₦airaland Forum

Chinese artist Guo O Dong, in conjunction with cybersecurity company Deep Instinct, set up for selling the world’s most formidable laptop. The auction is held in New York and will end today, May 27th.

Art can be fairly complex and interesting. But you’ve probably never seen anything like this before. A laptop loaded with six of the most destructive pieces of malware is being sold at an auction. These viruses have caused nearly $100 billion in damages worldwide, and some of them are still floating around on the Internet. This is quite possibly the most dangerous machine in the world right now, and it’s running on Microsoft’s Windows XP.

Titled ‘The Persistence of Chaos’, the artwork is a simple Samsung NC10-14GB 10.2-inch laptop (2008), which is currently running Windows XP (Service Pack 3) and is loaded with six different malware. You can also watch a live stream of the laptop during the time it’s up for auction.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/27/the-most-treacherous-world-laptop-is-up-sale-for-1-2-million/

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta formally opened the first UN-Habitat Assembly in front of a packed audience at the United Nations Office in Nairobi. With over 3,000 delegates confirmed to attend the five-day event, the guests at the colourful opening ceremony included representatives of the Member States, mayors of cities, representatives of civil society and business leaders.



Welcoming international guests to Kenya, President Kenyatta emphasized the importance of sustainable urbanization and the need for innovative solutions to the challenges faced by cities. He assured the Assembly of his country’s continued support to UN-Habitat and urged the Member States to do likewise.

In the opening session Ms. Martha Delgado, Undersecretary of Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights at the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was unanimously elected President of the UN-Habitat Assembly.

“I would like to stress my deepest appreciation to all the Member States that have bestowed this honour on my country, Mexico, by electing me as President,” she said. “I can assure you I will do my best.”

Addressing the room through a video message, António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General said the gathering comes at an important juncture.

About 60 per cent of urban infrastructure needed by 2030 is yet to be built

“ About 60 per cent of the urban infrastructure needed by 2030 is yet to be built. That creates great opportunities. Well planned and managed cities can steer us towards inclusive growth and sustainable low emission development,” he said.



“A historical moment”, was how UN-Habitat Executive Director Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif described the event, and she congratulated Ms. Delgado on her appointment as President of the Assembly.

Reflecting on the task ahead for the Assembly and the organization, Ms Sharif said, “No one here needs convincing that sustainable urbanization is the key issue of the moment. The Assembly’s theme of Innovation for better lives in cities and communities clearly spells it out. If we don’t innovate and if we continue the business, as usual, we will have little hope of progress.”

The inspiring keynote address by Ridwan Kamil, Governor of West Java Province, Indonesia, elaborated on how, during his time as Mayor of Bandung, he implemented a number of successful urban planning projects.

“To me, the quality of life is another way to say a happy life,” he said. From slum redevelopment to improved walkability and social spaces, he emphasized how listening to the community provided the best solutions.

The Kenyan drummers in traditional dress flanking the venue peppered the ceremony with beats and added a uniquely Kenyan flavour to the event. In between proceedings, there were performances Canadian teenager Emma Stevens from Nova Scotia in her language, Mi’kmaq, and the orchestral group Ghetto Classics from Korogocho, a slum in Nairobi as well as a dynamic speech about youth and culture by Sona Jobarteh, a virtuoso Kora player from the Gambia.

Over the next five days, the UN-Habitat Assembly will adopt global norms and policies that will guide how cities and communities are planned, managed and governed. Ms Sharif said “This Assembly will only happen every four years. The world is now watching. We must make sure we turn our words into action to improve the lives of everyone in today’s urbanizing world.”

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/27/president-of-kenya-opens-first-un-habitat-assembly/

The Director-General, National Center for Women Development (NCWD), Barr. Mary Ekpere-Eta has said that Information Communication Technology (ICT), is key to business success in Nigeria.



She made the statement during the closing ceremony of a 5 day ICT training organized by AKG Global, Pureweb Technologies, in collaboration with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and supported by National Center for Women Development (NCWD) on Digital Marketing, Web Development and Social Media.

The DG stated that the training is timely, as content development, information management, dissemination and accessibility about products and services on the web, were targeted at specific markets, that are essential to the growth and sustainability of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).

She said, “The importance of ICT for the growth of any economy cannot be overemphasized because once productive information is accessed, absorbed and translated into knowledge, this knowledge can be stored, further developed and passed on and even multiple”.

Barr. Mary Ekpere-Eta re-emphasized the usefulness of the Women Center as a government institution which was established in 1992 and modelled after the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the advancement of Women in general (INSTRAW).

Earlier in her remarks, the Managing Director of AKG global, Hajiya Aisha Kabiru Gaya, revealed that the training program will continue in the 36 States of the federation where 100 participants will be trained in each State. She called on the Office of the Vice President to support the trainees with Laptops as it is a necessary tool for what they have been taught.


SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/27/fg-trains-women-on-ict/

More pictures...

The arrival of the all-new BMW 1 Series heralds the dawn of a new era. The third generation of the successful premium compact model draws back the curtain on the new BMW front-wheel-drive architecture, which fuses BMW’s signature driving pleasure and dynamic excellence with a significant increase in interior space.

Sporty, cool, safe and classy, sprinkled with a BMW M135i fresh design and the latest in connectivity, the new BMW 1 Series is a proper BMW with a strong character all its own.

Cutting-edge chassis systems and innovative technologies, plus the integration of all key driving dynamics components and control systems, imbue the BMW 1 Series with an increase in agility that drivers of cars with both the new front-wheel-drive configuration and BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive will clearly recognise. To this end, a five-year process of development has seen BMW channel all the experience amassed by the BMW Group over recent years with front-wheel-drive technology in other models into the new 1 Series. The result is a dynamic sharpness unprecedented in front-wheel-drive cars, with which it sets new standards in the premium compact class.

The third generation of the BMW 1 Series will be unveiled to the public for the first time on 25 – 27 June 2019 on the new BMW Group #NEXTGen presentation platform at BMW Welt in Munich. Hosting the show premiere of the new BMW 1 Series, meanwhile, will be the IAA event in Frankfurt am Main in September 2019. The worldwide launch will get underway on 28 September 2019.

More than 1.3 million examples of the BMW 1 Series have been produced in its first two generations, the car proving especially popular in Europe. The third-generation model offers significantly more space than its predecessor with little change to its exterior footprint, thanks to the cutting-edge BMW front-wheel-drive architecture. Passengers in the rear are the main beneficiaries, while a larger load compartment also results. Available as a five-door model only, the all-new BMW 1 Series is five millimetres shorter than its predecessor at 4,319 millimetres. In terms of width (now 1,799 millimetres), it has grown by 34 millimetres while its height (1,434 mm) has increased by 13 millimetres. At 2,670 millimetres, the wheelbase is 20 millimetres shorter than that of the second-generation model.

The new face of the BMW 1 Series and its fresh interpretation of iconic BMW features can be seen clearly from the front. The signature BMW kidney grille is now larger, with far greater presence. For the first time in this model range, the two kidneys now merge in the middle. The sporting flagship of the line-up is the BMW M135i xDrive (fuel consumption combined: 7.1 – 6.8 l/100 km [39.8 – 41.5 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 162 – 155 g/km*), which replaces the grille’s classical bars with a prominent three-dimensional mesh design inspired by racing cars. The headlights are now angled in design and lend the car a fresh and youthful feel. The optional full-LED lights – in adaptive guise, if desired – cut a particularly modern figure.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/27/the-all-new-bmw-1-series-the-perfect-synthesis-of-agility-and-space/

On May 24, 2019, at the JSE, at an event with industry leaders from across Africa, hosted by the JSE in partnership with Geopoll, Kantar and Brand Leadership, Brand Africa announced the Top 100 brands in Africa in their 7th annual Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands. Nike, MTN, Dangote, Ecobank and BBC were recognised as the most admired brands on the continent.

Since 2011, the Brand Africa 100 has been surveying and ranking the most admired brands spontaneously recalled by African consumers. In a relatively stable Top 100 list, the US sports and fitness mega brand, Nike, retains the overall #1 brand in Africa spontaneously recalled by consumers. South African telecoms brand MTN is the #1 African brand spontaneously recalled the brand, while surging Ethiopian brand Anbessa Shoes, at #2, swapped positions with Nigerian conglomerate, Dangote, which is the #3 most admired brand of African of origin. However, when consumers are prompted to recall the most admired African brand, Dangote retains the #1 position.

