BusinessDay Weekender 21st Edition

SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

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©AnthillStudios

EDITION 21 I 19, DECEMBER 2020

GIFT IDEAS FOR FESTIVE SEASON PERSONAL FINANCE IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING: GIFT IDEAS FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON

INTERVIEW WE HAVE MORE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, CEOS, TECHNICAL EXPERTS, AND ENGINEERS - KABIR Businessday.ng

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Contents

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C O N T E N T S

7 ART ART X LAGOS 2020

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ENERGY NEWS

PERSONAL FINANCE Christmas: Tips to avoid impulse buying during the holidays

Oolu, a West Africa-based Solar Pay-As-You-Go Distributor

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FASHION IONA MCCREATH Creative Director of KikoRomeo

LEAD STORY IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING: GIFT IDEAS FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON

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INTERVIEW We have more women entrepreneurs, CEOs, technical experts and engineers - Kabir

BOOK REVIEW An Inspiring Story of Perseverance

29 RECIPE

Roast Duck With Orange Sauce and Cauliflower Greens Stuffing

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HEALTH TIPS Are you eating too much salt?

INVESTING IN WOMEN PRESS RELEASE

SPORTS Talking points from this weekend’s Premier League fixtures

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Editorial

Editor’s Note SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

Dear weekender readers, I hope you are reading this week's edition in good health.

Christmas 2020 is just around the corner and the year 2020 has been one for the books, to say the least. Most people I know had big plans for the end of year celebrations, and COVID-19 seemed to be the one thing that failed most of us. Business plans, family plans, and personal plans seem to have all been negatively impacted by COVID-9. Those of us reading this Weekender edition shall, therefore, feel lucky and blessed to be alive. And before I proceed with this note, let me say that my thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have lost their lives, or a loved one to this disease that took over the world this year. But there is hope that very soon this disease will become a bad memory, as the country’s health authorities announced that the first shipment of a 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be in Nigeria as early as January 2021.

While the gift of life is what we should be grateful for, we thought you might need help deciding what Christmas gifts to give your loved ones this end of year. We hope you enjoy our lead story, which is about Christmas gift ideas for the holidays. Inside you can find some really exciting end of year gift articles but also tips on how to spend wisely. We all know that December is a month where most people spend more money than they usually would, because of gift and travel costs, holiday activities, etc. How do we strike a healthy balance and spend wisely during this difficult holiday period? You will find some guidance inside this edition.

We often hear the saying “treat others like you would like to be treated’; in reality, how many of us really understand its profound meaning and how to practice it? We have a piece that gives you practical tips on how to truly be your brother’s keeper.

A rare interview with Hannah Kabir, the founder/CEO of Creeds Energy, established in 2012.

Creeds Energy is an indigenous renewable energy company established in 2012 and we enjoyed a rare interview with Hannah Kabir, its founder & CEO and together we explored in-depth what it is like being a woman in the energy sector, and the landscape and opportunities in the space. Enjoy!

Have you ever thought about whom you can call when you have a medical emergency in Nigeria?

Do you have a state or national emergency number that is immediately accessible? When you witness a road traffic accident, or someone faints in the street, would you know a number that you could call?

Read our piece on Nigerian ambulance services.

In the news this week, the highlights are the following: Damilola Odufuwa and Odunayo Eweniyi named in Vogue's 12 women leaders who changed the world in 2020. The two Nigerian women have made it to the Vogue list of top 12 women leaders who changed the world in 2020. They both share the number 3 spot on this list and are fintech experts and women’s rights advocates. Odufuwa and Eweniyi, jointly with 11 other women, formed the Feminist coalition with the aim of improving the rights of women in Nigeria. Other famous personalities on the Vogue list include: New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern; German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and US vice-president-elect, Kamala Harris.

The founder of Lifebank, Temie Giwa-Tubosun, won the 2020 Global Citizen Prize for Business Leader, which honours ‘an individual in the business community who has combined business goals with positive human impact.’

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, have signed a deal with Spotify streaming service to produce and host podcasts about their lives. Prince Harry and Meghan's charity will receive an undisclosed sum from the partnership between Archwell Audio (their Production Company) and Spotify.

It was announced this week that President Emmanuel Macron of France has tested positive to the coronavirus and will work in isolation for the next week, prompting other European leaders he has met to take precautionary measures, thus, complicating Europe’s efforts to overcome a crippling second wave of the pandemic.

In an interesting turn of events, all SIM cards that cannot be linked to any NIN in Nigeria are going to be blocked, beginning December 16th, 2020.

