Viet Nam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, a pioneer in AI research

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Viet Nam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, a pioneer in AI research

HA NOI, VIET NAM – Media OutReach – 4 November 2019 – HCM
City uses artificial intelligence as a foundation for industry 4.0 and becoming
a smart city.

 

According
to Viet Nam National University-Ho
Chi Minh
City, to enhance the use
of AI, having high-quality human resource with the capacity to understand the
latest technologies and innovations is very important.

 

The city has many
universities and science research institutes which could foster training
and research to remain abreast of the latest technologies and help build an AI
eco-system.

 

A pioneer in training in and
research into AI in the city, the VNUHCM invested nearly VNĐ7 billion
(US$301,372) to set up an AI lab at its one-member University of Science for
research into advanced machine learning methodologies, speech translation into
Vietnamese, bio-informatics and others.

 

The lab, set up in 2008,
researches text-to-speech and speech-to-text.

 

The first AI lab in southern
Việt Nam
set up an IoT-Robotics Club, has organised many free online and offline
training courses on basic Python and website programming.

 

The VNUHCM’s University of Technology also began a project in 2016
to develop crowdsourcing
for data collection and providing traffic warnings in the city over mobile
phones by 2020 as part an IT application programme to reduce traffic
congestion.

 

After software is developed,
it will be offered to the city Department of Transport for trialing.

 

The VNUHCM’s Geomatics
Centre has collaborated with the city Steering Centre for the Urban Flood
Control Programme for a programme on standardising data and analysing the
city’s satellite images.

More about VNUHCM

Situated in the city’s
eastern region, the VNUHCM was established in 1995 as one of the country’s two
national universities the Government designated to develop into centres to
train undergraduates and postgraduates, carry out research, transfer
technologies, and lead the higher education system.

 

It has 36 units under it for
training, doing research and transferring technologies, including its seven
member universities- the University of
Technology, University
of Science, University
of Social Sciences and Humanities, International University,
University of Information
Technology, University
of Economics and Law, and
An Giang University- and one Institute for Environment and Resources.

The university’s target is to
become one of the 100 leading universities in Asia
by 2025.

Dialog Semiconductor Launches TINY Bluetooth(R) Low Energy SoC and Module to Connect Next Billion IoT Devices. SmartBond TINY(TM) and module enable lowest IoT BLE connectivity costs

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Dialog Semiconductor Launches TINY Bluetooth(R) Low Energy SoC and Module to Connect Next Billion IoT Devices. SmartBond TINY(TM) and module enable lowest IoT BLE connectivity costs

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM  – EQS Newswire – 4 November
2019 – Dialog Semiconductor plc (XETRA:DLG),
a leading provider of power management, charging, AC/DC power conversion, Wi-Fi
and Bluetooth(R) low energy technology, today announced both the new
DA14531, the world’s smallest and most power-efficient Bluetooth 5.1 SoC, and
the DA14531 module, to simplify Bluetooth product development and enable wider
adoption.

TINY 2

 

The chip, also known as SmartBond TINY(TM), is currently in production. It
will further extend Dialog’s position as a leader in the Bluetooth device
market with the broadest SoC portfolio, as the company converges on yearly
shipments of up to 100 million units.

 

SmartBond TINY is specifically designed to lower the costs of adding BLE
functionality to an application to as little as $0.50 in high volumes, fueling
the next wave of the IoT, estimated to span over 1 billion devices.

 

As the list of devices requiring wireless connectivity continues to grow,
the cost of enabling a complete IoT system is under pressure. SmartBond TINY
addresses the growing breadth and costs of IoT devices by enabling a complete
system cost reduction through a smaller footprint and size, while maintaining
performance quality at a level unmatched by its competitors. The DA14531 makes
it possible to extend wireless connectivity to applications where it would have
previously been prohibitive in terms of size, power or cost, especially those
within the growing connected medical field. SmartBond TINY will help facilitate
connectivity for inhalers, medicine dispensers, weight scales, thermometers,
glucose meters and more.

 

At half the size of its predecessors, SmartBond TINY is available in
packages as small as 2.0 x 1.7 mm. Moreover, the SoC’s high level of
integration only requires six external passives, a single clock source and a
power supply to make a complete Bluetooth low energy system. For developers,
this means SmartBond TINY can easily fit into any design, such as electronic
styluses, shelf labels, beacons or active RFID tags for asset tracking. It will
also be critical for applications that require provisioning such as cameras,
printers and wireless routers. Consumers will also reap the benefits of
SmartBond TINY’s reduced system size and power, in remote controls as a
replacement for infrared (IR) or for other applications such as toys, keyboards
or smart credit and banking cards.

