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  • Peexoo Strikes Global Partnership Deal with Canon To Expand Opportunities For African photographers

    Peexoo Strikes Global Partnership Deal with Canon To Expand Opportunities For African photographers

     

    By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

    In its bid to provide more job opportunities for young African photographers, and content creators, Peexoo  Technologies, a tech-based photography platform has signed a partnership deal with big equipment producer, Canon.

     

    The partnership was announced at an event held at The Bulb House in Lagos.

     

    Speaking in his welcome address, Tosin Osunkoya, Co-founder, Peexoo Technologies said the partnership is aimed at helping photographers improve their work.

     

    The partnership, according to him, brings together powerhouses in still and motion photography across Africa whereby an e-commerce platform is created to enable photographers to buy Canon products at discounted rates, one of the benefits of the partnership.

     

    Through the partnership, members of the Peexoo community will have access to Canon’s technologies, enjoy free masterclasses, and also purchase equipment seamlessly.

     

    Peexoo is a photography start-up leveraging artificial intelligence technology to support photographers and help upscale their businesses by connecting them to clients. It also serves as a platform for them to archive their work and display them for potential clients.

     

    Already two years in operation, Peexoo has around 1,800 photographers registered. The platform intends to create ‘Peexoo Stock’ to help photographers sell their stock images.

     

    Osunkoya said while a lot of negative things have been said about Africa in the past,  Africans must start telling their own as stories, as such stories have been found out to be completely false.

     

    Peexoo
    From left: Taiwo Adediran, Sales Lead, Canon Channel Account Manager; Wande Adams, Co-founder/Head of Strategy, Peexoo; Kelechi Nwadike, Founder/Head of Products, Peexo; and Omotayo Omodia, Country Manager, Canon Nigeria at the event announcing the partnership in Lagos

    “African stories have been said wrongly. For instance, we have been told that Africa is evil, it is a jungle.  But that’s not true.

     

    “We need to change the narratives. The only way we can do that is for us to tell our stories by ourselves. Nobody is going to help you tell your own story better. You have to do it yourself. That’s exactly what we are doing at Peexoo.

     

    “We need to start creating content in this country. It is in the like of content creation that we have film makers, stories tellers, social media influencers being relevant because they have contents to share.”

     

    “Here at Peexoo, we’re reimagining the creative arts, from how image-makers find jobs to how they edit pictures, create portfolio’s and grow their client base. The work we do is shaping the future of image-making and this global partnership with Canon is the catalyst in bringing the rest of the world into the picture.

     

    “Canon has been a long-standing supporter of film and photography education groups. Their corporate philosophy, kiyose meaning “working and living together for the common good” is evident in their approach towards creatives in Africa,” he said.

     

    Steve Nwadike, a co-founder, who spoke at an event announcing the partnership in Lagos said; “We are partnering with a banks for loans so that photographers can buy equipment and pay on instalments.

     

    “Peexoo will bring to the table, resources that would expand the photography community in the country.

     

    “Peexoo is not just a platform to showcase imagery, but a platform for expanding your businesses. 

     

    “Our dream is to see a developed visual sector in Nigeria, one that is internationally recognised and its visual content is converted into key economic benefits for its creators and the society at large.”

     

    With the introduction of digital photography, the photography business in Nigeria has become one of the most lucrative businesses today because digitalized pictures and videos are now the order of the day.

     

    The digital photography global market outlook report put the value of the global digital photography market at $79.12 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $149.98 billion by 2026 growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4 percent during the forecast period.

     

    While there is scant data on the size of the sector in Nigeria, there are thousands of photographers in Lagos alone, and around 20, 000 events take place in the city.

     

    Some of the key factors influencing the market growth include increasing demand for smartphone penetration and rising interest in photography.

     

    Wande Adams, CEO of The Bulb Africa, who also doubles as a co-founder at Peexoo, said disrupting the photography space with technology cannot be done without recognizing the work that Canon has done in the past.

