Monday, June 10, 2013

TEDGlobal 2013 Kicks Off, Asks People to "Think Again"

10 Jun 2013 09:00 Africa/Lagos TEDGlobal 2013 Kicks Off, Asks People to "Think Again"

900 participants arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland for four-day program featuring 79 talks, performances, and innovative demonstrations

EDINBURGH, Scotland, June 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- TED, the nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, begins its annual TEDGlobal conference today in Edinburgh, Scotland. The conference, themed "Think Again," is one of the organization's two annual events (the other takes place in North America). It features innovators, global leaders, artists and scientists from around the globe who take the stage for talks, performances, and demonstrations.

"Every year TEDGlobal ignites an exciting conversation about the issues that matter most in the world," says TED's European Director Bruno Giussani . "This year's theme reflects the fact that some radical rethinking is needed right now. We really want people to reexamine critical policy, social and economic issues, and to be aware of scientific advances and technologies that are changing the way we work and interact."  

The TEDGlobal 2013 conference will host 900 attendees from 62 countries at the Edinburgh International Conference Center.  Scientists, inventors, policy leaders, entrepreneurs and artists will deliver more than 70 main-stage talks and performances – as well as more than a dozen TED University talks given by attendees themselves.

Speakers will cover a wide, eclectic spectrum of topics, including the aftermath of the financial crisis, spinal cord treatment breakthroughs, cities of the future, drones, poetry, the neuroscience of sleep, and the rise of Africa. At the conference, a number of innovative technologies will also be unveiled for the first time.

TEDGlobal 2013 S peakers and P erformers I nclude:
Session 1: Moments of Truth
Session 2: Those Flying Things
Session 3: Exquisite Enigmatic Us
Session 4: Money Talks
Session 5: Listening to Nature
Session 6: World on Its Head
Session 7: Regeneration
Session 8: State of the Nations
Session 9: Forces of Change
Session 10: Imagined Beauty
Session 11: Tech Impact
Session 12: All Together Now
Throughout the conference, TED's award-winning video team will begin editing talks to share with the world for free on TED.com, where videos have already well surpassed a billion views. Talks from the TEDGlobal 2013 conference will begin to appear on TED.com during the conference and throughout the coming year. The TED blog [http://blog.ted.com/] will also include speaker highlights and critical links.
A number of innovative brands and companies have partnered with TED to share ideas and foster an atmosphere of collaboration and conversation at TEDGlobal 2013. This year's partners include ABB, ARUP, Autodesk, The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Deutsche Telekom, Fondation Lombard Odier, frog, Getty Images, Intel, InterContinental Hotels Group, Knight Foundation, Novartis, O2, PR Newswire, Renault Nissan, Shell, Skype, State Street, Steelcase, and Walmart.

Under the TEDLive membership, the conference will be streamed live to paid members around the globe. TEDGlobal will also be webcast to more than 135 independently organized TEDx events worldwide.
The detailed TEDGlobal program and more information can be found online here:
http://conferences.ted.com/TEDGlobal2013/
 
Details about the TEDLive membership can be found here:
http://www.ted.com/pages/tedlive
 
About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California almost 30 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes on a diverse mix of topics. Many of these talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The TED2014 Conference will take place next spring in Vancouver, British Columbia, along with the TEDActive simulcast in neighboring Whistler.

TED's media initiatives include TED.com, where new TED Talks are posted daily; the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from volunteers worldwide; the educational initiative TED-Ed; and TEDBooks, short e-books on powerful ideas. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world get help translating their wishes into action; TEDx, which supports individuals or groups in hosting local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.
Follow TED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TEDNews, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED.
Contact: Erin Allweiss, TED@groupsjr.com +1 (917) 512-2118

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The Association of Nollywood Core Producers and the Ignorance of FIAPF



 Mr. Alex Eyengho, President of the Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP).

When Mr. Frank Dallas, notable Nollywood producer and front-line member of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) and the PRO of the Actors Guild of Nigeria ( AGN ) dismissed the Association of Nollywood Core Producers ( ANCOP ) over their disagreement on the plans for the much awaited centenary celebration of Nigeria in 2014, many people did not know why.  In February,  Frank Dallas  said ANCOP is an unrecognized group, because it is actually a faction of dissatisfied  members of AMP.

 Mr. Zik Zulu,  President of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP).


