Thursday, August 26, 2010


ZAIN IN N25MILLION CONTRACT MESS
One of Nigeria’s telecommunication providers, Zain Nigeria, which has changed its name many times, is in the news again. The latest crisis borders on breach of contract with one of Nigeria’s on-air personality, Femi Sowoolu.
Femi Sowoolu, who is also notable as a voice- over artiste is seeking a legal action against the Oba Otudeko-led company for refusing to pay the sum of N25 million against an agreement reached on a service rendered for the production of the radio and television commercials of the company’s products.
Reliable sources revealed that the contract was awarded to Femi Sowoolu when the telecommunication provider just arrived in the country as ‘Econet Wireless’ few years ago. And after the deal was signed and sealed, the now Continental 102.3 FM’s Director of Radio Programmes was learnt to have produced enough commercial jingles that worth N25million, which lasted Econet for a year.
The jingles, according to the contract agreement, would be aired for five years, but the contract was still on when the company was acquired then by Vmobile, which used the jingle till it metamorphosed into Zain.
An impeccable source added that, while Femi thought he had landed a juicy deal, Econet pulled a fast one on him by having the contract cancelled and offered paltry sum of amount against the N25m agreed on. The cancellation was attached to the change in name of the telecomm company from Econet to Vmobile, later to Vodacom, then Celtel and recently Zain.
Those who should know alleged that when Femi approached Zain about the said debt, he was turned down and told that the company that owed him had liquidated.
Femi was however, said to have turned the table turned around for the telecomm provider when he headed for the courts to seek redress.
Zain was alleged by sources to have stalled the case in order to frustrate Femi, hoping that he would reach a compromise with the company. Though, Zain, which may have spent triple of what should have been paid Femi on the case, is also being alleged of trying to sweep the case under the carpet.
Femi was said to have adopted the slogan of ‘no retreat no surrender’ and has allegedly vowed to see to the end of the case that keeps getting adjournments.
None of the staffers of the company was willing to speak to the press on the matter to avoid being charged for court contempt, while Femi also declined to comment on the matter.
MALTA GOLD CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY WITH PROMO
With a desire to increase the excitement around Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary, Malt Gold, a non-alcoholic beverage brand of Sona Breweries, launched an Independence Anniversary Promo aptly tagged, ‘Catch This Offer’ through which it plans to dole out 1.7 million free drinks, 10, 000 footballs,
130, 000 exercise books and 200, 000 biros to its esteemed consumers. The ‘Catch This Offer’ promo which began this month, is scheduled to run till the 31st of October, 2010.
cording to the Group Brand Manager, Mr Clement Agboma, “we are celebrating Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee with great opportunities for our consumers and indeed all Nigerians to win some fantastic instant prizes.” He also said that apart from the prizes that would be won during the course of the promo, the major benefit of the “Catch This Offer” is to reintroduce Nigerians to the nutritious malt drink, which is brewed using 100 percent local produce.
Mr Felix Aighobani, the General Manager of the company added that the objective of the promo was to connect the brand with the consumers across the country. “We are grateful to all our customers who have embraced this new product with consistent patronage.” He described the promo as consumer friendly because the modalities of winning were so simple that anyone in the family would know if they win any of the prizes. “All they have to do is buy a bottle of Malta Gold, look under the crown cork and collect their prize immediately from where they bought the drink if it is a registered dealer or from the redemption centre in their vicinity”. He added that redemptions centers had been created in various locations around the country to make collection of prizes easy for the winners “they are our honored customers and we want to make the experience as pleasant as possible.” According to him, Sona Breweries was birthed in Nigeria for Nigerians and the company’s investment is excelling due to the customers understanding and support of their products, in return the company would continue to be closer to the customers in the various ways so that the synergy from the union would further grow the business which has succeeded in creating employment opportunities for teeming Nigerians in various ways. He said, “the Management of the Breweries who had expressed a desire for a continuous improvement in the efficiency of its functions, sustaining the quality of its brands’ strengthens its relationships with the customers and other stakeholders. Aighobani went on to say that the nutritious family drink is a non-alcoholic malt drink which boasts of vitamins B1, B2, B6 and C for extra energy. “It is made up of malted sorghum, maize, caramel, hops and sucrose – all these combine to make Malta Golda tasty nutritious food drink enriched with vitamins required for good health.
The nutritious malt drink with the distinct color properties of gold, brown and orange is bottled in the traditional 33cl malt drink bottle and packaged in 6 tray packers and 24 bottle crates. It is also available in 33cl aluminum CANS.
INTEGRATED TROOPS BOSS, DEMOLA ADEDOYIN IN PAIN OVER LOSS OF OMO DETERGENT ACCOUNT
The Managing Director of Integrated troops, 'Demola Adedoyin is in pains over the loss of its major accounts from the stable of Unilever PLC, OMO detergent. The account which has been with the company since inception more than five years ago, according to a reliable source, was withdrawn from it due to the poor management of the brand coupled with the removal of the loyalists of the company from Unilever management level after the recent reshuffle of management staff of the company.
Impeccable sources revealed that before his resignation from Unilever, where he was the Activation Manager, Demola used his post to divert the jobs of many products from Unilever to his company, Integrated Troops.
Those who should know divulged that against Demola’s claim that he resigned from Unilever, he was sent packing when it was discovered by the management that he has been using his influence to divert contracts to his personal company, and quote huge amount of money.
Sources revealed that Demola is so much in pain over the loss of the account of OMO detergent because it is the major account of Integrated Troops through which it rakes millions of naira annually from Unilever.
It was also alleged that the first phase of the promotions of OMO detergent, which was handled by his company, produced ghost winners and many items that were to be given to winners were found in the market.
Informants also alleged that OMO Door to Door Stain Challenge promo, which is billed to go across the country, was supposed to be handled by Integrated Troops, but was giving to another agency for activation.
Reliable sources alleged that the reason Unilever continue to give him activation contract was the fact that his company was acquired by Genity Holdings under the management of some foreign guys, but the expatriates pulled out after some months based on. Demola’s attitude towards the expatriate. When a call was put through to Mr.’Demola about the loss of the account on phone, he did pick our call and he did not reply our text message.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