     

    He said the partnership is to be able to create more opportunities for the photographers on their platform.

     

    According to Adams, being able to join forces with Canon and leveraging the amount of its experience will enable them to run masterclasses for African photographers to learn from the past experiences of other photographers.

     

    “What this partnership does is that it will bring international facilitators to train in our master class. It also opens the door for photographers in our community to be able to access opportunities globally,” he said.

     

    Adams added that Canon is a multinational and the partnership will give validity to Peexoo because it encourages photographers to see a platform that is being recognized by a brand as big as Canon.

     

    Omotayo Omodia, Canon’s country manager, described the partnership as exciting and explained that they chose Peexoo because what they are doing resonates with their corporate belief and goals.

     

    For her, Peexoo creating a platform where photographers can not only drop their content but also make money by meeting potential clients

     

    “I think it’s amazing and for us at Canon, we look forward to helping people tell their stories, skill development, empowerment, and we look forward to more people knowing that Canon is a brand that is there to empower them.”

     

    Highlighting the major benefit of the partnership to image-makers, Omodia noted; “a lot of them are already finding their way (independently) but we would like to play a role to take them from where they are today and give them access to a lot of openings from job developments to platforms where they can showcase their work”

     

     “We have a responsibility to our customers and towards the communities which goes beyond just business,”

     

    “This aligns perfectly with the services we offer image-makers here at Peexoo and buttresses the importance of this partnership in providing solutions to the economic vices facing the continent.

     

  • Partnering With Jumia Has Helped Grow My Business – Fairy Trips CEO

    Partnering With Jumia Has Helped Grow My Business – Fairy Trips CEO

     

    Feeding off the growing online shopping trend offered by e-commerce, logistics services are now an integral part of everyday life in major cities across Nigeria. Delivery vans and bikes hit the roads, picking orders, delivering items, keeping businesses running and customers happy at different locations of the country.

     

    But these activities fastly becoming a daily routine were scarce and far a few years ago. Investment in logistics was not this lucrative especially for startups. The logistics boom of today was a result of logistics network investment by major industry players like Jumia, which opened up the market for startups entrepreneurs in the industry.

     

    As recalled by Segun Babs, Founder of Fairytrips Limited,  turnover at his logistics hub in the early years left him doubting his decision to venture into the sector. “We started as a ticketing company; we were supposed to be a flight company till we moved into logistics. As of 2018,  was the investment worth it? Absolutely no. We started and we had roughly about 400 packages being delivered in a month.

     

    And time after time, I will question my decision to start a business like this. I remember vividly at a time, I could barely pay salaries. I had to ask my wife to join in the business to just manage things. But I kept on believing that one day this was going to pay off,” he said.

     

    Today, the investment by Babs has paid off. The partnership with Jumia, as one of the platform’s delivery hubs has led to growth and expansion of the business. Benefiting from Jumia’s sales reach and brand campaigns, Babs’ company has also provided more employment opportunities directly and indirectly. “In 2018, I decided to give Jumia a try by opening a hub with Jumia. Has it paid off? Definitely yes. As of July this year, we did 14,000 packages. This was coming from a period of 40 packages that went even down to 14 packages.

     

    “As regards staff strength, we’ve moved from two guys in 2018 to ten staff. There are times we have to bring in our 3PL partners to support during tier one events where we have to bring in five more guys to be able to push out items on time and deliver on time. We started with one hub in one corner. Today we have two hubs; one in Lagos and another in Ibadan. I have moved from one bike to ten bikes and we have two vans. As of last week, we moved to order more vans from America to support this expansion.”

     

    The story of Fairytrips Limited is one of many other enterprises benefiting from the reach of e-commerce players like Jumia and Konga in all the regions of the country.

