To feed nine billion people by 2050, global food production needs to increase by 70 percent. Farmers in Africa, and across the world, are using Climate-Smart Agriculture practices to combat the impacts of Climate Change on crop production.
RIGHT ENTREPRENEURIAL HABITS
If your dream is to create this unique kind of
business/lifestyle, you would need to start forming the habits that will help
you. Hard work isn’t enough. Massive action isn’t enough. Focused effort along
with good habits is what will help you achieve your goals. Here are three
habits crucial to success in building a lifestyle business, any business for
that matter.
HAVING THE RIGHT
PRIORITIES: In building a
lifestyle business, your priorities start with a strong mindset. You have to
“see it” and believe it. Fill
your mind with inspiration daily. Podcasts, videos and books can be your best
friend. Consume what will either help your next steps or what will inspire you
to take action. Building an audience is your sole priority, if the type of
business you do doesn’t target any audience, there is virtually no means of you
making money.
BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR NICHE: you can’t run a business you aren’t
comfortable with, build the type of business that supports your thinking and
your lifestyle. Developing ideas of a business you cannot defend or that you do
not believe in is a wrong move if you are aiming for a peaceful lifestyle.
KNOWING MEDIOCRITY IS A DREAM KILLER: it’s crucial to be
grateful and contented, so also, it is important not to accept mediocrity or
complacency. The bigger the dreams, the greater the success. Don’t settle for
less when there is still more that you can do.
If your dreams are going to become a reality, you have to
push yourself hard enough. Don’t get comfortable with lifestyles that won’t
drive you to your goals. Your lifestyle is a determinant of the quality of your
success.
WHY WOMEN ARE IMPORTANT TO TECH INNOVATIONS IN NIGERIA
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
One of the core
conversations at the 2016 edition of TECHPLUS, was the role of women in
technology.
Experts at the
agenda-setting event acknowledged that it was time for women to be given the
space to work and find their feet and also for women themselves to show more
level of involvement.
"It is important
we pay attention to women," said Emilia Asim, who sits on TECHPLUS
Advisory Committee. "Women and young people make up a larger quota of the
population all over the world. That is where women in technology come in."
"Women have to be
given an opportunity to be better included. Technology is now used as a tool
for gender inclusion all over the world."
According to TECHPLUS,
women in technology is focused on driving the greater inclusion of women in the
technological space, opening up the vista for gender-balance, feminine
friendliness, and advanced technological gains through the inclusion of women.
Successfully addressing
the gender gaps in these areas can unlock significant commercial and
socio-economic opportunities, benefiting businesses, women, and societies.
But Asim explained the
gender disparity in the technology ecosystem may be due to many women not
paying "close attention to technology."
According to her, women
"fall short when it comes to tech innovation, career involvement and
having a stronger voice in the tech ecosystem," in spite of being arguably
biggest consumers of technology. Giving examples of Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi is the
Founder and Executive Director of the Women's Technology Empowerment Centre
(WTEC) and Uneku Atawodi, the General Manager of the Meltwater Entrepreneurial
School of Technology (MEST), Asim said women were already breaking the glass
ceiling in the Nigerian tech industry.
She advised the federal
government to invest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM). She said Nigeria would only be able to compete in the world tech space
if only the government could prioritise investment in those areas.
"The government at
the federal level needs to earmark a strategy that will drive STEM education
for girls all over the country," she said.
Giving her opening
remark at Africa's biggest technology conference, Chairperson of Alliance for
Affordable Internet, Dr. Omobola Johnson, stated that developments in
technology are fundamentally altering the way people live, connect, communicate
and transact. These developments, in her view, have had profound effects on economic
development in Nigeria and Africa at large. According to her, to promote tech
advancement, developing countries should invest in quality education for youth,
continuous skills training for workers and managers for all stakeholders to
understand the importance of the continuous revolution.
TECHPLUS is a gathering
of everything technology, providing a robust tripartite tech experience through
its conferences, exhibitions and gaming structures whilst serving as a platform
for knowledge sharing and networking for the consumers and businesses.
Food for the Future: Agriculture in a Sustainable World
"Social Dimensions of Green Economy and Sustainable Development"
Life Story of Billionaire Warren Buffet - Documentary
Watch the documentary of one of the richest people in the world, Warren Buffet
MODULAR REFINERIES: CONSEQUENTIAL TO JOB CREATION.
Thursday, July 28, 2016
"We cannot
continue to close our eyes to the looming crisis of unemployment on the African
continent", said Tony Elumelu, recently. "With nearly 200 million
people aged 15-24, Africa has the youngest and most rapidly growing population
in the world. By 2045, our youth population will double to exceed that of China
and India. By 2020, Africa will need 122 million jobs if we are to succeed in
the fight against poverty and maintain political stability and global
security".
The unemployment
problem in Nigeria will persist without creative thinking. Thinking out of the
box (or thinking beyond the box) is a metaphor for thinking differently,
unconventionally, or from a new perspective. This phrase often refers to novel
or creative thinking At times, it may result in frank and insightful
re-appraisal of a situation, oneself, and managing the progress of standard
operating procedures of an organisation. Imagine Nigeria as a farmer with
bountiful crop yields, but unable to cook the farm products, and seeks and buys
cooked food from restaurants at enormous cost. It is foolish for economic,
security, and strategic reasons.
To be successful, our
leaders must be purpose- driven. Like the heavens, we need order. Money is not
everything. We need thoughtful, progressive ideas like ideas that enabled
automobiles, aeroplanes, to be manufactured, etc., yet we cannot decide on
modular refineries.
The issues of
unemployment, fuel scarcity, PIB, and illegal refineries have been lingering
because of paralysis from analysis. Like the parable of the donkey that starved
to death, the donkey was placed at an equal distance between a carrot on his
left, and a carrot on his right. Since he was equally distant from both, he
couldn't make up his mind which one to choose. As a result of his inability to
decide, he was stuck in the middle, and eventually starved to death.
