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 Business › Seplat Petroleum Records 6.5% Revenue Decline In 2019 by postbox(op): 9:28am On Mar 23, 2020 |
Lagos and London, 23 March 2020: Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc (“Seplat” or the “Company”), a leading Nigerian independent oil and gas company listed on both the Nigerian Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange, today announces its audited results for the financial year ended 31 December 2019. Highlights Financial Revenue of US$698 million down 6.5% on lower production and oil price Profit before deferred tax of US$270 million, up 13.4% Total capital expenditure of US$125 million, US$114 million on oil and gas assets Cash flow from operations US$338 million Cash at bank US$333 million Final dividend maintained at US$0.05 per share Operational The low unit cost of production at US$6.20/boe Working interest production 46,498 boepd in line with 2019 revised guidance of 45,000 – 48,000 boepd Liquids production of 23,935 bopd Gas production of 131 MMscfd FID was taken for 300MMscfd ANOH gas processing facility; first gas now expected Q4 2021 Landmark acquisition of Eland Oil & Gas PLC Increases Seplat’s WI liquids production by 9Kbopd, increases WI 2P liquids reserves by 36MMbbls Loan due from Elcrest to Eland of US$414 million at year-end; loan maturity 31 December 2024 Adds upside potential from unappraised discoveries e.g. Amobe, plus new export routes Eland achieved a record day’s WI liquids production of 17 kbopd on 17 March 2020. Outlook Expected production of 47-57 kboepd (inc. Eland 6-10kbopd) for full year, subject to market conditions 1.5MMbbls/quarter hedged at US$45/bbl from Q1 to Q3 2020 Significant cash balance available Low cost of production enables profitability at levels below the current oil price 2020 expected CAPEX of US$100 million; US$50 million of which spent in YTD. Manage 2020 drilling programme to suit market conditions and preserve liquidity, minimum of three wells Austin Avuru, Chief Executive Officer, said: “As we enter a challenging phase for the global economy, Seplat will benefit from being a resilient company built on the solid foundations of prudent financial management and the careful mitigation of risk. We have previously been tested by crisis. We successfully navigated the twin challenges of the 2014/2015 oil price shock, which was immediately followed by the 16-month Trans Forcados shut-in, which drastically reduced our liquids production. Thanks to our flexibility in managing cash flows we emerged a stronger and better-funded company, ready to take advantage of new opportunities. Compared to those difficult periods, today’s Seplat has more cash on its balance sheet and is even more robust and diversified thanks to our continuing investments in gas, with its long-term contracts and independence from oil price volatility. We are a low-cost producer and will continue to manage our finances prudently. With the recent addition of Eland and the availability of new pipelines, our oil business is broadening and derisking its production fields and routes to market to assure even greater security of revenues in the future. In the coming year, we will focus our investment only on the highest-returning projects, whilst carefully balancing our future needs with prevailing market realities. The challenges before us may be significant, but we are confident that the resilience and discipline of our business will help us consolidate our position as Nigeria’s leading independent oil and gas producer.” The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first quarter of 2020, as well as pressure on oil prices in March, have placed a premium on solid financial management that focuses upon low-cost production, robust cash management, a strong balance sheet and focused investment in high-return projects for sustainable future growth. The business is hedged against low oil prices and a significant proportion of our revenues now come from gas, which offers further protection from oil price volatility. The Company has low production costs and can remain profitable even at lower oil prices. We have significant cash resources available and will manage our finances prudently in 2020, expecting now to invest just US$100 million of capital expenditure (US$50 million spent in Q1 2020), with a target of three new wells across our portfolio. We will also continue to focus on our investments in gas and the completion of the ANOH project remains a major priority. At present we are targeting 2020 production of between 47-57 kboepd, including Eland production of 6-10 kbopd, subject to continuous evacuation is possible. Seplat has been tested in previous adverse conditions and we are confident that the stronger and more diverse business we operate today will be even more resilient against these unprecedented market events. The integration of Eland Oil & Gas PLC will position the Group strongly when the market recovers and we are pleased to report that on 17 March 2020, OML 40 produced a record 17 kbopd as recorded by its LACT. We remain optimistic about our long-term growth and success. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/23/seplat-petroleum-grows-profit-by-152-6-to-n37b-in-h119-2/ |
| Health › COVID-19: Lagos State Goverment Seals Four Event Centres by postbox(op): 9:17am On Mar 23, 2020 |
Following Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive on the ban of public gatherings above 50 people, a combined team of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and Lagos State Safety Commission has sealed Prime Mall Mega Plaza located in Lekki and three other event centres for flouting the state government’s directive. Worried by growing cases of the deadly Coronavirus, Governor Sanwo-Olu, had on Friday banned public gatherings of over 50 people as part of measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor had also warned religious bodies, families, residents, academics, professionals and other categories of residents to desist from any gathering, saying that the law enforcement agencies would be deployed to ensure compliance. Speaking during the enforcement exercise, the General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, who led the enforcement team alongside the Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, said that safety of Lagosians is paramount to the government. She stated that it was gratifying to note that most event centres complied with the directive, unlike some others like Regency, Martinos Events & Suites, Imperial and Prime Mall Mega Plaza that were sealed for contravening the directive. According to her “The banning of public/social gathering by the government became imperative to save our dear State and prevent our people from contacting the Coronavirus. COVID-19 has become a global pandemic, therefore serious measures such as this must be taken to reduce the spread and further stem the outbreak. “It’s advisable, we adopt social distancing, by keeping at least six feet distance between ourselves and others to prevent transmitting the virus seamlessly. For now, let us avoid crowds and large gatherings such as weddings, concerts, sporting events, conferences and so forth”. “We are not unmindful of the implications of the restrictions, but it is crucial we collectively limit and control the spread. Lagos State is not in isolation, it’s a global pandemic; therefore, this enforcement is in line with our determination to suppress and push it back for the safety of all”, she emphasised. Fasawe averred that the monitoring and enforcement exercise was not to impose hardship on anyone but to assess the compliance level, educate the public on the need to obey and ensure total compliance while appealing for understanding and support of all and sundry at this delicate period. On his part, the Director-General of the Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, expressed satisfaction with the monitoring exercise and enjoined the public to support the government in its fight against the menace. He said the war on the deadly virus could only be won if everyone obeys directives and avoids acts or activities that could put everyone at risk, stressing that Lagosians should endeavour to keep their environment clean, wash their hands regularly and avoid unnecessary contact with people as advised by the State government. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/23/covid-19-lagos-begins-enforcement-of-directive-on-public-gatherings-seals-four-event-centres/
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| Business › Zenith Bank Commiserates With Sanwo-Olu On Abule-Ado Explosion, Donates ₦100M by postbox(op): 4:08pm On Mar 20, 2020 |
Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria’s leading financial institution, has donated N100 million to the Emergency Relief Fund set up by the Lagos State Government for the victims of the Abulo-Edo explosion.https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/20/zenith-bank-commiserates-with-sanwo-olu-on-abule-ado-explosion-donates-n100m-support-to-emergency-relief-fund/ 13 Likes 1 Share
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| Travel › Lagos Bus Services Limited Commutes 10 Million Passengers In 10 Months (photos) by postbox(op): 9:21am On Mar 20, 2020 |
Lagos Bus Services Limited, LBSL, has hit a milestone in its mandate of transporting Lagosians across the metropolis with a recent disclosure by its Managing Director, Mr. Idowu Oguntona, that LBSL has successfully commuted 10 million passengers within the last 10 months of operations. Addressing newsmen on the development during a short ceremony at its Ojodu-Berger Station, the Managing Director said that the organisation is not resting on its oars to the provision of effective, efficient and smooth transportation to residents of the State in a very convenient manner. According to Oguntona, the feat could not have been achieved without Lagosians who made the company their choice among other available options of transportation. He also attributed the choice of LBSL to the comfortable buses and courteous disposition of the company staff and officials. While commending residents of the State who have embraced pool ride with the company’s fleet instead of driving their personal vehicles, Oguntona appealed to other citizens to consider riding in the buses to decongest traffic on Lagos roads. “For us at Lagos Bus Services Limited, we are not yet where we want to be, but this feat we are celebrating is just a way of acknowledging the support of the commuting Lagosians who believe in us and trust our services. This explains why the patronage for our services keeps on increasing on a daily basis”, Oguntona stated. Giving an analysis of locations with very high density, the Managing Director identified Ojodu, Berger, Tafawa Balewa Square and Oshodi Stations as high commuting points. He acknowledged that the services rendered by the company had been instrumental to easing commuting bottlenecks across the State, saying that routes that require more attention have been identified. “In the last ten months, we have made appreciable progress, just as we have equally identified some gaps. To us, this is not unexpected because we rely on feedback in our quest to meet and surpass the yearnings and expectations of our customers”, he said. Speaking against the backdrop of the COVID-19 in the State and the need for relevant organisations to embrace precautionary measures, Oguntona disclosed that the company is putting in place necessary parameters to minimise exposure to the virus in the buses. In his words, ” As we speak now, the use of sanitisers in all our stations is now compulsory; this is in addition to the provision of thermometers at each station to check passengers’ temperatures before boarding. This is part of our new initiative to contain the spread of this virus and ensure that users of LBSL are safe and protected always”. “Apart from this, we have educated our staff and we are extending the same information and sensitisation to our users on how to be safe on our buses. We ensure our buses are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected regularly and we advocate general hygiene for everyone”, he added. While soliciting for continued patronage by residents, Oguntona assured of improved services going forward. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/20/lagos-bus-services-limited-commutes-10-million-passengers-in-10-months/
