Nigeria Content Online

Global Business Coalition elects new board member

The Global Business
Coalition has announced the election of Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, group
managing director of Access Bank Plc, to its board.

The coalition is
the world’s largest group of businesses dedicated to fighting HIV/AIDS
and promoting the health of employees and the communities where they
work.

Widely regarded as
the preeminent organisation for businesses engaged in major workplace
and public health issues internationally, it is a network of over 220
businesses that fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in their
workplaces or in communities where these issues loom large.

The coalition’s
headquarters is based in New York and provides strategic advice and
support for member companies. It creates public private partnerships
with leading international organisations, donors, governments, and NGOs.

In announcing Mr.
Aig-Imoukhuede’s election to the board, the coalition’s co-chairman,
Mark Moody-Stuart, said, “From 2011, GBC will be introducing an
aggressive strategy to rally more businesses and support their work in
global health. Africa is of course a top priority, and Aig-Imoukhuede’s
success at growing businesses, his stature in Nigeria, Africa, and
among international leaders, and his track record on fighting HIV/AIDS
and other health challenges, make him a natural choice for the GBC, and
I am delighted to have him join us.”

Money

Ghana joins Africa Finance Corporation

Ghana joins Africa Finance Corporation

Ghana is now the
seventh African nation to become a member of the Africa Finance
Corporation, joining host country Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone,
The Gambia, Liberia, and Guinea.

The Ghanaian
Parliament, on Tuesday, formally approved a resolution ratifying the
AFC agreement and the country’s request to join the pan-African
organisation. Parliament also approved a resolution for Ghana to
subscribe for shares in the institution.

First deputy
Speaker, Edward Doe Ajaho, who chaired the session in parliament, said
Ghana was pleased to join her sister African nations that had already
become members of the Africa Finance Corporation.

“Clearly, Africa’s
area of greatest need today is infrastructure development, and AFC is
well positioned to help fill the void in this important area. My
country welcomes the opportunity to lend our support to AFC’s efforts
in bridging the dire infrastructure investment gap on our continent.

“Ghana is one of
the countries that supported the establishment of AFC from the very
beginning. We are, therefore, exceedingly happy that the country has
today finally become a formal member of the organisation,” Mr. Ajaho
said.

Speaking to senior
parliamentary and government officials on behalf of AFC’s president and
chief executive officer, Andrew Alli, immediately after the
proceedings, the corporation’s executive director and general counsel,
Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, expressed his organisation’s appreciation to
the government of Ghana for the confidence reposed in the institution.

Money

BRAND MATTERS: Sustaining consumers’ confidence and loyalty

BRAND MATTERS: Sustaining consumers’ confidence and loyalty

The focus of this
column last week was on Airtel and the need to observe the perception
of consumers about its services. The online reactions to the column
were very revealing and thought provoking. Some readers disagreed with
my viewpoint, others supported it, and also added other dimension to
it. These dimensions focused more on the consumers and why they should
not be underestimated.

It is important to
continuously engage consumers, as this helps to shape their opinions
about the brand. There should be sessions whereby consumers are engaged
in down-to-earth discussions to feel their views about a brand or
service. This, I believe, is what the telecomm companies should be
doing. It should be a consistent activity which helps shape opinions
and views about their services. The absence of a solid platform to
engage consumers leaves them guessing and ultimately making wrong
assumptions. Engagement sessions help brands resolve consumers’
frustrations and address their grievances.

Some of these, to a
large extent, erode their confidence in brands. Consumers are not
docile people, and they should not be treated as such. They should also
not be taken for granted in whatever form and under any circumstance.
This is one raging issue against telecomm companies, as they take undue
advantage of consumers. That is why I commend Sola Salako and her
Consumer Advocacy Forum, which has really kept the telecomm companies
on their toes. I have watched a few of the forum’s programmes, and I
believe it is right to checkmate the excesses of companies and their
brands.

The inability to
analyse consumers, determine their perception, and thoroughly profile
their personality pose serious threat to companies and their brands. It
is important to know who the consumers are, what they do, how they
think, and what influences their decisions.

Consumers’ pressing need

Quality service is
all the consumers want. This should be a serious point of focus for the
telecomm companies. Tariff reduction does not have any meaning if there
is poor service delivery. The services should be both realisable and
dependable.

One of the other
readers mentioned this as being more important than any sales promotion
that is not hinged on quality service delivery. I believe it will get
to an interesting level when companies and their brands will go to the
streets and touch base with consumers. This will definitely lead to
building sustainable relationships with consumers.

