Mirinda, Lucozade Unsafe For Consumption

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Mirinda, Lucozade Unsafe For Consumption

The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) said Mirinda and Lucozade soft drinks are unsafe for Nigerian consumers.

The council said both beverages contained benzoic acid level above the limit approved by the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS).

The Council said in a statement obtained by Daily Trust yesterday in Abuja that while the NIS limit for benzoic acid is 250mg/Kg, when combined with Vitamin C and 300mg/Kg without Vitamin C, test revealed that Mirinda, a product of 7UP Bottling Company, contained benzoic acid ranging between 0.56mg/L to 330.9mg/L.

It said Lucozade, formerly produced by Glaxo SmithKline, contained the acid between 2.26mg/L to 323.53mg/L.

The two companies were however not available for comments yesterday.

The council said the test was conducted at the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), a laboratory under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.

The council said it obtained 65 samples of soft drinks from the open market in eight locations within the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, made up of Fanta Orange, Sprite, Mirinda and Lucozade.

“The Council also observed from the results that there were isolated cases of Mirinda and Lucozade with Benzoic Acid levels of 330.9mg/L and 323.53mg/L respectively, which are above the NIS limit,” the Director General of CPC, Mrs Dupe Atoki, said.

The Council further said the test found that benzoic acid levels in Fanta Orange ranged from 5.09mg/L to 197.0mg/L while that of Sprite ranged from 2.82mg/L to 239.0mg/L, indicating that both soft drinks were safe for Nigerian consumers as they contained benzoic acid within the limit approved by the NIS.

Atoki said NAFDAC and SON have been informed of the investigation and has recommended regulatory action and review of the “benzoic acid limits in soft drinks as the current standard, which has been in existence since 2008 is overdue for review.”

Effects of excess benzoic acid on the human system

Head Dietetics Department at the National Hospital, Abuja, Mrs Sarah Abagi said excess benzoic acid has negative effects on the skin, the nervous system and the skeletal system and bones.

She said benzoic acid should not be more than the approved limit or in large quantities in food and drinks especially carbonated drinks because of these effects and the diseases it cause, adding that it was used as an emulsifier and in body creams.

Asked the approved limit, she said deciding the approved limit for each country or area is usually done by experts like, food scientists and food technologists, biochemists and process engineers under the purview of regulatory organizations like National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Health experts also say that benzoic acids may react with ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) in some soft drinks, forming small quantities of benzene, which causes cancer and other ailments.

Some studies have also linked benzene with bone marrow failure, acute leukemia and aplastic anemia.

 

(DailyTrustNg)

Free money management for Uber drivers

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Free money management for Uber drivers

Free money management courses are being offered to Uber drivers in South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya, through Old Mutual, as part of its Global Money Week theme: ‘Learn. Save. Earn.’

Driver-partners attending the workshops will be empowered with the skills to manage their finances in order to grow their income and save for the future. Workshops begin this week and drivers will receive an invitation via email to reserve their seat.

Driver-partners across Africa are extremely important to Uber and their financial wellbeing is an ongoing priority. The technology and flexibility of the Uber app enables driver-partners to start, run and grow a small business on their own terms. By offering skills development in financial management, Uber can assist entrepreneurs in building sustainable businesses.

Recent statistics illustrate the contribution small and medium enterprises (SMEs) make to high growth economies on the African continent. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics notes that there are over 17 million SMEs registered in Kenya, with these businesses employing half of the Kenyan workforce. In Ghana, 92% of companies registered are micro, small and medium enterprises and contribute 70% to the country’s GDP, while Nigeria has seen a 100% increase in small businesses in recent years.

However, this boom in entrepreneurship is not without its challenges. The findings of a study conducted by Invest In Africa (IIA) and Strathmore Business School illustrate that 70% of Kenyan SME’s fail within the first three years of operation owing to a failure to scale up. Nigeria’s national MSMEs survey conducted by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), in partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), notes that only 69% of SMEs have business plans and 95% have no form of insurance.

This lack of planning and financial savvy can cause the business to fail in their early stages. Through targeted education and skills development, entrepreneurs have a much stronger chance of ongoing success.

