U.S. To Finance Anti-militant TV Channel In Northern Nigeria

U.S. To Finance Anti-militant TV Channel In Northern Nigeria

 The New York Times reported The United States is financing a new 24-hour satellite TV channel in northern Nigeria meant to counter insurgencies by the militant Islamist Boko Haram and other groups in ...

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Photo of the Week: President Jonathan United With Former Military Heads of State, General Abdusalami and APC leader General Buhari

 This is our Photo of the Week.
Former Military Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar, APC leader General Muhammadu Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan exchanging pleasantries yesterday at a political meeting in Abuja.

Click on the photo to enlarge it.

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Top 10 Nigerian Banks With Best Corporate Etiquette

If you could Frankenstein a bank together from the best banks that are getting aspects of customer engagement right today, would it be possible to construct a sort of best-practice bank?  
~ From Building the Best-Practice Engagement Bank By Brett King (Author - Bank 2.0) and Alex Sion (Sapient Financial Services - Centre of Excellence).

Is there anything like Corporate Etiquette in Nigerian banks?
Do Nigerian banks have a code of conduct for public relations and corporate reputation?

Majority of Nigerian banks are actually mid-size banks (assets of $1 billion to $40 billion) by international rating of financial institutions and no Nigerian bank makes the list of the Top 10 Richest Banks in Africa.
Nigerian banks have failed to attract over 23 million Nigerian adults who prefer to keep their money at home because they don’t have bank accounts. Or they don't trust Nigerian banks?
What can the banks do to attract them?
Improving their corporate etiquette and treating both their customers and visitors with RESPECT.

What makes any bank rich is the size of the customers, because the more customers you have the more money you will have and that is why you see many Nigerian banks sending their marketers on the streets to chase and woo new customers.  The customer is still king. And if you want influential customers, you must respect and treat every influential visitor like royalty, because the first impression matters to every visitor who may not be your customer at first visit.. Showing some respect goes a long way in impressing your visitors and turning them into customers. It was the word of mouth good public relations of Guaranty Trust Bank and Zenith  Bank that attracted me to bank with them. And I always recommend them to everyone. Word of mouth is loudest in Nigeria and it is now a known fact that Influencer Marketing is not synonymous with word of mouth marketing (WOM), but influence may be transmitted in this manner. Thus WOM is a core part of the mechanics of Influencer Marketing. But many banks in Nigeria seem to be clueless about Influencer Marketing and fail to see the fact that what attracts more customers to a bank is not the aggressive marketing methods, but simple customer relations and public relations making up the corporate relations of the bank. And the corporate reputation of a bank depends on the corporate relations. Bad corporate relations causes bad corporate reputation. But many of the Nigerian banks take their corporate reputation for granted and you wonder whether if they even have any corporate etiquette. Only few banks in Nigeria can be commended for having the best corporate etiquette to guaranty the best corporate relations for the best corporate reputation and from word of mouth reports by customers of all the Nigerian banks, we can actually name the top ten banks with the best corporate etiquette in the following order.

1. Guaranty Trust Bank
2. Zenith Bank
3. First Bank 
4. Standard Chartered Bank
5. Stanbic-IBTC 
6. United Bank for Africa
7. Diamond Bank
8. Fidelity Bank
9.  First City Monument Bank
10. Skye Bank

We recommend the Oxford University Centre for Corporate Reputation for the other banks that have not made the list.

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Akokwa Christian Elites in Lagos Hold 2014 Eminent Persons Dinner

 Dr. Uche Ogah, OON, the President, Masters Energy Group.

AKOKWA CHRISTIAN ELITES HOLDS 2014 EMINENT PERSONS’ DINNER 

An independent and politically neutral group of highly accomplished indigenes of the Akokwa Community in Imo State of Nigeria, known as Akokwa Christian Elites, will host its annual dinner on Saturday June 14th 2014 at the main banquet hall of the Lagos Sheraton and Towers Hotel.

