Paradigm Initiative Releases Short Film ‘FOCUS’ Urging Citizen Vigilance To Protect Digital Rights

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Paradigm Initiative Releases Short Film ‘FOCUS’ Urging Citizen Vigilance To Protect Digital Rights

Paradigm Initiative (PIN)  a pan-African social enterprise working to advance digital rights and inclusion in Africa, will on Wednesday, October 20, release its second and latest short film entitled ‘FOCUS’ to the public on the YouTube platform where it can be accessed for free.

The release was preceded by a premiere on Thursday, October 14, which was attended by a rich and influential cast of prominent social and digital rights activists, journalists, policymakers, members of the diplomatic corps, social media influencers, and others.

FOCUS is directed by acclaimed filmmaker, Tolulope Ajayi, and produced by Up In The Sky, a creative and production agency based in Lagos. The short film creatively explores in a cinematic form PIN’s 2020 annual digital rights and inclusion report dubbed Londa , which depicts the state of digital rights and inclusion in 20 African countries.

The movie FOCUS is PIN’s second short film after the widely-regarded first short film, ‘Training Day’ , and marks a continuation of the organization’s innovative trend to harness the power of story-telling in raising awareness on its research findings and spurring citizen-led actions on the protection of digital rights and government accountability.

The newly-released short film FOCUS accentuates the importance of citizen vigilance in confronting and halting the disturbing wave of restrictive policies enacted across several countries in Africa to constrict social spaces online, muffle speech, and subvert online mobilization and democratic movements.

According to Paradigm Initiative’s Chief Operating Officer, Nnenna Paul Ugochukwu stressing the importance of the Londa report from which the movie focus is drawn, said “Londa is an effective tool for building advocacy because it contains up-to-date information about the digital landscape in Africa. With Londa, we are able to foster relevant, contextual and multi-stakeholder conversations around issues such as access, inclusion, gender gap, freedom of expression, etc. Everyone can learn about what’s going on in their country or region and empower themselves to advocate for digital rights and inclusion in their communities”

About the movie Focus, she equally highlighted “Storytelling is a powerful tool for advocacy and activism; everyone loves a good story so what better way to raise awareness than through an entertaining, engaging story that addresses key issues we are facing and gets us talking. We would love to hear from everyone who watches the film so please leave a comment on our YouTube channel or send us an email at hello@paradigmhq.org”

Its release on October 20, a date when last year the Nigerian government violently quelled the nationwide ‘ENDSARS’ protest against police brutality that received global attention with an attack on protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, has refocused attention on the state of online freedoms in Nigeria and the power of citizens to mobilize freely.

Twitter, the service that played a central role in how young Nigerians were able to mobilize and coordinate actions for the protest, remains inaccessible in Nigeria following a suspension enforced by the government since June.

Internet blockades and arbitrary bans, a continent-wide problem in Africa, formed part of the central theme of the short film as PIN presented options to citizens facing such repression on how to maintain access using tailored tools it developed to boycott the blockades.

FOCUS also alerts citizens to means to identify and take collective actions against the subtle but increasingly desperate and broad-ranging plots by the government to slip through policies and other restrictive measures aimed at limiting online freedoms and censoring speech.

With the support of The Kingdom of Netherlands, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and the United States Department of State, FOCUS continues Paradigm Initiative’s efforts to mainstream topical issues using the medium of storytelling as a vehicle of social transformation.

The short film is available for free viewing on PIN’s YouTube channel ‘@ParadigmHQ’, with both English and French versions to cater to audiences from the anglophone and francophone parts of Africa.

Audi Electrifies FC Bayern Basketball Players

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Audi Electrifies FC Bayern Basketball Players

Audi and FC Bayern are continuing to drive the electrification of the sports club with the largest number of members in the world.

Audi Electrifies FC Bayern Basketball Players
Players and officials of FC Bayern Basketball are now driving the e-tron, Q4 e-tron and Q5 TFSI e models as company cars. At the official vehicle handover on October 19 in front of the Audi Dome in Munich, the Bayern basketball professionals were able to familiarize themselves with their electric cars and explore the new charging infrastructure on-site.

Players and coaches of the FC Bayern München basketball team took delivery of their new company cars at the Audi Dome. The team’s players will be driving the Audi e-tron or Audi Q4 e-tron in the 2020/21 season.