TONY ELUMELU FOUNDATION READY TO DEBUT
-Shop for CEO
The Tony Elumelu Foundation, a newly formed charitable foundation dedicated to promoting excellence in business management, entrepreneurship and leadership across Africa, is looking to recruit an inaugural Executive Director/CEO.
The search, which is being conducted globally, will lead to the appointment of a CEO that will direct the affairs of the foundation and be responsible for driving its programmes and raising co-sponsor, alliance and partnership, and executing the crucial first step in implementing the foundation’s strategy.
The foundation aims to act as a catalyst for the high demand of business education and managerial talent across Africa continent and globally. The Foundation intends to do for the corporate world what similar institutions have done for civil society with the objective to establish an institution that will groom business leaders specifically in the African context.
Tony Elumelu is widely acknowledged as one of Africa’s most influential business leaders. He is the creative force behind the United Bank for Africa, responsible for transforming a single country focused bank into a Pan African institution, now serving over 7 million accounts in 16 Africa countries and operating in three continents.
He is a true African agent for change, creating economic empowerment across the continent.
Mr. Tony Elumelu retires from UBA group as chief executive at the end of July 2010. The foundation is therefore an expression of his entrepreneurial vision to create a model institution for the support of business management, entrepreneurship and leadership in the continent.

AVEDGE LIMITED PIONEERED MULTI-MEDIA SERVICES IN NIGERIA
-Omololu Durojaiye, Managing Director
Born and bred in Lagos, Omololu can be rightly addressed as a true son of the soil. After graduating form the Lagos State University, he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism he is currently studying for a master’s degree on Media and Communication in Pan Africa University, Lagos. With experience in advertising marketing/production, Omololu delved into a virgin business, Multimedia and Large Screen Services in Africa as a whole few years back and the rest is now history as he renders first of its kind services to multinational brands across the country.
A&B caught up with the hardworking dude in his tastefully furnished office in Ogba, Lagos recently, where he revealed the secret of his success and why he won’t relax on his oars in providing best services.

What inspired you into audio/visual productions
It wasn’t an inspiration, but something that came up due to necessity. It’s a common thing that you see people leaving their places of work to do what his/her boss has been doing. While thinking of what to do, a friend called me and told me there is an audio-visual job was needed to cover major cities in the country. It was a feature film of a multimedia services and being a new line of business in the country, I quickly put things together and now Multimedia and Large Screen Services has really come to stay.

What are the challenges before and after setting up the business
The major challenge is finance. The little money I had when I left my former place of work was used for the purchase of equipments for the job. In the business, the integrity I have built has really made me to survive most challenges. Another challenge is that of structure, from acquiring an office space to even opening of company’s account. Even getting professionals to do the job is another problem. Using third party supply to execute client’s job is the secret of the success of the job. You get to make more profit when you ask the third party to supply all the equipment and personnel. If you try to go through the stress of doing it yourself, you will get it messed up. Moreover, clients won’t give you prior notice, they will only call few hours before the job and tell you they are not paying for the set and you have to deliver to get another job. You don’t have any option than to call a third party and watch them do the job under your supervision.

Who are your major clients
Everybody, when I say everybody what I mean is that Nigeria is a mono-client industry. You have the same set of people given out the job. If it’s not the banks, it will be the telecoms companies. We do individuals too, but not always because doing individual multimedia is always challenging. For example, an individual event won’t give you the space needed for you to set up properly, calculating the amount chairs that ought to occupy that space, but a corporate event knows that audio visual is part of what cannot be ignored. The truth is that an individual will give you your money up front, but this comes with many challenges. I have done a multimedia for an individual who didn’t dance when the party started, but decided to dance when we were parking and the DJ played one of his favourite songs. He insisted that the DJ should continue and he wanted to watch himself on the screen as he danced. Can you stop him from doing so? And this is what cannot happen in a corporate event. Actually, we are restructuring with the intention of going back to my first love, which include production of audio visual, light and documentary and many more.

