TD Africa Marks 22 Years Of Leadership In Tech Distribution Ecosystem

Esan Bolaji
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TD Africa Marks 22 Years Of Leadership In Tech Distribution Ecosystem

TD Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest technology and lifestyle distribution company, clocks 22 on Saturday, May 15, 2021.

To mark its 22 years of sterling leadership in the ICT distribution segment in Africa, the management of TD Africa has rolled out the drums to celebrate its partner ecosystem with a week-long discount sale tagged Sellerbration.

The promotion, which kicked off on Monday, May 10 and which is expected to run until Saturday, May 15 has witnessed the rollout of massive discounts on a variety of genuine products from TD Africa’s wide-ranging bouquet including Computing, Printing/Supplies, Power, Software and Home Appliances, among others.

TD Africa

The special offer, exclusive to partners of TD Africa, has been identified as one of the measures through which the company is appreciating its customers for their support and unflinching loyalty to the TD Africa brand over the long years of its achievements-filled existence in the sector.

In addition, the company has flagged off a series of activities geared at making its 22nd-anniversary celebration a memorable one.

On Monday, May 10, it had hosted a Tech Monday, with Management and staff turning up to work across all of its locations across Nigeria and beyond, dressed to represent one of the tech brands or Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the company’s portfolio. The colourful day saw an exciting clash of colours and brands as virtually all of the OEMs represented by TD Africa were present in the outfits donned by its staff.

This was followed on Tuesday, May 11 with a Retro Tuesday celebration. It was a day on which employees of the company turned up in throwback fashion outfits, including foreign and native wear. Also spicing up the day’s fare was a Karaoke session featuring a nostalgic rendition of memorable songs from the 80s and 90s.

Most importantly, TD Africa’s 22nd-anniversary celebration will reach a climax on Friday, May 14, which has been set aside as Jersey Friday. All employees of the company will don the jersey of their favourite local or international sports team for the day’s event which will herald a smart 22nd-anniversary party by 5 pm.

Coordinating Managing Director, TD Africa, Mrs. Chioma Chimere, says the 22nd-anniversary celebration is targeted at expressing gratitude to the company’s partners which she describes as the lifeblood of the business.

‘‘TD Africa is 22. It has been a long journey filled with many memorable feats. Definitely, we would not be here counting the years and looking forward to even greater feats, if not for the grace of God and the support of our partners who have remained steadfast in their loyalty to the TD Africa brand.

‘‘We remain grateful to them – the OEMs whom we paid homage to with our Tech Monday activity – as well as the thousands of businesses that number among our channel partners, for whom we have put together the TD Sellerbration, a special discount sale exclusive to partners and through which they can grab a number of exciting products at mouth-watering prices.

‘‘As we mark this anniversary and reminisce on how far we have come in our groundbreaking strides, our eyes remain glued to the noble ideals of our founders. Indeed, our vision of building a globally recognized distribution company and becoming the key driver of trade revolution across Africa remains as clear as ever,’’ she declared.

TD Africa began operations in Nigeria in 1999 as the pioneer bulk distributor of technology products in the West African sub-region for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), such as Hewlett-Packard (HP), Microsoft, APC and Epson.

Upon assuming its leadership role as a technology distribution giant, TD Africa introduced several reforms into the market, which included the formulation of a clear-cut policy on the channel of distribution, which led to the adoption of the prevailing four-tier market structure, comprising manufacturers, distributors, resellers and end-users.

This development, coupled with TD Africa’s high capacity to stock genuine products, brought relief to all stakeholders, by ending decades of problematic reliance on overseas-based distributors, just as it effectively countered the prevalence of substandard products.

Today, TD Africa, a globally renowned distribution giant has expanded its brand portfolio to include a wide range of global technology brands from the likes of HP, IBM, Dell Technologies, Samsung, APC by Schneider, Vertiv, Cisco, D-Link, Microsoft, Huawei, Lenovo, Asus, Zinox, Infinix, Tecno, Nokia, Bosch, Kaspersky, Mercury, Philips, Logitech, HPE and Zebra, among many others.

Recently, the company recorded another first with the launch of arguably the continent’s first-ever Tech Experience Centre, an impressive edifice playing home to the latest technologies and lifestyle innovations from the world’s leading brands.

Infinix Launches Award Winning NOTE 10 Pro Series

Esan Bolaji
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Infinix Launches Award Winning NOTE 10 Pro Series

12 May 2021 – Infinix today launched the all-new NOTE 10 series, a new portfolio of premium smartphones including the NOTE 10, NOTE 10 Pro and NOTE 10 Pro near-field communication (NFC).