 

FC Bayern Basketball Managing Director Marko Pešić and Head Coach Andrea Trinchieri are now driving the plug-in hybrid Audi Q5 TFSI e. “The new vehicles from Audi are incredibly dynamic and great fun to drive,” said Bayern captain Nihad Djedovic. The brand with the four rings has been a Principle Partner and vehicle partner of the five-time German champion since 2011. Since then, Audi has also held the naming rights to the venue, the Audi Dome.

An introduction to the charging infrastructure on top of photos and interviews

As well as the vehicle handover, the team and the reigning cup winners led by coach Trinchieri were treated to a diverse program of events at the Audi Dome. Following the welcome by Hubert Link, Audi’s Head of Marketing for Germany, and Fabian Fischer, Chief Business Officer FC Bayern Basketball, the athletes took time for team photos and interviews. Afterwards, there was an introduction to the charging infrastructure for all players in small groups.

“The consistent electrification of the fleet and the Audi Dome is the next step in our successful partnership with FC Bayern Basketball. Together, we will continue to create attractive experiences for players, coaches and fans in the future – also off the court,” Link said. In a welcoming speech, Fischer thanked Principal Partner Audi, saying, “We believe that our team being equipped with fully electric models from Audi for the first time is a great sign in these times, when sustainability really must be a core goal for all of us.”

Audi Electrifies FC Bayern Basketball Players

BayWa provides the charging infrastructure

Alongside Principal Partner Audi, Munich-based retail, logistics and services group BayWa is the main sponsor of FC Bayern Basketball. Together with the team, the two partners put the new charging infrastructure at the Audi Dome into operation. This was installed by BayWa Mobility Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BayWa.

The infrastructure includes four AC wall boxes each with two charging points at the VIP parking spaces and a total of ten AC wall boxes each with two charging points each at the players’ parking spaces. An additional fast-charging station with two charging points at the VIP parking spaces will follow in mid-November.

African Development Bank Group, MTN Sign $500,000 Grant Agreement

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African Development Bank Group, MTN Sign $500,000 Grant Agreement

The African Development Bank  has signed a grant agreement for $500,000 with Y’ello Digital Financial Services (YDFS), a fintech subsidiary of MTN Nigeria, to be used for a study into economic, religious, and social factors hampering access to finance for women in northern Nigeria.

The research, which includes a feasibility study, women-focused design and testing, will focus on both agents and customers to provide insights into women’s use of mobile money services, will be funded through the Africa Digital Financial Inclusion Facility (ADFI).

Despite being the continent’s largest economy, 55% of rural Nigerians still lack access to financial services . The rate of mobile money adoption currently stands at 4% ,  with an agent ratio of 228.8 agents per 1,000 adults. Political instability and conservative cultural norms in parts of Northern Nigeria are thought to present barriers to women’s access to finance. Additionally, 80% of agents in the region are men.

“The African Development Bank, through the Africa Digital Financial Inclusion Facility (ADFI), is delighted to support this project, furthering our work to improve the quality of life for people in Nigeria and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly as relates to poverty, and gender inclusion,” said Stefan Nalletamby, African Development Bank Director of Financial Sector Development.

On behalf of YDFS, Usoro Usoro, Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are truly excited about this partnership with the African Development Bank, and the possibilities for advancing financial inclusion in Nigeria, particularly for the traditionally excluded segment of women in Northern Nigeria.”

Happy Hour Orange Safari Drink Unveiled In New 330ml Can

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Happy Hour Orange Safari Drink Unveiled In New 330ml Can

Orange is known to have several health benefits and is among the most popular fruits in Nigeria.

 

Apart from its health benefits, orange is widely available and comes with a delightful taste that appeals to the palates of Nigerians. And so in 2020, CHI Limited introduced Happy Hour Orange Safari Drink for natural refreshment with no added artificial preservatives to the market.

 

The product variant was met with consumer excitement for its natural refreshment, great orange taste, convenience and an affordable 150ml pack. However for a brand, whose innovation and market leadership is driven by consumer engagements, needs and satisfaction, the recent introduction of Happy Hour Orange Safari Drink in a new convenient 330ml Can is seen as a step in the right direction.

