Akwa Ibom Governor Honoured As Champion By United Nations For SDGs Projects

Esan Bolaji
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Akwa Ibom Governor Honoured As Champion By United Nations For SDGs Projects

The United Nations has commended Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration in the State for aligning with the organisation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in its development projects and investments for the people of the state.

The commendation was handed down by the United Nations Resident Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Edward Kallon, Friday, June 18, when he paid a courtesy visit to the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, at Government House, Uyo.

Akwa Ibom Governor

Receiving the UN SDGs Champion laurel, Governor Emmanuel expressed appreciation to the world’s foremost organization for acknowledging the efforts of his government and solicited more support to further the state’s pursuit of the 17 pillars of SDGs, with assurances that any support given to the state will be well utilized and accounted for.

Speaking further, the Governor urged the United Nations to add its voice to the call for the institutionalization of democracy in the Nigerian government through the passage of the pending Electoral Bill by the National Assembly and subsequent executive assent.

He maintained that true democracy was fundamental to all-around development and elimination of dissatisfactions, as it will enhance the confidence of the people in the system and foster participation, as stakeholders, in the development of the nation.

“I appreciate your analyses of the micro, macro-economic issues you’ve painted. I want to let you know as Nigerians, we’re conscious of all those, but the problem is getting people to work together for proper execution and implementation of these things.

“I’ll also like to hear your voice or see your script adding to our call that the National Assembly should pass our Electoral Bill and our President to assent to that bill; because everything you’ve analyzed will still boil down to the people getting who they believe can implement those things for them by exercising their power at the polls”.

Calling on the UN contingent to boost the state government’s effort in the pursuit of the SDGs through support and greater collaborations, Governor Emmanuel said, “We have heard of your benevolence in many other countries and states.

“Anyway, anyhow you can help us, we are honestly looking up to it. Whatever support given to us will be well utilized and accounted for”.

He also called for appropriate documentation of the state’s historic sites, such as the Amalgamation House and the Bridge of no Return at Ikot Abasi, through the UN Cultural organization, the UNESCO, as unique areas of cultural heritage.

This, he said, will give the state a remarkable head start for the post-COVID economy in the area of tourism.

“COVID-19 came as a virus but did not touch our climate, vegetation and abundant natural resources, so we still have a whole lot to bounce back as a people and still sustain our generosity to the country after the COVID pandemic”, he added.

The United Nations Resident Humanitarian Coordinator, Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon, who led the UN delegation commended Governor Udom Emmanuel’s exceptional performance in the development of infrastructure, industrialization and economic transformation in the State, declaring him Champion of the UN SDGs.

Mr. Kallon said the aim of their visit was to partner with Akwa Ibom State to promote dialogue against conflict and further address the impact of Covid-19 in the region and share ideas to enhance response to the pandemic.

He noted that the team visited the Bridge of No Return, used as a channel of the slave trade, the Amalgamation House where the proclamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates as one, took place in 1914 and other notable places in the state, describing them as worth sustaining as natural heritage.

The UN chief however called on Nigeria to address the socio-economic and political issues perpetuating insecurity in the country saying “Nigeria must address urgently the five critical risk factors of security and stability in the country; social cohesion equality and non-discrimination, internal security, economic stability, justice and rule of law and displacement and migration, to ensure peace and enabling environment for development.

“I want to commend you and your government for what I see and for what I am calling a visionary leadership with horizons. I see you and your team create wealth by enhancing the economic and political inclusion, constructive move to alleviate poverty in Akwa Ibom and the interesting aspect is the consolidation and expansion of the infrastructure and job creation for your people.

These investments especially the progress in consolidating investment in infrastructure and expansion and human capital development will build future manpower for Akwa Ibom State.”

The highpoint of the event was the decoration of the Governor with the UN Champion of SDGs laurel.

Synthetic Nicotine Pouch Brand NIIN™ Announces Partnership with NicoKick

Esan Bolaji
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Synthetic Nicotine Pouch Brand NIIN™ Announces Partnership with NicoKick

Synthetic nicotine brand, NIIN™, announced that its signature lineup of Zero Tobacco™ Nicotine Pouches will be available to purchase from leading online retailer, NicoKick.com, beginning July 1, 2021.

