CribMD has acquired a retail pharmaceutical giant – Charisland Pharmaceuticals Ltd (C.P.), to expand its pharmaceuticals market share and ensure drug delivery straight to patients’ homes across Nigeria.
Roughly one year after we launched operations in Nigeria, we have gone on to do great things. From building the MVP to morphing into a version 2.0 and closing seed rounds of over $2.85milion – led by The Guardian, Norrsken and Sputnik ATX. Also, our active subscriber base is more than 3,000. Worthy of note was our nomination for the Nigerian Healthcare Awards 2021.
The traction and recognition we are constantly receiving make us do better and drive for excellence – all in a bid to make our subscribers happy.
In the spirit of excellence and continuous growth, we have acquired C.P. as fast expansion and acquisitions is part of what we’re using our funding to do to drive actual value for subscribers.
Incorporated in 2009, C.P. has constantly offered value within the Nigerian Health space. The private company led by the Adedoyins (Adedoyin Oluranti Mrs, Adedoyin Babatunde Michael and Adedoyin Adebayo Henry) has since inception maintained a high level of service delivery in all their stores in the major cities of Nigeria.
“The acquisition could not have come at a better time as C.P. seeks to exit the Nigerian market – moving to Canada,” says Ifeanyi Ossai – CEO and Co-Founder, CribMD. “Our values overlap, and our overall vision for the healthcare space is similar,” Ossai adds.
Going Forward….
Ifeanyi shares more insight – “Many acquisitions come with varying terms and conditions, ours with C.P. is 100%. The unemployment rate in Nigeria is steadily climbing, and CribMD isn’t about to contribute to that.
“Therefore, we will be retaining the current staff of C.P. and hiring more as we grow. We have received high commendations about the current staff, so we are absolving all and will hire more in the coming weeks.”
CribMD’s product offerings are shaping out well. We already have Telemedicine, and Doctor House Visits running smoothly. Our recent acquisition will further solidify the Online Pharmacy offering. We hope to add more in the coming months.
“At CribMD, we are steadily growing our subscriber base. The customer-centric nature with which we run and operate makes us build and implement features that would bring value to our users,” Ossai says. “Little wonder we are recording a high percentage of customer retention. Whatever will make the healthcare delivery process better for our users, we will implement.” He adds.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Niyi Adebayo, has said that strategic human capital and capacity development are essential to industrialization growth in the country.
Adebayo stated this, yesterday, in Lagos while unveiling a solar-powered Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station and electric vehicle pilot project of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) in conjunction with the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
He said the programme was designed to promote advanced technology transfer and the development of sophisticated human capital.
FG Unveils Solar-Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station In Lagos-Brand Spur Nigeria
Adebayo said the charging station developed by the NADDC would promote applicable local solutions for vehicle electrification in Nigeria, adding that it will offer students first-hand experience with the latest innovations in mobility and renewable power technology.
Earlier in his message, Director-General, NADDC, Jelani Aliyu, said the charging station was 100 per cent solar-powered.
Vice-Chancellor, UNILAG, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said the university would put the facility into proper use.
He said the innovation came at the right time the global world is shifting to renewable energy, stating that the institution would continue to invest in research.
Chief Executive Officer, Stallion Group, Anant Badjitya, said Stallion and Hyundai were passionate to drive innovation in Nigeria.
The death knell for physical branches has been tolled before. But the global pandemic has fast-tracked the closure of banks’ brick-and-mortar operations.
The ongoing decimation of bank branch networks has only accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic, as more customers switched to digital channels under lockdown restrictions and banks intensified their cost-cutting exercises.
Unsurprisingly, European lenders are among the most active when it comes to shrinking their branch estate, as they attempt to improve waning profitability. According to The Banker Database’s research among the largest 50 banks by Tier 1 capital worldwide, European banks occupy six of the top 10 positions for the largest percentage in-branch reductions.
Photo by Hunters Race
UniCredit is the only bank in the top 10 cohort to lose more than 20% of its branch network during 2020, partly due to selling its stake in Turkish lender, Yapi Kredi, as well as its restructuring programme. In December 2019, the Italian lender announced plans to close around 500 branches over the following three years, as part of its ‘Team 23’ programme to boost shareholder value.
Other reductions were less severe. Société Générale (SocGen) closed about 7% of its branches, Banco Santander decreased its network by 6%, and BBVA, Crédit Agricole and Deutsche Bank reduced their branch footprints by 4% or less.
