Eight in ten people living with diabetes (80%) in Nigeria only found out they had diabetes after developing complications associated with the condition. Additionally, almost all (94%) of those surveyed in the country had experienced one or more diabetes complications during the course of their life with diabetes.

The findings come from global research recently carried out by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) ahead of World Diabetes Day on Monday, 14 November. The survey was conducted among people living with diabetes across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America to understand the level of awareness and impact of diabetes-related complications.

Diabetes-related complications can be serious and, in some cases, life-threatening. They include damage to the heart, eyes, kidneys and feet. The risk of complications places significant stress on people living with diabetes. More than half (55%) of respondents in Nigeria say they worry most days about developing diabetes-related complications.

The risk of complications can be significantly reduced through early detection, timely treatment and informed self-care. When asked about preventing their complications, four out of five respondents (82%) in Nigeria believe they could have done more; more than half (57%) think their healthcare provider could have done more.

Commenting on the research findings, Osarenkhoe Ethel Chima-Nwogwugwu , who lives with Type 2 Diabetes, said: “It is shocking to see so many people in Nigeria only find out about their condition after experiencing a complication. To change this, more needs to be done to improve diabetes awareness and provide education to support the early detection and management of complications. What we have learned offers a stark reminder that diabetes often goes undetected until one or more complications are present.

“We know that, with the right information and care, people living with diabetes can greatly reduce their risk of complications. Furthermore, there are steps that people at risk of type 2 diabetes can take to delay or prevent the onset of the condition altogether. It is key to know your level of risk, know what you should be looking for and know how to respond.”

There are several risk factors that increase the chance of developing type 2 diabetes. These include family history, weight, age, ethnicity, inactivity, and diabetes during pregnancy, some of which can be reduced through healthy eating habits and physical activity. Improving understanding and awareness of the risk factors is therefore important to support prevention, early diagnosis and timely treatment.

Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for over 90% of all diabetes, often develops silently, with symptoms that go unnoticed. As a result, many people with the condition, more than 50% in some countries, are not diagnosed and, as the research suggests, complications are already present. The most common complications experienced among survey respondents in Nigeria were depression (55%), along with eye (40%), foot (40%), and oral health (40%) problems.

Osarenkhoe added: “For those without access to the right support, diabetes and its complications can seriously impact day-to-day life and even become life-threatening. That is why IDF is committed to improving awareness of how best to manage the condition, helping people with diabetes to understand their risk and improving access to the best available care. Healthcare professionals must be equipped with the knowledge and resources to diagnose diabetes early and provide appropriate support.”

This World Diabetes Day, IDF is calling on individuals to learn about their risk of type 2 diabetes and on governments worldwide to dedicate sufficient resources to improving access to diabetes diagnosis and care. Learn more at https://worlddiabetesday.org/

IL Bagno, a subsidiary of The Black Pelican Group and the leading total interior solutions company in Nigeria, for the world’s leading manufacturers of sanitary fittings, kitchen, tiles, doors, and other interior solutions officially launched its Mirage centre in the Victoria Island area of Lagos state.

The ultra-modern design centre exclusively houses tiles and fittings from Mirage, an Italian company which has been developing, designing and manufacturing porcelain stoneware for wall and floor coverings intended for commercial, public, and residential use for 49 years.

The design centre will offer the opportunity for a space entirely dedicated to creativity and destined for architects, designers, and operators in the sector to explore all the solutions available which include new products from Mirage and effective, top-level consulting services.

Commenting on the newly launched design centre, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Black Pelican Group, Mr. Michael Owolabi said, “We are extremely proud with the opening of the Mirage Project point located in Aboyade Cole, Victoria Island staffed by competent, enthusiastic people. The space has been designed in a way that ensures that industry players can conveniently come in and have access to experts that can put them through on their projects’’.

“The opening of the new centre strengthens our partnership with Mirage, a solid, widely recognised, 100% Italian manufacturer of ceramic surfaces. As of today, we will be able to provide an even more comprehensive, effective service to design engineers at all stages of the process”, He added.

Mirage has collaborated with more than 160 countries around the world. IL Bagno is its sole partner in Nigeria.

The second edition of Plumbers conference powered by Bathrooms Direct in conjunction with Bagno Technik is set to hold in Lagos and Abuja on the 31st of August, 2022.

This year’s conference themed “ The use of Technology in simplifying plumbing solutions” enlightens and empowers plumbers in Nigeria with skill sets needed to succeed in the plumbing industry. Plumbers will gain new and updated knowledge in plumbing and discover new business opportunities by becoming part of the community.

Plumbers also stand a chance to win tools needed in their profession during the conference through activities that will be organised.

Speaking on the upcoming conference, Princess Kay-Olufade; the Divisional Head of Bathrooms Direct, said “the purpose of this conference is to take the plumbing industry to the next level. We work with a lot of plumbers in installing sanitary wares for our clients, this is our way of providing opportunities for them and training them to be the best in their craft. The previous edition was a success and we look forward to achieving a higher success rate in this year’s edition”.

Bathrooms Direct and Bagno Technik are both subsidiaries of the Black Pelican Group. Bathrooms Direct is the business unit of BPL distributing low-priced but high-quality sanitary wares, kitchen, tiles and doors targeted at meeting the demands of middle- and low-income earners.

Bagno Technik is the installation and maintenance arm of the business with its multinational team of trained engineers and installers.

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf47ZmPJBkUCLM2e_tL8SJ0aTVpz_73n-k93n8A70UhMW4NWg/viewform

For more information visit:
Instagram: @Bathroomsdirectng
Facebook: Bathrooms Direct
Website: https://bathroomsdirect.ng

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IL Bagno rewards High Performing staff with All-Expense Paid Trip to Dubai
IL Bagno, the leading total interior solutions company in Nigeria, for the world’s leading manufacturers of sanitary fittings, kitchen, tiles, doors, and other interior solutions recently recognised two members of its staff for their high performance and commitment to the success of the organisation.

Bosede Opebiyi and Victor Nwaogu both administration officers at IL Bagno’s Abuja and Lagos office respectively were awarded the IL Bagno excellence award based on a voting process by managers of the organization. They were both presented with a 5 day all-expense paid trip to Dubai and a commendation letter signed by the CEO.
Speaking on the award presentation, Mrs. Adetola Owolabi; Executive Director Black Pelican Group said ‘’as an organisation, we value and reward professionalism and exceptional performance. We voted the winners considered to be the most supportive and representatives of the ethos of hard work, diligence, and professionalism. They both represent the ideals of the company and go over and beyond to support other members of the team to achieve the organisations objectives. Consistent good work never goes unnoticed; I would therefore encourage others to emulate the diligence shown by them’’.

An elated Opebiyi thanked the organization for the kind gesture. ‘’I am proud to be a part of the Black Pelican Group, thank you for recognising my effort, I am motivated to do even more’’.

‘’I am truly humbled by the trust and faith placed in me, I feel compelled to work harder and improve my skills on the job’’ Nwaogu stated.

The debut award will be given twice in a year to deserving staff members voted by managers of The Black Pelican Group.

