Google Announces First Cloud Region In Africa

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Google Announces First Cloud Region In Africa

Google has announced its intent to establish a new Google Cloud region in South Africa – its first on the continent.

Brand Spur Nigeria reports that the development was announced at the 2nd Google for Africa event.

According to Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, the new Cloud Region will help users, developers, businesses, and educational institutions across Africa to move more information and tools online, improve access options for customers and in turn, create jobs. According to research by AlphaBeta Economics commissioned by Google Cloud, the South Africa cloud region will contribute more than a cumulative USD 2.1 billion to the country’s GDP, and will support the creation of more than 40,000 jobs by 2030.

Niral Patel, Director of Google Cloud Africa said: “We believe in growing an open and healthy ecosystem of technology solutions to support Africa’s digital transformation goals , which leads to more opportunities for businesses. It is part of our company-wide ethos to respect the environment, which is why we operate the cleanest cloud in the industry, supporting sustainable digital transformation,” he added. “Along with the cloud region, we are expanding our network through the Equiano subsea cable and building Dedicated Cloud Interconnect sites in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos, and Nairobi. In doing so, we are building full-scale Cloud capability for Africa.”

Google Cloud is already working with customers across the continent – helping them solve business-critical challenges, get online, and access the benefits of digital technology. In South Africa, Google Cloud works with leading retailer TakeAlot to help their three million local customers enjoy a hassle-free online shopping experience. TakeAlot built its e-commerce platform on Google Cloud, which has enabled the business to avoid system crashes during high-traffic periods like Black Friday.

While in Kenya, Google Cloud works with Twiga Foods – a technology-driven company addressing and improving food security in Africa – helps them connect 1,000 farmers to 140,000 vendors, delivering 12,000 orders every day and storing two million kilograms of fresh produce.”

Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Philly Mapulane (South Africa): “Our National Development Plan 2030 calls for stimulating growth in the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) sector and innovation by driving public and private ICT investment, especially in network upgrades and expansion. Google’s recent efforts in this regard have been particularly encouraging. The Equiano cable landed in Cape Town recently, and the improved speed and reduced internet costs that this can deliver has the potential to drive much fuller Internet participation for many more South Africans.”

Earlier this year, Google announced plans to open its first African product development centre in Nairobi to develop and build better products for Africans and the world.

Today, Google announced the launch of voice typing support for nine more African languages in Gboard, the Google keyboard (isiNdebele, isiXhosa, Kinyarwanda, Northern Sotho, Swati, Sesotho, Tswana, Tshivenda and Xitsonga) – while 24 new languages are now supported on Google Translate, including Lingala, which is used by more than 45 million people across Central Africa.

To make Maps more useful, Google also refreshed Street View in Kenya, South Africa, Senegal and Nigeria with nearly three hundred thousand kilometers of imagery. This helps people virtually explore and navigate neighbourhoods on Google Maps. They are also extending the service to Rwanda, meaning that Street View is now available in 11 African countries.

Africa’s internet economy has the potential to grow to $180 billion by 2025 – 5.2% of the continent’s GDP. To support African entrepreneurs in growing and developing their talent, Google continues to support African small businesses through the Hustle Academy and Google Business Profiles, and to help job seekers learn the skills they need through Developer Scholarships and Career Certifications.

Google, through its $50 million Africa Investment Fund that targets equity investments in tech startups, has since invested in three businesses over the past 9 months – SafeBoda, a transportation app in Uganda and Nigeria, Carry1st, a South African mobile gaming startup and Lori Systems, an e- logistics company based in Kenya.

Nitin Gajria, Managing Director, Google Africa added “We are collaborating with governments, policymakers, NGOs, telcos, business leaders, creators and media so that we can help accelerate Africa’s digital transformation. And it’s the talent and drive of the individuals in the countries and communities of Africa that will power Africa’s economic growth,” he adds.

Milestones achieved include the subsea cable, Equiano, now running through Togo, Nigeria, Namibia and South Africa, which is expected to deliver faster, lower cost internet to the continent by connecting St. Helena, Togo, Nigeria, Namibia and South Africa with Europe. A recent economic impact assessment conducted by Africa Practice and Genesis Analytics found that by 2025, the cable is set to accelerate economic growth with GDPs of Nigeria rising by USD 10.1 billion, South Africa USD 7 billion and USD 260 million in Namibia. During the same time, Equiano should indirectly create 1.6 million jobs in Nigeria, 180,000 in South Africa and 21,000 in Namibia, driven by the expansion of the digital economy and peripheral sectors.