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| Business › Zinox Gets Another Feather In Its Cap, Bags Coveted SON Certificate by postbox(op): 9:01am On Mar 20, 2020 |
Zinox Technologies Limited, Sub-Saharan Africa’s foremost technology company, has bagged the coveted Quality Management Systems (QMS) certificate of the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON). Equally important, Zinox was issued the certificate on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. The certification confers an unerring mark of quality on the various products and solutions under the Zinox stable, for implementing and maintaining a management system that conforms to the globally-recognized requirements of SON’s applicable management system standards. The certificate was received by General Managers, Uche Onyechere and Mrs Chioma Nwoke, accompanied by other Management staff of Zinox. Presenting the certificate, Deputy Director, Management System Certification at SON, Mr Richard Adewunmi, praised the quality orientation behind the Zinox brand. Further, he urged the company to continue on the path of quality in its effort to contribute its quota to technological development in Nigeria and beyond. Explaining why the certification is important, Adewunmi stated that deserving companies are awarded the QMS only after such companies must have met the QMS requirements and undergone the vigorous SON mandatory conformity assessment tests. He added that such acts go a long way in ensuring that only genuine technology solutions find their ways into the hands of end-users and consumers. Meanwhile, Managing Director, Zinox, Mrs Kelechi Eze-Okonta has expressed her delight at the development, even as she disclosed that the certificate was a reaffirmation that Zinox was on the right track. She added that Zinox was the first indigenous computer hardware manufacturing company to receive the ISO 9001 2000 for standardization and quality assurance, a disposition that is corporate culture and mission. Further, she reiterated that Zinox would not relent in its efforts to ensure that Nigerians and Africans have access to affordable and genuine technology products and solutions. Mrs. Eze-Okonta said: “The certification gladdens our hearts. It shows that Zinox is consistent on the path of quality. This mark of quality has remained evident in our products and services. “The SON QMS is one of the several certifications Zinox has received over the years since we started out. We are grateful to our teeming customers and other stakeholders for their continued patronage. We pledge to remain the preferred company of choice and assure them of committed services.’’ Nigeria’s first internationally recognized Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Zinox Technologies Limited, has been at the forefront of leading the ICT revolution in Nigeria. For over 18 years, Zinox has been Nigeria’s IT identity, delivering a suite of cutting-edge but affordable technological solutions, which include high-end personal computers (PCs), laptops, power service, servers, workstations and a host of IT solutions. Recently, the foremost tech company has diversified into the lifestyle consumer market, with the iTEC brand which has won the hearts of a growing audience with a range of lifestyle and home & kitchen appliances including TV sets, generators, electric kettles, microwaves, toasters, coffee makers and sandwich makers, among others. Zinox, which has forged close alliances with other global OEMs, has worked assiduously with multinationals and other reputable local organizations, such as Shell, Chevron, Total, the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Ministry of Education over the years in a bid to decentralize technology to the Nigerian market and beyond. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/19/zinox-gets-another-feather-in-its-cap-bags-coveted-son-certificate/
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| Business › Frieslandcampina To Acquire PZ Cussons’ Nutricima Dairy Business by postbox(op): 5:09pm On Mar 19, 2020 |
UK consumer goods giant PZ Cussons has announced the proposed sale of its Nigerian dairy business Nutricima to an affiliate of Dutch dairy firm FrieslandCampina. PZ Cussons said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange, on which it is listed, that it has exchanged contracts for the sale of the assets associated with Nutricima’s business to FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria. Under Nigerian law, completion of the transaction is subject to merger clearance in the country. Financial details relating to the transaction have not been disclosed. PZ Cussons has also completed the sale of its Polish personal care brand, Luksja, to Athens-based personal care company, Sarantis Group. Caroline Silver, executive chair of PZ Cussons, said: “The proposed sale of Nutricima and the sale of Luksja are further steps forward under our ‘focus, scale and accelerate’ strategy as we continue to streamline the group to focus investment on core personal care and beauty brands. This will enable us to deliver higher-margin earnings geographies which can scale, and support the return of the group to sustainable, profitable growth.” In October, just-food reported that PZ Cussons was mulling options for a number of its dairy businesses including Nutricima. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/19/frieslandcampina-to-acquire-pz-cussons-nutricima-dairy-business/
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| Politics › FG Releases ₦20 Billion For The East-West Road Project by postbox(op): 10:47am On Mar 19, 2020 |
The Federal Government has released the sum of N20billion, to fast track the completion of the East-West Road Project.https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/19/fg-releases-n20billion-for-the-east-west-road-project/ 11 Likes 2 Shares
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| Health › How Can I Prevent My Child From Covid-19? by postbox(op): 10:37am On Mar 19, 2020 |
As the Covid-19 continues to spread across the world, parents are concerned, more than anything else, about the welfare of their kids. Although reports show that the elderly and people with underlying health conditions are more vulnerable to the disease. But the big question is, how can parents protect their kids from the disease? The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has the answer: Q: How can I protect my child from COVID-19 infection? You can encourage your child to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by teaching them to do the same things everyone should do to stay healthy. Clean hands often using soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer Avoid people who are sick (coughing and sneezing) Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in household common areas (e.g. tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets, sinks) Launder items including washable plush toys as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely. Dirty laundry from an ill person can be washed with other people’s items. As a parent or educator, we know you’re also dealing with the challenges caused by COVID-19. This is a trying period, and we’re committed to supporting you in every way possible. We’ll get through this together and emerge more formidable than ever before. Let’s keep safe! SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/19/how-can-i-prevent-my-child-from-corona-virus-covid-19/
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| Politics › Global Firepower Index 2020: Nigeria Moves Up To 42nd Rank In Military Power by postbox(op): 12:15pm On Mar 18, 2020 |
Nigeria has been ranked 42nd (PwrIndx rating of 0.6485) most powerful military in the world in 2020 with a significant improvement compared to its 44th position in 2019, according to the Global Firepower Index which provides latest data on 138 military powers. The gain may not be surprising after all as Nigeria’s capital expenditure’s share in the defense budget increased from 9.8% in 2015 to 26.6% in 2019 and expected to increase at a CAGR of 6.55% to reach US$2.2 billion by 2024 according to apnews.com. Key findings from the report showed the following: Manpower (Total Population: 203,452,505, Available Manpower: 77,108,499, Active Personnel: 120,000) Airpower (Total strength: 129, Total Helicopters: 44, Total Attack Helicopters: 15, Dedicated Attack: 13, Fighters:  Land Forces (Tanks: 253, Armoured Vehicles: 1,789, Self-Propelled Artillery: 25, Towed Artillery: 339, Rocket Projectors: 36) Naval Forces (Total Assets: 75, Patrol: 100, Mine Warfare: 2) Natural Resources (Oil Production: 1,946,000 bbl, Oil Consumption: 275,000 bbl, Proven Oil Reserves: 37,060,000,000 bbl) Logistics (Labour Force: 60,080,000, Merchant Marine Strength: 576, Serviceable Airports: 54) Financials (Defense Budget: 2,155,000,000 USD) Geography (Land Area: 923,768 km2, Coastline Coverage: 853 km, Usable Waterways: 8600 km) In Africa, Egypt remains the continent’s leading military power and the 9th in the world followed by Algeria (28th in the world), South Africa (29th in the world), Nigeria (42nd in the world) and Angola coming 5th in Africa (56th in the world). Read: African Development Bank welcomes Fitch’s affirmation of AAA Rating: Driven by extraordinary shareholder support Globally, the top 5 of the world’s largest military powers remain dominated by the United States (0.0606), followed by Russia (0.0682), China (0.0691), India (0.0953) and Japan (0.1501). The Global Firepower ranking utilizes over 50 individual factors to determine a given nation’s PowerIndex (‘PwrIndx’) score with categories ranging from military might, natural resources, finances, logistical capability, and geography. The ranking is based on the nation’s potential war-making capability across the land, sea, and air fought by conventional means. According to the “power index”, a perfect score a 0.0000 which is realistically unattainable in the scope of the current GFP formula; the smaller the PwrIndx value, the more powerful a nation’s theoretical fighting capability. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/18/global-firepower-index-2020-nigeria-moves-up-to-42nd-rank-in-military-power/
