployment rate presents a feeding ground not only for bandits but other social vices, which in recent times have gone so bad. But anyone who has taken the time to analyze the problem will realize that Tinubu’s proposition will realize how poor it sounds. Why? This is no brainer and I will do my best to make you understand.
When Nigeria got its independence in 1960, there was some sort of consensus from within and outside, that it would go on to be one of the greatest nations on Earth. But the huge prospects that heralded the country’s birth have since been lost to irresponsible leaderships, who consistently show poor understanding of problems or deeply think through remedy.
The very fact that we’re in this terrible situation as a country, where nothing seems to be working to expectations, should be enough for anyone to realize that this isn’t a time for an unfeasible proposition. What Nigerians need, especially after realizing their misjudgements with Buhari, is a president that is thorough in thinking and ideas on turning things around in the country.
Unfortunately, what Tinubu showed us on Monday in Kano was a replay of the failed ideas that counted for the country’s abysmal outlook. Perhaps he was too lost in his desire to impress supporters that he failed to realize that drafting 50m youth, which is 25% of Nigeria’s population, into the military is outrageous and unsustainable.
But he tried to dismiss the argument by suggesting that young people recruited into the military can eat “Cassava, corn, yam in the afternoon….. it is grown here.” This is unbelievable and to imagine that an aspiring president thinks what matters to young people is only food is unsettling.
More than ever, that kind of mindset is telling us something especially at a time when leaders elsewhere are aggressively encouraging their youths to go into STEM, robotic engineering, programming, and other critical knowledge that will define the future, including the military sphere. True, security is a necessity for any country to experience growth and development but thinking that the only way to achieve it is through military option is a big gaffe for someone who seeks the highest political office in the land.
Times and again, we have learned through various research works how a high level of illiteracy serves as a fertile ground for terrorism. It was on that strength that a former Vice President Atiku Abubakar rued the indifference shown so far by the government to the level of illiteracy as the figure of out-of-school children, which currently stood at 10.3 million, disappointingly showcased.
It is a good thing that Tinubu joined the growing list of Nigerians who are not comfortable with the country’s rising unemployment rate but as a presidential hopeful, he should be able to show that he can do a better job. This is exactly what Buhari failed to do when he serially seek the country’s top political office, but unfortunately, many Nigerians didn’t pay attention and here we are now.
Tinubu turns the lens on himself through that proposition, and I can say, just as many others have observed on various social media platforms, tells us something uninspiring about him. As against what many of his supporters have always wanted us to believe, I’m afraid Tinubu sent the wrong signal.
By Oke Umurhohwo, a Political Analyst and Strategist. He tweets via @OkeStalyf and can be reached on oke.umu@gmail.com
YOU CAN NOW REGISTER YOUR NIN EASILY WITH GLO APPOINTMENT MANAGER APP! Glo recently launched Appointment Manager, an app designed to assist subscribers to book appointments online for their registration for the National Identity Number (NIN). Globacom said in a press statement that, through the app, subscribers would choose when and where to undergo the process of NIN registration devoid of stress. This will conserve time and also simplify the registration process in a safe and Covid-19-compliant environment with fewer people in attendance. Have you received your NIN? With the Appointment Manager, subscribers can choose the day, time and Gloworld outlet most convenient for them to visit for the exercise. To use the appointment manager app 1. Enter the URL https://ninappt.gloworld.com on any browser and enter phone number in this format: 08050000000. 2. Click on the date icon to select available dates for the month, select desired state, Glo world outlet and desired time. 3. Verify you are a human with a number code on the app 4. Submit. 5. Customers will then receive an SMS notification with an ID, Scheduled date and Gloworld outlet to visit which will be presented at the outlet. For subscribers yet to link their NIN with their mobile number, text NIN to 109 or dial *109*NIN# to submit your NIN or call 109 to update NIN via voice call. For further enquiries, contact 121 for pre-paid and 200 for post-paid or visit https://www.gloworld.com/ng/nin
Ized Uanikhehi is the CEO of Loose Media Limited, an experiential 360° marketing, and technology company agency in Lagos, Nigeria.
With over 13 years of experience, Ized has led and served variously as Director of Marketing, PR, and growth at Metro Africa Xpress (MAX), Social producer at CNN Africa bureau, and Head of digital at Indigo Arya. She has worked for and with multi-billion naira brands, international and local, developing and working on a number of creative digital and offline marketing strategies to propel their brands forward. In 2019 she co-founded TORA Africa, to recruit, train, verify vehicle drivers for businesses. TORA was short-lived, as government policy changes and the pandemic effectively upended the TORA business model and market.
In this interview, Ized shares her thoughts about the digital revolution in marketing, and why marketing professionals need to embrace both the tools and leverage professional networks to grow. Here’s the full interview with Ized
BB BUZZ: Everyone talks about how COVID-19 changed something or accelerated something. In marketing and communications, what is the pandemic’s lasting impact? Is there a significant new normal for marketers?
Ized: Digital transformation is the new normal, Digital transformation is the utilization of technology in all aspects of your business thus changing the way the business is run, whether it is marketing or operations, this requires a culture shift and this is the gift the pandemic has given us, accelerated digital transformation and this is the new normal.
BB BUZZ: One last question. After your “encounter with Binomo investment guys” have you met similar attempts? And how did you spend the “flipped cash?”
Ized: LOOOOL, I have no idea what you are talking about oh, BBbuzz, you guys want them to beat me on this Obasanjo’s internet. It was a one-time event, a lot of people didn’t believe it until I showed them the chats and alert, technically it was my cash, not flipped cash, these guys were value-driven and delivered on promised KPIs. I am still grateful, LOOOL. It has been a while though I cannot remember how I spent the cash.