Overall, African brands faltered to an all-time low 14% share of the Top 100 most admired brands in Africa. Faced with a relentless focus on the African opportunity and investment by non-African brands, Africa’s share of the most admired brands has been rapidly declining over the past 3 years from a high of 25% in 2013/4 to lows of 16% in 2015/6, 16% in 2016/7 and 17% in 2017/8.

Non-African brands have entrenched their positions in Africa, with North American brands, dominated exclusively by the United States of America brands (28%), leading with a growth of 17% versus 2017/8. The strength of USA brands was boosted by the entry and/or re-entry of stalwart American brands such as #71 Levi’s, #91 Chevrolet and Pepsi’s Miranda at #80, who are all among the 20 new entrants. European brands (41%) are up by 2,5% and Asian brands (17%) down by 10%, round up the continental spread of brands Africans admire.

The Brand Africa 100 rankings are based on a survey among a representative sample of respondents 18 years and older, conducted in 25 countries across Africa. Covering all African economic regions, collectively these countries account for an estimated 80% of the continent’s population and 75% of the GDP.

In a reconfigured category listing where technology and electronics and telecoms categories were separated and new categories of luxury and personal care were introduced or re-introduced, the Top 100 is dominated by technology and electronic brands (18%) and telecoms (7%), consumer (non-cyclical) (16%), auto manufacturers (11%), luxury (10%), automobile (11%), apparel (8%), retail (7%), food (4%), non-alcoholic beverages (5%), personal care (4%), sports & fitness (4%) and media (1%) categories are the top categories.

Overall, the 2018/19 Brand Africa 100 list, which is calculated from 15,000 brand mentions illustrates a very diversified range of brands in Africa and shows year on year consistency with 80% of the Top 100 brands have been in the Top 100 Most Admired Brands in previous years.

The highest gains are dominated by apparel and luxury brands Vans (+65), FILA (+50) and a resurgent Levi’s (+29). The sports category, led by Nike (#1), remains a strong performer, due to strategic repositioning or expansion in their positioning towards lifestyle high profile endorsements, and partnerships which have freshened and broadened the brands’ appeal, particularly to youthful and young consumers. The biggest faller was Peak Milk, dropping from 33 to 98, possibly due to the dairy industry globally seeing a significant drop in sales of cows’ milk as alternatives are becoming more and more popular amongst consumers. Victoria’s Secret and Indomie dropped 36 and 33 spots respectively.

Because of the transformational and catalytic impact of media and financial services in Africa, Brand Africa has a separate promoted question of the Most Admired Financial Services Brands and Most Admired Media Brands.

In the media sub-survey, DStv (incorporating GoTV, Multichoice and Supersport) has welcomed its brother the SABC onto the Top 10 media list. The media list is led by BBC, which has an extensive history and coverage of Africa through its BBC Worldservice radio and specific African programming. The media list is dominated by Europe (40%), North America (20%) and Asia (20%). A deeper analysis of the media category shows high levels of fragmentation, with many local and regional players – thus in general only global players with extensive African reach and resources dominate the top of the list.

In the Most Admired Financial Services Brands category, Ecobank has ascended to the #1 position as the Most Admired Financial Services Brand, and Safaricom Mpesa retains its pole position among mobile money brands. 60% of the are made in Africa. The presence of multiple mobile money brands on the list, including Safaricom Mpesa (#13), Orange Money (#18), MTN Mobile Money (#19) and Tigo (#23), underscores the impact of not only Mpesa as the catalyst but mobile as a key enabler for financial access. The Top 25 Most Admired Financial Services Brands list is dominated by South Africa (6), Nigeria (5) and Kenya (2).

“It is disappointing that despite its vibrant entrepreneurial environment, Africa is not creating new competitive brands to meet the needs of its growing consumer market, says Thebe Ikalafeng, Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa and Brand Leadership. “These rankings are an important metric of and challenge for creating home-grown competitive African brands that will transform the African promise and change its narrative and image as a competitive continent. African brands have an important role in helping to build the African brand.”

Brand Africa 100 was developed by pan-African branding and reputation advisory firm, Brand Leadership Group supported by GeoPoll, the leader in mobile-based market research throughout Africa, and strategic analysis and insights by Kantar TNS, the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company.

GeoPoll used their sophisticated mobile survey platform to identify the most admired brands in Africa among a representative sample of African consumers in 25 African countries.

“The scope of the Brand Africa study across such a diverse sample and geographic spread would be impossible to achieve using traditional research methodologies,” says Nicholas Becker, GeoPoll CEO. “Using GeoPoll’s mobile-based research platform and the large panel of respondents, we were able to quickly gather more than 15,000 brand mentions from 25 countries in Africa, providing brands with valuable data that will inform their growth. GeoPoll was pleased to partner with Brand Africa once again to gather this vital research across Africa.”

“The key to success for building sustainable brands, irrespective of origins or domicile, is to establish an emotional connection, creating intimacy and being more present in consumers everyday lives. This survey, a complex analysis of diverse data and countries to arrive at a representative ranking, is an important metric of the brands that play that are doing a better job and playing a vital role in Africa,” says Karin Du Chenne, Chief Growth Officer Africa Middle East

This year, Brand Africa introduced a category to recognize the highest listed brands on African bourses among the Top 100 most admired brands in Africa. Although Vodacom Group’s market capitalization is higher than MTN on the JSE, MTN is the #1 mentioned South African brand across Africa, because the group brand on the Top 100 list, Vodafone, is not listed on the JSE. All South African brands, Standard Bank, MTN, Absa, Shoprite, Tiger Brands on the Top 100 list are listed on the JSE. MTN (South Africa), Dangote (Nigeria) and Safaricom (Kenya) are the most admired highest listed brands on sub-Sahara’s leading bourses, the JSE, Nigeria Stock Exchange and Nairobi Securities Exchange respectively.

“The JSE is a platform of African and global companies alike to raise capital and grow their businesses and brands. It is our continuous aim that as an exchange, we continue to provide a world-class platform that enables growth through innovative products to meet the needs of our clients and grow the African continent from strength to strength,” says Zanele Morrison, Director Marketing, Retail Development and Corporate Affairs at the JSE.

The Brand Africa 100 results will be published in African Business on sale globally from 25 May 2019 and available online to subscribers on www.africanbusinessmag.com and www.brandafrica.com

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/27/dangote-retains-rank-as-the-number-one-most-admired-brand-in-african/

Tradition EP, Runtown’s follow up to Ghetto University is finally here and it’s a week early. The 6 track EP is all Runtown except for one song.‘I have broken the protocols because I want you guys to have the music as quickly as possible. Do me a favour, stream the EP until you can sing every song word for word’, Runtown wrote on his Instagram

https://music.apple.com/ng/album/1461850655?app=music&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/25/runtown-drops-surprise-ep-tradition/

The Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has commissioned a new Computerised Vehicle Inspection Center.

With the newly renovated Ondo state Computerized vehicle inspection centre conceived under public-private partnership arrangement, rickety vehicles which are not roadworthy will be a thing of the past in the state.

This is in a bid to the protection of lives and properties of road users from unwarranted Road accidents.

The new computerised Vehincle Inspection Center is a more reliable and dependable scientific based centre, using the best scientific and technical analysis for the issuance of Road Worthy Certificates for vehincles on the state road.

The new centre is replacing the draconic old order of examining and inspecting vehincles by the VIO with their intuition and guess work.

Akeredolu’s decision to introduce technology to determine the worthiness of all kinds of vehicles plying roads across the state is to ensure their reliability and safety of lives and properties.

Speaking during the Commissioning of the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre in Akure on Friday, Governor Akeredolu said the safety of lives and properties of road users in the Sunshine State are paramount to his government.


The governor, who made it clear that the computerised vehicle inspection centre was meant to serve all classes of owners of vehicles, including private, corporate, commercial, government, traditional and religious leaders at all levels, added that all the vehicles would be subjected to the same tests as required by experts.

He said: “Nobody will be allowed to peddle influence. No official will be allowed to compromise the process. Our roads must be made safe for our people.”

On other benefits derivable from the facility, Akeredolu said: ‘Technology and scientific-based evaluation and analysis of matters are always more accurate and more reliable.

“They produce faultless results based on objective parameters set for the purpose of evaluation.