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| Health › COVID-19: FG Postpones National Sports Festival by postbox(op): 12:03pm On Mar 18, 2020 |
The 20th National Sports Festival billed to flag off in Benin City, Edo State, this weekend has been postponed. The Minister for Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, made the announcement on Tuesday via his official Twitter handle. The minister, who had earlier revealed that the sports ministry was meeting with the counterparts in the health ministry, confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate postponement of the biannual multi-sporting event to a later date yet to be decided. He wrote: “President Mohammadu Buhari approves the postponement of the National Sports Festival Edo 2020 as a precautionary move against COVID-19 spread. “Following the briefing from myself and the health Minister. “Following the briefing of Mr. President from myself and the Minister of State for Health on COVID 19, Mr President approved the immediate postponement of Edo Sports festival to a future date.” Before this official announcement, there had been calls in different quarters to postpone the National Sports Festival due to the ravaging coronavirus pandemic. According to the organizers, about 11,000 athletes and their officials had declared readiness to participate in this edition tagged Edo 2020. The National Sports Festival was designed to showcase the best athletes in the country, from elite to up-and-coming, exceptionally gifted, young athletes discovered from every nook and cranny of Nigeria, across all Olympic sports, in a festival of healthy competition, cultural exchange, unity, love, and friendship in the true spirit and tradition of the Olympic movement. The three main objectives for establishing the games were to develop and showcase Nigeria’s best in all sports, to unite the youths of the country. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/17/covid-19-fg-postpones-national-sports-festival/
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| Education › Aladumo School Wins Spelling Bee For The 5th Time (photos) by postbox(op): 2:10pm On Mar 16, 2020 |
Michelle Michael-Orwu of Aladumo International School has emerged the 2020 Winner of the prestigious Rotary Club of Trans-Amadi Spelling Bee competition. The Grade 6 pupil won the competition after several stages that saw 975 pupils from 325 primary schools across Rivers State participated. Aladumo International School made history with her pupil emerging winner of the competition for the fifth consecutive year. All three participants from Aladumo School qualified for the Grand Finale where Michelle Dakare and Ojiezele Anegbode dropped at the 17th and 19th rounds taking the 6th and 4th positions respectively. Determined and focused all through the competition, Michelle Michael-Orwu put up a strong spirited fight and continued valiantly to the 23rd round, spelling the word of her contender ICHTHYOPHAGIST and her winning word, INTERREGNUM to be crowned Queen Bee, 2020. The Director and Head of Schools, Lolia Ogan applauded Michelle for her determination to win and make the school proud. In her words “For you to win a spelling bee contest, you not only have to learn to spell at least 5,000 strange words correctly, but you also must know their meanings, be able to identify and decipher their homophones when used in sentences. Additionally, you must have really good comprehension skills and be able to remain calm under immense pressure. Most importantly, you must reverence the Almighty who gifts you with the mettle required to study as you ought in order that He alone can crown your effort with great success.”. She added that Aladumo will continue to prepare her pupils for competitions like this and make sure they stand out among their peers. “Aladumo is a great school with great faculty and courageous and willing learners. We have won this contest 5 years in a row since 2016, and broken even our own record. The parents have been very supportive. God is our strength,” Michelle said. Aladumo celebrates 33 years of Impactful learning, founded by the veteran teacher and one-time Inspector of Education and Commissioner in Rivers State, Rev. Dr. Favour Ngor Ogan. The Spelling Bee competition was initiated by the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi when the current Rotary District Governor, Dr. Nze Anizor was President of the Rotary Club, Trans-Amadi. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/16/aladumo-school-wins-spelling-bee-for-the-5th-time-photos/
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| Health › Qualitas To Provide COVID-19 Mobile Home Sampling by postbox(op): 12:41pm On Mar 16, 2020 |
SELANGOR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 13 March 2020 – In response to the recent outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) worldwide, homegrown and leading primary healthcare provider, Qualitas Medical Group (“Qualitas”) has introduced the Qualitas COVID-19 Screening Programme where individuals or organisations potentially at risk, are able to be tested within their respective homes or offices. The programme is endorsed by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia, (“MOH”), and in collaboration with DoctorOnCall as well as Clinipath (M) Sdn Bhd (“Clinipath”), an MOH accredited lab for COVID-19 screening. In introducing the Qualitas COVID-19 Screening Programme, YBhg. Dato’ Dr Noorul Ameen Bin Mohamed Ishack, Chairman and Managing Director of Qualitas said, “At Qualitas, we believe in providing holistic and comprehensive solutions for the general public. Through the Qualitas COVID-19 Screening Programme, patients can utilise the tele-medicine platform thereby reducing the risks of exposure of COVID-19. The high-risk patients are not required to leave their home as Qualitas’ medically-qualified sampling team will conduct a home visit to collect samples for lab processing. Results will be shared with patients verbally and by email once the test result is ready.“ Public can obtain more information and access to the Qualitas COVID-19 Screening Programme by logging on to www.qualitas.com.my, call the Qualitas Hotline at 03-7964 6363 (ext. 6309) or via the following steps: 1. Get in touch with a medical professional on DoctorOnCall A preliminary consultation session can be conducted through the DoctorOnCall Health Advisory portal, which is already available on the MOH’s website (Tanya Doktor — http://www.moh.gov.my/index.php/pages/view/2019-ncov-wuhan). Through this platform, patients will have complimentary access to Qualitas doctors who have been assigned to provide professional advice and evaluate the need for COVID-19 screening if a patient is determined to be at high-risk, based on the MOH guidelines. 2. Get Tested at Home If the patient is determined as a high-risk patient, the patient will then be advised to undergo screening at their homes, whereby a sampling team will be deployed to the patient’s home to collect samples for lab processing. The tests will then be carried out by Clinipath. The results of the sampling will be shared to the patient verbally and via email within 24 hours. 3. If You’re Tested Positive — Next Steps If the patient is tested positive, the assigned Qualitas doctor will advise the patient on the next steps for further management, as per the MOH guidelines. About Qualitas Medical Group Qualitas Medical Group was founded in 1997, and is now one of Malaysia’s largest network of General Practice (GP) clinics with more than 140 GP clinics, dental clinics and ambulatory care centre. Together with its presence in Singapore and Australia, the Group is supported by over 1,700 medical doctors, dentists and supporting personnel, backed by a network of over 250 medical clinics, dental clinics (including a dental laboratory) and medical imaging centres. With over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Qualitas delivers cost-effective and quality primary healthcare services to the community comprising GP (general practice), dental and medical imaging services. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/16/qualitas-to-provide-covid-19-mobile-home-sampling-2/
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| Agriculture › IITA BIP Team Sets New Production Per Hectare Record For Yam Farmers In Nigeria by postbox(op): 11:29am On Mar 16, 2020 |
The Business Incubation Platform (BIP) of IITA has set a new record of 23 t/ha for yam production in Nigeria. This record, which was achieved through a controlled trial, has been set to guide farmers in achieving increased yields from their yam farms. Yam is the common name for plant species of the genus Dioscorea and an annual root tuber-bearing plant with more than 600 species. Some of these species are water yam (Dioscorea alata), white yam (D. rotundata), yellow yam (D. cayennensis), lesser yam (D. esculenta) and three-leaf yam (D. dumetorum). Nigeria is the largest producer of yam in the world, followed by Ghana, Côte D’Ivoire, Benin, Togo, and Cameroon. Traditional yam producing areas have been experiencing a decline in yam production due to declining soil fertility, poor yam plantlets, increasing pest pressures, and the high cost of labor. The IITA-BIP decided to work on a controlled trial with the aim of realizing higher yam yield and assist farmers in achieving the same in their farms. The trial was handled by Paul Ajayi, Agronomist at IITA GoSeed, a unit that is focused on producing early generation seed in Nigeria, and supported by Ryo Matsumoto, IITA Yam Agronomist. The planting was done in April 2019 and harvested 8 months later, in November. In an interview with Victor Saleh, Communication Executive at the IITA-BIP, Ajayi mentioned that they were able to harvest 23 t/ha, which is far higher than the average production of 13.1 t/ha in Nigeria. He went further to say that it’s possible for farmers to harvest 18-20 t/ha on average if good agronomic practices are followed. During the interview, Matsumoto and Ajayi mentioned that farmers have low yield because they lack correct and adequate information about yam production. Issues of availability and accessibility to quality and improved seed yam as planting material; and lack of adequate knowledge on good agronomic practices involved in yam production have been a barrier to better production for farmers. The agronomists also highlighted key pre-planting, planting, and post-planting measures that can help farmers achieve this great yield. They include proper land preparation, treatment of planting material, mulching, staking, timely and adequate fertilizer application, proper weed management, and other daily operational routines. They further advised that yam farmers who intend to have a bumper harvest every season should go for training on yam production to acquire the right knowledge and skills in yam farming, get quality plantlets, and adopt good agronomic practices for maximum yield. The BIP team is open to collaboration on projects that involve commercial yam production. Quality yam plantlets for seed production can be obtained from IITA-BIP-GoSeed. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/16/iita-bip-team-sets-new-production-per-hectare-record-for-yam-farmers-in-nigeria/ 1 Like 1 Share
