We’d all love our homes to have an inviting, well-put-together look, but there are a few common design mistakes that make a room feel messy and cluttered. Clearing clutter away seems an obvious first step towards a more polished look, but there are other simple decorating tricks that will bring order to your space, making it more open, organised and tidy. 

Not having a dedicated drop zone
We all have that spot in our homes where we put our keys, our bags, take off our shoes or just drop random things. It’s usually close to the front door or wherever you enter your house from. It’s where you unburden yourself of everything that’s in your hands when you get home. This space can, however, end up being a mess and it makes your house look untidy.

To combat this, allocate the most convenient space to be a drop zone, and put out storage baskets for items such as shoes. Add a table if there’s space and place pretty little containers on top of the table to hold keys, wallets and even letters.

No cable management
Everyone is guilty of having little to no cable management in certain parts of their home, especially in the living room where there are lots of electronics. Cable management isn’t the most fun thing to do in the world, but if they’re left open and exposed, they can be a massive eyesore.

Cables can be hidden in a number of ways, such as running them along the wall at floor level or through the ceiling or cupboards to keep them out of sight, but it requires expert knowledge to do so and can require extending cables and drilling holes.

Using oversized furniture
Nothing cramps up a space more than furniture that’s too big. You might want that great coffee table, but the truth is that it’s too big. And if you insist on it, it’s just going to make your home look overcrowded and uncomfortable.

If you already have the furniture, consider selling it online and using the money from that to purchase items that fit the room you need it for. Take measurements before you shop so that you don’t end up buying the incorrect size. Crowding a room with too many bits of furniture can also make it feel disorganised. Cut down on the amount needed by using multi-functional furniture, such as sturdy pouffes that can be used both for seating and as side tables, coffee tables with storage for cables and TV remotes, and mirrors with shelving attached to them.

Keep it fresh
“Unmade beds, dull floors, and a generally dirty space all contribute to making a house look disorganised. Get into a habit of tidying up your space. If you have family living with you, teaching them to clean up after themselves helps. Even better, save yourself time and stress by hiring a vetted, reliable, excellent and affordable cleaner to thoroughly clean your home on a weekly basis,” advises Awazi Angbalaga, Country Manager for home-cleaning tech company, SweepSouth.

“A home that feels fresh and smells wonderful can instantly improve your mood and mental health, whereas a house with dirty carpets and unattended old furniture usually holds stale, musty odours that feel stifling. You might not even notice it because you’ve lived in the same space for so long but be aware of the way your home feels and smells the moment you step into it after having been outside in the fresh air,” she says. “your rooms can do with a good routine freshening up that includes dusting them from top to bottom, thoroughly cleaning the floors, opening up the windows and washing up dirty bedding. The good thing is that SweepSouth always has the right SweepStar to do the job on your behalf”

If you can’t throw out old furniture or carpets, try these clever tips from the SweepStars who clean Nigerian homes every week through SweepSouth’s service, to banish smells:

Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on carpets and couches, let it rest for an hour, then vacuum up every trace of powder

Put a ball of cotton wool that’s been dipped into a fresh-smelling essential oil, like lemon or eucalyptus, into the vacuum bag for a fresh smell every time you vacuum

Clean hardwood furniture with a polish made from two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice and use a soft cloth to rub it into the wood. You could also use almond oil with a few drops of lemon essential oil sprinkled in, dabbing a bit of the mixture onto a cloth, then rubbing gently into wooden surfaces

Overfilling open shelving
Open shelving is all the rage, and it looks lovely – when done right. It’s a common mistake to fill open shelves with books, picture frames and all the other objects you can’t find a home for, but this type of storage actually works best when it’s not overcrowded.

Resist the temptation to fill every inch of shelving, and rather space things out. Edit down what you’d like to display and leave open space between some of the items. Put your favourite decor items out, but bear in mind that too many decorative pieces will make it look cluttered.

The same rule applies when you’re styling a coffee or dining room tabletop. Give careful thought to what is visible in the room, especially if it’s a small space. Display only what you love, and make sure not to overfill the table. Group small items together in a shallow bowl or on a tray so that the arrangement stays tidy and keep small objects from looking lost by elevating them on a stack of two or three books.

Not using vertical space
If you’ve ever mounted your TV on the wall, you will know how much of a difference it makes to a space to not have your TV sitting on the cabinet or table. Making use of wall space – vertical space – isn’t good just for small areas, it frees up every room in the house. Put up shelves or hang things from your ceiling to get it off your countertops and floors.

For example, use wall-mounted shelves to arrange books and get rid of the bookshelf taking up some much-needed floor space. Using vertical space makes a huge difference in almost any room.

Keep these tips in mind when you’re decorating your space and your home will feel like a clutter-free oasis.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/08/10/design-mistakes-that-make-your-house-look-cluttered/

Investing in Africa is a sustainable business strategy as companies earn bountiful profits. Despite the rising inflation and insecurity, businesses are fast growing in Africa.

Beyond rich resources, the continent is one of the most accessible places to do business.

5 fastest-growing businesses in Africa in 2022

Companies with excellent financial structures benefit from Africa’s fast-growing population and rich resources. This article focuses on the fastest-growing businesses in Africa. These businesses are selected based on their growth rate and revenue generation potentials.

Note that we consulted several reliable sources while compiling this list. These sources include the World Bank, Market Watch, Nairametrics, Tech Crunch, Africa Business Communities, etc.

1. Financial Technology Business

Financial technology businesses continue to outshine many startups in the African continent with problem-solving innovations. According to Tech Crunch, Africa is the world’s second-fastest-growing and profitable payments and banking market after Latin America. The continent is home to over 500 financial technology firms, most in Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya.

According to The World Bank, about 66% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is unbanked. The unbanked population is another reason financial technology businesses thrive in the continent. They leverage technology to modify, automate and enhance financial services for consumers and businesses.

According to Business Elites Africa, 75% of Nigerian financial technology startups earn an average of $5 million annually. Given the continuous funding for financial technology companies in Africa, the sector will continue to grow with internet penetration and smartphone usage.

2. Food Business

With many investors benefiting from Africa’s resources, the food business is one of the businesses in the continent with a fast growth percentage. According to Business Standard, Africa’s food industry recorded a growth of 3.6% in 2020-21 and 3.9% in 2021-22. Food is a basic need for everyone, making it profitable for businesses for entrepreneurs in the sector.

The growth is driven by soaring demands for packaged and processed foods and the high consumption of frozen and dairy products. The food and beverage industry expansion and innovation are other growth contributing factors. According to Nairametrics, a more significant food Crisis is looming in Africa.

The Russia-Ukraine war, low purchasing power, political instability and conflicts are soaring food prices to unprecedented levels in the continent. Meanwhile, Agro entrepreneurs are benefiting from feeding over one billion people. Entrepreneurs earn huge rewards locally by storing and packaging food products with an excellent transportation network.

3. Real Estate Business

With Africa’s large population, there is a high demand for commercial and residential properties, making the real estate business thrive. According to Nairametrics, The Nigeria real estate market grew by 1.77% in 2021 and 10.84% in the first quarter of 2022. The Egyptian real estate market generated $10 billion, representing a growth of 8% in 2021.

According to Nairametrics, Egypt’s real estate market has a growth projection of 6.5% in 2022. Kenya’s real estate market rose by 5.2% in Q3 2021 and is projected to grow by 5.9% in 2022. The real estate business is one of the most valued in Africa, with entrepreneurs earning from leasing, buying and renting commercial and residential properties.

The real estate business is highly profitable but requires knowledge and experience. To get started in Africa’s real estate business, consider seeking advice from experienced realtors and learn from previous mistakes. Learn the industry’s strengths, weaknesses and how it works.

4. E-Commerce Business

Electronic commerce is a fast-growing African business due to technological advancement and innovation. Firms in this sector allow individuals and companies to trade goods and services through the internet. According to Vanguard Newspaper, Africa’s real estate market value has a projection to reach $180 billion by 2025. The report further disclosed that Africa’s eCommerce ventures secured funding of more than $256 million in 2021, representing a 40% growth from 2020.

According to Africa Business Communities, the e-commerce industry is expected to generate annual revenue of $46.1 billion by 2025. The lucrative industry business involves facilitating the sales of goods and services between companies and their customers. E-commerce ventures also facilitate the sales of goods and services through third parties. Jumia, eBay, Konga, and Kilimall are a few examples of African e-commerce platforms.

5. Logistics Business

Logistic business is a lucrative and fast-growing business in many African countries. Whether in Mauritius, South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, or Nigeria, entrepreneurs earn considerable rewards in the industry. According to Market Watch, Africa’s logistics market rose from millions to Multi-million dollars from 2017 to 2022. Reports from Sawya show that Egypt’s Suez Canal recorded a revenue of $704 million in July 2022, representing an increase from the $531.8 million reported in July 2021.