BB BUZZ: Ized, you’ve had the opportunity to work in different roles with different companies and different settings. Which role was your most challenging experience?
Ized: Every role has its own sets of challenges, to be very honest, I am not certain now which one was most challenging because, at every point in every role, every challenge seemed like a lot. But if I had to pick, I would absolutely pick being CMO of TORA, the informal sector is a royal mess though, the challenges were new to me and different from what you would find in a regular corporate environment and it didn’t matter how much you prepared and then fixed it, chances are the next day came with an entirely different set of challenges, I still get panic attacks thinking of constantly dealing with Okada men.
BB BUZZ: What does it mean to be a values-driven marketer?
Ized: To be a value-driven marketer means that you have a set of values that are really important to you especially in how you deliver on your job, some of which is ensuring that you give meaningful value to clients, as agreed with them, above and beyond in some cases, it means that it is important to you to ensure the clients’ satisfaction, make your clients’ money, save their time and thus make them loyal ambassadors of your brand.
BB BUZZ: You’re a big evangelist for networking and you’ve described it as “critical”. Is the marketing industry doing enough sharing and networking?
Ized: No, the marketing industry is not doing nearly enough networking, but the truth is it keeps getting better with each passing period, so that’s a good thing, we may not be doing as good as we should be doing but we are definitely improving in the networking efforts with each passing year. Communities like DigiClan are making this an easy-to-do thing and I am really excited and happy about that.
BB BUZZ: When or where should a line be drawn in “networking” in the marketing and communications space? When should marketers keep their cards close, or is it unnecessary?
Ized: I don’t think it is necessary to “tight anything to your chest,” yes, being a sole (or one of the very few) expert(s) at a certain role gives you leverage because you are the one every goes to for that task ensuring that you are making more money but the truth is there will be other things or skills you don’t have but that can help you drive value to your clients and you need other people with those skills to help give that value. Any way you look at it, Networking is and will always be necessary.
BB BUZZ: Marketing, especially digital marketing has attracted a lot of attention and is being disrupted daily with new marketing tech tools. What are your thoughts about this?
Ized: Digital transformation is getting critical, marketing shouldn’t be as manual as it currently is, especially in Nigeria and these tech tools are a welcome development, I think that the fear for most people is that these tech tools will replace their jobs and their roles will not be needed, but these tools have actually opened the market more and these tools require skills and strategy to be utilized, marketing becomes very value-driven, and data-driven, and easier to achieve with these tools but that also means that there is a need to constantly stay educated and abreast such that you remain relevant.
BB BUZZ: You’re our first feature on CMO Digest, and we’ll like to set the tone and probably make this first question a tradition. So, how did you get your job?
Ized: I love the question! But I can only give you the summarised version because it is a really long story- It all started when I went to pitch for another project for another company I had co-founded that was dying out and I was seeking a lifeline, I didn’t get the lifeline but I figure that I made a good impression because it then became a conversation that led to a couple of other conversations that led to me being CEO/CMO of Loose Media.
BB BUZZ: I know you studied Biochemistry, but here you are, killing marketing. I also know you get this question a lot, so here’s the twist. Why didn’t pursue a career in Biochemistry?
Ized: The honest to God reason? I was never going to really pursue a career in Biochemistry in the first place, I wanted to study Medicine, I got admission to study Biochemistry instead, so I figured- finish biochemistry and then go back to study medicine, so I passed my courses very well and got the admission to study Medicine but then I met a boy and fell in love and started to rethink the whole medicine thing. LOL, I started to ask myself whether, at my age, I really needed to study medicine also then I had already gotten bitten by the Marketing bug, and everyone used to say I was such a great sales-person / marketer, so it felt like the path to pursue. I actually started with traditional marketing and evolved to Digital.
BB BUZZ: You were CMO and co-founder for TORA, what lessons did you learn that you think is important for CMOs and founders in Nigeria’s bustling startup space?
Ized: When I co-founded TORA we got a lot of great startup advice that we worked with but that didn’t stop a policy change from crushing our business. We became statistics, three out of four businesses die in their first year, suddenly we were in the majority, It did not matter that we had done the best we could given what we had to work with, a simple shift in government policy was enough to end the business. So recently my new advice to founders and CEOs playing in the sector such as I was playing is to constantly engage the government, understand these policies, have insights before it happens so you can pivot quickly and save your startup. Collaboration is great too, that’s my constant advice, leverage collaborations and partnerships with startups that are doing great, that helps a lot.
National Peace - Gen. Lucky Irabor, Nigeria's Chief of Defense Staff, with the chairman and members of house of representatives defense committee at the defence headquarters today
OPPO is unveiling two new models in the Reno5 Series, with the Reno5 and Reno5 F packing massive improvements over the previously released Reno3 Series. The global smartphone giant doesn’t look like it is slowing down anytime soon, as it makes yet another statement by these Flagship killers into the Nigerian market at very reasonable prices.
The Reno5 series smartphones are designed for trend seekers looking for powerful, yet durable devices that boast of a mix of fun, new video features that enable them capture memories and moments from more than one perspective.
OPPO has also incorporated highly artistic aesthetic concepts into the designs of its products. Inheriting the complete integration of fashion and technology that has come to define the Reno family of phones, OPPO has given the new generation Reno5 Series a more fashion-forward charm.
In addition to the unique design of the Reno5 and Reno5 F; the Reno5 is 171g light and 7.7mm thin while the Reno5 F is 172g light and 7.8mm thin. Both smartphones pack cutting edge technology.