     

    In 2020, Jumia further deepened its impact in the industry by opening up its logistics network to third party businesses. The latest report by Jumia showed that the move is experiencing very strong momentum with a record 1.3 million packages delivered in the second quarter of 2021 compared to half a million packages in the full year 2020, on behalf of over 300 clients.

     

  • CBN Directs Banks To Block 18 Companies’ Accounts

    CBN Directs Banks To Block 18 Companies’ Accounts

     

    The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has directed banks to place a post-no-debit restriction on the bank accounts of 18 companies.

     

    This implies that all debit transactions, including Automated Teller Machines and cheques, on these accounts, have been blocked but can receive inflows.

     

    The directive was contained in a circular dated August 18 and signed by the Director of Banking Supervision, CBN, Haruna Mustapha, according to TheCable.

     

    The circular read in part, “You are hereby directed to place all accounts of the under-listed customers on Post-No-Debit restriction.”

     

    TheCable stated that the affected companies include “Bakori Mega Services, Ashambrakh General Enterprise, Namuduka Ventures Limited, Crosslinks Capital and Investment Limited, IGP Global Synergy Limited, Davedan Mille Investment Limited and Urban Laundry.

     

    Others are, “Advanced Multi-Links Services Limited, Spray Resources, Al-Ishaq Global Resources Limited, Himark Intertrades, Charblecom Concept Limited, Wudatage Global Resources, Treynor Soft Ventures, Fyrstrym Global Concepts Limited, Samarize Global Nigeria Limited, and Zahraddeen Haruna Shahru.

     

    The report also notes that the apex bank did not provide any reason for the action in the circular.

     

    However, the affected accounts belong to bureaux de change, construction firms, investment companies, laundering services, and property companies.

     

    Meanwhile, the CBN has cautioned microfinance banks against performing certain non-permissible activities, which include wholesale backing and foreign exchange transactions.

     

    This was contained in a circular titled, ‘Circular to all microfinance banks,’ released on Friday by Ibrahim Tukur on behalf of CBN’s Financial Policy and Regulation Department.

     

    The circular read, “The Central Bank of Nigeria has observed the activities of some Microfinance Banks that have gone beyond the remit of their operating licence by engaging in non-permissible activities, especially wholesale backing, foreign exchange transactions and others.

     

    “Given the comparatively low capitalisation of MFBs, dealing in wholesale and/or foreign exchange transactions are a significant risk with dire consequences for financial system stability.

     

    “It has therefore become imperative to remind all MFBs to strictly comply with the extant Revised Regulatory and Supervisory Guidelines for Microfinance Banks in Nigeria 2012.”

     

    The apex bank warned that it would continue to monitor developments in the MFB sector and apply stringent regulatory sanctions for violations of extant regulations, including revoking licences.

     

  • We’re Still in Charge of NICON, Other Assets of Jimoh Ibrahim, He Owes Govt N70bn –AMCON

    We’re Still in Charge of NICON, Other Assets of Jimoh Ibrahim, He Owes Govt N70bn –AMCON

     

    The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON has said that following a High Court order, it still remains in charge of assets belonging to a business mogul, Jimoh Ibrahim.

     

    A statement from the corporation on Thursday said Ibrahim’s current indebtedness to AMCON stood at nearly N70bn.

     

    The statement, signed by Head of Corporate Communications at AMCON, Jude Nwauzor, said Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja Division had on Monday ordered AMCON, NICON Insurance Limited, Nigeria Reinsurance and Ibrahim to maintain the status-quo-ante until September 8, 2021, when the court would hear all pending applications on the matter.

     

    Nwauzor said the matter between Ibrahim and AMCON had been interminable since the loan was purchased by the government debt recovery agency during the first phase of Eligible Bank Asset purchases from Union Bank in the early days of AMCON.

     

    The statement read, “AMCON and BPE, on July 21, received approval from the National Insurance Commission to constitute a new board and management of NICON Insurance Limited and Nigeria Re.

