Co-founder and CEO Paul Davidson confirmed the news in Sunday’s town hall with users.
The social audio app has received plenty of hype in recent months, attracting an unending stream of press and mystique. It reports about 10 million monthly active users but has experienced some significant fall-off in new growth this spring. While the app is still invite-only and iOS-only, it faces serious competition from Twitter Spaces which, while in beta, has already rolled out to Android users.
Spotify, Discord, Linkedin and Facebook are all making moves into the social audio space as well, signalling that Clubhouse will have to fight for the format it pioneered.
In Sunday’s town hall with the Clubhouse community, Davidson and co-founder Rohan Seth laid out priorities for the company, which included better discoverability features and better notification settings. They also said they’re working to improve their server capabilities.
The company said in a blog post,
“While we’ve quadrupled the size of our team this year, stabilized our infrastructure, launched Payments in beta to help creators monetize, and readied Android for launch, there is so much more to do as we work to bring Clubhouse to more people around the world, It’s no secret that our servers have struggled a bit these past few months, and that our growth has outpaced the early discovery algorithms our small team originally built.”
The company has been on a hiring spree, filling out its leadership team with Maya Watson as global head of marketing, Fadia Kader as head of media partnerships and Sean Brown as head of sports partnerships.
Tottenham Hotspur has sacked Jose Mourinho as head coach.
Brand Spur Nigeria gathered that Mourinho was sacked due to opposing the European Super League arrangement.
Jose Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino as Tottenham manager in November 2019; the Portuguese head coach led Tottenham to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League during the first season in charge.
A statement obtained from the club’s Twitter handle reads thus: “The Club can today announce that Jose Mourinho and his coaching staff Joao Sacramento, Nuno Santos, Carlos Lalin and Giovanni Cerra have been relieved of their duties.
The Club can today announce that Jose Mourinho and his coaching staff Joao Sacramento, Nuno Santos, Carlos Lalin and Giovanni Cerra have been relieved of their duties.#THFC ⚪️ #COYS
“Chairman, Daniel Levy, said: “Jose and his coaching staff have been with us through some of our most challenging times as a Club. Jose is a true professional who showed enormous resilience during the pandemic.
The European Commission (EC) approved Sarclisa® in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Kd) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy.
This marks the second EC approval of Sarclisa in combination with a standard of care regimen in less than 12 months.
“As there is no cure for multiple myeloma and patients often experience disease relapse, we must persist in our pursuit for additional treatment options. Nearly 30% of patients treated with the Sarclisa regimen had a profound response with undetectable levels of multiple myeloma,” said Philippe Moreau, M.D., Department of Hematology, University Hospital of Nantes, France. “This new therapeutic regimen has the potential to become a standard of care for patients with relapsed multiple myeloma, who now have another treatment option earlier in the progression of their disease.”
This EC approval closely follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Sarclisa for a similar indication in March 2021. In June 2020, Sanofi announced Sarclisa received EC approval in combination with another standard of care regimen, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone (pom-dex), for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory MM who have received at least two prior therapies including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy.
“The EC approval of Sarclisa in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone means patients living with multiple myeloma in Europe can now receive Sarclisa in combination with two standards of care treatment regimens,” said Peter C. Adamson, Global Development Head, Oncology and Pediatric Innovation at Sanofi. “The carfilzomib and dexamethasone combination represents an important standard of care in Europe. The Phase 3 IKEMA trial’s finding that the addition of Sarclisa to this regimen reduced the risk of progression or death by nearly half formed the basis for this important EC approval.”
Sarclisa Efficacy And Safety Profile In Difficult-To-Treat Patients
This approval is based on data from the Phase 3 IKEMA study, a randomized, multi-center, open-label clinical trial that enrolled 302 patients with relapsed MM across 69 centers spanning 16 countries. The primary endpoint of IKEMA was progression-free survival (PFS). While median PFS, defined as time to disease progression or death, for Kd was 19.15 months, the median PFS for patients receiving Sarclisa added to carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Sarclisa combination therapy; n=179) had not been reached at the time of the pre-planned interim analysis. Sarclisa combination therapy reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 47% (hazard ratio 0.531, 99% CI 0.318-0.889, p=0.0007) versus standard of care Kd alone in patients with MM.