Showcasing a superfluid display, powerful MediaTek gaming processors, cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI)-powered camera and optimized 5000mAh battery with fast-charge technology, the NOTE 10 series is crafted to enhance and optimize work and entertainment experiences for everyone.

“We know today’s smartphone enthusiasts want a device that balances style with the latest innovative technology for a truly immersive experience,” said Manfred Hong, Senior Product Director at Infinix. “The NOTE 10 series perfectly balances functionality; aesthetics, style, innovation, texture and colour functionality, to create the ideal, all-around device for professionals, entertainment lovers and everyday users alike.”

Infinix

The iF Design 2021 award-winning NOTE 10 Pro delivers a balance between the physical and virtual worlds, the calmness and serenity of Mother Nature and the modern geometric interiors and décor designs of luxury brands.

The back panel is uniquely divided into two sections with the bottom half completely textured in juxtaposition with the glossy top. The design is available in four colours: 95° Black, 7° Purple, Emerald Green (exclusive to NOTE 10) and Nordic Secret (exclusive to NOTE 10 Pro).

A Stunning Visual Experience 

The NOTE 10 series creates the perfect viewing experience with a 6.95” full high definition (FHD+) display, and a 91% screen-to-body ratio with 480 nits of peak brightness and 1500:1 colour contrast ratio for sharp, crystal clear visuals.

Graphics and images seamlessness glide due to the 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate, which is perfect for watching movies, scrolling content or gaming. Certified by TÜV Rheinland for low blue light, users will enjoy hours of use without suffering from eye fatigue and discomfort.

The NOTE 10 series delivers stunning professional-quality images and beautiful nightscape imagery, both in daylight and at night. To capture amazing selfies, the NOTE 10 series is equipped with a 16MP AI Beautify Selfie front-facing camera with two frontal flashes.

The NOTE 10 Pro and NOTE 10 Pro NFC are loaded with an intuitive AI-powered four-in-one lens comprising 120° field of view (FOV) ultra-wide angle, super macro lens, 5P lens, black and white lens and portrait lens, which are all integrated into a rear-facing 64 megapixels (MP) 6P ultra night camera. 

For ultra-smooth and effortless filming, the NOTE 10 series also offers 4K resolution shooting capabilities in both the front and rear cameras using leading video-enhancement algorithms from Imint’s Vidhance Video Stabilization solution and auto-blur video shooting. Now, users can capture their breathtaking moments with confidence. 

Packed with Power & Performance 

For super-fast data processing and response times, the NOTE 10 Pro and NOTE 10 Pro NFC are powered by the award-winning MediaTek Helio G95 processor. Paired with MediaTek’s HyperEngine Gaming Technology, users benefit from 50% faster response times, stronger connectivity and low latency reduction by utilizing two Wi-Fi bands or routers at the same time.

MediaTek Helio G95 gaming processor for NOTE 10 Pro and NOTE 10 Pro NFC, comprises:

  • An octa-core central processing unit (CPU) with two powerful Arm Cortex-A76 processors cores clocked up to 2.05GHz, plus six Cortex-A55 efficiency-focused processors
  • An Arm Mali-G76 MC4 graphics processing unit (GPU) with speeds that boost to 900MHz
  • Memory storage of 256 GB and 8GB RAM

MediaTek Helio G85 gaming processor for the NOTE 10, contains:

  • A 64-bit octa-core processor with two performance core ARM Cortex-A75 and six power-efficient core Cortex-A55 CPUs clocked at 2.0GHz and 1.8GHz respectively
  • One of the fastest GPUs, the ARM Mali-G52 MC2 GPU, clocking at 1GHz
  • Memory storage of 128 GB and 8 GB RAM (NOTE 10 Pro) & 6GB RAM (NOTE 10).

The NOTE 10 series features a range of upgraded and new innovative technologies and features, such as:

  • A 5000mAh Battery and 33W Fast Charge Technology: The NOTE 10 Pro and NOTE 10 Pro NFC are fueled by a 5000mAh battery with 33W quick charge technology. The NOTE 10 offers user a 5000mAh battery with 18W quick charge. The batteries are integrated with Ultra Power Mode, providing an extra 58 hours of calling time when the battery reaches 5% capacity, 25% of battery backup with the Power Marathon Technology and safe fast-charge technology.
  • UFS 2.2 Storage Technology: The NOTE 10 Pro and NOTE 10 Pro NFC offers a staggering 256GB storage capacity and delivers a maximum transfer of 5,830 Mb/s for reading and writing, improving the speed and multitasking capabilities for users.
  • Dar-link Ultimate Game Booster: The NOTE 10 series incorporates Infinix’s Dar-link Ultimate Game Booster optimization engine software, which works with the smartphone’s hardware to improve graphic image stability and screen sensitivity. The software intelligently adjusts the operating speed of the CPUs and GPUs and allocates resources to improve images and movements in different gaming scenarios.
  • DTS Audio and AI Noise Cancelling: Providing a surround sound quality with support for high-frequency game scenes, the NOTE 10 series are embedded with dual speakers, AI noise reduction sound technology, DTS audio processing and sound localization.
  • Secure and Convenient Access Points: Users are able to access the NOTE 10 series with a side-mounted fingerprint and 3D face unlock capabilities.
  • Android XOS 7.6: The Android XOS 7.6 software incorporated into the NOTE 10 series provides users with tools such as Xnote 5.0 to take notes and write down ideas, X-Proof to obscure the screen when using the phone in public and Thunder Back Mode 2.0 easily accommodates two apps simultaneously on the same screen

Availability

The NOTE 10 Pro will be priced at $259 & the NOTE 10 will be priced at $199. The series will be available in May and include variations based on customer and market demands. Prices may vary from region to region.

Liverpool Renew Push For EPL Top-4 With Victory At Manchester United

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Liverpool Renew Push For EPL Top-4 With Victory At Manchester United

Jurgen Klopp tasted victory at Old Trafford for the first time as Liverpool breathed new life into their top-four push with a thrilling 4-2 win against Manchester United.

After anti-Glazer protestors got into the ground and onto the pitch 11 days ago, further demonstrations could not stop Thursday’s Premier League fixture from going ahead.

In this rearranged fixture and Old Trafford’s final match behind closed doors, Manchester United missed this chance to all but end Liverpool’s Champions League qualification hopes.

It was their fourth match in eight days and they could not stop it from ending in a first home loss to their bitter rivals since 2014.

Stand-in skipper Bruno Fernandes’ deflected effort had got Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side off to a dream start.

But Diogo Jota drew Liverpool level with a smart flick after a penalty kick decision was overturned.

The equalizer came from a corner kick and Manchester United’s soft underbelly from set-pieces was again exposed in first-half stoppage time.

Roberto Firmino headed home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s excellent free-kick.

Liverpool pulled further ahead 72 seconds after half-time as a comedy of errors at the back ended with Firmino turning home his second of the evening.

Manchester United looked punch-drunk by now.

But they eventually rallied as Marcus Rashford reduced the deficit, before Nat Phillips – who had deflected home Fernandes’ opener – cleared a Mason Greenwood attempt off the line.

Mohamed Salah ensured Manchester United would lose their sixth home league game of the season, racing through at the death as Liverpool moved into fifth and four points behind Chelsea with a game in hand.

Also on Thursday, Everton’s European hopes suffered a blow after a limp 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.

The Toffees failed to find the win which would have kept the pressure on the top six in the English Premier League (EPL).

They climbed to eighth, above Arsenal, to move two points behind sixth-placed West Ham.

But Everton’s inconsistencies look like costing them a European spot.

Ben Godfrey and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were denied by Emi Martinez, while Tyrone Mings wasted a rare opening for Aston Villa.

The game at least represented a return for Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish, who ended his three-month injury lay-off as a second-half substitute.

The skipper was unable to conjure a winner, though, as the hosts remain 11th with three games to go.

MoneyGram and Coinme Partner to Expand Access to Bitcoin

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MoneyGram and Coinme Partner to Expand Access to Bitcoin

The first-of-its-kind partnership makes it fast and easy to buy and sell bitcoin with cash through participating MoneyGram retail locations

MoneyGram International, Inc., a global leader in cross-border P2P payments and money transfers, and Coinme Inc., the largest licensed cryptocurrency cash exchange in the U.S., today announced the launch of a new partnership to enable cash funding and payout of digital currency purchases and sales.

The partnership, which utilizes MoneyGram’s modern, mobile and API-driven payments platform and Coinme’s proprietary cryptocurrency exchange and custody technology, will bring bitcoin to thousands of new point-of-sale locations in the U.S., with plans to expand to select international markets in the second half of 2021.

“This innovative partnership opens our business to an entirely new customer segment as we are the first to pioneer a crypto-to-cash model by building a bridge with Coinme to connect bitcoin to local fiat currency,” said Alex Holmes, MoneyGram Chairman and CEO. “Our unique, global network is an incredibly valuable asset, and we’re excited to open our platform to Coinme as we increasingly look to capture new growth by monetizing our network to new use-cases.”