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| Celebrities › Re: Anthony Joshua Gets Fight-ready With Bespoke Range Rover SVAutobiography -photos by postbox(op): 10:48am On Mar 16, 2020 |
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| Celebrities › Anthony Joshua Gets Fight-ready With Bespoke Range Rover SVAutobiography -photos by postbox(op): 10:44am On Mar 16, 2020 |
Bespoke luxury SUV will chauffeur the heavyweight world champion to his next fight, against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in London on 20 June. *Bespoke by design: Range Rover SVAutobiography long-wheelbase with many exclusive elements was produced to the world heavyweight boxing champion’s precise specification *Hand-crafted quality: One-off model has Joshua’s signature stitched into the headrests, an AJBXNG plaque, the boxer’s family crest and illuminated treadplates bearing his name *Star quality: World heavyweight champion took delivery of the unique model at Finchley Boxing Club in Barnet, north London, where he first trained *Elegant refinement: See Joshua take his first ride in the specially commissioned luxury SUV on the streets where he grew up 11 March 2020, Whitley, UK – Land Rover has created a one-off Range Rover SVAutobiography for world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua OBE. The bespoke luxury SUV made its world premiere outside the Finchley Boxing Club in Barnet, north London, where Joshua started his journey to the world heavyweight title and will transport the reigning champion to his next title defense this summer. A series of unique details set Joshua’s luxury SUV apart, with the boxer’s four world heavyweight championship titles recognized alongside his family crest on a special B-pillar badge. The circular design is engraved with the IBF, WBA, WBO, and IBO initials while Joshua’s signature is embroidered on the headrests of all four seats inside. Joshua has just confirmed details of his next fight, against Bulgarian challenger Kubrat Pulev at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on 20 June. His specially commissioned Range Rover SVAutobiography long wheelbase will make his ride to the fight as comfortable as possible. “THE COUNTDOWN TO MY NEXT FIGHT HAS BEGUN AND THIS CUSTOM RANGE ROVER WILL PLAY ITS PART IN THE BUILD-UP. WITH FAMILY AND MEDIA COMMITMENTS HERE IN LONDON AND MY TRAINING BASE IN SHEFFIELD, I SPEND LOTS OF TIME ON THE ROAD. THE SVAUTOBIOGRAPHY WILL TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF LONG TRIPS, ALLOWING ME TO RELAX IN COMPLETE COMFORT, AND ITS UNIQUE DESIGN FEATURES BOTH MY FAMILY CREST AND REFERENCES TO MY BOXING SUCCESS AND I HAVE TO THANK THE TEAM AT LAND ROVER VEHICLE PERSONALISATION FOR TAKING MY IDEAS AND MAKING THEM REAL.” ANTHONY JOSHUA OBE The unique model features distinctive Bespoke Black paintwork with a matching roof and door mirrors while a Graphite Atlas front grille, side vent graphics, and door handles maintain the stealthy appearance. Purposeful 22-inch split-spoke alloy wheels with a Diamond Turned Finish and contrasting Red brake calipers complete the exterior, with the Union Flag badges on the front fender vents bearing the number 258 – a subtle reference to Joshua’s management company. Opening the doors reveals a circular B-pillar badge bearing Joshua’s family crest. The Ebony Windsor Leather seats with Pimento quilted inserts and contrast stitch continue the purposeful theme of the exterior. Custom details help to identify the famous owner of the one-off SVAutobiography, each specially developed by the expert designers and craftsmen and women at Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations. These include a commissioning plaque on the center console bearing the AJBXNG graphic and personalized illuminated treadplates. The aluminum trim finisher on the dashboard has also been engraved with Joshua’s name while the interior door handles have been etched with a unique boxing glove motif. Joshua’s signature is embroidered on the headrests in contrasting Pimento stitching. The SVAutobiography features 24-way adjustable front seats with Executive Class Comfort-Plus airline-style rear seats with heated calf rest and hot stone massage function for the first-class luxury on every trip. Power comes from a 565PS V8 Supercharged engine for smooth power delivery and peerless refinement. Joshua can control the latest Touch Pro Duo infotainment using either the central front touchscreens or when traveling in the rear, from the 10-inch Rear Entertainment Screens mounted in the front headrests. All Range Rover SVAutobiography models are hand-finished at the Special Vehicle Operations Technical Centre in Coventry and the vehicle personalization team helps customers to specify their own unique commission, working with a Land Rover designer. To find out more, click here SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/16/world-heavyweight-champion-anthony-joshua-gets-fight-ready-with-bespoke-range-rover-svautobiography/
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| Business › Capital Importation Data: Nigeria No Longer Attractive For Long Term Investment by postbox(op): 8:09am On Mar 15, 2020 |
In the week under review, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released Nigeria’s capital importation data for Q4 2019 which revealed some trends about foreign investors’ perception of the Nigerian economy. According to the data, though Nigeria’s overall Capital Importation in 2019 rose by 42.69% to $23.99bn from $16.81bn in the preceding year, a close analysis of the data shows that foreign investors are less willing to take long term investment position. Specifically, while the size of Capital Importation into Equity and Bond based Portfolio Investments (FPI) and Loan based Other Investments rose by 5.75% y/y and 75.34% y/y respectively to $1.02bn (from $966.82mn) and $6.69bn (from $3.82bn) in 2019, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), a measure of foreign investors long term investment commitment to the Nigeria economy contracted by 21.79% to $934.34mn from $1.19bn in 2018. Interestingly, for a country like Nigeria with poor infrastructure, high poverty and unemployment rates, and weak fiscal buffer, a rapid growth in FDI is what is most desirous to achieve accelerated growth as against the latter (FPI and Other Investments) which are mostly “Hot money”. While the strong increase in both FPI and loan based Other Investments components can be attributed to the high-interest rate/yield environment in Nigeria (as against quantitative easing in most advanced economies in 2019) and increased issuance of foreign-denominated debt instruments by both the Nigerian government and local corporates in the reviewed period, we believe the drivers of the weak FDI inflows may not be unconnected with pre-election jitters in H1 2019, lack of stimulus fiscal policy to support rapid growth desired for long term investment commitment, rising cases of insecurity (now spreading to the southern part of the country), and weak external buffers to maintain exchange rate stability. In terms of the sector of interest to the foreign investors, we noticed significant increase in capital inflows into Hotels (up 5,815% y/y to $27.80mn from $0.47mn in 2018), Telecoms (up 725% y/y to $944.05mn from $114.43mn in 2018), Brewery (up 528% y/y to $30.16mn from $4.81mn in 2018), Finance (up 322% y/y to $6.28bn from $1.49bn in 2018), Trading (up 306% y/y to $534.52mn from $131.56mn in 2018) and Banking (up 279% y/y to $7.66bn from $1.95bn), while inflows decreased in Drilling (down by 99.23% y/y to $0.07mn), Construction (down by 51% y/y to $26.31mn), Shares (down by 49% y/y to $5.34bn) and Servicing (down by 29% y/y to $915.51mn). With the near weak state of Nigeria’s foreign buffer (now $36bn) due to decline in crude oil price and concern on the impact of coronavirus on businesses, we expect Nigeria to witness a decline in overall Capital Importation in Q1 2020, with most effect been on Foreign Direct Investment. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/14/61804/ |
| Business › Airtel Customers To Get Up To N100, 000, 000 In Cash Reward by postbox(op): 5:06pm On Mar 13, 2020 |
Every customer of leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, now stands a chance of winning amazing cash rewards as the company announces its new CashToken rewards under the “The AirtelThanks” program. AirtelThanks rewards customers with multiple tiered service benefits which include Invites to Special events, Birthday appreciation gifts, Priority Service access, Personalized Relationship Management, among other benefits. CashToken Rewards is being offered as a new feature in the AirtelThanks program. Customers are now eligible for cash tokens that can be used to buy airtime and data as well as make purchases across 300 merchants. Each CashToken offered means guaranteed cash-back and automatic qualification for the National CashToken draw with a chance to win from N5,000 (Five Thousand Naira) to N100,000, 000 (One Hundred Million Naira) weekly. The weekly draws are televised every Saturday at 9.30 pm on AIT on the National CashToken Draw show. The CashToken Reward scheme is aimed at giving Airtel customers the opportunity to earn cashback rather than just airtime and data bonuses, making the company the first telco to offer customers such reward. Airtel has stepped up the game as airtime bonuses alone are now behind the times. Speaking on the initiative, the Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, said AirtelThanks is a program that reflects the true DNA of Airtel Nigeria as it places the customer ahead of other stakeholders. As a customer-centric organization, we are committed to exploring opportunities and bespoke programs that will reward and honor our most important stakeholder, the customer. It is our belief that the CashToken initiative is a testament to our positioning as the preferred network for telecoms consumers in Nigeria. At Airtel Nigeria, we will not rest on our laurels, we will continue to go the extra mile to reward, appreciate and delight our customers,” he said. With CashToken rewards, every customer can win cash with each purchase of data and airtime. To subscribe to the AirtelThanks CashToken Rewards scheme, customers are required to just dial *479# to get started. The CashToken Draw offers a chance to win big every week. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/13/airtel-customers-to-get-up-to-n100-000-000-in-cash-reward-with-launch-of-airtelthanks/