 

Akokwa Christian Elites is made up of businessmen and women, professionals, intellectuals and other categories of peace loving and socially constructive men and women who believe in the supremacy of God and who live a life guided by Him through the Christian faith. The group in its entirety believes that God is the source of all providence and is committed to efforts towards the provision of good living conditions for everyone, as right of all Akokwa indigenes. Astute in their nation building efforts, their primary focus is Akokwa community where they foster positive changes in the lives of the indigenes but their activities inspire community efforts in the surrounding environs where they are viewed as excellent examples. The group desires to see truth, honesty, love, integrity and fear of God prevail above all other things in Akokwa.

 

They aim to increase positive aspirations among all, especially the young and developing generations by inviting distinguished citizens of Nigeria with Godly charisma as Guest Speakers and role models at the annual dinner party.

Previous editions have hosted distinguished Nigerians like Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa of Neimeth International Pharmaceutical Plc., and former Chairman Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Tony Ewelike, CEO, A. G Homes, Arc. Azike Diribe, a First class Architect of the Integrated Consortium, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Administration, Professor Pat Utomi of the Lagos Business School, His Excellency Rt Honourable Senator Anyim Pius Anyim (GCON) Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Bar. James Ocholi (SAN), the Pro-Chancellor of Salem University, Kogi State,Arc Ifeanyi Odedo, Managing Director, Sharon Ultimate and Sharon Regency Hotels, Abuja.
 

The 2014 dinner will host as guest speaker, Dr. Uche Ogah(OON),the President, Masters Energy Group.

 

 

~ By  Mr. Ingram Adichie Osigwe

   MD/CEO Fullpage International Communications Limited, Lagos, Nigeria.

 

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New Guide for Families Flying with Children

New Guide for Families Flying with Children

Family Vacation Critic breaks down family-friendly amenities of popular U.S. air carriers

PENNINGTON, N.J., June 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- With more people flying this summer than in the past six years (210 million passengers are expected to fly on U.S. carriers from 6/1-8/31*), Family Vacation Critic, has released a family-friendly airline guide for families who are planning to fly with young children over summer break.

The new airline guide breaks down family-friendly amenities by airline, including:

• Pre-boarding for families with children
• The option to carry young toddlers on an adult's lap
• Diaper changers
• Discounted child fares
• Kids meals
• The ability to heat bottles
• Kid-friendly entertainment
• Wi-Fi access
• Stroller gate check

"When traveling with young children, one of the more stressful parts of the trip can be just getting to the destination," says Lissa Poirot, editor of Family Vacation Critic. "When it comes to air travel, there are a number of factors for parents to consider – bigger things, like whether there will be onboard kids meals or kid-friendly entertainment, and more specific concerns like if the airline will heat a baby bottle or if passengers can gate check strollers. As airlines continue to alter their onboard experiences, it's tough to keep track of what specific airlines offer – particularly for families. Knowing the answers ahead of time can help parents search for flights on carriers that provide what they need, or help to be better prepared for the journey ahead of time."

For the full breakdown of family-friendly amenities by airline, visit Family Vacation Critic's Family-Friendly Airline Guide.
* Summer Air Travel Forecast from Airlines for America

About Family Vacation CriticFamily Vacation Critic^® is a comprehensive online travel resource for families that offers reviews of family hotels, resort and destinations. The site features vacation ideas, family travel tips and an online forum for family travelers. Family Vacation Critic is published by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, Inc.

TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) manages and operates websites under 21 other travel media brands: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.everytrail.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.gateguru.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.jetsetter.com, www.niumba.com, www.onetime.com, www.oyster.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.com, www.travelpod.com, www.virtualtourist.com, www.whereivebeen.com, and www.kuxun.cn. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 260 million unique monthly visitors*, and more than 125 million reviews and opinions covering more than 3.1 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions.

*Source: Google Analytics, worldwide data, July 2013
Family Vacation Critic and The Independent Traveler are either trademarks or registered trademarks of The Independent Traveler, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2014 The Independent Traveler, Inc. All rights reserved.