Global cash on and off-ramps ensure access to bitcoin

The MoneyGram and Coinme integration will provide a fast and easy way for customers to purchase bitcoin with cash and withdraw bitcoin holdings in cash. It is specially designed for customers who may be interested in utilizing bitcoin for the first time.

With less than 20,000 cryptocurrency kiosks in the world today, the MoneyGram and Coinme partnership will further expand access to bitcoin and potentially other digital currencies by creating thousands of new point-of-sale locations to buy and sell cryptocurrency.

“MoneyGram has spent more than 80 years building one of the world’s largest P2P payment networks,” said Neil Bergquist, Coinme CEO. “By integrating its global infrastructure with our licensed crypto exchange technology, we can enable the purchase and sale of cryptocurrencies across its system using cash. This is a major milestone for the bitcoin and cryptocurrency communities, and for the millions of people who will benefit from a trusted, easy and affordable onramp to digital currency.”

The service will be available at select MoneyGram locations starting in the U.S. in the coming weeks.

Airtel Africa Ends Q1 2020 with 118.2 Million Subscribers; Up by 6.9%

Esan Bolaji
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Airtel Africa Ends Q1 2020 with 118.2 Million Subscribers; Up by 6.9%

Airtel Africa’s customer base grew by 6.9% to 118.2 million, with increased penetration across mobile data (customer base up 14.5%) and mobile money services (customer base up 18.5%). The recent slowdown in customer base growth has been due to new SIM registration regulations in Nigeria.

Sub-Saharan Africa is characterised by low penetrated markets, with unique subscriber penetration at 46%. The Group continued to build a unique mix of multi-brand and exclusive franchise channels, combined with a simplified and enhanced self-service app to provide a seamless customer onboarding experience.

These have enabled Airtel Africa to add customers, resulting in a customer base growth of 6.9% for the year. This has also helped the telecoms giant to grow voice revenue by 11.0% in constant currency.

Data usage per customer

Analysis carried out by Brand Spur revealed that Airtel Africa’s improved 4G network contributed to an increase in smartphone penetration, in data customers and in up-take of large data volumes, resulting in greater data consumption per customer.

Smartphone penetration was up by 1 percentage points to 33% and its data customer base grew by 14.5%, now representing 34.3% of its total customer base.

Airtel africa
The logo of telecommunications company Airtel is pictured on an umbrella and chairs set up by vendors in Abuja. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Data usage per customer reached 2.6 GB per customer (from 1.8 GB per customer) led by an increase in smartphone penetration and expansion of its home broadband and enterprise customers. This helped us grow data revenue by 31.2% in constant currency.

Growing penetration and usage of 3G and 4G data customers helped us grow data ARPU 8.2%. 4G data usage more than doubled in the year, contributing 62.2% of total data usage on the network in Q4’21.

The fastest-growing service segment, Mobile Money?

Airtel Africa’s distribution expansion and enhanced offerings helped drive 18.5% growth in its mobile money customer base. The mobile money business now serves over 21.7 million customers, representing 18.3% of its total customer base.

Mobile money continues to be one of its fastest-growing service segments, delivering revenue growth of 35.5% for the year. It is an increasingly important part of its business, delivering $51bn of annualised (Q4’21) transaction value and accounting for 10.6% of total revenue in Q4’21.

Mobile money ARPU increased by 6.6%over the year, driven by increased transaction values and higher contributions from merchant payments, cash transactions, P2P transfers and mobile services recharges through Airtel Money.

Mobile money revenue grew by 35.5% to $401m driven by 18.5% growth of the customer base and transaction value growth of 53.6%. Customer base growth was largely driven by the expansion of its distribution network, as we continued to invest in exclusive kiosks and mobile money branches.

Throughout the year, the expansion of its mobile money product portfolio, through partnerships with leading financial institutions, and the expansion of its merchant ecosystem further strengthened its mobile money propositions.

The mobile money customer base reached 21.7million, up 18.5% from the prior year, with Airtel Money customers now representing 18.3% of its total customer base, an increase of 1.8 percentage points. Mobile money ARPU increased 6.6%, driven by the increase in transaction values and a higher contribution from merchant payments, cash transactions, P2P transfers and mobile services recharges through Airtel Money.

Customer Base Growth In Nigeria?

In Nigeria, the customer base growth was supported by continued expansion of its distribution network and network infrastructure, with a slowdown in customer base growth in the second half of the year attributable to new “Know-Your-Customer” (KYC) requirements in Nigeria. In Q4’21, voice revenue grew by 12.9% in constant currency, mainly driven by voice ARPU growth of 7.5%, largely due to increased voice usage per customer.