This decision was shared by the federal government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to all telecommunications operators like MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9Mobile, and others.

Inside this edition you will also find, as always, a new easy recipe for amateur cooks, the sports round up and much more.

Do have a restful weekend.k BD

Lehlé Baldé is the Editor of BusinessDay Weekender email: lehle.balde@businesssday.ng | social: @lehlelalumiere Businessday.ng

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SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020 PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Frank Aigbogun MANAGING DIRECTOR Ogho Okiti EDITOR BUSINESSDAY SATURDAY Lehlé Balde EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Fabian Akagha MANAGER, CONFERENCES & EVENTS Obiora Onyeaso MANAGER, ADVERTS Ijeoma Ude COPY SALES MANAGER Florence Kadiri DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Linda Ochugbua HEAD OF DIGITAL SERVICES Onyinyechi Eze HEAD, HUMAN RESOURCES Adeola Obisesan DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION Tolulope Ayo-Olubiyo.

CONTRIBUTORS Ikechukwu Onyekwelu Art X Lagos Oluwamayomikun Deji-Omotayo Dr. Helen Zidon Kevin Ray Dr Monisola Adanijo FMCP Oluwafadekemi Areo Asukwo Ikechukwu Onyekwelu mercy ayodele favour olarewaju Anthony Nlebem PHOTO CREDIT Freepik, Google Images, Pexels ENQUIRIES ' ' lehle.balde@businessday.ng samuel.anyanwu@businessday.ng ADVERTS Ijeoma Ude +2348033225506 PUBLISHED BY BusinessDay Media Limited The Brook, 6 Point Road, GRA, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria.

01-2799100 www.businessday.ng LEGAL ADVISERS The Law Union

News Roundup

DECEMBER 2020 SATURDAY 19,

Amazon's zoox bi-directional vehicle has no reverse OLUWAFADEKEMI AREO

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arlier this year, Amazon acquired an autonomous vehicle company which has now released the first four-person multidirectional vehicle designed for dense, urban environments. It is called a ‘robo-raxi’ and the carriage-style interior of the vehicle produced by Zoox Inc has

two benches that face each other.

It measures just under 12 feet long, about a foot shorter than a standard Mini Cooper and has no steering wheel.

It is among the first vehicles with bidirectional capabilities and four-wheel steering, allowing for better manoeuvrability and has a top speed of 75 miles per hour.

According to Zoox, the vehicle is being tested in the company’s base of Foster City, California, as well as Las Vegas and San Francisco.

FG to block SIM cards without National Identity Numbers (NIN) in two weeks.

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Damilola Odufuwa and Odunayo Eweniyi named in vogue's 12 women leaders who changed the world in 2020

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wo Nigerian women have made it to the Vogue list of top 12 women leaders who changed the world in 2020. These women both share the number 3 spot on this list and are fintech expert and women’s rights advocates, Damilola Odufuwa and Odunayo Eweniyi.

Odufuwa and Eweniyi jointly with 11 other women formed the Feminist coalition with the aim of improving the rights of women in Nigeria. The two women have achieved a milestone as on the vogue list with them are: New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern; German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and US vice-president-elect, Kamala Harris.

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ll SIM cards not linked to any NIN in Nigeria are going to be blocked in two weeks time, beginning from December 16th to December 30th 2020. This instruction has been given by the federal government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to all telecommunications operators like MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9Mobile, and others.

Bashir Ahmad, the personal assistant to president Muhammadu Buhari disclosed this via his twitter handle earlier this week and it has been explained that this decision was taken to consolidate the achievements of last year’s SIM reg-

President Buhari has directed the reopening of the 4 land borders.

istration audit and to improve the performance and sanity of the sector.

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he Nigerian land borders which were closed in August 2019, with partial opening and closing for people prompted by the pandemic in 2020 has now been opened.

President Buhari has directed the reopening of the land border at Seme, Illela, Maigatari, and Mfun.

President Muhammadu Buhari who ordered the closures of Nigeria’s borders to prevent smuggling of rice and other products, in attempts to ensure food self-sufficiency has promised the border would be opened ‘as soon as possible’ in a recent meeting with the ruling APC party chieftains.

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News Roundup

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have signed a deal with Spotify to produce a podcast on their lives

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he Duke and Duchess of Sussex have signed a deal with streaming service Spotify to produce and host podcasts. Prince Harry and Meghan's charity will receive an undisclosed sum from the partnership between their Production Company, Archewell Audio, and Spotify.

In a trailer, Prince Harry and Meghan promised "different perspectives" and interviews with "amazing people". It comes after the couple this year signed a Netflix deal to produce a range of programmes and series. Their first podcast, due for release during the Christmas period, is described as a holiday special.

