Friday, November 24, 2017

A New Report Says Nigeria is the ‘World’s Most Mobilized Country


 Nigerians are fascinated by Mobile phones.

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Dangote Cement Stirs Industrial Revolution in Africa with the Commissioning of Mfila Plant in the Republic of Congo


PRESS RELEASE
Dangote Cement Stirs Industrial Revolution in Africa with the Commissioning of Mfila Plant in the Republic of Congo
The new plant estimated at $300 million has potentials for about 1000 direct employment and thousands of several other indirect jobs
LAGOS, Nigeria, November 23, 2017/ -- Africa’s largest cement Company, Dangote Cement Plc (http://APO.af/mCqnZz) yesterday added fillip to the on-going efforts at economic emancipation of Africa when it formally opened its 1.5mtpa capacity cement plant in Mfila, Congo Brazzaville, amid ecstasy by the government and the indigenes of the Country.
L-R: Representative of President Mohammadu Buhari, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; President/CE, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, at the commissioning of 1.5MMTPA Dangote Cement Plant, Congo, held in the Republic of Congo on Thursday November 23, 2017.
L-R: Representative of President Mohammadu Buhari, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; President/CE, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso; Prime Minister of Congo, Clement Mouamba and the Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelemah at the commissioning of 1.5MMTPA Dangote Cement Plant, Congo, held in the Republic of Congo on Thursday November 23, 2017.

The new plant estimated at $300 million has potentials for about 1000 direct employment and thousands of several other indirect jobs.

Undoubtedly the biggest plant in Congo, its President, Mr. Denis Sassou Nguesso while inaugurating the plant said the investment was an industrial revolution, sort of, within the Economic Community of the Central African States (CEMAC), saying his country was happy to host the investment.

Five Reasons To Be Bullish On Nigerian Real Estate in 2018

PRESS RELEASE
Nigerian real estate to turn the corner in 2018
Five Reasons to be Bullish on Nigerian Real Estate in 2018
LAGOS, Nigeria, November 23, 2017/ --
  • The picture looks brighter for occupational and capital markets as the economy improves
As the city gears to host the globally recognised real estate-focused West African Property Investment Summit (WAPI) (www.WAPIsummit.com) next week, there is a renewed sense of investor confidence in the Nigerian real estate sector.


Tom Mundy, Head of Advisory for Sub-Saharan Africa at JLL (ir.JLL.com), and one of the speakers at the event, believes 2018 will be a year of consolidation and recovery. “Nigeria is finally coming out of recession. Of course, there will be the usual lag between economic recovery and market recovery, but real estate, which has suffered from a sharp supply demand imbalance, widening vacancy rates and falling realised rents, looks close to bottoming. Yes, it will take time for confidence to return fully but there is sound cause to be bullish on Nigeria going forward.”

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Facebook Launches Nigeria Initiative in its Ambition to Drive Innovation, Skills Development and Economic Impact


PRESS RELEASE
Facebook Launches Nigeria Initiative in its Ambition to Drive Innovation, Skills Development and Economic Impact
Facebook to open its very first Community Hub space on the continent, in addition to a series of long-term impact training programmes for 50,000 Nigerians
LAGOS, Nigeria, November 22, 2017/ -- Today, Facebook (www.Facebook.com) announced a new nationwide initiative in Nigeria (http://APO.af/2y13ue) to further cement its commitment and investment in the country, and across the continent. Incorporating a series of high profile partnerships, training programmes and a physical space that will serve as a center for learning and skills development, this set of initiatives is aimed at helping to develop and nurture communities, including small businesses, the tech and start-up ecosystem, youths and creatives.

Remarks By John J. Sullivan at the U.S.-Nigeria Bi-National Commission Meeting in Abuja




U.S.-Nigeria Bi-National Commission

The United States-Nigeria Bi-National Commission (BNC) met on November 20, 2017, in Abuja, Nigeria. The BNC was co-chaired by Geoffrey Onyeama, Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Nigeria and John J. Sullivan, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of State, United States of America.

This year’s BNC focused on advancing U.S.-Nigerian shared prosperity, including discussion on three areas of focus:

  • Security Cooperation,
  • Economic Growth and Development, and
  • Governance and Democracy

Africa / -- Thank you for your warm welcome, Foreign Minister Onyeama.