"ANCOP is not relevant, neither is it recognized. They are just a group of charlatans who failed an election and went ahead to form a group to fool themselves’ Dallas was quoted by Olamide Jasanya on Trends Nigeria on Feb 5, 2013, 7:32am.  But four months later, the President of the Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP), Mr. Alex Eyengho has become the first African to be made Vice-President of the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) after an election held at the last General Assembly of FIAPF in Cannes, France on Saturday, May 18, 2013.

"My election is not about me or ANCOP. It is about deepening the Nollywood brand. It is about attracting maximum respect to Nigerian film producers at the international level. It is about Nigeria. It is about Africa. This is a confirmation and testimony to the fact that we are on the right track in Nollywood," Eyengho told journalists after his election in France.

The  FIAPF (Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films) created in 1933 is an organization composed with only 30 member associations from 27 of the leading audiovisual production countries. FIAPF is also in charge of regulating international film festivals, including some of the world's most important ones. But FIAPF has only been more relevant to the European film industry and has not contributed anything to Nollywood. In fact, majority of the members of FIAPF have not participated in the Leap International Film Festival (LIFF) of Mr. Madu C Chikwendu of ANCOP and LIFF is not even on the list of the international film festivals in the directory of FIAPF.

It is even wrong for FIAPF to recognize a disputed faction of Nigerian producers without due verification from the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC). It shows the professional ignorance of the General Assembly of FIAPF and enough for me to dismiss it as being uninformed and misled by ANCOP that does not represent the leadership of Nigerian film and television producers.

The most accomplished film and television producers in Nigeria belong to the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) and  Independent Television Producers' Association of Nigeria (ITPAN) and they are yet to recognize the faction called Association of Nollywood Core Producers ( ANCOP ). Therefore ANCOP does not represent the body of producers in Nigeria.

Some Nigerian producers who have lost relevance in the mainstream leadership of the Nigerian film industry or Nollywood have a habit of rushing to form and join both local and international organizations that have contributed little or nothing to the development of the Nigerian film industry.
What has made Nollywood the largest and most popular film industry in Africa is our movies and numerous film projects and not joining international bodies without the consensus of the accomplished stakeholders in Nigeria.
 Therefore, I will advise all serious Nigerian film and television producers and other practitioners in the motion picture industry to focus more on making quality movies and projects that will boost the Nigerian film industry and contribute to the socioeconomic development of Nigeria and not seeking relevance by forming or joining local and international organizations that only want to leverage on the success of Nollywood for their own partisan and selfish interests.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, Publisher/Editor of Nollywood Mirror, Founder/CEO, Screen Outdoor Open Air Cinema and Executive Director of the Screen Naija One Village, One Cinema Project.

 

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Sunday, June 9, 2013

Are You Prepared For The 'Specialist Economy'?

Research Examines Specialized Workforce Trend, Identifies Skills in Demand

 

MENLO PARK, CA – June 6, 2013 – /PRNewswire/ – Jacks-of-all-trades, masters-of-none, beware: Companies increasingly require specialized talent, and professionals with niche skills in fast-growing fields are often receiving multiple job offers.

A just-released downloadable white paper from Robert Half, The Specialist Economy: How Businesses and Professionals Can Prepare for the Trend Toward Specialization, highlights the increasing demand for workers in professions requiring both a college education and specialization in areas such as healthcare, accounting and finance, information technology, marketing, and law.

“Firms have a critical need for laser-focused professionals who can help them grow their most lucrative service areas and maximize efficiencies,” said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International and author of Human Resources Kit For Dummies®, 3rd Edition (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). “Full-time and temporary workers with education and concentrated knowledge can help a company operate more efficiently and competitively — top priorities in today’s business environment.”