However, it is not only European lenders that are closing branches. Chinese banks are also among the top 10: China Minsheng Bank and Bank of China reduced their networks by about 7%, while Agricultural Bank of China closed just over 2% of its total. Additionally, Commonwealth Bank of Australia makes the top 10 list for branch reductions, with a 5% cut to its network.
And many have plans to cut much more. In December 2020, SocGen announced it was merging its two domestic retail bank networks and closing a further 600 branches. One month before, Reuters reported that Banco Santander had plans to close down as many as 1000 physical branch locations in Spain. In June this year, its compatriot BBVA also announced the closure of 480 branches in its home market. In Germany, Deutsche Bank has plans to shutter another 150 branches.
Is this the beginning of the end of bank branches? Yes, according to a recent survey by Temenos and the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), which found that 65% of the more than 300 global banking executives polled believe branch-based banking will be “dead” within five years, up from 35% just four years ago.
Interestingly, four in five bankers believe that banks will seek to differentiate on customer experience rather than products.
However, some still believe that there is a future for branches. In the World Retail Banking Report 2021, from Capgemini and Efma, 37% of the 8,559 Voice of the Customer (VoC) survey respondents said branches remain a significant banking channel. Although 55% of VoC respondents said they preferred making transactions via digital channels, they also liked branch availability, too. Only 14% said branches were no longer relevant to them.
The report raises an important question: “Although branches may pose considerable operational costs, they remain relevant for customers. The branch also offers a tangible brand presence in communities and acts as an institution of trust. The question remains, how can banks strike a balance between branch volume and value?”
The answer? To reimagine branches as experience centres, suggests the report. “As digital transactions gain traction, opportunities arise for banks to transform branches from cost centres to value amplifiers. Consider these five Cs – connection, convenience, connoisseur, concierge, and captivation – to transform branches into experience centres.”
Banks take heed: there may yet be value to be gained from the branch network.
There is much excitement in Ijebu-Ode as the Bigi sponsored Ijebu Heritage Half marathon scheduled for Saturday, July 17, draws near, with lots of global athletes indicating their willingness to participate in the competition which will also see youths in the land being involved.
The event has created a new atmosphere in the town which is now wearing a sporting look as youths are seen in preparation for the 21kilometres race competition, initiated by the Ogun State Government.
The event is proudly sponsored by the Bigi brand of Rite Foods, the market leader in the food and beverage company, and will start from Tunde Debasco Road, Ejirin, and ends at the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu Ode.
It will have six water points at every 2.5kilometres, with the Bigi Water points for dehydrated participants, thus energizing them with the freshness and vigour it offers, like other 12 Bigi soft drink variants such as the Bigi Cola, Bigi Orange, Bigi Apple, Bigi Bitter Lemon, Bigi Soda Water, Bigi Lemon & Lime, Bigi Tropical, Bigi Chapman, Bigi Tamarind, Bigi Cherry Cola, Bigi Ginger Lemon, and Bigi Ginger Ale.
Commending Rite Foods for its immense role in ensuring that the competition comes to fruition, a community leader in Ijebu-land, Chief Olawale Akinola, eulogized the world-class company for placing Ijebu on the global map of sporting activities.
In the same vein, the Ogun State Commissioner for Youth & Sports, Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde, thanked the market leader in the food and beverage sector for its support and enjoined all participants to take the race in the spirit of friendship. He also admonished them to adhere to laid down health rules and safety standards during the race.
According to him, participating male athletes include Kenya’s Bernard Sang who was first at the 2020 Istanbul Marathon, Hosea Chirchir Kiplimo, Rhonzas Lokitam, Kilimo, Eliud Mewangi, Sammy Nyokaye, John Muriuri Mburi, William Amponsah, Titus Kipruto Kibiego, and Paul Korch.
Others are Uganda’s Ezekiel Chepkoromk and Azerbaijan’s Desta Fitsun Weldu.
The female participants include Shila Jepkosgei, who is a World Athletics gold-label runner, Ghana’s Juliana Lariba Sakat, Kenya’s Gladys Jepkemoi Chemweno, Caern Jebet Maiyo, Ruth Karanja, Susy Chebet Chemaimak, and Hannah Wanjiru Gatheru, Also on the list is Uganda’s Racheal Zena Chebet, and Bahrain’s Damaris Muthee Mutua.