 John J. Sullivan, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of State, United States of America.
Geoffrey Onyeama, Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

WASHINGTON, 20 November 2017 / PRN

It is a pleasure to be here in Nigeria and an honor to lead the U.S. delegation to this year's U.S.-Nigeria Bi-National Commission.

I am joined by colleagues from the State Department, USAID, the Departments of Defense, Commerce, and our Trade Representative. As the interagency makeup of our delegation makes clear, the U.S.-Nigerian relationship is broad and deep. The United States is committed to expanding our cooperation as we look to the future.

Two Off Grid Projects To Electrify Rural Communities in Nigeria


Two Off Grid Projects To Electrify Rural Communities in Nigeria
Two off grid projects were recently announced in Nigeria, one consisting of a partnership between Pan Africa Solar and BBOXX (PAS BBOXX), adding to the growing momentum of the off grid sector across Africa


LAGOS, Nigeria, November 22, 2017/ -- The first project - headed up by Pan Africa Solar (www.PanAfricaSolar.com) – is an 80MW utility scale Photovoltaic Power Plant located in Katsina State, near the town of Kankia. The project focuses on a stable state in the north of the country, where – due to lack of available hydro resources and gas supply – renewables are the only long term sustainable option. The project will integrate panels mounted on tilting structures that track the path of the sun throughout the day, constructed on 210 hectares of land.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Nigeria's Purple Capital Receives US$12.5 Million Funding from Vantage Capital



Vantage Capital provides $12.5 million of funding to Purple Capital, a leading Nigerian property development company
Purple Capital represents the 24th transaction executed by Vantage across three generations of mezzanine funds with aggregate capital deployed to date of $277 million (R4 billion)
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, November 21, 2017/ -- Vantage Capital (www.VantageCapital.co.za), Africa’s largest mezzanine fund manager, announced today that it has provided $12.5 million of funding to Purple Capital (www.PurpleCapng.com), a prominent Nigerian real estate company and financial service provider. Purple Capital is the developer of the iconic 6,000m² Maryland Mall (www.MarylandMallng.com), a neighbourhood shopping centre in the Ikeja district of Lagos.

Monday, November 20, 2017

Access Power and FMO Launch Second Edition of Solar ‘Shark Tank’ Competition for Innovative Solar Projects


Access Power and FMO Launch Second Edition of Solar ‘Shark Tank’ Competition for Innovative Solar Projects
Submission window opens as Solar Projects Compete for US$ 100,000 Grant to Develop their Projects
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, November 20, 2017/ -- FMO (www.FMO.nl), the Dutch development bank, and Access Power (www.Access-Power.com), a leading developer, owner and operator of power projects in emerging markets, today announced the launch of the 2018 FMO Access Power Solar 'Shark Tank' Competition following the competition’s successful first installment in 2016 at the ‘Making Solar Bankable’ conference. The initiative is aimed at helping local solar power developers that require development support to make their innovative solar projects more impactful.

'Unity, Solidarity and Collaboration' Can Turn Tide On Terrorism Says UN Chief


'Unity, Solidarity and Collaboration' Can Turn Tide On Terrorism, Bolster Human Rights, Says UN Chief 

NEW YORK, 16 November 2017 / PRN Africa / -- Noting that at least 11,000 terrorist attacks occurred in more than 100 countries last year, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stressed on Thursday that “terrorism is fundamentally the denial and destruction of human rights.”

“Terrorism has been unfortunately with us in various forms across ages and continents,” Mr. Guterres said in a lecture on counter-terrorism and human rights at the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Ecobank Group Research Reveals Three Key Emerging Trends for Africa


PRESS RELEASE
Ecobank Group Research Reveals Three Key Emerging Trends for Africa
Digital innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa is being driven by the explosion in mobile phone usage, enabling African consumers to leapfrog existing business models and technologies

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 16, 2017/ --

  • Rebounding economy after a trying year
  • Gas is West Africa’s new oil
  • Africa’s evolving role in FinTech leadership

The 2017 version of Ecobank Research’s Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities (FICC) Guidebook, which provides expert knowledge and analysis on African markets for investors and businesses, was launched today at AfricaFICC. Indicating a positive outlook for the continent, three key trends are forecast to take hold during the next 12 months.