Synthetic nicotine brand, NIIN™, announced that its signature lineup of Zero Tobacco™ Nicotine Pouches will be available to purchase from leading online retailer, NicoKick.com, beginning July 1, 2021.

Featuring a wide selection of products, including nicotine pouches, lozenges, gums, tablets, and chews, NicoKick.com offers the largest online selection of smokeless nicotine products produced for the U.S.

Nicotine

NicoKick.com is part of Haypp Group, the largest online retailer of smokeless nicotine products globally. In addition to NicoKick.com, Haypp Group operates several other brands, including Northerner.com – another popular online retailer of smokeless nicotine products that NIIN Pouches™ will become available on. With operations based in Stockholm, Sweden, Haypp Group services more than 300,000 customers across 9 countries.

As a highly anticipated development for both NIIN and Haypp Group, this partnership aims to increase the accessibility of NIIN Primed Pouches™ to a wider range of adult users, while also further diversifying Haypp Group’s tobacco-free offering for its customers.

“Our mission at NicoKick is to drive real change in the industry and encourage alternative nicotine enjoyment for adults seeking products other than inhalants. We are very excited to launch NIIN™ on our platform and provide even more choice to adult customers through NIIN Primed Pouches™ differentiated offering and adult fusion flavours,” said Sarah Krysalka, US Category Director of Haypp Group.

Beginning July 1, 2021, NIIN Primed Pouches™ will be available in 5 signature flavours (Citrus Chill, Cool Mint, Cinnamon, Wintergreen, and Spearmint) and 2 classic nicotine strengths (3mg and 6mg) on both NicoKick.com and Northerner.com.

DKT Nigeria Launches e-Commerce Platform, DKT e-shop

Brand Spur
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DKT Nigeria Launches e-Commerce Platform, DKT e-shop

DKT Nigeria is delighted to announce the launch of DKT e-shop, a business to business (B2B) e-commerce platform for our valued customers. DKT e-shop is a platform that provides affordable, high-quality family planning, sexual and reproductive health products to healthcare providers. The platform is one of its kind to be launched in Nigeria and it is available both as a website and mobile phone application on the google play store.

DKT Nigeria

The customers who can benefit from this initiative are healthcare providers (doctors, pharmacists, midwives, nurses), healthcare facilities such as clinics, hospitals, maternity homes, and retail outlets (pharmacies, PPMVs, supermarkets, convenience stores).

The site uses the latest state of the art technology and has been designed with the needs of the customer being the topmost priority. The DKT e-shop is user-friendly and very easy to navigate.

DKT Nigeria

Customers can easily purchase DKT’s brands and take advantage of the special prices and offer just a few clicks away and receive the delivery at their convenience and doorstep. Payment can be made on the platform either through a debit card or a direct bank transfer. Delivery will be effected within five working days with coverage throughout Nigeria.

DKT Nigeria

DKT e-shop website serves as an educational portal where healthcare providers can access and download product information, brochures, detailing aids and how to use videos. This is in line with DKT’s commitment to provide not just high-quality products but also enhance knowledge, capacity development and service delivery of healthcare providers.

With the changing nature of the reproductive health landscape, DKT is leveraging digital technologies to strengthen healthcare provider’s capacity and ensure undisrupted access to contraceptives and LARC products. DKT e-shop will serve as DKT Nigeria’s fourth distribution channel alongside existing channels such as the Retail, Modern Wholesale, and the Hospital Service Team.

The launch of the DKT e-shop solidifies DKT’s position as the largest private supplier of contraceptives in Nigeria. DKT will continue to rely on existing knowledge and expertise while adopting new strategies for expansion.

I’ll Never Have To Pay Rent Again! – Winner, Y’ello Star Season One

Esan Bolaji
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I’ll Never Have To Pay Rent Again! – Winner, Y’ello Star Season One

The Y’ello Star champion, Okeowo Oladotun, popularly known as Dotti expressed his excitement at being presented with the keys to a fully furnished home with an in-built studio.