With around 100 million small arms and light weapons in circulation, Africa accounts for some of the highest rates of arms proliferation globally. Most of these arms are illegally acquired and possessed by civilians, including non-state armed groups and individuals. This has resulted in deadly and elongated crises with high fatalities and has a strong link to transnational criminal violence, enlistment of child soldiers, and humanitarian violations, such as rape and kidnapping.
The recurring violent attacks have thrown many communities into a state of anarchy, disorderliness and confusion. Some villages and towns have been overrun and taken over by deadly armed militia and rebel groups, with economic activities totally crumbled. Despite efforts by various stakeholders to bring lasting peace, many regions daily sink lower in this quagmire, resulting in wanton killings and destructions of people’s livelihoods with reckless abandon.
It is worth noting that arms themselves are not necessarily the root cause of the conflicts daily experienced in various African communities. Most of these crises are inherent in political, religious and ethnic ideologies. However, it is no doubt that the proliferation of arms is a major factor elongating and exacerbating most of these crises. The easy access to illicit weapons has strengthened and emboldened most terrorist and rebel groups and encouraged various new militia groups.
The Persisting Challenges of Uncontrolled Arms in Africa | Photo by Will Porada
Religious and Ethnic Crises
Africa is currently an epicentre for ethnoreligious violence and persecution that have resulted in thousands of deaths. In Nigeria, for instance, a timeline of armed religious crises from 1980 to date shows that the conflicts are mostly between the Christian and Muslim communities. Most of them occurred in the northern part of the country, predominantly Muslim populations, with Christian minorities. One of the bloodiest in history happened in December 1980 and was spearheaded by an Islamic group called the Maitatsine sect. The crisis claimed more than 4000 lives within a few days it lasted. After that, the country always witnessed a series of other religiously motivated conflicts between the 1980s and 2000s.
But none of them caused as many humanitarian crises as being witnessed today due to the ongoing onslaughts by Boko Haram – Africa’s most deadly terrorist group, which emerged around 2010. Started as a group of local fighters in the northeastern part of the country, Boko Haram has become one of the four deadliest terrorist groups in the world. It yearly accounts for most of the violent cases that have earned Nigeria the third spot on the latest global terrorism index.
The group has leveraged the proliferation of arms in Nigeria and the neighbouring African countries to grow its arms stockpiles and become emboldened enough to confront the militaries in the Lake Chad Basin region. The region comprises Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Reports show that the militias have overrun fixed sites of battalions and companies in all four countries. In 2018, Boko Haram, along with some other militia groups terrorizing the northern part of the country, accounted for 78% of armed crises and 86% of terrorist-related deaths in Nigeria. Between 2010 to date, the daredevil group has killed more than 36,000 and displaced about 2.4 million people.
Another deadly and lingering religiously motivated armed crisis on the continent is the rivalry between the anti-Balaka and Seleka groups in the Central African Republic (CAR). It all started in 2013 when mainly Muslim Seleka rebels installed their fellow northern Muslim, Michel Djotodia as president, after toppling the then president Francois Bozizé, a Christian from the south.
The action led to the rise of the anti-Balaka group formed by the Christians south, which later overpowered the Seleka and forced Djotodia’s resignation. The event has caused recurring armed conflicts in the country, leading to an estimated 3,000 to 6000 deaths within one year after it started. According to a United Nations report, 99% of Muslims in the country’s capital, Bangui, were either killed or forcefully displaced. Just like other Africa’s war-torn zones, rebel groups in CAR benefit from various sources of illicit arms, including the influx of arms from other countries such as Sudan.
Somalia is another country with a seemingly unending religiously motivated crisis. Made of 99% of Muslims, there has been serious persecution of Christians in the country who have been forced to practice their faith in secret. The Islamic terrorist group in Somalia, Al-Shabab, has killed 4,000 people in the past decade. The conflict has also exacerbated the refugee crisis in the continent, as many displaced victims now take shelter in neighbouring countries.
Politically Motivated Conflicts
Political violence is another form of recurring armed crisis in Africa. With power and influence disproportionately centralized in public offices, many African politicians view politics as a do or die affair and are willing to kill and maim to get to and hold on power. For this reason, there is hardly any election in some of these countries without bloodshed. Since the 2000s, electoral violence has become a growing pattern on the continent.
In the last general election in Uganda, various violent cases were recorded. According to Human Rights Watch, authorities frustrated activities from the opposition parties, beat, harassed and shot at journalists. From the campaigns to the election and post-election activities, the whole process was marred by violence, leading to dozens of deaths.