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| Health › Re: Thirty Years Ago, The Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II Débuted (photos) by postbox(op): 11:05am On Mar 13, 2020 |
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| Health › Thirty Years Ago, The Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II Débuted (photos) by postbox(op): 11:03am On Mar 13, 2020 |
Stuttgart. Impressive première 30 years ago: In 1990, Mercedes-Benz launched the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II from the 201 model series. The high-performance sports saloon was the road-legal version of the DTM touring race car of the same name. The saloon, built in a small run of only 502 cars and always finished in blue-black metallic, can easily be recognised by its mighty rear wing for motorsport use. Compact sports car: The 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II with 173 kW (235 hp) changed the public’s view of the “Baby Benz”. The sports car usually referred to by its fans simply as the “EVO II”, finally established the successful compact class of the 201 model series up amongst the high-performance cars in this market segment 30 years ago. Its status was also reflected in the price: Customers with sporting ambitions had to spend at least DM 115,259.70 for an EVO II, according to the price list. By comparison, The 190 E 1.8 of the 201 model series (80 kW/109 hp), designed to appeal to a youthful target group and about half as powerful, was available for less than a third of that price. Motor Show début: The EVO II made its public début at the Geneva Motor Show from 8 to 18 March 1990. One year earlier, Mercedes-Benz had presented the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution (“EVO I”), also designed as a road-legal version of the touring race cars used in the DTM events. At least 500 of a model type must be built to meet the specifications. The Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16, launched in 1984, served as the base model. Powerpack: The 173 kW (235 hp) four-cylinder M 102 engine was further developed on the basis of the EVO I unit under the direction of Dr Jörg Abthoff, head of advance engine development, and his colleagues Rüdiger Herzog, Dag-Harald Hüttebräucker and Rudolf Thom. That engine had a shorter stroke (82.8 millimetres) and a larger bore (97.3 millimetres) than the engine in the 190 E 2.5-16 model series. Two metal catalytic converters were now standard equipment in the EVO II. The governed maximum engine speed was now 7,700 rpm which was made possible, amongst other things, by reduced connecting rod weight, four instead of eight crankshaft counterweights and conversion of the camshaft drive from a duplex to a simplex roller chain. Rear wing: Its striking rear spoiler made the EVO II probably one of the most eye-catching Mercedes-Benz production cars in 1990 since the 300 SL “Gullwing” (W 198) from 1954. The box-shaped spoiler was developed by aerodynamics engineer Rüdiger Faul (Mercedes-Benz Development in Sindelfingen) together with Professor Richard Läpple from Stuttgart University of Technology. To optimise the stabilising downforce on the rear axle, the spoiler had a retractable flap on the upper crossbar. The lower spoiler strip at the rear could be tilted and the front spoiler was adjustable in two stages in the longitudinal direction. Sports package: Amongst the modifications applied, the EVO II was fitted with additional body stiffeners and larger 17-inch wheels with a view to DTM racing. The aerodynamic modifications provided additional downforce compared to the EVO I: The maximum rear axle downforce of the EVO II as a result of the spoiler was up to 57.1 kilograms. On the front axle, it was up to 21.2 kilograms. Grand engine finale: The engines for use in the DTM were derived from the in-line four-cylinder engines used in the production vehicles. However, output was boosted from 173 kW (235 hp) in the production EVO II to up to 274 kW (373 hp). This was destined to be the last DTM engine designed in the engine development department at Mercedes-Benz: From then on, AMG took over this development task. Praise from the critics: The EVO II met with a positive response in the trade press. “Automobil Revue” enthused on 23 August 1990: “Even when you reach the critical limit, this four-door sports car demonstrates largely neutral over- and understeer characteristics that are hardly affected at all by load changes. If deliberately pushed, the EVO II can be encouraged to produce well-controlled oversteer.” Trade magazine “auto motor und sport” had this to say in its 15/1990 issue: “The 190 E 2.5-16 is a real g-machine of the finest kind and by far the most manoeuvrable Mercedes. Its softened suspension also provides a level of comfort that can indeed be measured by Mercedes standards and is astonishing for a saloon that is constructed for very active driving.” Sports successes: The DTM touring race cars derived from the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II fully met expectations. The EVO II celebrated its racing début on 16 June 1990 on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring. For the last DTM race of the season, on 15 October 1990 at the Hockenheimring, all the works teams were equipped with the EVO II. Kurt Thiim achieved the first victory for the car on 5 August 1990 in the first run of the airfield race in Diepholz. In 1991, Klaus Ludwig became DTM runner-up in the EVO II, and in 1992, he won the DTM drivers’ championship ahead of Kurt Thiim and Bernd Schneider. In the 1992 championship season, Mercedes-Benz drivers won no less than 16 of a total of 24 DTM races with the EVO II. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/13/thirty-years-ago-the-mercedes-benz-190-e-2-5-16-evolution-ii-debuted/
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| Health › COVID-19: We Did Not Suspend Flights To Nigeria – Turkish Airlines by postbox(op): 8:09pm On Mar 12, 2020 |
The Management of Turkish Airlines has debunked as fake news the reports that it had suspended flights to Nigeria over the coronavirus outbreak. This was disclosed by General Manager, Turkish Airlines, Yunus Ozbek. Indeed, reports had circulated in the media earlier in the week that Turkish Airlines had announced the cancellation of all its flights to Lagos, Abuja, and Port-Harcourt to avoid the further spread of the coronavirus currently ravaging the world. However, Ozbek has dispelled the reports as not reflecting the true situation, even as he clarified that the airline had been constrained to adjust its flight schedules to several destinations around the world. ‘‘We would like to advise our passengers that some reported news mentioning Turkish Airlines’ full-suspension decision on its flight operations to/from Nigeria do not reflect the reality. ‘‘Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in various countries, Turkish Airlines has been changing its flight schedule to various destinations around the globe in accordance with international and national authorities. We would like to inform our passengers that due to the lowered load factors caused by the suspension of other routes, several of our flights to/from Nigeria will be undergoing cancellations during March.’’ Furthermore, he disclosed that affected passengers can seek refunds or have their flights changed free of charge. ‘Passengers with tickets to the canceled flights will be able to refund or change their tickets free of charge until the end of May if they start the process until March/April depending on the route.’’ Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines has further underlined its commitment to the health and safety of its passengers, even as it pledged to work with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other national authorities in following all appropriate precautions. ‘As the airline that always puts travel security at the forefront, Turkish Airlines will continue to monitor the latest developments on the situation with the national and international health authorities and take appropriate precautions. As the World Health Organization declared the potential risk of the virus, we have been acting in accordance with the recommendations and instructions of World Health Organization, IATA, and related national and international authorities since the first week of January 2020.’’ Furthermore, the airline has advised all passengers to complete the passenger self-reporting form distributed by the Federal Ministry of Health. The WHO on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, formally declared the novel coronavirus a global pandemic. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/12/covid-19-we-did-not-suspend-flights-to-nigeria-turkish-airlines/
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| Phones › SIX Things You Need To Know About The OPPO Reno3 & Reno3 Pro by postbox(op): 1:56pm On Mar 12, 2020 |
As we have seen in recent times, Nigeria is becoming an increasingly important market to OPPO global and they keep taking bold steps to prove why they are ranked a top 5 smartphone brand in the world. We gather that just after the Indian market, OPPO plans on launching two variants of the Reno3 Series, the OPPO Reno3 & Reno3 Pro. Although we don’t have full confirmation on the actual specifications of the devices, what we know for sure is that these smartphones will come with major bells and whistles. OPPO will be launching a smartphone with a rear quad camera, powered by a 64-megapixel main sensor and a front dual punch-hole camera, powered by a 44+2-megapixel sensor, the first of its kind in the world. OPPO is definitely looking to make a statement in a Nigerian market that is saturated with all kind of smartphone brands, most of which are of questionable quality and standards. We are excited at the prospect of having proper mid-range devices that flaunt flagship technologies and here are some features you should know before you decide to buy any of the Reno3 Series when they are eventually released: Dual Front Cameras The OPPO Reno3 Pro has two cameras on the front something that OPPO is touting a lot on its phone. There is a 44-megapixel sensor on the front a first on a smartphone. It is said to be an Ultra Clear’ camera, which can capture every detail of the face. A 2-megapixel sensor flanks the main sensor for the Dual Lens Bokeh Effect. The bokeh effect is also available for videos on the OPPO Reno3 Pro. Quad Rear Cameras While there are two cameras on the front, the Reno3 Pro flaunts four cameras on the rear. There is a 64-megapixel main sensor that features Tetra Cell and Smart WDR, along with Super Phase Detection, mentions OPPO on its website. The sensor can capture Ultra-clear 108-megapixel image’ with more details, claims OPPO. The other sensors on the OPPO Reno3 Pro include a 13-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x