People suffer from
'paralysis from analysis', constantly over-analyzing and unable to take a firm
decision, and stick with it. As a result, they miss a lot of opportunities, and
figuratively starve themselves to death as the opportunities disappear. Nigeria
has crude oil asset, which is consequential to any job creation activities. To
economically convert raw crude oil into more useful fuels and petrochemicals,
multitude of tanks and vessels, numerous pipes of varying sizes, fired heaters,
pumps and compressors, heat exchangers, reactors, and distillation columns,
instrumentation and control systems, and more, are used, and need to be
designed, manufactured, and produced to create employment
In reality, a refinery
is an organised and coordinated arrangement of manufacturing processes designed
to produce physical and chemical changes in crude oil and natural gas.
One way to solve
Nigeria's fuel scarcity problem is to install modular refineries at strategic
locations (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Delta, Ondo, Lagos,
and the distribution network: Integrated product pipeline system - 4300 km,
crude oil pipeline network - 700 km, pumping/booster stations - 20).
Modular refineries are
flexible and cost- effective supply option for crude producers in remote
regions. This is particularly true where there is a need to adapt rapidly to
meet local demand. Relatively low capital cost, speed and ease of construction
are key advantages of a modular mini-refinery. Location in close proximity and
access to crude supply near to sizeable markets will provide logistic
advantage.
To assist in developing
the country, we should contribute through the vital role of technology in the
systematic transformation of the production systems and capacities. Why?
Because development will always depend on the internal innovative capacities of
a society, for it is man rather than machine that creates development.
Technology transfer is a myth for nonproductive nations, and a reality for the
nations with new means of production, capital formation, and technical
knowledge. Sustained economic growth is then further ignited, accentuated, and
escalated by increasing technical wisdom.
The first units in a
refinery involve no chemical reactions or catalysts. Rather, based on each
component's boiling point, they separate and distribute to a range of
components for further downstream processing and conversion. Downstream units
include such equipment as pumps and compressors, heat exchangers, reactors, and
distillation columns.
Various consumer goods
from refining processes can create jobs in producing Liquefied petroleum gas,
gasoline for vehicles, jet fuel, paraffin for lighting and heating, diesel
fuels, lubricating oils, waxes, and polishes, fuels for ships, factories and central
heating, asphalt for roads and roofing.
Products from a modular
liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant can also be used to create jobs in aerospace
and defence, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, chemicals, construction and
infrastructure, electronics, food and beverage, glass, medical, laboratories,
metallurgy, metal fabrication, rubber and plastics, power and energy, pulp and
paper, petrochemicals and refining, mobility and transportation industries.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN.
Young Rich : Tony Kibagendi
The inspiring story of a young entrepreneur that has made himself a living from creating many companies.
MANY WAYS TO COME INTO EVENT PLANNING.
Event planning and
hosting of parties is one of those activities that are no longer taken for
granted in the world especially in countries like Nigeria where the new trends
in entertainment and beautifying has found a way to the top of income sources.
With the arrival of many entertainment and celebrity bloggers, new fashion and
make up trends, there has been a consistent call for improvement in event
planning and many other derivative businesses. There are so many businesses
which are related to event planning and entertainment which people have found a
way to improve and increase its viability in the societal market. There are
many ways in which an entrepreneur or aspiring entrepreneur can come into
entertainment, event planning and a host of other professions to make good
money in a reasonable time pace.
Ushering business is
also another lucrative way to make money from events and occasion. Many
ushering companies started as a one man business that looked for means of
recruiting people for the sole purpose of receiving guest at occasions. There
is always a need for ushers from time to time either for small gatherings or
even larger gatherings for political and societal purposes.
Venue decoration is
another trendy business in Nigeria today. Churches, event centres and
multipurpose hall all get decorated for different occasions depending on the
taste and class of the host. This is another opportunity that can be considered
for business and which can fetch good income or even serve as an alternative
means of making money for interested people.
Make over is a very
lucrative and sustainable way to make money in the world of today. Contrary to
beliefs that make up only involves the application of products on the face and
tying of head gear for events, make up goes beyond the regular crave for good
looks. Movie productions, stage performances, music productions and different
occasions all make good use of makeup artist in the production of their works.
Make up can be done on a good scale to make a good living.
Photography and
cinematography is also a business that is trendy and which people now pay
attention to. The arrival of social media platforms like instagram, facebook
and twitter has given the need to for people to showcase quality photographed
picture. People now spend more on getting a good photo and video documentation
of their events. This is another opportunity that could be considered in event
making business.
There are many
opportunities waiting to be taken, no sector is saturated enough, all that is
needed is creativity and innovation. The urge to do something regular
differently is all that you need.
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SALES ABILITY.
Many companies and
business outlets train their staff to be better salespeople by perfecting their
approach, repeating the same opening lines with every client and essentially
turning themselves into sales robots.
For some industries,
this approach is actually effective. However,
in the true sense of it, effective sales demands much more creativity,
and a more fine-tuned approach. Speaking like a robot and repeating a spiel ad
infinitum turns people away, but there’s another way to become a more effective
salesperson. It is better to focus on the purpose for the sales, rather than
other metrics.
FOCUS ON PURPOSE: this
literally means adjusting your sales strategy to focus on delivering
suggestions based on what a customer needs, rather than presenting a list of
products that your customer may or may not care about. Sales is about trying to
achieve a good fit. When a good fit is achieved, a transaction takes place.
Traditional sales metrics are about trying to find clients that fit your
products and services. Selling with purpose is more about finding good
clients than fitting your products and services to their needs.
PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS:
It’s important to acknowledge that most successful businesses aren’t created as
ideas for products, they’re created as ideas for solutions. Rather than
dreaming up some novel configuration of services, successful entrepreneurs look
at a given problem in a target market and develop a solution for it. This makes
it easier for you to make sales as there is a readymade market for the products
you are trying to sell.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR
CLIENTS: this approach familiarise you with your clients on a more intimate
level. Rather than just talking to them, you’ll actually listen to them
and try to understand their goals, their needs, their pain
points and problems with similar providers they’ve had in the past.
With this knowledge,
you’ll be able to put together a customized solution that works for them,
specifically increasing the likelihood that they’ll follow your
recommendations.
Selling with the best
intention of helping a client is the easiest way to thrive as a sales rep and
also to close more deals. Being more concerned about how you can be of help and
how a client can benefit from you is more rewarding than just going after the
idea of making money alone.
AIRLINES SEEK 45% INCREASE IN FARES
Friday, 29th
July 2016.
On the heels of the scarcity and attendant hardship on air travellers, The Guardian observed that rates, which normally range between N18, 000 and N23, 000 for economy class across the airlines, went up to about N30, 000 to N39, 800. The price is subject to the time of purchase and airline of choice.
Government pledges to
end aviation fuel scarcity.
The current spike in
the exchange rate of the dollar to the naira may be taking its toll on the
country's foreign-exchange-dependent aviation sector as airline operators seek
to increase their fares by 45 per cent.
The dollar exchange
rate, which currently stands at N350, according to the airline operators, has
further pushed the cost of running the business beyond them.
Some operators told The
Guardian that their plight was not helped by the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority (NCAA) disapproval of a new air fare regime that should have
officially gone up by 45 per cent, to keep pace with the dollar rate.
Some airlines, however,
appear to have resorted to self-help in raising ticket prices for
over-the-counter purchase.
The act, which is
described as a sharp practice by NCAA's rules, has seen some tickets gone up by
N10, 000 to N20, 000, depending on the airline and the time of purchase.
An operator, who is
also a leading member of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), told The
Guardian on the condition of anonymity that the current fare regime, in
relation to foreign exchange, was not realistic.
He said: "The
current rate is killing our business and it seems our regulators don't care if
we go into extinction. The truth is that this sector cannot survive under the
current realities. You cannot do anything without the dollar, which is not in
anyway favourable."
The operator added that
several planes were either due for checks or had been sent for the same purpose
overseas but still could not be returned due to the further high cost of
service caused by the forex spike.
It would be recalled
that the aviation fuel scarcity that almost grounded operations nationwide last
week was due to oil marketers' staunch refusal to import the product, otherwise
called Jet-A1, into the country at an exchange rate higher than N300.
The situation had to be
salvaged by the Federal Government's intervention that availed forex to the
importers at an interbank rate. On the heels of the scarcity and attendant hardship on air travellers, The Guardian observed that rates, which normally range between N18, 000 and N23, 000 for economy class across the airlines, went up to about N30, 000 to N39, 800. The price is subject to the time of purchase and airline of choice.
Some operators have,
however, openly supported the hike. A former manager of the defunct Chanchangi
Airlines, Mohammed Tukur, at the weekend said that the airline operators had
been boxed to a corner by the current harsh economic condition, and left with
no choice than to raise fares.
Tukur, who was also the
Assistant Secretary-General of the AON, added that the carriers were in dire
straits, but would survive if fares were raised.
"You look at the
dollar; you now buy everything in dollar. Airline business is heavily
dollarised. Maintenance cost has gone up, the airlines pay so many charges to
the aviation agencies, among other sundry charges. It should not be less than
N35, 000 if they really want to break even. Their fear is that if they raise
airfare, people would take to road travel. It is still very cheap to fly in
Nigeria."
The NCAA had, however,
denied raising ticket fares for local airlines. The aviation regulatory body
said though airfares, add-ons, charges, tariffs and terms and condition of
service are fully liberalised, they are all subject to NCAA's approval before
coming to effect.
The spokesman for the
NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, said airfares and sundry charges had been statutorily
deregulated and subjected to market forces.
He said that
notwithstanding, all air carriers or their agents were expected to file with
the authority, a tariff for that service showing all rates, fares and add-on
charges, including the terms and conditions of free and reduced rate
transportation for that service, as specified in IS.18.14.1.1.
Another requirement for
airfare raise is for the carriers to obtain approval from the NCAA to introduce
and or increase add-on charges or surcharges such as fuel, Internet booking,
insurance, security and similar surcharges, prior to implementation.
Meanwhile, the Minister
of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has assured that the Federal
Government is doing everything possible to tackle the scarcity of aviation
fuel.
Kachickwu who spoke
yesterday to aviation correspondents at the Nnamdi Azikwe International
Airport, Abuja said the sector had been privatised and the production of Jet A1
was entirely in the hands of the private sector. He said the government had
been trying to work with the private sector to douse the rousing tension.
Kachikwu disclosed that
in the short term, he had been trying to liaise with countries where there is
immediate availability of the product, and in the long term, the government
would resume the Jet A1 production in the refineries.
"Every one of us,
including the newly sworn in General Managing Director of the Nigeria National
Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) are doing our best to find a short-term solution
to this problem before looking at the systemic problem and how it has affected
the private sector to provide the aviation fuel."
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
Young CEO - Bilikiss Adebiyi
Wecyclers founder and CEO, Bilikis Adebiyi Abiola shows us how "one man's waste is another man's treasure" in this edition of Young CEO.
Watch to find out how she used a simple business model to convert over 2,000 tones of waste into over N1 million naira worth of prizes and incentives, and to create numerous jobs within the community.
Watch to find out how she used a simple business model to convert over 2,000 tones of waste into over N1 million naira worth of prizes and incentives, and to create numerous jobs within the community.