While speaking to the Chief Operating Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mazen Mroue before the presentation, he explained how relieving the possibility of never having to pay house rent is for him. He said, “As a young boy like me in Lagos, trying to figure things out, it’s hard to pay rent and knowing that I’ll never pay rent again, it is making me very emotional.”

Y’ello Star

Y’ello Star

Upon emerging winner of the maiden edition of Y’ello Star, Dotti was awarded a five million Naira cash prize, a brand-new car and a fully furnished apartment with an in-built studio.

Y’ello Star

Speaking on his journey through the competition, Dotti said,

“Y’ello Star is a platform to uplift people. I won, but a lot of people around me that were on the show were also winners. We had access to training from Berkeley and Henley Business School and because of that, the way we approach our music has been different. It is just amazing.”

Y’ello Star

The MTN Y’ello star is a musical platform created by MTN Nigeria, to search for hidden, unharnessed talents of the Nigerian youths.

Spotify Announces Grammy Nominee Somi To Join Its EQUAL Music Program

Brand Spur
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Spotify Announces Grammy Nominee Somi To Join Its EQUAL Music Program

Spotify has announced Rwandan-Ugandan jazz singer and songwriter Somi as the latest African singer to join its EQUAL Music Program. Spotify created EQUAL as a  global initiative to cultivate gender equality in music and support female creators under one brand.

The Grammy-nominated Somi is set to release a new album in July, that will pay tribute to the iconic Miriam ‘Mama Africa’ Makeba. The album features renditions of Miriam Makeba’s greatest hits and the first single from her aptly named album – Zenzile” The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba – is a remake of the 1967 hit ‘Pata Pata’.

She has also written an original musical about Miriam Makeba called ‘Dreaming Zenzile,’ which will be released towards the end of the year.

Somi made her debut in 2014, with the album ‘The Lagos Music Salon’. The album, which was inspired by a creative sabbatical in Lagos,  featured singer Angelique Kidjo and rapper Common and landed at number one on US and international jazz charts. Over the years, Somi has built a music career around transatlantic storytelling, narrating the stories of Africans and the continent that aim to raise awareness on social issues.

“Our aim, with a program such as EQUAL, is to upend the inequalities that women face in the music industry by creating a space on the platform that allows us to solely amplify the work of female creators.

Somi’s music is a celebration of Africa’s history and sound and of the legacy of a female artist whose impact through the arts was felt across the continent and the diaspora. The kind of impact we aim to continue to amplify through EQUAL,” says Phiona Okumu, Head of Music, Sub Saharan Africa.

Somi adds, “I’m honored to represent global female voices as part of Spotify’s EQUAL program – especially as I gear up to release my new album that honors our first great lady of African song.  Truly the EQUAL initiative embodies the spirit of Makeba’s legacy and the generations of African women who have benefited from her journey.”

To further support EQUAL Music Spotify launched the EQUAL Hub, a dedicated space to celebrate women creators and help increase awareness of their work among fans.

Nigeria’s defense expenditure to reach US$3.8bn in 2026 – Report

Esan Bolaji
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Nigeria’s defense expenditure to reach US$3.8bn in 2026 – Report

Nigeria’s defense expenditure to reach US$3.8bn in 2026 driven by militant groups and rising piracy incidents, says GlobalData

As one of the continent’s military powerhouses, Nigeria is seeking to strengthen and upgrade the capabilities of its armed forces between 2022 and 2026. Nigeria’s defense budget is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.33% throughout the forecast period to reach a peak of US$3.8bn in 2026.

Growth will be driven by continued insurgent attacks, cybercrime, and rising incidents of piracy, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Nigeria’s defense expenditure

According to GlobalData’s report, ‘Nigeria Defense Market – Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts to 2026’, Nigeria has historically prioritized its defense budget in order to combat both regional and domestic threats, reaching a high of US$2.5bn in 2020. However, the country’s 2021 defense budget witnessed a year-over-year (Y-o-Y) growth rate of -0.9% as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, stabilizing at US$2.5bn for the current year as the country deals with the economic consequences of the pandemic amid a wider global recession.