Nigeria's Temi Giwa-Tuboson wins 2020 Global Citizen prize for Business Leaders

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ounder of Lifebank, Temie GiwaTubosun has won the 2020 Global Citizen Prize for Business Leader, which honours ‘an individual in the business community who has combined business goals with positive human impact.’

She was recognised for her work as a health advocate in addressing blood shortages in Nigeria, her innovative use of technology, and the partnerships she has harnessed to expand initiatives.

She was also recognised for “LifeBank’s COVID-19 response including launching testing centres, and free delivery of medical oxygen to COVID-19 patients in isolation centres.

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Nigeria to get COVID-19 vaccines in January

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he first shipment of a COVID19 vaccine is expected to be obtained in Nigeria come January 2021. This is coming after the announcement that Nigeria will receive 20 million doses of the vaccine in 2021.

The nation has set up a committee to select the vaccine most suitable for the country against the virus since different temperatures are required to protect vaccines. Nigeria has signed up with the Global Vaccine Alliance Initiative (GAVI) for access to vaccines and has also registered for COVID-19 vaccines with the Global Access Program (COVAX) co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO).

French president Emmanuel Macron tests positive for COVID-19

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resident Emmanuel Macron of France has tested positive for the coronavirus and will work in isolation for the next week, prompting other European leaders he has met to take precautionary measures and complicating Europe’s efforts to overcome a crippling second wave of the pandemic.

The presidential Élysée Palace announced the illness on Thursday without clarifying Mr. Macron’s symptoms or the gravity of his condition. As one of Europe’s youngest leaders, at 42, the president is not among the most vulnerable to the virus, but its effects are known to be unpredictable

Art

SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

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ART X LAGOS CONSOLIDATES ITS POSITION AS WEST AFRICA’S PREMIER INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR WITH THE LAUNCH OF A DIGITAL FAIR FOR 2020

ART X LAGOS 2020

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020 saw the 5th edition of West Africa’s leading international art fair which over the previous 4 years had 30,000 guests witness the best of African contemporary and modern art from 300 artists.

With the 2020 transition to a digital platform, the art fair hosted a vast international audience from 101 countries over eight days from 2nd – 9th December.

For ART X Lagos, 2020 was a year like no other. In the face of COVID-19 ART X Lagos announced West Africa’s first ever digital art fair with the theme ‘Present States; Shared Futures’.

Then just as the fair was due to launch the #EndSARS protests took place in Nigeria. In response

to this unrest, ART X Lagos launched a support initiative for 100 photographers who worked at the frontlines and put out a call for works documenting the historic civil uprising. A selection of these photographs and videos now form the fair’s special project, New Nigeria Studios, featuring images taken across 17 states in Nigeria.

The online exhibition New Nigeria Studios is a “living archive”, curated across several themed rooms, which muses not only on how the world experienced the protests on social media but also the power these images possess to demand social justice. Adding to the richness of this transformative display was a roundtable discus-

sion at the fair’s talks series ART X Talks, ‘What we Saw in October’, between established photographers Kelechi Amadi-Obi and Yagazie Emezi on their own storytelling around the protests. The extended exhibition will now run online until the 31st of December, 2020 on ARTXLAGOS.COM. ART X Talks ran over the course of the art fair and included ’Sir, the evolution has begun’ a conversation featuring Lemi Ghariokwu, Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana and Opal Tometi, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter, who topped the ArtReview Power 100 list for 2020, and said “When we come together as a community then we are able to work together to materialise what has been in our Businessday.ng

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Art

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imagination and stirred up in our mind.” Hank Willis Thomas speaking at the ‘For Freedoms’ talk said “We forget often that without art there is no culture, civilisation and therefore it is the root of our society. Because we think of it often as charity, we have lost connection with the basic element of human experience which is creativity.” ART X Talks also included ‘The Black in Art’ - a talk moderated

by Tokini Peterside with collectors Deen Solebo, Lola Ogunnaike, Nish McRee and Freda Isingoma who said “We are so lucky as collectors of African and diasporic art because our culture is evolving in real time and that makes it more dynamic than the [Western] art scene.” The fair’s newest platform ART X Review presented ‘The Wrap Up’, a conversation for emerging artists with Njideka AkunyiliCrosby, discussing the growth, place and potential of the artist in today’s world.

For its 2020 edition, ART X Lagos invited audiences to virtually interact with a curated selection of 200 works from leading galleries across Africa and the Diaspora and successfully provided a place for communities around the world to contemplate society’s shared demands and expectations for tomorrow, and to meditate on new ideas for how our global community might move forward together.

