Bank of Ghana to introduce new GH¢100 and GH¢200 Banknotes

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Bank of Ghana to introduce new GH¢100 and GH¢200 Banknotes

The Bank of Ghana on Friday announced that Ghana would introduce two higher denominations of the local cedi currency to complement the existing series.

It said that the 100 Ghana cedis and 200 Ghana cedis denominations are to ensure customer convenience and bring about efficiency in the printing of currency to generate savings for the country.

Announcing the decision at a news conference, governor of the central bank Ernest Addison said the bank would also introduce a new two cedis coin in addition to existing coin categories of the currency.

He explained that the face value of the cedi had eroded over the past 12 years, compared with the U.S. dollar.

“When it was introduced 12 years ago, the value of the redenominated currency was 0.92 Ghana cedis to one US dollar.

“Twelve years after the redenomination exercise, sustained periods of high inflation and the perennial depreciation of the currency have eroded, in real terms, the face value of the series of the notes.’’

According to him, in 2019 alone, the cedi recorded a 10.4 per cent cumulative depreciation between January and September.

FG Announces Free Train Ride On Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line From Nov 30 To March 2020 (Photos)

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FG Announces Free Train Ride On Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line From Nov 30 To March 2020 (Photos)

The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi has declared that there will free rides on the Lagos-Ibadan rail line during the forthcoming festive season.

The take-off point will be from Iju, Lagos State to Ibadan, Oyo State.

The minister confirmed this by a tweet from his twitter handle @ChibuikeAmaechi, as stated below:

“Our free rides on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line will begin today and run through March 2020. Commuters on that route can take advantage of it and save on transportation during the festive season & beyond. Let’s ride to the Next Level”

At the end of the free ride, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) would commence commercial operation on the fast train while the construction work continues.

The China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC), the contractor handling the project, had since completed the track laying from Iju to Ibadan end of the project. It has now further extended track laying inwards Lagos to Fagba as it approaches Ibadan.

Amaechi alongside officials from the Ministry, the Managing Director of the NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria rode from Fagba, in Lagos, to Ologuneru, Moniya, which is Kilometre 154, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The MD said the corporation and the contractor would release the modalities for the takeoff of the free train ride.

He said two luxury coaches would be deployed on the standard gauge daily, adding that because of the limited space, only about 60 to 80 people will be able to benefit from the free ride on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Because of the limited spaces the free train ride will be on a first come first serve basis and this is how we would run till December 19. From December 21 as directed by the Minister, we would be running service return service daily and this is how we would operate till April when we are expected to begin full commercial operation on this corridor in line with the ministerial directive,” Okhiria said.

FIFA to build Most Advanced Stadium in Nigeria, Africa with $1bn

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FIFA to build Most Advanced Stadium in Nigeria, Africa with $1bn

Football’s world governing body has announced plans to raise $1bn dollars to build at least one stadium meeting Fifa standards in each African country.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino was talking in Lubumbashi during the 80th-anniversary celebrations of DR Congo side TP Mazembe.

He insisted that Fifa wants African football to shine and will work with the Confederation of African Football (Caf) and other stakeholders to improve refereeing, infrastructure and competitions on the continent.

“We want to bring it (Africa) to the highest of heights and show the world the outstanding talent and amazingly gifted players your continent possesses,” he said.

“To do this, we want to implement a three-pillar approach: refereeing, infrastructure and competitions, in close cooperation with Caf, all of its 54 member associations across Africa and other stakeholders.

“I am positive that we will make African football reach the top level where it should be because the quality and potential are definitely here.”

One of the plans is for Fifa to create a professional and elite group of African referees who will be independent of the administration and political bodies.

This follows on from the decision taken in the last executive committee meeting of Caf where a decision to implement reforms in the refereeing sector was approved.

On infrastructure, Infantino said Fifa would mobilize companies and entrepreneurs to raise around $1bn with the objective of building at least one stadium that complies with Fifa’s standards in each African country.

He said Fifa will focus on developing new and better competitions to generate more revenue so that the African clubs can retain talented players.

Infantino hinted at the possibility of creating an African League that would see the best clubs from the continent play against each other, without giving further details or outlining how the plan might impact the Champions League.

He also talked about plans to organize regional competitions and youth tournaments to further help the development of young players in Africa.

Infantino is touring along with his general-secretary-turned-African-delegate Fatma Samoura, Caf president Ahmad Ahmad and African legend Samuel Eto’o among other people.

He then took part in a commemorative match that featured Eto’o, Zambian legend Kalusha Bwalya and TP Mazembe owner Moise Katumbi.