hybrid zoom and 10x digital zoom, although OPPO has not mentioned the optical zoom capability on the Reno3 Pro. There is an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor with a field of view of 119.9 degrees, and finally, a 2-megapixel mono lens for bokeh. Punch-hole Display The OPPO Reno3 Pro has a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a screen-to-body ratio of 91.5 per cent. It has a resolution of 1800×2400 pixels, which is decent according to the price point. The display has a pill-shaped cutout on the top, which houses the two front cameras. The punch-hole is on the left side of the display. While everything else seems to be working for Reno3 Pro, its display could be a deal-breaker for customers. The Reno3 Pro has a 60Hz refresh rate display while its rivals have 90Hz, and even 120Hz display, on their phones that cost significantly less. Hyper Boost OPPO has packed the Reno3 Pro with a feature called the Hyper Boost, which is most suitable for games and graphics-intensive apps. Hyper Boost essentially increases the frame rate stability by 38 per cent while the response speed is increased by 16 per cent. This is useful for when you are playing a resource-intensive game and there are high chances the phone starts dropping frames to deliver the best results. VOOC Flash Charge 4.0 OPPO’s proprietary VOOC Charge technology is available on the Reno3 Pro. It is a 30W fast charging technology that is claimed to fill the battery completely in less than 60 minutes. The battery on the Reno3 Pro has a 4025mAh capacity with an ultra-fast charging system is nothing but impressive. A CHEAPER RENO3 We also gather that the Reno3 Pro will be launched alongside a lower-priced variant, the Reno3. It is expected that the Reno3 will be a slightly watered-down version of the Reno3 Pro but will still pack the powerful specs that make the Reno series exciting. The major differentiating factor for the Reno3 will be the OLED waterdrop 44MP Ultra Night Selfie Camera, 48MP Quad Camera that supports 5x Hybrid Zoom capabilities, 5V41 VOOC 3.0 Charging System and the general phone design and colours. We don’t have information on pricing yet but we gather it would be priced around the previous Reno2 Series or even lower. Once we have full information on launch date and price, we will keep you posted. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/12/six-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-oppo-reno3-reno3-pro-before-it-launches-in-nigeria/
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| Investment › First City Monument Bank Issues N20 Billion Commercial Paper by postbox(op): 12:59pm On Mar 12, 2020 |
FCMB Group Plc (“FCMB”) hereby notifies the Nigerian Stock Exchange (“NSE”) and its esteemed shareholders that one of its subsidiaries, First City Monument Bank Limited (the Bank) is undertaking its inaugural Commercial Paper Issuance (“CP”) under its N100 billion-naira CP programme. The Commercial Paper has a tenor of 269 days with the aim of raising up to N20 billion to support the Bank’s short-term funding needs. The Commercial Paper serves as an additional funding source for the Bank. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/12/first-city-monument-bank-issues-n20-billion-commercial-paper/
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| Phones › Airtel Nigeria Crashes Data Tariff, Offers More Value On Data Bundles by postbox(op): 6:21pm On Mar 11, 2020 |
Leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s drive to provide affordable and quality mobile Internet and broadband for more Nigerians as it has been offering huge discounts on its monthly and weekly data bundle plans. Under the revised tariff plans, the telco says it has dropped data bundle tariff on most of its data bundles, offering customers 15GB for N5,000 monthly bundle and 6GB for N1,500 weekly bundle. Airtel further said it plans to continue on this path of affordability and quality internet to ensure more Nigerians enjoy the benefits of its superior 4G Data Network. Speaking on Airtel’s commitment to drive affordable mobile broadband in line with the Federal Government’s plans, Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, said the Company strongly believes in the Government’s drive of democratizing broadband, extending quality mobile Internet services to the remotest location in the country as well as ensuring that Nigerians regardless of income level can afford data/mobile Internet services. He also noted that the prevailing consumer trend indicates a growing demand for data/mobile Internet and Airtel is well-positioned to take the lead in providing the right value offerings as it currently has the largest 4G network in the country. “As the preferred mobile internet services provider, Airtel is committed to offering superior value to telecoms consumers across the country and our newly revamped data plans is a testament to our commitment to empowering our customers. With these new data plans, our customers now have higher data allowance to do much more and get more out of life; to succeed, to become more productive and to do so much more” he said. To activate the Airtel data plans, customers are advised to dial *141#. The data plans are available to all prepaid and postpaid customers on the Airtel network. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/11/airtel-nigeria-crashes-data-tariff-offers-more-value-on-data-bundles/ 1 Like 1 Share
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| Phones › Lagos Yellow Taxi/cab Drivers Launch Operational Mobile App (photos) by postbox(op): 6:09pm On Mar 11, 2020 |
…As LASG Promises Level Playing Field for All Operators Lagos State Yellow Taxi/Cab Drivers Association on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, launched a digital Mobile App to enhance their operational efficiency, with a warning from the State Government that the drivers must be more civil and operate in line with regulations that guide public transportation. Lagos Yellow Taxi/Cab Drivers Launch Operational Mobile App (Photos) Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde gave the warning during the launch, advising members of the taxi association to comply with the extant laws and stipulated regulations to ensure the success and sustainability of the initiative. Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde gave the warning during the launch, advising members of the taxi association to comply with the extant laws and stipulated regulations to ensure the success and sustainability of the initiative. Speaking at the Eko Cab App Launch held at the Events Centre, Hakeem Balogun Street, Agidingbi, Ikeja, the Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Oluseyi Whenu urged the operators of the commercial vehicles to leverage digital technology to bring innovation into their business. “The State Government is not out to punish anyone, as you go digital today, I want you to know that it places more responsibility on you. You are expected to be more civil and friendly with your customers more than before, while you are expected to operate in line with the extant laws and regulations that guide public transportation in the State”, Oladeinde warned. While pledging the government’s continued support and equal opportunity for all investors in public transportation, the Commissioner affirmed that the State Government would create a level playing field and enabling environment for all investors to ensure a quick return on their investments. “The present administration will continue to implement government programs and policies that will be of great benefit to public transport operators while we pledge our commitment to creating an enabling environment that will attract more investors into public transportation; we will give equal opportunity to all, we are not biased nor one-sided, we will continue to support all good initiatives that can enhance free flow of traffic”, Oladeinde reiterated. The Commissioner commended the Lagos State Taxi Drivers for their support for the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda by digitalizing their operations in line with global standard practice, imploring them to support the ongoing reforms to make the transport system rank among the best in the world. Oladeinde stressed that compliance with the traffic law will ensure a reduction in traffic gridlocks and road crashes, just as it will restore safety and sanity on roads in the metropolis. In his remarks, the General Secretary of the Lagos State Yellow Taxi Drivers & EkoCab Association, Mr. Taiwo Omolekan thanked the Lagos State Government for their consistent support towards the realization of the EkoCab App and its take-off scheduled for March 17, 2020. He disclosed that the application has been designed to enable the Ministry of Transportation to monitor commuter patterns to aid the State government in proffering innovation regulations and solutions for overall improvements in the Lagos transportation sector. Omolekan maintained that the launch would enable the Association to bridge the gap created by the Okada/Tricycle restrictions in certain parts of the State while operators will observe strict adherence to the provisions of the State Traffic Law to ensure better service delivery. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/11/lagos-yellow-taxi-cab-drivers-launch-operational-mobile-app-photos/ 1 Like
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| Phones › Can Smartphones Rival Human Eyes In The Era Of High Definition? by postbox(op): 10:15am On Mar 11, 2020 |
The definition of HD has been kept refreshing from 48-megapixel to 64-megapixel and now even higher March 11, 2020,/ — Pixel is now a key standard for a smartphone. According to many tech columnists, smartphones are stepping into a high-pixel era in the 2020s. Some smartphone manufacturers have announced to launch their new product with this super-high definition camera, as proceeded by many global smartphone brands that also target to buy into this new trend. It is a sign that smartphone The question of how many pixels a human eye can see has been asked by countless people. However, the opposite pressing question is: how does the camera perform in a visual test for smartphones? The definition of HD has been kept refreshing from 48-megapixel to 64-megapixel and now even higher. According to analysis, human eyesight could be equated to 576 million pixels, and the 64-megapixel processor is equivalent to the 576 million pixels of the human eye. This supposedly can truly capture the details and delicate colors seen by the human eye. Could this approach towards human visual imagination? This is a question that begs for an answer. Imagine that your smartphone is having an eyesight visual test. If we set 64-pixel as 2.0 for the human eye. How is your phone’s camera doing? Would it be able to see clearly enough to be considered 2.0? As a human being suffered from myopia, smartphones could also suffer from low pixel: photos of distant marvelous nature scene turn out to be blurry; recording of life sweet moments are not so vivid; sharing pictures onto social media have low quality. Upgrading mobile cameras and taking smartphones to a new era is an inevitable movement. Life needs smartphones to be clear, and to help users fit into this world. Updating smartphones to a new HD camera with a higher pixel is a necessity for future tech. People will never stop chasing the goal of being ‘higher, faster and stronger’. Within the smartphone field, a small slice of the huge tech industry, global smartphone brands like TECNO, Samsung, are exploring more opportunities to be more professional and to encourage people to view clearer from a further distance. Are you ready to embrace the new era? Come and test your mobile sight now, to see if yours needs an update to achieve perfect visual eyesight. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/11/can-smartphones-rival-human-eyes-in-the-era-of-high-definition/