“Human judgement are prone to subjective considerations. Technology is immune to extraneous influence.

“Machines or computers are not likely to be susceptible to negative manipulations or influence by nature, socio-economic, political or environmental factors.”

The governor, however, allayed the likely fear of artisans in the state, especially, mechanics, electricians and other related experts that the project was designed to render them jobless.

He said: “The project is not designed to render you jobless and idle. It will rather enhance the practice of your professions as the various centres across the state shall serve as referral centres to all certified mechanical and auto-electrical workshops.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/25/rotimi-akeredolu-commissions-computerised-vehicle-inspection-center-in-ondo-photos/

Nigeria’s importation of refined petroleum products stood at 4.87billion litres of Petrol in the first quarter of 2019.

National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, disclosed this in its report titled: “Petroleum Products Imports and Consumption (Truck Out) Statistics (Q1 2019)”.

The report indicated that the country imported 4.87 bln litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) popularly known as Petrol, 1.21 bln litres of automotive gas oil (AGO) or Diesel within the quarter under review.

It also  stated that 103.05 mln litres of dual purpose kerosene (DPK), 227.01 mln litres of aviation turbine kerosene (ATK), 95.09 mln litres of base oil, 18.12 mln litres of bitumen, 13.22 mln litres of low pour fuel oil (LPFO) and 310.84 mln litres of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Q1 2019.

State-wide distribution of truck-out volume for Q1 2019 showed that 4.89 bln of premium motor spirit (PMS), 1.27 bln litres of automotive gas oil (AGO), 102.33 mln litres of household kerosene (HHK), 218.88 mln litres of aviation turbine kerosene (ATK) and 149.17 mln of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) were distributed nationwide during the period under review.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/24/nigeria-imported-4-87bn-litres-of-petrol-in-q1-2019-nbs/

The new “H2 Panel Van” will become the first 4.25-tonne electric vehicle with an added fuel cell, which will provide additional power and enable a range up to 500 kilometres.

Fuel cells enable range up to 500 kilometres
DHL Express orders 100 of the vehicles to be delivered beginning 2020
The new “H2 Panel Van” model with up to 10 cubic meters of cargo capacity
At the Green Tech Festival in Berlin, DHL Express and electric vehicle maker StreetScooter have announced their collaboration on a new electric delivery vehicle. The new “H2 Panel Van” will become the first 4.25-tonne electric vehicle with an added fuel cell, which will provide additional power and enable a range up to 500 kilometres. In a first step, DHL Express has ordered 100 of the fuel cell vehicles, with delivery expected from 2020 through 2021.

“Openness to new technologies is key to our overall strategy, which is why we’re also supporting the use of this battery electric vehicle with additional fuel cell capability,” says Andreas Scheuer, Germany’s Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). “If we want to promote alternative drive systems for climate-friendly delivery operations, then we need to make sure these new vehicles are priced competitively and capable of good range.”

For Markus Reckling, CEO DHL Express Germany, the new van fits into the Group’s larger environmental goals. “With the H2 Panel Van, DHL Express becomes the first express provider to use a larger number of electric vehicles with fuel cells for last-mile logistics. This underscores our aspiration to be not only the fastest and most reliable provider on the market but also the most climate-friendly,” says Reckling. “The H2 Panel Van is another example of how Deutsche Post DHL Group is working towards its zero-emission goal for 2050.”

For Fabian Schmitt, Chief Technical Officer at StreetScooter GmbH, the H2 has potential as a breakthrough solution. “We firmly believe that fuel cells will play an increasing role in electric-powered transport since they can give battery electric vehicles the kind of range that is so important for so many customers,” says Schmitt. “With the Panel Van, StreetScooter begins yet another chapter in its proud history of innovation and enters into a new growth phase.”

The H2 Panel Van, which is based on the StreetScooter WORK XL delivery vehicle already used by DHL Parcel, features cargo capacity over 10 cubic meters (approx. 100 Express parcels). With a maximum payload of over 800 kg, the H2 Panel Van achieves a maximum permissible weight of 4.25 tonnes. In Germany, an exemption for lightweight battery electric commercial vehicles means that drivers with “Class B” licenses (normally for passenger cars or trucks up to 3.5 t) can operate the H2 Panel Van. For now, DHL Express will be the exclusive user of the new vehicle. The Group currently has no plans to sell the H2 Panel Van to third parties outside Deutsche Post DHL Group.

As with the larger WORK XL, the H2 Panel Van will be realized in collaboration with Ford. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) as part of it’s National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP II).

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/24/dhl-and-streetscooter-develop-new-electric-drive-vehicle-with-hydrogen-technology/

The Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) has vowed to improve its partnership with Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to lessen crime in the State.

Passing a keynote address at a one day seminar arranged for stakeholders in Lagos Division with the theme: “Neighbourhood Safety as a Strategy for Effective Crime Control in Lagos State”, the Chairman of the LNSC Board, DIG Israel Ajao (rtd) disclosed that the initial challenge faced by LNSC was that Lagosians misconstrued the Corps for the defunct Neighbourhood Watch.

Ajao, however, expressed satisfaction that the challenge had been surmounted and the agency has continued to carry out its primary responsibility of intelligence gathering and provision of information to the Police which has the constitutional right to prosecute suspected criminals.

Represented by Chief Tunde Aboyade, a Board member representing Ikeja division, retired DIG Ajao lauded security agencies, especially the NPF for its support to the safety corps.

“I have the utmost regard for you for your unflinching support for us,” he stated.

He further disclosed the Board’s plan to enhance the relationship with the Police Force and work with education authorities in the State to stem the rising tide of cultism among primary and secondary school pupils in Lagos.

In his goodwill message, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Francis Ani who spoke on behalf of Area B Commander, expressed delight at the existing relationship between LNSC and the Police, promising that the Police will continue to work with the security outfit.

He said “We are happy we are working with you and I promise we will continue to work with you. You are still a baby. A child of two years is still a baby, we will continue to work with you till you mature,” the Police officer assured.

On his part, Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, CSP Saheed Egbeyemi expressed his admiration for the work done by LNSC in the last two years despite not being armed.

CSP Egbeyemi opined that Lagos State is ready for State Police anytime it is approved, saying: “the issue of State policing is coming gradually to be and whether we like it or not, Lagos State is ready”.

The Guest Lecturer, Mr Sola Opaleye, who delivered a lecture titled “Positive and Productive Attitude to Work and Life”, enjoined LNSC operatives to be mindful of their attitude, noting that “attitude will either draw people closer to you or drive people away from you”.

Opaleye also advised LNSC operatives to imbibe good self-image because “As a security officer, people must be drawn to you, people must feel comfortable while with you. A bad attitude is like a flat tyre that will not take you anywhere unless you change it”.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/24/neighbourhood-security-corps-seeks-more-collaborations-with-nigeria-police/

Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh today managed over the official handing over ceremony of concessioned silos complexes to concessionaires who had developed as fancied bidders after a successful negotiation.

Speaking at the event, Chief Ogbeh stated that the Federal Government instituted the silos complexes and commodity warehouses in various parts of the country with the purposes of promoting products storage, commodity price stability and industrial supply, combining that the concession is to secure adequate management and maximum utilization of the facilities.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammed Bello Umar explained the concession of the silo as a step in the right direction, adding: “This will result in excellent and beneficial use and will assist to generate wealth for the operators, generate employment and stimulate agricultural production in Nigeria”.

Director General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Engr. Chidi Izuwah remarked: “These assets will now create financial value and aid the transformation of our nation as we are out to ensure that the government reap the full benefit of any public-private partnership agreement”.

The transaction process to concession the silo complexes was initiated in August 2013 by the ministry, statutorily supervised by the infrastructure concession regulatory commission (ICRC) with aid from the World Bank and the ministry of finance.

The concession term is for a period of 10 years, during which the concessionaires will operate and maintain the silo complexes under the supervision of the ministry and ICRC. The concessionaires will compensate the government through a fee structure broken down into components.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/23/federal-government-hands-over-concessioned-silo-complexes-to-concessionaires/

Data we know is king. We use it every day; from the moment we wake up to when we finally decide to call it a night. So which apps are your most frequently visited and how much data do you consume monthly?



We know you love to follow trends, keep up with the latest gist, search, shop and upload those beautiful pictures. But in doing all of these, you realise that in no distant time, your data runs out and you wonder why, and resort to abusing your network provider.