 

For market watchers, the new 330ml Can, which retails at N200 would ensure more value and market choices for a brand that is great on orange taste, convenience & affordability to reflect its positioning as the preferred choice for fruity natural refreshment on-the-go.

READ ALSO: Chivita Launches New Fruit Drink

The new Happy Hour Orange Safari Drink in handy 330ml Can meets the need of the increasing number of consumers who are seeking great taste and benefits of juice at very affordable prices. It is an ideal buy for on-the-go consumers who desire natural orange drink refreshment alone or to complement with their preferred snack, anytime and anywhere.

 

Assistant Manager, Chivita, Oluseun Adeleke, stated that the new Happy Hour Orange Safari Drink in 330ml Can has a genuine consumer appeal and comes in a format that consumers can easily relate to in times of refreshment.

 

“At an affordable consumer price point of N200, the Happy Hour Orange Safari Drink in 330ml Can is pocket friendly. We are confident that its quality, affordability and convenience means that our consumers will continue to get the same great orange taste and natural refreshment with more value on-the-go,” he said.

 

The new Happy Hour Orange Safari Drink in handy 330ml Can is currently available in Chi Shoppe, departmental stores, open markets, hotels & neighbourhood shops across Nigeria

Top 26 Young Entrepreneurs In Africa Selected For New Three-Year Anzisha Prize Fellowships

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Top 26 Young Entrepreneurs In Africa Selected For New Three-Year Anzisha Prize Fellowships

The Anzisha Prize has revealed their top 26 entrepreneurs for 2021. The entrepreneurs, who are between the ages of 18 and 22, will each receive more than US$5,000 in funding and more than US$15,000 worth of venture building support services over three years.

Top 26 Young Entrepreneurs In Africa Selected For New Three-Year Anzisha Prize Fellowships

These  are aligned with the prestigious fellowship’s new structure of enabling young people to receive the financial and mentoring support they need to succeed.

 

“We’ve seen clearly that a transition from secondary or tertiary education directly into sustainable entrepreneurship requires both financial and learning support,” comments Josh Adler, Executive Director of the Anzisha Prize. “Through our long-term partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, we’re thrilled to not only announce an increase in the number of fellowships we can offer each year, but also in the monetary support each venture will receive.”

The 2021 Anzisha Fellows were selected from hundreds of applications across Africa, and passed multiple stages of vetting and evaluation. Applicants were from countries such as Mali, Togo, South Africa, and Madagascar and running businesses in education, health, agriculture, manufacturing, energy, and beauty. These young Africans are demonstrating how it’s possible to pursue entrepreneurship as a career in the face of the pandemic.

Increased support for the top 26 entrepreneurs

In selecting 26 fellows this year, the annual Anzisha Prize fellowship has more than doubled in size since its first selection process, which included 12 innovative, young, African entrepreneurs in 2011. In that time, Anzisha’s venture building support team has worked closely with over 150 early-age entrepreneurs in over 30 African countries. We have developed a pioneering approach to coaching, skills-development, and business support that has now been packaged into a three-year learning journey.

 

“Our fellowship offering has essentially been reframed as an alternative or accompaniment to university education for entrepreneurs in this age group,” adds Adler. “The grand prizes, which recognized achievement prior to selection as a fellow, will now recognize excellence from young entrepreneurs who role model job creation, venture growth, storytelling, and process improvements during their fellowship.”

The selected top 26 entrepreneurs represent 17 countries with 30% being Francophone. They include Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Mali, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Nigeria has the largest cohort with four in the top 26. Young women are well represented, making up 10 of the 26 entrepreneurs.

“Young African entrepreneurs have continuously shown that they can rise to the challenge when given an opportunity. And what a challenging 19 months it has been for our world. Yet the calibre of innovators we consistently see apply to this program, prove that the rebuilding and reimagining of economies can be entrusted to young people. We are committed to supporting the growth of the Anzisha Prize and betting on the potential   of young entrepreneurs to drive transformation,” says Philip Cotton, Director of Human Capital Development at the Mastercard Foundation.

After the selection process, the entrepreneurs will participate in a virtual induction boot camp for 10 days where they will engage with business leaders and past winners of the prize. The boot camp will prepare them for what lies ahead over the next three years.