According to Research and Markets, Nigeria’s Logistics and Freight Market is expected to grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 3% from 2022 to 2027. The business is profitable in various African countries with the rise of delivery agencies working hand-in-hand with traditional and online retailers. Delivery agencies streamline the transfer of goods to customers’ destinations. Consider researching the business’s strengths and weaknesses before investing and focusing on building an online presence for promotions.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/08/07/5-fastest-growing-businesses-in-africa-in-2022/

The assumption of business owners is to provide solutions that meet the needs of their customers, and as a result, raise the quality of lives of these customers as they use these products.

 

Customers have had bad experience when a product that was promoted to meet certain need does not and leads to customers who become very logical before making a purchase, as they want to be very sure what they are buying has the ability to deliver on its promise and won’t require a second or third purchase of another product to provide the needed benefit.

Here are steps to persuade a logical customer.

Mention customers like them that have been served
Customers belong to a certain class and are related whether by age, social status, work environment, exposure, place of residence and many more. The reason for mentioning persons who have purchased these products is to convince them of their security of letting go of their money, mentioning names of persons could also be perceived as one way, it then becomes necessary to collect testimonials of people who have used such products and can talk of the particular benefit that has helped them derive satisfaction. Logical customers belong to the bracket of those who have the money to spend but want to be assured of what they are going into, their network is also robust, that when they make referrals, their circle of friend could even become a customer segment that would have a continuous demand for the products you sell. It is advisable to collect testimonials for display on your website or social media channels, the content could be in the form of text that has the picture of the customer, the thing about video is that it is visual and builds trust almost immediately when we watch the body language of those been presented to use, these clips can go from 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Strings of Conversation
Customers usually ask for procedures of using a product when they are unsure, take advantage of this conversation and provide them the necessary information needed, ensure you always keep records of conversations, whether calls or text messages, not just for monitoring and improvement but to be used for the purpose of reaching our customer who is unsure of whether to spend their money on our product or not. Great customers, when they get the benefit they had envisaged would always give a feedback in the form of “thank you”, you can display these strings of conversations from when they needed help to when the issue was resolved, and this proves that you are trustworthy.

3. Offer a discount that they are willing to pay

Customers have been ripped off their hard earned monies and would only part with something that they are willing to lose and not care about. Our goal here is long-term and overall change of perspective of the customer, so we drop the short term profitability thinking and move into the arena of securing these customers by altering their belief system. The truth of the matter is we are a stranger to them, and they have no reason to trust us, just like those they purchased from in the past. Now is our chance to change that narrative and offer them something worth more than they are willing to pay, it could be from a 30%-50% discount or even free if it is not a high priced item.

Offer them complimentary services for free
Customers have additional needs apart from what they intend to purchase and they usually let go of the second alternative, which the business might be offering, aside the discount given, they can be offered these complimentary services for free, but this is not to make the overall process sink into desperation, it can be in the form of a promise, that attaches a comeback after the product has been used, that they get the complimentary service, when they make a second purchase as they must have experienced satisfaction from the use of the product.

We should bear in mind that the goal is to win the customer, however, customers have the ability to make a choice of whether to come back or not, and our goal is to continue to be in business for a customer whether they are logical or not and serve them as individuals and not as a group.


SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/08/04/how-to-sell-to-a-logical-customer/

Bharti Airtel on Wednesday said it has awarded its first 5G contract in the country to Ericsson, with deployment to get underway in August 2022.

Ericsson is Airtel’s long-standing connectivity partner and pan-India managed services provider, with a partnership spanning more than 25 years and covering every generation of mobile communications. The latest 5G partnership follows the close of 5G spectrum auctions in India on July 26.

Gopal Vittal, managing director and chief executive officer of Airtel, said, “As our trusted, long-term technology partner, we are delighted to award our first 5G contract to Ericsson for 5G deployment in India.”

“5G presents a game-changing opportunity to drive the digital transformation of industries, enterprises and the socio-economic development of India. With our 5G network, we aim to deliver the full benefits of 5G connectivity, fuel India’s journey towards a digital economy and strengthen the country’s position on the world stage.”

Airtel will deploy power-efficient 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) products and solutions from the Ericsson Radio System and Ericsson microwave mobile transport solutions. Ericsson will be providing 5G connectivity in 12 circles for Bharti Airtel.

In addition to an enhanced user experience for Airtel customers – spanning ultra-high-speeds, low latency and large data handling capabilities – Ericsson 5G network products and solutions will also enable Bharti Airtel to pursue new, innovative use cases with its enterprise and industry customers.

Börje Ekholm, president and CEO of Ericsson, said, “We look forward to supporting Bharti Airtel with its deployment of 5G in India. With Ericsson’s unrivaled, global 5G deployment experience, we will help Bharti Airtel deliver the full benefits of 5G to Indian consumers and enterprises, while seamlessly evolving the Bharti network from 4G to 5G. 5G will enable

India to realize its Digital India vision and foster inclusive development of the country.”
Also Read: Earth is spinning faster, what does it mean for us?

With 125 live networks in 55 countries to date, and around 50 percent of the world’s 5G traffic outside China now carried over Ericsson’s radio networks, the company is at the forefront of 5G around the world.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/08/04/bharti-airtel-awards-its-first-5g-contract-in-india-to-ericsson/

The South African government has announced that the price of fuel at the pump will be reduced beginning Wednesday.

South Africa’s minister of mineral resources and energy, Gwede Mantashe, stated this in a statement on Saturday.

He stated that the price adjustment is intended to alleviate the burden of rising energy prices on consumers.

Fuel prices in South Africa are adjusted monthly based on international and local factors.

“International factors include the fact that South Africa imports both crude oil and finished products at international prices, which include importation costs,” Mantashe explained.

According to the minister, the price of 95-octane and 93-octane petrol will be reduced by ZAR 1.32 ($0.08) per litre, to ZAR 25.42 and ZAR 24.99, respectively.

He also stated that the price of diesel, which is primarily used by farmers, haulage vehicles, and emergency power generators, will be reduced by 88 cents for high-sulphur diesel and 91 cents for lower-sulphur diesel.



Mantashe stated that the prices were adjusted due to lower crude oil demand due to recession concerns and the resurgence of COVID-19 in China.

He went on to say that “the decision by OPEC and non-OPEC members to increase oil production” was another factor.

“During the period under review, the average international product prices of petrol, diesel, illuminating paraffin, and LPG have decreased.” “During the period under review, LPG prices increased due to higher freight rates,” he explained.

“Petrol ULP 95 contributed 303.16 c/l to the Basic Fuel Price, ULP 93 contributed 297.42 c/l, diesel 500ppm and 50ppm contributed 267.30 c/l and 271.15 c/l, respectively, while illuminating paraffin contributed 249.77 c/l.”

According to the minister, the price decrease was also prompted by the rand’s depreciation.

The country’s inflation rate reached a 13-year high of 7.4 percent in June.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/08/01/south-africa-set-to-lower-fuel-pump-prices/

Ethiopian Airlines Group, the flag carrier of Ethiopia, Africa’s largest airline group, has upsized four of its A350-900 on order to the largest variant of the A350 Family, the A350-1000, becoming Africa’s first customer for the aircraft.

Ethiopian Airlines has already ordered 22 A350-900s, of which 16 aircraft have been delivered. With the A350-1000 upsizing, Ethiopian Airlines’ backlog consists of four A350-1000s and two A350-900s.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said, “We are delighted over the upsizing of the A350-900 on order to the largest variant, A350-1000, that helps us stay ahead of the curve in technology. We are the technology leaders in the continent introducing the latest technology and fuel-efficient fleet into Africa. The A350-1000 is the best fit for our dense routes, and we believe that the upsizing will be instrumental in satisfying the increasing demand of customers in our vast global network across five continents. We will continue on keeping ourselves abreast of aviation technology advancements to enhance our service and fulfil customers’ demand.”

”We are proud of our strong partnership with Ethiopian Airlines – the first airline in Africa to order and operate the A350-900. In another first, Ethiopian Airlines is once again leading the way in Africa’s aviation sector by introducing the A350-1000, the largest version of the world’s most efficient and technologically advanced passenger aircraft.” said Mikail Houari, President, Airbus Africa and Middle East. “The A350-900 has delivered extraordinary capability, fuel efficiency, and operational reliability of 99.5 percent together with unbeatable operational flexibility and efficiency, from short to ultra-long-range operations.”

The A350-1000 will increase the East African carrier’s capacity and it will be an addition to its modern wide-body fleet. The airline will benefit from a flexible, high-value Family leveraging Airbus’ unprecedented level of commonality and same type rating.