Messmer added, “Some professionals have specialized skills but fall short when it comes to marketing themselves. Emphasizing specialty areas in application materials and during interviews can help job candidates stand out from their peers.”
Robert Half offers six tips to help job seekers succeed in the specialist economy:
  1. Create a specialist resume. Your resume should highlight your unique specialty areas and interests. For example, if you’re an accountant who has worked in the healthcare industry, emphasize not only your accounting skills but also your healthcare expertise. Add a “Summary” section that describes your specific attributes and experience.
  2. Build a name for yourself online. Brand yourself as a specialist through professional networking and social media sites. Add keywords to your profile that reflect your specialization, and participate in groups in your areas of interest.
  3. Know yourself. If you’re just beginning your career, choose a niche that strongly interests you, and acquire additional skills and training in that area. A career focus that you are passionate about is more likely to lead to long-term success.
  4. Acquire more education. The unemployment rate for professionals 25 years or older with a bachelor’s degree or higher is roughly half that of the general unemployment rate. Depending on where you are in your career trajectory, consider completing a degree or certification in your field that you never finished — or never pursued.
  5. Fish where the fish are. If you’re in a competitive field, specialization is even more important to your career success. For example, if you’re a marketing professional, specializing in a hot area such as cloud computing, mobile marketing or natural search can help you become more attractive to potential employers.
  6. Work with a specialized staffing firm. A staffing company that specializes in your field can help you accurately highlight your strengths and specialty areas.
About Robert Half
Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm. The Menlo Park, Calif.-based company has more than 345 staffing locations worldwide and offers online job search services on its divisional websites, all of which can be accessed at www.roberthalf.com. Follow Robert Half on Twitter at twitter.com/roberthalf, and gain insights on the latest hiring and salary trends at www.rhi.com/salaryguides.

Contact:

Maureen Carrig
(425) 945-2040
maureen.carrig@rhi.com

Local media contacts:


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Saturday, June 8, 2013

Nigerian Film and Television Academy Awards 2013



The organisers of the Nigerian Film and Television Awards, now Nigerian Film and Television Academy Awards, theTERRACOTTA AWARDS has open entries into their 2013 edition of the awards schedule to take place on the 9th of November 2013 at the Muson center Onikan Lagos. The entries were declared open into different categories on 1st of June and will close on the 31 August 2013. According to the project coordinator, Mr. Charles Ukiri,  ’’ TERRACOTTA, a Nigerian Film and Television Awards is now Nigerian Film and Television Academy Awards, and the awards plaque(s) shall be called the Terracotta(s).  This year’s Theme still remains, Imagine Life without Television.’’

Terracotta was known as a Nigerian Film & Television Awards, but having look inwards and done our research it is pertinent that the awards not only reward excellence in innovation and creativity in the Nigerian film & television genre but also facilitate platforms for practitioners and stakeholders to interact through our symposium, seminars to disseminate information and workshops to keep up with the trend in the world of audio-visual creative world brought about the change to a Nigerian Film and Television Academy Awards yet maintaining her TERRACOTTA BRAND IMAGE to enhance, educate and update all stakeholders before and after the awards ceremony.

To achieve all this, the brand is partnering with Nigeria broadcasting commission (NBC), Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Federal ministry of Information and communication and other stakeholders in the film and television industry.

Series of activities has been lined up towards the execution of the Terracotta Awards 2013 which includes our annual CORPORATE Nigeria nite, the symposium tagged “ALL HANDS ON DECK” and the launch of TERRA’S new baby,WOMEN IN FILM AND TELEVISION NIGERIA.

You will recall that both the last edition of the Corporate Nigeria nite and the Terracotta awards were sponsored by Peugeot of PAN Nigeria.

Entries are being accepted in these categories,

TELEVISION
TV Drama, TV Soap, TV Comedy, TV Non-Fiction, Craft Awards

FILM
Feature Films, Documentaries, Animation

The Terracotta Awards 2013 slated for 9th November in Lagos in line with the change and function of new brand feasibility.





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Thursday, June 6, 2013

U.S. Warns Citizens Not To Travel To Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Imo, Edo and Other States


The JTF declared Abubakar Shekau, the assumed leader of Boko Haram wanted  with a reward of N50 million for his capture and on June 3, the United States announced a U.S. $7 million reward for Shekau’s location.

The State Department of the United States has warned U.S. citizens not to travel to Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto and Zamfara.

The State Department warned U.S citizens to avoid these states, because of the recurrent risks of kidnappings, armed robberies and other armed attacks now randomly reported in most parts of Africa's most populous nation with a high rate of unemployment from a rapidly growing population of youths.

 Abubakar Shekau and his Boko Haram terrorists.

Most of the governors have failed to maintain law and order in their states with armed gangs terrorizing harmless people and assassinating enemies of rival cults and opposing political parties plagued by rampant corrupt practices and gangsterism of the kleptomaniacs and cultists in both the ruling party and the opposition.