 

To find out more about how the top 26 were selected this year, watch The Quest (anzishaprize.org/thequest) – a four-part series that follows the Anzisha Prize team and their search for Africa’s youngest, most exciting entrepreneurs.

 

Anzisha Prize applications for the 2022 cohort of young business owners opens on 20 October 2021. Eligible entrepreneurs are advised to download the application guide or apply for the prize at anzishaprize.org/apply.

 

The 2021 Anzisha Prize Fellows are:

 

Constant Ayihounoun, Benin, 21 – Constant is the founder of Agreco Sarl, a company that produces organic fertilizers and pesticides. Link to full profile here.

 

Sergio Tabe Ashu, Cameroon, 21 – Sergio is the founder of Excel Academy, which provides private home tutoring services to K-12 students and national exam preparatory classes for senior secondary school students. Link to full profile here.

 

Hebrey Issa Abraham, Cameroon, 21 – Hebrey is the founder of DATA, which produces and sells vegetables. Link to full profile here.

 

Krys Elfried Digbehi, Côte D’Ivoire, 18 – Krys is the founder of Yeyiba Restaurants. The venture cooks and sells African and European dishes to local colleges, high schools, and universities. Link to full profile here.

 

Victoire Bakunzi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 21 – Victoire is the founder of Basuyi business that produces African-style jackets and tunics. Link to full profile here.

 

Oumar Diogo Sow, Guinea, 22 – Oumar is the founder of Felian Trading Limited. The business cultivates rice and cassava. Link to full profile here.

 

Martin Sure Ondiwa, Kenya, 21 – Martin is the founder of Greenfarms, a company that produces and sells fresh fruits to consumers and vendors. Link to full profile here.

 

Tsantatiana Fideranaharilala Rakotoarimanga, Madagascar, 22 – Tsantatiana is the founder of Dream Study Agency. The agency helps students in Madagascar apply to universities abroad. Link to full profile here.

 

Mahefarivo Thierry Andrianarinoa, Madagascar, 21 – Mahefarivo and two of his friends founded Coufé Madagascar. Coufé is a fashion brand that specializes in embroidered, customizable t-shirts that are handmade by women detained in prison. Link to full profile here.

 

Martin Masiya, Malawi, 21 – Martin is the founder of Sollys Energy, which distributes solar lamps and solar lanterns using a Pay-As-You-Go model for customers in semi-urban and rural areas. Link to full profile here.

 

Adama Kanté, Mali, 22 – Adama is the founder of Food Sante, which is a production and processing company for agrifood products. Link to full profile here.

 

Ali Ould Mohamed, Mali, 18 – Ali is the founder of Créa-Couture, a clothing company that sells a variety of products such as pants, skirts, shirts, and suits for men and women. Link to full profile here.

 

Renata Silva, Namibia, 19 – Renata is the founder of RS Clothing Brand, which sells trendy clothes to young people between the ages of 15-25. Link to full profile here.

 

Eneyi Oshi, Nigeria, 19 – Eneyi is the founder of Maatalous Nasah. The business farms chickens, fish, and eggs to sell to urban dwellers through an e-commerce web application called Farmisphere. Link to full profile here.

 

Esther Akin-Ajayi, Nigeria, 19 – Esther is the founder of Jemai Interiors, which sells furniture pieces and architectural materials. They also render interior designs and offer 3D visualization services to other architectural companies and individuals. Link to full profile here.

 

Oluwadamilola Akinosun, Nigeria, 22 – Damilola is one of the founders of Grant Master, an online marketplace that connects ambitious organizations that are in need of debt-free and equity- free funding. The organizations in need are connected with grant writers. Link to full profile here.

 

Grace Okezie, Nigeria, 22 – Grace is the founder of Royal Graced Baking Company, which bakes and sells healthy snacks and foods to customers. Link to full profile here.

 

Rebecca Samuella Kalokoh, Sierra Leone, 20 – Rebecca is the founder of Grace Venture Natural Products, which extracts oils from seeds, herbs, and fruits to produce natural cosmetics that are sold in the local markets of Sierra Leone. Link to full profile here.

 

Amadu Deen Bah, Sierra Leone, 21 – Amadu is the founder of Caballay Investment, which produces paper bags and bags for packaging that are sold to local businesses. Link to full profile here.