The Airbus A350’s clean-sheet design features state-of-the-art aerodynamics, a carbon-fibre fuselage and wings, plus the most fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. Together, these latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency and sustainability for Ethiopian Airlines, with a 25% reduction in fuel-burn and CO2 emissions compared to previous generation twin-aisle aircraft.

By the end of June 2022, the A350 Family had received 940 orders from 52 customers, making it the reference large widebody family for the next decades.

SOIRCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/29/ethiopian-airlines-orders-africas-first-a350-1000/

An international telecom investor-operator, Orange Group, has vowed to play a big part in the Nigerian telecom sector including mobile, data, fixed and financial technology support services.

Mrs. Victoria Adefala, stated this when she led a six-member team of Orange Middle East and Africa, on a visit to the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta in Abuja at the weekend.

She said the group is fully determined to do all it takes to get a slice of the Nigerian market.

“We are here to ensure steady investment for a long term. We also want to support the vision of the Commission in driving broadband penetration for a robust digital economy and leverage on local content development initiatives,” she said.

Adefala said Nigeria is missing in Orange Group’s portfolio of combined networks of over 140 million subscribers across 18 countries of its operations.

“The large market potentials buoyed by the huge population, impressive Gross Domestic product (GDP) figure, proximity to our operations in the neighbouring African countries, as well as the appreciable friendly operating environment are great motivators for our expansion plan into the Nigerian telecom market”.

In his remarks, Danbatta, who welcomed the group’s decision to invest in Nigeria, reassured the delegation of a robust policy and regulatory environment that provides a quality enabling environment.

He said the Commission has also taken several other regulatory steps aimed at improving the operational environment such as the ongoing collaboration with Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) to reduce RoW charges on telecom infrastructure deployments; signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with various government and institutional stakeholders across the country; developed guidelines and regulations to promote colocation of infrastructure, upheld a fair competitive operating environment, among others.

“We welcome more investments into the Nigerian telecom sector. We have enabling laws and regulations that help us to engender a highly competitive telecom market that benefits both the service providers and the consumers. NCC is here to ensure we support our licensees to thrive while also ensuring that they comply with Quality of Service (QoS) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) set by the Commission because Nigerians will patronise an operator that provides them with affordable services at highest quality,” he said.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/28/orange-telecom-set-to-invest-in-nigeria/

Average lending rate of commercial banks shot up by 2.66% between April and June 2022 to 24.27%.

This is equivalent to 2% interest rate on loans per month.

According to the Summary of Economic and Financial Data by the Bank of Ghana, average cost of borrowing has been going up from 20.1% in January this year to 24.2%.

This is as a result of the rising inflation rate and other factors.

However, the average lending rate varies among the banks and the respective sectors that they lend to.

For instance, some banks will offer loans equivalent to the Ghana Reference Rate of 20%, whilst others will charge rates as high as 33%.

Overall, it will also depend on the risk profile of the customers.

Again, some perceive lending to the agriculture and construction sectors as riskier, and therefore credit to these sectors are expensive.

According to data from the Bank of Ghana, cost of loans rose marginally from the beginning of this year due to increasing inflation rate and other factors.

It went up from 20.16% in January 2022 to 20.52% in February 2022 and then to 20.57% in March 2022. It again went up to 21.61% in April 2022 and later to 22.53% in May 2022.

However, average lending rate fluctuated in the first quarter of 2021, and then fell consecutively till December 2021.

For now, it’s unclear whether cost of loans will stabilise or go up despite the monetary policy rate kept unchanged at 19% yesterday July 25th, 2022.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/26/average-lending-rate-of-banks-surges-to-24-2-in-half-year-2022/

PepsiCo has announced the closing of a new $1.25 billion ten-year green bond, as it looks to accelerate its pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) agenda.  

The company will use an amount equivalent to the net proceeds from the offering to fund green projects that focus on two pillars of its pep+ agenda: ‘positive agriculture’ and ‘positive value chain’.

The new green bond is PepsiCo’s second since 2019, and $858 million in equivalent proceeds from the first are already allocated to eligible green projects across six continents.

“We were one of the first food and beverage corporations to issue a green bond and that initial funding has played a critical role in our sustainable transformation so far,” said Jim Andrew, chief sustainability officer at PepsiCo.

“While tackling the climate crisis requires a collaborative effort, it is clear that the private sector must play a leadership role. Our new green bond will be pivotal to channelling investment into the critical areas required to build a more sustainable and resilient food system.”

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/26/pepsico-announces-new-1-25bn-ten-year-green-bond/

Most of us sit for hours every day – in traffic, at work, or while we watch our favourite TV shows at night. The shocking reality is that all this sitting for hours on end may be killing us.

Sitting may seem like a really harmless activity, but medical experts say that doing so for long periods of time every day is associated with serious health problems like Type 2 diabetes, joint pain, blood clotting and cardiovascular disease.

You may have heard the phrase, “sitting is the new smoking”, which is credited to Dr. James Levine, Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic. He has spent years studying the science of sitting, and the unintentional danger we put ourselves in each day by leading sedentary lives.

Human bodies were not designed to sit as much as we do, says Dr. Levine. Our ancestors spent most of their lives upright as they hunted for, and grew food – only occasionally sitting down for breaks. In his book Get Up! Why Your Chair Is Killing You, he states that we’ve gone from an ancient world of movers to a modern world of chair sloths.

If sitting is so relaxing, why is it bad for you? The problem lies in how much of it, and for how long, we sit each day. When our bodies are in a static position for a lengthy period of time, all kinds of bad things happen, such as blood circulation – which is crucial for good health – slows down, affecting every system of the body.

Poor blood circulation allows fatty acids to build up in the blood vessels, leading to heart disease. And, according to World Thrombosis Day, another risk is that when your legs remain still for hours, your calf muscles don’t contract, which normally helps blood circulate. This can lead to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), where clots form in the calves of your legs if your calf muscles don’t move for long periods.

DVT is a serious problem. If a part of the blood clot breaks off it can travel to the lungs, and cause blockages. This is called a pulmonary embolism (PE), and it may be fatal.

What You Can Do
Try and assess how many hours you spend “bottom-bound” in a day, including commuting to work, sitting at your desk, running errands in your car, and on the couch at night. Added up, it’s probably more than you think. Children who lead a sedentary life and sit for hours playing video games and watching TV instead of playing outside, are at risk of health complications, too.

It’s clear that excessive sitting is impacting people negatively, just as smoking has over the years, so how can you break the habit? It’s not enough to just stand up all day long, says Dr. Helen Okoye, a leading Nigerian thrombosis specialist who is part of the global World Thrombosis Day steering committee.

Having your body stay still in any static position – whether it’s sitting, standing or lying down – day after day, isn’t good for you. And, she adds, while it’s important to exercise, like going for a run or to the gym, exercise alone is not enough to offset the negative effects of too much sitting. Sitting is an independent risk factor, and its solution lies in incorporating as much movement into your day as you can.

Stay Moving
“It’s all the little movements we do in the day that matter. The trick is to build movement into every part of your life,” advises Dr Okoye. “During your work week, break up chair time by staying in motion whenever possible. Stand up while you’re talking on the phone, go for a walk during lunchtime, and take a five-minute standing break for every hour that you sit down.

“If you know that you’re going to be seated for long periods of time, like at a conference, wear loose-fitting clothing that allows blood to circulate, and stay hydrated by drinking water, to help thin the blood,” says Dr. Okoye.

At home, dance while you’re cooking or cleaning the house, and go for a walk with your children at the end of the day when all the family is home. When you’re out shopping, park further away from wherever you’re going and walk the rest of the way. Take the stairs instead of lifts or escalators – or at least walk up the escalator. Every minute of physical activity counts.

While there’s definitely room for sitting in our day, the bottom line is that we need to give serious thought to how we transform our sitting choices from habitual to intentional. “Make it a daily habit to move more,” says Dr. Okoye. “The less you keep your body in a static position throughout the day, the better your chances for living a healthy life.”

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/25/why-sitting-is-the-new-smoking/

Informa Markets is delighted to announce that after 8 highly successful editions, Power Nigeria has now evolved into Nigeria Energy – a transformation designed to ensure Nigeria’s leading event remains at the forefront of the rapidly evolving energy sector.

Nigeria Energy was rebranded from Power Nigeria in 2020 to reflect the evolving nature of producing electricity and delivering energy security. Driven by extensive outreach and stakeholder engagement, this strategic move builds on the legacy of Power Nigeria and takes the event to a new level ensuring it meets the needs of Nigeria’s people, businesses, and industries.

Following a two-year break, Nigeria Energy will return to take place at the Landmark Centre, Lagos from 20-22 September 2022.