Secondary endpoints of the IKEMA trial assessed the depth of response for Sarclisa combination therapy compared to Kd, including overall response rate (ORR), complete response (CR), very good partial response (VGPR) and minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative response. The ORR remained similar for each arm at 86.6% for the Sarclisa combination therapy versus 82.9% for Kd but was not statistically significant.
The rate of CR was 39.7% in the Sarclisa combination therapy arm and 27.6% in the Kd arm. The rate of VGPR or better was 72.6% for patients receiving Sarclisa combination therapy and 56.1% for patients receiving Kd. MRD-negativity was observed in 29.6% of patients in the Sarclisa combination therapy arm versus 13% of patients in the Kd arm, indicating that nearly 30% of patients treated with Sarclisa combination therapy achieved undetectable levels of MM at 10-5 sensitivity as measured by next-generation sequencing (NGS). At the time of the interim analysis, overall survival (OS) data were still immature.
The most frequent adverse reactions (≥20%) were infusion reactions (45.8%), hypertension (36.7%), diarrhea (36.2%), upper respiratory tract infection (36.2%), pneumonia (28.8%), fatigue (28.2%), dyspnea (27.7%), insomnia (23.7%), bronchitis (22.6%), and back pain (22.0%).
Serious adverse reactions occurred in 59.3% of patients receiving Sarclisa combination therapy and in 57.4% of patients receiving Kd. The most frequent serious adverse reaction was pneumonia (21.5%). Permanent discontinuation of treatment because of adverse reactions was reported in 8.5% of patients treated with Sarclisa combination therapy and in 13.9% of patients treated with Kd. Fatal adverse events were reported in 3.4% of patients treated with Sarclisa combination therapy and in 1.6% of patients treated with Kd.
Multiple Myeloma: Incurable Cancer, Despite Available Treatments
MM is the second most common hematologic malignancy1, with more than 130,000 new diagnoses of MM worldwide yearly.2 In Europe, approximately 39,000 patients are diagnosed with MM each year.3 Despite available treatments, MM remains an incurable malignancy and is associated with a significant patient burden. Since MM does not have a cure, most patients will relapse. Relapsed MM is the term for when cancer returns after treatment or a period of remission. Refractory MM refers to when cancer does not respond or no longer responds to therapy.
From today, young people around the world will be able to apply for funding to support innovative Local Solutions to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of a new initiative called the Global Youth Mobilization.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, climate change activist Greta Thunberg and youth representatives from the Global Youth Mobilization will launch the call for applications at a press conference on Monday 19 April 2021 at 1700 CEST.
Led by the Big 6 Youth Organizations and backed by the WHO and United Nations Foundation, the Global Youth Mobilization is an initiative of young people and voluntary organizations taking action to improve their lives now and in a post-COVID-19 world.
Hundreds of millions of young people have had to put their lives on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 90 per cent of young people have reported increased mental anxiety during the pandemic; more than one billion students in almost every country have been impacted by school closures; 80 per cent of young women are worried about their future; and one in six young people worldwide have lost their jobs during the pandemic (see Young People Championing Post-Pandemic Futures: Policy Recommendations from the Big 6 Youth Organizations).
The Global Youth Mobilization Local Solutions funding will by-pass traditional funding and support streams to invest in young people and community grassroots organizations anywhere in the world. A world first at this scale and level of ambition, young people and community organizations are able to apply for funding via one centralized platform, available in multiple languages. These local solutions will be judged and decided on by young people, for young people.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said: “WHO is committed to ensuring the voices, energy and solutions offered by youth are at the centre of the world’s recovery from COVID-19. Our collaboration with the Big 6 and the United Nations Foundation will fuel wide-ranging actions led by young people to address the challenges their own communities face, and will also provide global platforms for their wisdom and ideas to be heard and acted on.”
From education disruption and job losses, to a decline in mental health and rising gender-based violence, the Global Youth Mobilization will support young people to overcome the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. An initial $2 million of funding will be available in four tiers, from $500 through to $5,000 and an ‘accelerator program will scale and replicate the most promising solutions, with further funding lined up over the coming months.
A Global Youth Summit, to be held virtually from 23 to 25 April, marks the starting point for young people to get involved in the mobilization. Over the three days, thousands of young people, leaders, policymakers and changemakers will come together in one space to discuss the issues facing young people across the world.