So, what is your dream for this company
The truth is I will like to build a company that will outlive me, which means by the time I retire, my company will still be existing
HOW FCBREDLINE GOT THE NIGERIA @ 50 LOGO DEAL
That of one Nigeria’s biggest public relations outfits, Fcbredline got a deal to design the Nigeria@50 logo is no news, but what is spreading like a wild fire in the industry is the allegation that the egg head of CentrespreadFcb (the sister company of Fcbredline), Mr. Kolawole Ayanwale paid some top government officials whooping amount of money to secure the contract.
The logo which has been unveil in Abuja few months back was alleged to have been made below standard but was ignored by the top government official who had benefited from Mr. Ayanwale alleged N10 million largeese. It was even rumored that the brain behind the logo design has not been paid for the design, and that he was not even acknowledged.
Clearing air on the issue, the Managing Director of Fcbredline, Esan Sunday, debunked all the allegations and revealed that there was no point Mr. Ayanwale did not attend any meeting in Abuja with the top government officials and that he doesn’t have any direct contact with the committee in-charge of the contract. Soft-spoken Esan added that his chairman did not bribe any government official despite the fact that seven agencies bided for the contract.
Those who should know added that though the Federal Government budgeted N310 million for the logo and torch light, and that Fcbredline got the deal owning to the fact that it’s one of the few public relations agencies in Nigeria that has integrity and ready to deliver with little or no brief.
THERMOSAFE GEL STOVE IS FIRST OF ITS KIND IN AFRICA
-Kanu Chibueze, Executive Director, Zargos Nigeria limited

At a period when electricity and petroleum products have become gold, Zagos Services Limited has launched a first of its kind technology called, Thermosafe Gel Stove. The stove uses no gas, no kerosene or electricity, but a gel extracted from both ethanol and sugarcane. In an interview with A&B, the company’s executive, is a graduate of the Nnamdi Azikwe University, Anambra and a seasoned business man with experience across the world explained what led him into the innovation and how all Nigerians can benefit from the first of its kind technology.

How did you came across this innovation
With came across Thermosafe Stove Technology after a thorough research. Actually, in a bid to do something different and effective, while I was abroad, I met the real brain behind the technology and I applied for the franchise, which was granted and I said to myself; Africans must experience this. It’s a product that guarantees safety and health wise it’s safe. I first introduced it to Nigeria during a church crusade and the patronage was massive. What I explore is the fact that Nigerians are presently going through either scarcity of kerosene and gas or no electricity to cook with. This innovation needs none of that but a gel extracted from both ethanol and sugarcane that serve as fuel.

How does the stove work
It’s easy to use. Follow the instruction of setting up the stove, pour the gel in the container beneath the burner and put the lid. Adjust the gauge to number one, then light with your matches. A 750ml of the gel can burn for more than four hours and it won’t stain your cooking pots. It’s hazard free in the sense that it won’t bring carbon monoxide whenever you put the light off. It’s safe, most especially at this period when the whole world is preaching global warming and climate change.

What are the challenges facing the innovation
Our major challenge is getting the gel to the country. The gel is imported and it takes several months at the Nigeria ports before it can be cleared. After that, we have to go for NAFDAC clarifications and all these take a longer time. So, we decided to acquire lands in Nigeria to start the manufacturing of the gel. More than 80% of the raw materials are available in the country. Presently, we have hectares of land in Mowe-Ibafo, Ogun State to start the production of the gel instead of importing the product into the country. This is going to create employment for Nigerians and remove the cost of importation.
Another challenge is fund. Really, we need people to partner with us to make this dream a reality. We need corporate bodies or individuals to invest in this project and ‘am sure it’s a fertile land ready to be explored. We are presently in almost 13 states in Nigeria and ready to break new market grounds for us to be visible across the country.

Most Nigerians prefer to invest outside the country, what prompted you to invest here
Really, I don’t blame them considering the many vices you have to contend with here. I believe Nigeria is growing and we can all contribute our quota to make it grow well. I could have stayed back abroad to practice my business, but I said to myself that no place like home and I will like to contribute to the growth of the economy of my country.

