Monday 30 June 2014

9 'MINDSETS' YOU NEED TO SWITCH FROM EMPLOYEE TO ENTREPRENEUR


Mindset is probably the major determinant of success in pretty much every walk of life. In other words, the thinking patterns you habitually adopt largely govern the results you achieve.
But different circumstances and situations require different mindsets, something that anyone looking to leave paid employment and strike out on their own, must be aware of. Unfortunately, not all would-be entrepreneurs understand the dramatic mindset shifts required, without which business success is unlikely.
So how, as a one-time employee, will you have to think differently to succeed?
1. You’re responsible for all decisions - good and bad. Entrepreneurs have an incredible opportunity to create something from nothing, in a way that’s not possible working for someone else. But this means making big decisions about what must be done, when and how. You can’t wait for things to happen, or for someone to tell you what to do, you must make them happen. Successful entrepreneurs also understand that opportunities may be short-lived, and so develop a sense of urgency that helps them achieve their goals.

JONATHAN, ADENUGA BOOST EAGLES AHEAD FRANCE CLASH


President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday lifted up the spirits of the national team, the Super Eagles, when he said all their outstanding Brazil 2014  World Cup appearance fee have been ordered cleared by Sports Minister, Hon Tammy Danagogo.
He also promised to clear any outstanding that the team may incur in the course of the championship, including outstanding FIFA grants to the NFF,  that will be off-set later by the soccer ruling house.
The Minister made this declaration while addressing players and officials of the national team at their Brasilia Palace Hotel camp in the Brazilian capital.
He was in the company of the Nigerian Ambassador to Brazil, Adamu Azimeyeh Emozoza and top officials of the embassy, NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, his vice, Mike Umeh and Technical Committee Chairman, Chris Green.
The President, said Nigerians from all works of life have implicit confidence in the abilities of the team to excel at the ongoing World Cup, and promised to be in Brazil later in the week to cheer the team to victory. Already, Senate President David Mark is expected on Wednesday in Brazil and a precursor to the President’s arrival. The Minister said the President was particularly thrilled by the team’s outing so far even in the defeat to Argentina, urging the team to remain focused and not fear of non-payment of any outstanding due them.
The Minister, also announced that Nigerian business mogul, Dr Mike Adenuga Jnr, has sent through him the sum of $250,000 to boost the team ahead of their clash against France later this evening.. “He said this is a token and if the team goes ahead and shock the world he will join Mr President to shock the team” he declared amidst thunderous ovation from the players and their officials.

WINDOWS PHONE 8.1 ARRIVING WITH LUMIA 930 & LUMIA 630


Microsoft has announced the Lumia 630 and the Lumia 930. With the announcement of the latest Nokia Lumia devices, Microsoft additionally revealed that both devices will be powered by the Windows Phone 8.1 Operating System.
While Windows-based smartphones have been featured some truly unique features, Windows Phone 8.1 brings in a host of new features. The latest features now include Action Centre, which complements Live Tiles by showing new activities and notifications at a glance; and senses, a suite of features that takes the work out of managing data use, storage space and battery life. Windows Phone 8.1 also allows IT professionals to manage devices, and for professionals to connect to essential business apps and services with features such as simplified device enrollment, a built-in mobile device management client, S/MIME for encrypted mail and VPN support.
The new features integrate rather well with Windows Phone signature features like Live Tiles, which have been improved to add the possibility of a third row of tiles to all Windows Phones, as well as transparency giving even more personalisation with unique backgrounds. Extensive on device search, a reworked calendar, improved People Hub with direct app integration and the new Word Flow keyboard make Windows Phone 8.1 an extensive update.