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu (Ghana): “This event provides a quintessential platform for us as Africans, together with our partners, to demonstrate the importance of helpful partnerships between governments and the private sector in addressing African challenges. The Ghanaian government is proud of our partnership with Google through several initiatives.”

Google is also supporting nonprofits working to improve lives in Africa with a $40 million cash and in-kind commitment. Last year, 7,500 career scholarships were disbursed to help young people learn new skills and build their careers while Uganda’s AirQo received a $3 million grant to support the expansion of their work on monitoring air quality from Kampala to ten cities in five countries on the continent.

Recently Google partnered with the UN to launch the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI), a global partnership aiming to accelerate Africa’s economic growth and sustainable development.

Twitter Shares Surge 22% After Elon Musk Revives Plans To Buy Company

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Twitter Shares Surge 22% After Elon Musk Revives Plans To Buy Company

Elon Musk has reversed course and is again proposing to buy Twitter for $54.20 a share, according to a regulatory filing on Tuesday. Twitter shares closed up more than 22% on the news.

The social media company issued a statement saying it had received the letter and said, “The intention of the Company is to close the transaction at $54.20 per share.”

A deal could happen as soon as Friday, sources told CNBC. The stock was halted earlier in the day after Bloomberg first reported on the Tesla CEO’s plans to go forth with his deal to acquire the company.

The SEC filing says Musk sent a letter to Twitter on Monday, notifying the company of his intent to proceed with the transaction agreed upon on April 25, the day the deal was publicly announced.

A few weeks after Musk agreed to that deal, valuing Twitter at $44 billion, he quickly tried to back out, officially informing the company in July of his intentions to terminate the agreement. Twitter sued Musk to force him to go through with the purchase. The two sides were scheduled to go to trial in Delaware Chancery Court on Oct. 17.

Musk alleged that Twitter was misstating the number of “bots” on its service as one of the reasons he was reneging on the deal. He and his lawyers claimed the social media company was misleading investors by providing false numbers in corporate filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Twitter countered, however, that Musk’s assertions of fraud were incorrect and were based on a misunderstanding of the way the company tallies bots and fake accounts on its platform.

Musk also alleged Twitter failed to provide him with the necessary data related to spam and bots, which Twitter denied.
Twitter alleged Musk was looking for a reason to back out of the deal when the company’s shares dropped alongside a broader decline in the overall market.
Although Musk sought to delay the trial date, Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick rejected his wish citing the potential for Twitter to incur “irreparable harm.” The chancellor did allow Musk and his attorneys to amend their counterclaim to include certain accusations made by Twitter’s former head of security in a separate whistleblower suit against the company.

In September, Twitter shareholders approved Musk’s original bid to purchase the company.

Meanwhile, Tesla shares closed up nearly 3% for the day.

Here’s the letter that Musk’s lawyer, Mike Ringler of Skadden Arps, sent to Twitter’s lawyers on Oct. 3:

Gentlemen:

On behalf of X Holdings I, Inc., X Holdings II, Inc. and Elon R. Musk (the “Musk Parties”), we write to notify you that the Musk Parties intend to proceed to closing of the transaction contemplated by the April 25, 2022 Merger Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein and pending receipt of the proceeds of the debt financing contemplated thereby, provided that the Delaware Chancery Court enter an immediate stay of the action, Twitter vs. Musk, et al. (C.A. No. 202-0613-KSJM) (the “Action”) and adjourn the trial and all other proceedings related thereto pending such closing or further order of the Court.

The Musk Parties provide this notice without admission of liability and without waiver of or prejudice to any of their rights, including their right to assert the defenses and counterclaims pending in the Action, including in the event the Action is not stayed, Twitter fails or refuses to comply with its obligations under the April 25, 2022 Merger Agreement or if the transaction contemplated thereby otherwise fails to close

Mouka’s Managing Director, Femi Fapohunda, Earns Recognition As HR Champion

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Mouka’s Managing Director, Femi Fapohunda, Earns Recognition As HR Champion

The Managing Director of Mouka Limited, Mr Femi Fapohunda, has been bestowed the laurel of the HR Champion of the Year at this year’s HR Champions Awards in recognition of the company’s development and sustenance of best human resource (HR) practices.