Where do you want to see this technology in few years to come
I want it to become a household name that will be useful to all homes both in Nigeria and other African countries.
WEMA BANK DRAGS SAGAY TO EFCC OVER N2.8B CLAIM
Can a moribund company in a foreign land maintain an action in a Nigerian court against a Nigerian company? Is it legal to pay Garnishee sums in Nigeria directly to a solicitor or to the Judgment creditor?
These are some of the questions the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would be finding answers to in the next couple of weeks. The bank is asking the commission to unravel the motive behind the insistence of Mr. Mogbeyi Sagay (SAN) that its management should pay N2.8billion client’s claim into his account instead of the account of the Judgment creditor.
This particular case is one that has dragged on for about 41 years. It is a simple case of business gone sour. Going by a petition before the EFCC, it started with the defunct National Bank of Nigeria (NBN) standing as guarantor for Continental Motors and Engineering Ltd in a transaction involving Auto Import Export Ltd, a Romanian company.
On October 18, according to the petition, the Romanian company and Continental Motors Engineering Ltd entered into an agreement for the supply of vehicles and spare parts. And in May 1971, National Bank gave a 100 percent guarantee to Auto Import for the credit granted to Continental for the supply of goods worth $9.3million. Continental Motors however, defaulted in paying for the goods and NBN was thereafter called upon to cover the debt.
The bank actually fulfilled substantial part of the obligation. It paid a sizeable amount to the foreign company, leaving a balance of $1.7million with a written agreement to pay the outstanding sum through the issuance of three bills of exchange. With the issuance of the bills of exchange, which was endorsed by all the parties and sent to Auto Import, NBN then thought that it has been discharged from any further liability to the Romanian company. However, the event took another twist when the creditor claimed that the bills were not honoured when they were presented and a court process was instituted.
NBN had won at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal, but lost at the Supreme Court in 2005. The Court ruled that NBN should pay the $1.7million with interest from December 2, 1977 to July 16, 1986 at an interest rate of 12 percent per annum.
Armed with the judgment, Mr. Sagay, as counsel to the judgment creditor in January 2006, commenced a Garnishee proceeding at the Lagos High Court, which is the trial court demanding the sum of $15.3million. This time, Wema Bank was joined in the suit as it has acquired the NBN. However, what is curious to the management of the bank is that in his prayers, the solicitor was demanding that the garnishee sum be paid to and in the name of his company Messrs Mogbeyi Sagay & Co.
Surprised and uncomfortable with this prayer, the bank decided to verify the claim of the judgment creditor. According to officials of the bank in their letter to the EFCC, “judgment sum is always paid directly to the judgment creditor except where there is a Power of Attorney from such judgment creditor.” The management of the defunct NBN took the first action by asking its Legal Adviser, Mr. Oye Akintola to investigate the legal status of Auto Import Export. Mr. Oye found out from the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry that Auto Import Export was no longer a going concern in Romania .
“Further to the above and after the merger of NBN with Wema Bank Plc and in a bid to confirm that the Judgment Creditor is no longer in existence in Romania, the former Company Secretary/Legal Adviser Mr. Biodun Ogunlade, traveled to Romania on the order of its Board of Directors and visited the National Office of the Registrar of Commerce (equivalent to our Corporate Affairs Commission) in Bucharest, Romania.
“Mr. Ogunlade carried out a thorough investigation of the status of the Judgment Creditor and a report written in Romanian language and translated to English by Borsan Lilian Angela, a Romanian who is a sworn translator was obtained.
The English version of the report was authenticated by Serban Dunitresu – Bolintu, a Romanian Notary Public on 10th October, 2006. It was clearly stated in the reports that the judgment Creditor is no longer a going concern in Romania and that its name has been struck off the Register of Companies in Romania,” the bank stated in its petition.
The involvement of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has also helped to unravel the status of the Romanian company.
The ICPC sent one of its officers, Mr. Adeshina Raheem to Romania, with the officer coming up with the same report that Auto Import Export has folded up.
“The bank had presented the above facts to the trial court in the Garnishee proceedings, but was shocked that the judgment Creditor’s lawyer still maintains that the judgment creditor still exists in Romania and that one Lupu Nicolae is its general manager. When our Solicitors applied to court for the issuance of Subpoena ad Testificandum against Adriana Ghitesu, an officer in the National Office of the Registrar of Commerce in Romania and the said Mr. Lupu Nicolae, the alleged general manager of the judgment Creditor, to establish before the court that the judgment Creditor is no longer in existence, the application, which ordinarily should be handled administratively was turned to a contentious application by the trial court, argued by counsels to both parties and was eventually refused in a ruling which we have promptly appealed against.
“Despite our appeal against the refusal of the trial court on our application for issuance of the Subpoena ad Testificandum, the trial court went ahead to hear the main application of the judgment Creditor and granted them Garnishee Order Absolute on 30th May, 2008. This we have promptly appealed against.
“With due respect, we are convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that the judgment Creditor is no longer in existence and cannot for that reason maintain an action in the Nigerian Court, which can be enforced against our bank. The demand by Mogbeyi Sagay (SAN) that the judgment sum be paid directly to his account raises suspicion and trepidation that he wants to convert the judgment sum, which claims if allowed will amount to fraud in the light of the above facts,” the petition stated.
ANABEL MOBILE SERVICES WILL TAKE TELECOMS INDUSTRY TO THE NEXT LEVEL
-Nicholas Okoye (President Anabel Groups)

With a vast experience in the telecommunications industry, Nicholas Okoye is set to revolutionalise the industry. An internationally trained expert, who facilitated the transformation of the Nigerian Telecommunication (NITEL) into Transcorp Plc, in an interview with A&B, revealed his sojourn into the world of telecoms, the cutting edge services of Anable Mobile, and critically assess the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

Let’s get to know you better
I studied Microbiology at the Anambra State University of Technology, but before then I was into business. After that, I studied fine art and global management in the United States of America, while I was working with a reputable investment bank. I also worked as the head of strategy at the Nigeria Stock Exchange. I helped to set up one of Nigeria’s conglomerate; Transcorp Plc. I was the executive director of operations. Close to two years ago, I started Anabel Groups made up of businesses like Anabel Mobile, Anabel Capital, an adviser/consultant to the Central Bank of Nigeria and Anabel Entertainment, working with the Ministry of Information on re-branding Nigeria. Anabel Technology is involved in cutting edge technology to enhance people’s businesses.

What inspired you into telecommunications business
When I was in Transcorp, we actually bought NITEL and I was appointed as the Managing Director. At that point, I had to study the telecommunications industry and the gap there. I felt there was a space for good entrepreneur in the industry in as much as you are able to provide cutting edge services. The world was moving to mobility, people are willing to do things in the mobile environment. The convergence of doing a lot of this from one device is the age we are.
A time will come that one device will open door to your house and it’s the same device you will use to do all your banking transactions and the same device will carry your medical records. In the future, Anabel will position Nigeria in no time in terms of using mobile devices to enhance the way we work, love, and play.