As high-tech devices, the Reno5 series' integrated technology not only delivers a superb user experience, it also contributes to the compact design of the phone itself. The Reno5 boasts of a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen that offers an even more stunning visual experience by supporting a 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate, making every interaction extremely vivid and smooth. Additionally, the display is truly edge-to-edge, featuring a screen-to-body ratio of 91.7%.
On the body, the Reno5 introduces the "ever-changing color " effect using the first diamond spectrum process in the industry; combining 3 different layers of Picasus Film, Fresnel Lens Texture and Reflective Indium Coating. With this innovative industry technique, the Reno5 Fantasy Silver can project thousands of different colors when it is viewed from different angles. Each of these colors shines and sparkles in a way that is distinctive and full of life in its own right.
OPPO also introduced its brand new Flowing Light Design concept on the Reno5 F, which this time adds depth to what might deceivingly appear to convey a single color at first glance. Flowing Light Design on OPPO Ren05 F showcases a gentler and warmer look to the phone in contrast to the colder colors and textures of Reno Series.
PAN Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s foremost auto manufacturing and assembly company, has donated new equipment to Government Secondary School, Kakuri, Kaduna State. The company made the donation as part of its corporate social responsibility, and in support of the Kaduna state government’s efforts to provide high quality education and continuous improvement of schools’ infrastructure.
According to a statement signed by the Group Head, Corporate Services, PAN Nigeria Limited, Mr. Abdulkadir Yinusa, the items, comprising 50 sets of chairs and table, were presented at the school premises on Tuesday, 15th March, 2021, by Ms. Taiwo Oluleye, FCIS, PAN Nigeria’s Managing Director and other Management staff of the company who were present at the event.
The donated items were received at Government Secondary School, by Malam Kabibu idris, the Director, Public Schools, Kaduna State, who represented the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education of the State, Mrs. Phoebe Yayi and the Director, Kaduna State Quality Assurance, Sabon-Tasha Zone, Mrs. Abigail Adze. While receiving the items on behalf of the school, Mrs. Abigail said, “We want to deeply appreciate PAN Nigeria Limited for this kind gesture and their role in supporting quality education in Kaduna State. Education requires a huge investment that requires the partnership of both government and the private sector. As a customer of PAN Nigeria, I’ll like you all to patronize the company because they provide quality auto services in the State.” Meanwhile, in her remarks, the Managing Director of PAN Nigeria, said that, “Kaduna has been a wonderful home for PAN Nigeria Limited from the inception of the company in 1972 till date, and we shall strive to remain a responsible corporate citizen towards the government and good people of the state. These donated items are just a token of our support to the school and indeed the educational sector in the state. We will do more to improve the standard and quality of education in Kaduna State.” Ms. Oluleye encouraged the students to be focused on their studies as there is always a reward for hard work and diligence. PAN Nigeria is a multi-brand manufacturing company, assembling a diversified range of vehicles, ranging from family sedans, SUVs, to utility Pick-ups and Light Commercial Vehicles, including the Higer buses.
In this video, Tech YouTuber, Fisayo Fosudo shares the updates to the cryptocurrency ban in Nigeria as well as statements from the Central Bank (CBN) Governor, the Vice President and Analysts on thoughts and policies put in place to help Nigeria gain more foreign exchange remittances. We also see how has the cryptocurrency ban affected everyday Nigerians. Has the cryptocurrency ban affected you? Comment below how!
itel has announced its retainment of Olamide as the brand ambassador for its product portfolio of smartphones, accessories, and televisions. This forward-thinking choice will no doubt reinforce the desire of both brands to give their communities, customers, and fans alike, the means to enjoy better life like never before- itel will keep delivering reliable and trendy mobile technology solutions while Olamide will keep making music that appeals to a large and varied market.
Speaking on this continued partnership, Oke Umurhohwo, itel’s Marketing Manager for the West Africa region, said; ‘Olamide has been a positive complement to our brand’s vision for the past year, and we are delighted that he will be remaining in the family even as we move forward in providing diverse and innovative products to our target markets.’
‘It is something great to collaborate with a people’s brand like itel.’ said Olamide Adedeji, itel’s brand ambassador. We share similar goals and to me, and this has always been a relationship built on giving the best to the people and to help them enjoy better life. I look forward to the greater things we will do together in the years ahead.’
Roses are red, violets are blue, but for itel Nigeria, customers deserve something new. A customer-centric brand whose slogan is ‘Enjoy Better Life’, itel has definitely taken enjoyment to a whole new level. With several events back-to-back that have made the brand become the talk of the town online and offline, itel has proven that taking care of their customers is what they do best. So, what have they been up to? Let us give you a quick recap.
Sometime in January, itel announced that they would be giving some of their customers tickets to an exclusive event with Olamide in the itel Red Valentine promo- all they had to do was purchase an itel smartphone to win a ticket that admits two to be a part. Yesterday, itel fulfilled this promise at an event held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. And from all the pictures and videos flying around on social media, we can tell that itel’s customers had an amazing time with Olamide and the brand. There were couple’s games, quizzes, and lots of gifts given out to customers who would definitely remember yesterday as one of the best times of their lives.
Speaking at the event, itel’s Marketing Manager (West Africa), Oke Umurhohwo, said the event is a demonstration of the unmeasurable value the mobile technology giant places on its fans and customers; stressing that itel will always focus on helping them enjoy better life.
itel Storms Computer Village, Lagos, and Aba with Dorathy And Zubby
It was all fun and glamour as itel and Big Brother Naija celebrity, Dorathy Bachor, stormed Computer Village, Lagos, to have fun with fans and non-fans in the itel Red Valentine promo. She was met by a large crowd, took pictures with them, and answered their questions about itel products. Dorathy also purchased two itel smartphones for two lucky customers.