The elaborate event was organised recently by HR People Magazine, a foremost Human Resources publication in Africa, in Lagos to celebrate excellence in the HR profession and recognise commendable initiatives and strategies. As various organisations gathered to witness this occasion, Mouka was called forward to receive an award in recognition of its visionary leadership style, which ensures that all its employees have a clear understanding of the business strategy of the leading organisation in the sleep industry.

According to HR People Magazine, the leadership of Mouka has created a conducive working environment that enables open communication and a professional work culture which encourages all employees to align with Mouka’s corporate values. These values of Passion, Integrity, Innovation, Performance, and Excellence, have contributed to Mouka’s growth trajectory over the years.

In Mouka, the role of MD requires the counsel of the Head, HR and Admin., Ifeoma Okoruen, on Talent Management and Rewards interventions to boost overall staff motivation. He views the HR lead as a trusted partner for his people agenda and constantly taps into her wealth of knowledge and experience to provide innovative interventions to employee challenges

Commenting on the feat, Mouka’s current MD, Mr Femi Fapohunda, commended the organisers for being honoured as the recipient of the prestigious award and also applauded the efforts of the company’s employees for their commitment to high-performance culture and excellence. “At Mouka, our employees come first; hence our people’s agenda is one of the key pillars to the success of our business. We are also very deliberate with our HR interventions and ensure that HR leadership is involved in strategic business decisions. To date, several sustainable HR practices have been instituted to ensure that the business continues to achieve its overall business objectives,” he stated.

This award comes right after the market leader formally unveiled several innovative products in the Nigerian market at its recent Business Partner conferences across the nation. These products include the Wellbeing Mattress Topper made with memory foam, the Wellbeing Hybrid mattress specially designed for couples, the Mondeo Firm Spring mattress, which is a great choice for hotels, the Bio-crystal pillow made with breakthrough stress relief technology and Royal Memory foam pillow.

RAK Foundation Pioneer, Ogunlende, Empowers Fallen Heroes Widows To Celebrate Nigeria At 62

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RAK Foundation Pioneer, Ogunlende, Empowers Fallen Heroes Widows To Celebrate Nigeria At 62

Philanthropist and the Pioneer of Real Act of Kindness (RAK Foundation), Mobolaji Ogunlende, has empowered widows of fallen heroes in Badagry to mark the 62nd Independence anniversary of Nigeria.

 

 

Speaking at the event, Ogunlende said that he would continue to encourage everyone in his life to keep working for Nigeria’s greatness.

 

“I am happy and delighted that this is the only way I have chosen. We have carefully selected this group of people to be empowered today for so many reasons.

 

 

“I want to sincerely express my condolences to the loss of your loved ones to active service to the country.

“I decided to celebrate my own Independence Day to empower their widows in my own little way.

 

 

“This is to let you know that your husband’s did not labour in vain. This is to keep you going in my own little way and I think other Nigerians will emulate this little way,” he said.

 

 

Ogunlende further expressed that this act was inline with the Nigeria National Anthem that says “The Labour of our Heroes past shall not be in vain”.

 

 

Ogunlende said that the money was to help the widows upgrade their businesses or increase whatever they were doing.

 

RAK Foundation pioneer commended the THEMES agenda administration of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

 

 

“The last S stands for security. Security is everything, no matter how rich or poor you are, security of life and property come first.

 

 

“If you don’t have security, you are not saved. I appreciate the dedication of the Nigeria security agencies to their duties,” he said.

 

 

Ogunlende said 15 widows were selected from Military and Police to empower with ₦20,000.

According to him, five are from the 243 Recce Battalion Barracks Ibereko, five from 15 Engineering Regiment, Topo Barracks and five from Badagry Police station.

 

 

He urged the widows to take the little gift from him to support their businesses.

Representative of Major Liadi, the Commanding Officer, 15 Engineering Regiment Topo Barracks, commended Ogunlende for extending his merciful hands to the widows in the Barracks.