When did you start Anabel Mobile
We’ve been around for over a year now and any good businessman will tell you that a year is really a very short time to access a business. We look at the long time achievement of our services, not the short time.
Though we live in an environment where everybody is short time minded and even the bank lend with short time pay back scheme, we don’t believe in that. We expect Nigeria to be here in 10 to 20 years to come, so why thinking short time? So, in that case, we have positioned our company in that respect, we are looking at long time. When you have longtime strategy in business, your benefits will be more in tune to that. At the end of the day, you will do better than short time scheme.
We are not judging ourselves with the little time we’ve spent in the industry, the first year was just about building the brand, we’ve done that and people now know that Anabel exists. We have as our most target audience, the elites, managers, company executives and we’ve been able to get 60-70% penetration of this class. I know we’ve been successful in building the brand and what we now need to consolidate the business is in the areas, where we’ve focused on which will take another 2 to 3 years.

What are the challenges you faced to make Anabel a telecommunications force to reckon with
The challenges include the challenges of Nigeria. The Nigerian challenges are that of incompetent staff, epileptic power supply, and lack of adequate training. A university graduate in Nigeria is poorly trained and that affects him/her as soon as he/she gets to the labour market. Another challenge is that of multiple taxes. As you are contending with the federal taxes, the state government will be pulling you and the local government will be pulling you in another direction to pay taxes. So, you have the Nigerian factor to contend with, which causes the financial world report, in its competitive assessment to place Nigeria in 128 out of 185 countries in the world, this shows that we are very uncompetitive in business compared to other countries. We are not business friendly based on the conditions we face as entrepreneurs.

What solution can you suggest
Presently, I am the President of the Trade Investment Competitiveness and Commission in Nigeria Economic Summit Group. I have made it my mission in life to make Nigeria so competitive in terms of business. By taking up that responsibility as the chairman, trade and investment will be my concern such that people who come after us can benefit from a more level playing field and young entrepreneur will not suffer the kind of challenges we are contending with. Nigerians are very entrepreneurial in nature and very committed to get things done, it is just the environment that hinders them.

Do you see your brand can compete with the likes of blackberry and other sophisticated mobile devices
That question comes from lack of understanding of what our business is all about. We are just starting, Nokia and Blackberry have been around for 90 years and 30 years respectively, so we are not in a position to start comparing. However, that is not even our business world. Nokia is a mass market product and blackberry is also through with unique applications, we are concerned about creating a niche in the market, which is getting the entrepreneurs, the CEOs, the managers who are always on the move to get things done easily, quickly and effectively.
We are not in the same market with Nokia and Blackberry. There is a vacuum and that’s what we are exploring.

What’s you assessment of the Nigerian Telecommunications industry
I think the industry is still growing. We have a lot of challenges, which include our quality of services, the GSM providers tend not to provide the good services they provide in other countries. In developed countries, the network mast used for 5000 subscribers is used in Nigeria for 15000 subscribers which at the end will create congestion. Skills are another issue. But the industry is trying, I mean growing.

Where do you want to see Anabel mobile in few years to come
We expect that we would have affected the lives of millions of people. We are driving mobility in Nigeria and the applications and devices we pioneer in Nigeria is where you can do everything on your mobile phone, whereby a medical doctor can pick up his/her mobile phone when doing ward check and check medical reports of his/her patience with ease. We have solutions that where you are at the scene of an accident, you can use your Anabel mobile phone to get emergency treatment, even if you are not a doctor, you can get the medical report of the victim and administer first aid treatment at that point. This is the kind of technology we are bringing to the market and we expect that few years from now, we will get there.

Friday, August 6, 2010

COREMEDIA BAGS NIPR GOLDEN EAGLE AWARDS
The Jide Adeniran-led Coremedia was at its best penultimate week at the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations’ PR Golden Eagle Awards 2010, where it was declared winner in two categories which are; Best use of PR on Electronic Media and Best Use of PR Department(Public sector/Government).
Coremedia, which was nominated in three categories, but won two beat the likes Marketing Mix, CMC Connect among others to clinch the awards.
Speaking after receiving the awards, Mr. Jide Adeniran, CEO of Coremedia said it was a great honour to be presented with such awards based on the fact that it was first of its kind in the Public Relations industry and there are others who are in the business before Coremedia who could not get the awards.
“Glory be to God for His mercy. It’s hard work with good innovative that made us the right PR house to clinch such awards. We won’t rest on our oars, we will keep giving cutting edge services that will stand us out always amongst our contemporaries,” he revealed.
Other winners in the PR Golden Eagle Awards include CMC Connect (Best Use of PR in the Print Media), Marketing Mix (Most Outstanding PR Campaign & Best PR Agency of the Year), The Quadrant Company (Best Contribution to the PR Education in Nigeria).
The awards ceremony was attended by who-is who in the public relations industry which include the President of NIPR, Alhaji Mohammed Abdullah, representative of the Lagos State Governor, Jide Ologun, Chairman, NIPR Lagos State chapter, Nkechi Alli-Balogun, Yomi Badejo- Okusanya, Akin Adeoya, boss of Marketing Mix, Bolaji Okusaga and many others.