MICROSOFT BRINGS TECH TO THE CLASSROOM WITH TV WHITE SPACE


Microsoft South Africa, in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the University of Limpopo, and local networking firm Multisource, with regulatory support from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa have officially launched the implementation phase of the TV White Space (TVWS) pilot project. The pilot project is part of the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative and its end goal is to help ignite Africa’s economic development and improve its global competitiveness through innovation, world-class skills and affordable access.
While most of us benefit from the use of tablet devices, laptops and PCs, with active internet connections on a daily basis, a part of the population in Africa has never even seen or utilised these devices and services before. These devices are now being used in the classrooms of five schools and the University of Limpopo in order to expose hundreds of students and teachers to 21st century teaching techniques, which will ultimately make them more employable in future.
This pilot project has the potential to positively affect the lives of millions of South Africans, as the affordability of broadband remains a formidable barrier to universal access in many parts of rural South Africa. By simply reducing the cost of broadband access, millions of South Africans could get online, creating new opportunities for education, health care, commerce and the delivery of government services across the country.
While students will have access to the internet, they will however be limited in what they will be able to access online, ensuring that the focus remains solely on education at all times.
The Limpopo TV White Spaces pilot project aims to enable quality education for all through technology, helping to close the digital divide in Africa.

5 SOCIAL MEDIA RULES EVERY ENTREPRENEUR SHOULD KNOW

Social media can level the playing field between industry leaders and upstarts, between multinational corporation executives and small-business owners, making peers of all participants. Yet appearances can be deceiving. To borrow from George Orwell's Animal Farm, all social-media users are equal, but some are more equal than others.
So what makes the difference between a following of 500 and a following of 500,000? While A-list celebrities can have an advantage over most everyone else, other social media darlings have grown their base of fans more organically, and you can learn from their strategies.
What follows are five keys culled from darlings of the current social media landscape for increasing your influence in a way that can make a difference to your business strategies.

1. Produce quality content.

If you want to make your mark on social media, first and foremost you should provide quality content. "Content is twofold," says Mari Smith, a social-media marketing expert and author of The New Relationship Marketing: How to Build a Large, Loyal, Profitable Network Using the Social Web (Wiley, 2011). "It's generating your own, [being] a thought leader. The other element is what I call OPC -- other people's content -- and not being afraid to share that."

ORACLE E-CAMPUS GOES LIVE


The University of Djibouti has implemented a new software system to help it achieve its ambition to deliver tertiary education to students in countries on the horn of Africa. Sponsored by the Ministry of Higher Education, the University of Djibouti e-campus was unveiled at a ceremony attended by the Djiboutian President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh and students from the university.
Dr Nabil Mohamed Ahmed, Minister of Higher Education and Research, said that the Peoplesoft system will entrench global best practices in delivering and managing higher education. “This is the perfect platform upon which to build our continuing investment in the youth of this region, for whom world-class education is essential.” He said that modern technology is a key requirement to advance education in Djibouti and beyond.
“The significance of this implementation lies in the vision of the Djibouti’s President, who recognized that modern technology today is a vehicle for progress,” said Alfonso di Ianni, Oracle Senior Vice President, East Central Europe, Middle East and Africa. “This implementation has proved that information technology is a very powerful transformational tool for business and government.”
The long-term goal of the university is to provide degree and post-graduate courses to students in surrounding countries, a service the university believes will be supported by the system.

THE BASICS OF BRANDING (A MUST READ)



Branding is one of the most important aspects of any business, large or small, retail or B2B. An effective brand strategy gives you a major edge in increasingly competitive markets. But what exactly does "branding" mean? How does it affect a small business like yours?
Simply put, your brand is your promise to your customer. It tells them what they can expect from your products and services, and it differentiates your offering from your competitors'. Your brand is derived from who you are, who you want to be and who people perceive you to be.
Are you the innovative maverick in your industry? Or the experienced, reliable one? Is your product the high-cost, high-quality option, or the low-cost, high-value option? You can't be both, and you can't be all things to all people. Who you are should be based to some extent on who your target customers want and need you to be.
The foundation of your brand is your logo. Your website, packaging and promotional materials--all of which should integrate your logo--communicate your brand.

Brand Strategy & Equity

Your brand strategy is how, what, where, when and to whom you plan on communicating and delivering on your brand messages. Where you advertise is part of your brand strategy. Your distribution channels are also part of your brand strategy. And what you communicate visually and verbally are part of your brand strategy, too.