The Old Mutual On the Money workshops are free to Uber driver-partners in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana. By attending, they’ll learn to understand basic money principles, develop healthy savings habits and plan a path to financial well-being. The workshops were previously run in partnership with Uber in South Africa with great results and positive feedback from the driver-partners who attended.

Zweli Ngwenya, a driver-partner who attended the Old Mutual On the Money workshops in South Africa says, “This course has helped me a lot in learning how to plan my budget.”

Alon Lits, general manager for Uber Sub-Saharan Africa says, “Uber is a passionate champion of innovation, both in the transport sector and in the development of entrepreneurs. With this partnership we can foster the skills of emerging entrepreneurs, empower driver-partners using our app to grow their small business, support their families and begin saving.”

John Manyike, head of financial education at Old Mutual, says, “Global Money Week highlights the importance of money management skills and we are excited to be able to play a role in helping entrepreneurs make the most of their hard-earned money. Small businesses are key to driving inclusive economic growth in Africa – and their success will ultimately benefit us all. By extending this partnership with Uber across Africa, we are able to further promote financial fitness across the continent.”

 

 

 

(Bizcommunity)

How to Get Your Home Ready For the Rainy Season in Nigeria

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How to Get Your Home Ready For the Rainy Season in Nigeria

The rainy season in Nigeria usually runs from April through October every year. Sometimes, however, the rainy season arrives before April. Regardless of when the rainy season commences, there are certain things that must be done to get your house ready for the frequent downpour, like installing aluminium guttering.

Clear drainages and gutters around the home

Drainage

When gutters and drainages are clogged, certain consequences become unavoidable. For instance, the neighbourhood becomes prone to erosion as the flow of water becomes obstructed. Water flowing from clogged gutter builds up on the sides of your home. This weakens the foundation of the home and the ground around it.

The value of your home becomes lowered when you have drainages and gutters that are not cleared. Serious home buyers will not be too keen on buying a house built in a neighbourhood riddled with a clogged drainage system. You should not allow your gutter hurt your home’s value. Learn to clear and maintain drainages and gutters around your house.

To be on the safe side, you are advised to take out time to clear gutters around your home. The beauty of this is that you do not have to get this done by yourself. You can get people to get this done at a fee. The important this is ensuring that the drainages are not clogged with dirt and plastic bottles.

Please note that this is not something you do once before the rainy season and neglect all through the rest of the season. Preferably, clearing the gutters should be a part of your weekly schedule.

Pay attention to your roof

Roof

A leaking roof or one that caves in under heavy rainfall is not something you want to deal with after the rainy season has already kicked in. This is why it is advised that you pay attention to this. Get a professional to take a look at your roof and affirm that it is in good condition for the rainy season. In essence, ensure your roof is checked for cracks and leaks. Any detected leak or crack should be repaired in good time

Check for wall cracks

Wall cracks

Carry out a thorough inspection of the walls around the house to ascertain if there are wall cracks. If you spot cracks in your walls, you would want to employ the service of professionals to get this repaired. What happen with cracked walls is that if left unrepaired, it allows rainwater to find its way into the walls which results in dampness.

According to Dr. Richard Shaugnessy, Director of the Clean Air Programme at the University of Tulsa, damp walls and houses have been proven to cause respiratory illnesses.

“Moisture in homes has been identified again and again to be associated with respiratory problems and other detrimental health to people within homes,” he explained.

Trim weed and grass around the house

Grass

Before the rain kicks into full gear, endeavour to get rid of the grass around your home. They are a natural habitat for rodents and a host of other animals you don’t want around your home.

Equip your home with power surge protectors

Power surge protectors

The rainy season comes with heavy rainfall as well as lightening. It is important that you buy power surge protectors if you do not have them in the home.

Power surge protectors are inexpensive and they protect your appliances against random power surge damage and lightning strikes.

Check electrical cables

Electrical cables

Ensure you check all electrical wires and cables in the house and ensure that you do not have exposed cables lying on the floor of your home. This could prove fatal if it comes in contact with water.