MARKETING MIX IS THE ONLY PUBLIC RELATIONS AGENCY IN NIGERIA
- Akin Adeoya, CEO Marketing Mix
Akin Adeoya had his primary education at the Palmer Primary School, Sapele and later, St. Malaki Secondary School in the same town. His parents lived in Sapele and so he grew up there.
The Public Relations guru did not complete his secondary education in Sapele and had to move down to Ekiti State. After this, he left for Ughelli, Delta State, where he did his A levels.
After his first degree in Obafemi Awolowo University, where he studied English, he taught for a year in Anambra State during the National Youth Service Corps Programme (NYSC).
Shortly afterwards, Akin got a job at Rosabel Advertising and that brought out his creative talents and it opened his eyes to many things. From advertising, he found himself in the newsroom writing a column called, ‘Campaign’ at Thisday Newspaper.
That was the beginning of what has today become a success story as it led to the establishment of Marketing Mix, the company that was awarded The Best PR Agency in Nigeria at the just concluded NIPR Eagle Awards.
In this interview with A&B, the Ekiti State born dude tells the story of his agency and why he believes there is only one public relations agency in Nigeria.

How do you feel about your company being declared as the best PR Agency in Nigeria
Thank you, I feel great and honoured. It came as a shock when I heard our name mentioned as the winner of PR Agency of the year. The award is first of its kind and it’s a great privilege to be honoured.
Public relations is our core service at Marketing Mix and its team works we did made us to clinch the award. It was a great task for us here to choose which of our job should be submitted for the awards and the ones we eventually submitted was nominated in four categories.
These include Best Use of PR in Print Media regarding our job on MTN Project Fame West Africa Seasons 1&2, Best Use of PR in Electronic Media on Omo Project Wonder show, Best Outstanding PR Campaign on Close-up Brush day/night Campaign, Best PR Agency and personally I was nominated as the Most Outstanding PR Practitioner (male). It’s a great honour clinching two awards eventually.

You said it came as a shock when Marketing Mix was mentioned as the winner, does that mean you don’t think your company worths the award
We won’t assume that we are the best among others or the most intelligent but our USP stands us out. We know that we are the best because we deliver to all our clients. We have multinational brands as part of our clients and that does not make us arrogant. The truth is we don’t work for too many agencies, we don’t rate ourselves on the basis of the number of clients we handle, but the qualities of the works we do speak for us. If am not surprised that means I have assumed that Marketing Mix is the best.

What’s your next step after the awards
I won’t tell you there is anything on ground as we speak, but I’ll tell you that a fool at 40 is a fool forever, we are now 11 years old in the business and we are conscious of the fact that we are not young anymore, which means that the reality of the economy down scale has compelled us to go beyond bothers in rendering cutting edge services. If you look at the kind of business we do and the people we work for, you will agree with me that we have to keep moving. We are now with the mission to carry out an overhaul of our image, our representations. A lot of people still don’t understand our services; people we’ve worked for in the area of PR and event ideation and activations can really explain what we do.
There are lots of agencies that are into events in this country and what they really do is to activate your event. We refer to ourselves as event ideation outfit. Event ideation is coming up with an idea that is a solution which will be applicable to all set of people. That means you need a good idea before you can activate.
If you don’t have a big client, then you should come up with a big idea that will stand you out. One of the great ideas we’ve come out with is the idea to mend the relationship within the Nigerian Police and the public. It’s one of our campaigns that stood us out as PR goes beyond your capacity to push stories and photography in the media, PR is building relationship. Very soon, we are coming with the idea to storm government schools with the intention of providing free education. What that means is that we are going to provide teachers for schools that lack teachers in any subject. Though it’s a capital intensive project, it will tell the world that really we are moving from boys to men.

You are championing a new movement in the PR industry, what is the secret
A lot of people don’t understand what public relations is all about. Public relations is very wide and we all need to educate ourselves on it. The Insight Communications and Rosabel Advertising of this world see the need to set up a public relations section of their advertising outfit which means you cannot do without PR. Event organizers can only get the rave of the moment artistes, good decorations, big chest bouncers, but as an event ideation person, ‘am going to infuse something that will sell your brand more into the event. A PR outfit will engage in strategic thinking, tactical thinking to satisfy clients while an event outfit will just get carried away with the excitement of the event. What ‘am championing is the truth that clients must realize that there is more to PR than media. A country like South Africa offers the 360 degree of public relations.

Your awards came from the Lagos chapter of NIPR, what is the credibility
Well, the truth is that Lagos is the seat of public relations practitioners in West Africa. Except for people who do PR for legislators or some government officials, who are based in Abuja, everybody in terms of PR is here in Lagos. You cannot claim to be practicing without being a member of NIPR, people who are guided by rules, and ethics of the profession.
This is a credible award. Don’t forget it was well attended by top practitioners and government officials of this state, so how credible do you want it to be?

What’s the strength of Marketing Mix and your vision for it in few years to come
Marketing Mix is the only agency in Nigeria to me. There is no other consultant, either advertising or PR that has a content development department like us. This is the reason none cannot compete with Marketing Mix, ‘am talking of more than 15 people who only sit and write ideas alone. It’s a huge investment, but its our USP that is taking us forward always, it’s a fundamental strategy. That’s how we started and it’s been working well for us. So, that is how we got to where we are. We also have dedicated staff structure, who needs little or no brief to deliver excellent services.
I want to see a Marketing Mix that is able to impact positively in obvious ways in the Nigerian economy. We value education and promote good reading culture; those things are very close to our heart.