The state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan in the three northern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe on May 14, 2013 has failed to stop the incessant terrorist attacks of Boko Haram and raids by rampaging Hausa-Fulani herdsmen trespassing lands in the Middle Belt and other states both in the north and south of the country worsening the security challenges of the Joint Task Force (JTF) of the Nigerian Armed Forces at war with insurgents in the north and also tackling the menace of terrorist militants in the Niger Delta who also operate as pirates in the Gulf of Guinea engaged in illegal oil refineries and export from stolen crude oil.

 Niger Delta militants in action.

The U.S State Department said:
“Officials must receive advance clearance by the U.S. Mission for any travel deemed as mission-essential.’’

On June 3, the United States announced a U.S. $7 million reward for Shekau’s location. According to a report by John Campbell posted on the website of the Council On Foreign Relations on
June 4, 2013, this amount is "more money than for Mokhtar Belmokhtar or Oumar Ould Hamaha, whose respective groups, “Signatories in Blood” and Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa, jointly claimed responsibility for attacks in Arlit and Agadez, Niger on May 23. There are also rumors in Nigeria that the United States is seeking to eliminate Shekau in a drone strike from its new base in Niger. Meanwhile, Boko Haram members carried out an attack on prison guards in Niamey, Niger on June 2, but failed to escape."



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Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Africa's Top Bankers Honoured at a Star-studded Evening in Marrakech


 L-R: DR. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance; Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; Omar Ben Yedder Managing Director, IC Events; and Dr. (Mrs.) Sarah Alade, CBN Deputy Governor (Economic Policy) at the African Banker Awards 2013, on 29/05/13 at Taj Palace Marrakech, Morocco.



Click here for the photo gallery.  

Africa's Top Bankers Honoured at a Star-studded Evening in Marrakech During the African Development Bank Annual Meetings 
 
TUNIS-BELVEDERE, Tunisia, 3 June 2013 / PRNewswire Africa / - The President of the African Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka, received an exclusive prize given by Ozwald Boateng's Made in Africa Foundation at the biggest-ever African Banker Awards ceremony on May 29 during the Bank's Annual Meetings in Marrakech.

Kaberuka received the Made in Africa Foundation Special Recognition Award for his outstanding work and his efforts to prioritize infrastructure investment on the continent.

The Nigerian Guarantee Trust Bank scooped the African Bank of the Year Award, presented to them by Michael Miebach, President of MasterCard for the Middle East and Africa. Nizar Baraka of Morocco was declared Minister of Finance of the Year on home soil for his achievements in the past year including the US $1.5bn issuance and prudent economic reforms. Two bankers were recognised in the African Banker of the year category: Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, GMD and CEO of Access Bank, and Joao Figueiredo, Chairman and CEO of Banco Unico, received an award for Outstanding Performance and Bold Leadership. South Africa performed particularly strongly in the investment banking division with Rand Merchant Bank scooping Investment Bank of the Year and Standard Bank winning the fixed income and deal of the year categories. Nedbank received the Socially Responsible Bank of the Year Award.

Guests were treated to a star-studded cast of performances at the ceremony that took place during the African Development Bank Annual Meetings at the Taj Palace, Marrakech. Grammy Award-winner John Legend, Senegalese singer and politician Youssou N'Dour, Senegalese-American R&B and hip-hop recording artist Akon, and American MC and actor Mos Def wowed guests in between the awards presentations.

Michael Joseph, renowned for bringing the mobile banking innovation, M-Pesa, to international recognition and Jean-Louis Ekra, president of Afreximbank, were also amongst individual winners. They won respectively the African Banker Icon and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Commenting on the ceremony, Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher of African Banker said, “Once again it has been a night where some of the exemplary leaders we have on this continent have been rewarded for ground-breaking work. It should be noted that the work is far from finished and banks and policy-makers need to continue to work together to create the instruments to reach out to the real economy of people for whom many of the products and services are out of reach.”

The African Banker Awards are organised by African Banker magazine, IC Events and BusinessinAfrica Events. It is a landmark event that celebrates excellence and best practices in African banking and finance.
MasterCard is the Platinum sponsor for this year's African Banker Awards with the Made in Africa Foundation as the Supporting Partner. Other sponsors and partners include Banque Atlantique (Groupe Banque Centrale Populaire), Banco de Poupança e Crédito, Bank of Industry, Coris Bank, BGFI Bank, Ecobank Nedbank Alliance, FirstBank, La Congolaise de Banque and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector.