Clear areas where water may stagnate

Mosquito

When water is allowed to stagnate inside or around the home, the result is that it becomes a conducive breeding ground for mosquitoes. This will eventually impact your health negatively as you become prone to mosquitoes and malaria. In addition to clearing areas where water stagnates, you should also consider getting mosquitoes for the home

Mosquito_net

Reinforce doors and windows

You should also carry out monthly inspections to be sure. Just before the rainy season kicks into full gear, you should give a detailed inspection to your doors and windows. Ensure the hinges and fixes in the doors and windows are intact and in good condition. If you find out that they are not faulty, consider removing them and reinstalling them.

If what you have at home are wooden doors, you should protect them. Painting or varnishing your wooden door and windows prevents them from absorbing moisture or rainwater. For best results, apply them just before the start of the rainy season.

Before the rainy season arrives, it is best to put your home in the best possible condition. Ensure your house is equipped with all you need and get rid of things that could make the season difficult for you.

Do you think your home is ready for the rainy season?

 

 

 

(Privateproperty)

People think they won’t use LinkedIn, Snapchat and Pinterest in a decade, says survey

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People think they won’t use LinkedIn, Snapchat and Pinterest in a decade, says survey

Members of the public are not confident they will still use services such as LinkedIn, Snapchat and Pinterest in a decade, underlining a perceptions around brands and their apparent longevity.

A survey of 2,000 consumers across the UK and France Research from Morar Consulting, commissioned by Mailjet in March 2017, gauged peoples’ perception of online services and social networks.

With market leader Facebook now seemingly introducing a new feature on a daily basis, it appears that services have to be mobile to survive. However, only 35% of respondents admitted to noticing major updates to the top social networks, underlining a visibility issue.

Facebook clocked in behind email as a service people will use in 10 years, 26% said they’d still use Facebook (and topically WhatsApp) in that period. Somewhat worse off, only 11% of people were certain that Pinterest and LinkedIn would still exist, this rises to 14% in regards to Snapchat.

Josie Scotchmer, marketing manager at Mailjet, an email provider company said that the new platforms are “creating buzz amongst certain demographics at the moment,” adding that it’s clear that consumers are still reliant upon emails. She acknowledged that it will evolve to accommodate the needs of the 2027 consumer.

On how brands should communicate with them, over a third 37% said they want to see more video, a metric that leaps to 52% of 16-29 years-olds.

This article is about: North America, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Pinterest, Social Media, Digital, Media, Politics, Brand…

 

 

 

(Thedrum)

Nigeria’s PayMyRent is a marketplace for loans

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Nigeria’s PayMyRent is a marketplace for loans
Recently launched Nigerian startup PayMyRent is offering users access to a variety of loans from different providers in one online marketplace.
Founded one year ago and launched fully last month, PayMyRent offers a marketplace for instant loans for house rent payments.

“We understand that paying house rent can be difficult when finances are tight and this enabled us to create a solution that will allow Nigerians to pay their house rent monthly. We do this by paying for their total house rent which they back monthly,” founder Damilare Ogunyemi told Disrupt Africa.

With a number of banks, microfinance institutions and private lenders offering loans to Nigerians, applying can often be a lengthy and difficult process. PayMyRent brings all of these offerings together on one platform.

“Customers seeking loans have to do extensive research or visit each lender one after the other before they can decide on which one offers the best interest rate,” Ogunyemi said. “This task is stressful as well as time consuming. It means the client has to settle for one at some point due to the fact that he can’t visit all the lenders to know which one best suits him.”

This is issue is avoided by using PayMyRent. Users apply for loan via the platform, with the application then sent to all lenders that meet the criteria. In less than one hour, the user receives offers from different lenders, stating the approvable amount, interest rate, monthly repayment and other charges. The user can then decide which lender to go with.

“You can call us the marketplace for house rent loan,” Ogunyemi said.

PayMyRent is self-funded thus far, but open to investors who can help it expand. It seems to have been doing well enough by itself, charging lenders a commission for every loan made via the platform.

“The market welcomed us very well. It was like they were waiting. We understand the challenges people have with meeting their house rent and we have been very helpful in assisting them,” Ogunyemi said.

The startup has also created another product, the PayMyRent Ajo Scheme, which allows clients to make a monthly savings towards their house rent payment.

“With this, our clients don’t have to worry about their house rent anymore. We help then structure their finances and see how best they can make monthly savings,” he said.