What is more? Zubby Michael, a popular Nigerian actor, also visited Mac Kings Store in Aba, Abia state with the itel brand. The love and the crowd were massive, and simply proved to indigenes of the community that itel is the brand of the people.
Imo, the Supreme Court Jurists and the Ills of Democracy
As Imo State government dig deep its status, and the question of democratic leadership raises again, many are wondering how Imo State got here. The trenches of bad governance, legitimacy crisis, unpopular government and its policies have now become the hallmarks of Gov. Hope Uzodinma’s rein in Douglas House. It is one of a depressing story, that has caught Imo citizens and electorates unaware and in search of the moral compass about the essence of democracy.
The crisis of governance and leadership that has continued to bedevil Imo State originated from nowhere than the January 14th, 2020 Supreme Court judgement on the case of Uzodinma vs Ihedioha/SC./2019. It is a decision that the democratic powers of Imo State were hunted down and burnt to ashes in a very troubling way. The sad story now is that while the Supreme Court Jurists in Abuja have moved on from their decision, Imo people are now left to face the consequences of that critical and painful verdict.
Ordinarily, Imo State was supposed to be spared this orgy of democratic misfortunes. But in the ensuing political gimmicks champion within the Nigerian state, those with the muscles, connections and roadmap to high places in Abuja often have the last and powerful say even over the collective will of the people. It is powerful forces that the Nigerian democracy breathes has caused Imo this present political catastrophe.
Uzodinma can afford to swim in the euphoria of the power accord to him by the Supreme Court, but deep down, he is aware that Imo voters never at any particular time extended their mandate and legitimacy to him. The crisis of legitimacy will perpetually remain an albatross to the government that he superintend over.
Further, the most challenging aspects of the Supreme Court’s decision, is not about the leadership vacuum and crisis it has created, but the developmental gap, Imo State will suffer from within this period. At present, from teachers, pensioners, public service workers in the state are all trapped in the misgovernance brought about by Uzodinma. The sorry state of infrastructure has even gone worse, with no hope that things will ever get better under the administration.
More importantly, the citizens should see the Supreme Court as a democratic institution that is constantly on the defense of hapless citizens. Doing everything within its constitutional scope to the protect the inalienable rights of the people. Chief among the constitutional rights of the people is the free rights to vote in an election. But when those rights are denied, you have a crisis that ends derailing the very meaning of democracy itself.
In Imo, it is the pain of staying with a Supteme Court decision that has no bearing on the decision of Imo electorates in the 2019 governorship election. While legal luminaries may engage in the extrapolation of what constitutes the law and the arrival of the Supreme Court at such decision, the Imo voter knows where his heart went and the party that he/she gave his or her mandate went to.
The contrary step taken by the Court has tended to betray the mandate and the rights of the people. Rather than the court acting as a safeguard to democracy, it has regrettably expose the Ills of democracy and its institutional leakages and lack of accountability. It is not too late for the Supreme Court to take a second look at that decision. The court upend this catastrophic legal decision by re-examining the case of Uche Nwosu vs APP & Others again. That is what Imo voters deserve. It is the minimal requirement for redress in the midst of a depressing political judgement. Time is key here.
In this video, I discuss CBN’s (Central Bank of Nigeria’s) decision to ban cryptocurrency. In February of 2021, the CBN issued a letter stating that banks are prohibited from transactions with companies that deal In cryptocurrency. This has led to massive devastation and huge losses for businesses. This is my summary of the situation and my recommendations. What are your thoughts?
The First CBN Letter in 2017
The first circular on Cryptocurrency by the CBN was a letter in 2017 which they referred to cryptocurrency as Virtual Currencies. The concern of the CBN was that Crypto is untraceable, anonymous and hence can be used by criminals to launder money and finance terrorism.
The SEC Notes on CryptoCurrency
The SEC, which is the Security and Exchange Commission in Nigeria whose main duty is to regulate investments and securities in Nigeria called cryptocurrency an asset. A digital asset.
The “Ban” of Crypto Currency in 2021
All of that brings us to today, where the CBN issued a letter in February of 2021 that dealing in Bitcoin or any cryptocurrency for that matter by banks is prohibited or in other words, it’s been banned forbidden. More “details” also came out about how the FBI tipped the CBN that some Nigerians were using bitcoin to target stimulus packages from the US and the west in bitcoin, this was on the front page of ThisDay Newspaper.
The Numbers
According to a Quartz article, Nigeria, in the last 5 years, Nigeria has traded over 60,000 bitcoin or 566 million dollars which is second only to the US on Paxful.
Not just that though, there was a report by Stears that Nigeria traded as high as $200 million dollars in Bitcoin per month aka over 95 billion Naira way more than the Nigerian Stock Exchange did in the span of 3 months in the 2nd quarter of 2020. That is crazy! The BuyCoins CEO on Medium stated that in Nigeria they traded more than $141 million dollars in 2020 alone, that’s over 67 billion Naira, similarly, BitSika on Twitter posted that they also transacted over $39 million dollars of which Nigerians deposited $18 million dollars, that’s a total of almost $200 million dollars in a year and that’s just 2 companies.
Why did the CBN Ban Crypto?
The CBN is most likely worried about 2 things, one is Fraud. Nigeria is kind of infamous for the word 419, there’s the case of the “yahoo boys”. The other is the reason which would have made CBN ban Bitcoin is the strain on foreign exchange. The CBN has been making a lot of moves to help the Naira and stop more US dollars from leaving Nigeria. So last year, they banned the use of dollars for food and fertilizer imports, they reduced the spending limit on many many Naira cards, I think the limit is like $100 per month
The Result So far (How we are Affected)
Immediately after that announcement was made, cryptocurrency companies like Quidax, BuyCoins, Binance, Patricia and the likes have issued similar statements. They mostly mentioned that now you cannot fund your account with Naira anymore. What this simply means is that Nigerians cannot buy Bitcoin with their Naira, which cuts off cryptocurrency exchange platforms so you would only have to trade with someone you know who already has bitcoin one on one.