In addition to an exhibition featuring some of the largest and most innovative power companies, from conventional thermal power generation through to transmission and distribution (T&) and renewable energy and energy storage, Nigeria Energy will provide a thought leadership platform for key government stakeholders and private sector companies and investors from across the world to connect, share ideas and knowledge and find solutions to meet Nigeria’s growing energy needs.

Accelerating Nigeria’s sustainable energy supply, the show will provide a blueprint for Nigeria’s power sector in the coming years to not only improve access to electricity but also drive economic growth and create jobs across West Africa.

New this year, the Nigeria Energy Conference Steering Committee has been formed to address the current challenges and opportunities within the African power market and have been pivotal in providing direction to the conference theme. Some of the confirmed committee members are from Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Rural Electrification Agency, Federal Ministry of Power – Nigeria, National Assembly – Nigeria, Women in Renewable Energy Association and more.

Key discussion themes at Nigeria Energy Conference will include:

Building capacity: establishing a strategic framework and regulatory framework to support the growth of power production in Nigeria
Finance and investments: developing procurement models and payment mechanisms to attract regional and international capital
Digitalisation, data, and technologies: increasing efficiency and supporting collections and payments for distribution companies
The renewable energy opportunity: diversifying the energy mix and off-grid and mini-grid solutions to meet Nigeria’s power demand
“The Nigeria Energy exhibition is a one-stop-shop where you can be rest assured to engage with the highest level of decision-makers and international partners that have a role in creating value while addressing the needs inherent to the lingering challenges within the Nigerian power market”, explains Ade Yesufu, Exhibition Manager – Energy portfolio – MEA, Informa Markets

The exhibition sees support from the industry with SkipperSeil Limited, a global leader in power and infrastructure, confirmed as the Main Sponsor, Simba Group as the Platinum Sponsor, Tranos as the Gold Sponsor, while Eaton, Lucy Electric, and Jubaili Bros are confirmed as Silver Sponsors.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/21/power-nigeria-returns-as-nigeria-energy-to-drive-growth-of-power-production-in-nigeria/

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) wholeheartedly supports and congratulates the inauguration of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and its official transition to a private entity, thus initiating a monumental shift in active engagement, accountability and value that is expected to reshape Nigeria’s petroleum industry, while simultaneously acting as a model for other National Oil Companies on the continent.

Inaugurated by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on 19 July, the transition from NNPC Group to NNPC Limited is regulated in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021. This transition will create a significant departure from the company’s previous operations, whereby major decisions had to be made based on the Federal Executive Council approval, thus exalting NNPC Limited with higher expectations around regulatory compliance, active engagement with stakeholders, and perhaps most significantly, accountability.

“This is the beginning of something new. Mele Kolo Kyari and his team have done an amazing job towards this implementation. The strategic importance of this transition will allow Nigeria’s petroleum industry to uphold the highest levels of professionalism and innovation while allowing the company to operate in strategic engagements globally,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC, adding, “Rather than rushing into the elimination of oil and gas, NNPC and Nigeria will now be able to more nimbly, transparently, and efficiently take advantage of its hydrocarbons and natural resources to bring more value and wealth to the country and its people.”

The creation of the NNPC Limited follows a decrease in crude oil production in 2022 compared to the same six-month period in 2020 and 2021 and is expected to place greater emphasis on corporate governance and operational excellence – fast-tracking development and bringing Nigeria back to the top of African oil production levels.

In order to achieve these goals, four committees have been established to provide oversight of the entity’s functions of planning and implementation and define a framework for monitoring the company’s performance. These committees include the Board Establishment Committee; the Board Finance, Strategy, and Investment Committee; the Board Sustainability Committee; and the Board Audit Committee.

The launch of NNPC Limited, which allows the company to become listed on the stock exchange with the sales of its shares now available to the public, positions the company on the same operational level as other successful state-owned petroleum corporations, such as Brazil’s Petrobas and Saudi Arabia’s Aramco.

The new, innumerable opportunities that this structuring will bring to Nigerians, Africans, and international investors and stakeholders will be showcased at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2022, which will take place on 18-21 October in Cape Town, South Africa, exhibiting NNPC Limited as the company of tomorrow. AEW is the AEC’s flagship interactive exhibition and networking event that seeks to unite African energy stakeholders, drive industry growth and development, and promote Africa as the number one destination for African-focused events for the future of the continent’s energy sector.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/20/history-made-as-nnpc-transitions-into-limited-liability-company/

Cassava Technologies (Cassava) Africa’s first integrated tech company of continental scale, announced today that it has secured a US$50 million investment from C5 Capital (C5), a specialist venture capital firm that invests in cyber security, space, and energy security. The investment is part of a broader funding round to accelerate Cassava’s growth.

The investment by C5 will contribute to the acceleration of the work that Cassava has undertaken to increase digital connectivity and inclusion on the continent. Cassava will be the go-to market partner in Africa for C5’s cutting edge portfolio companies to deliver best-in-class cyber security, satellite and space technology and clean energy.

C5 and Cassava already announced a joint venture through which Haven Cyber, a C5 portfolio company and Cassava will scale Microsoft’s suite of cybersecurity products across Africa to help combat the threat of cybercrime.

According to Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman of Cassava Technologies, “This investment from C5 is part of our plan to raise additional growth capital whilst diversifying our investor base. We are delighted that C5 has joined us to help realise our vision of a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind”.

Cassava Technologies has operations in more than 20 African countries and has been at the forefront of bringing innovative technology solutions to local businesses and individuals. Through its extensive offering that includes fibre networks, data centres, renewable energy, cloud, and cyber security, and fintech and digital platforms, the company provides digital solutions to over 1 million enterprises and access to the internet for over 500 million people in Africa.

“We are delighted to partner with Cassava Technologies, to bring the most innovative cyber security, space and energy security products and services to African markets,” said André Pienaar, Chief Executive and Founder of C5 Capital.

Through the partnership between Haven Cyber (a portfolio company of C5) and Liquid Cloud & Cybersecurity (a business of Cassava), C5 and Cassava aim to bring expertise in cyber security to Africa by launching a network of state-of-the-art Cyber Security Operations Centres (CSOCs) across Africa. The CSOC network will enable the rapid delivery of cyber security services and operations on the continent. The first such CSOC is set for launch in South Africa later this year.

Pienaar continued, “Following the launch of Cassava Technologies’ cutting-edge Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC) planned for Johannesburg later this year, we see tremendous growth potential for Cassava Technologies’ cyber security business to help protect African enterprises and communities.”

Hardy Pemhiwa, the President and CEO of Cassava, added, “Recent industry reports highlight that cyber security threats cost Africa close to US$4.1 billion in lost GDP in 2021. This is primarily due to the massive increase in the adoption of technology in businesses and governments across Africa and increased vulnerabilities as cyber-attack technologies evolve. Today’s investment from C5 and our pan-continental partnership will enhance our ability to enable our customers build secure and stable cloud based digital services critical to transforming lives on the continent.”

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/18/cassava-technologies-announces-50m-strategic-investment-from-c5-capital/

MTN Group, Africa’s largest telecommunications provider, is making plans to acquire Telkom, a South African telco.

Lastweek, the companies said they were in discussions over a deal for MTN to buy all of Telkom either with shares or a combination of cash and stock.

“Discussions are at an early stage and there is no certainty that the transaction will be consummated,” MTN and Telkom said in separate statements issued via the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

The news set Telkom’s share price alight, pushing it over 30 per cent higher, while MTN was up nearly 5 per cent.

MTN is South Africa’s second-biggest telecommunications provider while Telkom is the third-largest.

According to Reuters, the deal between MTN and Telkom, if successful, would bolster MTN in its competition against Vodacom Group, the market leader.

The news agency said the deal would give MTN access to Telkom’s fiber assets, seen as a must for expanding 4G and 5G mobile services.

“It (the proposed deal) does make sense in every way. We’re seeing this happening in many other jurisdictions, where the mobile operators are consolidating with fixed line players,” Peter Takaendesa, head of equities at Mergence Investment Managers, said.

“The key reason for that really is, as you move towards 4G and 5G, you need more fibre to connect your mobile network.”

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/18/mtn-group-to-buy-south-africas-telkom/

Nigeria’s inflation rate increased for the seventh consecutive month in June, rising to 18.6 percent, up 0.9 percentage point from 17.71 percent in May 2022.
This is the highest level since January of last year.

This was stated by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its consumer price index (CPI) report for June 2022, which was released on Friday.

Dr. Muda Yusuf, the founder/CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), said that one of the major drivers of inflation in the country is high energy costs, and that the government should suspend all forms of taxes and levies on the importation of petroleum products as soon as possible to provide relief from the country’s spiking energy costs.

The NBS figure for June this year is also 0.84 percentage point higher than the figure for June 2021, which is 17.75 percent.