“We have companies who use us to pay for their staff’s accommodation and then pay for the rent monthly. We have had clients who were at the point of getting evicted, and we were able to save the situation by paying their landlord while they pay back monthly. For us, it’s all about being able to make people live peacefully without worrying about house rent payment.”

PayMyRent is currently only operating in Lagos, but full operations will begin in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Ibadan next month.

“Profits have been very healthy. We have seen month-to-month growth and we are happy about this. It simply means we are solving more people’s housing problems daily,” Ogunyemi said.

 

(Bizcommunity.)

Inflation rate falls again, but food prices stay up

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Inflation rate falls again, but food prices stay up

The year-on-year inflation rate fell for the second time in 16 months, but food prices stay on the high side, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed.

Year-on-year headline inflation dropped to 17.26 percent in March 2017 from 17.78 percent in February 2017 but month-on-month rose by 1.72 percent from 1.49 percent in the previous month.

More to follow…

 

 

(CableNg)

AB InBev to export African beer brands across the globe

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AB InBev to export African beer brands across the globe
  • Brewer to export Africa brands; send global beers other way
  • Nigerian plant planned to tap continent’s most populous nation

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV will export African beer brands to its markets around the world as the Budweiser maker seeks to maximize the potential of a continent that was key to its decision to buy rival SABMiller for $103 billion.

“There are so many very unique African brands and I think it is time to sell African beers to the greater market,” said Ricardo Tadeu, a 40-year-old Brazilian who moved to Johannesburg from Mexico to head up AB InBev’s African operations. “There is huge potential for these brands to be exported.”

The world’s biggest brewer plans to sell packs of eight African beer brands outside the continent, including Castle, the dominant brand in South Africa, Kilimanjaro of Tanzania and Nigeria’s Hero. At the same time, the company will introduce global beer brands such as Budweiser, Stella Artois and Corona in African markets, Tadeu said in an interview at AB InBev’s Johannesburg office on Wednesday.

Tadeu is responsible for spurring growth on a continent where AB InBev didn’t have a foothold before completing the purchase of SABMiller in September. About 65 million people are due to reach the legal drinking age by 2023, creating an opportunity for brewers, although Tadeu must also tackle slowing economic growth across some of the biggest markets. South Africa, where SABMiller first set up shop in 1895, expanded 0.3 percent in 2016, the slowest pace since 2009, while Nigeria is in recession after the collapse in oil prices hurt its biggest source of revenue.

Acquired Taste

With consumers in some African markets drinking an average of less than 10 liters of beer per head a year, Tadeu sees an opportunity to increase that to the average of 45 liters to 65 liters in other markets. Rolling out existing brands and increasing consumption will be key to African growth, he said.

Since taking over from SABMiller’s Mark Bowman, Tadeu has traveled extensively across the continent, often in the private jet used by his predecessor, and said he now drinks African beer brands by choice. Castle, in particular, has a “great opportunity” to become more global, he said.

“I love Castle Lite,” Tadeu said. “When you mention Bud Light I don’t see much space for that here, because I think Castle Lite is such a great light beer.”

New Investments

AB InBev is planning a new plant in Nigeria. Sites can cost as much as $400 million, the executive said, although the brewery will not follow Heineken NV, the world’s second-largest brewer, into other West African countries such as Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At the same time, AB InBev doesn’t have plans to reduce its presence in any of the 31 African markets in which it now operates.

“We are prioritizing what we need to do in Africa, rather than trying to find new things,” Tadeu said.

AB Inbev has completed the sale of its stake in South African drinks maker Distell Group Ltd. to the country’s Public Investment Corp., it said in a statement on Wednesday.

 

 

 

(Bloomberg)

Easter Promo: Enjoy 20% Discount Off all Airtime Purchases made with the Zenith Bank Eazybanking Service

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Easter Promo: Enjoy 20% Discount Off all Airtime Purchases made with the Zenith Bank Eazybanking Service

If you are a Zenith Bank customer, it is going to be a very happy April for you as the bank begins its April Giveaways. In keeping with its slogan of …in your best interest, the April Giveaways promo is clearly directed at helping its customers have the best Easter season.