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Art

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The ten participating galleries included Bloom Art, Kó (formerly Arthouse - The Space), Nike Art Gallery, Ed Cross Fine Art, Galerie MAM Douala, Nubuke Foundation, LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery, SMO Contemporary Art, Galerie Cécile Fakhoury and Out of Africa Gallery.

the love for art and music kept me going.” The performing artist Tomi Owó added, “We have a duty to seek change. We must take the human spirit and show the world what we’re feeling and hope it does the work it needs to do.” ART X Live! is available to view on Youtube until the 31st of December, 2020.

This year ART X Live!, the dynamic fusion platform for art and music created by ART X Lagos, presented ‘Like Someone’s Watching’ a performance film starring musicians Oxlade and Tomi Owó, visual artist King Jesse Uranta, and DJ Camron, directed by emerging filmmaker Omowunmi Ogundipe. First premiered on Saturday 5th December, 2020 as part of the ART X Lagos 2020 art fair, ‘Like Someone’s Watching’ features a stellar line up of Nigeria’s exciting emerging creatives, cutting across art, music and fashion. The short film weaves together music video performances, digital animation, artist interviews, and an activist DJ set.

Creating in the midst of trauma is at the heart of the film, which was shot during the pivotal week of the End SARS protests, with ’Like Someone's Watching’ probing both the burden and the privilege of being an artist. Oxlade said, “I was creating at the hardest point of my life this year, in fear... but

Founder and Director of ART X Lagos, and CEO of ART X Collective, Tokini Peterside said: In this challenging and difficult year in which a global pandemic has ravaged Nigeria’s economy, and a political movement has altered confidence in our nation state; the artists and galleries, musicians and performers that took part in ART X Lagos 2020 have shown above and beyond the power of art to inspire, to build and to create community and hope. Our belief remains that the future is bright for Africa and its creative talent, and we are thankful to our community for joining us to make this a reality in 2020”.

You can keep in touch with ART X Lagos by visiting ARTXLAGOS.COM and following @artxlagos on social media. You can also follow the conversation with #ARTXLagos. BD Businessday.ng

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SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

Oolu, a West Africa-based Solar Pay-As-You-Go Distributor, raises $8.5 million in Series B round with RP Global as lead investor, All On and Persistent Energy, among others.

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olu, a leading solar distributor in West Africa, has closed a $8.5 million Series B investment round led by independent renewable energy developer RP Global. Additional participating investors included Persistent Energy Capital, Shell-seeded impact investor All On, Gaia Impact Fund, and DPI Energy Ventures.

Oolu’s mission is to provide affordable energy access to rural and peri-urban customers in West Africa. Since its inception in 2015, the company has sold over 60,000 solar home systems to customers in the region. In addition to a large distribution and service network, Oolu employs over 250 full-time employees and is run by a Dakar-based management team of whom 50% are women. With this investment, Oolu will expand its core product offering to meet the needs of its current and future customers and further develop its operations in West Africa.

Dan Rosa, CEO and co-founder of Oolu, said: “The strength of our business and industry during a challenging global pandemic has demonstrated the value that customers see in our products and service. RP Global’s financial expertise and experience in managing renewable energy businesses will enable us to accelerate our growth. All On’s unparalleled knowledge of the renewable energy sector in Nigeria will help us to further adapt our business to meet customers’ needs. In addition, we are excited to continue our successful collaboration with current investors especially Persistent Energy Capital.”

Leo Schiefermueller, Director of RP Global Africa, comments: “We are looking forward to working with the most promising solar home systems provider in West Africa.

Having found a partner with such an efficient structure and excellent management, makes us optimistic that this will be our greatest venture in Africa to date. The fantastic team at Oolu is prepared to lead the company towards a whole new Businessday.ng

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level of success and growth in all areas of one of Africa’s most important challenges - ‘access to energy’.”

All On Investment Manager, Afolabi Akinrogunde added: “Oolu Solar’s operational expertise, geographical spread in West Africa, flexibility and efficiency has earned the company a leadership position in solar home systems distribution. Their success across the region and Nigeria gives All On the confidence that this investment will further enhance our commitment to enabling the deployment of affordable off- grid power solutions in the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.”