IL Bagno business is the business unit with the Black pelican Group that provides total interior solutions, it has carved a niche for being the preferred supplier of bathroom and other interior fittings to the most discerning clients and projects. The company recently celebrated its 18th anniversary.

IL Bagno, the leading total interior solutions company in Nigeria, for the world’s leading manufacturers of sanitary fittings, kitchen, tiles, doors, and other interior solutions recently recognised two members of its staff for their high performance and commitment to the success of the organisation.

Bosede Opebiyi and Victor Nwaogu both administration officers at IL Bagno’s Abuja and Lagos office respectively were awarded the IL Bagno excellence award based on a voting process by managers of the organization. They were both presented with a 5 day all-expense paid trip to Dubai and a commendation letter signed by the CEO.

Speaking on the award presentation, Mrs. Adetola Owolabi; Executive Director Black Pelican Group said ‘’as an organisation, we value and reward professionalism and exceptional performance. We voted the winners considered to be the most supportive and representatives of the ethos of hard work, diligence, and professionalism. They both represent the ideals of the company and go over and beyond to support other members of the team to achieve the organisations objectives. Consistent good work never goes unnoticed; I would therefore encourage others to emulate the diligence shown by them’’.

An elated Opebiyi thanked the organization for the kind gesture. ‘’I am proud to be a part of the Black Pelican Group, thank you for recognising my effort, I am motivated to do even more’’.

‘’I am truly humbled by the trust and faith placed in me, I feel compelled to work harder and improve my skills on the job’’ Nwaogu stated.

The debut award will be given twice in a year to deserving staff members voted by managers of The Black Pelican Group.

IL Bagno business is the business unit with the Black pelican Group that provides total interior solutions, it has carved a niche for being the preferred supplier of bathroom and other interior fittings to the most discerning clients and projects. The company recently celebrated its 18th anniversary.

Cardiac Community, a non-governmental organisation committed to fighting cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria in collaboration with Novartis; one of the largest pharmaceutical company in the world organised “Wetin be your number?” Campaign to commemorate this year’s World Hypertension Day.

The campaign’s main aim was to screen people, provide awareness and education on the importance of regular blood pressure screening. The campaign observed the World Hypertension Day’s 2021 theme “Measure your blood pressure, control it and Live Longer”.
The campaign held in 5 locations in Lagos and Ogun State, with over 700 Individuals screened. Awareness measures and education was provided on the ways to prevent and manage high blood pressure.

During one of the screening exercise, Jide Owolabi, co-founder; Cardiac Community, spoke on the importance of regular blood pressure checks. He stated, “hypertension is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide, killing more than 10 million individuals every year and only half of those with hypertension are aware they have it. It usually has no symptoms, that is why it is called the silent killer, you may not know you have it until you get tested. The test is easy, painless and fast. We were able to correct the misconceptions some participants had towards getting screened and encouraged them to get tested. Hypertension is a major health threat to the world at large and Nigeria. We are happy we can help in our little way to reduce the burden of hypertension in our society by creating the necessary awareness and providing free screening to individuals. New hypertensive cases discovered were referred to health centers within their proximity”.

Cardiac dietitian; Sari Nutrition was present at some of the screening locations to give nutritional advice to participants.

The initiative was also supported by the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).

Project Management Institute (PMI), the world’s leading association for project professionals and changemakers in a bid to assist professionals who would like to take the PMP exams and get certified with ease have introduced the PMI initiative.

The initiative which covers sub-saharan Africa will last for the entire year of 2021 providing information and insights about the benefits of the PMP certification, the exam eligibility, application and payment process. A discount of 26% has also been offered for the period of the second quarter. The discount will be reduced to 15% by the third quarter and to 10% by the fourth quarter. Applicants are only eligible to receive the discount only if they have applied for the PMP exam and are eligible to sit for the exam.

Applicants will also be informed of how to get connected to an Authorised Training Partner (ATP) to get training and also receive appropriate guidance before sitting for the exam. Free Chapter membership is also available for the first 10 members who reach out to PMI or their chapters. This will be on a first come first serve basis.

Speaking on the initiative, George Asamani; Business Development Leader, Africa at Project Management Institute said “According to the findings from PMI’s Talent Gap Report, by 2027, there will be a need for 25 million project professionals working in enterprises around the world. With the accelerating and pervasive nature of technological change across industries, newer competitors are now able to threaten incumbents with new ways of working at a pace not before seen. This is why at PMI we encourage and empower organisations to ensure their talents are skilled in order to be at a competitive advantage.”

“The PMP initiative was created to encourage individuals and organisations to take the PMP certification, which is the world's leading project management certification. The PMP proves project leadership experience and expertise in any way of working. It supercharges careers for project leaders across industries as well as helps organisations to empower candidates to work smarter and perform better.” He added.
The initiative is open to both members and non-members. For further inquiries, please send an email to PMIAfrica@pmi.org.

About the Project Management Institute (PMI)

Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world's leading professional association for a growing global community of millions of project professionals and changemakers worldwide. As the world's leading authority on project management, PMI empowers people to make ideas a reality. Through global advocacy, networking, collaboration, research, and education. PMI prepares organisations and individuals at every stage of their career journey to work smarter so they can drive success in a world of change.

Building on a proud legacy dating to 1969, PMI is a "for-purpose" organisation working in nearly every country around the world to advance careers, strengthen organisational success, and enable changemakers with new skills and ways of working to maximise their impact. PMI offerings include globally recognised standards, certifications, online courses, thought leadership, tools, digital publications, and communities.

Visit us at:
https://www.pmi.org/, www.projectmanagement.com , https://www.linkedin.com/company/pminstitute , www.facebook.com/PMInstitute , and on Twitter .

Cardiac Community, a non-governmental organisation committed to fighting cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria in collaboration with Novartis; one of the largest pharmaceutical company in the world organised “Wetin be your number?” Campaign to commemorate this year’s World Hypertension Day.

The campaign’s main aim was to screen people, provide awareness and education on the importance of regular blood pressure screening. The campaign observed the World Hypertension Day’s 2021 theme “Measure your blood pressure, control it and Live Longer”.

The campaign held in 5 locations in Lagos and Ogun State, with over 700 Individuals screened. Awareness measures and education was provided on the ways to prevent and manage high blood pressure.

During one of the screening exercise, Jide Owolabi, co-founder; Cardiac Community, spoke on the importance of regular blood pressure checks. He stated, “hypertension is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide, killing more than 10 million individuals every year and only half of those with hypertension are aware they have it. It usually has no symptoms, that is why it is called the silent killer, you may not know you have it until you get tested. The test is easy, painless and fast. We were able to correct the misconceptions some participants had towards getting screened and encouraged them to get tested.

Hypertension is a major health threat to the world at large and Nigeria. We are happy we can help in our little way to reduce the burden of hypertension in our society by creating the necessary awareness and providing free screening to individuals. New hypertensive cases discovered were referred to health centers within their proximity”.

Cardiac dietitian; Sari Nutrition was present at some of the screening locations to give nutritional advice to participants.
The initiative was also supported by the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).