The mobilization is being supported by Governments, UN agencies and Royal Families, including the Queen of Malaysia, the President of Kenya, President of Ghana, the Vice President of Nigeria, the Government of Fiji, the Prime Minister of Belgium, the Government of Singapore as well as the European Commission, USAID, UNICEF and UN Population Fund. More details, and further Government support, will be announced at the Global Youth Summit.
The Global Youth Mobilization and its supporters are calling on governments, businesses, and policy makers to back the initiative and commit to prioritising young people in their policies and investing in their futures.
Funded by the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, other supporting global partners include high-profile brands and advocates, including: Salesforce, FIFA, the Special Olympics, UNHCR, Cambridge International, Peace First, Generation Unlimited and Influential.
Dr Tedros will open the Global Youth Summit alongside Youth Representatives of the Global Youth Mobilization Board. It will feature youth activists from hundreds of countries, three plenary sessions with high-profile speakers, and over 60 interactive breakout sessions involving a range of partners. The Summit will be available to anyone, via broadcast and in five core languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian.
Daisy Moran, Youth Board Representative, Global Youth Mobilization Board, said: “This is a pivotal moment for our generation. The Global Youth Mobilization provides an opportunity for young people to take an active role in the immediate and long-term recovery from the impact of COVID-19. Our experiences, creativity and passions will inform policies and decisions affecting all our lives and I urge people to apply for the funding available. Together, as campaigners, members of youth-focused organizations, global health actors, and volunteers from around the world, we are calling for action now.”
About the Global Youth Mobilization
The Global Youth Mobilization is led by the Big 6 Youth Organizations, an alliance of leading international youth-serving organizations:
World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), World Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and a leading programme for youth development, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (The Award).
Together, the Big 6 actively involve and engages more than 250 million young people, contributing to the empowerment of more than one billion young people during the last century. The Global Youth Mobilization is led by a diverse Board made up of youth representatives drawn from across the Big 6, alongside CEOs of the Big 6 and representatives from the World Health Organization and United Nations Foundation.
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has released its unaudited results for the first quarter ended March 31st, 2021, showing impressive double-digit growth across most of its major income lines.
UBA leveraged on modest growth in both interest and non-interest income as well as increased efficiency to deliver an impressive 24% year-on-year growth in Profit Before Tax in the first three months of the 2021 financial year, to N40.6 billion compared with N32.7 billion recorded in the first quarter of 2020.
Profit After Tax also grew by 26.8% from N30.1 billion in March 2020 to N38.2 billion in the period under review.
Interestingly, UBA again sustained its strong profitability recording an annualised 20.5% Return on Average Equity (RoAE) compared to 19.9% in the same period of 2020.
Highlights
Gross Earnings grew by 5.6% to N155bn from N147bn in the previous quarter.
Profit before tax grew by 24% to N40.6bn.
Profit after tax grew by 26.8% to N38.2bn.
Net Assets grew by 5.3% from N724bn to N762bn.
Driven by year-on-year growth in interest income, UBA Group recorded another impressive 5.5% per cent year-on-year growth in Gross Earnings to close at N155.4 billion for the three month period ending March 2021, compared to N147.2 billion recorded in the first three months of the last year 2020.
The bank’s total assets also rose by 2.5% to N7.9 trillion in the period under review, compared to N7.7 trillion recorded at the end of the 2020 financial year whilst shareholders’ funds grew to N762.4 billion up by 5.3% from N724.1 billion as at FY 2020.
The Group Managing Director/CEO of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, expressed satisfaction with the Bank’s performance in the first quarter of 2021, stating that the result reflects UBA’s capacity to sustainably grow earnings even in a highly uncertain macroeconomic environment.
Group Managing Director/CEO of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka
He added that the robust capital and liquidity positions have positioned the bank as it continues to support its customers across diverse sectors and markets, guided by prudent risk management practices.
“These impressive 2021Q1 results reflect the capacity of our business to sustainably grow earnings even in a highly uncertain macroeconomic environment. We remain upbeat on the macroeconomic outlook of the countries in which we operate, especially as the COVID-19 vaccine distribution gains traction globally, whilst commodity prices and currencies continue to stabilise. Our robust capital and liquidity positions have positioned us to continue to support our customers across diverse sectors and markets, guided by prudent risk management practices,”the GMD said.