Initially, new customer acquisitions were barred until significant progress had been made on linking the active customer base with verified NINs. Natural churn in the customer base led to a loss of 2.5 million active mobile customers in the final quarter of the year, however, the financial impact has been minimal, with continued revenue growth in Nigeria, due largely to the significantly lower ARPU of the churned base and increased usage by the active base.

In April, the NCC announced that it would allow new customer enrolment to recommence from certified outlets. Airtel Nigeria has so far received interim approvals for c800 outlets and new customer registrations have recommenced in those outlets accordingly.

Airtel Africa's Revenue growth in constant currency was 16.4% in H1 and 19.6% in Q2

Airtel Africa Revenue Grew By 14.2%

Airtel Africa Plc has continued strong revenue growth, increased profitability and cash flow, and continued deleveraging as indicated in the recently released financial results for the period ended 31 March 2021.

The telecommunications giant reported that revenue grew by 14.2% to $3,908m, with Q4’21 reported revenue growth of 15.4% while constant currency underlying revenue growth was 19.4%, with Q4’21 growth of 21.7%.

Final Dividend

The Board has recommended a final dividend of 2.5 cents per ordinary share. The proposed final dividend will be paid on 23 July 2021 to all ordinary shareholders who are on the register of members at the close of business on 25 June 2021. Airtel paid an interim dividend of 1.5 cents per ordinary share in December 2020.

Yemi Alade’s Team Dazzles On Airtel TV As The Voice Nigeria Enters Knockout Stages

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Yemi Alade’s Team Dazzles On Airtel TV As The Voice Nigeria Enters Knockout Stages

Yemi Alade’s team gave music lovers several exciting moments on the latest episode of The Voice Nigeria, which aired over the weekend.

The leading international competition has finally entered the knockout stages, with an all-new episode scheduled to air this coming weekend on Airtel TV.

Airtel, a lead sponsor of the competition has stated that The Voice Nigeria is an avenue for the global audience to recognize the plethora of talents Nigeria is blessed with; hence the telco is delighted to be a part of it.

The previous episode of the competition marked the end of the blind auditions, with each coach selecting 6 talents to be on their team for the next stage, the Knockouts, where only three members from each team will make it to the battle rounds.

Performing first on the Knockout episode was Yemi Alade’s team, with each talent showcasing their singing prowess after being groomed and trained thoroughly by the mega star. The first contestant on the team, Toeseen, delivered a full-hearted rendition of Rihanna’s global hit ‘What Now’, and was showered with praises from the coaches. She was however, sent to the ‘danger zone’, where her fate would later be decided at the end of the episode.

The next contestant, Loven, performed Wande Coal’s ‘Again’, giving the song an original twist to it as he did a freestyle on the second verse. While his performance was enjoyable for the most part, he was also sent to the danger zone by Yemi Alade.

Gracing the stage as the third performer, Vanilla delivered a spine-chilling performance of David Guetta’s ‘Titanium’, featuring Australian songstress, Sia. Her energizing vocals earned her overwhelming positive reviews from the coaches, with all four commending her for personalizing the song and bringing life to it. She was momentarily selected by Yemi for the battle rounds.

Ewaoluwa performed ‘Dangerous’ by Ariana Grande but like other contestants before her, was sent to the danger zone. Tim Ayo performed ‘Love Riddim’, the pop hit from Nigerian-American singer and actor, Rotimi but was also sent to the danger zone.

The last performer for the night, Kitay, delivered an astounding rendition of Kizz Daniel’s 2016 smash hit ‘Laye’, sending all coaches into a frenzy. For his exhilarating performance, he was selected for the battle round.

At the end of the episode, Yemi Alade had to pick just one talent from those sent to the danger zone for the battle round. She ultimately picked Toeseen, and the other talents were sent home.

Episode 8, which will feature Team Falz is scheduled to air on Saturday, May 15th, and will also be available on Sunday on Airtel TV by8PM. The new episode can also be watched on-demand from 9pm on Sunday after the live broadcast to enable fans watch at any time if they missed the live broadcast.

To watch new episodes on Airtel TV, fans can simply download the Airtel TV app, which is available on Google Play Store and Apple Store, then register with their Airtel number. Once registration is complete, they can browse the app to catch all new episodes of ‘The Voice Nigeria’ and browse through the catalogue to stream any other content or channel of choice.

The Airtel TV app is subscription-free and offers registered users unlimited access to live TV, news and the entire Airtel TV content library.

 

How Cambridge CEM Assessments Can Improve Educational Outcomes In Nigerian Schools

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How Cambridge CEM Assessments Can Improve Educational Outcomes In Nigerian Schools

Education is an essential part of any modern society’s development and growth, including that of Nigeria.