Photo Caption:
L-R: Dr Chikelu Linda MSL Novartis, Ayotunde Omitogun; Executive Director Cardiac Community and Mrs Bankole Olushola; Brand Manager Novartis at the Wetin Be Your Number Screening Campaign at Redemption Camp in celebration of World Hypertension day recently.

Project Management Institute (PMI), the world's leading association for project professionals and changemakers, recently announced the release of Talent Gap: Ten-Year Employment Trends, Costs, and Global Implications, a ten-year outlook of project management-oriented employment. At a global scale, the report demonstrates the continual gap between the demand for project management skills and the availability of talent. It also discusses why the disparity exists, how it can affect economic growth, and the opportunities for organizations and individuals to strategically fill the gap.

According to the report, an increase in the number of jobs requiring project management-oriented skills, higher demand due to economic growth, and retirement rates will create the global need for 25 million new project professionals by 2030, meaning 2.3 million project managers and changemakers will need to fill project management-oriented roles every year to keep up with the demand. This shortage of talent may pose a considerable risk to organizations as they rely on project teams to implement strategic initiatives on time and on budget.

The impact of the gap could be felt globally and result in a possible loss of up to USD $345.5 billion in global GDP by 2030, creating a great opportunity for project professionals and changemakers, who, regardless of their role, are inspired and equipped to drive change.

“Projects and the changemakers behind those projects play a vital role in the global economy and society as a whole. And while project managers are the quintessential changemakers, any individual who possesses project management skills can help steer change,” said Joe Cahill, Chief Customer Officer of PMI. “Upskilling the workforce and empowering a new generation of talent with project management skills will be critical in narrowing the talent gap and creating positive impact. Organizations can help empower employees by providing learning opportunities, but can also spot qualified candidates by seeking out those who hold project management-related certifications.”

PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is globally recognized as the “gold standard” of project management certifications. Earning the PMP® certification supercharges professionals’ careers regardless of industry as it proves project leadership experience and expertise in any way of working, as well as helps organizations to empower candidates to work smarter and perform better.

The in-demand nature and shortage of experienced talent makes project management-oriented roles financially attractive. According to the Talent Gap report, in 2019, salaries for project management-related roles in the U.S. were far higher on average than wages not related to project management by 78 percent. The average project management-oriented salary is substantially higher than other occupations in industries with significant project management requirements—$111,399 versus $62,572.

The report also demonstrates which sectors are most affected by this gap. According to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the largest and fastest growing project management-oriented role will be in software development—a projected increase of 14 percent between 2019 and 2030. Much of this growth will come from the development of mobile applications, IT security, and a rise in healthcare technology.

The report highlights that projects, and the successful management of them, are essential to industry and economic growth. The total GDP of projectized industries—industries with significant project management requirement is estimated to increase from $24.7 trillion in 2019 to $34.5 trillion in 2030. The share of GDP increase due to productivity improvement in projectized industries is projected to be highest in China, Europe, and North America. In order for regions with a lower GDP to sustain growth, higher levels of productivity held up by project management-oriented roles will be crucial to their future.

“Organizations can be proactive in enabling project managers and changemakers by up-skilling employees and building a culture that promotes continual learning. Now more than ever, it’s vital for employers to champion new learning initiatives and explore partnerships to equip employees with the necessary project management skills,” said Cahill. “These capabilities include power skills such as collaborative leadership, business acumen to create well-rounded employees, and mastering new ways of working such as tech-enhanced problem-solving tools.”

To learn more about the talent gap and take a deeper look into the statistics that support these findings, read the full Talent Gap report at: https://www.pmi.org/learning/careers/talent-gap-2021.

About Project Management Institute
Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world's leading professional association for a growing community of millions of project professionals and changemakers worldwide.

As the world’s leading authority on project management, PMI empowers people to make ideas a reality. Through global advocacy, networking, collaboration, research, and education, PMI prepares organizations and individuals to work smarter so they can drive success in a world of change.

Building on a proud legacy dating to 1969, PMI is a “for-purpose” organization working in nearly every country around the world to advance careers, strengthen organizational success, and enable changemakers with new skills and ways of working to maximize their impact. PMI offerings include globally recognized standards, certifications, online courses, thought leadership, tools, digital publications, and communities.

Visit https://www.pmi.org/, www.projectmanagement.com , https://www.linkedin.com/company/pminstitute, www.facebook.com/PMInstitute, and on Twitter .

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L-R: Tobechukwu Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services Officer, MTN Nigeria; Aisha Falode, Board Member Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and Chairperson of the Nigerian Women Football League; Amaju Pinnick, President, Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and Council Member of FIFA; Karl Toriola, CEO, MTN Nigeria and Seyi Akinwunmi, First Vice-President, Nigerian Football Federation during a courtesy visit by NFF to MTN Nigeria's Head Office in Lagos.

The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick paid a courtesy visit to the corporate head office of MTN Nigeria in appreciation of the ICT giant’s immense contributions to the Super Eagles’ qualification for 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers.

MTN Nigeria provided two boats and seven crew members in addition to insurance policy covers required for the team to embark on the national engagement. The Gernot Rohr-led team took off and docked at the Falomo jetty in Ikoyi, Lagos, which was built by the telecommunications service provider for the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA).

Speaking during the visit, Amaju Pinnick said, “On behalf of the NFF, I want to thank MTN Nigeria wholeheartedly for the support, especially the trip to Porto-Novo. I put a call to Karl that we needed extra boat to take us to Porto-Novo and we got the support. It was an experiment that went very well. We want to thank MTN for helping us achieve this. We are proud to be associated with this brand. We are very proud of this relationship and the next big thing that will happen is for them to have a union with the NFF and I can assure them that the relationship will be beneficial to our teeming youth population.”

Appreciating the NFF team for their visit, Karl Toriola, CEO, MTN Nigeria said “We are looking for ways to support in a significant manner things that are important to Nigerians and football is central in this regard. We have complete faith that whatever initiative we agree on together will be properly executed by the NFF, led by Amaju Pinnick. This is the starting point of that engagement. Our various teams are going to look at the manner in which MTN can be significant in terms of supporting football in Nigeria and when we have distilled that down to an executable plan we will progress.”

“We were given an opportunity by the leadership of football in Nigeria to support. We are grateful for that,” Toriola added.

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George Asamani; business development lead, Africa at the Project Management Institute

A recent report published by the Project Management Institute (PMI) from its 2020 Pulse of the Profession data, shows that on average, about 11.4% of investment is wasted as a result of poor project performance. According to the research, many companies lack mature project management as a strategic competency for driving change, exposing them to failure two times more than the companies that are efficiently managing their projects.

COVID-19 has ushered in a new reality that we face; lockdowns, economic loss, businesses working remotely and the uncertainty of when the global pandemic will be over. Even before COVID-19, the workplace was already undergoing rapid, disruptive change; now organizations need to adapt to entirely new ways of working in order to succeed in a post-pandemic world.

Amidst this environment of uncertainty and ambiguity, organizations without a project management structure in place are likely to lose more investments than ever before. The Pulse of the Profession analysis highlights that organizations that underestimate project management as a strategic competence to implement change report an average of 67% more of their projects failing.