Saturday 28 June 2014

SKYE BANK DEEPENS CASHLESS VIA E-BANKING SOLUTIONS

Ahead the nationwide introduction of cashless economy in July 1, Skye Bank Plc has unveiled a direct banking solution called ‘SkyePLus’ in the lender’s attempt to deepen the cashless drive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The product was unveiled on the sideline of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital. The banking platform offers its existing and prospective customers various services that make banking more convenient, easier and more secure and faster.
Its Chief Executive Officer designate, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, said the deployment of the new platforms was informed by the need to ensure of flexible and more convenient banking solutions for the bank customers using SMS, the Internet and mobile applications.
Oguntayo said: “The new banking platform allows customers to check their balance and manage their account; set up standing order instructions and Direct Debits; transfer money, pay bills of people instantly; request for a new checkbook, Automated Teller machine card or bank draft; stop lost or stolen cheque and hotlist Debit Cards; as well as switching on text alerts to keep track of their accounts on the move.”

He explained that in terms of security, the bank has deployed top security measured called ‘SkyeSecure’ to enhance the security of the platform.
He said: “We are fully aware of the fears which most banking customers have today, especially with the growing rate of cyber crimes and all forms of online frauds. This is why we have partnered with a global security firm to deploy Skye Secure on our banking platform.”

AIRTEL LAUNCHES IPHONE 5S IN NIGERIA


Telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has announced a strategic partnership with leading mobile phone maker, Apple, to officially unveil the iPhone 5s in Nigeria.
With this announcement, Airtel becomes the first mobile telecommunications services provider in Nigeria to officially seal a partnership deal with Apple.
The partnership will offer telecoms consumers across the country an opportunity to purchase the iPhones in Airtel showrooms nationwide or from the outlets of its channel/retail partners including Slot.
Speaking during an event to unveil the iPhone 5s in Lagos, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, described the company’s partnership with Apple as the coming together of two great brands, saying the partnership is a demonstration of Apple’s trust in Airtel and indeed in Nigeria.
He added that the partnership underscores Airtel’s unwavering commitment to its vision of becoming Nigeria’s number 1 mobile Internet service provider.
“At Airtel Nigeria, we believe that the future of mobile telephony is mobile Internet and so we are repositioning to revolutionize this landscape with innovative value offerings and strategic partnerships.
“Our partnership with Apple is a glowing testimony to our desire to lead with Internet. Our enviable track record also provides us a leverage to empower more Nigerians to enjoy super-fast Internet services on their devices and mobile phones on the Airtel network,” he said.

10 AFRICANS MAKING WAVES IN TECHNOLOGY

Here are ten of the up-and-coming entrepreneurs who are making some serious waves in the technology space – either by reimagining established products or services, expanding radically into new areas, or developing better solutions for Africa.
Bankole Cardoso, Co-founder and CEO of Easy Taxi Nigeria (image: file)
Bankole Cardoso, Co-founder and CEO of Easy Taxi Nigeria (image: file)
1. Bankole Cardoso, CEO of EasyTaxi Nigeria
Born in Nigeria, Cardoso attended Boston College in the USA to study Accounting and Business Management, after which he moved to New York City to work as an associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), where he earned a Certified Public Accountant qualification. After a brief period at The Carlyle Group, he moved back to Nigeria as an entrepreneur. Easy Taxi is one of the world’s largest taxi booking apps, and Cardoso was offered the CEO position after he returned from the US. The Nigerian branch recently teamed up with Samsung to offer its services to even more customers across Nigeria. The Easy Taxi app will be pre-installed on all new Samsung Galaxy S5 devices as part of the Galaxy Gift Exchange.
Rebecca Enonchong, founder and CEO of AppsTech. (Image source: Google/tech360ng.com)
Rebecca Enonchong, founder and CEO of AppsTech. (Image source: Google/tech360ng.com)
2. Rebecca Enonchong, CEO of AppsTech
Tech entrepreneur Rebecca Enonchong is the founder and CEO of AppsTech, a global provider of enterprise application solutions. The Company, established in 1999, is reported to have a client base that includes 50 countries over three continents – Africa, Europe and North America.Enonchong has been selected as one of the 2013 WIE Africa Power Women in the Business and Technology category.AppsTech’s value proposition is the provision of enterprise software, service and support to international clients. Enonchong is also serving as a mentor and advisor to several African-based technology startups and sits on the board of VC4Africa, as well as serving as the director of the award winning Salesforce.com Foundation.
Clarisse Iribagize from Rwanda. (Image source:
Clarisse Iribagize from Rwanda. (Image source:
3. Clarisse Iribagiza, CEO of HeHe Limited
Italian think tank LSDP (Lo Spazio della Politica) has listed Clarisse Iribagiza, a young Rwandan tech entrepreneur, among their top 100 global thinkers. LSDP explained that Iribagiza was added to the global list, as “she is one of the faces of a communicative and technological revolution in Africa.” Iribagiza is the founder and chief executive of Rwanda’s Hehe Ltd, a start-up tech firm that majors in software development among other services. According to The New Times, “she was placed 32nd coming behind Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in a list that included political leaders, businessmen, scientists, academics, journalists and intellectual leaders selected from across the globe.”