Come to think of
it, Airtel roaming the streets of Lagos and gauging consumers’
perception! This will be real and authentic. If this is done, the
network would create a true connection with consumers. This will chart
a strategic direction for the brand.

The end result is a
real and long time relationship with them, built on trust and mutual
respect. I believe that we are getting to the level whereby companies
would account for themselves. This is known as vigilante consumerism.
Consumers hold brands accountable for their actions more than what any
legislation can do. This has started already with the Consumer’s
Advocacy Forum.

A good tracking
programme also helps build consumers confidence and serves as a signal
to track their complaints and grievances. When consumers are not given
an opportunity to express themselves, they resort to complaints and
resultant effect is their willingness to share their negative
experiences.

Consumers do not
like to be exploited by brands, as they want brands to offer themselves
for appraisal. A customer-centric approach will always restore
confidence and make them see reason why they need to connect more with
a particular brand or service. Through all these, consumers will show
their love and loyalty to such brands, even during recession.

Ayopo, a
Communication Strategist and Public Relations specialist is the CEO of
Shortlist Limited, shortlistedprspeacialists@gmail.com

Money

Attorney General queries SEC over Okereke-Onyiuke

Attorney General queries SEC over Okereke-Onyiuke

The
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohamed
Adoke, has asked Arunma Oteh, the director general, Securities and
Exchange Commission, to comment on allegations of abuse of office in
the recent sack of the former director general of the Nigerian Stock
Exchange.

Paul
Erokoro, counsel to Ndi Okereke-Onyuike, the former Exchange’s director
general, had in a petition dated November 8, to Mr. Adoke, alleged
abuse of office by the commission and the Nigeria Police, as due
process was not followed in the sack of his client.

The
minister responded in a November 11 letter, signed by P.T. Akper, his
special assistant, demanding explanation from Ms. Oteh. Lately, there
has been summons by the House of Representatives and Senate over Mrs.
Okereke-Onyuike’s sack.

Mr.
Erokoro claimed in his petition that the commission showed bias in its
action by denying his client fair hearing before being relieved of her
position. He said that despite the acceptance of a written notice last
June 16 to the Exchange’s council about her intention to commence her
terminal leave from September 1 and voluntarily retire from service
with effect from December 15, the commission later sent a letter to
Mrs. Okereke-Onyiuke about a complaint by another member against the
Exchange management.

He
said contrary to normal procedures, the regulator “acted with undue and
indecent haste”by not asking his client to respond in writing to the
allegations, adding that the period of notice for her to appear before
a commission the next day for hearing on the matter was ‘unreasonable”,
as council members were not given sufficient time to deliberate and
decide on the allegations.

Illegal action

Besides,
he said the securities commission flouted Section 262 of the Companies
and Allied Matters Act, as well as numerous provisions of the
Investments and Securities Act, as no administrative committee was set
up to examine the allegations and evidence of rebuttal.

“No
impropriety was alleged against our client personally in the reasons
advanced for her removal. The allegations were against management
generally. So, why was our client singled out? SEC abused its powers in
the way it acted. Its actions were contrary to its own statutes as well
as the constitution,” he argued.

Describing
Mrs. Okereke-Onyiuke’s sack as “a premeditated and orchestrated move by
SEC to rubbish the image of our client and deny her a dignified exit
from the Nigeria Stock Exchange,” Mr. Erokoro urged the minister to
intervene and ensure that the former Exchange’s boss is allowed to
retire properly with her full benefits.

Meanwhile, Lanre Oloyi, the commission’s spokesperson, said he is not aware of such a letter.

Money

FIFA dismisses Panorama allegations

FIFA dismisses Panorama allegations

FIFA
has dismissed allegations made by a British Broadcasting Corporation
programme against three executive committee members, saying Swiss
authorities had already investigated and the case had been closed.

The BBC’s Panorama
programme on Monday offered what it said was new evidence over the
ruling body’s appointment of International Sports and Leisure (ISL) as
its marketing arm. ISL went bankrupt in 2001.

The programme said
members Ricardo Teixeira of Brazil, hosts of the next World Cup,
Confederation of African Football (CAF) chief Issa Hayatou and South
American (CONMEBOL) head Nicolas Leoz took bribes from ISL to win the
lucrative contract.

“The matters
concerning the case … which are referred to date back many years ago
and were investigated by the relevant authorities in Switzerland,” said
FIFA in a statement on Tuesday.