MEET NIGERIA TOP PUBLIC RELATIONS AGENCIES’ CEOS
-WHY THEY ARE WINNING MORE BRANDS ACCOUNTS
Public relations in Nigeria has become a sought after by many multinational brands. In giving right image to a brand, public relations had grown beyond write ups on the pages of newsprints, but that which is building relationship within the consumers and the brands. The following are first class public relations outfits in Nigeria and with their cutting edge services, many multinational brands are on the queue to pitch their tent with the best. We present you a list of their Chief Executive Officers (CEO).

AKIN ADEOYA OF MARKETING MIX: Akin Adeoya is the publisher of Marketing Mix (M2), Nigeria's sole Marketing and Management weekly since 2004. His consulting career led him to establish Marketing Mix, a leading Marketing communication firm based in Lagos which, over the last ten years, has become well known for its work for many multinational brands including MTN Nigerian Communication, Unilever Nigeria Plc., Nestle, Procter and Gamble. He started his professional career in Rosabel Advertising (Now Rosabel Leo Burnett) in the early 90s, where he distinguished himself as an award winning copywriter. He is passionate about branding and marketing. He recently won the best agency of the year in the just concluded Eagle Awards by the governing body of the public relations practitioners, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

BOLAJI OKUSAGA OF THE QUADRANT COMPANY: Bolaji Okusaga is Lead Consultant / Operating Executive of The Quadrant Company and he currently holds this position,
Lead Consultant, dictating the pace of activities. The Quadrant Company an affiliate of Fleishman-Hillard, a leading global communications consultancy firm, and Bolaji is a graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
The Quadrant Company was incorporated in 1989 and opened its doors to business in 1990, thus making it the premier professional public relations firm in Nigeria.
As a PR agency, The Quadrant Company offers advice that is strategic to managing tactical communications in order to achieve effective, enhanced and positive perception and stakeholder relationships.

YOMI BADEJO-OKUNSANYA OF CMC CONNECT: Yomi Badejo-Okunsanya is a public relations officer with a difference. He is a problem seeker and problem solver. He cut his PR teeth working with CT&A, an advertising company, which later set up a direct marketing subsidiary which Badejo Okunsanya headed. He moved from there to set up CMC Connect. He is the immediate past chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos chapter.
CMC Connect is a PR consulting firm, which started in 1992 but was repackaged in 1997 to accommodate other investors.

AKONTE EKINE OF ABSOLUTE PR: The lead strategist of Absolute PR has created a niche for himself in the public relations industry with the management of multinational brands like Skye Bank, Multilinks, Unilever Plc, Transcorp Plc, among others while working under Kola Ayanwale-led CentrespreadFCB
Absolute PR, a brand and reputation management service outfit, has as its core values, honesty, integrity, excellence, and professionalism, which have placed it as the preferred choice to multinational brands. Akonte Ekinne has re-written the story of brands and reputation management in the country with his wealth of experience and depth of knowledge in the field after managing world class companies and brand. His sojourn into the world of marketing communications in Nigeria gave him a platform to understand the dynamics of the industry from the point of view of customers and investors

NKECHI ALLI BALOGUN OF NECCI LIMITED: She is a multi-talented industry veteran with over 20 years of experience on both the client and services side of Public Relations and Training consultancy as well as providing solutions to managerial problems and other functions of management. She has lived to turn issues into opportunities.
Nkechi’s experience includes serving as Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Lagos State Chapter. She is a gifted strategist with intuitively creative abilities. As a result, she is an in-demand industry facilitator, motivational speaker, and mentor in her career. A graduate of the University of Lagos, she also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and an MBA in Management from the same University. In addition, she has attended Public Relations Management courses in Frank Jefkins School of Public Relations, London and the prestigious Lagos Business School. NECCI Consulting- Public Relations and Training Consultants are highly proactive, innovative and versatile qualified trainers and managers committed to consistently design and deliver the best available public relations and management training programmes for maximum value and the realization of corporate goals in the public and private sectors of the economy. They are poised to becoming one of the leading and most referenced training consultants in the country.

ALIMA ATTAH OF SESEMA LIMITED: Founder and Managing Director of Sesema Limited, Alima Atta, has worked in PR and marketing in the UK, the US and Africa. A strong desire to lead a world class agency in a burgeoning market led her to conceive the idea of Sesema PR. She brings her experience from companies such as AT&T, GT Bank and MMD Marketing Communications to the table.
From radio presenters to documentary producers, staffs of Sesema PR have varied experiences which help the company maintain its unique sense of work ethic and style.

SUNDAY ESAN OF FCBREDLINE: After his experience in the banking industry, Sunday Esan became the Managing Director of FCBRedline. Esan was the group head of Oceanic Bank Media Unit. He joined Oceanic Bank in 2005 and has contributed significantly in building a positive reputation for the brand and the former Chief Executive, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru. With just few months as managing director, he has acquired many new brands accounts to the collections of accounts with FCBRedline.
He recently won the offer to design the Nigeria @50 logo for the company amongst many new multinational brands.

JIDE ADENIRAN OF COREMEDIA: The agency that manages the image making of the Lagos State Government is one that has really created a niche for itself. The Jide Adeniran-led agency smiled home with two different awards at the just concluded Nigerian Institute of Public Relations’ PR Golden Eagle Awards 2010, where it was declared winner in Best use of PR on Electronic Media and Best Use of PR Department(Public sector/Government).