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| Education › uLesson Learning App Launches, Commits To Helping African Students by postbox(op): 3:37pm On Mar 10, 2020 |
Lagos, Nigeria, March 2020: Nigeria’s Ed-tech startup, uLesson Education Limited has officially launched the uLesson app. The app offers students in Nigeria (SS1-3), Ghana (SHS1-3), Liberia (Grade 10-12), Sierra Leone (S1-3), and Gambia (S1-3) a holistic curriculum-relevant learning experience in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology preparing them for critical regional exams- WASSCE, SSCE, GCE, and UTME as well as international tests like the SATs. uLesson employs a simple and personalized approach to learning, leveraging quality lesson plans from the best tutors to amplify each student’s learning ability. Thus, encouraging deep and continued learning for students. The learning content from the app is planned, executed and reviewed by subject matter experts using videos, interactive animations, quizzes, assessments and several years of official WAEC past examinations along with solutions. Commenting on the app, Founder and CEO of uLesson Education Limited, Sim Shagaya said, “Learning is a crucial part of a child’s quest for academic excellence and success in life. The kind of universities and other tertiary institutions that they get into and, to some degree, the future that awaits them beyond their school years is largely determined by the learning opportunities and platforms available to them in their secondary school years. It is imperative then that investments are made in education that will help students be the best they can be, and in learning platforms that prepare them for a future in various disciplines and subjects, thus making them citizens for the world of tomorrow. It is with this knowledge that we designed the uLesson App; to particularly meet the needs of African students at the secondary school level and at all levels in the future”. Also speaking on the App, Vice President, Marketing and Analytics uLesson, Al-hassan Yusuf Junior said the App has been built to help students learn and maximize their academic potential. “uLesson is the first of its kind in Africa. We have leveraged technology to provide a learning solution that is of high-quality, affordable and accessible. Our team of passionate and talented people has built a learning experience that is unprecedented in richness, scope, interactivity, and effectiveness. Our personalized learning approach, the depth of our content, and our service which allows users to request free counselor visits from uLesson set us apart. We also go a step further to provide analytics and data reporting for parents and guardians to monitor their child’s academic growth and guide them to optimize their learning experience”. uLesson is creating a platform to revolutionize the way students learn and study for their exams. While only four subjects are available now, the brand promises to include other subjects as well as expand to other regions in Africa. uLesson is an education technology business, which produces and distributes high quality, interactive, and engaging video tutorials on curriculum-relevant topics and subjects for African students. Our aim is to make learning fun, and we do so by taking complex concepts and presenting them to the learner in a manner that makes the process interactive and engaging. Our team of talented people is passionate about media, technology, education, and the continent. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/10/ulesson-learning-app-launches-commits-to-helping-african-students-be-the-very-best-they-can-be/ 1 Like 1 Share
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| Agriculture › IITA BIP Sets Record For Maize Production Per Hectare In Nigeria by postbox(op): 7:47am On Mar 10, 2020 |
The Business Incubation Platform (BIP) of IITA has set a new production record for maize in Nigeria. BIP exceeded the previous record through its Youth Out-growers team in an out-growers program with Nestlé, Nigeria. Maize is one of Africa’s dominant food crops, rich in vitamins A, C, and E, carbohydrates, and essential minerals as well as 9% protein. Africa harvests 29 million hectares, and as the largest producer, Nigeria produced 1.69 tons per hectare in 2019, its highest production rate. However, the Outgrowers team has achieved an average of 6 tons/ha, a massive development compared to the achievable value across Nigeria. Despite the vast number of maize farmers in Nigeria, the crop harvest is little due to low yields. The Out-growers program, with the help of IITA, was initiated to investigate ways to increase maize yield and maize farmers’ income in Nigeria and Africa. To help achieve this, the BIP team carried out a trial with some varieties under certain conditions before the launch of the scheme in 2020. At harvest time, the team got far beyond the usual production rate, a result that seemed to achieve its goal of increasing maize yield in Nigeria and Africa. After a meeting with the outgrower team, Victor Saleh, BIP Communication Executive, highlighted the key measures applied to achieve this huge harvest. They included the selection of quality seed, proper land preparation, planting under good weather and soil conditions, continuous field maintenance, pest scouting and quick eradication, and site-specific fertilizer application as recommended by Agriserve, a unit of IITA-BIP. Farmers were advised to take note of these key measures and implement them for better yield. This achievement will indeed help the team to work with farmers under this scheme for better maize yield. Also, youth with limited resources thinking of agriculture can have a soft landing in maize cultivation, because it requires minimum capital, low risk of exposure, and has an excellent propensity for a relatively higher return on investment compared to other crops. The scheme also ensures a guaranteed market and higher farmer earnings, as they will sell directly to Nestlé. IITA GoSeed, an early generation seed production company that produces breeder and foundation seeds for seed producers, can link farmers with seed producers to enable them to access improved varieties of seeds, necessary for better yield. BIP has focused its platform on linking research, development, commercialization, and capacity development. The unit is open for possible collaboration and partnerships that will create jobs, reduce hunger, and increase the availability of raw materials for industrialization, thereby leading to higher income for farmers. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/10/iita-bip-sets-record-for-maize-production-per-hectare-in-nigeria/ 1 Like 1 Share
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| Business › Gtbank, Jumia, Others Wins Big At Maiden Internet Awards by postbox(op): 11:02am On Mar 09, 2020 |
GTBank and Jumia were among other winners at the maiden edition of the internet awards, GAGE AWARDS, held recently in Lagos. The awards had 22 categories with five of the categories audience-driven. GTBank won the Banking app of the Year while Jumia won the Website of the Year and Jumia Food also won in the Breakout App of the Year categories. Others winners are sex for grade by Kiki Mordi, in the online film and documentary of the year; Skinny Girl in Transit also won the Web Series of the Year, among others. Managing director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, won the Online Person of the Year, while Onyeka Akuma, bagged Entrepreneur of the Year award. Speaking on the award, convener of the award, Mr. Johnson Anorh, said “as the internet has become the fulcrum of growth, the biggest and innovation things in society, it is only wise that such an important platform to have a standard. We set out to create a standard with Gage award.” Also speaking on the processes, he said they have five audience choices, these are categories where the audience gets to determine who gets the award and 19 categories that are based on judges because the audience doesn’t have the information that will help the people that will win in that category like the website of the year. “The audiences go to the website and do their work but the professional knows that there are structured interface and navigation that help determine the best websites. Those categories and certain apps have been given to judges to determine. “While the other categories like entertainment, banking app of the year, we all use the banks and we know the banks that give us the best service and the breakout out the app of the year. We all know the apps that just came from nowhere and have come to make our lives easier. So, these categories are audience-driven and we hope to extend the boundaries, going forward. The Gage award has come to stay, and it means that we keep innovating, and we hope that it is going to be an annual event. It is an annual thing and we have other thing planed around it. We got the Gage room. Gage room is a tech activity on campus where we have the tech hubs around campuses to spotlight on innovation that take place. Se, we are going to be busy all throughout the year pending when the next gauge award will happen.” SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/09/gtbank-jumia-others-wins-big-at-maiden-internet-awards/
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| Phones › Airtel Nigeria Named Telecommunications Company Of The Year by postbox(op): 10:50am On Mar 09, 2020 |