This was a recurring experience for us too until we discovered the trick to managing our data while also enjoying the usual social media frenzy.

Below are tips on how to get the best out of your frequently used platforms:

1. Youtube: Do you know that you can save up to 60% data when you choose to watch YouTube videos in Standard quality instead of High Definition?

To do this:

Open the YouTube App
Tap on the profile icon at the top right corner
Select Settings
Click on General
Turn on “Limit Mobile Data Usage”
You will have options for everything from 144P to 480P to choose from, but 480p is a pretty good balance between clarity and data load.

2. WhatsApp: You can save your data by unchecking Auto download on your WhatsApp.



To do this:

Go to the “settings” section in your WhatsApp
Choose “Data and Storage Usage”
Select Media Auto Download option
Select When Using Mobile Data and switch it to “No Media”
You can now enable low data usage for WhatsApp Calls
We have this short video to give more clarity.

3. Instagram: Those pictures and videos we upload and view use up a lot of our data.

However, you can manage your data via these few steps:

Open the Instagram App
Click top right (Three horizontal lines)
Open Instagram options
Go to Settings
Select Mobile Data Use
Then tick Use Less Data


4. Twitter: You can follow your favourite trends, stream videos and still save data.

To do that, kindly follow these steps:

Go to your Twitter profile icon
Click on Settings and Privacy
Select Data Usage
Set Video Autoplay to Never
We do hope you find this as helpful as we did. It is good to know that one of the network providers has more tips on their website on how to manage data. To learn more, visit https://www.mtnonline.com/manage-data or download the MYMTNAPP on either Google Play Store or AppStore for your MTN “GoodyBag Social Plans”.


SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/23/four-apps-that-zap-data-and-how-to-get-the-best-out-of-them/

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC’s entities have won the Best Asset/Fund Management Company and Best Private Banking Business in Wealth and Society West Africa at the Global Wealth and Society Awards West Africa 2019. The awards further validate Stanbic IBTC’s standing as a leading end-to-end financial services organisation with market leadership across segments, including wealth management, corporate and investment banking, pension fund administration, stockbroking, custody, trusteeship and others.

Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited won the Best Private Banking Business in Wealth and Society in West Africa, while Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited picked the Best Asset/Fund Management Company in Wealth and Society also in the West Africa category.

The award ceremony was held in conjunction with a Roundtable Dialogue comprised of private bankers, impact investors, and related parties, at the Eko Hotel Lagos. These new accolades complement the numerous recognitions awarded to both companies in 2018.

“Being singled out among peers is gratifying and we are very pleased to have been selected for recognition as the Best Asset/Fund Management Company in West Africa. It is another prestigious award made possible by our esteemed and loyal customers. Our customers constantly challenge us through their patronage and positive feedback allowing us to push the envelope in innovative service to ensure they get the full benefit of partnering with us,” Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Mr. Eric Fajemisin, said.

On his part, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Mr. Oladele Sotubo, expressed the firm’s delight for being recognized by such a reputable and credible organisation from a pool that includes some of the industry giants in Africa. He said the awards further demonstrate Stanbic IBTC’s strength and desire to consistently provide best-in-class financial services solutions across all market segments by leveraging on the expertise and rich heritage of the Standard Bank Group, to which Stanbic IBTC Holdings belongs.

“These awards are a testament to our capabilities and competencies across all business segments and speak to our unwavering dedication to consistently deliver innovative and robust solutions to our clients,” Sotubo stated.

The Global Wealth and Society programme opened in London in 2018, according to the promoters, out of the belief that wealth can be a force for good. As such we look for instances everywhere in the world where wealthy individuals, institutions and funds were targeted to make an impact in their local communities or the world at large.

The programme is predicated on the belief that the best financial institutions are able to understand and look after their clients’ personal aspirations as well as family and business interests through exceptional service, conducted with integrity, a deep empathy for its clients’ needs, and superior and timely product innovation resulting in the preservation and expansion of the clients’ wealth in their lifetime.

Organizers of the awards, Global Wealth and Society, said recipients of these awards underwent a stringent and comprehensive evaluation process and that the selection of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited was based on three major factors which distinguished the firm among its peers and they are; it’s being a national pioneer in ethical financial products and alongside its Imaan fund based on Sharia principles, and its Ethical Fund is Nigeria’s first quoted socially responsible mutual fund and accounts for one third of the Ethical Funds Sector in Nigeria.

Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund is the institution’s most profitable product as well as the largest open-ended mutual fund in Nigeria and Socially Responsible Investment Funds and its customer-centric strategy drove strong Assets Under Management (AUM) growth for the firm.

Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, on the other hand, is the country’s largest pension fund administrator, with a proven record of finance tracking and the protection of investments. The company’s Retiree Fund 4 was the best performing fund in its category for 2018, with a YTD return of 15.54% compared to the average of 12.66% for Retiree Fund 4 in Nigeria. The company currently manages the largest Retirement Savings Account Fund (RSA) in Nigeria and is consistently providing products and services that meet customer, statutory and regulatory requirements. In addition to this, the PFA has continued to attract new clients, recording strong growth in AUM and a jump in high net worth clients in 2018.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/23/stanbic-ibtc-wins-regional-awards-in-pension-and-wealth-management/

Today at the HP Gaming Festival in Beijing, the company unveiled a powerful lineup of OMEN and HP Pavilion Gaming innovations, raising the bar for gaming experiences.

The OMEN X 2S – the world’s first dual-screen gaming laptop1 – provides extraordinary power and multitasking capabilities, the OMEN 15 and OMEN 17laptops bring exceptional power in their thinnest forms yet, and both HP Pavilion Gaming 15 and HP Pavilion Gaming 17 laptops offer outstanding versatility and mobility for gamers and creatives alike. In addition, with enhancements to OMEN Command Center software and new OMEN and HP Pavilion Gaming displays and accessories, HP has engineered an industry-leading gaming ecosystem that delivers everything gamers need to progress and achieve their goals.

“Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with game-changing evolutionary and revolutionary products reflects the philosophy of reinvention at HP,” said Ravi Perumal, PS Category Manager, HP South Africa. “The OMEN brand continues to think big and OMEN X 2S is a prime example of how we are setting new standards and changing how a gaming laptop is used.”

Laptops Designed for Next-Gen Gaming

As the world’s first dual-screen gaming laptop1, the OMEN X 2S shakes the foundation of what’s expected of a gaming laptop, with tremendous multitasking capabilities for various activities and support with dedicated hotkeys. Watching how-to videos while playing, listening to the right song on Spotify while grinding an MMO, or keeping current with Twitch chat or Discord is no longer an alt-tabbing hassle. The OMEN X 2S, further bolstered by a real-time screen mirroring feature that can cut and magnify parts of the main screen – including copying the map portion of a racing game – to the second screen, ensures the vision is centred and head movement more vertical than horizontal.

This powerhouse is 20 mm thin with a full metal chassis and is the first 15-inch diagonal gaming laptop in the world to come with an applied liquid metal compound to the thermal system by way of Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut. The result is phenomenal heat dissipation at 10 times the thermal conductivity of silicon thermal grease3, up to a 28 per cent4 frames-per-second (FPS) performance boost over traditional grease when testing in Apex Legends, and an 8.5 per cent5 faster lead time in a Blender Benchmark test.

The path to smaller, cooler, and more powerful applies to the newest versions of the OMEN 15 and OMEN 17 laptops. With a 20 per cent and 18 per cent reduction in thickness over previous versions, they sit at a slim 20 mm and 27 mm thin.

All three laptops feature OMEN Tempest, an overhauled advanced thermal solution powered by a 12V fan, which utilizes three-sided venting to enable five-way airflow to keep things ultra-cool. Realistic visuals are delivered by support for up to NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2080 for the OMEN 17 and feature Max-Q6design for the OMEN X 2S and OMEN 15. Additionally, multitasking and grand-scale games – which take mountainous resources – have never been smoother, with up to the latest 9th Gen Intel® Core™ i9 high-performance mobile processor7, powered by up to 5.0 GHz Turbo8, eight cores and 16 threads, and up to 32 GB of RAM.