Solution: Way Forward
Speaking of solutions. Going back to the roots of trading bitcoin by P2P or Peer to Peer trading with individuals on platforms that power it. Right now on almost all these platforms, you are able to send and receive bitcoin into your wallet so you’re covered. One major platform that works is Paxful. Also, If you’re a freelancer who mainly receives foreign exchange, or you still want to keep trading bitcoin and/or just want to secure your finances, work on creating a Domiciliary account in Nigeria.
What are your thoughts about what’s going on? Would you say the CBN was right by doing this? Could they have done something better? Just let me know what your thoughts are in the comments.
Premier sports betting platform, Nairabet just launched a new product called ActionX that will give gamers a new thrilling experience on gaming on actions during a game to win points that will then be converted to cash.
The Action X feature will be free to play on the nairabet website without making any Monet deposit, This Free play option attracts gift prizes as there will be daily and weekly winners selected from the leaderboard.
The points gained from selections will be entered into a leaderboard where all players can see their standings, the top three players will receive cash prizes daily and weekly.
This new feature will also accommodate 1×2 bets on the outcome of games, each player gets 10 selections per day on either 1×2 or the bet on action that will make them eligible for the prizes.
Nairabet Marketing Manager Emmanuel Vincent said this new product will make it easier for gamers to stake on games without the fear of match results as they still gain points that will be converted to cash, one of the most demanded features in the industry, “by bringing this to our millions of customers, it shows we remain a brand committed to feedback and innovation” he said.
This new product can be accessed from the promotions page on the nairabet website,
Sowemimo Abiodun Alex (born on December 25th, 1986) He’s a multiple award-winning Computer Programmer, Financial Technologist, Diplomat, Internet Entrepreneur, Domain Broker, Computer Media Applications & Online Reputation Management Mogul with an estimated net worth of over $423.7 million.
He is the Founder/CEO of iNet Telecommunications, CapitalMetriQ Swift Bank & InfoMetriQ Data Network. He is best known as the founder of the global data system of information profiling Application PagePedia.
On the 17th of March 2019, he was honoured & awarded by the Egyptian President & Chairperson of African Union Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the World Youth Forum as the most promising youth in Africa. On September 25th, 2019, at the occasion of the High-Level Segment of the 74th UN General Assembly, the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations, in collaboration with the World Award Foundation & Silicon Valley Nigeria Economic Development (SV-NED), Sowemimo Abiodun Won the 2019 SDGs #9 honours in industry, innovations & infrastructure alongside with Alicia Keys. Subsequently, on the 26th of January 2019, he was conferred with Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Information Technology Management, from the Prestigious ICON University of Management Science & Technology.
He is a Rome Business School Alumni. On the 1st February 2019, he was appointed as the Rome Business School Italy, a representative in Nigeria, a globally acclaimed & the most international business school in Europe. (AMB) Dr Sowemimo Abiodun is the Revolution of Innovation, he invented internet identity number through InfoMetriQ Application. He is the current President & Chairperson of African Chamber of Innovation Internet Governance & Digital Inclusion.
On the 20th of April 2018, he received the certificate of Leadership from the Accra Business School Ghana, Presented by the President of Accra Business School. Bishop Gideon Titi-Ofei. He is a fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Management Consultants & a Certified Management Consultants with (ICMI) license granted by the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes, which is globally accepted & reciprocally recognized in over 50 countries.
On the 25th of September 2018, he was appointed as Ecowas Youth Council Ambassador, representing over 200 million youths in 16 West Africa Countries at all level of governance, conferences & in line with promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Before he rose to this supreme office. He has gained a lot of experience in Computer programming, Information Technology Management, Data Entry Processing & Online Reputation Management.
On the 17th of January 2020, he was awarded the Royal African Medal, inducted into the Royal Court, honoured & regarded as one of the top & influential “Super 20” for his outstanding achievement in empowerment & entrepreneurship at the Royal African Leadership Forum by his Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
On the 5th day of July 2018, he received the (SVNED) Silicon Valley Nigeria Economic Development Certification & Award for his exemplary performance at the (SVNED) Silicon Valley 2nd Immersion Programme. On the 30th of April, 2019 he was certified by Oracle in (IoT) Internet of things, Block-chain, (AI) Artificial Intelligence & Chatbots.
Over the past years, He has led a company involved in the web design and development of public and private application design projects in many communities. In addition, he has formed and led companies in the development, building, auction & sales of premium web domains.
He understands the design, development, content & auction. He knows how to get it built and sold as well; on the 17th of February 2018, he launched a book titled (The Future of Money) with Unachukwu Emeka. On the 10th of April 2019, he was nominated to receive the Doctors of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) degree by the Academic Council of the Commonwealth University in conjunction with London Graduate School. This made his second doctorate degree. Dr Sowemimo Abiodun has served as the Chief Executive Officer of PagePedia Global Data System of Information from January 2016 till July 2017.
He gained an invaluable understanding of the public process and the numerous challenges that a municipality faces long term as well as any given day. He understands the budgetary constraints, & the maintenance issues of web & mobile application. He’s an outstanding true global citizen that shows a natural genius for planning things.
He can erect, construct and practically assemble applications to make things work with unique cerebral excellence. Over the years, He has helped many clients, both public and private, deal with creating content & design, permitting, and development challenges. Dr Sowemimo has been fortunate to have worked with experienced, talented, professional, and dedicated partners, staff, and sub-consultants.