 

SmartBond TINY is based on a powerful 32-bit ARM(R) Cortex(TM) M0+ with
integrated memories and a complete set of analog and digital peripherals,
delivering a record score of 18300 on the latest IoTMark(TM)-BLE,
the EEMBC benchmark for IoT connectivity. Its architecture and resources allow
it to be used as a standalone wireless microcontroller or as an RF data pipe
extension for designs with existing microcontrollers.

 

The SmartBond TINY module, leveraging the capabilities of the main DA14531
chip, makes it easy for customers to leverage the new SoC as a part of their
product development, instead of having to certify their platforms themselves,
thereby saving time, development efforts and costs.

 

The module is also designed to balance running a high number of applications
while keeping cost additions to the overall system as low as possible. Breaking
through the $1 target for a BLE module lowers the threshold for adding
SmartBond TINY to a system and driving a multitude of applications, helping
fuel a new generation of IoT-enabled devices.

 

SmartBond TINY and the module use just half of the energy of their
predecessors, the DA14580 and DA14580-based module, as well as all other
offerings currently on the market. TINY’s record-low power consumption ensures
a long operating and shelf life, even with the smallest of batteries. The
DA14531’s integrated DC-DC converter enables a wide operating voltage (1.1 to
3.3V) and can derive power directly from environmentally-friendly, disposable
silver oxide, zinc air or printable batteries required for high-volume
applications, such as connected injectors, glucose monitors and smart patches.

 

“The addition of SmartBond TINY and the module builds upon Dialog’s
leading presence in the Bluetooth market. With the ability to turn any device,
even disposable ones, into a connected application, the TINY SoC and module are
opening new markets and driving the adoption of BLE beyond what was previously
thought possible in today’s landscape,” said Sean McGrath, SVP,
Connectivity and Audio Business Group of Dialog Semiconductor. “TINY and
its module’s small size and power footprint, combined with Bluetooth 5.1
compliance, pave the way for the next one billion IoT devices.”

 

For more information on the latest device, please visit: https://www.dialog-semiconductor.com/products/DA14531

 

NOTES

Dialog, the Dialog logo, SmartBond and SmartBond TINY are trademarks of
Dialog Semiconductor plc or its subsidiaries. All other product or service
names are the property of their respective owners. (c) Copyright 2019 Dialog
Semiconductor. All rights reserved.

About Dialog Semiconductor

Dialog Semiconductor is a leading provider of integrated circuits (ICs) that
power mobile devices and the Internet of Things. Dialog solutions are integral
to some of today’s leading mobile devices and the enabling element for
increasing performance and productivity on the go. From making smartphones more
power efficient and shortening charging times, enabling home appliances to be
controlled from anywhere, to connecting the next generation of wearable
devices, Dialog’s decades of experience and world-class innovation help
manufacturers get to what’s next.

 

Dialog operates a fabless business model and is a socially responsible
employer pursuing many programs to benefit the employees, community, other
stakeholders and the environment it operates in. Dialog Semiconductor Plc is
headquartered near London with a global sales, R&D and marketing organization.
In 2018, it had approximately $1.44 billion in revenue and was one of the
fastest growing European public semiconductor companies. It currently has
approximately 2,075 employees worldwide. The company is listed on the Frankfurt
(FWB: DLG) stock exchange (Regulated Market, Prime Standard, ISIN GB0059822006)
and is a member of the German TecDax.

 

For more information, visit www.dialog-semiconductor.com.

Orange Cube Australian niche accessories brand – affordable luxury product that spices up your life

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Orange Cube Australian niche accessories brand – affordable luxury product that spices up your life

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Media OutReach – 1 November 2019 – With the rise of Gen Z, more and more people are lighting the torch of individuality, with expressing themselves through skateboarding, rap, hip hop dance and graffiti. This underground culture has gained popularity and everyday get closer to the mainstream. Fashion brands such as ORANGE CUBE from Australia have sprung up supporting this push towards individual expressing with well-crafted design.

 

The Graffitied streets in Australia are an iconic feature of Melbourne, hosting the famous Hosier Lane a creative hub of color and artists. Freed of judgment, graffiti artists paint with secret pen names and express true options and expose their true self in spray paint. Influenced greatly by the street culture of Melbourne from where the brand originates, ORANGE CUBE aims to build a brand that is highly recognizable and talked about. ORANGE CUBE ventures to create products that carry a strong sense of individualism with powerful unique design.