 

Masello Mokhoro, South Africa, 22 – Masello is the founder of Starlicious Enterprises. She grows day-old broiler chicks and pigs and sells them to individuals in her community. Link to full profile here.

 

Doroles Mihanjo, Tanzania, 20 – Dolores is the founder of Maktaba. The business sells educational documents such as past papers, notes, and online content books to parents, schools, and teachers. Link to full profile here.

 

Rebecca Taboukouna, Togo, 22 – Rebecca is the founder of RBK Pearls, which manufactures and sells beaded accessories. Link to full profile here.

 

Jovia Nassuna Kintu, Uganda, 21 – Jovia manufactures and sells affordable organic shampoo, conditioner, and other hair products. She founded Kia Cosmetics to provide women with an alternative to haircare products containing chemical additives. Link to full profile here.

 

Viola Kataike, Uganda, 21 – Viola founded her venture in 2020 to impact the lives of refugee communities. A Hand for a Refugee trains members of Kyangwali refugee camp in growing and harvesting passion fruit. Link to full profile here.

 

Munyaradzi Makosa, Zimbabwe, 21 – Munyaradzi Makosa is the founder of Farmhut Africa, an online marketplace designed to connect farmers in rural Zimbabwe directly to the market. Link to full profile here.

 

Tafadzwa Chikwereti, Zimbabwe, 21 – Tafadzwa launched Murimi Electronic Agriculture using artificial intelligence and machine learning. The business helps financial institutions to process loans faster, and farmers to ascertain their financial health. Link to full profile here.

KKR Buys Kobalt Capital’s Music Rights Portfolio For $1.1 Bln

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KKR Buys Kobalt Capital’s Music Rights Portfolio For $1.1 Bln

Private equity giant KKR & Co (KKR.N) and former Goldman Sachs (GS.N) partner Stephen Hendel’s family office have bought Kobalt Capital’s music rights portfolio for about $1.1 billion, the companies said on Tuesday.

The deal will give KKR and Dundee Partners access to more than 62,000 copyrights by artists across pop, rock, hip hop, country and other genres, the companies said.

KKR Buys Kobalt Capital’s Music Rights Portfolio For $1.1 Bln

Kobalt Music serves 25,000 songwriters and 600 publishers, including Paul McCartney, Enrique Iglesias and Phoebe Bridgers.

The deal is yet another indication of increased interest from private equity groups in the music industry. Asset manager Blackstone Inc (BX.N) said last week it would invest $1 billion with an advisory firm to buy music rights and record songs as online streaming gains popularity and becomes more lucrative.

Municipal Payments Essential for South Africa’s Future Cities

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Municipal Payments Essential for South Africa’s Future Cities

The urban population in Africa has swelled from 15% of the total population in 1960, to over 40% in 2010 and is set to exceed 60% by 2050.

 

It is anticipated that South Africa will follow suit. In fact, current projections indicate that an additional 19 to 24 million people will be added to the national population over the next three decades, and that the vast majority of this growth will be confined to cities and towns. But what is needed by the country’s municipalities to cope with and cater for this growth?

“Municipal payments play a vital role in creating cities of the future,” says Nomvula Nyandeni, Business Development Lead at Pay@, one of Southern Africa’s leading payment solutions providers.

“Municipal revenue collected from customers is integral to sustain cities financially and, most importantly, to ensure that service delivery takes place. This will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come,” explains Peet du Plessis, Head of the Revenue Management Unit at the eThekwini Municipality.

Tsaone Ocilia Sekgala, Deputy Director: Budget & Treasury at the City of Matlosana, adds that this enables the municipality to render quality and sustainable services. “The revenue collected is invested in community infrastructure such as stadiums, sanitation, roads, and community halls; as well as in the maintenance of existing infrastructure to avoid dilapidation. This ensures a well-serviced town which in turn will attract Investors. It also goes towards local economic development and growth.”

Nyandeni notes that there are certain municipalities which are in debt due to non-payment by citizens. “This can be attributed to a number of reasons including affordability, lack of service delivery, citizens’ lack of knowledge of outstanding balances, and municipalities billing customers incorrectly. Consequently, service providers like Eskom have been forced to shut off power to these municipalities, highlighting just how crucial these payments are for our cities.”

On the issue of incorrect billing, she shares that having proper billing systems in place is essential if we are to take our cities into the future. “These systems need to eliminate unallocated payments and generate daily reports to reconcile customer balances.”