The approach has always been to build a team (Group) to get the job done. He is an embodiment of professionalism and achiever per excellence. Dr Sowemimo Abiodun branded networks and numerous speciality firms provide profiling of individuals, corporate promotional content description for organization, advertising, business networking, global directory, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other speciality communications services to Millions of clients in more than 100 countries.
As a strategic multi resourceful individual he manages a portfolio of global market leaders comprised of many global profiles’ agency networks, numerous leading national advertising agencies; a global network of million marketing services companies; and a media group. That includes several world’s premier providers of media planning and buying services.
Dr Sowemimo Abiodun offer services in over 50 world marketing communications disciplines across more than 200 strategic brand platforms. The only epithets that can aptly capture the essence of this man with a lion heart is a colossus. A personality that encompasses simplicity and a knack for qualitative service to humanity and especially imparting knowledge to our generation.
Dr Sowemimo is garbed with enviable success with a guiding mantra that says (Preparing generation for total greatness) this is apt because this great man of words does not only live and exemplify the fertile knowledge, he has for years drummed into a countless number of individuals who have been lucky to encounter him.
A man who has attracted multiple honorees with a catalogue and a dazzling height success. Dr Sowemimo Abiodun is leading light and a formidable beckon of hope in our generation. Welcome to the I of (AMB) Dr Sowemimo Abiodun, the Commander in Chief of the Internet Revolution. Hear him and what he thinks about our generation: “Our aim is to make future leaders of this generation such as to have the self-confidence to meet the challenges of the future, the humility to knowledge, the success of others, the compassion to support others who encounter difficulties and the maturity to take responsibility for their own action.” Dr Sowemimo is a visionary pacesetter and a man of valor.
Governor Fayemi's Aide, Kolade, Using Inspector General Of Police Special Unit For Land Grabbing In Lagos
SaharaReporters gathered that despite different court judgements, Kolade whose penchant for land grabbing, using men of the Nigeria Police Force is well known, had in his usual fashion deployed policemen led by one of his associates, Wale Kalejaiye, to the Akodo community to arrest some members of the community.
he Akodo area of Ibeju Lekki in Lagos State has been thrown into turmoil since the unlawful arrest of some members of the community by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Team on the order of Victor Kolade, Special Adviser to the Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, on Social Investment.
SaharaReporters gathered that despite different court judgements, Kolade whose penchant for land grabbing, using men of the Nigeria Police Force is well known, had in his usual fashion deployed policemen led by one of his associates, Wale Kalejaiye, to the Akodo community to arrest some members of the community.
The illegal land-grabbing squad, constituting men of the IGP team and Kalejaiye also vandalised structures, materials, cars in the area.
They later met stiff resistance from members of the community who had grown tired of the Ekiti governor’s aide’s high-handedness and thereby resisted the unlawful incursion into their community by the rogue policemen and their civilian masters.
In the ensuing ruckus, a number of young men in the community were arrested and have since been charged with the murder of Kalejaiye, who has since the incident disappeared.
To corroborate their untrue theory, Kolade, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) governor aspirant and the policemen produced a body which they claimed without facts, was the body of Kalejaiye.
Those arrested, having spent the last week in police custody, have stated categorically that they never killed anyone and that a DNA test should be done to prove their innocence.
However, their requests have been denied with no one asking the salient questions about where the body was procured and how the police can categorically say that the corpse is that of Kolade’s henchman, Kalejaiye.
“Victor Kolade is a well known land grabber, Governor Kayode Fayemi should call him to order. Even after different court judgements, this man keeps harassing us with policemen from the IGP special unit.
“One of his agents named Wale Kalejaiye led policemen to our area last week and before you know it, the IGP unit claimed he (Kalejaiye) was killed by the villagers but we spoke to the police Area Commander, he said he didn’t know anything about it. How can someone die in an area and the Area Commander would not know about it?
“They have arrested so many villagers who have been in the cell for more than a week in Abuja. What we are now saying is if truly this Kalejaiye is dead, let’s do a DNA test to determine who really he is, and not just saying you saw a corpse somewhere and there was a fight over land in the community, then you started arresting the villagers. It’s unfair, the IGP should be aware of his boys’ atrocities. Governor Fayemi should as well call his aide to order,” a resident of the community told SaharaReporters.
SaharaReporters gathered some of those in illegally detention include Ayoku Ogunlaja, Segun Bikanose, Alhaji Bariu Oluwo and Agbaje Tajudeen.
Tony Elumelu Foundation Seeks Africans for its 2021 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme Application
…. world-class business training, mentorship, non-refundable seed capital up to $5,000, and global networking opportunities
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading philanthropy dedicated to empowering African entrepreneurs, is currently running applications on its TEFConnect digital platform (www.tefconnect.com) till March 31, 2021, for its 2021 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme. This year’s intervention prioritizes the economic recovery of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and young African entrepreneurs, following the Covid-19 disruption to economic activities.
To address the unique challenges arising from the pandemic, lift millions out of poverty and create sustainable employment across the continent, the Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Programme will empower 1,000 young African entrepreneurs, selected from the 2020 cohort. The Foundation will also open applications to an additional 2,400 young entrepreneurs in 2021, in collaboration with global partners.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation, which celebrated ten years of impact in 2020, is empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, through the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme. Successful applicants receive a world-class business training, mentorship, non-refundable seed capital up to $5,000, and global networking opportunities. The Programme is open to entrepreneurs across Africa, both new start-ups and existing young businesses, operating in any sector.
CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu stated, “The Tony Elumelu Foundation now more than ever is demonstrating our commitment to unleashing the potential of young African entrepreneurs, the key to Africa’s long-term economic transformation. The pandemic has created challenges across the continent, but we know that with the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s tried and tested Programme, we can execute the largest Covid-19 economic recovery plan for African SMEs and break the cycle of poverty in Africa.”
The Tony Elumelu Foundation’s $100million Entrepreneurship Programme, launched in 2015 to empower 10,000 entrepreneurs over 10 years, is now entering its 7th year and has empowered to date, over 9,000 young African entrepreneurs from 54 African countries. Prospective applicants should apply on the digital networking hub for African entrepreneurs, www.tefconnect.com.
For over a year now, there has been a critical imbalance in the demand and supply of maize in Nigeria. The shortfall in supply of maize in the country has led to the price of a ton of maize shooting from N80, 000 in January 2020 to over the current market price of N200,000.00. The spiralling cost of maize is a ticking bomb that will most likely have a negative impact on the wider economy. As an essential component of feed production, the poultry farmers face a looming crisis. Eggs that was once was the cheapest source of protein has gone as high as N70. The continuous increase in the price of this single crop is beginning to adversely affect the food value chain in Nigeria. Farmer. Many rural households in the north will be unable to afford a balanced diet if the price hikes continue. If the sharp rise in price is allowed to persist could result in a dire situation for the country in the near future.
Watch the Director-General of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), speak on the root cause of the maize shortfall and what needs to be done to mitigate the impending crisis.
Stallion Group hosts Otunba Adebayo, Fashola and Other Dignitaries to The Grand Unveiling of Nigeria’s First Electric Car, Hyundai Kona
Abuja, February 7, 2021 –Nigeria’s first locally assembled electric car, Hyundai Kona, was unveiled in a grand style at the Nation’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on the 5th of February, 2021 by Stallion Group, with high profile dignitaries including the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Works aind Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, the Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), well respected permanent secretaries, the CEO of Stallion Group, Mr. Sunil Vaswani amongst others.
The event, which was unveiled by the chief host, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo, was the beginning of a series of activities to announce the arrival of the electric car in the nation’s capital. Following the grand unveil by the Ministers and other VIPs, the electric car was taken for a test drive to showcase its wide range capacity and speed.
Speaking about the car, the Minister of Industry expressed excitement at unveiling the latest innovation in the country and showed support for the initiative by Stallion Group, saying “Stallion Group is the pioneer producer of the Made-in-Nigeria Electric Vehicle (EV) called Kona. The FMIT & NADDC has it as part of their plans for the automotive industry to migrate from the use of conventional vehicles (powered by Fuel and Diesel) to alternative powered vehicles, considering the environmental degradation caused by global warming”.
In his welcome speech, the CEO of Stallion Group, Sunil Vaswani, appreciated the Nigerian Government for always being forward thinking for the greater good of Nigerians and encouraging sustainable means of operations making the location future ready. He also applauded the government for their acceptance and solidarity with their acceptance of the “Electric Kona”.
Hyundai Kona is Nigeria’s first locally assembled car which is said to have a 482km range capacity, with an acceleration of (0-100kms) in 9.7 seconds on a single battery cycle of a capacity of 64 KWH. The ease of charging is unmatched and can be plugged in at home or work for 9.35 hours for a full battery. Its 100% electric with zero carbon emission. The grand unveiling continued with a roadshow on the same day at key high traffic locations around Abuja with a number of activities including dancing, sharing & distribution of brand items amongst others.
The series of activations continues at select high profile restaurants/bars at “Lagos Bistro” Restaurant and “A Bar Called Paper” on the 6th and 7th February 2021 respectively with free test drives for guests and passers-by, as well as a special Valentine Weekend activation. ###
itel, a customer-centric brand that provides quality smartphones, TVs, and accessories for everyone, has once again thanked loyal and longtime customers across Nigeria with cars and trophies. The thirteen itel phone sub-dealers, who had no inkling of what awaited them, were thrilled and excited at this feat.
They were presented with their cars by Oke Umurhohwo, Marketing Manager for itel Nigeria, and Kenny Ibitoye, Regional Sales Manager of the brand, on the 4th of February, 2021. In attendance at this auspicious event were family, well-wishers, and other key members of itel’s management staff.
This reward was to acknowledge the diligence, dedication, and passion of the sub-dealers in promoting the itel brand nationwide.
itel, a customer-centric brand that provides quality smartphones, TVs, and accessories for everyone, has once again thanked loyal and longtime customers across Nigeria with cars and trophies. The thirteen itel phone sub-dealers, who had no inkling of what awaited them, were thrilled and excited at this feat.
They were presented with their cars by Oke Umurhohwo, Marketing Manager for itel Nigeria, and Kenny Ibitoye, Regional Sales Manager of the brand, on the 4th of February, 2021. In attendance at this auspicious event were family, well-wishers, and other key members of itel’s management staff.
This reward was to acknowledge the diligence, dedication, and passion of the sub-dealers in promoting the itel brand nationwide.
It is a well-known fact that itel is not just a brand that offers quality, reliable, and pocket-friendly products, but also a brand that puts her customers first. We can see this through their personalized marketing activities, Love Always On CSR initiative, and regular giveaways.
Kevin Zhang, itel’s Country Manager, notes; “itel is committed to initiatives that positively change the lives of our consumers, and this is just one way of expressing our sincere gratitude for our sub-dealers’ unmatched support to our growth over the years. While ensuring we provide the ideal smartphones, accessories, and TVs for everyone, we merge that with services and promotions to ensure our customers ‘enjoy better life’ all around. We hope that this reward would transform their lives for the better.”