It added that a criminal case in the Swiss canton of Zug had not resulted in convictions for any FIFA officials.

“In its verdict of 26 June 2008, the Criminal Court of Zug had not convicted any FIFA Officials,” said the statement.

“It is therefore
important to stress again the fact that no FIFA officials were accused
of any criminal offence in these proceedings.” “Furthermore, it is
important to recall that the decision was made on matters which took
place prior to the year 2000 and there has been no court conviction
against FIFA.

“The investigation and the case are definitely closed.”

Not guilty

Teixeira, Leoz and
Hayatou are current members of the FIFA executive committee which will
decide on Thursday which countries host the World Cups of 2018 and 2022.

All have denied any
wrongdoing but were not available for comment on the latest allegations
based on what the BBC said was a confidential ISL document which
detailed 175 secret payments between 1989 and 1999.

Hayatou is also a
member of the International Olympic Committee and that body said it
would refer the matter to its Ethics Commission.

“The IOC has taken
note of the allegations made by BBC Panorama and will ask the programme
makers to pass on any evidence they may have to the appropriate
authorities,” it said.

“The IOC has a zero
tolerance against corruption and will refer the matter to the IOC
Ethics Commission.” A fourth member of FIFA’s ex-co, Jack Warner of
Trinidad who is a vice-president, had attempted to break FIFA rules
over the sale of 2010 World Cup tickets “but the deal subsequently fell
through”, according to the Panorama programme.

Two FIFA executive committee members, Reynald Temarii of Tahiti and
Amos Adamu of Nigeria, were suspended earlier this month following an
investigation that they offered to sell their votes to undercover
reporters from the Sunday Times newspaper.

Sports

Nigeria won’t be easy, says Germany skipper

Nigeria won’t be easy, says Germany skipper

Captain
of the German women’s national team Birgit Prinz doesn’t think it will
be a stroll in the park for she and her colleagues when they come up
against Nigeria’s Super Falcons at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Germans, who
have won the past two editions of the World Cup, were on Monday grouped
alongside Nigeria, Canada and France in Group A of the tournament which
doesn’t get underway until June 26 next year.

Only recently, the
Super Falcons, still fresh from their victory at the African Women’s
Championship in South Africa, were mauled 8-0 by their German
counterparts when both sides met in an international friendly in
Leverkusen.

But despite
Germany’s outstanding recent victories over Nigeria, Prinz insists she
is not expecting an easy ride at the World Cup.

“It will certainly
be difficult,” said the German captain and three-times Women’s World
Player of the Year, Prinz, who recently announced plans to retire after
the World Cup in an interview with German radio station Deutsche Welle.

However, the
Nigerian’s weren’t the only team in Group A to have suffered defeat at
the hands of the Germans in recent times as Canada, who the Germans
will face in the tournament’s opening match in Berlin, were on the
receiving end of a 5-0 hammering in September.

“That is not the
norm,” continued Prinz. “It was a warm-up game that went relatively
well for us. I don’t think that the opening game will be settled so
decisively.”

Prinz also told
German daily tabloid, Bild shortly after Monday’s World Cup draw in
Frankfurt that: “Both Canada and Nigeria can be difficult opponents and
we can’t take anything for granted against them.”

German coach agrees

Prinz, who is the
most capped player in German football history, as well as the team’s
record goal scorer, wasn’t the only member of the German team to bare
her thoughts on the draw. Her coach, Silvia Neid also expressed
satisfaction with the outcome of Monday’s show in Frankfurt.

“I just have to
take whatever we get,” said Neid, philosophically. “In that regard, I’m
satisfied. We are happy that we know who we are going to play against.”

Neid, who back at
the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991, grabbed Germany’s opening goal
in their 4-0 drubbing of the Super Falcons, nevertheless told Bild that
her team cannot take any of their Group A opponents for granted even
though it is not the toughest group in the tournament; a honour that
belongs to Group C which consists of three of the top six in FIFA world
rankings – the United States, Sweden and Korea. “We are very pleased
with the group,” Neid told Bild. “But you certainly cannot say that we
are already in the quarterfinals.

“Under no circumstances will we take our opponents lightly.”

Sports

Siasia takes over

Siasia takes over

Samson
Siasia was on Wednesday officially presented to the public as the new
coach of the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The ceremony, which
took place at the Press Centre of the Abuja National Stadium, had
earlier been scheduled to take place on November 10 but had to be
called at the last minute due to a nationwide strike by the country’s
labour unions.