Some of the deadliest electoral crises in Africa have occurred in Nigeria. For instance, in the 2011 general election, more than 800 people were killed after a protest erupted from the supporters of the second runner up and opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari, who is now president. The conflict lasted for three days and displaced more than 65,000 people in the northern part of the country. Similarly, the 2019 general election also had its fair share of armed crises, which led to many deaths. Also, in the aftermath of the Guinea general election in 2020, more than 20 people were killed.
The situation is similar in Ghana 2020 presidential election that recorded 5 deaths and about 21 violent cases. Other countries like Cote d’Ivoire, CAR, Democratic Republic of Congo, Algeria, Sudan, and Mali have also experienced various degrees of political violence.
Militia and rebel groups in Africa get their weapons from multiple sources, which have both internal and foreign connections. Most of these illicit weapons are flown or shipped from other continents. A report showed that they mostly originated from China, Israel, and more than 20 Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) members. They are either from the remnants of large-scale arms shipments to rebel movements during the Cold War or recent supplies from the sanctions-busting shipments by the globe-trotting arms brokers, the so-called “merchants of death” who specialize in delivering weapons to war zones and dictators.
The illicit dealings between foreign and African arms traffickers date back many decades. During Charles Taylor’s reign as Liberian president in the early 2000s, a large proportion of China-made weapons transferred to Liberia was facilitated by a Dutchman, Gus van Kouwenhoven, who was later convicted for the illegal dealings. Kouwenhoven operated two logging companies in which President Charles Taylor had a financial interest. The businesses were used to facilitate war crimes during the civil war in 1999-2003.
Some European dealers were also strongly involved in trafficking arms to the troubled Niger Delta part of Nigeria during the resource control crisis between indigenous militants from the region and the federal government. The combatants held the government to ransom and attacked various oil facilities in the region, using the illicit arms supplied from foreign sources, many of which are sophisticated weapons. Other African countries, including Ghana, Madagascar, Kenya, Namibia, Niger, and Sierra Leone, also have a substantial concentration of foreign-made weapons illicitly transferred to those nations.
Apart from the foreign illegal arms movement, there is also an intra-continental circulation within and across various African borders. This includes locally manufactured weapons, such as firearms, small bombs, and grenades. Many African countries are known for their homemade artisanal manufacturing of weapons illegally produced by local blacksmiths. Ghana is one of the countries with a high concentration of such weapons, with an estimated locally manufactured 35,000 to 40,000 guns, based on a 2004 survey.
Another source is the diversion of legally acquired arms from security agents to militias and rebels. It has been reported that some security officials secretly sell arms and ammunition to terrorists in exchange for money. Many African countries have poor remuneration packages for their security agents, making many law enforcement officers engage in different kinds of shady, corrupt dealings, including selling arms to criminals, for survival.
Some Nigerian soldiers have been arrested on various occasions for illegally selling arms to members of the Boko Haram terrorist group. This act of sabotage and sheer corruption has also been pointed as a major factor in prolonging the war. Some Ethiopian and Ugandan soldiers working with AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) were reported to be involved in an illicit arms trade in Somalia, selling from their weapons stockpiles to black market dealers.
During the unrest in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, some poorly paid Nigerian soldiers who had served in various peacekeeping missions in African countries often returned home and sold their weapons to Niger Delta combatants or illegal arms dealers, a researcher revealed.
Conclusion
The African Union Commission recently launched the Silencing the Gun campaign aimed at stopping the illegal circulation of weapons and curbing all forms of armed conflicts in the continent. While this is commendable, of more importance is the willpower to back the campaign with action. Political leaders must pay attention to the various widening social inequalities that make the bearing of arms attractive to the youths. Africa has about 600 million uneducated, unemployed or underemployed youths. Creating an enabling environment for these young people will go a long way in curbing arms proliferation and bringing lasting peace to the continent.
Olusegun Akinfenwa is a correspondent for Immigration News, a news organization affiliated with Immigration Advice Service (IAS). IAS is a leading U.K. immigration law firm that helps people immigrate and settle in the U.K.
Microsoft on Wednesday announced Windows 365, a cloud service that introduces a new way to experience Windows 10 or Windows 11 (when it becomes available) to businesses of all sizes.