 

 

 

He hoped that others in the country would emulate this gesture and extend it to the headquarters in Abuja.

 

 

Representative of Col. MA Abba, the Commanding Officer, 243 Recce Battalion Barracks Ibereko, Badagry Lagos, said that Ogunlende is a hero.

 

 

 

According to him, any person that empowers a hero’s wife is a hero.

“It is the heart of the man that makes him a man.

 

 

 

“Ogunlende gives without expecting anything for one. God will reward him,” he said.

Also speaking, Mrs Sesi Ogungbe, the Supervisor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) Badagry-West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) urged the widows to make judicious use of the money.

 

 

 

She said that it takes the spirit of God to be able to give out nowadays.

Mrs. Chinessa Kpanikwu, one of the widows thanked Ogunlende for the gift and promised to use the money to extend her frozen food business.

 

 

Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria PMI(R): Output Growth Quickens To Five-Month High

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Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria PMI(R): Output Growth Quickens To Five-Month High

The end of the third quarter of 2022 saw growth gather momentum in the Nigerian private sector. Sharper rises in output and new orders were recorded, while there were emerging signs of capacity pressures. Cost inflation remained elevated, in large part due to currency weakness, while business confidence waned.

The headline figure derived from the survey is the Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI®). Readings above 50.0 signal an improvement in business conditions on the previous month, while readings below 50.0 show a deterioration.

The headline PMI rose to 53.7 in September, up from 52.3 in August and signaling a solid strengthening in the health of the private sector at the end of the third quarter. The improvement in business conditions was the most marked since May.

In line with the headline figure, both output and new orders increased at sharper rates during the month. Firms often linked higher new business to rising demand, with some reporting that customer referrals had supported growth. In turn, output rose for the third month running, and at the fastest pace since April.

Rising new orders, and some reports of difficulties securing necessary funding, resulted in a renewed increase in backlogs of work during September, the first in 28 months.

Companies also increased their staffing levels and purchasing activity, largely in response to greater new business volumes. In both cases, however, rates of expansion eased from the previous survey period. Higher purchasing activity fed through to a further accumulation of inventories.

Purchase costs rose sharply, with anecdotal evidence often linking higher prices to currency depreciation. Meanwhile, staff costs increased at the fastest pace in three months. Panelists reported that efforts to motivate staff and help them with higher living costs had been behind salary increases.

With overall input costs again rising at one of the sharpest rates since the survey began, Nigerian companies increased their selling prices accordingly. Although marked, the rate of charge inflation slowed sharply and was the joint-weakest in 21 months. Suppliers’ delivery times continued to shorten, often as a result of strong competition among vendors. The latest shortening of lead times was marked, and the most pronounced in four months.

Despite the improving growth picture in September, firms reported waning confidence in the year-ahead outlook. Sentiment remained positive overall but was the lowest since August 2021 and among the weakest on record. Those firms that expressed optimism often mentioned business expansion plans

Insight Redefini Agencies Shine At 2022 Marketing Edge Awards

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Insight Redefini Agencies Shine At 2022 Marketing Edge Awards

The Insight Redefini companies- Insight Publicis, Leo Burnett and Quadrant MSL came up top at the recently held 2022 MarketingEdge Awards at Harbour Point, Victoria Island Lagos.

At the year awards, Insight Publicis, Nigeria’s largest and leading creative agency and a member of Publicis Groupe, the world’s third largest marketing communication network, emerged winner of the ‘Leadership Award in Creative Advertising. ‘

Global advertising and marketing agency in Nigeria, Leo Burnett Lagos, also emerged the ‘Outstanding Young Creative Agency of The Year’, while Nigeria’s foremost public relations and strategic engagement consultancy, Quadrant MSL, emerged winner of the ‘Outstanding Public Relation Agency of the Decade’ award.

The award acknowledges Insight Publicis’ achievements and impact in digital and creative advertising over the years. Campaigns from the agency such as Komando’s ‘Girl On Fire’; 2sure’s ‘Be The Spec’; Pepsi’s ‘Love It, Live It’, and a slew of others have received national and international acclaim, while raising the bar in creativity and impactful advertising.