Uzoka pointed out the bank’s effort towards diligently executing its priorities for the year 2021, as it leverages people, process, and technology to deliver the best customer experience across all its channels and touchpoints, achieving industry leadership and dominance, adding, “The bank is making strong progress in Nigeria where our continuous market share and efficiency gains are translating into higher profits.
“We are committed to sustaining this strong start throughout the year, leveraging our customer-First (C-1st) philosophy and unparalleled execution to deliver even stronger returns to our esteemed shareholders in 2021 and beyond;”Uzoka said.
Further breaking down the figures, UBA’s Group Chief Finance Officer, Ugo Nwaghodoh, said,
“I am particularly pleased with our annualised return on average equity of 20.5% and return on average asset of 2.0%, as these indices buttress our commitment to delivering sustainable value to our stakeholders.
“We continued to deploy our balance sheet efficiency and digital-led cost optimisation initiatives to achieve desired outcomes. The cost-to-income ratio improved by 200bps to 60.4% during the period, whilst the cost of funds settled at 2.0%, a 130bps reduction from 3.3% in 2020Q1.
Nwaghodoh expressed confidence that the bank will meet and surpass its target for the remaining three quarters of the year, adding that, “We are confident on the strong prospect for earnings growth, particularly as we are better positioned to consolidate recent market share gains in Nigeria and other geographies where we operate.
This result is a strong start for the year, and we are optimistic about sustaining the exciting performance throughout the year and beyond.”
United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than twenty-one million customers, across over 1,000 business offices and customer touchpoints, in 20 African countries.
With its presence in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail; commercial and corporate banking; innovative cross-border payments and remittances; trade finance and ancillary banking services.
Vehicles will need to be purely electric, sustainable in every way, more intelligent than ever and capable of conversing naturally with the driver to provide the driving pleasure of the future, as showcased by BMW at the Auto Shanghai 2021 show. And drivers will soon be able to experience this progressive form of personal mobility on the road in the BMW iX.
The new model will celebrate its world premiere in real-life, series-produced form as the centrepiece of BMW’s presence in Shanghai, and its market launch in China will get underway over the course of 2021. The BMW Group’s new technology flagship embodies the company’s innovative talents in the areas of design, electric mobility, driving pleasure, sustainability, luxury and connectivity.
The BMW iX is first model in the brand’s line-up to feature the new Operating System 8 and the latest generation of BMW iDrive, which turns the interaction between the driver and vehicle into an intuitive, personal and emotionally engaging experience. At the same time, Operating System 8 provides the basis for the seamless integration of additional digital services. The enhanced possibilities for using market-specific apps in China that this enables brings another focal point to BMW’s presentation at Auto Shanghai 2021. Additional highlights include the world premiere of the BMW 7 Series Two-Tone special-edition model created exclusively for customers in China and a look ahead to the fully electric BMW i4 in M Sport specification.
World Premiere For The BMW Ix And The Latest Generation Of BMW-Brand Spur NIgeria
Auto Shanghai is one of the world’s largest and most significant automotive shows and offers a fascinating overview of the latest industry trends and innovations once again this year. On 21 – 28 April 2021, automotive manufacturers, suppliers and service providers from around the world will flock to the halls of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in China’s commercial capital to show off their new models, products and technologies. As an open-to-the-public event, Auto Shanghai 2021 will be held in compliance with strict hygiene regulations and feature extensive use of digital technology.
The BMW Ix: Opening The Gates To A New Era Of Personal Mobility
The physical world premiere of the BMW iX provides visitors to Auto Shanghai 2021 with a window into a new era of personal mobility. Developed around the BMW Group’s new, modular scalable toolkit as a modern Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), the new model espouses a future-focused view of design, sustainability, driving pleasure, versatility and luxury. The BMW iX is wrapped in a clean-sheet design majoring on precision and minimalism. It combines the locally emission-free driving pleasure and sporting agility provided by electric all-wheel drive and a persuasive operating range with a character profile dedicated to sustainability from the ground up. This covers the whole lifecycle of the vehicle – from the sourcing of raw materials through manufacturing and use to subsequent recycling.