 

Recently, ORANGE CUBE launched its new original designed COOKIE necklace series. Built by a young team of designers, every element is thought through to bring you a design to inspire your imagination. Inspired by the delicate sugar cookies that everyone’s mother who had their own secret recipe, these COOKIE designs take a new approach to fashion.

 

Available in three colors, gold, ebony and rose gold, making the product perfect for anyone. Inspired by grand stain-glass windows, the cookie necklace has colorful zircon settings to catch the light creating a delicate silhouette with sparkles in any light. With the clever design these can also be worn as necklace or bracelet.

 

The gold donut necklace inlaid with colorful zircon, comes in a variety of sizes and color is most popular among fashionable young ladies. Available as a charm or a necklace these fun and unique designs are great for any occasion.

 

Our designers have created this unique and fun jewelry series to give some color and life to you outfit.

 

Let COOKIE spice up your life!

 

For more information, visit our official website:

https://www.orangeway.com.au

Robert Parker Wine Advocate’s Matter of Taste returns to New York City for its Fourth and Most Exciting Edition on November 23

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Robert Parker Wine Advocate’s Matter of Taste returns to New York City for its Fourth and Most Exciting Edition on November 23

Not forgetting “A Perfect Evening” 1,000-Point Dinner on November 22

 

NEW YORK CITY, US – Media
OutReach – 4 November
2019 – This
is the wine event that oenophiles have been waiting all year for. Robert Parker Wine Advocate‘s Matter of Taste, having been staged
in Zurich, Taipei and Napa Valley so far this year, crowns the end of 2019 with
a host of extraordinary tastings, masterclasses and dinners in its New York
City edition.

 

Taking place on November 23, 2019,
at the famed Ziegfeld Ballroom in Midtown Manhattan, the Grand Walkabout Tasting will feature over 250 outstanding wines,
each rated 93 or more points by the esteemed troop of Robert Parker Wine
Advocate reviewers. On the day itself, five Masterclasses bring you deeper into the world of iconic wines,
helmed by The Wine Advocate reviewers.
For a limited number of privileged guests, two wine dinners will take place on 22 and 23 November respectively at
two-MICHELIN-starred Gabriel Kreuther restaurant: “A Perfect Evening”
1,000-Point Dinner and the Ultimate Hedonist’s BYOB Finale Dinner.

 

The
best wines under one roof

At Matter of Taste, the event lives up to its
name by bringing together over 250 of the world’s top wines, each rated 93
points or higher by The Wine Advocate.
Champagne lovers can look forward to Champagne de Venoge and Champagne Louis
Roederer, while Australian admirers have Penfolds and Torbreck for meaty reds,
alongside enjoyable discoveries from Addax, Domaine de la Janasse, Seña, Vega
Sicilia, Weingut Markus Molitor and many more. As a value add, Grand Walkabout
Tasting passes come with a 180-day free trial of Tablet Hotels Plus, for
upgrades and privileges at top hotels.

 

For a more intimate experience, guests may opt
for a VIP entry to the Grand Walkabout Tasting at additional US$100, which
allows entry one hour before doors open to the public.

 

The Grand
Walkabout Tasting details:

November 23, 1:00 -5:00 p.m. | Ziegfeld Ballroom,
141 West 54th Street, New York

Regular Price of Admission: $225 (members) /
$285 (non-members*)

At the Door Price of Admission: $250 (members) /
$310 (non-members*)

*Non-member tickets come with a RobertParker.com
subscription worth US$99

 

Also not to be missed is the
line-up of Masterclasses, featuring The
Wine Advocate reviewers in specially curated sessions that feature back
vintages. In the Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon Retrospective Tasting:
1975-2016, The Wine Advocate reviewer
and Editor-in-Chief Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW, alongside Chairman of the
Chappellet Board, Cyril Chappellet brings attendees on a journey of eight
Cabernet Sauvignon vintages across four decades. For Champagne house
Laurent-Perrier, only 25 iterations of Grand Siècle have ever been made. The Wine Advocate’s Champagne Reviewer,
William Kelley and Stéphane Dalyac of the House of Laurent-Perrier, will
present six of these iterations all from magnum, starting with the
not-yet-released No. 25 as the youngest and No. 17 as the oldest, as well as
two vintages of the House’s rosé prestige cuvee, Alexandra.