Take advantage of the latest in storage technology with options that include the newly announced Intel® Optane™ Memory9 H10 with Solid State Storage10. The new Intel® Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) designed to support gigabit speeds up the wireless game with up to 3X faster file transfer speeds than Wi-Fi 5(802.11ac)11. Top it off with options up to an esports standard 240 Hz refresh rate12 1080p display that allows visuals to flow across the screen with viper strike-like speed and NVIDIA® G-SYNC® on the OMEN X 2S and available on select OMEN 15 and OMEN 17 configurations.

OMEN Command Center Updates

Since its creation, OMEN Command Center has evolved as the software solution for managing and enhancing gaming hardware. The evolution continues with two additions coming to the platform for all three new OMEN devices. Performance Control cranks up fan RPM to either maximize cooling or performance, based on the chosen setting. The new OMEN Dynamic Power feature manages CPU and GPU wattage based on what a game is utilizing at a given moment to maximize FPS. Combined, these powerful additions serve to improve gameplay while also adding a level of flexibility.

Play at the Speed of Esports

Meticulously crafted to take advantage of the max FPS found in top-tier rigs, and with a sturdy design used in collegiate and professional esports, the OMEN X 25and OMEN X 25f*13 displays feature micro-edge bezels, one millisecond response times, and NVIDIA® G-SYNC® and AMD Radeon™ FreeSync™14technologies to synchronize industry-leading 240 Hz refresh rates12 to the GPU and keep visuals unsullied by tearing. The OMEN X 25 is an exceptional tool for climbing the ladder of professional play and can be seen in use by Overwatch League players throughout the 2019 season.

OMEN by HP Pricing and Availability18

OMEN X 2S Laptop is expected to be available in South Africa in July starting at R52,999OMEN 17 Laptop is expected to be available in South Africa in July starting at R26,999OMEN 15 Laptop is expected to be available in South Africa in July starting at R24,999HP Pavilion Gaming 17 Laptop is expected to be available in South Africa in August starting at R19,999HP Pavilion Gaming 15 Laptop is expected to be available in South Africa in August starting at R16,999


SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/20/worlds-first-dual-screen-gaming-laptop-to-be-available-in-sa/

The Sterling Bank Internship Programme offers highly motivated individuals opportunity to gain industry experience, test drives a career in financial services and be exposed to the great stuff we do at Sterling Bank. 

The internship program allows you to bring new perspectives, innovative ideas and latest research experience into the Bank while you also improve your skills in a diverse environment.

It is an opportunity to learn while gaining practical experience. We have had great feedback from past interns who generally find the experience to be rewarding and interesting.  It is a way to enhance your professional profile with practical work experience.

Requirements:

The Summer Associate program is open to students currently working towards an advanced degree such as an MBA, M.Sc. or LLM or any other Master’s degree. While their discipline or major are not important, we do expect a level of knowledge of the industry and marketplace.

Applicants must be between 18 – 30 years of age.

The Opportunity

This is a twelve-week program designed to give participants an opportunity to broaden their knowledge and develop a solid foundation in the Banking sector through a variety of disciplines: customer research, quantitative analysis, strategy, project management, product analysis & design and broader market insights. The program is characterized with placement on a specialized project team where you will work with other Summer Associates to think, design and execute the next BIG thing!

Successful Summer Associates may be invited back to join our Management Trainee program in a full-time position.

On The Job

You will work with a project team of typically 5 – 7 members, playing an active role in all aspects of customer research, quantitative analysis, strategy, project management, product analysis & design and broader market insights. You will contribute to solving real-world business challenges with your own day-to-day responsibilities.  Regardless of what you do, you will have the opportunity to work with internal and external clients as required.

Training Program

Your training experience will begin with a three-day orientation focused on getting you acquainted to the company, our culture, division-specific training designed to help you develop the essential knowledge and skills needed to succeed on your business projects.  The curriculum includes basic product knowledge, business-specific overviews, technical and professional skills training and career development.

Application

• Applications for the Young Talent, Women in Banking and Tech-Talent Internship are open all year round and as advertised

• Applications for the Summer Associate Internship opens May every year and runs from July to September

• All applications must be submitted online and during the respective application period

• Applicants are required to provide a letter of recommendation from their course adviser, head lecturer or professor

• The standard duration of the internship is 6 months, but in cases of internship extension – a maximum of 3 months can be offered

• Selection is based on performance, availability for a minimum period of 3 months and subject to manpower needs

• Multiple applications will lead to automatic disqualification

• Internships are not open to Corps members

Selection Process

Stage 1 – Online application

Stage 2 – Online Test

Stage 3 – Phone and Video Interview

Stage 4 – Final Interview

Stage 4 – Orientation

Stage 5 – Make Magic Happen!


SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/20/here-is-how-to-apply-for-the-2019-sterling-bank-summer-associate-programme/

OPPO’s latest series of flagship smartphones comes integrated with Nokia OZO Audio capture capabilities…

As Nokia announced on 25 April, OPPO’s latest flagship, OPPO Reno 10x Zoom will be shipped with OZO Audio capture capabilities integrated into the device. The Reno 10x Zoom Edition will come with Audio 3D and Audio Zoom features built-in, allowing users to capture the full richness of life.

OZO Audio is an industry-leading product portfolio, created and licensed by Nokia, that enables true-to-life sound through innovative features and for users to capture and edit device audio with greater accuracy and precision. 

The OPPO Reno 10x Zoom Edition comes integrated with Audio 3D and Audio Zoom. Audio 3D allows users to immerse themselves in sound, capturing the full audio landscape with vibrant depth, direction and detail. It delivers a natural sound experience and high-fidelity audio within one degree of accuracy. Audio Zoom acts like a telephoto lens for audio, allowing users to dynamically pinpoint and amplify sound to correspond to the zoomed video. 


The Audio 3D and Audio Zoom capabilities are integrated into the OPPO Reno 10x Zoom Edition, which contains three microphones in the device to enable full spatial audio capture. The features work with the native camera application, meaning no additional software installation is required.

Paul Melin, VP of Technology Licensing at Nokia Technologies, said: “Nokia announced a patent license agreement with OPPO in November 2018. We are now excited to be deepening our relationship with one of China’s biggest consumer device brands. By integrating OZO Audio technologies, OPPO is demonstrating its commitment to helping consumers create immersive content and experiences through devices such as the OPPO Reno series. This collaboration between the Nokia OZO team and OPPO is a testament to that – allowing users to capture and share high-fidelity and true-to-life audio that matches the quality of the camera in their device.”

The OPPO Reno series is designed to provide great user experiences and augment the content users capture through the device. OZO Audio enhances this, providing true-to-life audio experiences that match the quality of the built-in camera. The Nokia OZO team worked with OPPO to optimize and fine-tune the OZO Audio algorithms based on the placement of the microphones in the OPPO device and ensured the software integrated seamlessly with Reno’s ColorOS 6 Android-based user interface.


SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/20/oppo-reno-series-launches-with-ozo-audio/

Microsoft Corporation visited the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) on Friday, May 18, to discuss their plans for Nigeria. The Microsoft delegation was led by the Executive Vice-President of Gaming, Phil Spencer and was received by the Executive Secretary/CEO of NIPC, Ms Yewande Sadiku.

They also visited the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.

They returned to Lagos for the launch of the Africa Development Centre, the 7th to be established. Earlier this week, the company opened an Africa Development Centre in Nairobi. The establishment of the Centres demonstrates the company’s long-term interest in creating global centres for software development and engineering on the continent.

The company plans to spend more than $100 million over five years and hire 100 engineers by the end of the year, and 500 by 2024. A mixed reality team of 10 has already been hired in Lagos.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/20/microsoft-corporation-visits-abuja-launches-africa-development-centre-in-lagos/

The incoming governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said he will rid Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) of reckless driving by employing graduates as drivers and adding more dignity & honour to the work.

Sanwo-Olu spoke Saturday during an interactive session with his classmates at the Executive Master of Business Administration class, University of Lagos, 1998/2000 set.

The forum held a “Congratulatory Dinner Reception,” in Sanwo-Olu’s honour at Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, where they presented to him a policy document, containing their ideas and suggestions on some of what Sanwo-Olu could do in office to have a successful tenure.

In specific terms, the classmates asked Sanwo-Olu how he would address the recklessness of some of the BRT bus drivers.

He said, “The BRT issue is something that has to do with culture. When we take over, by the Grace of God, we will advertise and see if we can employ some of our graduates as drivers.