BMW Ix
The BMW iX will be offered in two model variants when it goes on sale in late 2021. The electric motors fitted in the BMW iX xDrive50 and BMW iX xDrive40 are – like the power electronics, charging technology and high-voltage batteries – the product of fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology. This means output, dynamism, long-range driving ability and efficiency are all outstanding. The electric all-wheel drive of the BMW iX xDrive50 channels maximum output of more than 370 kW/500 hp to the road, enabling acceleration of 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) in under 5.0 seconds, while also posting a range of more than 600 kilometres (373 miles) and power consumption below 21 kWh per 100 kilometres in the WLTP test cycle. The BMW iX xDrive40 has an output of more than 240 kW/300 hp and completes the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a shade over 6.0 seconds. Its range is in excess of 400 kilometres (249 miles) and consumption less than 20.0 kWh per 100 kilometres. (All figures relating to performance, energy consumption and range are predicted values based on the car’s current stage of development.)
Like its electric all-wheel drive, the versatile interior of the new car also fits the character of a modern SAV. The vehicle concept and design of the BMW iX attaches a whole new level of focus to the needs of those on board. The car has been developed from the inside out. Its interior offers innovative options for using the time during a journey – and enjoying relaxation, safety, security, and a new form of luxury in the process.
The new technology toolkit, making its debut in the BMW iX, also underpins significant advances in the areas of connectivity and digital services. For example, the tech is designed to be able to process 20 times more data than existing models. And that means many times more sensor data can be processed. The sensor technology itself is likewise more powerful than ever. The BMW iX is also 5G-capable, enabling fast and reliable transfer of large quantities of data between the vehicle and the BMW Cloud.
The New BMW Idrive With Seamlessly Integrated Digital Services From Tencent
The new generation of BMW iDrive lays on an all-encompassing, intelligent, multi-sensory experience tailored to the driver. A natural dialogue is created between the user and their vehicle with the aim of precisely tailoring all the functions controlled via BMW iDrive to the driver’s needs and preferences as the situation demands.
For many years now, BMW has offered customers around the world extensive integration of digital services from third-party providers via its iDrive system. Market-specific applications and services have also been integrated seamlessly into the vehicle’s operating system. Display and operation here will be familiar to customers from their smartphones. As well as the offerings from Apple and Google, apps relevant to the Chinese market provided by local platforms are also integrated. The introduction of BMW Operating System 8 and the latest iDrive generation takes the integration of services from the Chinese platform Tencent, in particular, to a new level.
BMW Ix A inerior-Brand Spur Nigeria
The Operating System 7 found in existing BMW models already enables integration of applications from Tencent which are extremely popular in China. The key ingredient here is the mini program platform from Tencent, which allows digital services in the areas of communication, travel, entertainment, infotainment, edutainment and gaming to be integrated seamlessly into the vehicle’s operating system. New features presented with the introduction of the latest-generation BMW iDrive include the newly developed integration of digital communication service WeChat.
Like the mini program platform as a whole, the WeChat application is integrated natively into the BMW Operating System. This means the functions included in the WeChat app can be operated in extremely user-friendly fashion via the on-board iDrive system, and are viewed on the BMW Curved Display in the familiar way. The various content is shown according to need and context on the information display or control display in the digital screen grouping. The individual functions can be activated quickly and intuitively via the operating system’s selectable apps menu.
The new integrated applications from Tencent will be available from the launch of the BMW iX in China. The initial range of WeChat functions that can be used comfortably, easily and safely in the vehicle via these applications include WeChat phone calls, voice messaging and sharing of location data, which can then be adopted immediately as a navigation destination. Additional functions and apps will also be integrated into the BMW Operating System and updated using the Tencent mini program platform in the future. You can find further information on the new generation of BMW iDrive here.
Stylish Luxury For China: The BMW 7 Series Two-Tone Special-Edition Model
A new special edition of the BMW 7 Series embodying a unique combination of luxury, poise and exclusivity is set to be unveiled for the first time at Auto Shanghai 2021. The BMW 7 Series Two-Tone exudes an exceptionally stylish allure with its Cashmere Silver metallic/Aventurine Red metallic paintwork. The luxury sedan is based on the 12-cylinder BMW M760Li xDrive and will be produced in a limited run of just 25 examples exclusively for customers in China.