A new date for the
unveiling could not be fixed earlier than now as the president of the
NFF, Aminu Maigari travelled to South Africa, where he underwent
corrective surgery on an injured knee.

December 1 was
thereafter picked by the NFF as the new date for Siasia’s unveiling
ceremony and Maigari, who only returned to the country over the
weekend, was present at Wednesday’s ceremony.

“I must tell you
that we picked the man that clearly demonstrated our vision, plan and
target for the national team. We believe that he is capable and
experienced enough to handle the national team and take us to the next
level,” Maigari told reporters at the ceremony.

Siasia’s delight

In reaction to his
appointment, Siasia, who got most people at the venue up on their feet
with his rendition of a popular Yoruba gospel song, expressed his
gratitude to the NFF and the supervisory Sports Ministry for handing
him the opportunity to coach the Super Eagles.

Nigerian football
followers were also not left out as Siasia also expressed his gratitude
to them for helping him actualise what he described as “a lifelong
dream.” He however called on Nigerian football followers to be patient
as he sets about the task of building a national team that will be the
pride of every Nigerian.

“It will take the
support of everyone to build this dream,” Siasia said. “We need time
also, but I promise to do everything humanly possible to make the
Eagles fly again.”

The new Super
Eagles coach also promised to produce a new Super Eagles that will be
more offensive minded, as well as industrious.

“I want to produce
a Super Eagles that will be more attack-minded, very good at using the
wings, as well as defending too,” he said.

The Super Eagles
have been far from impressive in recent times and are at the moment
struggling to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations after
October’s lone goal defeat at the hands of table-topping Guinea in
Conakry.

That defeat to the
Syli Stars leaves the Super Eagles with no choice but to win their
remaining four matches in Group B – beginning with their next
encounter, coming up in March, against Ethiopia.

Siasia, who will
earn N5 million monthly over the next four years, believes he has an
enormous task ahead of him but is confident in his ability to deliver.

“My four years
contract is an enormous task and the first thing to do is to ensure
that we raise a credible squad that can qualify the country for the
2012 Nations Cup,” Siasia said.

“I know the Super Eagles can achieve this.”

With regards to the
chances of players plying their trade in the domestic league, Siasia
explained that those of them called up to the national team will
regularly be camped in Abuja, sometimes for as much as three weeks, and
will only be allowed to rejoin their club sides a few days before
league engagements.

He however
disclosed that he will be travelling out to Europe to meet with some of
the country’s top players as well as his plans to introduce players of
Nigerian origin who have not featured for the senior sides of their
European country of birth into the national team.

Contrary to reports, Siasia denied having any problems with
midfielder, Mikel Obi. Reports claim there is a rift between the two,
dating back to the midfielder’s failure to turn up for the Beijing 2008
Olympic Games. However, Siasia said Mikel will be part of the national
team so long as he keeps doing what was expected of him.

Sports

Lawyer sues Football Federation

Lawyer sues Football Federation

Lagos-based lawyer
and rights activist, Jiti Ogunye, has filed a suit against the Nigeria
Football Federation (NFF) at a Federal High Court in Lagos, claiming
that the NFF is function in violation of a court order.

According to the
petition filed by Ogunye, the Aminu Maigari-led executive committee of
the NFF is unconstitutional especially as the (August 26) election that
ushered them into the NFF board had been nullified by a subsisting
court order.

Joined as
respondents to the suit are the Nigeria Football Association, the
Registered Trustees of the National Association of Nigerian Footballers
(NANF), the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the
Federation and seven others as defendants.

The association had
filed a suit before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in
Lagos to stop the conduct of the election into the board of the
football body which was initially scheduled for August 21.

As a result, Abang
restrained parties to the suit from going ahead with the elections
pending the determination of the suit. This order was however violated
as elections still went ahead on August 26 which prompted NANF to file
contempt proceedings against all parties involved in the polls which
ushered in the present board.

The association however withdrew the case on October 25 enabling the board led by Maigari to return to office.

Unconstitutional

But Ogunye insists
that Abang did not vacate the order nullifying the election, adding
that the purported resumption of office by the NFF chiefs was
unconstitutional.

As a result, the
lawyer is urging the Federal High Court to declare that the order of
annulment of the election is still in force and cannot be varied or
discharged without recourse to the court by the football body.

He also wants the
court to compel the Inspector General of Police, as well as the
Attorney General of the Federation to enforce the orders of the court,
along with an injunction order, restraining members and officers of the
football body from parading themselves as duly elected officers and
members of the football body on the basis of the annulled election.