Increases were recorded in all classifications of individual consumption according to purpose (COICOP) divisions that yielded the headline index, according to the report.

“The headline inflation rate increased to 1.82 percent in June 2022, which is 0.03 percent higher than the rate recorded in May 2022 (1.78 percent),” according to the report.

“The percentage change in the average composite CPI for the 12 months ending June 2022 over the previous 12 months period is 16.54 percent, representing a 0.62 percent increase compared to the 15.93 percent recorded in June 2021.”

According to the report, food inflation increased to 20.60 percent year on year in June 2022, but the rate of change in average price level decreased by 1.23 percent when compared to 21.83 percent in June 2021.

“This increase in the food index was caused by price increases in bread and cereals, non-food products, potatoes, yams, and other tubers, meat, fish, oil and fat, and wine,” it added.

“The food sub-index increased by 0.03 percent month on month to 2.05 percent in June 2022, up from 2.01 percent in May 2022.”

According to the report, Bauchi and Kogi states had the highest price movements.

“In June 2022, Bauchi (21.99 percent), Kogi (21.37 percent), and Ebonyi (20.73 percent) had the highest year-on-year inflation rates, while Adamawa (16.14 percent), Sokoto (16.31 percent), and Jigawa (16.37 percent) had the slowest rise in headline year-on-year inflation,” it said.

According to Yusuf, prices for the basket of goods consumed by the majority of households have risen by 30 to 100 percent in the last year.

“The same can be said for businesses. “The spiraling inflation dynamics necessitate an immediate policy response at the highest levels of government,” he said, adding that the impact on citizens’ welfare is incalculable.

“The excruciating and unbearable pressure of spiking inflation on household budgets.”

“Purchasing power has been massively eroded, real incomes have been depressed, and the poverty incidence has therefore worsened,” he said. The impact on SMEs is concerning.”

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/18/nigerias-inflation-rate-has-risen-to-18-60-percent-causing-concern/

Publish What You Fund, the global campaign for aid and development transparency, has named the African Development Bank the most transparent organization in the world.

The Bank’s Sovereign Portfolio now ranks first out of 50 global development institutions in Publish What You Fund’s 2022 Aid Transparency Index, released today with a top score of 98.5.

African Development Bank Group President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said: “I am elated to learn of this outstanding recognition from Publish What You Fund. It is a testament to the relentless efforts of the more than 2,000 personnel across our organization who work tirelessly to accelerate Africa’s progress. Maintaining razor-sharp focus, they consistently deliver top quality under the highest levels of scrutiny. I am incredibly proud of them. I commend Publish What You Fund for their important mission, combining robust research and technical expertise with targeted advocacy and engagement to make aid and development efforts more transparent and effective.”

Senior Vice President Swazi Tshabalala said: “I am absolutely delighted with this score in an index that plays a key role in helping promote openness and greater transparency among international agencies. The Bank has worked hard over the years to improve the disclosure of its aid flows by providing consistent, high-quality, and easily accessible data. Our top ranking has significant human and financial resource implications, as this is the only way to conduct our development business.”

The African Development Bank achieved the highest score in the Aid Transparency Index’s ten-year history and moved into the top spot from its fourth-place ranking in 2020. The Index is the only independent measure of aid transparency among the world’s major development agencies. The Bank has remained consistently in the ‘very good’ category since 2014. It has consistently demonstrated its commitment to increased transparency and its extraordinary progress over the past 10 years in providing high-quality information and becoming more transparent.

Publish What You Fund’s ‘very good’ status is the highest of the five categories used to assess organizations’ transparency. The ranking is based on several criteria. They include finance and budgets, basic information data, organizational planning and performance.

The African Development Bank’s non-sovereign portfolio was assessed for the first time and separately in the 2022 Index. The Bank is the second most transparent development finance institution dealing with non-sovereign operations. Its non-sovereign portfolio is ranked 12th among the 50 global development institutions under comparison.

The past year has been complex and challenging for development transparency. To help fulfill development needs and ambitious global objectives such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Bank’s High 5 operational priorities, more and better development finance than ever is required. This is especially so when large volumes of funding are being assigned to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Publish What You Fund Chief Executive Gary Foster said: “We congratulate the African Development Bank’s sovereign portfolio for achieving 1st place in the 2022 Aid Transparency Index. For many years now, the AfDB has engaged to understand the demands of the Index, and they have then re-engineered their approach to disclosure, accordingly publishing more comprehensive, higher quality data. This has been made possible because the efforts of their technical staff are matched by commitment to aid transparency from the highest levels of the organization.”

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/13/african-development-bank-ranks-first-on-global-aid-transparency-index/

An indigenous oil and gas company, ND Western Ltd, says it is getting ready to take the Final Investment Decision on its 10,000 barrels per day refinery in Uturogu, Delta State.

The Managing Director, ND Western Ltd, Mr Eberechukwu Oji, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the 2022 Nigeria Oil and Gas conference and exhibition on Wednesday in Abuja.

Oji said the Front End Engineering Design for the project which was a Joint Venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had been completed.

“We’re getting ready for the FID. Now you have to understand that before you take FID on a project, a number of things needs to be ready,” he said.

He said issues such as finance and off takers of the refined petroleum products must be addressed before the board approves the FID.

On gas development in Nigeria, Oji called on the Federal Government to work with the private sector in transforming Nigeria into an industrialised country through its abundant natural gas resources.

He said, “I think that we have the opportunity to do so with gas because gas have a lot of options around it and gas solves some of the problems that we spoke about in the panel.

“So today, crude oil pipelines get tapped into and get disrupted but the gas pipelines are not being tapped into just because of the nature of gas.

“It does make sense that the government should invest to take gas to all the industrial hubs in Nigeria.

“The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline is an excellent gas project to take gas to the north, but if you think about it, there’s already demand centres in the east for which the government needs to support putting gas pipelines toward that axis.

“It is absolutely important that for Nigeria to industrialise. We have to utilise the resources we have which is gas and make it available to all the capital cities in the country.”

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/10/nd-western-to-make-fid-on-10000bpd-refinery/

A total of 16 companies are now pre-qualified for the privatisation of five National Integrated Power Projects across the country, the Federal Government announced on Thursday.

It announced this at the Investor Pre-bid Conference for the privatisation of the five NIPP plants which include Geregu, Omotosho, Olorunsogo, Calabar and Benin-Ihovbor.

The government disclosed this through its Bureau of Public Enterprises in a statement issued in Abuja by the Head, Public Communications, BPE, Ibeh Chidi.

The Director-General, BPE, Alex Okoh, outlined the 16 pre-qualified bidders to include Mota-Engil Nig, Amperion Power, Sifax Energy, Pacific Energy Company Ltd and Globeleq Africa Limited.

Others include Geoplex Drillteq Limited, Asfalizo Acquisition Ltd, Launderhill PJB, Lauderhill Tata, Unicorn Power Genco Ltd, Connaught Energy Services Ltd, ENL Consortium Ltd, Ardova Plc, Central Electric and Utilities Ltd, North South Power Consortium and Quantum Megawatt Consortium.

Okoh said the power sector remained a viable investment in Nigeria given the low per-capital megawatts currently being recorded across the country.

He said the interest shown by bidders and the opening up of the generation aspect of the power sector confirmed the vast opportunities that abound in the sector, adding that BPE and other relevant stakeholders were committed to making the sector sustainable.

The BPE boss said the objectives of the pre-bid conference were to address possible questions from the prequalified bidders with regards to the transactions and provide clarity on some issues in the transaction documents as might be necessary.

He said the forum also highlighted the potential in the Nigerian power sector and provided a platform for potential investors to understand the process for the privatisation of the NIPP plants as well as to enable them to prepare their bid documents.

He was quoted as saying, “This event is a continuation of the Federal Government’s reform of the power sector with the aim of ensuring that assets within the sector are fully utilised and transformed into world-class facilities, through the injection of private sector capital and deployment of more efficient and technical capacity.”

Okoh told the investors that litigations against some of the plants were baseless and frivolous as the bureau and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company were empowered by the bids’ provisions under NIPPs transaction to terminate bids that violated the ground rules.

The statement stated that the event had critical stakeholders in the power sector including the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, Niger Delta Power Holding Company and Nigerian Bulk Trading Company in attendance.

In April 2021, the National Council on Privatisation approved the adoption of a fast-track strategy for the privatisation of the five NIPP plants.

The council also approved the engagement of CPCS Consortium as the technical adviser for the 100 per cent sale of the five power plants, in line with the policy of divesting government shares from thermal generating plants.

Subsequently, the BPE advertised in the national dailies May 6, 2021, calling for Expressions of Interest from prospective investors for the sale of the five plants, with a submission deadline of June 30, 2021.