African Bank of the Year
Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigeria

African Banker of the Year
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, GMD and Chief Executive, Access Bank 
Joao Figueiredo, CEO and Chairman, Unico Bank
(Award for outstanding performance and bold leadership)

Best Bank in North Africa
Attijariwafa Bank, Morocco

Best Bank in Southern Africa
Afrasia Bank, Mauritius

Best Bank in West Africa
FirstBank Nigeria

Best Bank in East Africa
Equity Bank, Kenya

Best Bank in Central Africa
BGFI, Gabon

Central Bank Governor of the Year
H.E. Sanusi Lanido Sanusi, Nigeria

Finance Minister of the Year
HE. Nizar Baraka, Morocco

Lifetime Achievement Award
Jean-Louis Ekra, President, Afreximbank

African Banker Icon
Michael Joseph, former CEO Safaricom and founder of M-Pesa

Investment Bank of the Year
Rand Merchant Bank, South Africa

Award for Innovation in Banking
Ecobank Transnational, Togo

Socially Responsible Bank of the Year
Nedbank, South Africa

Award for Financial Inclusion
Africa Guarantee Fund, Kenya

Fixed Income Deal of the Year
Ghana Seawater Desalination Project – Standard Bank, South Africa

Deal of the Year
Umeme IPO – cfc Stanbic (Kenya) and Fieldstone (South Africa)

Private Equity Fund of the Year
Citadel Capital, Egypt

Best Retail Bank in Africa
Groupe Banque Centrale Populaire, Morocco
Best Islamic Finance Initiative
Gulf African Bank, Kenya
       
Mortgage Bank of the Year
THUIF, South Africa

Brokerage House of the Year
African Alliance, Kenya




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Oh, The Places You Should Go

Graduates
Source: SuperScholar.org



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Monday, June 3, 2013

Ekulo Group's Marketing Manager Oramadike Speaks On Goya Extra Virgin Olive Oil

 

GOYA OLIVE OIL INTERVIEW

Recently the Marketing Manager of Ekulo Group of companies, Mr. Emeka Oramadike spoke to some selected media houses on Goya Extra Virgin Olive Oil, one of the premium brands of the company. 


  


Goya extra Virgin Olive Oil is a brand that comes from Spain. The extra virgin there shows that it is the purest of the pure, gotten from the first press of the oil, devoid of any additives; it is the best you can get. The purity of the oil is what attracts most people who know it, especially in the religious circle, to use it for anointing. It is just a way of expressing the level of purity in the oil. It is not by accident. So it is the purest of the pure and from the first press of the olive oil. Olive oil is of Mediterranean origin. It is from Europe, around Spain, Italy, Greece, within that region, but it is used all over the world. It is an ancient oil with a very long History of being used for a lot of things, but it is always attached to purity-either for crowning of kings or for anointing and a whole lot of others.

QUESTION: Now that we are at it, can you break down for us the nutritional benefits inherent in using Goya Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, beyond the spiritual?

ORAMADIKE: One can look at the olive oil as the oil of life, which is how I look at it, I take Olive oil everyday. It is an anti-oxidant, it helps your heart, it helps to cleanse the blood vessels to make sure that you do not have heart attacks. It is an unsaturated fat and it is very low in cholesterol. It also lowers the level of the Lipoproteins. Thus it helps the blood flow and also lowers the sugar level and the blood pressure. Palm oil and other oils are very high in cholesterol. But this is oil that is very low in cholesterol, an anti-oxidant without any side effects. So it is highly recommended for people who are conscious of their health. If you look at records of life expectancy, according to the United Nations, out of about 200 countries in the world, Nigeria is about one hundred and eighty-something in the ranking. And our life expectancy is about 51 years in the total. Our men are expected to live 49 years while women are expected to live 51 years. When you look at other countries, Japan is about 82, Canada is 80, Germany is 79, Belgium 79, even some African countries are far up there before Nigeria. So you see that people are not taking care o their health here, so we have to do something. 




This is not a new idea, but it is like nobody knows. So that is why we are publicizing it, it is not only for religion, although it is quite important for religion, like in my house, we call it oil of life, my children know it as oil of God, but the health benefits are enormous. For instance, daily intake of Olive oil helps soften your stool. Like those having something like pile, it helps them, when your stool is smooth; the pile is not pushed out. It also helps to smoothen and protect your skin from sun burn and the exposure because it has Vitamin-E. It is just heavily loaded. We do not want to go too academic in this thing but we just want to pass the message to our people that this is just good oil for them, especially for those of them that are conscious of their health. A lot of people are dying of heart attack. But if you use Olive oil, you have a relief, you are sure of what you are taking. 