The Nigerian educational system has witnessed several structural changes over the past three decades, with the first National Policy on Education being developed and adopted in 1982. Since then, it has undergone various modifications, but evaluation and assessment continue to be important.

In many schools, assessment is often concentrated on cognitive performance, but assessment systems that also focus on other aspects of learning such as attitude, interest and aptitude can help schools to improve overall academic performance and student outcomes.

One leading provider of assessment and monitoring systems is the Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring (CEM) – a partnership between Cambridge Assessment and Cambridge University Press. Cambridge CEM uses baseline and diagnostic assessments to accurately measure a child’s potential and progress in order to understand and respond to their individual needs. The data informs teachers about areas where students need intervention, giving them a deeper understanding of the learning environment.

How Cambridge CEM Assessments Can Improve Educational Outcomes In Nigerian Schools-Brand Spur Nigeria
How Cambridge CEM Assessments Can Improve Educational Outcomes In Nigerian Schools-Brand Spur Nigeria

Some teachers can findit difficult to grade and interpret test scores, which directly affects how students and parents interpret results. However, Cambridge CEM provides teachers with comprehensive reporting to support their conversations with parents. Parents receive clear and easy-to-understand details of their child’s performance compared with expectations. Once the unique needs of a student are identified, parents are also informed about decisive steps that need to be taken to help their child perform at a higher level.

Cambridge CEM tests also help to predict grades in qualifications such as Cambridge International AS & A Level, Cambridge IGCSE, and Cambridge O Level. The tests are currently used across Cambridge International Schools in the Middle East, South East Asia and China, and in a number of UK curriculum schools in Nigeria including Day Waterman College – a secondary boarding school located near Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Kevin Moran, Curriculum Lead and Data Manager at Day Waterman College explained how data derived from Cambridge CEM tests has helped enrich teaching and learning while improving the performance of students in the school.

“With Cambridge CEM tests like MidYiS and Yellis, students who are underperforming, especially in the mid-range results, are identified early and steps are subsequently taken to motivate them in order to enhance performance in areas where improvement is needed”

Data gathered from each child’s tests can also facilitate professional development among teachers, he said: “Typically, data derived from the tests is used to inform teaching and learning, with training being held to further teachers’ professional development. We have had Continuing Professional Development sessions to educate the classroom leaders in using the spreadsheet to analyze data gathered from the Cambridge CEM tests.”

Speaking on the impact of Cambridge CEM tests on the performance of students, Juan Visser, Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at Cambridge Assessment International Education added: “ Cambridge CEM tests have been able to reveal the cognitive standing of students, and can also expose gaps in the knowledge of students, and thereby showing educators where the emphasis should be laid in teaching.  Whilst they are part of the Cambridge family of qualifications, they are applicable to all curriculums and therefore may be applied to any school-level studies. Cambridge CEM tests are a truly invaluable resource for schools.”

The use of an assessment provider like Cambridge CEM can therefore support Nigerian schools in maintaining high-quality teaching and learning standards by helping to identify specific issues that students face, prompting the process of understanding and tackling those issues.

Integrating the assessments into the curriculum creates an education system that prioritizes the unique potential of each child, improving overall academic performance.

LASUTH Surgeons Perform Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer In The Head And Neck

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LASUTH Surgeons Perform Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer In The Head And Neck

Surgeons at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) have performed a successful Microvascular Tissue Transfer in the Head and Neck on a patient thus eradicating large disfiguring defects.

The hospital has continually made giant strides in improving lives with its vision to be a center of excellence in healthcare delivery.

The tertiary healthcare institution in the commercial city of Nigeria has over the years provided high-quality tertiary healthcare services to patients across the country and beyond.

The teaching hospital is now positioned as a quaternary hospital and has continually promoted the development of cutting-edge surgical expertise to deliver the best possible outcome. Several high-end health solutions have been delivered thereby saving many lives and enhancing the quality of living.

Recently, Surgeons at the hospital performed a Microvascular Free tissue transfer in the Head and Neck. According to Dr. Eyituoyo. M. Okoturo, Head of Maxillofacial Surgery Unit of the Dental Department, LASUTH, “most malignant tumors of the head and neck cannot be adequately treated without extensive surgery that leaves large disfiguring defects.

Reconstruction has evolved over the last century from the mere filling up of defects with local or regional flaps to microvascular free tissue transfer to ensure precise facial contour and restoring of function.”

According to him, “the technique involves the transfer of a distant tissue (donor tissue) along with its vascular supply to a recipient site (defect site) of the same patient and re-establishing donor tissue blood flow from the recipient blood vessels by microvascular re-anastomosis of both sets of blood vessels (i.e., donor and recipient arteries &veins) with the use of an operating microscope.”