“What I realized is that apart from the money we will be paying them, which is more than what they are paying an average graduate, we need to very quickly tell our people and encourage ourselves that there is dignity in work. We are going to be paying (them) between N80,000 and N100,000 to come and drive these buses because we expect a lot more decency.

“By the time we get the culture of the drivers’ right, the routes are coming up, by the time we finish the Abule-Egba/Iyana Ipaja/Ikeja route, it will boost the number of BRT (buses).”

Accordingly to Sanwo-Olu, Lagos could one day adopt technology to upgrade and model the BRT ticketing system after what is obtainable in the United Kingdom.

At the dinner, the governor-elect also explained his plans to eradicate gridlock around the cit.

He said his administration hoped to, by the middle of next year, complete the blue rail starting from Okokomaiko, through to Mile 2, Orile and Marina.

“The water will work, BRT buses will work and rail will work,” Sanwo-Olu said.

On the Apapa gridlock, He said, “The Apapa trailer issue; it’s a campaign issue; it’s very serious. I’m going to take it very seriously. I believe that it is something that we are going to solve in the first 60 days of our government.

Whatever is going to be required of us, we will take them out. There is a lot of politics being played around there. But no, it cannot be the way we’ll continue to live. We cannot continue to give excuses.”

“Five or 10 years ago, if we had been forward-thinking, we would have also realised that the city had actually outgrown the Apapa Port. So, the long-term solution is to build another one. Our government, by the Grace of God, will start the Badagry Port. That is the long-term solution,” he said.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/20/i-will-employ-graduates-as-brt-drivers-pay-n100000-monthly-sanwo-olu-claims/

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday commissioned the dualised Bisola Durosinmi Etti Road and new Hakeem Dickson Road in Lekki, Eti-Osa., saying it was gratifying to note that the financial outlook of the State is very positive.

The Governor commissioned the dualised Bisola Durosinmi Etti/Hakeem Dickson Road, Lekki in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos, saying that his administration only prioritized renewal and development of road infrastructure but utilised an all-inclusive approach that has touched both rural and urban areas in the State.

Represented by the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya, the Governor said his administration had given the axis the attention it deserved in terms of infrastructural development considering its proximity with the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

“Our passion and focus on this corridor was anchored on the reality that this axis is the new Lagos and Lekki Phase 1, in particular, is the gateway to the biggest free trade zone in the whole of West Africa”

“In deciding to upgrade Bisola Durosinmi Etti Drive and Dickson Road, we took cognizance of the need to create additional access to Lekki Phase 1 and improve the traffic along Lekki axis. This I believe will ultimately uplift and add value to the surrounding environment,” he said.

He said before the projects commenced, the roads were in bad shape as they were riddled with potholes which impeded the free flow of traffic, adding that it caused the residents a lot of stress with attendant effects on the many business outfits that operate within the area.

The Governor expressed appreciation to Lagosians for their prayers and support particularly in the discharge of their civic responsibility through the payment of taxes, while urging them to extend the same hand of cooperation to his successor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Lekki Phase 1 Residents Association (LERA), Mr. Kayode Otitoju who spoke on the projects, commended the Governor saying that the road has transformed the axis and upgraded their standard of living.

He recalled that it was also during the administration of Governor Ambode that the Freedom Way and Admiralty Way were constructed, adding that the projects were executed with high standard engineering reflecting, durable interlocking stone, good drainage street lights and other modern road infrastructure.

“We all knew how the two roads were before now and can see the positive change, which would now be used to manage the corresponding increase in human activities, especially, the high volume of human and vehicular traffic, including commercial activities.

“We are grateful for all you have done for us in this community especially the location of the LRU within Lekki to respond to emergencies and the periodic cleaning of shanties by the Lagos State Government Special Task Force on Environment. The evacuation and rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development cannot go unmentioned.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees; the Executives and all the residents of Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, I say thank you and farewell to you, our indefatigable Governor Akinwunmi Ambode,” Otitoju said.



Representative of Lagos State Governor and Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya (right); Special Adviser to the Governor, Finance and Audit Control, Mr. Adeniyi Popoola (2nd left); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Ajibade Caster Bade-Adebowale (2nd right) during the unveiling of the plaque to commission the Bisola Durosinmi-Etti/Hakeem Dickson Road in Lekki, at the weekend



Representative of Lagos State Governor and Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya (middle); Commissioner for Local Government & Community Affairs, Alhaji Muslim Folami (right) and Chairman, Lekki Resident Association, Mr. Kayode Otitoju (left) during the commissioning of the Bisola Durosinmi-Etti/Hakeem Dickson Road in Lekki, at the weekend. Back row (L-R): Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Chairman, Zone 8, Lekki Phase1, Alhaji Rilwan Aruna; Special Adviser to the Governor, Community and Communications, Mr. Hakeem Sulaimon; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works & Infrastructure, Engr. Olujimi Hotonu (2nd right); Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation and Revenue Matters, Mr. Lasisi Abdul-Fatai and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Ajibade Caster Bade-Adebowale.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/19/gov-ambode-commissions-bisola-durosinmi-etti-hakeem-dickson-road-lekki-photos/

The Senate Thursday passed a bill seeking to change Nigeria’s Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12.

The bill, which originated from the House of Representatives, was unanimously adopted by senators at plenary.

This is coming as the Senate Leader and the anointed candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the position of Senate president, Senator Ahmad Lawan, has given an assurance that he would soon make public his legislative agenda for the ninth National Assembly.

Specifically, the bill seeks to amend the Public Holiday Act 2004 to make June 12 as the new date for Democracy Day to replace May 29, which marks the official handing over from military to a civilian administration.

The bill is expected to be transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent, after clean-up by the Legal Services Department of the National Assembly.

The House of Representatives had last December passed a similar bill recognising June 12 as National Democracy Day.

The House approved the date after considering a report on “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Public Holidays Act, Cap. P40, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to bring the Act in tandem with the current realities and exigencies of the modern times and to declare June, 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria and for Related Matters.”

Considering the report at plenary, House members approved the amendments to three clauses in the Act, as recommended in the report.

The clause carrying May 29 as democracy day was amended to June 12.

The lawmakers saw the need to give the declaration a legal backing, hence the introduction of the bill by Hon. Edward Pwajok.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in June 2018 directed that the nation’s Democracy Day will, henceforth, hold on June 12 of every year as against the current arrangement where the ceremony holds on May 29.

He also posthumously honoured the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, Bashorun Moshood Abiola, with the highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic.

Also yesterday, the upper legislative chamber approved promissory notes and bond issuances worth N14.6 billion to Bauchi State as reimbursement for executed federal government projects.

This was a sequel to the adoption of the report of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Promissory Note Programme at plenary.

This development brings to 24, the number of states with outstanding claims for projects executed on behalf of the federal government and approved by the Senate.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Francis Alimikhena, while presenting the report, noted that although the Senate had initially excluded Bauchi and Kogi States, the committee, however, approved a refund for Bauchi, leaving out Kogi but was silent on why Kogi was excluded.

Also commenting, Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, wondered why Kogi State was excluded when President Muhammadu Buhari sought the approval for the issuance of the notes to offset inherited local debts for both Kogi and Bauchi States.

He, therefore, appealed that the president’s request of refund for Kogi State is considered and approved by the Senate next week.

I Will Soon Unveil My Legislative Agenda, Says Lawan

Meanwhile, Lawan has given an assurance that his legislative agenda if elected as Senate president of the ninth National Assembly will soon be made public.

Lawan, who spoke at a meeting with some senators-elect in Abuja on Wednesday night, stated that the agenda will be specific about the direction of the ninth National Assembly.

He added that he will send the draft of the comprehensive agenda to individual senators-elect for their input before the document is released formally to the public.

The Yobe North ranking senator noted that he lost in the contest for the coveted position in 2015 because it was not God’s will for his aspiration to come to fruition.
He commended his colleagues for their sacrifice and dedication in identifying with his cause, assuring that everybody would be carried along.

He said: “I am overwhelmed by the presence of everybody here. We went through this process before in 2015. And those of us who were there they knew the kind of sacrifice, commitments, a dedication that everybody gave.

“But it was the will of God that it will not be and it was never. But we thank God for His blessings. We are still around and believe completely in His decision not to leave us at that time.