At the expiration of the deadline for the submission of EOIs, 36 EOIs were duly submitted from the prospective investors and the closure for the receipt of the EOIs was witnessed by the representatives of the Department of State Security Services and the Anti-Corruption and Transparency/Servicom Unit of the Bureau.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/10/16-firms-pre-qualified-for-five-nipps-privatisation/

Med-Direct Africa, a 21st Century retail pharmacy in Nigeria has positioned itself to redefine the health delivery landscape in Nigeria via the launch of its e-Pharmacy services as it commits to reducing the prices of quality drugs in Nigeria, while delivering with speed to the last mile nationwide.

With the launch of this revolutionary platform, Nigerians, from all walks of life and irrespective of where they are based, can now access genuine and affordable medicines online with swift delivery to their location of preference.

‘‘Med-Direct Africa, with its lifestyle department, will pay quality attention to prescription drugs, including high value and life-saving drugs to make sure genuine patients are supplied to those who need it before they exhaust what they have, no matter where they reside. We shall also handle last mile deliveries for public spirited Nigerians and Donor Agencies, while Nigerians in the Diaspora can also take advantage of our reach to supply quality drugs cheaper than they can buy overseas for their relatives.

’We are dealing directly with manufacturers and distributors backed with the highest level of technologies and structured analytics to deliver without fail. We are prepared,’’ Mr. Ifeanyi Ogbolu, Head of Retail Operations, Med-Direct Africa disclosed.

The surge of the use of the internet and online ordering, especially of medicines in Nigeria, has necessitated the need for the availability of digital platforms that would meet the pharmaceutical and drug needs of Nigerians. Consequently, Med-Direct Africa has taken a step in the right direction to fill the void by not just expanding access to quality and affordable medications online, but also by providing access to seasoned pharmacists and health care professionals for needy beneficiaries, thereby assuring an improvement in the quality of care experienced by Nigerians.

The e-Pharmacy services are available via an online pharmaceutical platform which enables customers to purchase medicines, health supplements and nutraceuticals, among others, without the need to visit a physical pharmacy. It offers the following profound benefits such as speed of access to medications, privacy and confidentiality, time-saving access to quality pharmaceuticals and convenience for all categories of users, including busy individuals and the elderly who can access their medications from the comfort of their homes and without having to visit a physical pharmacy.

In addition, prospective users in need of prescription products can use the live chat option to speak with a team of experienced pharmacists, while also enjoying the liberty of uploading their prescription via same channel. Once uploaded, Med-Direct Africa’s team of registered pharmacists would engage the subscriber via call or chat to ensure they get the best of pharmaceutical care.

Equally important, Med-Direct Africa’s team have the professional right to withhold dispensing in the case of prescription or medication errors.

‘‘With our e-pharmacy platform, Nigerians can now get their favourite and genuine supplements, lifestyle products and prescription medications (when you upload your prescription) with a few clicks at a 10% discount and free delivery to every state in the country.

‘‘With this, we hope to reduce the cost burden of drugs for Nigerians as well as provide quick access to these medications. Our goal is simple. Every Nigerian deserves quality medicine and drug services at a favourable cost within the shortest possible time,’’ Ogbolu assured.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/09/med-direct-africa-launches-e-pharmacy-promises-reduced-prices-of-drugs-in-nigeria/

NASA has lost contact with CAPSTONE, a tiny satellite that left Earth’s orbit on July 4th. CAPSTONE is a cubesat weighing just 55 pounds, and it’s headed for the Moon as part of NASA’s plan to get humans back on the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years.

The small satellite stopped communicating with engineers on July 4th shortly after deploying from an Electron rocket bus and exiting Earth’s orbit. A NASA spokesperson told Space.com that the team has solid trajectory information for CAPSTONE and handlers are attempting to re-establish contact with the cubesat.

“If needed, the mission has enough fuel to delay the initial post-separation trajectory correction maneuver for several days,” the spokesperson told the site.

CAPSTONE spent six days building up speed in-orbit on a Rocket Lab Electron booster and finally deployed yesterday, on a path to the Moon. The plan is for CAPSTONE to enter a near rectilinear halo orbit around the Moon on November 13th, serving as a test for NASA’s Artemis mission.

With Artemis, NASA plans to install a space station called the Lunar Gateway in the Moon’s orbit, serving as a permanent floating base for lunar visitors, complete with living quarters and a laboratory.

NASA plans to kick off its Artemis 1 mission between August 23rd and September 6th with the deployment of an unmanned Orion module, which will orbit the Moon and provide data about how the trip might affect the human body. After that, four astronauts will take off for the lunar satellite. Finally, some time after 2025, NASA plans to put humans on the Moon again.


SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/06/nasas-capstone-satellite-has-gone-dark/

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority has entered into an agreement with Vitol to establish a joint venture that will enable both firms invest in a range of high integrity, socially impactful, carbon avoidance and removals projects.

The deal was confirmed in a statement issued by NSIA.

Based on the agreement, NSIA and Vitol are expected to make an initial commitment of $50m to this new venture.

The pact will enable both companies to invest exclusively in projects in Nigeria, partnering with local NGOs which have a proven track record of successfully delivering high-quality projects that combine carbon offsetting with social benefits that contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The NSIA said in the statement that the new venture is open to new investors as the partners develop the project pipeline.

The initiative, the statement noted, will seek to mobilize voluntary market carbon capital from the partners and potential third parties in a small step toward a more equitable energy transition for Africa.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, NSIA, Mr Uche Orji was quoted in the statement to have said that the Authority is committed to playing a leading role in advancing climate solutions that will lower Nigeria’s carbon emissions.

The energy industry is currently facing increasing demands to reducing greenhouse gas emissions so as to achieve the goals and commitments of Paris Accord and COP 26.

Nigeria through the Nigerian National Petroluem Company Ltd is pursuing energy transition in order to promote economic growth and is gradually investing in gas so as to reduce carbon emissions while continuing to exploit hydrocarbon resources.

Currently, natural gas is the energy transition fuel for Nigeria.

During the COP 26 summit in Glasgow, President Muhammadu Buhari had pledged that Nigeria would cut its carbon emissions and reach net-zero by 2060, underlining the key role of gas in the country’s energy transition roadmap.

While nations such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union have set targets to achieve net-zero by 2050, Nigeria has opted to join Saudi Arabia and Russia in planning to reach net-zero by 2060.

But speaking on the partnership, Orji expressed optimism that the NSIA’s partnership with Vitol will be key to establishing and accelerating carbon reduction and avoidance in Nigeria.

This, he stated, is expected to be achieved by providing an enabling platform to trade carbon credits.

He said, “NSIA is committed to playing a leading role in advancing Climate Solutions that help to lower Nigeria’s carbon emission as an integral part of its ESG strategy.

“We are therefore very pleased to be working with Vitol to channel our investments in sustainable projects to deliver emission-reduction results as well as significant socio-economic outcomes that will be of benefit to Nigerians.”

The NSIA is an investment institution of the Federation set up to manage funds in excess of budgeted hydrocarbon revenues.

Its mission is to play a leading role in driving sustained economic development for the benefit of all Nigerians through building a savings base for the Nigerian people, enhancing the development of Nigeria’s infrastructure, and providing stabilization support in times of economic stress.

The Authority is empowered to receive, manage, and invest funds in a diversified portfolio of medium and long-term assets on behalf of all three tiers of government including the Federal Capital Territory, in preparation for the eventual depletion of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources.

Also speaking, the Head of Environmental Products, Vitol, Michael Curran, said in the statement that the company has been investing in high-quality carbon mitigating projects globally for over ten years.

He said the company is delighted to be partnering with the NSIA to support Nigeria’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through projects that address critical environmental and climate threats.

He said, “Vitol has been investing in high-quality carbon mitigating projects globally for over a decade, with a recent focus on sub-Saharan Africa.

“We are delighted to be partnering with NSIA to support Nigeria’s national efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through projects that address critical environmental and climate threats.

“The projects will have a clear focus on delivering social benefits, alongside the highest standards of carbon offsetting.

“Used appropriately as part of a comprehensive corporate energy transition strategy, offsetting will play a key role in meeting the Paris Climate Agreement objectives and contribute toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

Vitol is a leader in the energy sector with a presence across the spectrum from oil through to power, renewables and carbon.

It trades 7.6 million barrels per day of crude oil and products, and charters circa 6,200 ship voyages every year.

Vitol’s clients include national oil companies, multinationals, leading industrial companies and utilities.

Founded in Rotterdam in 1966, today Vitol serves clients from some 40 offices worldwide and is invested in energy assets globally including: 16 m m3 of storage globally, 500 k b/d of refining capacity, over 6,800 service stations and a growing portfolio of transitional and renewable energy assets. The company’s revenues in 2021 were $279bn.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/06/nsia-enters-into-50m-carbon-reduction-deal-with-netherland-firm-vitol/

Global streaming giant, Spotify, announced today that Nigerian singer-songwriter Simi has been selected as Spotify EQUAL Africa music programme ambassador for July. This announcement follows the release of her latest album, ‘TBH (To Be Honest)’ which came out in June.