“It provides the advantage of precise reconstruction of defects that ordinarily are not feasible with local flaps. Because of the technical difficulty associated with today’s facial reconstruction, it is now usually assisted with the use of computer-aided designs – computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) for bespoke reconstruction,” he added.

LASUTH has continued to provide advanced cutting-edge medical practice to Lagosians and Nigerians at large. The hospital is presently the only hospital in Nigeria and one of the only 2 in Sub-Saharan Africa providing this mode of treatment.

Africa Shines This May With Boomerang’s My African Stories Series!

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Africa Shines This May With Boomerang’s My African Stories Series!

Storytelling has been integral to Africa for many generations. Along with song, rhythm, and dance, Africans have been able to relay stories about their rich cultures and heritage since time immemorial.

This year, just in time for Africa Month, Boomerang will launch My African Stories – a video series aimed at raising young African kids’ voices by allowing them to share unique, cultural moments of their daily lives with their peers across the continent.

Through an adventurous journey in “a day in the life of…”, the series will allow young boys and girls, aged between 4 and 9, to learn about the different cultures, traditions and practices from South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. This new local Boomerang initiative will enable children from different parts of Africa to share their unique moments, from a kids’ perspective. My African Stories will immerse children across Africa in the legacy of tradition while experiencing daily tales from different African societies in a relatable way.

To kick off the exciting show and tell fest on Tuesday, 18 May, Boomerang will bring its young viewers My Weekend with Lesedi. Going to the aquarium and then visiting his favourite soccer park sounds like the perfect weekend to Lesedi. And suppose you can’t join Lesedi on his exciting weekend adventure? In that case, kids can visit Boomerang Africa’s webpage to make their own fantastic weekend crafts: a mini foosball table and an aquarium in a jar.

Then the channel heads off to little Yaa from Ghana for the next episode, which has special treats in store from 21 May. After A Typical Day at the Market with Yaa, you can head over to Boomerang Africa’s webpage where kids can learn to make their own DIY Kente weave bracelets and ladybug magnets.

Observed during Africa Month, Africa Day, on 25 May, celebrates and acknowledges African solidarity, unity in diversity, creativity, challenges, and successes. In celebration of this eminent day, Boomerang takes us to Nigeria, where little Pascal’s passion is ballet dancing. Drawing inspiration from his passion, Boomerang will get viewers involved in fascinating DIY dancing craft and dancing puppets on My Passion with Pascal.

Lastly, a 3D cupcake birthday card and DIY wool haircut are in line on My Birthday with Kimberly launching on the 28th of May. This episode follows little Kimberly as she gets ready for her birthday part.  We follow her to the hair salon, the process involved in choosing a hairstyle, picking the colours of the beads going into her hair and the magical ‘ta-da’ moment!

There’s so much to do and learn! With such amazing stories, the challenge is on for Boomerangers all over the continent to explore their own cultural side and compare what they will do around the theme of each My African Stories episode. Catch My African Stories, from Tuesday, 18 May, on Boomerang Africa’s webpage and from Tuesday, 25 May on DStv channel 302.

Dangote Cement Record Earnings On the Back of Increased Demand In Q1 2021

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Dangote Cement Record Earnings On the Back of Increased Demand In Q1 2021

In its recently released financial performance for Q1 2021, Dangote Cement Plc (Dangote Cement) recorded a 33% YoY revenue growth from N249.18bn in Q1 2020 to N332.65bn in Q1 2021.

The Group’s revenue growth was driven by a combination of price and volume increases during the quarter. Operating profit grew by 61% YoY from N91.78bn in Q1 2020 to N147.83bn in Q1 2021.

Finance cost spiked by 181% YoY from N9.01bn in Q1 2020 to N25.29bn in Q1 2021. Nonetheless, profit before tax grew by 48% YoY from N88.06bn in Q1 2020 to N130.10bn in Q1 2021. Profit after tax grew by 48% YoY from N60.59bn in Q1 2020 to N89.71bn in Q1 2021.

Increased Revenue Reflects Capacity Expansion Amid Strong Demand

Dangote Cement’s solid revenue growth in Q1 2021 was driven by increased demand for products, as a result of increased activities in the real estate sector. In our view, the implementation of an accommodative monetary policy stance by the monetary policy authorities resulted in a hunt for higher yields and returns by local investors, of which alternative asset classes (such as real estate) were explored.

We also posit that the low-yield environment drove increased demand for a mortgage. According to data by the National Bureau of Statistics, the real estate sector (nominal GDP) grew by 9% YoY from N2.55trn in Q4 2019 to N2.79trn in Q4 2020.