Beginning today, April 10th and running until Friday, April 28th, 1,932 customers will enjoy a 20% discount on all airtime purchases made via the bank’s *966#Eazybanking service between the hours of 6.00 am – 900 am and 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm every weekday. So if you buy N2000 airtime you would only pay N1600.

Image result for Enjoy 20% Discount Off all Airtime Purchases made with the Zenith Bank Eazybanking Service

It gets even better on Easter Monday, April 17th when 966 people who buy airtime using the *966# service between 6.00 am and 9.00 am will be rewarded with 100% bonus on their recharge. So if you buy N2000 airtime on Easter Monday, April 17th, you would pay N2000 but you would get airtime worth a whopping N4000.

To participate, simply buy airtime with *966# Eazybanking between the hours of 6:00am – 9:00am and 6:00pm – 9:00pm  on all weekdays from April 1oth to April 28th, 2017.  The promo is only active from 6:00am – 9:00 am on Easter Monday, April 17th.

The Eazybanking code for airtime purchase is *966*amount*mobilenumber# dialed from your mobile number registered with the bank.

Want to participate in the April Giveaways but don’t have a Zenith Bank account yet? Simply dial *966*0# to open one instantly (you will be required to visit a Zenith Bank branch within 7 days to complete the process).

Other Things to Know

The maximum airtime purchase eligible for the reward is N2000 i.e. N2000 and below. Customers can only win once every day during the period of the promo. When buying airtime for others, only the phone number receiving the credit may qualify for the promo. To find out more, kindly visit www.zenithbank.com/966

 

 

(Bella Naija)

Order a Bottle/Case of Johnnie Walker on Myshayo.com Now for a Chance to Win a Free Ticket to Bovi Man on Fire

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Order a Bottle/Case of Johnnie Walker on Myshayo.com Now for a Chance to Win a Free Ticket to Bovi Man on Fire

Myshayo.com is giving out free tickets to the Bovi Man on Fire show!

Date: Friday, May 5th, 2017.
Venue: Eko Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos.

To qualify for a ticket simply visit www.myshayo.com/johnniewalker order a bottle/case of your preferred whiskey & have your tickets delivered with your item!

Hurry now while stock lasts. Terms & Conditions applies.

 

 

(BellaNaija)

After conquering Africa, Shoprite heads to Europe

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After conquering Africa, Shoprite heads to Europe

Africa’s largest retailer, Shoprite said it is looking at entering Europe.

Shoprite new Chief Executive Pieter Engelbrecht, told Reuters News Agency that hopes to use knowledge gleaned from former suitor Steinhoff International to leverage its way into the Eastern Europe market.

Its move will bring it into collision with bigger players in the continent such as Tesco, Carrefour, Lidl and Aldi.

Engelbrecht, who took over from 37-year veteran Whitey Basson in January, said the company wants to enter markets in Eastern Europe that either “have low competition or high economic growth”.

The growth story of Shoprite has taken it from South Africa to Lagos NIgeria, a city where it currently controls the largest market share of modern grocery retailing.

Pieter Engelbrecht said “We will look at other developing countries. That is also something that came out with our Steinhoff discussions and they’ve got good presence there, so we would like to leverage off that knowledge and definitely have a look at the East Bloc countries,”

It would be recalled that Steinhoff in February called off a plan to merge its African clothing and furniture assets with Shoprite’s stores, a deal bankers had said could create a giant valued at more than 180 billion rand ($13 billion).

“The two types of entry countries that you look at is either one with low competition or you look at one with high economic growth,” he said, adding that a trip to the region was planned although he did not say which countries he was considering.

“We will go slow. We are not going to over commit ourselves to learn if the market accepts us. So we will first establish a couple of stores and make sure the market likes us, and if we find acceptance then one can look at a merger or acquisition.”

“So whatever ratings uplift one can expect from reducing South African exposure, might well be given up on lower profit margins and execution risk from such an acquisition,” said Unathi Loos, an Investec Asset Management retail analyst.

But Shoprite’s experience in selling to low income earners in far-flung cities across Africa could help it mount a strong challenge.

Shoprite said it is also considering a move into the South American market.

 

 

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