Windows 365 takes the operating system to the Microsoft cloud, streaming the full Windows experience — apps, data, and settings — to personal or corporate devices.
Secure by design and built with the principles of Zero Trust, Windows 365 secures and stores information in the cloud, not on the device, providing a secure, productive experience for workers from interns and contractors to software developers and industrial designers.
Windows 365 also creates a new hybrid personal computing category called Cloud PC, which uses both the power of the cloud and the capabilities of the device to provide a full, personalized Windows experience.
The announcement represents a groundbreaking development as organizations around the world grapple with the best ways to facilitate hybrid work models where employees are both on-site and distributed across the globe.
“With Windows 365, we’re creating a new category: the Cloud PC,” said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft.
“Just like applications were brought to the cloud with SaaS, we are now bringing the operating system to the cloud, providing organizations with greater flexibility and a secure way to empower their workforce to be more productive and connected, regardless of location.”
A new computing paradigm for hybrid work
As the pandemic begins to ease in parts of the world, a new way of working is emerging, transformed by virtual processes and remote collaboration. In this more distributed environment, employees need access to corporate resources across locations and devices — and with cybersecurity threats on the rise, securing those resources is paramount.
“Hybrid work has fundamentally changed the role of technology in organizations today,” said Jared Spataro, corporate vice president, Microsoft 365. “With workforces more disparate than ever before, organizations need a new way to deliver a great productivity experience with increased versatility, simplicity and security. Cloud PC is an exciting new category of hybrid personal computing that turns any device into a personalized, productive and secure digital workspace. Today’s announcement of Windows 365 is just the beginning of what will be possible as we blur the lines between the device and the cloud.”
Windows 365 helps employers solve challenges they’ve faced since long before the pandemic. Workers expect greater flexibility and more options to work from different locations, while still ensuring the security of the organization’s data. Seasonal workers can cycle on and off teams without the logistical challenges of issuing new hardware or securing personal devices — allowing the organization to scale for busy periods more efficiently and securely. And companies can easily ensure specialized workers in creative, analytics, engineering or scientific roles have greater compute power and secure access to critical applications that they need.
Versatile, simple, secure: the transformational impact of Windows 365
By building on the power of the Windows operating system and the strength of the cloud, Windows 365 gives any organization greater peace of mind in three key ways:
Powerful. With instant-on boot to their personal Cloud PC, users can stream all their applications, tools, data and settings from the cloud across any device. Windows 365 provides the full PC experience in the cloud. The cloud also provides versatility in processing power and storage, enabling IT to scale up or down, based on their needs. With a choice of either Windows 10 or Windows 11 (once it is generally available later in 2021), organizations can choose the Cloud PC that works for them with per-user per-month pricing.
Simple. With a Cloud PC, users can log in and pick back up where they left off across devices, providing a simple and familiar Windows experience delivered by the cloud. For IT, Windows 365 also simplifies deployment, updates and management — and unlike other solutions, Windows 365 doesn’t require any virtualization experience. With Windows 365 optimized for the endpoint, IT can easily procure, deploy and manage Cloud PCs for their organization just as they manage physical PCs through Microsoft Endpoint Manager. Small and midsize businesses can purchase Windows 365 directly or through a cloud service provider, and set up their organization with Cloud PCs with just a few clicks. Microsoft also continues to innovate in Azure Virtual Desktop for those organizations with deep virtualization experience that want more customization and flexibility options.
Secure. Windows 365 is secure by design, leveraging the power of the cloud and the principles of Zero Trust. Information is secured and stored in the cloud, not on the device. Always up to date and building on the strength of rich Microsoft security capabilities and baselines, Windows 365 simplifies security and recommends the best security settings for the environment at hand.
New opportunities for the Microsoft partner ecosystem
For decades, Microsoft partners have been at the center of how Microsoft delivers technologies and business transformation to customers around the world. The depth of Microsoft’s cloud offerings and technology portfolio gives partners the power to build innovative, industry-specific solutions. Windows 365 will allow partners to continue to make more possible.
From systems integrators to managed service providers to independent software vendors (ISVs) to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), the new Cloud PC category creates opportunity for Microsoft partners to deliver new Windows experiences in the cloud.
Organizations will look to systems integrators and managed service providers to help them get the most out of their entire Windows estate. ISVs can continue to build Windows apps and now deliver them in the cloud to help businesses work in new ways as they continue to digitally transform. And OEMs gain an opportunity to integrate Windows 365 into their broad portfolio of services alongside their devices’ robust features and secure hardware.