Victoria Bosomworth, Associate Aerospace and Defense Analyst at GlobalData, comments:

“This substantial increase in defense expenditure, rising from 0.5% as a percentage of Nigeria’s GDP in 2021 to 0.7% of overall GDP spending in 2026, will likely be driven by the country’s attempts at combatting a number of growing threats in the region, such as the continued insurgent attacks by groups, for example, Boko Haram, Ansaru and ISWAP.

Nigeria’s defense expenditure
President Buhari Inducts NAF Attack Helicopters In Abuja | Brand Spur Nigeria

This comes at a time where infighting between factions of these various groups has intensified, resulting in the alleged death of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, after an attack by ISWAP. Clashes are thus expected to increase in the coming months due to the potential instability caused by the power vacuum created by Shekau’s death.”

Other threats driving defense expenditure during the forecast period include oil smuggling in the Niger Delta, increasing cybercrime and rising incidents of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Piracy, in particular, constitutes one of the largest threats, with the Gulf of Guinea, reported as one of the primary piracy locations in 2021.

As an important maritime trade route off the Nigerian coast, the Nigerian Government has invested heavily in ‘Project Deep Blue’ through the funding of a number of important naval procurements in order to reduce maritime insecurity in Nigeria’s territorial waters and Economic Exclusion Zone.”

Bosomworth adds:

“In order to combat these threats, Nigeria has subsequently focused on modernizing and strengthening its capabilities through a number of key procurements, such as the acquisition of Mi-35M helicopters, A-29 Super Tucanos, JF-17 Multirole aircraft, multiple naval vessels and several armoured vehicles.

The acquisition budget for Nigeria in 2021 is set at US$0.3bn, comprising a share of 13.2%, which is expected to rise to a high of US$0.6bn by 2026 and accounting for 15.5%.”

Nigeria Ranks 146 in the Global Peace Index, 8th Least Peaceful in Africa

Cowry Research
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Nigeria Ranks 146 in the Global Peace Index, 8th Least Peaceful in Africa

In the just concluded week, Nigeria was ranked 146 out of the 163 countries which were surveyed, according to their level of peacefulness, in the 2021 Global Peace Index (GPI) report released by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

The GPI measures more than the presence or absence of war in a country, it also captures the absence of violence or the fear of violence across three domains: Safety and Security, Ongoing Conflict, and Militarization.

Also, the report showed that the average level of global peacefulness deteriorated by 0.07 per cent as the World became less peaceful for the ninth time in the last 13 years.

Global Peace Index

According to the report, Nigeria scored 2.712 points as it continues to face challenges on both Safety and Security, as well as Ongoing Conflicts domains. It stated that the conflict between government forces and Boko Haram in the Northeast led to an estimated 1,606 people killed in 125 fatal incidents in 2020, making an average of 13 deaths per violent event in the Boko Haram insurgency of last year.

Of the 163 countries that were ranked, Iceland, New Zealand, Denmark and Portugal were the most peaceful as they ranked first, second, third and fourth respectively having scored 1.1 points, 1.253 points, 1.256 points and 1.267 points respectively.

On the flip side, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan were the least peaceful countries as they ranked 160th, 161th, 162th and 163th respectively, given their respective overall score of 3.363 points, 3.371 points, 3.407 points and 3.631 points. In Africa, Mauritius is the most peaceful country ranked 28th, followed by Ghana (38), Botswana (41), Sierra Leone (46).

The country’s low ranking quite reflects the heightened and rather ubiquitous insecurity in the country. In the course of the week, about 80 students and five teachers were reportedly kidnapped at a Federal Government College in Kebbi State – the third mass kidnapping in three weeks in the Northwest.

Banditry, terrorism, and herdsmen-farmers clashes are all making the country less peaceful as people now move across states with the fear of being attacked.