On Leo Burnett, the creative agency, which defeated other up-and-coming dynamic advertising firms to win the prestigious award, abides by the conviction that creativity has the potential to change human behaviour.

Leo Burnett Lagos has spearheaded some of the best industry changing campaigns, as it moves towards becoming the world’s best creator of ideas that truly move and inspire people. These include the Chivita Active Zest Launch Campaign; Nasco’s Whole Flaked Sustenance Campaign, Nivea’s Beauty Month Campaign, as well as the launch campaign for Lipton Ice Tea among others.

For the PR arm of the business, the award comes as a recognition of the agency’s role in PR and strategic communications, not only as Nigeria’s pioneer full-service public relation firm, but also as a pathfinder in delivering innovative and creative engagement, advisory services and business impact to clients, both locally and globally,

Quadrant MSL has been an industry market leader in Nigeria since 1989, offering services such as Digital PR, Crisis management, corporate communications, Strategic advisory, Sustainability services, and Impact advisory. The agency has continued to provide immense value to significant multinationals as well as indigenous businesses and clients, distinguishing itself and setting it apart from other key players.  Among its clientele are 9Mobile, Kimberly-Clark, Grand Oak Limited, Danone, British Airways, and Keystone Bank amidst other multinationals.

Receiving the award and speaking on behalf of Insight Publicis, Creative Director, Insight Publicis and Group Creative Director, Redefini, Sinmisola Hughes-Obisesan, said, “We are humbled by this recognition. This win is a testament to the excellent work at Insight Publicis. We will continue to be the leading creative community of storytellers, culture shapers and collaborators, bringing brand stories to life”.

Also commenting on the award and Insight Publicis’ role in top notch creative advertising, Client Service Director, Jones Bassey, said, “It’s an honour to have emerged winner in the Creative Advertising category.  For us at Insight Publicis, we remain committed to changing the face of advertising in Nigeria and in the global space”.

The Head of Business and Chief Operating Officer, Leo Burnett Lagos, Babatunde Shobanjo in his brief remark stated that “We are excited by this win. As a young creative agency, we understand that impactful work makes all the difference. As the world evolves, the dynamic people at Leo Burnett Lagos evolve with it, and remain dedicated to helping our clients achieve their business goals”..

Also commenting on the win and the agency’s role in redefining the creative and marketing space in Nigeria, Business Director, Leo Burnett Lagos, Uche Ugorji, said, “The only thing that matters in our business is creativity and good work; and that’s what we strive to deliver at Leo Burnett Lagos. This is not just a win for the team; it is also a call to deliver more streams of innovation and creativity”.

Speaking on behalf of Quadrant MSL, Head of Business, Quadrant MSL, Oluwarantimi Olaniyan said: “At Quadrant MSL, we strive to raise the standard of excellence and our clients achieve strategic impact. This win is for the amazing and dynamic team at Quadrant MSL”.

The Marketing Edge Annual Summit and Excellence Awards is known for bringing together industry legends and stakeholders to recognize and reward excellence across the nation’s integrated marketing communications spectrum. It has become one of the pinnacle events on the calendars of industry stakeholders in Nigeria and around the world.

This year’s event, themed, “Technological  Explosion in the Digital  Age: Imperative for the Marketing Communications Industry”, held at the Harbor Point hall in Victoria Island, Lagos, and had in attendance the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu,  Special Guest of Honour, Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, seasoned advertising practitioner, business leader and former President of the Association of Advertising Practitioners of Nigeria, Mr Udeme Ufot,  among other notable attendees..

Canva founder Melanie Perkins To Take On Microsoft And Google

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Canva founder Melanie Perkins To Take On Microsoft And Google

On a September morning in Sydney, Melanie Perkins peers through the double doors of Sterling hair salon in the city’s Surry Hills neighborhood.

It’s now bustling with customers in highlight foils and black capes, but 10 years ago the space was where Perkins and then-boyfriend, now husband Cliff Obrecht spent nearly every waking moment.

It housed the Sydney office of Fusion Books, the yearbook publishing business the couple founded prior to launching Canva, a visual communications company. Today their second business is valued by one estimate at $26 billion, the most of any female-founded and woman-led startup in the world and a sum that has grown the couple’s combined net worth to an estimated $7.8 billion.