25 Year-Old Nigerian Designs, Builds and Unveils Nigerian First Carbon Fiber Sports Car in Jos (Photos)

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25 Year-Old Nigerian Designs, Builds and Unveils Nigerian First Carbon Fiber Sports Car in Jos (Photos)

Fabrication engineer and chief executive officer of Bennie Technologies LTD, Jerry Mallo, has unveiled the first made in Nigeria carbon fiber sports car.

The carbon fibre car named Bennie Purrie was exhibited on Thursday at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.

“Africa is a good market for luxury vehicles,” Mallo said on ChannelsTV Sunrise Daily on Friday.

“I got that exposure when I was in the UK in Europe, we learnt that making the car is just half of the challenge, and selling it is the other half.”

“Africa is usually is the target place to sell these vehicles, so I feel there’s a big market for it here.”

The 25-year-old, who hailed from Bokkos, Jos, Plateau State said he discovered his passion for cars at the age of five when he was in primary 2.

He said while in school he found it difficult to comprehend the theoretical aspect of his courses but did well in his practical classes.

“We have a lot of hand skilled individuals in Nigeria and they are lying wasted if you would allow me to say it, it is like the theoretical aspect is what is valued more and I am poor at the theoretical so I saw it as a challenge why don’t I do something practically-inclined and will also be platform for others to put their mind and we’ll make a living out of it,” Mallo said.

The Plateau State-born engineer said he was inspired to create the sports car because Nigeria and Africa at large have all the required resources and raw materials needed.

He said instead of victims getting crushed while in an accident, the car would break into pieces and the victims are protected with airbags. The car manufacturer said the car has four radiators for Nigeria’s temperature and rugged for the country’s road.
Mallo said the car is not ready for purchase yet as it is more like research but will be ready for commercialisation in two years.
On the 2nd of August 2018, Mallo emerged as the overall winner of the Micro Small Medium Enterprise award.
Mallo specialises in the fabrication of agricultural machines including a tractor which earned him the national award as MSME of the year.

He was presented with a car and N1 million by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as the MSME Awards grand winner of the year and given the scholarship to study in any university around the world.

Nigerian Starbucks’ copycat launches Happy Coffee

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Nigerian Starbucks’ copycat launches Happy Coffee

Princess Adeyinka Tekenah: telling Nigerians there’s more to life than instant coffee/Grace Ekpu, for the FT

Princess Adeyinka Tekenah has a mission in life — becoming Nigeria’s Howard Schultz. “I love the Starbucks model, and I am determined to build a coffee narrative particular to Nigeria,” she says. Aiming at strengthening the coffee-drinking culture in Nigeria, she has been installing cafés with espresso machines into existing businesses.

Portrait of CEO of Happy Coffee, Princess Adeyinka

In 2015, with a seed capital of $5,000 from the Tony Elumelu Foundation, a pan-African venture set up to finance promising business start-ups, the US-educated Ms. Tekenah created Happy Coffee, a local coffee franchise. It serves a Nigerian coffee blend, sourcing beans from women farmers in Taraba State in the north-east of the country and roasting them in Lagos. It caters for private and corporate events as well as bars and restaurants through pop-up stores.

The coffee economy in Nigeria is largely untapped: last year, it produced just 42,000 60kg bags of coffee, while Ethiopia, Africa’s coffee-producing powerhouse, topped 7.6m bags according to the International Coffee Organization (ICO). But there are 22 coffee-growing states across Nigeria and people are starting to drink more coffee. Consumer spending on coffee in the country will rise by 9.3 percent a year in the next four years, according to rating agency Fitch.

“I wanted to find a way to provide more local coffee to the average Nigerian. Why shouldn’t someone have access to a decent cup of Nigerian coffee?” Ms Tekenah says.

Unlike Ethiopia, Nigeria does not have a strongly developed coffee drinking culture: while about half of all Nigerians drink coffee of some kind, they tend to rely on the ubiquitous small sachets of instant Nescafé. “We are an instant coffee country, so we need to move beyond that to create major awareness about locally grown coffee in order to impact the coffee industry as a whole,” Ms. Tekenah says.

The government provides no direct support to promote local production and consumption, so she has been learning the business from experts in Brazil, the world’s largest producer.

Happy Coffee now sells roughly 1,000 cups for N500 ($1.38) each — versus roughly N200 for a Nescafé ($0.55) — and 200 packets of 100 grammes of coffee for N1,400 ($3.87) each month.

“Promoting domestic consumption in producing countries is one of the best ways to increase overall coffee consumption,” explains José Sette, the Brazilian executive director of the ICO. “Nigeria, because of its population size, is a market that is underexplored.”