 

The
Masterclasses line-up:

November 23 | Ziegfeld Ballroom, 141 West 54th
Street, New York

Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle —
Champagne for a King | 10:00 A.M. — 11:00 A.M. |
US$200

Hundred Acre Portfolio Perspective
with Jayson Woodbridge | 11.15 A.M. — 12.15 P.M. | US$275

Inside Barbaresco: A Spotlight on
Produttori del Barbaresco | 1.45 P.M. — 2.45 P.M. | US$150

Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon
Retrospective Tasting: 1975 — 2016 | 3:00 P.M. — 4:00 P.M. | US$200

Six Decades of Penfolds Grange |
4.15 P.M. — 5.15 P.M. | US$225

 

Lovers of rare, special bottles may
now look forward to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to savor ten spectacular wines that have all recently received 100
points by The Wine Advocate.
Reviewers including Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW, William Kelley, Monica Larner and
Joe Czerwinski will be on hand to share their insights on the iconic wines
being poured from Cheval Blanc, Sine Qua Non, Sassicaia, Hundred Acre and more
to pair with a five-course dinner by two-MICHELIN-starred chef Gabriel Kreuther
at his eponymous restaurant.

“A
Perfect Evening” 1,000-Point Dinner:

Gabriel Kreuther, 41 West, 42nd
Street, New York | November 22, 7:00 — 11:00 P.M. | US$1,600

 

To mark the end of this remarkable
edition, an Ultimate Hedonist’s BYOB Finale Dinner is aptly called for. In the La Paulée convivial style, guests at
this merry dinner may bring up to three bottles of their “93 RP points or
above” wines to share with fellow subscribers, vintners, and members of The Wine Advocate review team. With just
100 seats available, the memorable meal will be specially prepared by
two-MICHELIN-starred chef Gabriel Kreuther at his eponymous restaurant. As part
of the fun, you won’t know what your fellow tablemate — whether vintner or wine
reviewer — may be hiding up their sleeves till the night itself!

 

Ultimate
Hedonist’s BYOB Finale Dinner:

Gabriel Kreuther, 41 West, 42nd
Street, New York | November 23, 7:00 P.M. — 11:00 P.M. | US$395

 

For more details and ticketing,
please visit https://a-matter-of-taste.com

About Robert Parker Wine Advocate

For more than 40 years, The Wine Advocate, and later
RobertParker.com, have been the global leader and independent consumer’s guide
to fine wine. The brand was established by the internationally recognized
Robert M. Parker, Jr., the only critic in any field to receive the highest
Presidential honor from three countries–France, Italy and Spain. Robert Parker Wine Advocate provides a
wealth of information to its subscribers, including a searchable database of
more than 300,000 professional wine ratings and reviews, in addition to
articles, videos, daily news content, online retail availability and pricing,
an active, professionally moderated bulletin board, a mobile app for easy
access to the comprehensive online database of reviews, and much more. For more
information, visit www.RobertParker.com.

Excitement, Anticipation As Konga Yakata Begins Nov.11

Brand Spur
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Excitement, Anticipation As Konga Yakata Begins Nov.11

E-commerce giant, Konga has started generating excitement from shoppers ahead of its much-anticipated Black Africa sales tagged Konga Yakata.

Information made available by the management of the e-commerce giant reveals that Konga Yakata will run from November 11 till December 12 2019, with rock-bottom prices, flash sales and huge discounts across multiple product categories. These include laptops, desktops and accessories, computing, mobile phones and tablets, Home & Kitchen appliances, fashion, electronic devices, educational materials, Baby, Kids and Toys as well as Wine, Spirits and other categories, among others.

Despite being days away, shoppers are already gearing up for what is widely regarded as the biggest sales event in the shopping calendar. Indeed, insights reveal that many Nigerians have saved massively for the period.

A shopper based in Abuja, Mr Kingsley Adams, stated that he, like many other Nigerians, is prepared for Konga Yakata.

“For years now, I have been patronising Konga Yakata as part of my strategy to prepare for Christmas. We all know that Konga Yakata is known for best prices and genuine products. Since September, I have been saving up for this period, and I cannot wait to see the promo begin,” Adams said.

Toeing the same line, Stella John, a banker with one of the new generation banks, has expressed her readiness for the sales event. Further, she disclosed that her shopping list had been ready for over a month.

“I am not the only one waiting for Konga Yakata. Over at the office, everyone is expectant. Last year, I spent about N500,000 on a variety of products and I must confess that the items I shopped are worth well over that sum in value and utility.

“I drew up my list for this year’s Konga Yakata over a month ago and I know that Konga is coming with a lot of surprises this year,” she enthused.

Equally important, Konga has confirmed its readiness for the month-long sales fiesta, even as it has put in place a seamless process to ensure a hitch-free operation during Konga Yakata, which is synonymous with unbelievable price slashes and increased traffic to its online platform @ www.konga.com and massive footfalls to the growing chain of Konga retail stores nationwide.