“Our colleagues here, everybody has shown commitment. We are seeking the face of God, His blessings, His mercies in this enterprise once again. We are human beings. We can only see the physical. From the physical, we can see there is a lot of success in what we are doing. The other thing that we don’t know is what God has kept to Himself. So, we will continue to pray for God’s intervention in this matter. And let me say that this is something that I personally feel that I have an obligation to each and everyone here. And in fact, even those who are not with us at this time of effort to get to that office but of course, this is our campaign.”

The senators-elect at the meeting included Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Abdulfatai Buhari, Robert Boroffice, Barau Jibrin, Opeyemi Bamidele, Abdullahi Adamu, Francis Alimikhena, Ahmed Babba-Kaita, Dayo Adeyeye, Tijjani Kaura, Abdullahi Gumel, Adamu Bulkachuwa, Ovie Omo-Agege and Ifeanyi Ubah.


SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/17/senate-backs-president-buhari-passes-june-12-democracy-day-bill/

The Ekiti State Government has commenced a move to allegedly sack over 2,000 workers claimed to have been ‘illegally employed’ by the past administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose.

The affected workers include the 2,000 those employed after the July 14, 2018, governorship election won by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Muyiwa Olumilua, who stated this in Ado Ekiti yesterday after the weekly state executive meeting, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) then warned against illegal recruitment and urged job seekers to shun last minute moves by Fayose to employ some people into the state civil service.

Olumilua added that the decision to sack those he described as an illegal staff was arrived at after perusing the reports of a panel set up to review employment into the state civil service in the last four years.


He said: “Fayemi has directed the Head of Service (HoS), Mr Ayodeji Ajayi, to collate all available vacancies in the civil service with the overhead implications to enable the state government to prepare to recruit suitable and qualified Ekiti citizens into the public service, irrespective of the party affiliations

“The officers reinstated into the Local Government Service Commission between October 16, 2014, and October 15, 2018, are to be reabsorbed by the relevant personnel boards as well as migrated to biometric payroll with immediate effect.

“All 272 officers employed by the Fayose administration, who are still on manual payroll, shall be considered for absorption into the civil service but on a case-by-case basis. Absorption will be conditional on the availability of vacancies.

“The 169 officers recruited in 2014 but had their appointments terminated by the Fayose administration shall be considered for reabsorption by the Ekiti State House of Assembly Service Commission, but on a case-by-case basis. Reabsorption will be conditional on the availability of vacancies in their previous offices of appointment.”

The commissioner added: “Officers dismissed between October 16, 2014, and October 15, 2018, in the following ministries should go to the Office of Establishment to ascertain their current status.


“All appointments made after the gubernatorial election of July 2018, an exercise found to have violated due process, are hereby cancelled and declared null and void.

“All affected persons are advised to participate in the next recruitment exercise to be announced in due course.”

Fayose, who reacted to the proposed sack, described the action as the height of wickedness and political vendetta promoted to the peak.

His spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, in a statement last Wednesday said: “Fayemi has only succeeded in writing his name in the history books of the state as one who inflicts pains and sorrow on the people.”

“Fayemi has only demonstrated the wickedness in his heart by sacking Ekiti sons and daughters who were duly employed by the state government.

“It will be on record that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government of Fayose gave jobs to over 2,000 unemployed youths in the state while the APC government of Fayemi sacked them.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Sola Adigun, has appealed to the state government not to use the error and mistake of the past government to mete out punishment on innocent workers.

“This is not a right, but a plea to the government to allow them to remain in the system. We are going to see Governor Fayemi and Head of Service, Ayodeji Ajayi, to please stop this recurrent issue of government sacking those employed by their predecessors,” he said.

The State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, in a statement by the State Publicity Secretary, Mr Jackson Adebayo, noted that the sack of the workers is not only an anti-people policy but an irresponsible politics of a rudderless government.


SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/17/ekiti-state-to-sack-over-2000-workers/

Ipsos foundation Global through Ipsos gives Nigeria has kept to its promise as they recently remitted the sum of €44,264 to Gem HIV/AIDS Initiative (GHAI).

The grant is for the purpose of supporting the “Feed-A-Child-A-Day”Program which is a breakfast project where GHAI provides breakfast to 350 school going children whose parents cannot afford to give them breakfast on school days.

A short ceremony was held recently to present a dummy cheque to Gem HIV/AIDS Initiative (GHAI) on Tuesday, 14th of May. The Project is estimated to be implemented within a period of 11 months.
The Ipsos Foundation Global was founded in 2014 to support Ipsos’ values by focusing on the education of disadvantaged children and youth, and it has to date funded over 1 million euros on a wide range of projects for 15,000 disadvantaged children in 35 countries across the Globe.
In 2018, based on the old mission the Ipsos Foundation team in Nigeria, with the support of the Ipsos Nigeria staff, visited and donated foodstuff, clothes etc. to ROYAL DIAMOND, an orphanage home at Ojodu-Berger, Lagos State.

The new mission of Ipsos gives Nigeria is to focus strategically on supporting and improving the quality of the less privileged in the society, especially women and children.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/17/ipsos-gives-nigeria-initiative-set-to-feed-350-school-children-with-e44264-in-nigeria/

A target of 30-60 students would commence studies for the MSc Film Production in October 2019 as the School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University sets to produce industry-ready graduates for the “new Nollywood of global standards”.

The course starts amid renewed global interest in the study of Nollywood sparked by its mention as one of three market-creating innovations in an essay in the January-February 2019 issue of Harvard Business Review. Harvard scholars Clayton M. Christensen, Efosa Ojomo and Karen Dillon (2019) in “Cracking Frontier Markets”, analysed Nollywood from the perspective of market-leading innovation.

Dr Ikechukwu Obiaya, the dean, announced the commencement of admissions for the new programme at a media briefing Tuesday, May 14.  He said the SMC MSc in Film Production will cover four key knowledge areas of Scripting and Directing for the Screen; Cinematography; Editing for the Screen and Sound Design for the Screen.

He added, “The course offers specialisation options in seven major film production areas of a short film; documentary; interview and feature film. Others are serial drama, commercial filmlet and the music video”.

Obiaya said SMC would run the programme on the back of its deep interest in the industry including its Nollywood Studies Centre with a stock of over 10, 000 films, and its ongoing collaboration with the industry serving as a curriculum guide for the DSTV Multichoice Talent Factory Academy.

The Dean said SMC has first-rate facilities for the study of the film including four studios for audio-visual, sound and audio engineering, four editing suites and 50 units each of Apple and Windows workstations graphics and animation suite.

Players in Nollywood lent their support, including Okechukwu Ogunjiofor, Paulo in the trailblazing Living in Bondage and Femi Odugbemi, anchor of the DSTV MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy for West Africa. There was also Mr Kene Mkparu, founder of the FilmHouse Cinemas and Dapo Adeniyi, who is inviting the world to the new Lekki Film Festival starting in July.

Students have the option of full or part-time study. The course would cover five semesters or seven depending on the stream the student enters. The school targets Nigeria and Africa.

The programme will begin in October 2019. It comprises of five semesters, which is about two and a half years. There are different access options depending on degrees of participants;

Bachelor’s Degree in Film/Television/Motion Picture Production. Holders of this qualification shall be admitted directly to the third semester of the programme.HND in Film/Television/Motion Picture Production. Holders of any of this qualification shall be admitted directly to the second semester of the programme.Bachelor’s Degree/HND in any cognate discipline (Mass Communication/Communication Arts, Theatre Arts/Dramatic Arts, etc.). Holders of this qualification shall be eligible for some discretionary waivers, depending on the nature and strength of their previous work, as evidenced in their transcript/portfolioAlso, a Bachelor’s Degree/HND in any other discipline will be considered.

Course structure: Specialisation will be Scripting & Directing for the screen, as well as Cinematography.

Breakdown of specialisation includes;

*The short film
*The TV/film documentary
*The feature film
*Adaptation to screenThe TV serial drama
*The commercial filmlet/TV commercial
*The music videoThe TV interview programme

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/15/pan-atlantic-university-begins-admissions-for-m-sc-in-film-production/

The Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, on Thursday, bemoaned the increasing number of out of school children in the country.

The Ekiti State first Lady said available statistics indicated that the girl child accounted for over six million out of the 10.5 million that lack access to formal education in the country. She outlined this as one of the major impediments to the progress and leadership of Nigerian Women.