     

    “The change was to enhance the smooth running, efficient and effective management of the two firms previously owned by the recalcitrant debtor and businessman.

     

    “The reason for the changes in the board and management of the two insurance firms was sequel to the takeover of the major investor’s interests in the two organisations, and the Bureau for Public Enterprises who worked in partnership with AMCON to bring the much-needed stability in the operation of the organisations.”

     

     

    AMCON said the reconstitution of the board and management team of the two insurance institutions in Nigeria was to ensure that the firms remained transparent and accountable.

     

    It said, “After the constitution of the boards, Jimoh Ibrahim belatedly approached the court to obtain an order seeking to stop AMCON from constituting the boards of the two insurance firms.

     

    “But when the case came up for hearing on Monday the 18th of August, the judge ruled that all parties maintain the status quo until September 8, which was agreed by both the counsel to Jimoh Ibrahim and co, C.I. Okpoko, SAN and counsel to AMCON, A.U. Mustapha, SAN.

     

    “The implication is that AMCON is still in charge of all assets of Jimoh Ibrahim and his companies including NICON Insurance Limited and Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation over their heavy indebtedness to AMCON following earlier court rulings, which gave AMCON the power to take over the assets ab-initio.”

     

  • Stakeholders Commend Nigerian Breweries on Plastic Recycling Project

    Stakeholders Commend Nigerian Breweries on Plastic Recycling Project

     

    Stakeholders drawn from the Nigerian environmental sector including its allied agencies have commended Nigerian Breweries Plc – Nigeria’s foremost brewing company for its commitment to ensuring and promoting a sustainable environment in Nigeria through its numerous initiatives.

     

    These opinions were expressed by all the stakeholders at the launch of NB Recycles Project held at the company’s head office in Iganmu, Lagos on Thursday, August 12, 2021. 

     

    Under this initiative, various collection points will be set up in all 9 brewery locations of Nigerian Breweries across the country (as well as the respective host communities) to encourage staff and members of the public to embrace the habit of recycling by returning all plastic bottles, aluminium cans, paper, cartons, nylon, and glass in exchange for monetary rewards.

     

    In Lagos, the company set up a collection point at its headquarters for staff, and also donated four recycling bins to the Ijora community in Lagos to promote community-led plastic recycling and combat plastic pollution in the area. The NB Recycles project is being executed in partnership with Wecyclers, a foremost waste recycler in Nigeria who will manage the collection, sorting, and recycling of all the plastic wastes brought in by employees and community members.

     

    In his keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Hans Essaadi said the project restates the company’s commitment towards environmental sustainability, especially in the areas of Plastic recovery and Recycling.

     

    Praising the company for its contribution towards plastic recovery and recycling in Nigeria, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources who was represented by Assistant Director, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Babajide Adeoye appealed for more resources to be committed to keeping the environment safe.

     

    “In tackling this menace of plastic waste, there is need for a concerted effort between the government and industrial companies such as Nigerian Breweries. A recently concluded research shows that only 8% of plastic is recycled while the remaining 92% ends up in the environment, which is why initiative such as this is very important”, he said.

     

    In her remarks, Chief Scientist Officer, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Ezenwannyi Udechukwu said the initiative deserves commendation as it helps to bring into focus the need to collectively tackle the threats posed by plastic waste while partnering with communities to do so. “We appreciate what you have done for the Ijora community, we also want you to extend this gesture to other places where your consumers are”, she added.

     

    Speaking on behalf of the host community, the representative of His Royal Majesty, The Ojora of Ijora and Iganmu Kingdom, Prince Kunle Aromire expressed profound appreciation to the management of the company for their concern and commitment towards improving the welfare of the environment. 

     

    “On behalf of Kabiyesi, I want to appreciate Nigerian Breweries Plc for their support. We want to thank you for the job you are doing. We thank you for taking care of the welfare of our environment. Your presence in this community is not for business alone but you also care for the environment such that we now have a good environment to live in” Aromire added.