“To be their best in a new world of work, employees need workplace technology that’s familiar, easy to use, secure and always available,” said Veit Siegenheim, global modern workplace lead, Avanade. “With Windows 365, Microsoft is capitalizing on the power of the cloud to empower productivity anywhere, across any device and elevate the workplace experience.”
Availability
Windows 365 will be generally available to businesses of all sizes starting on Aug. 2, 2021. More information can be found at https://Microsoft.com/Windows-365.
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
Children learn more and are more likely to stay in school if they are first taught in a language that they speak and understand.
Yet, an estimated 37 percent of students in low- and middle-income countries are required to learn in a different language, putting them at a significant disadvantage throughout their school life and limiting their learning potential.
According to a new World Bank report Loud and Clear: Effective Language of Instruction Policies for Learning, the effective language of instruction (LoI) policies are central to reducing Learning Poverty and improving other learning outcomes, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, the availability of online language lessons can play a vital role in supporting students in mastering the language of instruction.
Instruction unfolds through language – written and spoken – and children learning to read and write is foundational to learning all other academic subjects. The Loud and Clear report puts it simply: too many children are taught in a language they don’t understand, which is one of the most important reasons why many countries have very low learning levels.
Children most impacted by such policies and choices are often disadvantaged in other ways – they are in the bottom 40 percent of the socioeconomic scale and live in more remote areas. They also lack the family resources to address the effects of ineffective language policies on their learning. This contributes to higher dropout rates, repetition rates, higher Learning Poverty, and lower learning overall.
“The devastating impacts of COVID-19 on learning is placing an entire generation at risk,” says Mamta Murthi, World Bank Vice President for Human Development. “Even before the pandemic, many education systems put their students at a disadvantage by requiring children to learn in languages they do not know well – and, in far too many cases, in languages they do not know at all.
“Teaching children in a language they understand is essential to recover and accelerate learning, improve human capital outcomes, and build back more effective and equitable education systems.”
The new LoI report notes that when children are first taught in a language that they speak and understand, they learn more, are better placed to learn other languages, are able to learn other subjects such as math and science, are more likely to stay in school, and enjoy a school experience appropriate to their culture and local circumstances.
“Moreover, this lays the strongest foundation for learning in a second language later on in school. As effective LoI policies improve learning and school progression, they reduce country costs per student and, thus, enable more efficient use of public funds to enhance more access and quality of education for all children.
“The language diversity in Sub-Saharan Africa is one of its main features – while the region has 5 official languages, there are 940 minority languages spoken in Western and Central Africa and more than 1,500 in Sub-Saharan Africa, which makes education challenges even more pronounced,” says Ousmane Diagana, World Bank Regional Vice President for Western and Central Africa.
“By adopting better language-of-instruction policies, countries will enable children to have a much better start in school and get on the right path to build the human capital they need to sustain long-term productivity and growth of their economies.”
The report explains that while pre-COVID-19, the world had made tremendous progress in getting children to school, the near-universal enrollment in primary education did not lead to near-universal learning. In fact, before the outbreak of the pandemic, 53 percent of children in low- and middle-income countries were living in Learning Poverty, that is, were unable to read and understand an age-appropriate text by age 10. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the figure was closer to 90 percent.
Today, the unprecedented twin shocks of extended school closures and deep economic recession associated with the pandemic are threatening to make the crisis even direr, with early estimates suggesting that Learning Poverty could rise to a record 63 percent. These poor learning outcomes are, in many cases, a reflection of inadequate language of instruction policies.
“The message is loud and clear. Children learn best when taught in a language they understand, and this offers the best foundation for learning in a second language,” stressed Jaime Saavedra, World Bank Global Director for Education.
“This deep and unjust learning crisis requires action. Investments in education systems around the world will not yield significant learning improvements if students do not understand the language in which they are taught. Substantial improvements in Learning Poverty are possible by teaching children in the language they speak at home.”
The new World Bank policy approach to the language of instruction is guided by 5 principles:
1. Teach children in their first language starting with Early Childhood Education and Care services through at least the first six years of primary schooling.
2. Use a student’s first language for instruction in academic subjects beyond reading and writing.
3. If students are to learn a second language in primary school, introduce it as a foreign language with an initial focus on oral language skills.