On a quarterly basis, the real estate sector grew by 27% from N2.19trn in Q3 2020. Therefore, the complementary demand for real estate implied a higher demand for cement, which extended to Q1 2021.

To meet the increased demand for products, the Group ramped up production capacity and sold higher volumes during the period. Volume sales in the Nigerian market grew by 22% YoY from 4.02mn tonnes in Q1 2020 to 4.91mn tonnes in Q1 2021.

The Group also realised a higher average price per tonne from N45.87k per tonne in Q1 2020 to N48.84k per tonne in Q1 2021, representing a 9% price increase.

Hence, the combination of price and volume growth translated to a 34% YoY revenue growth in the Nigerian market.

We note that the Group’s revenue growth was the highest during the quarter among other major market cement players (Lafarge Q1 2021 revenue growth: +12% YoY; BUA Cement Q1 2021 revenue growth: +27% YoY). Effectively, it suggests that the Group’s market share increased during the period.

In its Pan African markets, the Group recorded a 13% YoY volume growth from 2.32mn tonnes in Q1 2020 to 2.61mn tonnes in Q1 2021, attributed to strong operating performances across major markets including Tanzania (+29% volume growth), Senegal (+6% volume growth), and Cameroon (+16% volume growth).

The volume growth recorded across the Group’s Pan African markets was on the back of increased consumption owing to construction projects and government housing projects. The average price per tonne realised across the Pan African markets stood at N35.58k in Q1 2021, representing an 18% YoY increase from N30.16k per tonne in Q1 2020.

Thus, the revenue generated by the Group across its Pan African markets grew by 33% YoY from N69.85bn in Q1 2020 to N92.97bn in Q1 2021.

Overall, the Group’s total revenue grew by 33% YoY from N249.18bn in Q1 2020 to N332.65bn in Q1 2021. The Group’s total revenue growth was majorly supported by the volume growth recorded in its Nigerian market.

Improved Technology and Operating Efficiency Spur Margin Expansion

Cost margin lowered by 300 basis points from 42% in Q1 2020 to 39% in Q1 2021, attributed to the Group’s modern and efficient plant. We also attribute the lower cost margin to the impact of economies of scale associated with higher volumes. On the back of the lower cost margin, gross profit rose by 41% YoY from N144.86bn in Q1 2020 to N204.66bn in Q1 2021.

Operating expense margin also lowered by 500 basis points from 22% in Q1 2020 to 17% in Q1 2021, as the Group’s cost optimisation efforts materialised during the period. The impact of the cost optimisation resulted in a 61% YoY growth in operating profit.

However, the growth in profit before tax lowered to 43% YoY due to higher finance costs in Q1 2021. Notably, the Group’s average total borrowings grew by 36% YoY from N342.17bn in Q1 2020 to N465.01bn in Q1 2021.

The increased borrowings reflected the N100bn debt capital raised by the Group in Q2 2020. Given the higher debt level, on a year-on-year basis, the impact reflected in finance cost (+63% YoY from N9.01bn in Q1 2020 to N14.68bn in Q1 2021). The Group also recorded a N10.62bn foreign exchange loss during the period.

Outlook

In the Nigerian market, we expect to see sustained volume growth in the near term. However, in the medium term, we posit that the production ramp-up of other market players could induce competition that would limit the volume growth in the Nigerian market.

Also, on the back of an upward trend in interest rates in the economy, we expect to see some pull-back effect on the level of demand from the private sector. In addition, the gradual economic recovery from the recession and the increased economic activities that follow is expected to positively impact the Group’s topline.

In the Pan African market, we expect to see sustained market penetration and increased demand in the near term and medium term. We also believe that the Group is positioned to capture the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCFTA).

We revised our projections and reflected our improved outlook of earnings and cash flow, amid the increase in demand and pricing power of the Group across its two geographical segments. We also note the significant growth in the construction sector and the Group’s increased market share. Based on these considerations, we upgrade our FY 2021 EPS forecast to N18.10 (previous: N17.50).

Using a blend of Discounted Cash Flow, Discounted Dividend, Residual Income, and Enterprise Value valuation methodologies, we arrived at a N249.75 fair value for the Company. Based on our fair value, the stock’s justified P/E stands at 13.80x (previous: 11.50x).

The increase in justified P/E reflects our improved outlook for earnings and cash flow growth. The higher P/E also factored in potential capacity expansions and increased market share, amid strong industry fundamentals. At the current market price, the stock offers a 26% total return (price return: 18%; dividend yield: 8%).

Hence, we recommend a BUY.

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