In light of the challenges posed by the pandemic, it has become more crucial than ever for organizations to develop a contingency plan that will ensure ongoing success. It is essential to be aware of risks while addressing temporary threats. It pays to understand information technology and use mature project management practices to ensure proper change implementation without exposing the business to avoidable risks.

Project professionals play a crucial role in ensuring that analysis is organized and risks prioritized. Findings from these analysis will reveal all areas that need improvement and allow business leaders to make decisions on how to mitigate threats. Project managers must cultivate the right blend of practical knowledge, people-centered “power skills”, and experience to ensure the proper coordination and efficiency of teams and projects during this time that remote working is the order of the day.

Speaking on the new work ecosystem that has emerged, George Asamani; business development lead, Africa at the Project Management Institute (PMI) said, ‘‘The pandemic has transformed our lives, reshaping industries and revealed threats that none of us would have thought possible a year ago. Individuals and enterprises alike will need to adapt to a new work ecosystem in order to succeed in a post-pandemic world. They must become “gymnastic” and adopt an agile mindset, proactively shape the future rather than wait for change and refresh skillsets or require new ones in order to complete projects successfully”.

“PMI is helping both enterprises and individuals master the skills and capabilities necessary to operate in this new work ecosystem - and ensure outcomes are achieved, even in the face of daunting challenges” he added.

No doubt, the ongoing global pandemic somewhat offers an opportunity for extraordinary change and disruption that is driven by technology. There is so much talk about the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Without the right skills in place, organizations will be left behind. Future-fit organizations are not only willing to reimagine their vision and purpose, but also eager to adopt new ways of thinking that will allow them to thrive in The Project Economy, the emerging paradigm in which work is increasingly oriented around projects and project-based work.

Organizations with the knowledge that project management is key to their business have benefited from keeping up with the evolving demands in the marketplace, they have been able to maintain pace with technology in a world where digital transformation is impacting all aspects of work. These organizations are also readily prepared for future shocks to the system – such as the next COVID-like global crisis - that are yet to be predicted.

Instead of looking to the past, it is critical that organizations increasingly shape their own future and embrace change, rather than trying to avoid it. In the post-COVID era, business will never go back as usual. A lot of organizations have come to adopt the idea of working remotely or incorporate a hybrid solution. This will necessitate the need for up-skilling talents to ensure they are capable of delivering on projects end to end because projects are embedded in our daily life.

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UK based Career Masterclass – which has carved a place for itself in the careers market for democratisation of opportunities - enters the Nigerian market to offer quality career advice and training to established and aspiring professionals. It has already worked with leading companies including Google Africa and AG Leventis in Nigeria.

Career Masterclass helps create a level playing field within the corporate world by arming middle level professionals with the right tools to help them to break the glass ceiling. It has worked with leading multinationals including Amazon, Deutsche Bank, Google and Visa in the UK, Nigeria, the US and Canada. Career Masterclass programmes are targeted at both companies and individuals.

The Nigerian entity will offer a range of training programmes and tools including access to masterclasses from leading experts, content and resources and customised talent development programmes. It will also help connect with mentors and offer valuable insight on how to achieve your career goals.

Speaking about opening its office in Nigeria, Bukola Adisa, the founder of Career Masterclass, who hails from Nigeria said, “Nigeria is an important market for us. We are a global platform but most of our users are from the UK, followed by Nigeria and the US. We also have substantial following in Canada and India. Having run career development programmes for leading multinationals in Nigeria and given the amount of interest we garnered, I believe it was time for us to launch our Nigerian entity.”
The most popular training programmes in Nigeria are : Cracking the confidence code, the art of negotiation and navigating organisational politics.

Speaking about her passion for democratisation of opportunities in the corporate world, Bukola, who hails from Nigeria, said, “I am both an immigrant and a woman and I have managed to break the glass ceiling to be the highest ranking Black professional in a leading international bank. I can do it and so can others. We, at Career Masterclass, want to share our insight, knowledge and experience so that others, like us, can benefit from it.”

Launched as a UK based entity in 2015, Career Masterclass has an international outreach via its global platform. It holds both in-person training sessions for leading organisations and online events. The company has grown from strength to strength and plans to launch its crowdfunding later this month.

As part of continuous efforts to deliver a seamless user experience, Paxful, a global peer-to-peer crypto marketplace, has introduced Carbon as one of the payment methods to its platform. The addition will enable users to apply for loans, invest, view credit reports, and track expenses.

The partnership will allow Paxful users on the Carbon platform to make payments within the app, while Carbon customers can now dive into the cryptocurrency space and buy, sell, invest digital assets, or hedge their funds against inflation via the crypto on-ramp. Paxful boasts over 300 payment options on the platform, and Carbon becomes a welcome addition that will help more users in Nigeria and Kenya on board the crypto train.

“The addition of Carbon to the Paxful platform is truly exciting as we strive to provide fair financial opportunities for everyone. We keep expanding our list of payment methods to give Africans better access to financial services, and adding Carbon is an important step. Our users now have access to quick credit with low-interest rates without the need for guarantors or collaterals. The platform also provides high yield investment opportunities, plus a fee-free and interest-earning wallet,” said Ray Youssef, CEO, and co-founder of Paxful.

Carbon (previously Paylater), is a digital bank that provides access to cheaper and more efficient financial services. It offers a zero-fee account, instant loans, free money transfers, savings & investments options at market-leading rates, and simplifies payments like airtime and bill payments. Users can also check their credit history across national financial institutions, as well as track and manage personal finances to have full control of their spending habits.

“Carbon is always seeking new opportunities to provide innovative services to our customers and with the rising adoption of cryptocurrency across the continent, we have decided to partner with Paxful who is one of the biggest players in the market. We see similarities in both companies in our obsession to satisfy our customers through innovation and this partnership is sure to bring delightful new opportunities to our customers” said Chijioke Dozie, CEO and co-founder of Carbon.

L-R: Salami Abiola Rukayat; Clinical dietitian & Founder Sari Nutrition, Jide Owolabi; Tech Director Cardiac Community, Ayotunde Omitogun; Executive Director Cardiac Community and Damilola Sobajo; Communications Director, Cardiac Community during the Heart Dialogue 2020 conference in commemoration of World Heart Day

Cardiac community, a not for profit organization increasing awareness of cardiovascular disease and encouraging heart health organized the second edition of its annual heart dialogue conference to stress the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. The event was held to commemorate World Heart day.

The event featured different sessions which included a healthy breakfast session sponsored by Three Crowns Milk and hosted by Fawehinmi Temitope; a registered dietitian and a licensed nutrition educator, Making tasty and heart healthy Nigerian meals held by Salami Abiola Rukayat; a Cardiac Dietitian and founder of sari Nutrition, fitness session by Roseline Eyenike; a corporate wellness coach and a meditation session by Akinjide Olowookere; a registered yoga instructor.

The panel discussion included; Dr Tosin Majekodunmi, Structural/interventional Cardiologist, Medical director Euracare Nigeria, Dr Olusegun- Joseph Akinsanya, consultant Cardiologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital and Dr Abimbola Osinowo, Deputy Director, NCD (Hypertension and Diabetes) coordinator, Lagos state Ministry of Health.