4. Continue first language instruction even after a second language becomes the principal language of instruction.
5. Continuously plan, develop, adapt, and improve the implementation of language of instruction policies, in line with country contexts and educational goals.
Of course, this language of instruction policies needs to be well integrated within a larger package of policies to ensure alignment with the political commitment and the instructional coherence of the system.
This approach will guide the World Bank’s financing and advisory support for countries to provide high-quality early childhood and basic education to all their students.
The World Bank is the largest source of external financing for education in developing countries – in the fiscal year 2021, it broke another record and committed $5.5 billion of IBRD and IDA resources in new operations and, in addition, committed $0.8 billion of new grants with GPE financing, across a total of 60 new education projects in 45 countries.
The leading Italian sportswear brand Calciatori Ignoranti has been dominating the football community, mainly thanks to the company’s strong brand presence in the digital world. Through its increasing digitization, Calciatori Ignoranti has captured the attention of an unprecedented number of global fans and has become much more than just a sportswear brand. Let’s take a look at the different ways this brand is utilising the digital domain and the opportunities this creates, as well as digitalization in the sports industry in general.
Digitalization in the Sports Industry
The demand for digitalization of sports branding is stronger now than ever before. With the world becoming increasingly digital, it is essential that businesses within the sports industry keep up the pace and reach fans and audiences via social media and other digital platforms. This is true for all segments of the sports business industry, including sports tourism, sports goods and clothing, and sports betting, to name a few. To give an example, many sports betting businesses have worked hard to modernise their industry, making sports betting easily available online as well as in the bookmakers. Trusted digital platforms such as oddschecker offer free bets and sign up offers for online customers, making it a smooth process to back our favourite teams from home, thus having a wider reach than traditional betting shops.
In sports tourism, the innovation of hundreds of sports streaming apps has made it possible for fans all over the world to feel closer to the big tournaments. Sports apps such as 365 Scores and La Liga TV, to name just a couple, provide real time updates, video highlights and high definition streaming of all the major sports events which, through advertising, helps to fund sports business and increase the global fan base. Sports fitness apps such as Strava have also taken off in epic proportions, allowing sports brands and businesses to reach people’s daily lives and fitness routines. E-sports is another huge area and example of the digitalization of sports.
How does the Calciatori Ignoranti brand stand out?
Calciatori Ignoranti have taken digitalization to the next level, with a so called 360 approach to sports branding. The brand was launched in 2015 and registered as a premium sportswear brand in Italy in 2020. Founded by Luca Diddi who is a UEFA Pro, match analyst and digital entrepreneur, it has developed into a company with an international reach via a network of fans, athletes and businesses. As well as being a sportswear brand, Calciatori Ignoranti manages professional athletes and celebrities, organises football events and recruits talented sports personalities on the internet.
Managing Professional Athletes
The brand manages a whole host of professional athletes and footballers, promoting the organic growth of athletes via social media. They offer services such as content creation, professional image making, building social media presence and online marketing for athletes. They also sponsor football players to give them more exposure in their community. Calciatori Ignoranti encourage links with lots of influencers for collaboration, helping to increase followers and to keep the brand on trend and connected with its audience. By focusing on sports-star image management in the digital domain, the brand’s reach and fanbase has seen epic growth over recent years.
Online Shop & Online Portal
Calciatori Ignoranti has an online store offering high end sportswear and merchandise, including t shirts, sweatshirts, and gadgets such as mugs, water bottles and phone covers. Due to the brand’s increasing popularity, they have recently released an exclusive selection of customized t-shirts and hoodies, and they are also due to launch their own line of footwear and perfumes, demonstrating the increasing growth of the brand. The online store also links to the brand’s online portal, which strives to keep fans up to date with the latest football events and news about sports stars and athletes. The platform offers distinct services for athletes, like improving social media presence, content creation and online marketing.
Instagram and Professional Image-Making
Calciatori Ignoranti have a highly active Instagram page with over 1.3 million followers, including A-list celebrities and football players. By linking their website and sports store to their Instagram, this helps to boost followers and generate interest for all three, keeping the brand current and on trend. The brand is also into professional image-making and regularly posts photo highlights and updates of the latest football matches, encouraging fan engagement. They have been particularly active in following this year’s UEFA Euros, which of course were finally grasped by Italy – perhaps adding an extra element to the brand’s appeal.
Organizing Events
The brand is also into events management and is working towards organizing football events in Italy in late 2021. This adds to the ‘360 approach’ of the company, giving them reach both digitally and locally, and further helping to generate interest and excitement around the brand.