Simi joins other Nigerian artists,Tiwa Savage, Ayra Starr, Asa, and FAVE to be part of EQUAL Africa, which aims to spotlight and amplify the voices of talented African female artists making waves in the music scene. She also becomes only the second African artist after Tiwa Savage to be named as an EQUAL Global and EQUAL Africa artist.

The Nigerian musician, sound engineer and actress, Simi Bolatito Ogunleye, started her musical journey as a chorister in church. Starting her musical career as a gospel singer, Simi released her debut studio album ‘Ogaju’ in 2008 before switching genres to Afro-pop. She came onto the public’s radar in 2014 after the release of the single, ‘TIFF’, which was nominated for Best Alternative Song at The Headies in 2015.

Her 2016 single, ‘Jamb Question’, was a massive hit, topping music charts for weeks. In 2020, Simi garnered even more buzz in the industry after she released her famous song, ‘Duduke’, which celebrated the birth of her daughter. ‘Duduke’ was one of the most played songs of the year in Nigeria, a further testament to Simi’s musical prowess.

“Striving and thriving as a woman in a male dominated industry has taken years of practice to master,” says Simi. “You go from being scared of it, to being intimidated by it, to being brave enough for it and then finally, to conquering it. I’ve almost always had to do way more than my male peers to prove myself. But, because of my love for music, I have been relentless and proud to do this work. I certainly hope, with all my heart, that the women who continue to come after me find it easier to shine in the way they deserve.”

Spotify welcomes Simi to the EQUAL programme which aims to foster gender equality and provide a platform to celebrate influential female artists. She joins a list of talented African women who are driving the culture and breaking through barriers in the music industry.

“We are proud to welcome Simi to the EQUAL programme, and we’re so excited to see where her talent continues to take her from strength to strength,” says Spotify’s head of music for sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu.

The EQUAL programme spans seven categories, which include the EQUAL Artists of the Month and the EQUAL local playlists. As the latest artist to join the EQUAL Africa and Global Music Programs, Simi will be featured on the EQUAL Africa and the EQUAL Global playlists.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/05/simi-named-latest-spotify-equal-africa-artist/

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) is currently optimizing its payment procedures for utmost efficiency and taxpayers’ convenience.

The Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Ayodele Subair, in a statement issued on Sunday, said the Agency, as part of its digitalization process, is discontinuing all previously used bill references effective from August 1st, 2022.

Consequently, according to the Chairman, only the Enterprise Tax Solutions (eTax), generated bill references will be acceptable for tax payments.

The eTax platform, which went live in October 2019, was launched by LIRS to engender seamless tax operations and reduce compliance costs to taxpayers. Since its launch, eTax has improved the effectiveness of tax administration in Lagos State.

Mr Subair added that the eTax was built as a one-stop shop for all tax transactions, and it is in the same spirit that the generation of bill references, required for all tax payments is now exclusive to the eTax platform.

He reiterated that by the cutoff date of August 1st, 2022, eTax would become the only authorized channel to generate bill reference for tax payments and other tax-related transactions in Lagos State.

To generate a bill reference on e-Tax, taxpayers can use the 5 easy steps below:

Visit the website through the source.
Input your Payer ID and password to log in
Select revenue type, and upload schedule (For PAYE & Withholding Taxes)
Generate a bill reference
Make a payment on any of the multiple channels available, using the generated bill reference.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/05/lirs-optimizes-payment-procedure-on-etax-for-taxpayers/

Ecobank the leading Pan-African Banking Group, has been named ‘Best Trade Finance Bank in West Africa’ at the prestigious Global Trade Review’s Leaders in Trade awards.


The award comes as recognition of Ecobank’s solutions for domestic and regional supply chain financing across key trade corridors as well as the bank’s arranger roles and participation in key soft commodities campaign financing across West Africa, notably covering cotton, cacao, soya beans and cashew nuts.

Ecobank’s offerings are supplemented by our state-of-the-art E-trade module under the Omni Plus platform. Our products are positioned to support both our Corporate and Investment Banking and SME customers in leveraging on the African Continental Free Trade Area’s opportunities and growing intra-African trade.





The judges also recognized Ecobank’s Trade Services solutions, which led the bank to commend significant market share on Letters of Credit across the continent, leveraging on its Paris-based affiliate, Ecobank International, for confirmations, payments, and discounts.

Souleymane Diagne, Group Head, Trade Finance, Ecobank, said: “As a Pan-African bank with the largest footprint across the continent, a major ambition of Ecobank is to be the preferred trade bank for SMEs and corporates across Africa. We are committed to enabling them to take advantage of the immense growth opportunities fostered by the game-changing African Continental Free Trade Area.

This accolade from Global Trade Review provides welcome recognition of the impact we are making through our suite of trade products and solutions, which include Structured Trade and Commodity Finance, Trade Services and Supply Chain Finance. For our customers and partners in West Africa and throughout sub-Saharan Africa, we are resolved to continue delivering value through our trade and multi-currency payments solutions, leveraging on our African expertise and our network’s advantage.”

Ecobank works closely with clients and leverages on partners within and outside Africa in reviewing key aspects of transactions dynamics, including settlement, financing, risk mitigation, credit enhancement, syndications and applicable regulations.





In their decision to declare Ecobank as Best Trade Finance Bank in West Africa, Global Trade Review’s judges took account of Ecobank’s full suite of trade products, services, impact and performance across Structured Trade and Commodities Finance, Supply Chain Financing and digital trade channels, in each of the 15 West African countries in which Ecobank operates.



The award announcement was made at Global Trade Review’s annual awards ceremony held in London last month.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/02/ecobank-named-best-trade-finance-bank-in-west-africa/

The World Bank has appointed Victoria Kwakwa as the new World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, effective today. Kwakwa, an economist and development expert with over 30 years of experience, will lead an active regional program including a financing portfolio of over 300 projects totaling more than $50 billion and extensive policy research and advice.

Under Kwakwa’s leadership, the World Bank will continue to provide vital support to countries as they face a series of complex, multifaceted challenges including the fall-out from the COVID-19 crisis, increasing climate shocks, food- and energy-fueled inflation, and rising debt levels. She will focus on support to economic recovery and transformation, private sector job creation, human capital development, climate resilience, agricultural productivity and food security, as well as access to critical infrastructure. The World Bank will also target efforts to reduce the drivers of fragility and conflict, improve gender equality and increase regional integration.

Kwakwa brings a wealth of development experience to the position, having worked on countries in Africa, and East Asia. In her most recent role as the World Bank’s Vice President for Corporate Strategic Initiatives, she worked closely with the World Bank Managing Director of Operations to enhance the Bank’s operational efficiency and impact. She also served as the Vice President for East Asia Pacific from April 2016 to September 2021, where she led the Bank’s engagement with 23 diverse clients on a wide range of development issues.

With a track record of putting people at the center of her work, Kwakwa is dedicated to bringing innovative approaches and financing to development to contribute to achieving a stable, integrated, and resilient region with dynamic economies and prosperous societies in which all citizens, notably women, children and youth enjoy equality of opportunity.

Kwakwa succeeds Hafez Ghanem, who retired from the World Bank on June 30, 2022.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/03/victoria-kwakwa-appointed-world-bank-vice-president-for-eastern-and-southern-africa/

Chief Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, a co-partner in New Age Mobile Concepts Limited, dealer of global power bank and mobile phone accessories and electronic devices, has relaunched the brand, with the unveiling of Nigerian music artist and producer, Don Jazzy, as the brand ambassador.

In a ceremony attended by several people, including celebrated artists, actors and actresses in Lekki, Lagos, recently, the CEO, New Age Mobile Concepts Ltd, Obi Cubana said the company decided to relaunch the brand because of what it represents in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector to satisfy the growing needs of Nigerian consumers with quality products and accessories.

According to him, “The New Age Power Bank is manufactured by New Age Mobile Concepts Ltd, the makers of New Age phone charger and other phone accessories.Currently, New Age Concepts Ltd is among top leading mobile accessories merchandising companies in Nigeria, offering high quality mobile accessories.’’

The businessman and entertainment guru said his company chose Don Jazzy as its brand ambassador because of what he represents in the music industry, his great followers and his fame.

This is coming few days after he launched a multi-billion-naira Golf City Estate in Abuja.

Speaking during the unveiling, Cubana said his business partnership with New Age Mobile is born out of his genuine and legitimate business around the world.