Nyandeni believes that, when it comes to collecting revenues, municipalities also need to make it easier for citizens to make payments as this might be yet another cause of non-payment. “Municipal offices are typically only open during the week and for a limited time at that, meaning that customers have to take off work and travel to these offices if they want to make a cash payment. More payment options are crucial, especially for those who are unbanked – which is about 23.5% of the population. Municipalities have to meet people where they are and we have seen significant value in giving them the option to pay in-person at their nearest retailer or by using digital channels such as mobile apps like Masterpass and MTN MoMo for example. Providing citizens with the most optimal bill presentment medium is also important for collection effectiveness. For instance, this could be by posting hardcopies, emailing invoices with barcodes and QR codes, displaying bills on a municipality’s website and other digital channels, or by sending payment requests through mediums such as SMS and USSD.”

She concludes by saying: “With our cities getting bigger and bigger, it is vital that municipalities get their payments right sooner rather than later. This is all the more pressing given that several smart cities are being planned for South Africa, including the Lanseria Smart City and Mooikloof Mega-City developments in Gauteng, as well as the Durban Aerotropolis in KwaZulu-Natal. These cities aim to be safer, greener, healthier and more connected and that might impact what people pay their municipalities for in the future, as well as how they pay.”

Direct Carrier Billing Index Reveals The Most Favorable Countries For DCB Growth

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Direct Carrier Billing Index Reveals The Most Favorable Countries For DCB Growth

The first DCB Index developed by Evina and Telecoming  is released today; Bahrain, Egypt, and Qatar are the most attractive markets for DCB, leading the index.

The innovative tool measures the maturity of this mobile payment method in 18 countries; The development of the DCB Index is one of the commitments established in the alliance signed earlier this year by both companies.

Analysts from Evina , experts in DCB protection, and Telecoming, experts in DCB implementation, have developed the first Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) Index. This rating aims to provide market players with a comprehensive overview of the current state of the DCB business and its overall potential.

Bahrain, Egypt, and Qatar lead the list according to the results of the first DCB Index created to measure the development of this market in MEA. The innovative tool [1] uses 4 KPIs focused on Fraud Protection, Mobile Payments Innovation, DCB Penetration levels, and DCB Growth Potential.

As a result, the DCB Index establishes a ranking based on the score achieved by each country. It is presented on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 as the lowest indicator and 5 being the most advanced pointer.

According to the analysis, Bahrain (3,7) stands out for its extensive DCB protection against fraud. The country shows full support for DCB, seeing that all local mobile operators have implemented this payment technology, yet innovation remains a weak point to develop.

Local mobile operators and merchants are working together to promote DCB as an effective payment method in Egypt (3,3). It’s a true breeding ground for the development of DCB, and efforts must continue to strengthen DCB protection to realize its full potential. Forward-thinking MNOs have enabled in-app purchases in Qatar (3,2). Its overall innovative approach to mobile payments, such as paying employees via mobile money, demonstrates the country’s predisposition to implement new uses of DCB.

According to the index, mobile payment partnerships centred around DCB are growing in Kenya, while Morocco shows ample room for growth in DCB Innovation.

South Africa has a high DCB uptake but has had to deal with fraudulent mobile payment attempts. Hence, increased protection is vital for the sustainable development of DCB as an easy and reliable payment method in the region.

According to Roberto Monge, COO of Telecoming, “DCB has been gaining presence in the region’s digital economy. This innovative indicator shows that many countries are on the right track. Technology is already in place, but there are still some challenges to face. All the payments tech industry players need to work together to develop a new, reliable, secure and stable mobile economy that benefits the whole market “, says Monge.

David Lotfi, Founder & CEO of Evina, states, “the DCB Index indicates that fraud on DCB remains as a top barrier to countries maximizing the potential of direct carrier billing.” Lotfi adds, “these findings strongly suggest that anti-fraud measures need to be more extensively and consistently implemented so that DCB becomes not only a widely used effortless payment method but a source of greater revenue for mobile players.”

#EndSARS Anniversary: Insurance Companies Have Paid N9 Billion Of Possible N20 Billion Claims

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#EndSARS Anniversary: Insurance Companies Have Paid N9 Billion Of Possible N20 Billion Claims

Insurance companies have paid claims totaling N9 billion of possible N20 billion in compensations for losses recorded at the October 2020 #EndSARS protests.

Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, the chairman of the Nigeria Insurance Association, NIA, Ganiyu Musa, said insurance companies had settled claims involving 718 cases of vandalism, 93 cases of looting, 113 cases of theft and 136 cases of loss of money.

“Insurance companies have paid over 9 billion naira up to the last count, but that is certainly not all as we still have a lot of pending claims.

“These claims have yet to be settled because the claimants have not provided sufficient documentation to substantiate their claims,” Musa said.

Musa pointed out that by the time applicants submit all the necessary documents, the industry would settle claims of around 20 billion naira.

He said the estimated economic losses at the protest were over 200 billion naira, but not all losses were insured.

Musa said all insurance companies in the NIA have taken up the challenge of settling all valid claims and assured that all outstanding valid claims from #EndSARS protests will be paid.

#EndSARS Anniversary: Insurance Companies Have Paid N9 Billion Of Possible N20 Billion Claims

The NIA President noted that the #EndSARS incident has been a revelation to all Nigerians that bad things happen to good people and the unexpected happens from time to time; hence the need for insurance.

“No one ever thought that something like the #EndSARS protest would happen and cause so much economic damage.

“The losses were unexpected, but that’s the reason the insurance exists.

“Those who had valid insurance coverage on their property will now understand the value of insurance as a tool to restore you in case the unexpected happens,” Musa said.

According to him, if all lives and damaged property were insured, insurance companies could have paid all claims.

Mr Musa explained that this would have been the case, as premiums would have been paid and insurance companies would have accumulated sufficient reserve funds over time to be able to pay claims.

The NIA scribe tasked governments at all levels to ensure that all of their assets, physical and human, are properly covered by the relevant insurance policies.

Mr. Musa urged the government to also provide an environment conducive to the prosperity of insurance companies.

 

Gulder Ultimate Search Contestants In Search of Akolo’s Secret

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Gulder Ultimate Search Contestants In Search of Akolo’s Secret

Gulder Ultimate Search Season 12 has kicked off, and our 18 brave contestants are already facing challenges as they make their way to the jungle.

Every season, Gulder Ultimate Search takes us on a journey through time to seek out a treasure that many say are mere tales of legends. This season, The Age of Craftsmanship, takes us back to a small town called Ijuka, which existed many centuries ago.

Gulder Ultimate Search Contestants In Search of Akolo’s Secret

A mysterious craftsman named Akolo appeared in the town one day and settled down amongst the blacksmiths and woodcarvers. He soon began to teach the best among the people because his skills were superior to theirs. His name spread beyond the town, but what drew the attention of many was his special brew.

Akolo’s brew was nothing like any that existed in the town. He used ingredients which no one had ever seen before that he got from trading his great works with European merchants. The king soon heard of his fame and appointed Akolo to be a member of his advisory council.

READ ALSO: Gulder Hosts Winner of Ultimate Party Contest

Although Akolo formed a close bond with the king, he never revealed the recipe of his brew. That was a secret Akolo guarded jealously. As the fame of his brew grew, trading routes began to pass through Ijuka, and many sought to taste his brew. Ijuka became a prosperous town, and soon enemies began to gather.

They were jealous of Akolo’s wisdom and his close bond with the king and wanted the secret of his brew for themselves. They tried several times to kill him but to no avail. Fearing for his life, Akolo left the town for the mangrove forest with his secret brew recipe and all his knowledge, never to be seen again. Ijuka, a once prosperous town, suffered Akolo’s absence and was soon laid to waste by foreign invaders.

Now, the council of elders has chosen 18 brave warriors to go back in time to The Age of Craftsmanship to search for the iron chest containing Akolo’s secrets. These 18 warriors have endured several challenges to prove they are worthy of retrieving the iron chest of the wise craftsman Akolo.

Which of them would find the chest and open it to reveal the secret of the craftsman?

Find out as Gulder Ultimate Search airs every Saturday and Sunday at 8 pm on Africa Magic Showcase (DStv channel 151), Africa Magic Urban (DStv channel 153) and Africa Magic Family (DStv channel 154 & GOtv channel 2).

May the best warrior win!

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