Opportunities for Content Creators
Due to its multi-faceted approach focused on fan engagement and managing the digital image of athletes, Calciatori Ignoranti has created opportunities for content creators and influencers in the sports field. Founder of the brand Luca Diddi stated that he wants the brand to give influencers and aspiring content creators a platform to demonstrate their skills. He believes that this all-encompassing process plays an important role in connecting the brand to the audience and the athletes to the fans. The brand has collaborated with content creators from different parts of the world, helping them to reach out to a global fanbase. This global and collaborative strategy is working well for the brand, which now has over a million followers and is popular with many athletes and celebrities.
Calciatori Ignoranti is a prime example of a company which is embracing change in the digital world and using it in their favour to generate exponential growth and success. With its modern approach to becoming a digital sports brand, Calciatori Ignoranti have remained at the very forefront of the game and inspired fans and professional athletes all over the world. As the demand for digitalization continuously increases, it is likely that other brands will take inspiration from Calciatori Ignoranti who are currently leading the way in the world of sports.
Mrs. Miriam Olusanya has over 23 years of banking experience that cuts across Transaction Services, Asset and Liability Management, Financial Markets, Investment Banking and Investor Relations.
Miriam Olusanya, Managing Director | Brand Spur Nigeria
Mrs. Olusanya holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) degree from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and a Master of Business Administration (Finance and Accounting) from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. Mrs. Olusanya has also attended several executive management and banking specific developmental programs in leading educational institutions around the world.
Mrs. Olusanya serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Guaranty Trust Bank (Gambia) Limited. She is also a member of the Financial Markets Sub Committee of the Bankers’ Committee, the primary interactive policy platform made up of the Central Bank of Nigeria and banks.
Mrs. Olusanya was the Group Treasurer and Head, Wholesale Banking Division, responsible for balance sheet and financial markets activities of the Bank and its African subsidiaries, Corporate Finance as well as Investor Relations.
Mrs. Olusanya joined GTBank as an Executive Trainee and rose through the ranks until her appointment as Executive Director in 2018, a position she held until her appointment as Managing Director.
The banking subsidiary, Guaranty Trust Bank Limited will be governed by a board of directors comprising, Mr Ibrahim Hassan as chairman of the board, Mrs Miriam Olusanya as managing director, Mr Jide Okuntola as deputy managing director, Mr Haruna Musa as executive director, Mr Olabode Agusto as an independent non-executive director, Ms Imoni Akpofure and Mrs Victoria Adefala as independent non-executive directors.
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc would be governed by a board of directors comprising of Mr Sola Oyinlola as chairman of the board and Mr Segun Agbaje as the group chief executive officer, Mr Adebanji Adeniyi as executive director, Mrs Cathy Echeozo as non-executive director, Mr Suleiman Barau and Mrs Helen Bouygues as independent non-executive directors
All the appointments had been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria and disclosed to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nigerian Exchange Group
If you have not been paying attention to recent COVID-19 updates, now is the time to hear a couple of crucial details about a newer, more contagious strain: Delta. It originated in India and has been described by the World Health Organization as one of several “variants of concern,” because of how it is spreading rapidly across the globe.
Delta has been reported in 80 countries, including Nigeria. It is now the most common variant in India and Britain, where it accounts for more than 90% of cases.
5 Key Things You Need To Know About COVID-19 Delta Variant | Avon HMO
2. Why should you be more alert?
Delta is believed to be 50% more contagious than both the original strain and the Alpha variant first identified in Britain. Other evidence suggests that it may also cause more severe illness; infected people are twice as likely to be hospitalized.
3. Does Delta have different symptoms?
Delta symptoms differ from the ancestral virus and other mutations as patients have described headaches, sore throats, runny noses, fever, and coughing. This could lead people to think they only have a mild cold and continue to go about their day normally. If you have these symptoms, stay home, and get tested.
4. If you’re vaccinated, do you need to worry?
The Delta variant is unlikely to pose much risk to people who have been fully vaccinated, according to experts. The current set of vaccines are still effective but if you’ve only gotten one dose, you’re at higher risk.
5. What can you do?
Get vaccinated, fully. If you’re already vaccinated, encourage your family, friends, and neighbours to get vaccinated too. It’s our best shot at slowing the spread of all the variants and reduce the possibility of other variants emerging.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