JUMIA NIGERIA EXPANDS TO KANO



Two years after it was first established in Nigeria, Jumia is now said to be the country’s largest online retailer. Part of the brand’s aim is to provide customers with choice in retail, with a large selection of products and multiple payment options. Jumia also introduced the cash on delivery initiative to retail in Nigeria, offering Northern states the payment option of paying for their goods on delivery.
Nicola Martin Co-CEO Jumia Nigeria stated that, “We continue to innovate new ways to reach out to a larger audience, and part of this is with our operation’s expansion to Kano and other states in Nigeria. This expansion is one of many to come as we already have hub stations in 9 other states. We continue to deliver smiles thousands of miles around Nigeria to our well appreciated customers as we turn 2 years old.”

Customers in the North can now shop on Jumia with multiple payment options on all items. This expansion can be seen as part of e-commerce growth to meet the needs of customers all over the country.

Friday 27 June 2014

5 SECRETS OF GREAT BOSSES


When you think of your best boss ever, what did he or she do that created an inspiring work environment for you? How did he or she act to enable your high performance and high engagement each day?
I’ve asked thousands of people in my leadership programs and keynote audiences these questions. The answers I hear are consistent. Great bosses do five vital things daily to create workplace inspiration and serve their employees well.
Before I share these five secrets, let me pose a different question: Would your employees, today, say you are their best boss ever? The answer may not be a resounding "yes" from every employee.
Today’s entrepreneurs invest a great deal of time and energy in their businesses. If you’re like many small-business owners, you put greater thought into your products and services than you do into your company’s culture. Thing is, culture -- the quality of your work environment and the relationships you have with your employees -- drives everything that happens in your organization, good or bad.
Great bosses ensure that their company’s work environment is founded upon trust and respect. Those bosses model trust and respect daily, and they require that team members demonstrate trust and respect in every interaction, with each other and with customers.
So what does it take to be a GREAT boss? It has to do with Growth,Relationships, Excellence, Accountability and Teamwork.
1. Inspire growth: Great leaders help employees build needed skills and toss antiquated ones. They help employees try new approaches that can increase quality and efficiency. Great bosses hold employees to high standards of performance and delivery. They ensure employees see the business from their customers’ point of view so that great service is the norm.

Monday 9 June 2014

10 TIPS FOR UNLEASHING YOUR CREATIVITY AT WORK

Innovation is the lifeblood of any successful company today. For many companies, however, the pursuit of innovative ideas is missing a key element  (something typically not associated with business professionals): creativity
Nurturing your creative self is the only way to truly unlock your strategic mind and bring your business skills to bear in new, meaningful ways that can benefit your entire organization. Here are 10 tips to help you unlock your creativity at work:
1. Get visual. Regardless of your role, industry or responsibilities, visualizing data and ideas is an incredibly powerful tool to get your team thinking. Get off the phone, go in a room together (a virtual room will work, too) and use a whiteboard until your hand hurts.
2. Throw out the rule book. The next time you get your team together to brainstorm, create and enforce a “no holds barred” idea session. Nothing is off the table; nothing is outside the realm of possibility. Avoid words and phrases like “but,” “how would we” and “we can’t.” If necessary, designate someone to police those phrases and keep everyone honest.
3. Work backward. Figure the goal or ideal scenario 10 to 15 years down the road. Start there and work your way backward. Don’t worry about the “how.” Focus on the “what.” Your road map will literally unfold itself.