Young Rich - The Farming Edition
One of the fastest growing industries especially among the youth in Kenya is the agricultural industry. This week Young Rich brings you some of those stories and features a company that could soon see the farmers linked with the buyers with the click of a button.
GROWING YOUR BUSINESS BEYOND THE START UP PHASE.
FLEXIBILITY IN WORK HOURS: flexibility and the work life
balance it affords is a benefit. If you want to hire the best talent, flexible
hours are an important to consider, try getting rid of the idea of the “9 to 5”
employees. An employee's option to work from home and the ability to set their
own hours can attract top-notch prospects. As long as the work is getting done
on time, it doesn’t matter when or where that happens.
VALUE EMPLOYEES IDEAS: One of the best parts of working at a
start up is that your ideas are heard. As a company gets bigger, this becomes
more unlikely. Don’t give up this openness. Employees feel empowered when they
can bring their creative ideas to the table and have their voices heard. Good
ideas can come from anyone at a company.
ENCOURAGE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS: At a start-up, everyone knows
everyone. But as the company thrives, teams often break off into smaller groups
and communication can start to suffer. Facilitate channels for interaction so
that people get to know each other personally. Host events on a regular basis
and create activities that encourage mingling between groups.
MAKE THE WORK ENVIRONMENT FUN TO BE: start ups often have
very appealing work environments that employees want to engage with. These
leisure spaces encourage much-needed breaks, which helps stimulate curiosity
and boost productivity. As companies grow larger, keep these kinds of spaces
abundant around the office.
BENEFIT FROM THE GROWTH: Start ups are in business to
succeed. No one is going to complain about the job security that growth can
bring. Being profitable is a good sign that your business is working and it can
help your company retain talent. Use growth to overcome the misconception that employees
will be working 16 hours a day for a company that won’t be around tomorrow.
This stability will attract top experienced talent.
Use the passion, openness and flexibility to lure success to
your business even beyond the start up stage.
ENTREPRENEURS IN AFRICA: BE INSPIRED.
Africa is one of the
continents in the world with the fastest growing economy, it is therefore no
surprise that Africa continues to produces young, vibrant entrepreneurs who are
taking the face of business and economy to another level.
Many of them are
specialising in different fields and are giving opportunities to the masses by
providing jobs and inspiring many more people to become entrepreneurs
themselves. They are impacting into the
society on a daily basis and their stories are inspiring to witness. 
SANGU DELLE (GHANA) CEO
GOLDEN PALMS INVESTMENT.
Sangu is a 28 year old
vibrant and very influential Ghanaian entrepreneur. He is the brain behind
Golden Palm Investments, Ghana. A holding company that invest in early stage
venture and growth capital financing across Africa, particularly in Real
etstate, healthcare, agribusiness and technology. The GPI has backed start-ups
such as SOLO mobile in Nigeria, mPharma in Ghana and Stawi Foods of Kenya. In
health care, he and his team have built a successful chain of hospitals in
Ghana, which they hope to expand into the region. He is a fast rising
entrepreneur with great and enviable business initiatives and passion towards
bringing about significant changes in the life of Africans.
ALLY EDHA AWADH
(TANZANIA) CEO, LAKE OIL GROUPS
Lake Group of companies
commenced operations in March 2006 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, just as an oil
marketing company. The group owns Lake Oil Limited, Lake Gas Ltd and Lake Trans
ltd, Gulf premix ltd. Lake group has also entered into cylinder manufacturing.
It is now one of the largest distributors of petroleum products in Tanzania and
exports to neighbouring countries also.
ISAAC OBOTH (UGANDA)
CEO, MEDIA 256
Media 256 started in
2010 by the 26 year old CEO. It is a successful film production company, having
risked it all by quitting university to start his own company. Orphaned at a
young age, Isaac learned early on the importance of making a living by creating
opportunities. Now, media 256 has a client list that includes Coca Cola, UNDP,
USAID, the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange, Marie Stopes International and the
African leadership network and the African leadership academy.
ADII PIENAAR (SOUTH
AFRICA) CO FOUNDER, WOOTHEMES.
He is one of the 3 co
founders of Woothemes, a company that designs and develops customized commercial
themes and plugings for WordPress. Adii built the business with a bootstrap
budget, and the company today generates over $3 million revenues from the sales
of its theme. Pienaar has since exited the company and now runs a PubicBeta, a
service that allows successful entrepreneurs to transfer knowledge to new start
ups.
UCHE PEDRO (NIGERIA)
CEO BELLANAIJA
She is a 32 year old
Nigerian Entrepreneur, who is the founder of Bellanaija, an entertainment,
fashion and lifestyle website. She is one of the most popular bloggers in
Nigeria. Her site was created in 2006, she has grown to be one of the hottest destinations
for celebrity news and fashion trends on the internet, attracting more than 10
million page views per month.SOFTWARE PRACTITIONERS SEEK ENFORCEMENT OF 'MADE-IN-NIGERIA' CAMPAIGN
Wednesday, July 27,
2016
Worried about with this development, ISPON visited the Ministry of Communication to trade ideas on software development and Nigeria's drive towards enthroning a knowledge economy.
Noting that 'Made- in- Nigeria' IT solutions and services could be retooled for global competitions, he said that the Wing Federal Secretariat Ikoyi would have been a mini version of silicon valley for Nigeria where resources would have been collocated for better results.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
As the race to becoming
a knowledge economy gets intensified among nations, especially in Africa, with
countries including Rwanda, Angola already leading the pace, software
practitioners in the country have insisted that the 'Made- in-Nigeria' campaign
would make huge difference for the country if well articulated and enforced by
the government.
This is even has it has
been adequately revealed that Nigerian branded computers represented less than
eight per cent of all computers bought in the country.