Obi Cubana Unveils Don Jazzy As Face Of New Age Mobile
“If you ever contemplate buying a power bank that is strong, well-matched with most mobile devices and possesses an inbuilt microcomputer automatic protection chip against overcharge or over voltage, then you can’t go wrong with New Age Power Bank.

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‘’As you have rightly known, smartphones consume lots of battery power because they have lots of applications as well as inbuilt processors for fast operations.

In order to ensure top-notch quality, New Age battery-powered devices are manufactured to be versatile, so it can work with any model and brand of phone and smart device,” Cubana said.

The Brand and Marketing Manager, New Age Mobile Concepts Limited, Mrs. Ijeoma Rhema Eze, said in 2004, the New Age brand was created and in 2008, New Age Mobile Concept Limited was incorporated and the first indigenous charger from New Age Mobile was launched that same year.

“In 2014, the first indigenous power bank from New Age Mobile Concepts was launched. In 2021, we launched other devices and mobile accessories.

In 2022, we launched new sets of power bank that can charge various devices. Our products, which include ear phones are durable, portable and first of its kind in Nigeria,” Eze said.

According to her, the power bank can charge a smartphone up to 10 times from 0-100 per cent full and can be relied upon.

The New Age Power Bank comes with different sizes, which include, New Age Pack 22500mah, 18500mah, 15600mah, 15000mah, 12500mAh and many others.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/07/04/obi-cubana-unveils-don-jazzy-as-face-of-new-age-mobile/

The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund on 24 June approved a technical assistance grant of $2 million to fund research that will contribute to electricity reforms in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The grant from the African Development Fund — the concessional window of the African Development Bank Group — will go to the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority. The ultimate objective is to stimulate cross-border electricity trade and improve energy access in the 15 countries in the region.

The project has five components. The first involves selecting electricity regulatory principles and key performance indicators from the African Development Bank’s flagship Electricity Regulatory Index for Africa report, to be adopted by the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority. As part of this component, the project will build capacity in member countries for collecting and reporting on these indicators on a common platform.

The second component will involve conducting a study in order to update a comparative analysis of electricity tariffs and their underlying drivers across the electricity value chain of ECOWAS.

The third involves developing a centralized database management system that will provide a platform for digitally collecting relevant energy information from member countries, storing, and disseminating them on a common digital platform.

The fourth component will assess and identify project bottlenecks and risks in ECOWAS member countries and recommend a coherent approach to progressively address ground-level barriers to investment in the power sector in pre- and post-establishment phases of the regional electricity market.

The final component focuses on program management and capacity building, which will be co-financed with the Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority. All components of the project will include gender-disaggregated data.

“Ultimately, this project will facilitate regional electricity trade and help improve access to electricity,” said Solomon Sarpong, project team leader at the African Development Bank. “It will address major causes of fragility, such as infrastructure bottlenecks, youth unemployment, environmental challenges, gender inequalities, and regional development imbalances.”

Established on 28 May 1975 via the Treaty of Lagos, ECOWAS is a regional organization that promotes economic integration in the constituting countries. ECOWAS consists of 15 countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Covering about 6.1 million km2, ECOWAS has an estimated population of 360 million people.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/06/29/african-development-fund-approves-2-million-technical-grant-to-boost-electricity-reforms/

The African Development Bank’s Board of Directors has approved the establishment of the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation, a new groundbreaking institution that will significantly enhance Africa’s access to the technologies that underpin the manufacture of medicines, vaccines, and other pharmaceutical products.

African Development Bank Group President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said: “This is a great development for Africa. Africa must have a health defense system, which must include three major areas: revamping Africa’s pharmaceutical industry, building Africa’s vaccine manufacturing capacity, and building Africa’s quality healthcare infrastructure.”

During the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa in February 2022, the continent’s leaders called on the African Development Bank to facilitate the establishment of the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation. Adesina, who presented the case for the institution to the African Union said: “Africa can no longer outsource the healthcare security of its 1.3 billion citizens to the benevolence of others.” With this bold initiative, the African Development Bank has made good on that commitment.

The decision is a major boost to the health prospects of a continent that has been battered for decades by the burden of several diseases and pandemics such as Covid19, but with very limited capacity to produce its own medicines and vaccines. Africa imports more than 70% of all the medicines it needs, gulping $14 billion per year.

Global efforts to rapidly expand the manufacturing of essential pharmaceutical products including vaccines in developing countries, particularly in Africa, to assure greater access, have been hampered by intellectual property rights protection and patents on technologies, know-how, manufacturing processes and trade secrets.

African pharmaceutical companies do not have the scouting and negotiation capacity, and bandwidth to engage with global pharmaceutical companies. They have been marginalized and left behind in complex global pharmaceutical innovations. Recently, 35 companies signed a license with America’s Merck to produce Nirmatrelvir, a Covid-19 drug. None of them was African.

No institution exists on the ground in Africa to support the practical implementation of Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) on non-exclusive or exclusive licensing of proprietary technologies, know-how and processes.

The African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation will fill this important and glaring gap. When fully established, it will be staffed with world-class experts on pharmaceutical innovation and development, intellectual property rights, and health policy; acting as a transparent intermediator advancing and brokering the interests of the African pharmaceutical sector with global and other Southern pharmaceutical companies to share IP-protected technologies, know-how and patented processes.

The African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation will prioritize technologies, products and processes focused primarily on diseases that are widely prevalent in Africa, including current and future pandemics. It will also build human and professional skills, the research and development ecosystem, and support upgrading of manufacturing plant capacities and regulatory quality to meet World Health Organization standards.

While the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation is being established under the auspices of the African Development Bank, it will operate independently and raise funds from various stakeholders including governments, development finance institutions, philanthropic organizations among others.

The Foundation will boost the African Development Bank’s commitment to spend at least $3 billion over the next 10 years to support the pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing sector under its Vision 2030 Pharmaceutical Action Plan. The Foundation’s areas of work will also be an asset to all other current investments into pharmaceutical production in Africa.

Rwanda will host the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation. A common benefits entity, the Foundation will have its own governance and operational structures. It will promote and broker alliances between foreign and African pharmaceutical companies.

The African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation will strengthen local pharmaceutical companies to engage in local production initiatives with systematic technology learning and technology upgrading at the plant level.

The Foundation will work with African governments, research and development centers of excellence to strengthen the regional pharmaceutical and vaccine innovation ecosystem for Africa and build skills of the kind needed for the pharmaceutical sector to flourish.

It will also promote closer coordination of the various ongoing medicines and vaccines’ manufacturing initiatives at the regional level to increase collaborative linkages, leverage synergies and partnerships in a pan-African context.

The African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation will work closely with the African Union Commission, European Union Commission, the World Health Organization, the Medicines Patent Pool, the World Trade Organization, philanthropic organizations, bilateral and multilateral agencies and institutions, and will foster collaboration between the public and private sectors in developed countries and developing countries.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/06/28/afdb-board-approves-foundation-to-transform-africas-pharmaceutical-industry/

Savannah Energy PLC, the British independent energy company focused around the delivery of Projects that Matter in Africa, is pleased to announce that Accugas Limited (“Accugas”), the Company’s 80% indirectly owned subsidiary, has commenced gas sales to Central Horizon Gas Company Limited (“CHGC”), a subsidiary of Axxela Limited (“Axxela”), and a major gas distribution company situated in the South-South region of Nigeria.

As previously announced in February 2022, Savannah signed an interruptible gas sales agreement (“GSA”) with CHGC to supply up to 5 MMscfpd daily for an initial one-year period. CHGC operates a 17km gas pipeline infrastructure network with a throughput capacity of 50 MMscfpd, which provides natural gas to industrial and commercial customers in the Trans Amadi Industrial Area of Port Harcourt as well as the Greater Port Harcourt Area, Nigeria.

CHGC is majority owned and controlled by Axxela, which delivers natural gas to over 185 industrial and commercial customers via its gas infrastructure network across cities in Nigeria including Lagos and Port Harcourt.

Andrew Knott, CEO of Savannah Energy, said:“We are very pleased to have operationalised our gas sales agreement with CHGC, our third new customer facility we have connected with this year. The rapid progress we have made to diversify and increase Accugas’ customer base since acquiring the business has been significant. I would like to thank and commend the Accugas and CHGC/Axxela teams for having worked together so well to achieve the first gas sales milestone so quickly after GSA signature.”

Commenting on behalf of Axxela, Chief Executive Officer, Bolaji Osunsanya, said: “This interruptible gas sales agreement reinforces our continued commitment to be the energy partner of choice to our customers. We believe that with this partnership, CHGC can further provide flexibility and supply assurance to our growing customer base within the Greater Port Harcourt area and its environs”.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/06/27/savannah-energy-commences-first-gas-sales-to-the-central-horizon-gas-company-ltd/