10 STEPS TO GETTING STARTED IN SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING


When it comes to using social media marketing to build your business, the worst action is no action, and your biggest problem is being invisible, not being talked about negatively. As long as you're part of the conversation on the social Web, you can hear what's being said about you and massage negative perceptions about your business. But if no one is talking about you, you have no chance for growth. That means you need to get involved on the social Web as soon as possible, not only to capitalize on the opportunities that it presents to your business, but also to develop and protect your reputation.
It's a good idea to start with a plan that has goals and an organizing framework to keep you on track. If you start down a path on the social Web and hate what you're doing, you can change things around. Just as you change networking and conversational approaches in person, you can do so on the social Web. The only differences are that on the social Web, you're talking through your keyboard, and your potential audience is much, much larger.
Here are 10 steps to get you started.
1. Determine your goals.
What do you want to get out of your social Web participation? Why are you doing it? Are you trying to generate direct sales? Are you trying to offer a form of customer service? Do you want to build relationships with customers and boost loyalty? Your answers to these questions greatly affect the type of content you publish and the activities you participate in on the social Web.
2. Evaluate your resources.
Who is going to create your content? Who is going to maintain your social media accounts? Who is going to respond to questions and be the face of your business online? Do you have the technical ability in-house to join the online conversation? If not, are you willing to learn? Can you or someone who works with you write well? You need to be sure you have the necessary people in place to execute a social media marketing plan before you start.

RAFAEL NADAL CLINCHES NINTH FRENCH OPEN TITLE






Rafael Nadal has won a record ninth French Open title thanks to a four-set victory over Novak Djokovic in Paris.
The world number one saw off the Serbian 3-6 7-5 6-2 6-4 on Sunday to lift the trophy for a fifth consecutive time.
There was little to separate the players at the start of the opening set as gruelling rallies dictated the play. However, Djokovic broke late on to establish a 5-3 lead before serving it out 6-3.
Nadal fought back in the second and broke the Serbian to go 4-2 ahead, but Djokovic took advantage of an uncharacteristically sloppy game from Nadal to break back instantly before levelling up at 4-4.
The Spaniard then squandered a break point that would have allowed him to serve out the set, though it mattered little as he went on to clinch it 7-5.
Djokovic, so often a model of stamina, began to wane in the third, and Nadal made sure that he seized control of the set by powering his way into a commanding 3-0 lead.
Nadal continued to make his opponent work for everything after that before breaking for a second time to win the one-sided set 6-2.
With the clock passing the three-hour mark, an error-strewn game from Djokovic saw Nadal move 4-2 in front during the fourth set, only for the world number two to break back soon after.
Djokovic looked to be enjoying something of a resurgence as the set headed towards the tie-break, but it was clay-court maestro Nadal who broke again to seal the triumph 3-6 7-5 6-2 6-4.

LOUIS VAN GAAL WANTS GERMAN TRIO AT MANCHESTER UNITED


Louis van Gaal has reportedly informed Manchester United's executive chairman Ed Woodward that he would like to sign three German internationals this summer.
With Van Gaal's commitment to the Dutch national side at the World Cup, Woodward is currently in sole charge of transfer negotiations.
Under the instruction of the 62-year-old, Woodward will first pursue Borussia Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels, as well as Bayern Munich duo Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Muller, according to the Daily Mail.
The report went on to add that if United were able to secure that trio, it will cost the club in excess of £100m.
What's more, Southampton full-back Luke Shaw is also thought to be close to sealing a move to Old Trafford.