With the brand starting the year 2021 on such a good note, we can’t wait to see what itel has in store for the rest of the year. For more pictures and information on the event, follow @itelNigeria on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
PAN Nigeria, the country’s foremost multi-brand automobile manufacturer and assembler, has announced the renewal of ISO 9001: 2015 certification of its Quality Management System (QMS) following a successful audit by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). While presenting the ISO 9001: 2015 certificate to PAN at the SON office in Lagos, the Deputy Director, Management Systems certification, Engr. Richard Adewumi, commended PAN Nigeria for remaining consistent through the years.
He said: “We are happy PAN is still producing reliable vehicles in Nigeria,” adding that PAN “is very qualified for recertification having met the required standards.”
Responding, the Acting Managing Director, PAN Nigeria, Ms Taiwo Oluleye, said PAN is totally committed to the production and delivery of quality vehicles as well as services that meet and exceed the expectations of its customers, while keeping to best practices and standards. In a statement by Mr. Oladeji Victor Bamidele, Head, Corporate Communications, PAN Nigeria Limited, Kaduna, the firm noted that its principal activity as a multi-brand manufacturing concern, is the assembly, production and marketing of varied brands of vehicles including a broad range of Peugeot and Higer vehicles.
Local assembly by the Company witnessed growth in the 80’s and 90’s riding on popular models like the Peugeot 404, 504 and 505, and in more recent history, the 406 and 307. In July 2014, the 301 was launched, followed by the 508 in December 2015. Today, with a vision to evolve as the most responsive and endearing motor manufacturing company, PAN Nigeria continues to exploit opportunities within the local market to improve content, value-added and competitiveness.
An Onitsha, Anambra State-based lawyer, Harold Ekwerekwu, has accused the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, of land grabbing.
He alleged that CJ Anyachebelu in connivance with some people invaded his property in Onitsha last week Monday and pulled down his building which was under construction under the pretext that the land was earmarked for the construction of a new Judges Quarters.
But the CJ has denied the allegation in a phone interview with LEADERSHIP, saying the onus is on Barrister Ekwerekwu to prove that he is the rightful owner of the land in question.
“He (Harold Ekwerekwu) is a lawyer, he knows the procedure. Let him go to anywhere he wants to prove that the land belongs to him. We are waiting for his petition,” Justice Anyachebelu said.
Meanwhile, in a press release personally signed by the legal practitioner, he said the Okposieke family of Onitsha, which he belongs to, owns a vast land in Onitsha metropolis popularly called G.R.A., which was leased to the the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1910 for a period of 99 years.
Barrister Ekwerekwu noted that upon the expiration of the said lease agreement in 2009, the Federal Government in the same year surrendered various parts of the land to the original owners – Okposieke family.
“Part of the landed property surrendered as aforesaid are the premises respectively known as No. 6, now No. 10B, Residency Drive, G.R.A. Onitsha.
“Out of the blues, on the 18th day of January, 2021, the Chief Judge of Anambra State, accompanied by Chief Superintendent of Police, Chinedu, attached to the Governor of Anambra State as his ADC, and one Barrister Chike Madueke, went into where I was building, pulled down everything I had built thereon, claiming that the Federal Government of Nigeria had no right over any land in the entire Anambra State and could not have surrendered it to me.
“It is remarkable that on the said occasion, the said Chief Judge claimed that he had proposed constructing quarters for the Judges he intends to appoint in the future for the High Court of Anambra State,” Ekwerekwu said.
The legal practitioner wondered why his plot of land will be forcefully converted for the construction of a Judges Quarters by the CJ since there is an existing one occupied by retired Judges who ought to have moved out upon their retirement, describing the development as an abuse of office and power by the CJ.
“I call on all Nigerians to join me in calling the Chief Judge of Anambra State to order, lest his act, if unabated, would further lower the esteem of the already tainted image of the judiciary, to the extent that law keepers are now turning into law breakers,” Barrister Ekwerekwu added.
One month ago, the govt of Akwa Ibom state launched a witch hunt on my husband. Because my husband Da Zion Umoh consistently calls out their non performance on Facebook. First they arrested him without warrant & jailed him illegally for 3 days.
The day after his arrest, we were still at the station trying to find out the reason for his arrest when the police brought him out from the cell and started speeding away with him to an unknown location.
I raised alarm on Facebook and after running around the city looking for my husband, I got a phone call that he had been returned to the station. I don't know if this was as a result of calling it out early on Facebook.
On 24 Dec, police seized Zion's US passport which is the property of @USinNigeria and released him. Then asked him to return on 29 Dec. Zion was ill in the days leading up to 29 December. The conditions of Uyo Jail is human rights violation on it's own.
On 29 December, the police visited Zion in hospital and their words were "ok we have seen you, please return to the station when you recover". On 30 Dec, after reporting to the hospital, Zion went to the station because he was invited again for a 'Discussion'. He was rearrested.
The next day, a magistrate ordered that he be held in prison, while the state filed information on their case. How is this allowed to happen in Nigeria? Zion was in prison based on paper charges for one month! No information was filed by the state!
After the admin hurdle of getting a bail hearing date, on the day of the bail hearing, the state dropped all earlier charges. A delay tactic to stop the hearing from happening. They informed us that he wouldn't be released because they filed a new charge of terrorism. @amnesty
Today, they suddenly moved Zion from Ikot ekpene Prison to Uyo Prison. We heard through the grapevine. Neither our lawyers nor @USinNigeria were informed. Calls from US consulate official was ignored. Please help shine the light on this, so that we can all watch their actions.
Link to Zion's Facebook https:///fa6yod3Jby Awaibomites who have raised their voices with us are now rumoured to be on a wanted list. The police still have his passport
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