The health experts stressed the need for people to limit alcohol intake, tobacco smoking, and indulge in exercise to prevent heart disease and advised Nigerians to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains and fish at least twice per week. They also recommended consumption of nuts and legumes.

Deputy Director Non-Communicable Diseases Control Lagos State, Ministry of Health, Dr. Abimbo Oshinowo, via Zoom said that a heart disease is a form of non-communicable disease resulting from damage to all or part of the heart, it is also damage to blood vessels of the heart (coronary arteries).

Consultant Cardiologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, Dr. Olusegun Akinsanya Joseph said heart failure occurs when the heart muscle does not pump blood as it should.

Olusegun stated that this year’s theme ‘Use heart to beat Cardiovascular disease’ is a global call for individuals to make a promise that they would live a healthy lifestyle and also educate those around them on the importance of healthy lifestyles to ensure that heart-related diseases would be reduced in society.

“Not all conditions that lead to heart failure can be reversed, but treatments can improve the signs and symptoms of heart failure and help you live longer”.

He explained that lifestyle changes, such as exercising, reducing sodium in your diet, managing stress, and losing weight, can improve your quality of life. One way to prevent heart failure is to prevent and control conditions that cause heart failures, such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity.

He stated that heart failure signs and symptoms include, shortness of breath when you exert yourself or when you lie down, fatigue and weakness, swelling in your legs, ankles, and feet, rapid or irregular heartbeat, reduced ability to exercise.

Structural/interventional Cardiologist, Medical director Euracare Nigeria; Dr Tosin Majekodunmi also advised patients living with hypertension to ensure they see their doctors regularly and understand their targets. He stated that ‘hypertension is an easy disease to treat provided patients see their doctors regularly and understand the target limit they need to be treating their hypertension to’’

The conference was sponsored by Three Crowns Milk and Novartis.

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In commemoration of World Heart day, Cardiac Community, a Non-Governmental Organization committed to cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria (CVDs) is organizing the second edition of the Heart Dialogue.

Heart Dialogue 2020 is an interactive forum aimed at promoting a heart-healthy lifestyle in Nigeria. The Dialogue will focus on Nutrition, Exercise, and a panel discussion with medical practitioners.

Heart Dialogue is scheduled to hold on September 29th to commemorate the World Heart Day.

The discussion on heart health cannot be overemphasized especially at a critical time as this with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Join them on September 29th and let’s use #Heart to beat CVD for your loved ones, society, and you!

Date: September 29th, 2020
Time: 12-3pm

Virtual Attendance: http:///heartdialogue2020

Limited spots are available for attending the physical event. Kindly indicate interest by sending a mail to Cardiaccommunity@gmail.com

This year's edition is supported by Three Crowns Milk and Novartis

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Ericsson is announcing four new additions to its 5G platform - enhancing user experience, cutting complexity and costs, allowing faster service deployment and automated provisioning.

To leverage the full benefits of 5G and cloud native investments, orchestration and automation are now a critical matter of business for. Ericsson’s 5G platform is now being strengthened with new solutions that enable smarter business.
The latest enhancements include:
• Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G core with built-in software probes and Ericsson Cloud Native Infrastructure, enabling service providers to reduce TCO and complexity while deploying a 5G Core network.
• enhanced capabilities for business communication, the Ericsson Communication Accelerator for fast delivery of advanced mobile business communication services to the market.

David Bjore, Head of R& and Portfolio, Business Area Digital Services, Ericsson, says: “Through our core networks, service providers can get to market faster and can capitalize on new services, through leading consumer and enterprise communication and monetization solutions, enabling them to stay ahead in the race for 5G business, today and tomorrow.”
As we move into 5G, the mobile network will have to support a much broader range of services and data volumes than ever before, with increased levels of intelligence, and automation. The Ericsson 5G platform is the complete portfolio required to provide a smooth network evolution and deployment of 5G end-customer experience.
Securing 5G experience with software probes
The journey to 5G Core makes probing more important than ever but the traditional approach to data collection is not sustainable in 5G Core. It needs to be far more cost efficient and with Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core, built-in software probes enables radical TCO reductions. Also the transparent and secure interfaces in 5G core will keep sensitive data secured. Finally, with Ericsson’s solution, pre-integrated Expert Analytics for 5G allows for superior experience, accelerates 5G adoption and correlated end-to-end insights are extendable to RAN.
Anil Rao, Principal Analyst, Analysys Mason, says: “The traditional appliance-based probes technology and the associated CEM approaches are not fit for purpose to guarantee customer experiences in cloud-based 5G networks. Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core with built-in software probes, pre-integrated with Ericsson Expert Analytics’ intelligence, enables CSPs to deliver superior 5G customer experiences and accelerate 5G roll-out.”
5G Core leveraging new Cloud Native Infrastructure
Ericsson is introducing containers on a bare metal cloud infrastructure solution to better support the deployment of cloud native applications, such as 5G Core. Ericsson Cloud Native Infrastructure radically simplifies the infrastructure for automated deployments across central and edge sites. TCO savings can be as high as 30% or more, compared to using virtual machines. By eliminating the virtualization layer from the cloud infrastructure, complexity is reduced, and service providers benefit from improved hardware efficiency and performance.
Caroline Chappell, Research Director Analysys Mason, says: “Optimizing cloud infrastructure for cloud native applications will be foundational in 5G. A bare metal container infrastructure makes network deployments and operations simpler and automation easier as well as enhancing cloud native function (CNF) performance. The announcement of a bare metal solution is an important contribution to further progress telecom operators’ implementations of cloud native applications.”
Growing top line with Ericsson Communication Accelerator
Ericsson Communication Accelerator speeds up the delivery of advanced mobile business communication services to the market.
Ericsson Communication Accelerator offerings to service providers consists of cloud-based micro services to be combined in different use cases utilizing a service provider’s existing network assets. The solution is delivered as-a-service for scale and reduced time to market, as well as for security and quality of service control.
New service opportunities include:
• Enterprise Voice services: combining traditional business voice services with innovative features to enhance your offerings
• IoT Voice services: providing automated, central management of IoT voice services
• Contextual Communication services: easy integration with advanced communication and collaboration services into any website or application

Diane Myers, Senior Research Director, VoIP, UC and IMS Technology, IHS Markit says: “Cloud communications services for business users have been the playground for pure-play UCaaS and CPaaS providers. It is time for mobile operators to accelerate their business communication offerings to the market. An initial focus on the microbusiness segment is a good steppingstone for expansion and growth in the business segment.”
Together with the recently launched and fully-automated eSIM offering, the Communication Accelerator enhances Ericsson’s 5G platform to drive communication service providers’ topline and an improved consumer experience.
A recent report from Ericsson ConsumerLab shows strong consumer demand for eSIM services, with 94 percent of respondents willing to pay extra to connect more devices to their current subscription plan, and 86 percent hoping for “try and buy” offerings.