Interest in ground coffee is growing, but according to Fitch, weak consumer purchasing power means instant coffee will remain dominant.

Source Financial Times

Lionel Messi’s Wanda Metropolitano Challenge

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Lionel Messi’s Wanda Metropolitano Challenge

Of the 20 stadiums in use in LaLiga Santander this season, there is only one where Barcelona’s No.10 has yet to score a league goal.

Everyone knows that Lionel Messi’s stats are ridiculous. He has scored hundreds of goals and has netted multiple times against all 19 teams who play in LaLiga Santander alongside Barcelona. Yet there is one LaLiga Santander stadium where he still hasn’t managed to score a league goal, and that’s precisely where he’s visiting this weekend.

Barcelona visits Atlético de Madrid this Sunday night for a 9 pm CET kick-off at the Wanda Metropolitano and the Argentine master will be hoping it’s third time lucky as he searches for his first LaLiga goal at the ground. He scored a whopping eight times at Atleti’s old Vicente Calderon stadium but it yet to score at the stadium in the league since Los Rojiblancos moved to their new home back in 2017.

Both LaLiga meetings between the two sides at the Wanda Metropolitano since that move finished in 1-1 draws, with Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele scoring the goals for Barça. Now Messi will be keen to get in on the action and there’s no reason to believe he can’t, considering he has eight LaLiga Santander goals already this season and is scoring at a rate of one goal every 79 minutes of domestic action.

Messi does, however, at least know what it feels like to see his name on the scoreboard at the Wanda. He was amongst the scorers when Barcelona won the Copa del Rey final there against Sevilla FC in 2018, netting once in the 5-0 victory along with Philippe Coutinho, Andrés Iniesta and a brace from Luis Suárez.

If he does score this weekend to bag his first league goal there, he’ll have scored in every top-flight stadium in Spain. His most fertile hunting ground over the years has been Sevilla’s Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan (12 goals) and Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu (11 goals), proving time and time again that he shines on the biggest stages and on the biggest occasions.

His tally at the remaining current top-flight stadiums:

10 – Ciutat de Valencia (Levante UD); 9 – Mestalla (Valencia CF); 8 – Ipurua (SD Eibar); 7 – El Sadar (CA Osasuna), Benito Villamarin (Real Betis); 6 – Son Moix (RCD Mallorca), Estadio de la Ceramica (Villarreal CF), Coliseum Alfonso Perez (Getafe CF); 4 – RCDE Stadium (RCD Espanyol), Reale Arena (Real Sociedad); 3 – Nuevo Los Carmenes (Granada CF), Mendizorrotza (D. Alaves); 2 – San Mames (Athletic Club), Butarque (CD Leganes), Abanca Balaidos (RC Celta), Jose Zorilla (Real Valladolid).

As things stand his LaLiga Santander tally at the Wanda Metropolitano is zero, but few expect it to stay that way for long.

Atletico De Madrid Host FC Barcelona This Sunday in One of the Blockbuster LaLiga Fixtures Of The Season

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Atletico De Madrid Host FC Barcelona This Sunday in One of the Blockbuster LaLiga Fixtures Of The Season

Atletico de Madrid host Barcelona on Sunday with both teams ready for what has become one of LaLiga’s most significant and dramatic fixtures. Reigning champions Barça go into the game joint-top of the LaLiga Santander standings with Real Madrid, with Atletico just three points behind in the fourth position.

Both Ernesto Valverde’s men and Diego Simeone’s side have come through challenges over the first months of the season and now look primed for a fixture which has often been key in deciding the destination of the LaLiga title through recent seasons.

Atletico undertook a big squad overhaul this summer, but have kept their trademark defensive solidity with just nine goals conceded in 14 games. Jan Oblak is on course for a record fifth successive Zamora prize as LaLiga’s best goalkeeper, while new defenders Kieran Trippier, Felipe and Renan Lodi have all settled in well. Brazil international Lodi even grabbed his first LaLiga goal in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Granada.

Alvaro Morata has been Los Colchoneros’ goalscoring star through recent weeks, with the Spain international scoring in four consecutive LaLiga games before being unlucky not to continue the run at Granada last weekend. Also impressive has been strike partner Angel Correa, while young Portuguese starlet Joao Felix returned from injury last weekend.

Atletico remains unbeaten in front of their own fans at the Wanda Metropolitano, while away form has been an issue for Barça this season. The Catalans have already lost at Athletic Club, Granada and Levante, but did get three points on the road last weekend when winning 2-1 at Leganes thanks to set-piece goals from Luis Suarez and Arturo Vidal.