The e-commerce giant also explained that it has empowered its merchants with access to credit and soft loans to expand their carrying capacity for the sales fiesta. In addition, efforts are on behind the scenes to activate all its processes to top-notch levels to meet shoppers’ expectation within the shortest period of demand.

Marketing Manager, Chidalu Ekeh, revealed that Konga is ready to satisfy the desire of its numerous customers across the board.

Chidalu said: “Konga is 100 per cent ready for Konga Yakata. Our ordering and delivery process is at top-notch. We have set a target of same-day delivery for the majority of orders received. Also, we have strengthened both our back end and front end to enable us to accommodate the high volume of requests from shoppers as from November 11.

“Feedbacks have shown that our customers are ready for the period as we are. Indeed, you can count on Konga to make it another unforgettable affair. We have lined up several sales activities, including Treasure Hunts, flash sales, free shipping, free vouchers, app-only deals and many other activities to engage our customers.”

Meanwhile, Chidalu has also revealed that customers will be able to complete their purchases swiftly through multiple payment options, including KongaPay, online payment, Payment on Delivery (POD) and Pay on Collect which is all available on the Konga platform.

Konga Yakata is Nigeria’s biggest sales event, with the company revealing that it expects sales to spike 600% from the 2018 edition. Among the factors working in the company’s favour is the fact that it pioneered the marketplace model in the Nigerian e-commerce market and currently boasts the largest pool of merchants on its platform. Furthermore, Konga runs the only omnichannel structure in the e-commerce sector – a factor that analysts have identified as an edge, especially considering the shopping predilection of the average Nigerian.

Closing The Gap In Social Inequality With Education, Employment And Entrepreneurship

Brand Spur
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Closing The Gap In Social Inequality With Education, Employment And Entrepreneurship

For most developed countries, the youths remain an important focus in areas such as economic development, sustainability and nation-building. When organisations and the government drive conversations and activities around social investments, these discourse are usually focused on empowering young people as they hold the power to drive growth across all levels of the economy both locally and internationally.

In a country like Nigeria, with lots of liquid resources and just about 2.11 trillion Naira in circulation as at May 2019 according to the CBN, the standard of living for the average citizen does not exactly reflect the volume of Nigeria’s asset. There is an existing gap in connecting education, employment and entrepreneurship within the youths, creating a great layer of social inequality.

Globally, more than 200 million young people are either unemployed, or they have jobs, but continue to live in poverty due to low income. This social and economic inequality is a challenge shared by many countries. In fact, it is estimated that 1% of the world’s population will own two-thirds of its wealth. This level of inequality stifles growth and creates disharmony. It significantly affects disadvantaged young people who often can’t access the skills and opportunities needed to close this income gap.

The question for us now is how do we build a sustainable development agenda, spearheaded by young people now and in the future. How do we invest in them and equip them to learn, earn and grow?

Achieving a more developed and sustainable society as a nation calls for youth inclusion in closing the obvious existing inequality and prosperity gap. Heavy and consistent investment in the youth through education employment and entrepreneurship will contribute greatly to tackling this challenge.

Youths are often referred to social actors with the abilities to bring revolutionary changes and improvement in any society so there is a need to implement long term strategies to invest in future economies. Active youthful engagement in the labour market is a necessary prerequisite to generating a young people pool of resources for both government and private entities.

In Standard Chartered Bank, we believe that education, employment and entrepreneurship are three key pillars through which young people can be empowered. We do this through our Future Makers project, which seeks to tackle the issue of inequality and promote greater economic inclusion for young people in our communities. We encourage young people especially from low-income households to take part in programmes focused on education, employability and entrepreneurship.

Our strong ambition is focused on raising USD50 million through fundraising and Bank-matching between 2019 and 2023 to empower the next generation of young people. We also realized that the success of some of our existing community programmes is projective to include expanding our goal to an education programme for girls, incorporating financial education into all of our programmes and developing new global community programmes in employability and entrepreneurship.

We must not also forget the entrepreneurs in our communities, who remain valuable assets. There is a need to inspire and encourage them to their greatest potential as they possess what it takes to change the dynamics of how we live and work. Their innovations may improve standards of living and also create wealth.

Despite the strides made in technology, the “gender digital divide” remains a major concern. There is a significant difference in access to technology and financial services for women-owned enterprises than men.

In Nigeria, the female population comprises of 49.34 per cent of the total population of Nigeria. With fewer income-generating opportunities for the population at large, this leaves nearly half of the Nigerian population constituting women deprived of economic empowerment through employment, professional growth and livelihood opportunities. For us at Standard Chartered, this just isn’t good enough.

