Intel's ‘She Will Connect Campaign" Was Not Unveiled at the Nigerian Premiere of "Girl Rising"

Intel West Africa's false and misleading News Release on the Nigerian Premiere of "Girl Rising"


The news report on Intel Unveils ‘She Will Connect Campaign,’ for Young Women on http://nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/e-business/intel-unveils-she-will-connect-campaign-for-young-women#comment-4369 is a total fabrication, because the Intel Corporation did not launch the ‘She Will Connect Campaign,’ at the event and Mr. Olubunmi Ekundare, Country Manager of Intel West Africa was not recognized at the Nigerian premiere of "Girl Rising" and never spoke at the event. And it was not even included in the programme of the event.

The only notable personalities who were there and spoke at the event were award winning human rights activists Hafsat Abiola-Costello, Founder of Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND), and Dr. Joe Odumakin, President of Women ARISE for Change Initiative, Nollywood diva Kate Henshaw who co-hosted the event and Ms. Shade Bembatoum-Young, President of Zonta International Club of Lagos 1, gave the Welcome Address and a representative of the United Nations, the Officer-in-Charge, United Nations Information Center in Lagos, Mr Oluseyi Soremekun.

The poster child of the Nigerian premiere, Miss Daniella Okoye, the reigning world beauty queen of Little Princess of the Universe with Nollywood diva Kate Henshaw at the event.
 

Miss Daniella Okoye posing with school girls and others at the event.

  The Vanguard of Nigeria published another fake report that Holly Gordon addressed students at the event when she was not there and never arrived Nigeria until Friday night. The following is the false report by the Vanguard newspaper:

Also speaking, internationally acclaimed producer and producer of the Intel ‘Girl Rising’ film, Holly Gordon explained in her address to the students, the rationale behind the documentary. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/intel-un-partner-kind-will-connect-campaign-girl-child/#sthash.yPUu2K1W.dpuf

Holly Gordon, the Executive Producer and Executive Director of 10x10, producers of the film was only the Guest Speaker at the second and final screening of the premiere the following day Saturday October 12 at the same venue. The United Nations, Zonta International, KIND, Nigerians Report Online, Kiddies & Brands Company, Deputy British High Commission, Silverbird Group, Cool 96.9 FM, MTN Nigeria and others co-sponsored the premiere organized by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, the Girl Rising Event Organizer for Nigeria and Publisher/Editor of Nigerians Report Online. Intel was not part of the planning of the event and never attended any of the meetings of the organizing committee at the United Nations Information Center in Ikoyi, Lagos. Intel's public relations agency The Quadrant Company only sent an urgent email to Mr. Michael Chima on Thursday October 10, 2013 at 9:22 AM with the following message:

URGENT!!! Screening of the Girl Rising Movie tomorrow

Hi Michael,

My name is Joanna and I work for Intel. Intel championed the movie...girl rising and is looking for a way to connect to the premiere tomorrow by way of donations and organizing a red carpet walk for the girls.. Please send me your number so we can discuss.

Best Regards,

Joanna Icha

Associate Analyst

The Quadrant Company

32 Ladoke Akintola Street, GRA, Ikeja Lagos - Nigeria

Mobile: +2348182412549, +2347033933802

ymessenger: jowiesmartz

Web-site: www.quadrantcompany.com

Intel only donated four laptops at the event without the knowledge of the Nigerians Report Online, the principal organizing NGO of the Nigerian premiere of "Girl Rising" authorized by 10x10. There was lack of transparency in the distribution of the laptops to four pupils of four different secondary schools located only in Lagos and still unknown to 10x10 and the Girl Rising Campaign team. Miss Joanna Icha, of The Quadrant Company, Intel's public relations agent in Nigeria admitted that the news report is false when she was contacted by Mr. Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima. Miss Icha in her rebuttal said:

"We are as shocked at this as you are and we will ensure that this is solved immediately. This must have been a fault from some of the media in attendance. Not to worry, please remain calm as this has to be a mistake. I will ensure that the appropriate story goes out from tomorrow. (as I'm sure there is an approved release for this purpose). Once again, we will sort this 'falsehood' out immediately."

Then she later sent another email saying:

This is unheard of. Please let me get to the bottom of this. This must have been from the media loyalty team that usually writes for Intel.

But she is yet to issue an official press release since the fictitious news report was circulated and published by several newspapers, including the widely circulated Vanguard of Nigeria as published on the newspaper's website http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/intel-un-partner-kind-will-connect-campaign-girl-child/, Business Day on http://businessdayonline.com/2013/10/intel-un-partner-to-empower-the-girl-child/ and also posted by Anthony Nwakaegho for DigitalSENSE on http://www.digitalsensenews.com.ng/DSBNews/243840/2013/10/intel-partners-un-ngos-on-girl-child-day-2013.

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