Blaugrana talisman Lionel Messi’s return from injury in September has, unsurprisingly, helped steady Barça’s form. The Argentine has eight goals and five assists across his first eight LaLiga Santander outings, helping his team to become LaLiga’s top scorers so far with 35 goals in their first 13 games.

Also impressing for Barca this season has been new midfielder Frenkie de Jong and teenage sensation Ansu Fati. Another big summer arrival Antoine Griezmann is still settling into his new environment, with each of his four LaLiga goals so far coming at the Camp Nou. The former rojiblanco hero will be keen to make his mark in the game on his return to the capital.

History has been on Barça’s side in this fixture through recent seasons, with Simeone yet to record a LaLiga victory over the Catalans, although May 2014’s 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou secured the title for his team. 12 months later Messi scored the only goal as Barça wrested the trophy back and the Argentine has since taken his phenomenal record to 24 goals in 23 LaLiga meetings with Atletico [along with 10 yellow cards, more than against any other opponent].

The last two games between the teams at the Wanda Metropolitano have been close-fought 1-1 draws. Atletico went ahead each time through Saul Ñiguez and Diego Costa, but Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele grabbed late equalisers for the visitors.

It all points to another tight and exciting encounter on Sunday. Will Messi stretch his amazing personal record against Atletico, or can Simeone finally pull off a LaLiga win over the Blaugrana at the 16th attempt? Tune in to find out!

Lagos Ilubirin Foreshore project in Nigeria to be ready in 2020

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Lagos Ilubirin Foreshore project in Nigeria to be ready in 2020

The government of Nigeria has announced plans to complete the Ilubirin Foreshore Housing project in 2020. Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu- Fatai revealed the report and said that the seemed abandoned project by the immediate past administration has officially been revived by the current administration.

“We have a solid plan to deliver the first phase of the project, which is residential in the fourth quarter of 2020 then it will be followed by the commercial and entertainment/leisure parks in 2021,” said Moruf Akinderu.

The Ilubirin Foreshore Housing project is a public housing project on about 15.1 hectares of reclaimed land at the foot of the Third Mainland Bridge. It is being developed by the Ilubirin Foreshore Projects Limited, a joint venture between the Lagos State Government and the First Investment Development Company.

The Housing project was initiated by the Lagos State Government in partnership with First Investment Property Company through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The initial design proposal was approved by the Lagos State Ministry of Housing through the Lagos Home Ownership and Mortgage Scheme (LAGOSHOMS).

Ilubirin was initially modelled after Ikoyi Foreshore Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos and has now been remodelled from a purely residential into a mixed-use development of residential, commercial and leisure areas. The residential block prototypes that will be completed in the phases are a mixture of 126m2 of 2 bedroom flats; 183m2 of 3 bedroom flats and 76m2 of 1 bedroom flats.

The project according to the State Commissioner, will will create a benchmark for future community development in Lagos State anchored on the concept of ‘live, work and play’ with not only residential offerings but also offices, shopping, new school, hotel, medical centre, leisure facilities and brand new Marina for the lagoon. Upon completion, it will additionally address the housing deficit in Lagos.

“Ilubirin is a critically important development for the city that will rejuvenate the area. We have a duty to ensure that more Lagos residents become homeowners and that the homes themselves are built to global and international standards,” said Moruf Akinderu.

More Than 150 Customers in Line for the Launch of HUAWEI FreeBuds 3

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More Than 150 Customers in Line for the Launch of HUAWEI FreeBuds 3

Following a successful launch of the Huawei Mate 30 Series, crowds continue to signal Huawei’s growing popularity in Singapore

 

 

SINGAPORE
– Media OutReach – 30 November 2019 – Huawei Singapore today launched its true wireless stereo
Bluetooth earphones featuring the world’s first open-fit design with active
noise cancellation, the HUAWEI
FreeBuds 3. Considered to be a favourite among
Android users, the launch of FreeBuds 3 drew more than 150 customers in line
before doors open at 11am in SITEX 2019 today. HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 goes on sale
at a retail price of S$238 with two colour options, Carbon Black and Ceramic
White.

 

Crowds falling in to make their purchase of the latest Huawei FreeBuds 3 at SITEX today

 

More than 200 customers turned up during the launch of the Huawei
Mate 30 Series in Singapore.

 

Following a successful launch of the
Huawei Mate 30 Series earlier this month with more than 200 handsets sold on
the first day of sale, the company continues to attract customers in Singapore
with a wider range of its products. In the lead up to the new year, Huawei is
making strides to provide a holistic product ecosystem for its customers in
Singapore to experience a seamless interconnectivity between smartphone and
other devices including the new Huawei
Watch GT 2, Gentle
Monster — Huawei Eyewear and FreeBuds 3.