 Question: Is there a difference between Goya Olive oil and other olive oils and prior to this time, people knew Goya Olive oil as oil for spiritual purposes, how do you intend to communicate this to people, to change the perception of consumers about Olive Oil? 

 ORAMADIKE: The distinguishing feature of Goya Olive oil is that it is extra-virgin. Extra-Virgin is the first press, and it is the purest you can get. It is made through the mechanical way like crushing it and extracting the oil. Not using any form of chemical extract, or mixing it with anything. And the seeds are picked specially, you know when you have a heap of Olive Oil seeds, some can be wounded some could be spoilt and so many things. The extra-virgin oil, is made from the selected extra fine ones. So it is the virgin unadulterated.


 

As for the communication, we saw that it is getting to the point that this oil is meant for food that is why we have to involve the media. And this is just the beginning, we are going to have other ways, we are going to go to the wireless and we are going to go to the wireless. We want people to know, we want people to benefit. What is in other countries will not be strange to us. It is good that people know it as the oil of God, but it is also good that people know that there are a lot of health advantages that we can derive from the consumption of the Goya extra virgin olive oil. 

Question: Goya oil was known as a spiritual sacred product, now you want to reduce it to an oil for cooking, is it not going to affect sales and perception of the oil? Also the bottles are too small and expensive, don’t you think it will be too expensive as cooking oil for poor people to afford?

ORAMADIKE: let us take the issue of perception first, the perception of Goya Olive oil as a holy oil is only a way people try to explain their appreciation of the purity of the oil. But we want people to know that apart from religious reasons, in advanced world, people use olive oil for cooking. It is meant for healthy living.
Coming to the issue of costs, we have tried as much as possible over the years to keep the costs at a level people can afford. And you know its like when you say that education is expensive, you must remember that illiteracy is more dangerous. This is something that will keep you alive, If you now know that this is something that will safeguard the life of yourself and your family, and the cost is not up to what we use to make our hair that we wash of after a week, it then makes sense for you not to ignore it. Also the idea of making it available in many sizes is so that it can be affordable to as many people as possible. So that those who can buy the three litres can buy, those who can buy the two litres can buy, those who can buy the 500ML, 300ML, etc can buy. So that is how we try to accommodate everybody, to make sure that you can go and buy a bottle of Goya Olive oil that is intact, not going to buy from somebody that will mix some strange thing and give you to go and use as olive oil. What is good may not always be very cheap. If we look at the cost of medical treatment and the cost of this olive oil, we still believe that it is not so much for one to use 

Question: Who is the target market?

ORAMADIKE: The target market is everybody; look at what we are saying about life expectancy. Our life is very important but people take it for granted and that is as a result of ignorance. It’s just like when people choose to buy clothes rather than send their children to school. So we want people to redirect their priorities. So my dear, it is not too expensive if you have to spend 200 naira to buy a bottle of oil that will preserve your life, rather than going to overseas for medical treatment, infact most people cannot even afford to go to overseas, if we do not look it this way, we will not realize that we are in an alarming situation.

Question:  what are the unique selling points that Goya Olive oil has over other coking oils when it is used for cooking and what unique qualities does it confer on your cooking when its is used for cooking?

ORAMADIKE: the major selling point that Goya oil has is that it is healthy oil for cooking. You are not getting too much cholesterol like you have in palm oil and all other kinds of oil vegetable oil, eg groundnut oil, cottonseed oil and the rest of the oils. You are sure that what you are eating is healthy. When it is Olive Oil, it is healthy, that is what we are telling people, that you are having oil that will save and prolong your life, oil that will reduce your chance of having heart attack, something that will reduce cholesterol, something that will keep your blood level low. That is the major thing we are telling people that is the oil of God that this is the oil of life. That is the major selling point.
The second thing is that the oil is very tasty, my wife uses it, when you use it to cook, the aroma is beautiful. If you have not used it, you will not understand what we are talking about, try it in your house, you will see what I am talking about. 

Question: Goya used to be known as a spiritual oil, now that you are bringing it down to a cooking oil, what measures are you putting in place to ensure that this oil is not going to be faked?   
       