MONDAY'S TRANSFER GOSSIP

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has laughed off speculation linking Arsenal with a £20m move for winger Lorenzo Insigne, 23. Evening Standard 
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has rejected Real Madrid's interest in signing Brazil midfielder Ramires, 27. Daily Star 
Arsenal are lining up a move for Southampton right-back Calum Chambers, 19, after accepting Bacary Sagna, 31, will leave on a free transfer. Daily Mirror 

Aston Villa are ready to renew their interest in Norwich midfielder Wes Hoolahan, with the 32-year-old Republic of Ireland star willing to move now Roy Keane has arrived at Villa Park. Eastern Daily Press 
Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has revealed his £32m move to Chelsea is nearly complete in a TV interview. Metro 
Manchester United's move for Southampton left-back Luke Shaw, 19, is in doubt with Louis van Gaal looking at a move for Barcelona's Jordi Alba, 25. Daily Express 
New promoted Queens Park Rangers are considering making Manchester United central defender Rio Ferdinand, 35, the highest paid player at the club with a salary of up to £80,000 a week. Guardian 
New Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is happy for the club to try to sign Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic, 30. insidefutbol.com 
BBC

ACCESS BANK ASSURES SMEs OF INCREASED SUPPORT



Access Bank Plc has blamed the poor organisational structure of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in the country as one of the factors obstructing lending to the sector.
However, the bank restated its resolve to continue to work with SMEs in order to grow their businesses.
Speaking at a forum for SMEs in Lagos, Head, SME Desk, Access Bank, Mr. Oyediji Atoyebi, noted that small and medium businesses are crucial to the development of any nation.
Furthermore, he described SMEs as the main driver of employment in any economy.
“The recapitalisation of the banking sector has enabled the growth of the sector with more banks offering credit facilities to eligible businesses.
“Owing to the organisational structures of majority of SME businesses and other organisational challenges, many banks find it challenging to accurately profile SME businesses and analyse their financial standing,” he added.
Continuing, he pointed out that Access Bank is providing access to finance to operators in the sector.
Atoyebi said Access Bank intends to bring down cost of banking for the SMEs as well as to provide financing at all levels of the value chain in the sector.
He also identified key issues in the sector to include poor funding, low managerial expertise, poor project feasibility study/business case, lack of proper book-keeping and absence of corporate governance.
Furthermore, Atoyebi listed the challenges confronting the SMEs to include unavailability of basic infrastructure, such as electricity, road, and logistic issues, among others; pricing competition, inability to access credit facilities and collateralisation of advanced credits.
He identified the critical success factors for the SMEs to include access to funding, extensible business architecture, government policies and capacity building.

NIGERIA, SOUTH AFRICA PARTNER TO DEVELOP GOLD MINING


Nigeria and South Africa are partnering to promote the development of artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the country, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Musa Sada, has said.

The minister stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the weekend in Abuja.

He said under the arrangement, the ministry would procure mining machineries from South Africa for artisanal and small-scale gold miners.


“The machines are to give better value to mined gold. Our focus is on gold because we have a lot of artisanal and small-scale miners.

“We realised that we are wasting a lot of resources and not getting as much as we should from mining. So, we need to improve on our mining technology and commodity pricing,’’ he said.

Sada said  Nigeria would also partner North Korea to develop the huge granite deposits in the country, adding that the Asian country had a lot of competence in granite development, processing and use.

He noted that granite was used for resurfacing of roads in North Korea, unlike in Nigeria where bitumen is used.

“We feel that with the huge amount of granite we have in the country, we can use it for many things.

“You can imagine a road surfaced with granite; the road will be very durable,’’ he said, adding that a study had been conducted on rock materials in the country.

NNPC EXPLORES GAS SALES POTENTIAL IN EUROPEAN MARKET


The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has disclosed that it is looking for more markets for Nigeria’s gas.

It stated that it was looking further into the European markets for sale of gas, adding that through such possible markets, it hopes to generate maximum economic benefit from the nation’s enormous gas resources.

A statement from the Group General Manager, Public Affairs of the NNPC, Ohi Alegbe, yesterday in Abuja, said the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, made this disclosure while playing host to a Belgian business delegation under the auspices of the Flanders Investment and Trade Mission in his office.

Yakubu said: “Europe is a good market for gas. Incidentally, Belgium has important terminals such as the Port of Antwerp through which Nigeria hopes to get its gas to the rest of Europe. We are working on independently marketing our abundant gas resources to Europe.”