     

  • UBA Debuts With Another Innovation, As RED Radio Hits Airwaves Live 24/7

    UBA Debuts With Another Innovation, As RED Radio Hits Airwaves Live 24/7

     

    The United bank for Africa (UBA) is leading again through innovation as it launches a podcast, RED Radio, which is available 24/7.

     

    The dynamic and creative online radio channel, RED Radio now provides round the clock informative and entertaining content, bringing out the best of Africa.

     

    RED Radio www.itsredradio.com was berthed as part of the communication suite of UBA to provide real time content to listeners across the African continent and globally.

     

    UBA’s Group Head Corporate Communications, Bola Atta, explained that the platform is an affirmation of the leading role that UBA is playing in the innovative space on the African continent as the bank keeps seeking more ways to reach out to and galvanise people.

     

    She said, “RED Radio can be described as a meeting place. It is an avenue to discuss all kinds of issues that affect the youths on the continent, whether it be business related, health, relationships, sports, lifestyles.. anything. As we bring people together, we also entertain them with music from across the continent.’

     

    ‘It’s such a cool and diverse platform with shows in different languages to appeal to a wide section of listeners. I leave it on quietly on my ipad constantly, catching up with anything I have missed’ she added.

     

    Some of the flagship shows on RED Radio include the Barbershop Chronicles – a talk show featuring Shody, Sess, Alhaji Popping and Femisoro who discuss life matters from the perspective of men; Diary of an Africana follows the journey of a young African woman as she manoeuvres through various obstacles whilst she explores her true self; The Red Pill which brings you exciting news and music from the Congo and so much more.

     

    The shows are recorded in video format and are also available on REDTV. You can access the podcasts via www.itsredradio.com

     

  • Gala Gets HALAL Standards Certification for Quality Compliance

    Gala Gets HALAL Standards Certification for Quality Compliance

     

    UAC Foods Limited, makers of Gala, has received HALAL certification, an internationally recognised standard which guarantees that products are safe for consumption by both domestic and foreign consumers.

     

    This has made Gala first and only sausage roll in Nigeria to receive endorsement from the HALAL Certification Authority on its compliance with global practices on food safety.

     

    The certification was presented to the management of UAC Foods Limited on July 15, 2021, after an extensive evaluation and audit of the manufacturing process for the company’s flagship brand, Gala Classic Sausage Roll, and the exciting new variant – Gala Spicy, further enriching the Nigerian snacking experience on the go.

     

    Abdulazeez Ajala, Lead Auditor, Halal Certification Authority, stated that “All consumers within Nigeria, can be assured they are consuming a Halal compliant product that is safe and beneficial to their health”.  He further emphasised the authority’s endorsement of UAC Foods Limited for its adequate compliance with all standard practices while also encouraging continuity.

     

    The process of certification comprised an assessment of the company’s beef vendors across the federation, including a review of the process of preparation and packaging of the beef for the sausage rolls, as well as an audit of material documentation.

    Gala
    L-R: Members of the UAC Foods Team – Dayo Adeeko, General Manager, Human Resources; Adebola Williams, General Manager, Marketing; Hadiza Oyeleye, General Manager, Supply Chain; and Sam Amoforitse, General Manager, Manufacturing; as Dr Oladele Ajayi, MD/CEO, UAC Foods LTD receives the Halal Certification from Abdulazeez Ajala, Lead Auditor, Halal Certification Authority in Nigeria

    While commenting on the receipt of the certification, UAC Quality Assurance Manager, Adaku Umeizu said “UAC Foods Limited is very delighted to have received this certification after an extensive evaluation by the Halal Certification Authority of Nigeria. As the first sausage roll manufacturer in Nigeria to receive this endorsement, it is evident our commitment to quality is non-negotiable and second-to-none.  I am certain that our consumers will be more confident in our brandsasthey enjoy the tasty experience of our Gala variants – Gala Spicy and Gala Classic”.