Similar to several emerging markets like Pakistan and Brazil, Nigeria is currently passing through a demographic transition, which has resulted in an increase in the working-age population i.e. youths comprising nearly half of the population, as a share of the total population.

To reap the ‘demographic dividend’ of this change, the economy needs to provide education and create productive and remunerative employment for young workforce entrants. Moreover, innovation through digitisation and entrepreneurship is a crucial and workable element in human capital development.

The bank has recently launched the Women in Tech Incubator programme (WiT) to help close this divide. WiT Tech targets female-led entrepreneurial teams and we provide them with training, mentorship and seed funding. The incubators include a mentorship with the Bank’s own staff, connecting Women in Tech to other prominent brands like Google and Apple, and providing a platform for them to engage with experts so they could learn how to grow their business. The programme creates a tangible and measurable impact to ensure that female entrepreneur has the right opportunities to grow and nurture their business.

We are optimistic about the impact this programme will have on the socio-economic empowerment of female-led entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The support the beneficiaries will get will go a long way in ensuring the sustainability of the businesses while creating employment for more women and youths in the country. This initiative builds on the Bank’s track record of increasing women’s access to entrepreneurial finance, employability and supporting adolescent girls and women through financing and capacity building.”

From our standpoint, the development and sustenance of a good economy in any nation are dependent on the level of quality education, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities especially available to young people.

Conscious steps must be taken towards equipping the youth regardless of class and economic status, with access to opportunities needed to realize their full potential to foster greater economic inclusion.

Federal Government Pledges Support Towards Completion of Dangote Petroleum Refinery

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Federal Government Pledges Support Towards Completion of Dangote Petroleum Refinery

The Dangote refinery, which is designed to maximise petrol output, will produce enough to allow for a small surplus of that fuel for export.

The Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has pledged support of the Federal Government towards ensuring the completion of the historic 650,000 BPD, Dangote Petroleum Refinery during an official visit to the Petrochemical complex located at the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, Nigeria.

The minister who was led on a tour of the Refinery by the Group President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, and the company’s Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects and Portfolio Development, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, was accompanied by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Senator Sabo Nakudu; Chairman, Senate Committee on Services/member, Senate Committee, Upstream, Senator Muhammad Musa; GMD, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari; Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Ahmed Shakur; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote; and the Executive Secretary, Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF), Mr. Ahmed Boboi; among others.

He said: “This is a very heartwarming moment for all of us as Nigerians. There is no way a project of this magnitude will be going on and the government will not be interested. Anywhere in the world, if a citizen of a country has committed so much money into investing in this kind of massive project, the government must show interest. 

“I must say now that Dangote Group has turned this project to the story of all of us, we must all support this project to succeed because the success of this project signals a lot. Of course, I am sure that the whole world is looking at the success of this project. Investors all over the world will look at the success of this project and will come to Nigeria to at least also enjoy the benefit of investing here. So, we are actually here to assure you, Dangote Group, that as a government, as NNPC, we will support this project as much as we can. You have definitely done very well.”

“As you can see, the whole team is complete, and whatever your concerns are, whatever your problems are, please feel free to let us know so that we will together find a solution to problems that you might encounter. Because of course, in project of this magnitude, you cannot expect that you will not have problems.

Sylva said the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical was a testament that the country possesses enabling environment for businesses to thrive and added that the success of the project will boost investors confidence in the country’s oil and gas project. He implored Nigerians to support the refinery project with a view to ensuring that it creates more value addition to the economy.

Mr Mele Kyari, NNPC GMD said that “we are not competing with Dangote but complimenting each other to boost production capacity. Our objective is the same, to make Nigeria a net exporter of crude. We can’t do this until we have complementary activities between the private sector and government.”

“ln the next five years, Dangote will add 650,000 barrels, government with 445,000 barrels with other companies coming up to boost capacity,” he said.

In his remarks, Aliko Dangote, Group President and Chief Executive, Dangote Group said “ We believed in Nigeria and if we don’t do it ourselves, nobody will come down to do it for us. There is three per cent growth population increase annually in Nigeria, so, apart from that Nigeria are supposed to meet the needs of West, East and Central Africa in terms of supply.”

Similarly, Mr Devakumar Edwin, the company’s Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects and Portfolio Development, said that the asset creates a market for 11billion per annum of Nigerian crude and can meet 100 per cent of the Nigerian requirement of all liquid products.