Leading telecommunication services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has been named Telecommunications Company of the Year by Daily Independent Newspaper, a prominent and foremost news platform in Nigeria. The telco was presented with the award at a star-studded award presentation ceremony, which held yesterday (8/3/2020) at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos and attended by prominent personalities including the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and the Cross Rivers State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, among many other important dignitaries. According to the award citation read at the ceremony, Airtel was declared telecommunications company of the year because it had set the pace in revolutionizing the super-fast mobile Internet services in the country. After launching its Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) network in Lagos in 2018, the company arguably boast as the telecommunications firm with the largest 4G network in Nigeria, with constant coverage of cities across the country. “Apart from Airtel’s wider coverage of superfast broadband, the company has made affordable data a cardinal point of its Internet services to its customers, with pocket-friendly plans at affordable rates. “Today, Airtel is not only one of the best telecommunication companies in Nigeria but in Africa, as its seamless services have put it at par with what is obtainable in any part of the continent and globally.” Steve Omanufeme, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Daily Independent Newspaper, presented the award plaque to Erhumu Bayagbon, Head: Public Relations/Communications, Airtel Nigeria, at the ceremony. While commending the organizers of the award for instituting a credible and independent platform to promote and reward excellence, Airtel dedicated the award to its over 50 million customers, stating that it will not rest on its laurels but will continue to go the extra mile in delivering innovative, affordable and bespoke value offerings to Nigerians across the country. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/09/airtel-nigeria-named-telecommunications-company-of-the-year/
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| Sports › Rugby Africa Cup 2020 Sets A First Milestone For Gender Equality In Rugby by postbox(op): 7:36am On Mar 09, 2020 |
Rugby Africa (celebrates International Woman’s Day and its #EachForEqual initiative with the announcement that the women’s and men’s edition of the Rugby Africa Cup 2020 will concur at the same time. Whenever suitable, the women’s match will be played as a curtain-raiser in the same venue as the men’s matches. “This is a logical step to implement our vision for a gender-equal sport. We are dedicated to take leadership in women’s rugby and look forward to developing grass root sports as well as the flagship competitions towards a gender-equal game. In the next step we need to look at creating tournaments in the various regions to organically develop and grow team participation. Women in rugby are one of our key strategic priorities and in the week leading to the International Woman’s Day we have celebrated achievements of women in African Rugby to put the enormous potential we have in the spotlight”, states Khaled Babbou, Rugby Africa President. The Rugby Africa #EachForEqual campaign leading to the announcement featured women in African Rugby from different involvement levels ranging from players, referees, citing commissioner, management to the board room. While Rugby Africa demonstrates a strong commitment to gender equality, it is events like International Women’s Day that present an opportunity to bring greater attention to the fundamental issue of gender equality within the sports industry. Gender balance increases participation and is the foundation for sustainable development. By breaking down barriers Rugby Africa can drive inclusive leadership and governance, build high-performance competitions and create an impactful profile to grow audience and investment. Indeed, accelerating progress toward parity could boost African economies by the equivalent of 10 percent of their collective GDP by 2025, new research from the McKinsey Global Institute finds. Recently, Rugby Africa announced the appointment of Maha Zaoui as Women’s Rugby Manager to lead the strategic and operational development of female rugby with the goals to further increase the participation levels overall and to accelerate the evolution of the high-performance game. World Rugby Women’s General Manager, Katie Sadleir said: “Rugby Africa is at the forefront in accelerating the development of women in rugby within its region. Since the launch of the global strategy for the development of women’s rugby, we have seen transformational change on and off the field of play worldwide. Women’s rugby continues to grow with more than 2.7 million women and girls playing rugby at all levels, accounting for more than a quarter of players globally.” “Rugby Africa plays a key role in the continued success of developing women in rugby. Off the field, the board of Rugby Africa has made fundamental changes which show its commitment in providing equal opportunities for women in rugby. On the field, by aligning the Rugby Africa Cup to host men’s and women’s matches at the same time this will have a positive impact in raising the profile of the women’s 15s game in Africa.” SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/09/rugby-africa-cup-2020-sets-a-first-milestone-for-gender-equality-in-rugby/
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| TV/Movies › Netflix Naija Officially Launches In Nigeria! by postbox(op): 6:30am On Mar 09, 2020 |
Over the past few years, streaming services have become the most popular way for us to consume video content apart from YouTube. We use streaming services to watch our favourite movies and TV or to discover new and best-selling titles. That is why the launch of Netflix Naija generated so much buzz. Here is everything we know so far! 1. Netflix In Nigeria Ever since we learned how many great titles are available on Netflix, we have been looking for a way to enjoy all that great content. Some Nigerians even resorted to using VPNs to convince the service that they live in the USA or another country where Netflix is officially available. Luckily, those days are over. Despite Netflix Naija making the news this week, Netflix has been already present in Nigeria for a while. Since 2018, Nigerians have been able to subscribe to Netflix without any extra steps for $7.99 per month and more, depending on the broadcast plan. However, even though numerous Nigerians have already experienced the joy of Netflix, the service didn’t have too much content to satisfy its Nigerian viewers looking for something authentic. There was a Nollywood movie here and there on Netflix, most famously, the 2018 Nollywood film Lionheart, but that wasn’t enough for most Nigerian viewers. 2. Netflix Naija Last week, Netflix launched an official Twitter account called Netflix Naija. In the first tweet, the service posted a statement that, despite being somewhat vague, clearly stated the service’s plans to expand into the Nigerian streaming market. The tweet not only told the Twitter audience about the ambitions of Netflix to get even more Nigerians to use their service, but also featured a photo of several Netflix officials with some of the best-known names in Nollywood, including Kemi Adetiba, Banky W, Adesua Etomi, Omoni Oboli, and veteran actors such as Ramsey Nouah and Richard Mofe-Damijo. Even though the official Netflix Naija account did not share any more details about the potential collaborations, it is easy to guess that we should look forward to more original Nollywood content developed in a partnership with Netflix. Nollywood’s creativity plus Netflix’s budget should equal some memorable TV series and movies! 3. The Future Shortly after announcing the plans to expand its Nigerian content, Netflix shared the news that two Nigerian TV series is currently being developed at Netflix. The first show, which is expected to premiere later this week, was created by Akin Omotosho and consists of six episodes. The series, which is currently untitled, takes place in modern-day Lagos and follows the story of Kemi, a goddess who returned to Earth as a human to avenge her sister’s untimely death. The new Nigerian Netflix series will star Joke Silva, Kate Henshaw and Bimbo Akintola, and will undoubtedly become one of the most interesting releases of 2020. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/08/netflix-naija-officially-launches-in-nigeria/
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| Health › Sports Massage Vs. Deep Tissue Massage by postbox(op): 7:17am On Mar 08, 2020 |
What is Sports Massage? Sports massage is a type of massage that is specifically designed for soft tissues injuries and is usually applied using the hands or other bodies parts, such as the elbows, forearms, knees, and even feet. The sports massage is usually conducted on athletes by experts in this area with the overall aim of providing relaxation and well being to the patient. The massage is designed specifically to care for musculoskeletal injuries and pain, and also helps to reduce muscle tightness by breaking down adhesions and scar tissue, and it works excellently! Purpose Sports massage is designed for athletes to help enhance the athletic performance of the muscles, prevent injuries and also boost the total performance of the athlete. Sports massage sessions are delivered on three levels. There is the pre-event massage which is conducted about an hour before the commencement of a game. This is then followed by the inter-event massage that is conducted in between the games, usually during rest. The third is the post-event massage which can be done while the athlete cools down or during the athlete’s rest days. Sports massage is not meant for persons who actively engaged in sports alone. Some athletes who are recovering from certain types of injury are advised to try out sports massage sessions to improve their chances of recovering fully and being in optimal health. What is Deep tissue Massage? Deep tissue massage is a massaging procedure which is mainly used to take care of musculoskeletal issues, which includes strains and sports injuries. Do know that all massage therapists do not have a solid knowledge of deep tissue massage. Some therapists are specially trained for this. Purpose Deep tissue massage requires putting sustained pressure by using slow, deep strokes to target the inner layers of your muscles and connective tissues, thereby breaking up scar tissue that is formed as a result of an injury and reduce tension in muscle and tissue. It is a massage therapy that is suitable sports injuries, Fibromyalgia, Plantar fasciitis, High blood pressure, Sciatica, Tennis elbow. Regular deep tissue massage sessions also promote faster healing by increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation. Difference All massages have their amazing benefits and one or two flip sides. Recognizing the massage type that perfectly suits your need is key to enjoying any type of massage. If you are an active individual who is getting ready for a sporting event or recovering from an injury with specific massage needs, then you could opt for the sports massage. However, if you have a case more serious than just getting ready for a sporting event or a minor sports injury, then you should opt for a deep tissue massage. Deep tissue massage sessions are more intense and focus on deep layer massage. SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/03/07/sports-massage-vs-deep-tissue-massage/
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