     

    Gala beef sausage roll remains a leader in the sausage roll category in Nigeria and is trusted by millions of Nigerians to provide the fuel required to keep going through the day, at great value for money.

     

    Currently, offered in the Standard and Cocktail ranges, Gala continues to win the hearts of all, irrespective of income or age.

     

    The sausage roll is packed with nutritional wheat and beef to enrich its fans’ nutritional experiences.

     

  • Buhari Approves Steering Committee on Petroleum Industry Act

    Buhari Approves Steering Committee on Petroleum Industry Act

     

    President Muhamamdu Buhari has commenced implementation of the newly signed Petroleum Industry Act by approving a steering committee to oversee the process.

     

    A statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, revealed that the steering committee will be headed by the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.

     

    Others in the committee are Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources; Group Managing Director, NNPC; Executive Chairman, FIRS; Representative of the Ministry of Justice; Representative of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Natural Resources; Barrister Olufemi Lijadu as External Legal Adviser; while the Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund, will serve as Head of the Coordinating Secretariat and the Implementation Working Group.

     

    According to the statement, “The primary responsibility of the steering committee shall be to guide the effective and timely implementation of the PIA in the course of transition to the petroleum industry envisaged in the reform program, and ensure that the new institutions created have the full capability to deliver on their mandate under the new legislation.

     

    “The committee has 12 months duration for the assignment, and periodic updates will be given to Mr President.”

     

  • Beer Sectoral Group Announces Appointment of Baker Magunda as Chairman 

    Beer Sectoral Group Announces Appointment of Baker Magunda as Chairman 

     

    The Beer Sectoral Group (BSG), a section of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), has announced the appointment of Baker Magunda as Chairman of the Group with effect from 1st August 2021. 

     

    Magunda replaces former BSG Chairman, Jordi Borrut Bel who has moved on from his position as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Breweries Plc, to take up new responsibilities within the Heineken Group. 

     

    The BSG is a trade association comprising beer manufacturers in Nigeria who are members of the Manufactures Association of Nigeria. Its membership includes Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc and International Breweries PLC. 

     

    Baker Magunda is the current Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria Plc.

     

    Prior to joining the Guinness Nigeria team, Baker was Managing Director of Diageo Ethiopia and the Indian Ocean Markets.

     

    He gained his first degree in Economics at Makerere University in Uganda and Makerere University Business School. He also attended IESE and Strathmore Business Schools for postgraduate studies in Business and Leadership. 

    Beer Sectoral Group Announces Appointment of Baker Magunda as Chairman 
    Baker Magunda

     

    He started his career in Sales and Marketing at Coca-Cola Sabco in 1991.

     

    He was made Head of Sales in 1996 before joining Diageo in 1999.

     

    At Diageo, he served in several marketing roles before becoming Managing Director for Diageo’s businesses in Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon.

     

  • President Buhari Signs PIB Bill Into Law

    President Buhari Signs PIB Bill Into Law

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Petroleum Industry Bill 2021 into law.

     

    Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, made this known in a statement on Monday, titled, ‘President Buhari Signs Petroleum Industry Bill Into Law’.

     

    The presidential spokesman said his principal signed the controversial bill into law while working in isolation.

     

    Adesina said, “Working from home in five days quarantine as required by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 after returning from London on Friday, August 13, the President assented to the Bill Monday, August 16, in his determination to fulfil his constitutional duty.

     

    “The ceremonial part of the new legislation will be done on Wednesday, after the days of mandatory isolation would have been fulfilled.

     

    “The Petroleum Industry Act provides legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry, the development of host communities, and related matters.

     

     

    “The Senate had passed the Bill on July 15, 2021, while the House of Representatives did same on July 16, thus ending a long wait since early 2000s, and notching another high for the Buhari administration.”

     

    The Petroleum Industry Act provides legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry, the development of host communities, and related matters.