Quantifying the footprint of our digital lives is not rocket science but it demands an understanding of the technology, its development and usage. Ericsson IndustryLab’s latest report, ‘A quick guide to your digital carbon footprint’, deconstructs ICT’s carbon emissions and shows you everything you need to know about the climate impacts of our digital lives.

A lot of coverage on digital carbon footprints paint a bleak image, especially when making statements about the future. Why is this? Calculating carbon footprints isn´t rocket science but it demands an understanding of the technology and of the sector. At the same time, many outdated or theoretical estimates are circulating making it hard for non-experts to establish an understanding of the actual situation.

The ‘Quick guide to your digital carbon footprint’ aims to demystify ICT’s carbon footprint by going beyond just the electricity usage of products. The study incorporates greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy and materials used throughout the life cycle of a product. A life cycle assessment is important because it takes into account the environmental impacts of a product or service from cradle to grave, for example from the mine to disposal.

• Listen to highlights of the report on the Ericsson News Podcast
Digital carbon footprints
The climate impact of ICT is complex as it involves three levels of impact. These include direct carbon emissions associated with ICT manufacturing, use and disposal (e.g. the carbon footprint), indirect positive or negative emission effects from using ICT (e.g. travel substitution and transportation optimization) and impacting behaviors and preferences.
When you read headlines, for example, about the impact of streaming services or how ICT compares to other industries, they are usually focused on the direct carbon emissions or what we refer to as the digital carbon footprint, although other effects of the technology often have a much larger impact.
The "Despacito" example

In the spring of 2018, several media outlets reported that the approximately 5 billion downloads of the popular song, “Despacito”, had used as much electricity as the countries of Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Somalia, Sierra Leone and the Central African Republic put together in a single year.
The latest Consumer and IndustryLab report looked more closely at this example and found that 5 billion downloads of “Despacito” to a smartphone would require about 0.005TWh (a factor 200 less) including its share of networks and data centers. Typically, a download of one song requires 0.001kWh. In comparison, the electricity consumption of the above countries was about 1TWh in 2017 (1TWh = 1 billion kWh).
Pernilla Bergmark, Master Researcher at Ericsson and one of the authors of the IndustryLab report, says: “Make no mistake, though this report may show you that your digital footprint is a lower one than you might be anticipating, this is no excuse for inactivity. Ericsson has been a driving force in showing how digital technology can cut carbon emissions in half by 2030. We are one of the first companies that has set science-based targets committed to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”
Key figures in the report:
• ICT sector footprint remains at 1.4% of global emissions despite data traffic growth
• Renewable electricity can reduce 80% of this footprint
• The fuel emissions per person for one Atlantic return trip compares to 50 years of smart phone usage
• The digital life of individuals represents few percent of their footprint
• The report tells how this compare to other activities for different services and user profiles
• What digital solutions are used for impacts more than their footprints and comes with a great potential if used well

Download your copy of the report: ‘A quick guide to your digital carbon footprint’
Find out more about Ericsson IndustryLab
Find out more about Ericsson Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, is proud to announce that six Nokia phones have been honoured by iF DESIGN™ Awards 2020 for outstanding design. We are resolute in our commitment to delivering premium phones that embody our Nordic heritage at every price point to our fans across the world.

iF DESIGN™ Awards 2020 awarded the following Nokia phones:

Smartphones
• Nokia 7.2
• Nokia 1 Plus
Feature phones
• Nokia 105
• Nokia 110
• Nokia 800 Tough
• Nokia 2720 Flip

Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer, HMD Global, said: “We have always aspired for a Nokia phone to stand apart in the sea of sameness – with pure, emotive designs inspired by our Nordic heritage. These awards are a fitting testament to our impressive product design team, who remain committed to innovation in design and materials craftsmanship. We’re flattered that the international design community has recognised them for their exceptional talent and proud of the work they have achieved during the past year.”

An intuitive user experience, coupled with Nordic design expertise, is woven in the DNA of each Nokia phone. The same premium design principles run throughout the portfolio, whether that’s the Nokia 7.2 with its light-diffusing satin glass back, the Nokia 4.2 with its compact size and edge to edge display, or the Nokia 800 Tough that boasts an anti-slip coating and rubberised edges.

The iF DESIGN™ Awards are held by the world’s oldest independent design organisation iF International Forum Design GmbH. The judging panel consisting of 78 independent design experts reviewed over 7,000 entries from 56 countries across the globe.

Nicolas Blixell, Vice President, Ericsson Middle East and Africa

The world as we know it is becoming more digital than ever, and this is just the beginning. Emerging technologies are opening up new opportunities that were unimaginable just a few years ago and changing the way we lead our lives, both at work and during our leisure time. Connectivity is not just limited to devices and cars, it is revolutionizing industrial sectors from transport to utilities and health care and public safety, which is changing the way we do business.

The pace of change is staggering. In the Sub-Saharan Africa region, mobile broadband subscription penetration of the population is approximately 30 percent, but – with a young and fast-growing population – it is forecast to reach over 50 percent by the end of 2025.
The increasing demand for digital services and financial inclusion is driving the growth in mobile data traffic and most of the investments, traffic and subscriptions are in 2G, 3G or 4G networks. Modernizing existing networks, improving network performance and increasing user experience continue to be at the core of every service provider’s day-to-day business.

Strategies for growing data revenues include improving network quality, providing data coverage in rural areas and making data-enabled devices more accessible and affordable. For service providers, there are risks, challenges and opportunities. They now need to focus on real-time network capabilities, to provide service differentiation, and they need to do it across a broad range of subscriber segments and across industries.
Important measures when improving network quality are moving subscribers to the highest possible network layer, activation of key software features, removal of inconsistencies and alignment of parameters supporting selected network improvements.
And there have been success stories.

During 2019, MTN rolled out more capacity and additional sites on its 3G network to drive efficiency and better customer experience in Rwanda. Steps included adding software features and parameter settings to improve voice accessibility, call set-up time, and 3G data uplink coverage and capacity.

MTN Rwanda’s network improvements led to positive developments across the board, with all key network indicators improving, including call set-up success rates and dropped-call rates. Recent root cause analysis of the network NPS data indicates the positive contribution of a good, reliable, strong and fast internet connection.

The network improvements and customer satisfaction increases are reflected in solid business performance for MTN Rwanda. This includes a market share increase of 11 percentage points to 54 percent at the end of the first half of 2019, compared with the first half of 2018, as subscribers grew by 23 percent – with revenue and EBITDA up 27 percent and 24 percent respectively over the same period.

Similarly, MTN’S network improvements in Ghana – which included expanding and densifying 3G and 4G, as well as optimizing each access layer in turn, steered by KPIs covering availability, retainability, quality and traffic volume – also led to better KPIs, including call set-up success rates and dropped-call rates and translated into positive business results. Comparing MTN Ghana‘s first half of 2019 with the first half of 2018, voice revenue was up 13 percent, and data revenue[12] increased by 26 percent. Overall, in constant currency, revenues increased 19 percent and EBITDA increased 24 percent over the same time period.

All network improvements are carried out within the context of actively lifting users to the highest network technology possible, to optimize the cost per erlang (voice) and gigabyte (data) served.