Media Contact:Aubrey Manzo
(609) 730-9155 ext. 274
aubrey@familyvacationcritic.com
SOURCE Family Vacation Critic

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Private Sector Demand for Bank Credit in Nigeria and other Emerging Markets To Grow 45% by 2018

Private sector demand for bank credit in the emerging markets to grow 45% by 2018

Underlying potential outweighs short-term volatility for banks in emerging markets 
 

New York June 9, 2014 / PRNewswire / — Emerging markets have been the principal driver of global growth in the last five years and are expected to continue growing at twice the rate of developed markets. As a result, banks in emerging markets expect improved financial performance, despite facing challenges of rising costs, intensifying competition and tougher regulatory burdens, finds a new EY report, Banking in emerging markets: Investing for success. 

 

The report is based on a survey of more than 50 leading financial services institutions and over 9,000 retail banking customers in emerging markets. The report identifies three challenges for banks looking to emerging markets as a growth opportunity:

• Tougher regulation: Regulators in the emerging markets are moving to catch up with, or in some cases get ahead of, regulators in developed markets. Eighty-two percent of survey respondents in established markets, 81% in transitional markets and 66% in frontier markets expect the volume of regulation their banks face to increase in the next 12 months.
• Increasing costs: The average operating expense for 50 leading emerging market banks has risen 81% in last four years from US$3.6b in 2009 to US$6.5b in 2013, driven by increased funding, labor and investment costs.
• Intensifying competition: New entrants to the market, including foreign banks and non-banks, are intensifying levels of competition. Seventy-one percent of customers in the markets we surveyed now have relationships with multiple banking providers. And 79% of this year’s respondents said they were experiencing competition for deposits as an industry challenge, compared to 65% last year.

Jan Bellens, EY’s Global Banking & Capital Markets Emerging Markets Leader, says:
“Success in these emerging markets is not straightforward, but there is great potential for those banks that get it right. In order to be successful in the long-term, banks must focus on designing the right business model and developing strong execution capabilities – learning and adapting from what banks have done well and not-so-well in both developed and other emerging countries.”
To overcome the challenges successfully, banks must think beyond immediate fixes and plan to invest in the following three areas:

• Investing in technology: EY estimates that bank credit to the private sector in the 11 markets studied will grow from around US$3.5t in 2013 to US$5.1t in 2018, triggering a need for significant investment in technology across emerging markets. Banks must invest in IT to provide new, low-cost ways to reach customers in markets with limited infrastructure, better assess credit risks, build enduring customer relationships and improve operations.
• Investing in people: Despite the growing cost pressure, the war on (capable) talent in the emerging markets continues, with 44% of bankers expecting headcount to grow, especially in business lines that are experiencing especially high-growth or involve more intensive levels of customer service, such as premium and private banking. With banks needing to invest in both the front and the back office, employee-led innovation and efficiency programs are key to delivering new services profitably.
• Building partnerships: Banks can plug skills and capacity gaps through collaboration with companies in other industries such as telecoms and technology, as well as other financial institutions. This will be essential for banks looking to expand rapidly into new markets, products and services.

The report focuses on 11 rapid growth markets defined as being at either a frontier, established or transitional stage of maturity. The report defines the three stages of maturity as:

• Frontier: Per capita GDP below US$2,000, the point at which deposit and savings products appear. Nascent capital markets with depth under 50% of GDP. (Kenya, Nigeria, Vietnam)
• Transitional: These markets lie between the other two groups. At least 30% of the population typically has bank accounts and the capital markets are further developed. (Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia)
• Established: These markets have exceeded US$8,000 per capita GDP, the point at which credit products become established. Capital market depth of over 125% of GDP. (Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Turkey, South Africa)

Each market presents its own unique challenges, but there are specific areas that international, regional and domestic banks can address now through strategic investments.
According to Steven Lewis, Lead Global Banking Analyst at EY:
“Domestic banks in these markets are already starting to strengthen risk management and improve capital and business efficiency, which will underpin profitable growth. However, if they want to keep pace with the growth of their customers, as businesses expand overseas and personal wealth in these markets increases, they will need to find ways to overcome skill and capability gaps or risk losing these customers to larger global players.”