As well as BMW’s market-specific interpretation of exclusive driving enjoyment, visitors to Auto Shanghai 2021 will also be greeted by the latest expression of race-car thrills for everyday use – as BMW M GmbH presents its new high-performance sports cars for the premium midsize segment. The BMW M3 Competition Sedan (fuel consumption combined: 9.8 – 9.6 l/100 km [28.8 – 29.4 mpg imp] in the WLTP cycle; CO2 emissions combined: 224 – 219 g/km in WLTP) and BMW M4 Competition Coupé (fuel consumption combined: 9.8 – 9.6 l/100 km [28.8 – 29.4 mpg imp] in WLTP; CO2 emissions combined: 224 – 219 g/km in WLTP) will be launched in China imminently.
The signature M characteristics of the 375 kW/510 hp six-cylinder in-line engine powering the two models, chassis technology optimised using racing car expertise and new setup customisation options provide owners with an inimitable experience of performance at work.
A Look Ahead To The BMW i4 In M Sport Specification
At Auto Shanghai 2021 the BMW i4 will offer a first impression of the BMW i4 with the M Sport equipment line set to be made available in China and other markets.
The BMW i4 is a fully electric four-door gran coupé, whose market launch is scheduled for 2021.
Its perfect balance of customary BMW sporting ability, long-distance comfort and sustainable performance is unique in this segment. The BMW i4 model range will include a selection of variants enabling a range of up to 590 km / 367 miles in the WLTP cycle or up to 300 miles in EPA testing. The BMW i4 develops output of up to 390 kW /530 hp, enabling it to accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) in four seconds.
Renowned for designing revolutionary timepieces, the OMEGA brand is once again setting the pace with the launch of its newest collection of timepieces for the year. The launch, which was held virtually on the 23rd of March 2021, was an opportunity for the brand to showcase the latest advancement of its timepiece series and designs.
The high point of the event was the unveiling of the brand’s new SEAMASTER 300 series, offered in Bronze Gold as well as stainless steel. The exclusive Bronze Gold was specifically developed to produce a pleasing aesthetic and hue, while also offering a bronze alloy that could be worn with direct contact on the skin due to its distinctive composition. The watch represents the very first OMEGAto be created in this patent-pending alloy.
The classic stainless steel is designed with thinner bezels crafted from an oxalic anodized treated aluminium for increased hardness. The bracelet is also in stainless steel and now comes with improved fit and finishing. For the leather strap design, a new buckle has been included.
Also introduced were the newly enhanced CONSTELLATION SMALL SECONDS pieces, DE VILLE TRÉSOR POWER RESERVE, SEAMASTER AQUA TERRA, SEAMASTER DIVER 300M BLACK BLACK and SPEEDMASTER MOONWATCH VELCRO® STRAPS.
Each new collection follows the spirit of its original models with unique features, enhanced outfits and upgraded designs tailored to suit its exclusive audience.
In his remarks, Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO, OMEGA, expressed his pleasure presenting the newest OMEGA timepieces which have been specially upgraded and created exclusively for its customers.
He stated that,
“Recently, the time has never felt more important. We’ve all learned to cherish and appreciate the hours we have and really make each one count. That’s why the values of quality, authenticity and craftsmanship really matter. Increasingly, people are embracing the idea of well-made products that not only feel meaningful but also have a genuine human touch and this is exactly what an OMEGA watch offers.”
“We are continuing to tell the story of our rich heritage, yet updated through the lens of modern innovation and pioneering technology. Our watchmakers are truly pushing the standards of excellence to give customers the most inspiring timepieces possible.”
Also speaking about the launch, Jennifer Obayuwana, Executive Director, Polo Luxury Group, stated that the watches are incredibly appealing – a finely defined masterpiece of art and craftsmanship.
“We are most excited about the launch of these magnificent timepieces by OMEGA. They have continued to affirm their prowess in crafting excellent masterpieces that are a spectacle.”She noted.
She further added that the new collection by OMEGA will soon be available in Polo Luxury stores in Nigeria. Polo Luxury Group is the leading luxury goods company in Nigeria and is the authorized retailer for brands such as Rolex, Cartier, Chopard, Piaget, Breguet, Omega, and Montblanc, among others.
PepsiCo reported quarterly earnings that topped analyst estimates even as the company saw uneven recoveries in its international markets.