It appears that the country is overwhelmed at this stage and would require drastic measures and political compromises (over issues of open grazing, state policing, local government autonomy, etc) between the Federal Government and the States that could provide lasting solutions as reliance on military might alone have proven dismally ineffective.

The Federal Government and the States need to fight from a united front to better tackle the challenges and quash the spreading scourge.

Brands should provide Father’s Day-themed launches to capitalise on increasing demand

Brand Spur
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Brands should provide Father’s Day-themed launches to capitalise on increasing demand

This year’s Father’s Day calls for themed releases that will help to celebrate the occasion. However, the number and the variety of ideas are rather underwhelming compared to the efforts brands make with Mother’s Day.

As a result, brands fail to capitalize on the existing demand and reject a chance to send a message of appreciation for the crucial role of fathers in society, writes GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Nina Nowak, Senior Researcher at GlobalData, comments:

“Approximately a quarter of UK male consumers show experimental attitudes in categories traditionally perceived as suitable for gifting. GlobalData’s survey found that 26% of male consumers in the UK like to experiment with new varieties of chocolate, confectionery, and desserts, while 20% display the same attitude in alcoholic drinks.”

Fathers Day

Nowak continues:

“Despite women showcasing more sensory-driven attitudes in confectionery, similar rates are observed in alcoholic drinks, which makes the low number of tailored Father’s Day products rather surprising. A great opportunity to capitalize on product ideas with limited edition and unconventional flavours is being missed out on.”

The assumption that fathers do not appreciate the same experiences as mothers could be another reason behind the lower number of Father’s Day celebration releases. However, figures show that male attitude towards lifestyle does not significantly differ from female.

Father's Day

According to GlobalData’s 2019 Q3 consumer survey, 93% of UK men have indicated rest and relaxation to be either very important or important to them and 86% said developing or maintaining positive personal relationships is very important or important.

These results match the results of the female group: 92% and 89%, respectively. Thus, products designed to celebrate family time and to accompany relaxing occasions could resonate with men just as much as they do with women.

Despite the underwhelming number of Father’s Day-themed launches, some brands have attempted to create products suitable for the occasion. A limited-edition Cadbury range features the brand’s classic chocolate re-packaged to cater to dads passionate about football.

Different UK team logos, such as Manchester United, Liverpool, or Aston Villa deliver a personalized touch. M&S has prepared an updated version of its famous Colin the Caterpillar cake.

The half-regular size cake is marketed as a gift suitable for a “superhero dad.” Beer connoisseur fathers could be the target audience for Bier’s Company’s “super dad beer box” with 24 cans of craft beer, a set of snacks, finished up with a pair of consistently themed socks.

Nowak concludes:

“Brands are slowly recognizing their role in supporting gender equality and their ability to shape consumer views on important subjects, including parenthood. A seemingly trivial topic of overlooked Father’s Day gifting ideas indicates a bigger issue that should be tackled. Celebrating fathers with personalised and indulgent products could benefit both the business and the consumer.”

64% Of US Adults Are Video Game Players; A Breakdown Of US Gamers In 2020

Brand Spur
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64% Of US Adults Are Video Game Players; A Breakdown Of US Gamers In 2020

Contrary to popular belief, video games are not just for kids anymore. A breakdown of the demographics of US video game players reveals that the average age range of video game players is between 35-44 years old. According to data presented by Safe Betting Sites, 64% of US adults are gamers and 75% of Americans have at least one member of their household who plays video games.

3 Out 4 Americans Have A Gamer In Their Household

One of the outdated misconceptions about video games is that it is a hobby enjoyed mainly by the younger generation. According to the Entertainment Software Association, by the end of 2020, there were an estimated 214.4M gamers in the US and of this total gamer population, 163.3M were US adults compared to just 51.1M video game players who are under the age of 18.