Speaking in Lagos, at
the second edition of TechPlus, a Director from the National Information and
Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Dr. Femi Adeluyi, said from the agency's
oversight function, it discovered that local PC manufacturers can only boast of
controlling just eight per cent of the market, with dominance coming from the
foreign brands.
He revealed that there
has been serious Import-Export Imbalance in the country. Quoting, a United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report, Adeluyi said in
2012, Nigeria imported $2 billion of Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
goods but only exported $5 million, which leaves the country with an
Export-Import Ratio of 1: 4001.
Meanwhile, Software
Practitioners, under the aegis of the Institute of Software Practitioners of
Nigeria (ISPON), during their visit to the Minister of Communications, Adebayo
Shittu, in Abuja, at the weekend, urged the Federal Government to enforce
earlier directive on the patronage of Made- in-Nigeria IT solutions by the
regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The Federal Executive
Council in 2006 through the then Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief
Ufot Ekaette, in a memo had directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies
(MDAs) to patronise 'Made-in-Nigeria' software products and services.
However and probably
because there were no sanctions to back the order, consumption of foreign IT
products and service has plummeted in the country. Worried about with this development, ISPON visited the Ministry of Communication to trade ideas on software development and Nigeria's drive towards enthroning a knowledge economy.
According to ISPON, the
country's quest for digital economy may not materialize, unless software
development in Nigeria is given a major priority.
In his presentation to
the minister, the ISPON President, Olorogun James Emadoye, prayed the
government to have a rethink on software Nigeria. Noting that 'Made- in- Nigeria' IT solutions and services could be retooled for global competitions, he said that the Wing Federal Secretariat Ikoyi would have been a mini version of silicon valley for Nigeria where resources would have been collocated for better results.
Lamenting that
Nigeria's e-readiness is worrisome due to policy inconsistency; Emadoye said
that there was need to create new inclusive relationships in public sector at
all levels of governance as well as cross-sectoral stakeholder communities.
While urging the
minister to facilitate earlier directive on patronage of software Nigeria, he
added that there was need to accelerate and deepen its engagements to energise
the ecosystem and connect with as many of the players and institutions emerging
in the country.
According to him, for
Nigeria's prosperity beyond oil, ICT holds significant opportunities and
"which ever way we look at it, software is strategic to that huge potential.
Emadoye pointed out
that the war against corruptions is a digital one, which is a small task for
ISPON; an area where software practitioners can intervene in government without
much noise, with little capital expenditure and more effective results.
"Software
developers and Software entrepreneurs are global citizens able to work across
boarders without travelling restrictions", he explained.
According to Emadoye,
ISPON wants the National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
to take up this challenge.
As such in realization
of Ministry of Communication as the main government department charged with the
development of IT sector of which software is core, the ISPON President said
there was need to introduce computer programming and software in primary and
secondary schools; initiate immediate revision of software /computer
engineering courses for tertiary institutions; creation of Software and Future
Technology Institute (SFTI) in Nigeria.
Responding, Shittu, who
admitted that he was not aware of the earlier government's directive on
software Nigeria, urged software practitioners to come up with new proposals on
how best to move the industry forward.
He pledged that a
section of the Abuja Technology Village could be converted to an IT Park for
innovation and exhibition of software solutions.
"We welcome good
suggestions that can move the industry forward. Come up with good ideas",
he stated.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
Forbes Africa TV: Nigerian Oil Mogul Femi Otedola, the billionaire that bounced back
My Worst Day Episode 3 features Nigerian Oil Mogul Femi Otedola, the billionaire that bounced back. Femi Otedola takes us on a journey of one of his darkest days in business when he lost everything he had worked so hard to build leaving him with only two choices; to commit suicide or weather the storm.
COMMON TRAITS OF SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS.
Attaining success is
not an easy task, so as staying successful. There are many entrepreneurs today
who have adopted certain traits and attributes which are worth emulating and
considering if you aim at being successful also. Many household names and well
known people like Aliko Dangote, Folorunso Alakija, Femi Otedola are people who
have given it all it takes and strive so hard not only to attain success, but
to also maintain it.
Here are few traits
common with successful entrepreneurs.
THEY THINK BIG:
entrepreneurs think big and outside the box. Despite the fact that many of
these known names started small, they think beyond the present and have the
capacity of a mind that can achieve beyond their goals. They think big and
wide. Despite Aliko Dangote being in the food processing line, it didn’t stop
him from going into cement distribution and he is also considering the
structuring of a refinery. Small minds can’t dream this big or huge. Only
people who are aimed at success think way outside of the box.
THEY ARE OPPORTUNIST:
people who cannot identify opportunities and seize them are not likely to go
beyond mediocrity. Successful people are opportunist. They take advantage of
ideas and means many people do not consider and make something huge out of it
eventually. If Folorunso Alakija, who is a fashion designer and banker could
apply for the allocation of an Oil Prospecting License and she is the most
successful and richest Nigerian woman today, it is obvious that identifying
opportunities are crucial to success.
THEY HAVE PURPOSE AND
VISION: every successful hand has a vision and purpose that drive them, they
have solutions to problems and they have wants they want to satisfy. Dangote
group for example have the vision of providing basic needs for all Nigerians
and today, they have at least a product any Nigerian can purchase and derive
value from. There must be a valuable purpose for a vision to be successful.
THEY ARE FOCUSED ON
THEIR NICHE: every man has his path. If you are going to be successful, you
have to create your area of comfort and expertise and stick to it. Femi Otedola
stuck with oil and gas, Dangote concentrated on commodity provision while Mike
Adenuga focused on oil and gas, then telecoms.
THEY ARE FLEXIBLE:
Successful people know how to stay flexible, they know when to invest into a
business and when not to. They can read the economy and the society and they
know how to make the right decisions when it comes to investments and making
money.