ORAMADIKE:  The major questions are, do we have fakes and what are we doing about it? We are aware that there are fakes, it is a common phenomenon in our part of the world, everything that is good comes in both original and fake. Now what are we doing? This very meeting is part of the campaign, to tell people, look, be careful about what you are buying. When you go to the market they will ask you, do you want number one or number two? Goya Olive oil is one, when they ask you do you want number two, what they are selling is fake, and anyone they tell you is number two is the fake one. Most of the times, they are in plastic bottles, that is four cornered. They go to buy vegetable oil, and package it and call it Goya oil. The easiest way to know is when you go to the market, ask them if they have number two. If they say that they have, just know that it is fake. Also Goya is in Glass bottles, it is only the three liters that is in a metal canister. We use this opportunity to thank NAFDAC. They have helped us so much; the police men have also helped us so much in trying to apprehend the fakers, those who do not want Nigerians to live long. They will bottle inferior quality vegetable oil and sell to people to drink as olive oil. It is wickedness, so we are aware of this. So we are asking you pressmen to please come to our aid, help us, help NAFDAC, to tell people that Goya is one. If they tell you that there is a number two, tell them that it is a lie. Goya is in small bottles, anyone in plastic bottle is fake. 

Question:   Apart from the bottle, is there any distinguishing feature between the fake and the original?

ORAMADIKE: The distinguishing feature is in the taste and the unfortunate thing is that by the time you taste, you have already bought. But we are working on it, we are going to have some security seals. Right now we do not want to confuse the public; we just want to go on with this campaign until we have a security system that will block the prevalence of fakes. Our people are very smart, if you announce it to the press now, before you have finished, the fakers have gotten what you want to do. But we are concerned about the brand and we are also concerned about the people. Our priority is not just to make money, but also to safeguard lives. We do not want people to be drinking vegetable oil in the name of Olive oil. People should also know that EKULO is the sole importer and distributor of Goya in Nigeria. The original is in bottle, but the fakes are also in bottle, but the fact is that the fakers know themselves. Now they are becoming afraid because we are using NAFDAC and the police and some market organizations to chase them and all the original ones have NAFDAC number. 

Question: The movement from the pulpit to the kitchen is going to be a challenging one because of people’s perceptions of this oil as being meant for spiritual purposes, are you organizing experiential strategies to enable people connect with this change faster?

ORAMADIKE: we are organizing campaign and jingles. But then you know that habit issues are not issues that you enforce, they are what people adapt to over time. We are also having so many interviews in the print media, we are disseminating information in church bulletins, and we are trying to educate people on the dual purpose of Goya as being good for both spiritual and nutritional purposes. We also educate people on the health benefits of cooking with Olive oil, and with time, we will also get into cooking and we try some other forms of experimentation, but for now, we want to tell the story, we want to inform the people, through print, through radio, through television, and through the outdoor, we are just coming up gradually but we believe that over time, people are conscious of their life, that is why people go to India, go to America, London and so on, for their health. So when they know that so when they know that it is better to cook with this oil and you are healthy, it will help us to change our attitude. 

Question:  moving Goya from the pulpit to the kitchen is going to create demands as a result of increased consumption, what measures are you putting in place to ensure availability? 

ORAMADIKE: we assure health and life loving Nigerians that Goya extra virgin Olive oil will be available. It is our business to make sure and we will make all the necessary provisions to make sure that it is available and also that it is within the reach of every Nigerian, and that that will not in any way push up price. We assure people that it is going to be available and that it will not push up price. We have the logistics that can do it. We assure our customers that it will not be scarce. 

Question: which partnerships are you putting in place, because whether you like it or not, this product as a consumable, is going to be meant for the A-B class, before it transcends. These people have their own hangouts, places where they go to eat and unwind. Which partnerships are you forming with some big hotels that will directly leverage on their size and prominence to sell this product?

ORAMADIKE: we have sent letters, infact we have a marketing department that is handling that. It is not only hotels; we also make sure that it is in chain supermarkets in the country, not only the oil, the olive seed also you can find them in big shops. So we do not think that that is going to pose a problem because we are already working on that. They serve it in most hotels, it is a delicacy that if you request for Olive oil, they will use it to prepare some dishes for you. We are there already, it is not a problem, we appreciate the reactions of Nigerians.



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Made in Africa Foundation Signs Key Co-operation Agreement with Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation to Promote Progress in Africa



3 Jun 2013 07:00 Africa/Lagos

Made in Africa Foundation Signs Key Co-operation Agreement with Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation to Promote Progress in Africa 

 MARRAKECH, Morocco, June 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Ozwald Boateng's Foundation shows a new way in Marrakech, with co-operation agreement, and hosting spectacular gala.