Yakubu, who was represented by the Coordinator, Corporate Policy and Strategy of NNPC, Dr. Tim Okon, said the NNPC would strategically position itself to attract investments to boost Nigeria’s economy.

While reiterating the need for collaboration between foreign investors and Nigerian businesses to domesticate the country’s gas industry, he stated that: “Gas is a strong mechanism for not only power generation and job creation, but also for growth and development.”

The statement stated that earlier in his address, the leader of the delegation and the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Dirk Verleyen, said no fewer than 60 Belgian companies had indicated interest to invest in Nigeria.

NLNG GENERATED OVER $50BN FOR THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY IN 14 YEARS


The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited has generated over $50billion for the Nigerian economy since October 1999, when it exported its first LNG cargo.

Speaking at the company’s book launch on ‘2014 Facts and Figures’ at the weekend, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Babs Omotowa, said the company exported its 1,000th cargo in December 2006, 2,000th cargo in October 2010 and 3,000th in January this year.

He said in diversifying the country’s revenue base and monetising gas resources in Nigeria, NLNG now owns $14 billion of assets in Bonny Island of Rivers State.

According to him, the company paid $13 billion in dividends with another $11 billion earned as feed gas sales revenue, while over $10 billion expenditure was spent in the local economy on goods, services and salaries of thousands of staff employed.
He also stated that the company paid a corporate income tax of over N200 billion yearly, while the Rivers State Government earns over N6 billion yearly from personal income taxes.

Omotowa further disclosed that Bonny Local Government Area of the state earns over N88 million yearly as tenement rate from NLNG.
He noted that the company had been the arrow-ahead in the federal government’s quest to eliminate gas flaring and to derive value from the country’s 187 trillion cubic feet of a proven gas reserves.

Sunday 8 June 2014

SMART LEADERS KEEP THEIR EGO IN CHECK AND LISTEN IN


Confidence is what helped you take your idea from a mere thought on paper to a full-fledged business. But the more successful your business becomes, the more likely you are to let your confidence become overwhelmed by your ego.  
Although flexing that muscle may put extra cash in your pocket, it could also damage relationships with those around you, especially employees. Instead try putting the “I’m the smartest person in the room” aside when it comes to dealing with your workforce. Take these three tips into consideration to secure quality feedback from your employees and better collaboration -- and more favorable results:
1. Ask for input regularly. The collective intelligence of your team will generate more and better ideas than you can alone. And in today’s dog-eat-dog business world, innovation is not just an annual objective. It’s an everyday goal.
Whether your business is a five-person show or a Fortune 500 company, instill a culture that makes it desirable for ideas to be shared. 

Saturday 7 June 2014

THE LEGEND PASSES ON


Former Minister of Information and Ex DG of the National Association for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Dora Akunyili has died in a hospital in India.

Prof. Akunyili which had been diagnosed with a postrate cancer disease two years ago, has been critically ill, but soon made a good recovery, and resumed duties as a delegate in the National conference, before breaking down again and was rushed to India to cintinue treatment.

Leadership Newspaper had reported that she was on life support and then last Saturday wrote that she was dead, but her Media SA, debunked her death rumours through an update on Facebook, but Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has 35 minutes ago, confirmed this story, and said she died at 10:00AM this morning in India. 

She died at the age of 59.

May her Gentle Soul Rest in Peace. Amen



TONI KROSS URGES BAYERN MUNICH TO NEGOTIATE WITH REAL MADRID?


Manchester United's hopes of signing Toni Kroos have hit a stumbling block, with the Germany international reportedly keen on a move to European champions Real Madrid.
The 24-year-old is thought to be on a list of targets drafted by new Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal, along with Bayern Munich teammate Thomas Muller.
Chelsea are also rumoured to be interested in capturing the midfielder's signature, though reports have suggested that England is not his preferred destination.
According to Spanish paper El Confidencial, the 24-year-old will snub a move to the Premier League and urge his current club Bayern Munich to talk to Real Madrid.
Real have also targeted former Manchester United man Paul Pogba, though a £40m release clause means that he is unlikely to leave Juventus this summer.