Attracting subscribers and keeping them happy depends not just upon the promise of compelling user experiences, but on the operator being able to deliver them, too. Service providers are increasingly bundling 'over-the-top' content in their service offerings – including music, premium sport and TV optimized for mobile networks in an attempt to create an environment where everybody wins.

Everyone – content owners, network operators, equipment vendors, and device manufacturers – can work together to create attractive services and elevate user experiences. Service providers benefit from the added perceived value of bundled content, using it to augment their brands through association with carefully-selected players. On the other hand, content owners benefit from the service providers' reach as well as their established capabilities for marketing, charging, and revenue sharing.

Improved network performance paves the way for sophisticated policy control, traffic categorization and quality-of-service delivery to flexibly respond to opportunities. These features can be used to allow location-specific service access, and for the tailoring of promotions.
Together, service and application providers can prioritize traffic, reducing download times for selected premium websites. Load times for web pages can be critical in determining a user's quality of experience, especially when browsing and buying online.

Every user, from a consumer or a connected car or a doctor, has different needs and different expectations. Each one is equally valuable, and their experience of network performance is all that matters.

The Loan Box made unique appearances across locations in Lagos over the last couple of weeks. It turns out that the creative and striking mystery is an initiative of Page Financials, a leading retail financial services provider in Nigeria with a bold move to create awareness and promote access to financial services including loans.

As a retail Financial Institution focused on digital finance services, Page offers unsecured, easy and fast lending to Nigerians who can show a verifiable and stable means of repayment. The Loan Box is a reminder that loans are easily accessible at Page Financials and aims to demystify the concept of consumer lending; Nigerians should have easy access to credit to manage emergencies and sort out financial obligations without any hassles.

According to the Head of Marketing, Chinelo Ngene “the initiative is part of Page’s agenda to assure Nigerians that the Organization is committed to support consumers in achieving short- and long-term financial goals through easy access to loans as well as aid their journey to wealth creation’’

Page Financials’ loans are easily accessible through physical and digital channels, offering loans up to N5million with structured tenures between 3-12 months to suit customer needs. While Lagosians continue to relish the sight of the loan box on the streets, expectations are high that many will be taking advantage of the opportunity to achieve their financial goals with Page Financials.
Page International Financial Services Limited also known as Page Financials, opened its doors for business in 2013 and has provided credit facilities to over 150,000 Nigerians, helping them achieve their goals and aspirations.

As one of the leading retail Financial institutions in Nigeria over the past 6 years, Page has created a dynamic avenue to deliver unique and customer-focused services through investment and loan products accessible via physical and digital channels.
The Organization’s exceptional use of innovative concepts continue to place them at the forefront of the sector, and they show no signs of slowing down as they keep working to ensure Nigerians get the best, most convenient and accessible financial services.

A big transparent glass box, with something that looks like cash floating inside, has been spotted on Alfred Rewane Road today!

The box caught the attention of passersby, raising a lot of curiosity as to why and who would have initiated such a creative idea.
Written boldly on the box is, your loan is inside here o! CALL 016317243

Already, this edifice has become a favorite spot for selfies and fun pictures, even those driving by cannot help but feast their eyes on the box.
Many were overheard chatting on the initiative with some echoing that “this is no doubt a remarkable concept and the company behind this is definitely thinking outside the box.”

We are excited and wait in anticipation to know what this is all about.

Established in 1950, Guinness Nigeria Plc is celebrating 69 years of driving growth and success. As the first and only total beverage alcohol (TBA) company in the country offering a wide range of products across categories, Guinness Nigeria, a subsidiary of Diageo, has been contributing to the economic and societal development of the nation for nearly 7 decades.

According to Mr. Baker Magunda, the company’s Managing Director/CEO, “From the start of Guinness’ operations in Nigeria, we have not only consistently produced high-quality products, we’ve also modeled our business with the aim of driving local economic growth. As the first country to produce Guinness outside of Ireland, Nigeria is an extremely important market to Diageo. This year, we also celebrate being the first Country to launch and produce Baileys Delight, a variant of the popular Baileys Cream liquor and also the first country to produce Guinness Gold, a premium lager beer product. We are proud that Guinness Nigeria has the most expansive range of brands to offer as compared to any other player in this category. We’ve done well for Nigeria, and we’ve done well for our consumers.”

Through various initiatives and investments in community development and sustainability, Guinness Nigeria continues to be committed to the social and economic growth of the country. Through its ‘Water of Life’ initiative, the company has provided clean water facilities to over 1.5million Nigerians in Communities across Nigeria. Most recently to the D’Ka community of Kebbi State where, prior to the intervention, locals travelled about 10kms daily to access clean water.

Guinness Nigeria Plc also supports agriculture through the company’s ‘Grow with Nigeria’ program, a local raw material sourcing scheme, which empowers indigenous farmers. Currently Guinness Nigeria’s local content sourcing stands at 75%, and there are plans in place to increase this significantly in the coming years.

The company also works to consistently create awareness on the dangers of drink-driving, and encourage road safety. In partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the ‘Ember Months’ Campaign, which occurs during the ‘‘ember months’’ of the year when drinking and also cross country travel is more prevalent, educates key stakeholders especially commercial drivers on responsible drinking and the choice to never drink and drink. Guinness Nigeria has also provided the FRSC with breathalysers to assist them in executing their responsible drinking campaigns.

Further demonstrating its commitment to the health of Nigerians, the business has built three Guinness Eye Hospitals, which have impacted the health of thousands of people. Two of them still bear the Guinness name in Lagos and Onitsha. These are just a few of Guinness Nigeria Plc’s many initiatives which confirm the company’s commitment to not just do business in Nigeria, but to always support the country’s growth and its’s people.

In addition to these considerable acts, the company strives to consistently meet the needs of Nigeria’s ever-evolving consumer base. Guinness Nigeria has recently expanded its portfolio with several products including the iconic White Walker by Johnnie Walker. In 69 years, Guinness Nigeria has tremendously impacted the market, the socio-economic development of the country, and the well-being of Nigeria’s people. The company looks forward to expanding and positively impacting many generations to come.

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Guinness Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Diageo as part of its ‘Water of Life’ project partnered with WaterAid to provide a solar powered water facility in the D’ka community of Wasagu LGA, Kebbi State with the ultimate goal of ensuring sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene, while helping people take action to improve their health and well-being.

Guinness Nigeria and WaterAid Nigeria worked with the Kebbi State Government through the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) to provide inclusive access to clean water to an estimated 2,500 people in D’ka village and strengthening the capacity of the community.

In attendance of the commissioning were; Suleiman Shindi; Executive Chairman, Danko Wasagu LGA, Kebbi State, Lawal Gwandu; Director Water Supply, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA Kebbi), Assistant Director Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development Kebbi, Ahmed Tijani Umar; Director of Health Danko Wasagu LGA, Nasamu Samri; Director of Works Danko Wasagu LGA, Saleh Bahago Kanya; Director of Social Danko Wasagu LGA, Mallam Abubakar D’Ka; D’Ka Community leader, Dan Baba Abubakar; Danko Wasagu, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Coordinator and members of the community.