TOLA BADEMOSI OF BD CONSULT: BD Consult is a professional marketing communication consultancy firm founded in 2006 by a team of young, innovative and dynamic individuals to provide strategic public relations and events management solution to a spectrum of organizations.
Tola Bademosi, a graduate of Management and Economics from the University of Ibadan, holds an MBA in Marketing from the Lagos State University and is an alumnus of Lagos Business School and University of Cape Town in South Africa. After a wide range of experience in sales, marketing, advertising, events management and public relations, working with Equity Life Insurance, The Quadrant Company, Insight Grey and LTC/JWT Advertising, he established BD Consult. Among multinational brands on BD consult shelves include Indomie from Dufil, UAC Foods, PZ, Lucky Fibres, Panabiz and the establishment has remained focused, giving something different from what is obtainable in the industry. With strategies that have really made clients not to even consider other agency as an outfit to work with; he has shot many clients to the top in their respective industries.
HARD TIMES HITS MTN
-Set To Place Friendship Centres On Franchise,
-Inflates Tariff On Roaming
One of Nigeria’s telecommunication giants, MTN has been in the news lately on many issues bothering on poor network services amongst others, and these have caused many of its subscribers to opt for alternative networks.
What is new about the telecoms giant, according to a reliable source, is the fact that another set of staffers has been relieved of their jobs, while some workers have been handed over to the management of a consultant and turned to contract staff, making them to lose benefits meant for full staff.
Those who should know divulged that all the company’s friendship centers would be given to other companies or individual to manage since it has become very hard for the telecomms giant to manage its daily activities.
The prevailing economic hardship in the country is said to have affected the network provider, which has caused to charge for roaming in the east, west, and central Africa.
The service was absolutely free few months back, but they started charging for the services without prior notice. The customers were surprised to discover high deduction from their accounts. Those who should know added that other network providers who ply their trade in the country provide free roaming in place like West, East and Central Africa to subscribers.
The telecommunication provider, which came into the country close to eight years ago, started on a good note with the provision of cutting edge services until lately that it was hit by many challenges and trials, which close watchers of events attributed to poor management.
HARD TIMES HITS MTN
-Set To Place Friendship Centres On Franchise,
-Inflates Tariff On Roaming
One of Nigeria’s telecommunication giants, MTN has been in the news lately on many issues bothering on poor network services amongst others, and these have caused many of its subscribers to opt for alternative networks.
What is new about the telecoms giant, according to a reliable source, is the fact that another set of staffers has been relieved of their jobs, while some workers have been handed over to the management of a consultant and turned to contract staff, making them to lose benefits meant for full staff.
Those who should know divulged that all the company’s friendship centers would be given to other companies or individual to manage since it has become very hard for the telecomms giant to manage its daily activities.
The prevailing economic hardship in the country is said to have affected the network provider, which has caused to charge for roaming in the east, west, and central Africa.
The service was absolutely free few months back, but they started charging for the services without prior notice. The customers were surprised to discover high deduction from their accounts. Those who should know added that other network providers who ply their trade in the country provide free roaming in place like West, East and Central Africa to subscribers.
The telecommunication provider, which came into the country close to eight years ago, started on a good note with the provision of cutting edge services until lately that it was hit by many challenges and trials, which close watchers of events attributed to poor management.
NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY IN COPYRIGHT MESS
The Nigerian Bottling Company, (NBC) Plc, makers of Coca-cola range of soft drinks in Nigeria is in a copy right mess with an indigenous company over the design of the bottle of its widely circulated product, Eva water.
Information made available to AB has it that NBC stole the copyright design of its new Eva water bottle from Sintak Nigeria limited, makers of Lamie Water that has been in the market for about four years ago. It was gathered that before the advent of the new design of Eva water bottle, Lamie water enjoyed massive patronage, especially in the South West of Nigeria, but lost patronage to Eva Water as the bottle is a complete look-alike of Lamie Water.
Sintak Nigeria Limited, under the leadership of Chief Mrs Salewa Tanwa Akib as the Managing Director is laying claims to the fact that the bottle design originated from them and was registered with Registrar of Patents and Design in Abuja for close to five years now.
An insider in Sintak claimed that Lamie Water had been using the present design before Eva Water came up with its own new design, and that the company had been enjoying patronage from consumers, but that the stealing of its design was brought to the notice of the management of the company by a customer who sells both brands of water.
“It’s like a battle between an ant and an elephant because the NBC is a big company, but we won’t relent in our efforts of making it known to the public that such a giant company stole the idea of our design,” he claimed
The company, we gathered has taken the case to a Federal High Court in Lagos and NBC has failed to appear before the court after several sittings.
NBC changed the shape and design of its Eva water on account of the adulteration of the company’s product about two years ago and an impeccable source divulged that the bottle design has helped other pirates in bottling unclean water for the consumption of Nigerians.
A source in NBC, who claimed anonymity, said that the company is the registered owner of the Eva water design and that the trademarks currently exists with Patent and Design Registry, Federal Ministry of Commerce and that it did not in anyway copy Lamie Water bottle.
“The new Eva water design was launched amidst fun and massive media publicity, do you think we can steal an idea and publisize it? I see it as a mere ranting of an ant,” he revealed.
The court case has since been postponed till September with a claim from Lamie Waters that NBC should pay a damage of #5,000,000 and a copyright infringement cost of #10,000,000 only.