PepsiCo also reported organic net revenue growth of 2.4% in Q1 and expects to pick up pace in the second quarter, with the accelerated return of the foodservice channel.
Operating profit stood at $2.31 billion, up 20% from $1.92 billion last year.
Reported (GAAP) First-Quarter 2021 Results
Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo, Ramon Laguarta said,
“We are pleased with our results for the first quarter as we successfully overcame challenges related to difficult year-over-year comparisons, uneven recoveries across many of our international markets and weather-related business disruptions in the U.S.,”
“Our results are indicative of the strength and resilience of our highly dedicated employees, diversified portfolio, agile supply chain and go-to-market systems and strong marketplace execution. And we remain fully committed to executing against our key set of priorities to become a Faster, Stronger and Better organization and win in the marketplace.”
“Following our first-quarter results, we have greater confidence in delivering on our financial guidance for the full year.”
The ‘oars’ are definitely not resting at Kwik Delivery at this time! Just weeks after the release of its plugins for Shopify and Magento, Kwik Delivery announces the release of its plugin for Prestashop.
This new plugin is a milestone as Kwik Delivery is now fully integrated with the “Big Four” of e-commerce frameworks: Magento, WooCommerce, Shopify, and now Prestashop.
Delivery plugins are a critical technology brick in the growth of African e-commerce by allowing thousands of merchants to offer reliable, secure and efficient last-mile delivery services to their customers. By installing the plugin, businesses no longer need to worry about on-time deliveries after-sales as Kwik handles it for them. Kwik delivers within 2 hours in Lagos and 1 hour in Abuja after pickup and will soon expand its service to new cities.
“These are key milestones for us in enabling the growth of e-commerce in Nigeria,” commented Romain POIROT-LELLIG, Founder & CEO of Kwik Delivery. “We are working to ease the logistics hassles faced by both businesses and their customers after-sales. Just providing the network to make this possible is not enough. The added value brought by Kwik Delivery starts from the fulfillment systems of merchants, all the way to the doorsteps of buyers.”
The Prestashop plugin is free and easy to install and use. The plugin allows buyers to get real-time shipping rates between merchants’ addresses and the buyers’ delivery addresses. Buyers can directly place orders to be delivered by Kwik Delivery at the checkout of Prestashop stores.
Since its launch in 2019, Kwik Delivery has introduced the concept of “just-in-time” last-mile deliveries in Nigeria and has pioneered an approach of deep integration with e-commerce frameworks that proves to be indispensable to the growth of Africa’s e-commerce, fostering trade across Africa. Kwik Delivery is the trading name of Africa Delivery Technologies SAS and the mobile app is available on iOS and Android.
VFD Group has received clearance from the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) for the proposed right issue of 7,452,054 Ordinary Shares of 50 Kobo each at N556 per share based on 1 share for every 16 shares held.
The proposed right issue was approved by the Board of Directors at its Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) which held on 23rd November 2020. The capital raise is part of the long-term strategic plan of VFD Group to harness the opportunities in selected companies that meet VFD Group’s Investment criteria.
Group Managing Director/CEO, Nonso Okpala – Brand Spur Nigeria
The Group Managing Director/CEO, Nonso Okpala, has expressed his gratitude to the regulatory body, SEC, for the clearance while hinting at the next phase of the business.
“Our expansion drive has been a long time coming and with this clearance, one of our immediate first steps is the enhancement of our systems and the integration of all our subsidiary offerings under a very effective and technological platform. We are focused on expanding further within the local financial services industry as well as on the African continent,” he disclosed.
VFD Group is a proprietary investment company that focuses on building positive and socially conscious ecosystems by aggregating potentially viable businesses with the objective of creating innovative products and solutions that are accessible to the everyday Nigerian citizen and entrepreneur.
VFD Group Plc was founded on the values of integrity and good governance, and built on the strength of innovation and network, the goal of VFD Group is to establish a firm foothold in various ecosystems on the continent through their subsidiary companies.
VFD Group operates through the various portfolio to provide innovative financial services – alternative funding and investment channels – that are accessible to individuals and small businesses that provide the following services: Financial Advisory, Currency Exchange, Debt services, Private Funds Management, Asset Management, Real Estate, International Remittance/ Settlement.
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