P Diddy - You Are Powerful
Sean Combs, the American hip hop recording artist, record producer, entrepreneur and actor, gives a motivational speech on self realisation and becoming a success.
3 IMPORTANT TOOLS TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY.
Many a time, people
equate productivity to hardwork or better still, smart work. In the true sense
of entrepreneurship, the ability to be a go getter is the most important factor
when trying to improve productivity. Maximum productivity involves courage most
importantly, then wisdom and hardwork.
Courage is the tool
that separate people with the same tools and opportunities from one another.
COURAGE: when you study
the richest and the most enterprising people in the world, it is not hard to
understand that courage is what differentiates the successful from the poor.
Courage is the ability to accept to go in the direction of your dreams
irrespective of how uncomfortable the situation is. Most people lack the courage needed to take
risk that is going to spring them into their breakthroughs. It takes courage to
take a step, it takes courage to face challenges.
SMART WORK: it is
secondly important to know, that it is not how hard you work or how long it
involves. It is how smart you can carry out any work process in as little time
as possible that defines the improvement in your level of productivity. Smart
work, effective strategies and innovative thinking are the ways to go when
looking to improve your productivity.
MORE EFFORT: As
important as courage and smart work is, another critical factor to improve productivity
is the effort we are willing to put into our everyday work. Either as an
entrepreneur or as a business manager, a little more effort and a few more
effective hours into our daily work can go a long way in improving productivity
and efficiency.
Developing the clear
choices of work approach and concentrating at the fullest on work is the best direction to take while
looking for ways to improve efficiency and increase productivity.
Platinum Standard - Shirley Frimpong
On this episode of platinum standard, we have Shirley Frimpong-Manso, a Ghanaian film producer and director. Tune in as she tells us how her story in the film industry began and where the journey has taken her so far. Enjoy!!
ECONOMY: WE’RE LEARNING THROUGH THE HARD WAY, SAYS BUHARI.
Monday, July 25, 2016
ABUJA- President
Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, in Abuja said that Nigeria was now learning through
the way in the diversification of its economy.
Speaking when he
received a Special Envoy from the President of Islamic Republic of Iran at the
State House, Mohammad Javad Zarif, the president commended the Iranian
government for working to launch itself amongst the developing nations of the
world.
The president said his
government was working assiduously to ameliorate the challenges faced by the
Nigerian economy within a short period, saying he would tap from the
experiences of countries like Iran which had thrived in adversity.
He said that the Iranian
economy remained an inspiration for Nigeria in the deployment of technology to
harness and export gas, grow food for the populace and promote entrepreneurship
in education.
The President noted
that Nigeria had all the potentials for growing into a great economy through
more inclusive planning, consistency in government policies and commitment to
the realization of development targets.
“The progress made by
Iran within a short period of 30 years is really commendable. Within the
period, you have been able to harness gas flaring, and you are now exporting.
You have recorded strides in security, manufacturing, agriculture and
technology.
“You have also achieved
a lot in nuclear research. I must also congratulate you for successfully
negotiating with America and the European countries on the development of your
nuclear energy.
“In Nigeria, we are
learning. We are learning the hard way through hardship, and we are learning
very quickly on how to explore other sectors of the economy like gas, solid
minerals and agriculture for growth.
“We are grateful for
your support and cooperation in opening up the Nigerian economy for
diversification,'' he said.
In his remark, the
Iranian envoy who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the Iranian
government would support the ongoing restructuring of the Nigerian economy.
“We are very keen to
see a better and stronger relationship with Nigeria, which is the largest
country in Africa and a major global player,'' he said.
Zarif said he came into
Nigeria with a delegation of more than 70 members of the Iranian business
community who had already started discussions in investing in sectors like
banking, education, scholarship, agriculture, energy, tourism and technology
development.
SOURCE: VANGUARD.
BENEFITS OF CONSIDERING INTERIOR DESIGNING FOR BUSINESS.
If you have a
conventional 9- 5 job and you have eyes for designs and decorations, you can
consider interior decoration for business. The roots of businesses or careers
like this can mostly be traced to passion, interest and few good comments to
unconscious work done.
Decorations and designs
provides the sense of appeal and functionality in most environment, this is why
many people require the services of talented professional designers to make
their homes, offices, event venues, churches and so on appealing.
Professional designing
goes beyond decorating spaces for events but goes as far as the supervising installation of carpets,
furniture and window treatments. Designers also work with lighting and acoustic
system professionals to enhance environments, such as a residential media room
or a professional concert hall.
There are so many benefits associated with considering designing for business.
This includes:
The opportunity to become a boss of your own by managing and controlling
your own time
You mostly do not need a conventional big space to run your business as
a starter. You can start your business from a corner of your home. All you need
is the right ways of networking.
You can run an interior design business as an alternative income source
aside from any other thing you do. All you need is an appropriate time
management skill and multi tasking ability.
You also do not need a huge capital to start a designing business, there
are no need for outrageous materials or expensive equipment to invest in. It is
more of skills and ability to do certain things in certain ways. Most of your
effort and investment would go to developing yourself and spreading the word
about your business.
4 TOOLS FOR INTERNET BASED ENTREPRENEURS.
It is no weak saying
that internet is the new reality and that internet has come to stay. The growth
of global internet based brands like Facebook, Google, and the various internet
based businesses show the tremendous potential and this is a warning to
internet based entrepreneurs that the internet is the new reality and they have
to buckle up if they will succeed.
The competition is huge
and as an internet based entrepreneur, you need to know every available tools
that would be useful for you in making your day to day business and activities
easier to achieve.