Perkins, 35, points to the back of the salon. See where the half mannequin in a feather boa now sits on top of a cabinet? That’s where they put a bank of computers, she says. When Fusion moved in, “the whole place was just a rummage pile of everything,” Perkins recalls. “We had to do a big cleanout to get the office into shape.”

Read more on fortune.com

Big Cabal Media Delivers The Future Of Commerce II

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Big Cabal Media Delivers The Future Of Commerce II

Over 5,000 people attended Big Cabal Media’s Future of Commerce 2022 event at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, last week.

Tagged “Money on the Streets,” notable thought leaders around the continent and the world explored innovative ways in which startups and large corporations cater to the needs of Africa’s informal sector.

The hybrid event featured over 30 business leaders, technology experts, and commerce operators who discussed how social media, payments, and logistics are powering the growth of Africa’s commerce.

In his opening address, Tomiwa Aladekomo, CEO of Big Cabal Media, reiterated the company’s belief that the next wave of commerce on the continent is in unlocking value in the informal sector.

“The rapid evolution of fintech services is accelerating financial inclusion by driving efficiency, lowering transaction costs, and expanding outreach to new markets. We see this in a country like Kenya, a pioneer in mobile money services, where eight in ten adults have access to formal financial services,” Tomiwa stated.

Building on this, Tosin Eniolorunda, CEO and Founder of TeamApt, shared in his keynote address, the role technology must play in building trust in the informal market: “Businesses in the informal market have had several disasters while engaging with traditional corporate organisations, which has increased scepticism over time. To succeed, technological solutions must enable rapid settlements as well as decentralised and personalised customer service,” he said.

User adoption continues to be a challenge for most technology solutions including those developed to enhance financial inclusion. Dr Olabisi, Lead Research at KasuWaGo, recommended that these solutions must be simplified further to scale adoption. “We need to reimagine the use of technology for small businesses in the informal sector. Tech products could be built such that users won’t have to read much to interact with the app. That is a great way to scale adoption of such products,” he said.

With Africa accounting for 70% of the World’s $1 trillion mobile money market, mobile money is at the heart of Africa’s economic growth. This subject was discussed by speakers who unanimously agreed that mobile money will play a fundamental role in financial inclusion and market expansion opportunities for both medium-scale and well-established businesses.

Esigie Aguele, Co-founder and CEO of VerifyMe, commented on the business prospects and user integration of mobile money, saying, “Mobile money enhances the technological opportunities for all forms of payments and payment solutions. It enables us to go beyond open banking and create products that promote widespread financial inclusion.”

In addition to the deeply insightful sessions, attendees were able to network during breaks and were also entertained by the musical performance of Nigerian alte artiste, Bolaji Odojukan popularly known as BOJ.

Inspired by the recommendations from the Future of Commerce debut event last year, Big Cabal Media unveiled a “Commerce in Africa” industry projection report as one of the highlights of FOC 2022.

The Future of Commerce is an annual convergence of the world’s most prominent business executives, creative entrepreneurs, and interested enthusiasts to explore the key changes affecting how Africans buy and sell. It is hosted by TechCabal, Big Cabal Media’s flagship technology publication.

To watch a repeat broadcast of the event, visit here.

Victoria Facelift Clinches Her World Spa Award For Best Skin-Rejuvenating Facial Treatment in Singapore

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Amidst stiff competition in Her World Spa Awards 2022: Best Facial Treatments in Singapore, Victoria Facelift secures not one but two distinguished awards, with their signature Power-Lift Facial Treatment being crowned as the best skin-rejuvenating facial treatment in the whole of Singapore.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 5 October 2022 – The battle against ageing skin is one constantly waged, with many turning solely to luxury cosmetics in search of an effective solution. However, those in Singapore looking to repair skin ageing symptoms can simply visit Victoria Facelift for skincare treatments with proven results.

Victoria Facelift commits themselves to crafting treatments with specific individual ageing skin conditions in mind. Each and every of their skincare treatment programmes are customised to each customer’s unique lifestyle, habits, and needs, such that they achieve the best results possible from each facial treatment session.

, and today for the best skincare tips and tricks.