 

 

The HUAWEI FreeBuds 3, available in Carbon Black and Ceramic
White, makes for a functional yet fashionable accessory.

 

The HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 was first
revealed to the world in September during IFA 2019
 in Berlin and has
gained much anticipation around the world for the following features:

 

●      Active noise cancellation: delivers ultimate audio experience without the interruption of
background noise.

●      Intuitive controls: Double tap on the right earphone to play/ switch music. Double
tap on the left earphone to turn on/ off active noise cancellation.

●      Aerodynamic mic duct: Reduce wind noise efficiently at speeds of up to 20kmph for
better call quality.

●      Studio-quality audio: The HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 incorporates a 14mm dynamic driver to
deliver realistic acoustic sounds with a stronger bass.

●      Dolphin bionic design with open-fit: Inspired by the natural curvature of the dolphin’s vocal cavity,
the HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 is ergonomically engineered for maximum comfort and
stable wearing while delivering flawless audio quality.

●      World’s 1st dual-mode
Bluetooth 5.1 SoC: allows users to enjoy a stable and
fast Bluetooth connection, as well as accurate audio and video synchronization.

●      Enjoy up to four hours of non-stop playback on a single charge.

 

The HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 is available at all local telecommunication operators, major
consumer electronic/I.T. stores and at all Huawei Concept Stores and Huawei Flagship Store on Lazada. Customers can also enjoy
one-year warranty with every purchase of the HUAWEI FreeBuds 3.

 

For more information, please visit: https://consumer.huawei.com/sg/.

About Huawei Consumer BG

Huawei’s products and services are
available in more than 170 countries, and are used by a third of the world’s
population. Sixteen R&D centers have been set up in the United States,
Germany, Sweden, Russia, India and China. Huawei Consumer BG is one of Huawei’s
three business units and covers smartphones, PC and tablets, wearables and cloud
services, etc. Huawei’s global network is built on almost 30 years of expertise
in the telecom industry and is dedicated to delivering the latest technological
advances to consumers around the world.

 

For more information please visit: https://consumer.huawei.com/sg/ or find us @huaweimobilesg on social media.

Nigeria Rugby names squad, arrive in Antananarivo for 2023 Pre World Cup Qualifiers (Photos)

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Nigeria Rugby names squad, arrive in Antananarivo for 2023 Pre World Cup Qualifiers (Photos)

This encounter is the last match of elimination stage of the Rugby Africa Cup (RAC) 2020 and kicks off on Sunday, 1 December at 15:00 local time (14:00 CAT)

LAGOS, Nigeria, November 30, 2019 – Coach Bronson Weir announced the Nigeria Rugby Men’s Fifteens squad that will be on duty against Madagascar in Antananarivo on Sunday.

This encounter is the last match of elimination stage of the Rugby Africa Cup (RAC) 2020 and kicks off on Sunday, 1 December at 15:00 local time (14:00 CAT) at the Mahamasima Stadium in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

“The boys have worked hard all through training in Kano and Lagos. Madagascar plays a unique band of Xv’s Rugby. We will concentrate on our game and do what we have to do to get the result. We look forward to seeing what the team can produce on Sunday,” says Coach Bronson Weir.

SQUAD:

Forwards

1. Godwin Otoro -.Italy(C)
2. David Oyekanmi – Racing
3. Praise Asiedu – Australia
4. Sunday Bassey – Cowrie
5. Ricky Nwagbara – South Africa
6. Ibrahim Suraj – Barewa
7. Samuel Ekpo – Cowrie
8. Obi Wilson – Barewa
9. Alex Onome Richard -.Barewa
10. John Kurah – Racing
11. Olatunde Sulaiman – Cowrie
12. Jude Abrakson -.Barewa
13. Emmanuel Chukwudi – Abia Buffalo’s

Backs

14. Azeez Ladipo – Cowrie (vC)
15. Nuhu Ibrahim – Barewa
16. Monday Omorogieva – Racing
17. Joshua Etim – Barewa
18. Jeremiah Peters – Kings College Old Boys
19. Daniel John – Cowrie
20. Isah Omale – Barewa
21. Ezekiel Tom – Gosar
22. Gabriel Etim- Barewa

The match will be broadcasted live and for free on Rugby Africa’s Facebook page @RugbyAfrique (http://bit.ly/37QnZdc)

For the official announcement of the RAC 2020 please follow the link below:
http://bit.ly/35OhCVO

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