“NFF must not be
allowed to ridicule our courts, by disobeying an order that it should
not conduct its election, and disobeying the court a second time by
going back to exercise a mandate that was obtained from that election,
when the election had been annulled,” read part of Odunye’s petition.

However, no date has yet been fixed for the hearing.

Sports

Adamu absent as FIFA choose World Cup hosts

Adamu absent as FIFA choose World Cup hosts

Amos
Adamu will not be among the FIFA delegates who will determine the hosts
of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments today in Zurich, Switzerland.

The Nigerian, who
was supposed to be one of the 24 individuals involved in today’s voting
process, was handed a three year suspension after he along with Reynald
Temarii, the president of the OCEANIA football federation, were filmed
by undercover reporters from the Sunday Times agreeing to take bribes
in exchange for their votes. Telmarii was suspended for a year.

The suspension of
both men and four former FIFA Executive Committee members by the FIFA
Ethics Committee was not the only controversy as there were also
allegations of a vote-trading deal between the 2018 Spain-Portugal bid
and the 2022 Qatar bid.

Reports in the
international media alleged that seven votes had been lined up for each
of the bids, leaving each five short of the required majority. But
FIFA, on the same day it announced Adamu’s suspension, said it was not
able to prove the allegations.

Voting process

According to FIFA, the lowest-ranking bid will be eliminated in each round of voting until a bid has an absolute majority of 12.

A few days ago, on
Monday, a programme aired by the BBC, Panorama, alleged that three FIFA
executive committee members, including CAF boss Issa Hayatou from
Cameroon, had received payoffs from ISL, the world body’s former
marketing agency, over a ten-year period beginning from 1989 to 1999.

FIFA, on Tuesday,
however denied the allegations and Hayatou explained that the alleged
payoff was a legitimate and approved payment for CAF’s 40th anniversary
celebrations 16 years ago.

“Panorama wanted to
make people believe that we were corrupt,” said Hayatou in a television
interview with Reuters. “What they showed was from 16 years ago. Why
did they not show this before?

“The money was
addressed for CAF. The executive committee knew of it. I asked them if
I should accept and they said yes,” he added.

Today in Zurich, the voting will be done behind closed doors. There
will be no live feed streaming pictures from inside the FIFA
headquarters.

Sports

Dolphins, Wolves dominate team of the week

Dolphins, Wolves dominate team of the week

The
Nigeria Premier League has released its official team of the week for
this past weekend’s round of matches with players of Dolphins and Warri
Wolves dominating the list.

Dolphins, who
returned to the top of the Premier League table after last weekend’s
3-0 drubbing of Gombe United in Port Harcourt, and Warri Wolves, who
are still unbeaten after four rounds of matches, each produced three
players to take centre stage in this week’s list.

Warri Wolves
goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim’s bravery in the face of an attacking
avalanche helped Wolves earn a 1-0 away win in Jos against previously
unbeaten JUTH. As a result of his goalkeeping heroics at the Rwang Pam
Stadium, the former junior international staved off the competition
from Shooting Stars of Ibadan’s Laide Okanlawon, who prevented Kano
Pillars from scoring more than a goal in their encounter in Kano.

In the four-man
backline preferred by the NPL, who for a second week running opted for
a 4-3-3 formation as against the 4-4-2 formation it had applied after
the opening weekend of the season, Dolphins provided three players, a
centre back and two full backs.

Central defender
Emmah Godwin and right full back Uche Oguchi both converted penalties
in Dolphins’ win over Gombe United while ex-junior international
Kennedy Chinwo, was deployed in an unfamiliar left full back position,
but he showed his versatility with a commanding display.

Completing the back-four is Warri Wolves’ Ike Thankgod.

Itodo back again

Cletus Itodo, who
was the most outstanding player in Sunshine Stars’ 2-0 win over Enugu
Rangers, makes yet another appearance in the midfield of the team of
the week where he is joined by Kano Pillars’ Gabriel Reuben and
Heartland’s Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, whose 89th minute goal gave his side a
2-1 win at the weekend over Kaduna United.

Upfront, Akombo
Ukeyima, who opened scoring for Sunshine Stars against Enugu Rangers,
also makes another return and is joined by Heartland’s Osas Okoro and
Joseph Thompson of Kano Pillars.

The coach of the week is Warri Wolves’ Paul Aigbogun, who has so far kept his team unbeaten in the face of daunting odds.