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Speaking on the project, Demmo Ibrahim; Territory Manager Sokoto/Kebbi Guinness Nigeria Plc. representing Penni Vika; Head of Division North, Guinness Nigeria Plc., said “as part of our ongoing commitment to the communities in which we source, make or sell, and in contribution to the achievement of the UN Sustainable development Goal (SDG) 6 which focuses on clean water and sanitation, Guinness Nigeria has established several water schemes under the Diageo Africa Water of Life programme, a project that provides access to clean drinking water and socio-economic development.”

“Guinness Nigeria’s partnership with WaterAid and Kebbi State Government on this programme is in line with our company’s commitment to driving interventions that help more Nigerians access clean drinking water. We believe that water is a basic human right and our commitment remains unwavering in ensuring that people in underserved communities continue to have access to clean water,” he added.

Commending Guinness Nigeria for the provision of clean water to D’Ka Community; Suleiman Shindi; Executive Chairman, Danko Wasagu LGA, Kebbi State said “We say a big thank you to Guinness Nigeria and all the organizations that have come together to put together this water project for the progress of this community. I want to also call on the people of D’Ka community to thank these organizations going into rural areas to bring development and I urge you to support them and also thank the Kebbi state government for supporting this project.”
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Gerald Ogoko; Co-ordinator Strategic Partnership and Grant Management WaterAid representing Dr. ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, Country Director WaterAid Nigeria, appreciated the continuous support of its partner Diageo Plc. According to him. “Diageo Plc. through their ‘Water of Life’ project continues to extend sustainable water services to hard to reach communities and marginalised members of the society. At WaterAid, equity and inclusion is a fundamental guiding principle in our effort to deliver clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. We are therefore excited at the opportunity to be part of the commissioning of this water facility provided to the people of D’Ka community with support from Diageo Plc.”

Members of the D’Ka community also expressed their gratitude to Guinness Nigeria and WaterAid for providing them with the water facility and attested that it will reduce their burden and improve their means of livelihood.

WaterAid has worked in Nigeria since 1995, partnering with the government and people of Nigeria to ensure sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene as well as utilising and strengthening local capacity to adequately provide quality technical assistance for water, sanitation and hygiene delivery and development in Nigeria.

The ‘Water of Life’ scheme is Guinness Nigeria’s flagship sustainable development programme. Since the launch of this scheme, Guinness Nigeria has provided safe drinking water to over 2 million Nigerians through approximately 22 water schemes across the country. These schemes are located in Abia, Rivers, Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Nassarawa, Edo, Benue, Oyo, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Enugu, Ekiti, Kwara and Anambra states.

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Caption: L-R: Jacquelyne Yawa; Head of Agribusiness Guinness Nigeria, Hon. Audu Ogbeh; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development , Yoila Hanabi; Best Performing Farmer 2018 Farming Season, Baker Magunda; MD/CEO Guinness Nigeria and Viola Graham-Douglas; Corporate Relations Director Guinness Nigeria at the launch of Guinness Nigeria Agriculture Scheme themed "Grow With Nigeria" at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja

In line with the Federal government’s effort to diversify the Nigerian economy through the promotion of agriculture, Guinness Nigeria Plc., Nigeria’s first and only total beverage alcohol (TBA) company and a member of Diageo Plc, launched its agriculture scheme tagged “Grow with Nigeria” at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on the 22nd of January 2019.

In attendance were, Hon. Audu Ogbeh; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Olukayode Oluwole, Head, Agric Credit Support Division development Finance Department CBN; Andrew Mashanda, Executive Director Corporate and Investment Banking Stanbic IBTC; Ambassador. Sunday Dogonyaro, Non-executive Director Guinness Nigeria, Farmers, Vendors amongst others.

Speaking on the initiative, Baker Magunda, MD Guinness Nigeria said, “ we are here today to further demonstrate our commitment to the Federal Government’s policy on diversification and local content, the growth of the agricultural value chain and that of small holder farmers who form an integral part of our business. Over the last twenty years, our business has consistently sourced all its core ingredients such as sorghum and malt extract locally through the various local raw material chains. Currently, our local content sourcing is 75% an we plan to increase this significantly within the next couple of years.”

“These partnerships have enabled us to develop an ecosystem of private sector players creating value that impact smallholder farmers directly. In 2018, we partnered with 5, 121 smallholder farmers across eight states of Nigeria. These farmers were provided access to finance, certified seeds, unadulterated inputs, mechanization, training on good agronomic practice and basic book keeping, supplier credit process, extension support and access to market. With this intervention, Guinness Nigeria was able to leverage on the collaboration as provided by the respective partners in the ecosystem to improve the livelihoods of these farmers by moving them from subsistence level to full economic inclusion.” He added.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural development, Hon. Audu Ogbeh commended Guinness Nigeria on this laudable initiative. According to him, “When Guinness began buying sorghum from local farmers many of us realized that this was a revolution that started ahead of its time. The logic of buying raw materials from local Farmers has seen wealth being moved into the rural areas instead of out of the shores of Nigeria, because every time you import anything, you are importing poverty and exporting wealth and dangers not visible. I am very proud of Guinness Nigeria and I urge other manufacturers to do same.”

Stanbic IBTC, the financial partner of the initiative reassured farmers of its commitment to providing financial solutions that will help them and their businesses grow through its agriculture desk. Stanbic IBTC has injected over 50 billion naira into Nigeria’s agricultural sector and this is one of the largest investments recorded in the sector so far.

Farmers who performed well for the 2018 farming season were also recognized and rewarded for their effort at the event. Yoila Hanabi, the winner was presented with a Threshing machine worth N750, 000. Hajara Barau and Atiku Abdulahi; the first and second runners up were presented with bags of fertilizer.

With investments in Agriculture, local manufacturing and backward integration, the Guinness Nigeria Local Raw Materials (LRM) initiative, has benefited over 6,000 subsistence farmers, rural traders and various stakeholders in the production value chain. The LRM initiative despite its current focus on rural subsistence farmers is helping to create value in local markets, strengthening state and national economies, improving agricultural systems, enhancing food security, and boosting supplies of sustainable raw materials that meet global standards.

Guinness Nigeria is in partnership with CBN, Stanbic IBTC, OCP Africa, AFEX Commodity and OXFAM in ensuring the success of the initiative.

On the 18th of January 2019 there was a fire outbreak at the Aba premises of Guinness Nigeria Plc located in Osisioma Industrial Layout. The fire, which did not affect any of the buildings on site, was swiftly contained and put under control by men of the Aba Fire Service Department with assistance from neighbouring companies.

A statement from Guinness Nigeria confirms that Fortunately, there were no injuries or major material loss resulting from the incident as the Aba premises currently serves as a logistics centre with few personnel on site. Our major production operations take place in our Benin and Ogba Breweries.

As we continue to investigate the cause of the fire incident, we say a very big thank you to the Aba Fire Service and Police Departments as well as the community and neighbouring companies for their swift response and assistance in containing the fire. We also thank everyone who was supportive and reached out to us during the incident.

Guinness Nigeria remains committed to ensuring the health and safety of our employees and the communities where we operate and will continue to maintain this standard.