Video Game Industry Market Size Rose From $39.62B To $60.4B In The Last Decade

A survey of 4000 Americans about their video game habits revealed 64% of US adults are gamers while 70% of those under the age of 18 are video game players. The average age range of a video game player in the US is between 35-44 years old, with the 18-34 age group having the largest share of video game players at 38%. Notably, three-quarters of Americans have at least one member of their household who plays video games.

Smartphone Most Popular Device Among US Adult Gamers

According to the survey, 73% of Americans own a gaming console while 43% own a handheld system. Another 29% own a VR device while 25% own a mobile VR device. Despite the overwhelming lead of the console in device ownership, the smartphone was the most common device used by US adults to play video games at 61% compared to just 52% for consoles. Another 49% indicated using their personal computers to play video games.

The Benefits Of Gaming Became More Apparent Because Of Pandemic

The video game industry was already a growing industry even before 2020, but the Coronavirus pandemic highlighted the significance of video games even more. In 2020, 65% of US gamers indicated playing video games with other players. More specifically, 42% indicated playing with their friends while a notable 17% indicated playing with “online-only” friends or clanmates.

When asked about the positive impact of video games on their lives, 80% of US gamers believe that video games provide mental stimulation while 79% said that video games provide relaxation and stress relief. Notably, 55% of gamers also indicated that video games helped them connect with friends, a significant benefit considering the challenges brought on by the pandemic.

Rex Pascual, eSports editor at Trading Platforms, commented;

“2020 was a tough year for a lot of people in many respects, and for many, video games provided an enjoyable escape. Besides the innate joy that gaming brings, many other benefits such as being able to connect with friends were highlighted by the pandemic. Through the challenges of 2020, the stigma around video games being for the young and immature is slowly being broken.”

AXA Mansard Launches MyAXA Plus Mobile App

Esan Bolaji
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AXA Mansard Launches MyAXA Plus Mobile App

AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, a member of the AXA Group and global leader in insurance and asset management, today announced the launch of its new “MyAXA Plus” mobile application. This follows the launch of the company’s first mobile app in 2017 and further underscores the company’s desire to deliver delightful and relevant, cutting edge financial solutions to its customers and the larger society.

“MyAXA Plus” has been very well received because it provides a much improved, seamless, and satisfying experience that puts users at the heart of every feature and action on the app.

The features available at launch include:

  1. Make Claims: Customers can make claims on their insurance policy, enabling fast reporting of incidents and payment of claims by the company.
  2. Book Hospital Visits: HMO customers of AXA Mansard can receive care at over 1,700+ hospitals, and with MyAXA Plus, they can also pre-book hospital visits, reducing their wait time while also getting faster access to specialist consultations.
  3. Renew Insurance Policy: Customers, by providing their car plate number on the app, can also renew their motor insurance policy within a few minutes.
  4. Invest & liquidate funds: Investors, whether with a high or low-risk appetite can find the right investment options on the app. Also, liquidation of funds and crediting of the customer account is completed within 5 minutes via the app.
  5. Data-driven advice: App users can make informed decisions by checking the market rates and trends before investing funds, reading articles by experts, and interacting with a robo-advisor that uses information provided by the customers to suggest the right products and insurance cover in seconds. 

AXA Mansard

In addition, MyAXA Plus allows registered and unregistered users to generate instant quotes of any product; use the BMI calculator; read blog articles; check investment trends & rates; calculate returns on investment; calculate the market value of any car; and contact sales agents for more information. 

“After launching the first of its kind MyAXA mobile app which gave customers a consolidated, single point of access to their general and life insurance; health insurance; assets and savings accounts in 2017, our team set out to build a more advanced solution to further empower customers to achieve their financial goals and access quality healthcare, wherever and however they choose,” said Mr. Bayo Adesanya, the Chief Digital Innovation Officer at AXA Mansard.

“We are committed to achieving the singular goal of putting our customers first, in this instance, by building an app that incorporates their feedback on desired features and improvements, as well as including other market-leading innovations. We urge our existing and future customers to start using MyAXA Plus today.”

To download MyAXA Plus by AXA Mansard Insurance, visit App Store for iOS users and the Google Play Store for Android users respectively.

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