Stressing that presently, women representation at the National Assembly and other levels of government is almost non-existential, she, however, predicted that with the gradual conscious efforts being made to sensitize women, there would be better representation in future elections.

Erelu Fayemi stated this on Thursday while delivering the 5th Distinguished lecture of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, titled: ‘Clapping With One Hand: Female Education, Leadership and the Quest for National Development’.

In her lecture, the First Lady noted that the atrocities committed by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram have had a devastating effect on millions of citizens, particularly women and children. This, according to her has disrupted the education of many children, with a dire implication on their future and in turn the future of the country.

She added that despite their successes and achievements, millions of women and girls still suffer from the feminization of poverty, lack of access to basic resources, diseases, violent conflict and the complex use of culture, religion and tradition to render the female gender voiceless in the society.

According to Erelu Fayemi, “the gains of women are often eroded when faced with a combination of the following obstacles: Patriarchal Power and Privilege; violent conflict and displacement; lack of political will; religious and cultural conservatism; and ideological differences.

” Inaccessible political machinery and godfather’s syndrome; lack of financial investment required for political office; violence and intimidation; Cultural and attitudinal barriers are major factors that are limiting women and reducing their capacities to rise to the top”, she said.

“Patriarchy is a system of male authority which legitimizes the oppression of women through political, social, economic, legal cultural, religious and military institutions.

“Men’s access to, and control over resources and rewards within the private and public sphere derives its legitimacy from the patriarchal ideology of male dominance,” She explained further.

The First lady added: ” If you look at the configuration of the National Assembly since 2011, women representation has always been very bad and this has not given women ample opportunity to participate in setting legal framework that regulates governance. It was better in 2011, dropped in 2015, but became worse in 2019″, she added.

She said these factors should not discourage the women from demanding for our right.

The Ekiti First Lady further said: “Crimes against women are on the increase, gender violence, rape, trafficking, sexual exploitation, discrimination and kidnapping, amongst others. All these issues make the atmosphere very unsafe for women”.

Erelu Fayemi called for holistic implementation and enforcement of relevant laws that tend to tame gender inequality and promote women’s interest to enhance their relevance in all sectors.

She further advised women “to seek conceptual clarity on gender and feminism, to research use of legislative and policy framework, build a platform to make political demands, encourage inter-generational organising, engage in resource mobilisation, make educational institution safe for female gender, prepare for leadership and build a legacy that can attract public respect.

“These are the different ways that we can reset the agenda and as a society claps with both hands,” she noted.

Present at the event were the representative of the Governor of Ondo State, Special Adviser, Education, Dr Wumi Ilawole and Olori Olayinka Kiladejo, Wife of the Osemawe of Ondo.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/15/60-of-out-of-school-children-in-nigeria-are-females-erelu-fayemi/

LG Electronics received over 100,000 orders for its first 5G smartphone the first weekend of sales in Korea. Local mobile carriers said the device’s first-week sales volume already surpassed that of its predecessor, the V40 ThinQ, the Korea Times reports. 

The V50 ThinQ smartphone, first unveiled at MWC in February and launched 10 May, sold three times as many units as the V40 ThinQ in its first week of sales, an unnamed official from a mobile carrier told the paper.

LG was scheduled to launch the V50 ThinQ on 19 April but changed the release date to 10 May to make sure the device worked well on the 5G networks. Samsung earlier launched its first 5G smartphone in Korea, a new version of the Galaxy S10.

Thanks to the popularity, the number of people who have subscribed to 5G services in Korea surpassed the 400,000 marks. Korea launched 5G mobile networks on 03 April.

The 5G smartphone is officially priced at KRW 1.19 million. However, mobile carriers have offered subsidies of KRW 500,000 to 700,000 to attract more consumers to  5G services. The high subsidies prompted a warning from the Korea Communications Commission for operators SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus, which said it would impose fines if it finds any violations in the heated competition for 5G customers.


SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/14/lg-sells-over-100000-5g-smartphones-in-first-weekend-of-sales/

All is now set for the maiden edition of Nigerian Telecom Leadership Summit (NTLS 2019) which will hold at the Grand Ball Room of Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday, May 23, 2019.

The Summit’s theme: “Repositioning the Nigerian Telecom Industry for Future Challenges and Prospects”, according to the initiator – the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) – is in line with the Commission’s commitment to improving the investment climate of the Nigerian Telecom industry.

It is geared towards sustaining a robust collaborative regulatory environment in order to address current and future challenges of the sector.
As part of the programme of collaborative regulatory atmosphere, the summit presents a unique opportunity for NCC to interact with key stakeholders to discuss pertinent issues affecting the industry with a view to proffering solutions to address challenges. It is also designed to critically analyse the current state of the industry and to make profound recommendations for sustaining a healthy Nigerian telecom industry.


The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo GCON SAN, will be the Special Guest of Honour, while the Keynote will be delivered by Dr Omobola Johnson, former Minister of Communications Technology, on the topic: “Best Fit Infrastructure Investment Choice for an Emerging Market.”

His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, and the Minister of Communications, Honourable AbdurRaheem Adebayo Shittu are expected to address the gathering as guests. The Chairman NCC Board of Commissioners, Otunba Olabiyi Durojaiye will also attend the event alongside the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive (EVC/CE) of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, who will present an overview of the status of the Industry as a prelude to the Keynote and Panel Discussions.


Eminent persons and other stakeholders participating in the Summit have been slated as panellists in a discourse focused on: “The Challenges Facing the Nigerian Telecoms Industry, Way Forward and the Role of the Regulator”. Further discussion will also take place on the topic: “Implications of Multiple Taxation on Telecom Investments in Nigeria” after a presentation on the subject by Dr. Doyin Salami of the Lagos Business School.

Among the panelists for the two segments are: Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Ms. Yewande Sadiku, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC); Mr. Abubakar Mahmood (SAN), immediate past President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); and Mr. Joseph Tegbe, Senior Partner at KPMG. The President, Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola, and his counterpart at the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo is also on the panels, while Professor Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) will speak on: “The Role of the Mandatory Code of Corporate Governance in the Nigerian Telecom Industry.”

With investments estimated at over $70 Billion beginning, active lines in the voice segment standing at 173.7 million as at March 2019, a teledensity of 91% as at March 2019, and with 63 million broadband users representing 33.22% of Nigeria’s projected population of 190 million, Professor Danbatta affirms that the Nigerian telecommunications sector is “work in progress.”


SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/13/ncc-hosts-maiden-telecom-leadership-summit/

eTranzact, Africa’s premier e-payments solution provider, has been specially recognized with the Best Corporate Turnaround and Transformation award at the Business Day Top 25 CEOs & Next Bulls Awards.

The event which was organized by Business Day Media in conjunction with the Nigerian Stock Exchange(NSE), recognize companies and CEOs that have taken actions that have grown or substantially improve their business, and offer prospects of long-term value. 

MD/CEO eTranzact Plc, Mr. Niyi Toluwalope, receiving the Business Day Top 25 CEOs and Turnaround & Transformation Awards. He is flanked by the CEO of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema and Chairman, Editorial of BusinessDay, Mr. Frank Aigbogun. Brand Spur Nigeria

For eTranzact, this has been clearly demonstrated by the enhanced performance of the company’s switching platform, its sustainable financial results, and the restoration of confidence among shareholders and major customers. The company also embarked on strategic investment in its people and infrastructure, which has led to better customer retention, and improved service delivery. 

Also, in the same event, the MD/CEO, eTranzact International PLC, Mr Niyi Toluwalope, was awarded one of the Top 25 CEOs’ Awards in recognition of his stellar performance. While receiving both awards, Mr Toluwalope expressed his delight at the great transformation happening in the company. He stated that: “We are very excited we were able to improve on our earnings, and put factors in place to achieve sustainability.” According to him, “we were focused on setting key performance indices around user experience, platform stability and technology development, and we are pleased that we were able to achieve the goals we set for ourselves.”

eTranzact is Nigeria’s first award-winning, multi-application and multi-channel electronic transaction switching and payment processing platform.  It has evolved into a brand with global reach with operations in Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, with expansion inclination to more countries in the world. 

Since Inception, eTranzact has deployed mobile payment solutions to banks, non-bank financial institutions and was recently granted a license by the CBN to provide Mobile Money services to individuals with a special focus on the unbanked.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/05/13/etranzact-receives-award-for-best-corporate-turnaround-and-transformation-photos/