SOCIAL MEDIA: It is
amazing how many internet based businesses set up social media accounts and
just don’t know how to properly use them. Clearly the social media will help
you establish a more visible online presence. Although,being present is
not enough, it is what you do with the presence that matters. You can use paid
advertising on any of the major social media platforms; Facebook, Twitter and
Linkedin to get your business ahead of the competition. Even Government
agencies in marketing, PR all make use of the social media to disseminate
information, it can be useful for you also.
ONLINE RANKER TOOLS: As
the internet becomes the new reality, the competition between internet-based
businesses increases steadily. A proper ranker tool will help keep track of
your competition’s internet growth and webpage rankings. This will tell you
when you need to do way more work.
SEO: SEO tools are the
most potent tools to increase visibility and consequently the profitability of
your online business. An investment in SEO is crucial if you are
concerned about the success of your business online. It would boost your
rankings and visibility to those searching for your services and this will make
more customers contact you.
BROWSER EXTENSIONS: All
internet based entrepreneurs struggle with those situations that require
opening too many tabs at the same time and to work from one to the other.
Admittedly, this can be a strain and can even make you take extended and
unproductive breaks.
Resources
like Multi Links (firefox), lets you highlight a large group of links
(in the SERPs or webpage), and attempts to open all of them for you at once.
With some applications this can be a total life saver. These tools are easy ways to success if efficiently maximised.
ANAMBRA RECORDS $5M VEGETABLE EXPORTS TO EUROPE
Monday, July 25, 2016
AWKA-In a bid to
underscore the importance of diversifying the economy and attracting more
industries to Anambra state, Chief Willy Obiano has confirmed that the concise
Economic Blueprint, made up of The Four Pillars of Development; including
Agriculture, Industrialization, Trade and Commerce and Oil and Gas he developed
on assumption of office has started yielding dividends.
The governor who spoke
in Abuja in an interactive session he had with the People of Anambra living in
the North central part of the country at the Transcorp Hilton stated that the
state is now a socially stable, business-friendly environment attracting both
indigenes and foreigners to seek wealth-creating opportunities.
To this end, he told
the audience which included the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, Dr Oby
Ezekwesili both PDP and APC members of the National Assembly, former Governor
Chinweoke Mbadinuju and several others that Anambra State Investment Agency,
ANSIPPA, charged with the mandate of attracting and fast-tracking investments
in the state has so far attracted over $4.2 billion deals to the state.
The latest investment
he confirmed was sealed on Tuesday last week with Zolt Energy Limited to build
a 40 megawatts Embedded Power Generating Plant in Ogbaru.
When completed in the
next 18 months as scheduled, all the power generated from it will be
distributed mainly in Anambra State.
On the state of
agriculture, Obiano who was giving a score card of his two and half years stay
in office disclosed that "in January this year, Anambra made headlines
when it became the first state in Nigeria to export vegetables (Ugu and Onugbu)
valued at $5million to Europe. At the same time, our locally produced brand of
rice known as Anambra Rice recently emerged the Best Rice in Africa at an
African Products Forum in Lagos. Anambra Rice was adjudged better and more
wholesome than other competing brands from South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco,
Namibia and Cameroon.”
Our agricultural sector
has also attracted investments from 7 companies valued at $1.011bn while the
large industrial farms have pushed our local rice production from 90,000 metric
tons to 210,000 metric tons. At this rate, we shall soon surpass the 320,000
metric tons we consume in Anambra State per annum"
Obiano told the capacity
crowd at the Congress Hall that the Oil and Gas Advisory Committee headed by
Dr.Emmanuel Egboga, the former Special Adviser to the President on Petroleum
Matters has been charged with drafting a comprehensive Blueprint for the Oil
& Gas sector and advising the State on the necessary steps that would
ensure the recognition of Anambra as the 10th Oil Producing State in Nigeria. SOURCE: VANGUARD
Platinum Standard: Tara Durotoye
Tara Durotoye is the Founder and CEO of House of Tara the Makeup company which came up with amazing brands like Okpeke foundation, Fura lipstick, Efunsetan lip gloss, Adumadan powder and lots more. In this edition of Platinum Standard she tells us how she started House of Tara, her experience on Arise Fashion Week, the impact of the business and Tara products.
AGRIBUSINESS: THE NEGLECTED WAY OUT IN A FAILING ECONOMY.
Agribusiness simply
implies a business that involves agricultural production. It includes
agrichemicals, breeding, crop production (subsistent
farming and commercial farming), distribution, farm
machinery, processing, and seed supply, as well as marketing and retail sales.
Every branch of agricultural production from start to finish all contributes to
a functional agribusiness system. It also covers the supply of agricultural
inputs, the production and transformation of agricultural products and their distribution
to final consumers
Agribusiness is characterized by raw materials that are mostly
perishable, variable in quality and not regularly available. The sector is
subject to stringent regulatory controls on consumer safety, product quality
and environmental protection. Traditional production and distribution methods
are being replaced by more closely coordinated and better planned linkages
between agribusiness firms, farmers, retailers and others in the supply chains.
Many tropical countries
have good soil and climatic condition suitable for the cultivation of various
food and cash crops in high quantity but since the oil boom in Nigeria, the
agric sector has been left lagging. The agriculture sector which could be a
main source of revenue generation for the nation has been neglected in the past
years.
The current economic
recession and global devaluation of crude oil is evidence that the dependence
on crude oil would no longer cut it for nations like Nigeria. There are so many
agribusiness options to consider if one is thinking of ways to invest into
agribusiness profitably. Agribusiness management involves the application of
business skills such as marketing, economics, finances, management etc into the
agricultural industry. This makes it obvious that agribusiness goes beyond
farming and harvesting but also, all parameters applicable are to be considered
to ensure that agriculture is done efficiently and profitably.