He said that Nigeria is Africa’s largest crude oil producer, but lacks refining capacity to meet its own fuel needs.

“The Dangote refinery, which is designed to maximise petrol output, will produce enough to allow for a small surplus of that fuel for export. It will also be able to send a large volume of diesel and jet fuel to international markets.”

He disclosed that Dangote plans to take advantage of local crude supply, adding that it won’t participate in the crude-for-fuel swap deal that is managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“We are going to buy the crude just at the export price and will sell our products at the import price, the crude swap is operating only for the importers of the product. The new refinery has been designed to process varieties of crude from sweet to light crude sourced both locally, and abroad.

“Dangote plans to export its diesel to Europe and gasoline to Latin America, Western and Central African markets, Edwin said.

He said that evacuation of refined products will be done by sea and through roads.

“We are thinking of investing in vessels. We want to make sure we are not held for ransom by any transport operators. Africa’s largest oil refinery had revealed that it would deliver its fuels to Nigerian consumers via roads and seaports, and will effectively replace all of Nigeria’s fuel imports once fully operational.”

Agusto & Co. Releases 2019 Consumer Digital Banking Satisfaction Index Report

Brand Spur
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Agusto & Co. Releases 2019 Consumer Digital Banking Satisfaction Index Report

Agusto & Co Limited, leading Pan African credit rating agency in Nigeria for over 26 years has released its 2019 Consumer Digital Banking Satisfaction Index report which highlights customer’s preferences and attitude towards digital banking platforms provided by banks in Nigeria. This Index in its second year was carried out following an extensive online and offline consumer survey carried out by Agusto and Co. Limited across various geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The survey was designed to gain an insight into the behavioural patterns of the respondents, these respondents were selected from both the formal and the informal sector. The output of the Index is based on information provided by respondents on the top eight banks in Nigeria by total assets as of 31 December 2018. Two banks were assigned a ‘4 Star’ rating for Consumer Digital Banking Satisfaction of which Zenith Bank Plc scored the highest, emerging the ‘Best Digital Bank in Nigeria’.

The ‘4 Star’ rating assigned to Zenith Bank Plc reflects transaction success rates, ease of use, perceived security and good troubleshooting & IT resolution on its different digital platforms. The Index revealed that Zenith Bank Plc has the highest transaction success rates on the bank’s digital banking platforms such as mobile app, USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) or web; the bank’s respondents experienced the most ease in navigating through the digital platforms, the bank has one of the highest numbers of customers who felt it has excellent rating on IT issue resolution.

However, the Index indicated areas where the respondents require improvement on the services enjoyed on the various banks’ digital platforms. These areas include improvement on the interface of the various platforms, an improvement on the success rate of transactions, enhanced security measures on the digital platforms and reduction in charges for frequently used services such as airtime and data top-up.

According to Agusto & Co, the objective of this Index is to create an independent appraisal of the ease of using digital banking platforms by the Nigerian populace following an increased competition by banks on digital platforms as well as the growing quest for financial inclusion using digital means. As a research and credit rating agency, we seek to provide banks with credible information on how best services can be improved for customers. We believe the findings from this survey will provide banks in Nigeria insights and suggestions on ways to enhance customer experiences on digital banking platforms.

Apple And Samsung Surge As New Launches Drive Share

Brand Spur
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Apple And Samsung Surge As New Launches Drive Share

Kantar, the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company, today revealed its smartphone OS data for the third quarter of 2019. After a week of sales of its latest iPhone models, data reveals that iOS accounts for 18.9% of all smartphone sales across the five major European markets (EU5), with new launches helping it to see positive year-on-year growth across all five major European markets. Conversely Android saw its share fall in EU5 (-1.5%pts), though this trend was reversed in the USA where it was up +1.8%pts. Despite Android OS’s overall fall in market share in European markets, Samsung was the fastest-growing major brand in the region.

Dominic Sunnebo, Global Director for Kantar comments, “Q3 2019 saw Apple launch its new iPhone 11 family and with just over a week of sales available, the new models contributed to 7.4% of Apple’s overall iPhone unit sales in Q3 2019, up from 6.6% from the launch of the iPhone XS family in Q3 2018. The new models are all selling well, with the more competitively priced iPhone 11 is leading in absolute terms, but the Pro models are not far behind. Combined sales of the new models are up vs. the iPhone XS launch a year ago. In the US the model split of sales for the new iPhones is similar to the EU, though the overall contribution to Apple’s total iPhone sales in the quarter is notably larger at 10.2%.”

Samsung also saw strong growth in the five major European markets, with share hitting 38.4% in Q3 2019, up +5.9%pts vs. Q3 2018.