-Ends-

Notes to editors

Read the full report to understand how banks can seize the opportunities that emerging markets present and take a closer look at the trends outlined in the survey by visiting ey.com/bankingbeyondbrics

 About the EY Global Banking & Capital Markets Center
In today's globally competitive and highly regulated environment, managing risk effectively while satisfying an array of divergent stakeholders is a key goal of banks and securities firms. EY brings together worldwide teams of professionals to help you achieve your potential – teams with deep technical experience in providing assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The Center works to anticipate market trends, identify the implications and develop points of view on relevant industry issues. Ultimately, it enables us to help you meet your goals and compete more effectively. It's how EY makes a difference. 

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.

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Pierce Brosnan in Nigeria

Lest we forget.

Pierce Brosnan, the Irish actor, film producer and environmentalist who is famous for his romantic thrilling role as James Bond (1995–2005) in GoldenEye, 1995, Tomorrow Never Dies, 1997, The World Is Not Enough, 1999 and Die Another Day, 2002 was in Nigeria in 1990 to play a leading role as a British colonial officer "Harry Rudbeck" in Mister Johnson, an American drama film adaptation of a 1939 novel by Joyce Cary. The film won the Silver Bear at the 41st Berlin International Film Festival (1991) for Best Actor for British Nigerian actor Maynard Eziashi as "Mister Johnson".

The film was shot in Toro, a Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria.
Read Roger Ebert's excellent review on http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mister-johnson-1991.  

Cast
Maynard Eziashi as Mister Johnson
Pierce Brosnan as Harry Rudbeck
Edward Woodward as Sargy Gollup
Beatie Edney as Celia Rudbeck
Denis Quilley as Bulteen
Nick Reding as Tring
Bella Enahoro as Bamu
Femi Fatoba as Waziri
Kwabena Manso as Benjamin
Hubert Ogunde as Brimah (as Chief Hubert Ogunde)
Sola Adeyemi as Ajali
Jerry Linus as Saleh
George Menta as Emil



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Campaign for Democracy Mourns Dora Akunyili

 Dr. Dora Nkem Akunyili (July 14, 1954 – June 7, 2014).

CD Mourns Dora Akunyili

The Campaign for Democracy (CD) mourns the death of Nigeria's former Information Minister, Prof Dora Akunyili who passed on in an Indian Hospital on Saturday.
The strong and brave woman fought  her last battle with cancer which she has just lost at the age of 59.

She will always be remembered for her doggedness,tenacity and courageous pursuit of ideals both as Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Minister of Information.
She displayed exemplary candour in the moment  of constitutional crisis in Nigeria  in 2010 when she boldly joined patriotic Nigerians to speak boldly against the cabal that wanted to drag the country to the precipice over a succession that ought to have been a cinch.

Her exemplary patriotism was further displayed when she showed up at the National Conference in spite of the toll the illness had taken on her physical appearance.
Now she is free from it all to take her deserved rest.

It is our prayer that God grant her soul eternal rest and protect the family she left behind.
Goodnight our sweet Dora!


~ Dr. Joe Okei - Odumakin
   President
  Campaign for Democracy (CD)  

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Dear Dora Akunyili, How Can I Join in Singing this Sad Song?

O tempora, O mores! 
O the times, O the manners! 
Sic transit gloria mundi 
So passes the glory of the world.

How can I join in singing this sad song?
For many things have gone wrong
This is not our Nigerian Dream.
When we can no longer fetch drinking water from the stream.

No wonder the heavens wept angrily yesterday
And the Iroko fell where our elders lay
Our hearts are breaking
As our heroes are fleeing
And our mothers are weeping.
But our innocent children are still playing.
For the stars are still twinkling
Our stars shine brightest in the darkest night
And our shadows are even dancing in the sunlight.
For we will not stop singing Hallelujah
And let our chorus echo beyond Handel's Messiah!

Rest in peace Ada Nne Dora Akunyili.


 ~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

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Ado Bayero, the Greatest Emir Since the Independence of Nigeria is Gone

 Alhaji Dr. Ado Abdullahi Bayero (CFR, LLD, JP) (25 July 1930 – 6 June 2014) was the Emir of Kano in Nigeria.

He was a great emir who loved Nigeria and believed in the Nigerian Dream of a united Nigeria in the leadership of Africa. May his soul rest in peace.

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