This is a wakeup call
for everyone looking for an opportunity to earn a living or ways of improving
your productivity and income, that the agricultural sector is a fruitful sector
to consider. Agribusiness has been one
of the main generators of employment and income worldwide.
Interior Design | How I became an Interior Designer Pt.1
The most popular Interior Designer Rebecca Robeson shares her personal story in a up-close and detailed description of her journey from childhood to today.
JOSEPH BENJAMIN: ACTING AND MORE
Joseph Benjamin is
a Nigerian actor, model, Voice-over Artist and television presenter
mainly known for co-hosting MTN's Project Fame, a talent reality show, and
starring in the movies Tango With Me, Mr. and Mrs., and Murder
at Prime Suites.
Benjamin was born on 9
November 1976, to a Kogi State indigene father and an Anambra State mother. He
attended primary school in Benue State and completed his secondary education in
Lagos State. He attended University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he earned a
diploma in Computer Literacy.
Benjamin made his first
movie, Crossroads, in 1991 (alongside Ramsey Nouah and Sandra
Achums); however, his screen debut was earlier, when he appeared at age 12 in
the television program Tales by Moonlight on NTA
Benjamin has starred in
several television series, including Edge of Paradise, in which he was
being "crushed on" by his neighbour’s daughter. He starred
with Genevieve Nnaji in the drama ‘Tango with me’ and has
appeared in TV and radio commercials. He has co-hosted, with Adaora Oleh,
MTN Project Fame West Africa since 2009. He won the African Actor of
the Year award, at the 2012 African Film Awards.
Joseph Benjamin was
nominated for Golden Actor in the Golden Movie Awards which held on 21 May
2015.
He is one rising star
who is fun and enterprising to watch.FRANK EDOHO: SUCCESS IN BROADCASTING
Frank Edoho is a
Nigeria Broadcaster and TV host who became popular for being the host of the “Nigerian
Edition of Who Wants To be
A Millionaire”, a popular game show in the world.
Frank graduated from
University of Calabar.He started his broadcasting career as a Presenter on an entertainment shows at the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation. He anchored a Breakfast Television for three years at NTA Channel 9, Calabar. Frank entered into full-time broadcasting when he graduated from the University and got employed as an Editor, News Producer and Presenter at DBN Television. He got a job with Metro FM 97.6. There, he anchored programs like ‘A.M Lagos’, ‘Cruise Control’ and ‘Masculine Line’. His approach and style on those programme earned him many audience and fans.
Frank became famous
for being the host of the popular TV show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” by
making his contestants feel comfortable and engaging in mind easing
conversations, and at the same time posing challenging questions to them.
Frank is also reputed with being a renowned voice-over artist who has voiced TV ads and Radio jingles for several companies including Castilla Furniture, Coscharis Motors (Authorized Sole Dealer of BMW), Elizade Toyota, International Bank Plc, Muniches, Novena Majesty Furniture, Zinox Computers, Vogue Fruit Juice, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Unilever Nig. Plc (Close-up Toothpaste), First City Monument Bank etc. He is also known to be a good actor for his roles in some movies.
Some of the awards he has received includes: The Youth Ambassador award
by Fly Networks, ‘The City People Magazine award as the best TV presenter’ for
the year 2006 and ‘The male TV presenter of the year by
Nigeria Kids Choice Awards’ in 2008.
Frank is a talented TV personalities that is inspiring to watch and
emulate.
CBN APPROVES SHORT TERM FACILITY FOR SKYE BANK
The
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has affirmed its confidence in Skye Bank Plc.,
through a guarantee line, which ensures that withdrawals it suffered in the
wake of the undue panic recently does not adversely affect its operations.
This
development, analysts believe, lends credence to the regulator's earlier
assertion that Skye Bank is a Strategically Important Bank (SIB), with
substantial market share, interconnectedness and significant relevance to the
nation's financial systems stability.
A
leading international news organisation, Bloomberg, reports that the apex bank
confirmed this development through a statement by the CBN spokesman, Isaac
Okoroafor, who said the undisclosed guarantee sum would assist the bank to
shore up its liquidity and maintain its level of operations.
"The
short-term lending facility will allow the management of the bank to ensure
that some withdrawals it suffered in the wake of the undue panic recently do
not adversely affect its operations," Okoroafor said.
In
addition, "the CBN issued guarantees to depositors and creditors of Skye
Bank as a demonstration of the bank's health," Okoroafor further
explained.
The
guarantee line is coming on the heels of CBN's recent intervention in the bank
following the voluntary resignation of the Board of Directors of the bank and
the consequent re-constitution of the board with a new management team led by
Mr. M. K. Ahmad and Mr. Adetokunbo Abiru, who emerged as Chairman and Group
Managing Director respectively.
The
CBN guarantee will not only enhance Skye Bank's interbank trading and
activities but also provide assurance to other banks to continue to deal with
and trade with its instruments in the interbank market.
The
CBN had similarly introduced a bank credit guarantee package for some banks in
2009 in the wake of the global economic crisis, which affected both the local
and global financial markets.
The
bank guarantee programme enables financial institutions to meet their financing
needs during a period of record high credit spreads and aids the successful
return of the credit market to near normalcy, despite the recession and slow
economic recovery.
The
affirmation of confidence in Skye Bank continues to grow as no fewer than two
state governments have expressed confidence in the bank's ability to deliver on
crucial mandates in the last two weeks. First, it was the Lagos State
government, which directed its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to
establish business relationship with the bank on account of its track record
and pedigree in mandate execution.
"We
had earlier reported that on Monday, July 18, 2016, the Kogi State government
re-appointed Skye Bank as lead collecting bank for its Internally Generated
Revenue (IGR) and services. The appointment ensures that the bank is responsible
for collecting all its revenue just as other agent banks are required to pay
their collections to Skye Bank on behalf of the state government."
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