World’s Tallest Timber Apartment Tower To Be Built In Zanzibar

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World’s Tallest Timber Apartment Tower To Be Built In Zanzibar

The Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar is planning the highest green building in the world, a 28-story apartment tower designed in hybrid timber technology.

Named Burj Zanzibar – “burj” meaning tower in Arabic – the spectacular high-rise is designed to reach 96 metres in height. Dubbed “vertical green village”, it would represent an iconic landmark not only for the island but for the whole of Africa and a global environmental milestone, being the first timber structure worldwide of such proportions.

The design of the mixed-use apartment and commercial building, in a playful beehive style with breathtaking ocean views, was unveiled to the public in Muscat, Oman on 1 October. Dutch-born architect Leander Moons, responsible for the concept, said: “Burj Zanzibar is not just an outstanding building but a new ecosystem for the future of living”.

The residential tower with 266 residences is to be located in Fumba Town, East Africa’s pioneering eco-town developed by German-led engineering firm CPS. Categorised as a strategic investment and fully supported by the Zanzibar government, the growing city near the capital, where foreigners are allowed to buy, stretches along a 1.5-kilometre seashore on the southwest coast. “Burj Zanzibar will be the highlight and natural continuation of our efforts to provide sustainable housing in Africa, thereby empowering local employment and businesses”, elaborated CPS CEO Sebastian Dietzold in Muscat.

With turquoise seas, white sandy beaches and a UNESCO-protected historic Stone Town, Zanzibar recorded 15% annual growth in tourism in recent years and 6.8% economic growth. Earlier this year, the semi-autonomous archipelago, 35 kilometres off the coast of Tanzania, stretched its wings also into another direction, launching an initiative to attract African tech companies with a total worth of six billion dollars.

Benefits of timber

Timber is the oldest building material in the world. As timber technology, it currently enjoys a renaissance because of its environmental benefits and longevity. New timber products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam are considered the building material of the future. One cubic metre of wood binds half a ton of carbon dioxide, whereas conventional concrete construction is responsible for 25% of CO2 emissions.

Once realised, Burj Zanzibar would be the highest timber building in the world and Africa’s first high-rise ever in this innovative technology. A few weeks ago the 86.6-metre Ascent Tower in Milwaukee, US, was certified as the world’s tallest timber hybrid building by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).  Africa’s highest conventional skyscraper is a 385-metre office tower named “Iconic Tower” in Egypt, still under construction.

Tanzania’s top skyscraper is the 157-meter Ports Authority building in Dar es Salaam. The world’s tallest conventional building is Burj Khalifa in Dubai with 828 metres.

Consortium of specialists from New York to Switzerland

Burj Zanzibar is planned as a hybrid timber tower.  A steel-reinforced concrete core is designed to meet all required fire and life safety standards. The project is to be executed by a consortium of leading specialists from Switzerland, Austria, Germany, South Africa, Tanzania and the US. Green roof gardens and planted balconies further reduce the carbon footprint of the building. “Burj Zanzibar will be a widely visible new landmark for Zanzibar and beyond, not only because of its appearance but because of its construction method”, said architect Leander Moons during the launch event.

Set to promote locally available wood as a building material, Tanzania and its vast land resources for agroforestry would also benefit from the ambitious green mega tower. A large forest development in central Tanzania near Iringa already covers twice the size of New York; “an enlarged forest industry could create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the East African country”, said CPS Director Dietzold.

Playful, elegant style fitting any culture

The playful architectural style – reminiscent of a beehive with honeycombs – combines modern urban trends with local culture. “Panorama windows, closed-in green loggias and a modular layout will enhance the green nature of the tower and allow for flexible apartment floor plans, tailor-made for any cultural preferences”, explained lead architect Moons. Residents can have their outdoor garden even on the top floor.

Representing a young, vibrant and most of all sustainable lifestyle, the building allocates a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments and deluxe penthouses. The elegant tower stands on a terraced podium with shared and private gardens , shops and a common pool. Sizes of units range from studios starting at $79,900 to a vast penthouse with a private pool on the 26th  floor at $950,880. “As a global architectural highlight the Burj Zanzibar will be setting a new benchmark of building in the 21st century”, CPS director Sebastian Dietzold concluded.

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