The innovative Made In Africa Foundation's principle of bringing together the continent's skillsets to co-operate towards economic progress bore significant fruit with the signing of the Marrakech Undertaking by the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation - a recognition of both foundations' mutual obligations to assist in the development of the continent, focusing on transformational infrastructure projects.

The Made in Africa Foundation was created by Ozwald Boateng OBE, and Atlantic Energy CEO and philanthropist Kola Aluko solely to address the slow progress on infrastructure projects in Africa, despite political consensus. The Foundation is raising funds in Africa and abroad to produce the feasibility studies that can unlock the billions in capital already raised, but waiting for robust and bankable projects.

President Olusegun Obasanjo established the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, a UK-based charity, with the mission to improve human security across Africa through initiatives in agriculture, promotion of youth empowerment and employment, support for girls' education, and combating non-communicable diseases by bringing together government, non-governmental organizations and private citizens to confront these issues.

In addition to the signing of the Understanding, the Made in Africa Foundation created a stunning celebration of African progress around the IC Publications' African Bankers Awards, with an eclectic fashion show and electrifying musical performances by John Legend and Youssou N'Dour, with Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) and Akon as DJs. The event was attended by 400 leaders of the world's banking and investment community, and further VIPs and celebrity supporters, including Mo Ibrahim, Cecilia Sarkozy, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Isaiah Washington, South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, and Scott Aitken (co-CEO,Atlantic Energy).

Ozwald Boateng commented:



"This is a very exciting meeting of minds.  When Africans come together, they're able to achieve amazing ambitions.  Together, our Foundations will be able to promote growth and solutions for youth employment, small and medium enterprise, and regional champions, throughout Africa."

Anne Welsh, Chair of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, commented:



 "Africa needs infrastructure to create employment opportunities for the large population of youths on the continent. The OOF is indeed proud to be a partner in an initiative that has the potential to shift many young people out of poverty and give them a sense of purpose for the future. Success will mean the continent can benefit for generations to come."

John Legend encouraged the guests:



"We know there are a lot more big things to come in Africa, and we're excited to celebrate this Made in Africa initiative. I'm excited because I believe there's so much potential."

http://www.olusegunobasanjofoundation.org
http://www.presidentolusegunobasanjo.org
 
CONTACT: Anne Welsh | Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, Chairperson, Tel: +44(0)207-786-6724, Mob: +44(0)778-964-2092, Email: chair@olusegunobasanjofoundation.org ; For further information, plus photo and video content: Toby Burnham | Made In Africa Foundation, Tel: +44(0)7990-555-290, toby@tbcomms.com



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Sunday, June 2, 2013

Odia Ofeimun Speaks On Nollywood: Nigeria’s Mirror



This past summer on a rainy June afternoon, I spent a few hours interviewing Nigerian poet and critic, Odia Ofeimun. I met him while co-producing a radio documentary about Nollywood (streaming in full here). Odia has been writing about life in Lagos for the last forty years. His observations reflect many of the key tensions in contemporary Nigerian life. The following quotes are culled from my interview with him (some audio of that interview embedded below) at his home in the Oregun section of Lagos.


On Nollywood

“When Nollywood gets it right, there is something marvelous in having your stories told in a way that you can just lap up like syrup. Even when you know that the story has been badly told, you still want to know what comes next. There is a self-flattering in it for many Africans. And beyond that, people are generally looking for answers for questions that they don’t have answers to, and you can’t be too sure whether the next film might provide an answer.

People swallow it like gospel. In some African countries, when an original film star is visiting, you would think it is a head of state — and that is part of what makes it bothersome for me. Young people don’t get their own history told in the right way. In many Nollywood films, it is not about getting it right. It’s not about representation.

Many people do not like the word representation. But there is a need for us to know what a human face looks like before you bring to it all the jazziness that artists sometimes bring to it. In art, if you did not have those well-realized Roman noses and facial structures, the kind of things that Picasso had to do would be more difficult to understand. It’s like trying to understand African art without seeing those original Ife forms that were styled to match nature.
The standard Nollywood narrative pays very little attention to knowledge as knowledge, in which case you are not allowing the storytelling to dictate what is knowable. There is a reality before the story.”



. Recommended Reading on Nollywood:



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