Dominic Sunnebo continues: “Whilst the flagship Note 10 series launch provided a boost to Samsung in Q3 2019, it is the highly competitive new A series which has launched Samsung share to its highest share since in Europe since Q3 2015. New A-Series models account for five of the top ten best-selling models in Europe and account for the entire top 3; #1 A50, #2 A40, #3 A20e. For years Samsung has been searching for an answer to Huawei and Xiaomi in Europe and the new A-series has finally hit the mark, proving hugely popular with consumers across numerous price brackets.”

Having previously chosen to overlook the majority of the A series portfolio in the US, Samsung has used its new revitalised A series range to address a gap in its mid-tier offering, with the A10 and A20 selling well. With Google looking for white space with its Pixel 3a and 3a XL models and LG having little competition in the low and mid-tier, Samsung has immediately confronted these threats.

Apple share fell slightly in China, the world’s largest Smartphone market, down -1.3% pts. The pendulum continues to swing towards homegrown Chinese brands, who accounted for 79.3% of sales in the Chinese market in Q3 2019. Huawei and Honor combined made up 46.8% sales share, maintaining its dominant position from the previous quarter, helping to cushion the impact from the US-China trade spat.

Monument Distillers Nigeria Limited announces the appointment of Mr Godwin Oche as CEO

Brand Spur
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Monument Distillers Nigeria Limited announces the appointment of Mr Godwin Oche as CEO

Monument Distillers Nigeria Limited (MDN) launched in Nigeria in March 2019 with the acquisition of the 1960 Rootz Bitters brand and the state-of-the-art manufacturing plant. Since then, the company has gone from strength to strength, moving Rootz’ production facility to Lagos.

Mr. Godwin Oche

The board is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Godwin Oche as Chief Executive Officer of MDN. Mr Oche joins from AB Inbev where in January 2016 as a result of the integration of SABMiller and AB InBev, Mr Oche was made the Regional Director/ General Manager of AB Inbev’s brewery in Onitsha.  In 2017, he was later appointed National Sales Director of AB Inbev’s Nigerian business and is credited with championing the business’s growth agenda to delivering significant volume and market share growth, ultimately contributing to growing the company from fourth- to second-largest beer company in Nigeria.

Commenting on this, Michael Ajukwu, Board Member, MDN, said:  “We are thrilled that someone of Mr Oche’s calibre and experience is joining our Monument Distillers Nigeria team. We are looking forward to Mr Oche making a big impact on our business and accelerating the growth of our brands – which he understands well given he worked on them when at AB InBev.  We believe Mr Oche will enjoy the challenges of moving from a beer business to a spirits business and that he is the right person to drive our vision of building MDN into a market-leading spirits company in Nigeria.”

In addition to owning its own brands, MDN has the distribution rights in Nigeria to a range of global brands from leading US spirits company, Sazerac, including Southern Comfort, Popov Vodka, Myers Rum, Paddy’s Irish Whisky, Firewater, and Buffalo Trace Bourbon. Furthermore, MDN will soon be launching international brands, Jose Cuervo Tequila and Bushmills Whiskey to add to their growing portfolio which already includes Four Cousins Wine, and international brands Bannerman’s Finest Scotch Whisky, and Grace du Roi Fine Wine, owned by MDN’s parent company Kensington Distillers & Vintners.

Mr Oche is a Chemical Engineer by training and his qualifications include a PGD in Business Administration and an MBA in Marketing from Enugu State University of Science and Technology Business School. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultant (FIMC), a member of the Nigeria Institute of Marketing (MNIM), a member of the Nigeria Institute of Personnel Management (MIPM) and is also a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) by the International Council of Management Consulting Institute (ICMCI).

About Monument Distillers Nigeria

Kensington Distillers & Vintners (KDV) is the holding company for Monument Distillers, which has operations in Nigeria and Kenya and plans to roll out business in other African markets as part of its long-term vision to building a pan-African drinks business.

Monument Distillers counts among its high-profile board members: Michael Ajukwu – who also sits on the boards of International Breweries plc (part of AB InBev), Sterling Bank plc, Novotel PH and Tiger Brands SA.  And Olayemi Cardoso, who also serves as Chairman of Citibank Nigeria and Chairman of Africa Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA).

Kensington Distillers & Vintners (KDV) is a premium drinks business with a strong footprint in Southern Africa through its businesses Monument Distillers Nigeria and Monument Distillers Kenya. KDV has developed a reputation for offering premium drinks of the finest quality, made with exceptional craftsmanship.

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