About Oolu Oolu is a for-profit, social impact company operating in five West African countries: Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. After the company was founded in 2015 and graduated from Y Combinator’s Summer 2015 batch, it has sold over 60,000 solar home systems and built a proprietary management platform and distribution network. Oolu’s solar systems guarantee modern and affordable energy access to households and businesses located in areas with unreliable grid or completely off-grid. Read more at: https://oolusolar.com/ About All On All On, an impact investing company, was seeded with funding from Shell, and works with partners to increase access to commercial energy products and services for unserved and underserved off-grid energy markets in Nigeria, with a special focus on the Niger Delta. All On invests in off-grid energy solutions spanning solar, wind, hydro, biomass and gas technologies deployed by both foreign and local access-toenergy companies that complement available grid power across Nigeria and help bridge the country’s significant energy gap. BD

SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

Laughter in the Mirror

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Personal Finance

SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

Christmas: Tips to avoid impulse buying during the holidays MERCY AYODELE

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hristmas is just some days away, which is a beautiful thing, we all love Christmas but this is also the prime season to fall into the impulse buying trap.

If you grew up in the typical African home, you know Christmas is not complete till you get a new dress, shoes and eat something that is not the regular day food.

Even as adults, we still want to buy new things during this season. There is this meme making its rounds on social media which reads “I look all matured and grown but deep down I still want Christmas clothes. As much as this is not wrong in itself, it’s easy to get carried away with the euphoria of the holiday season and spend more than we need to and on things that are not necessities.

An impulse buy is anytime you purchase something you weren’t planning to. It could be as small as grabbing a chocolate bar in the checkout line of the supermarket that Businessday.ng

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wasn’t planned or big as walking into a store “just to see what they have” and walking out with two new shoes and dresses. If it’s not planned for in your budget ahead of time, it’s an impulse.

This year has not been the easiest, the country is currently in a recession and we are still in the middle of a pandemic.

We must still celebrate Christmas but not be pressured to do the norm especially if it is not convenient. There is so much going on everywhere, most businesses are doing massive clearance sales and it’s very easy to get carried away, feeling like we really need to get some things now or miss the chance to buy it cheaply. Some people even get into the pressure of borrowing to meet Christmas needs.

Here are few tips to help you avoid impulse buying this season

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Personal Finance

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deal but it is important to understand that you don’t have to buy it even though on sales. There is this impulsive desire for most people to buy things during the period because it is seemly cheaper. If it’s not in your budget, don’t buy.

Then there is the countdown trap, watch out for sales that are only 5 days or even 24 hours. Don’t let a countdown rush you into buying anything! Remember the offer, save some money, and be ready for it next time if you can’t afford it right now. There will always be other sales.

Get off social media if you need to Social media is one big billboard for impulse buying. Everywhere you scroll, there would be someone trying to get you to spend your money. This could put pressure on you to spend money. Getting social media for a while could be good for you; you won’t see all the f lashy sales and deals calling your name.

Make a budget and stick to it It is a tradition for most people to draw up Christmas wish list, some people draw it up on paper but I think majority have a mental wish list. It is good thing to buy what we want but let it be what is on your budget. Carefully ask yourself questions, what do I need for Christmas? Is it important? Can it wait?

Importantly, a budget isn’t a magic wand that will suddenly make all of your money behave. It’s on you to tell your money where to go and then follow through with that plan. If it’s not already budgeted for, don’t spend the money.

Remember January is longest month of the year Most people humorously say January is the longest month of the year especially regarding their finances. I have a theory; it feels that long because most people have spent all their money during the holiday season and now it is so difficult surviving in January. Therefore it feels like the end of the month when they get their next pay seem so far away.

As much as we want to enjoy Christmas, it is important to avoid the impulse buying trap and start the New Year financially strong. BD

Don’t buy based on emotions.

Stopping to examine the why behind the buy can help you determine if it’s a wise purchase. For the majority of nonnecessity purchases, most consumers make the decision to buy based on emotion. The product evokes a positive feeling and that compels them to open their wallets. The hope of being more attractive can compel you to buy the bone straight hair, the new dress or having a new phone even though you have enough dresses and enough good hairs. Understanding why you buy can help you see it is not a necessity and it is based on emotions.

Wait a day or longer before you make a purchase.

When you have a strong impulse to buy a product, you could give yourself a day or more to calm down. Once you are much more calm, you can take a fresh perspective and ask yourself if you will actually use this thing and if you can confidently and conveniently afford to pay cash for it now.

Avoid the clearance sale trap 20% off, 50% clearance sales, sounds familiar? You must have seen that somewhere during this season as most vendors are trying to sell off old stocks. Everyone loves a good Businessday.ng

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Story

SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

TREAT OTHERS HOW YOU/THEY WANT TO BE TREATED: THE WORKPLACE OLUWAFADEKEMI AREO

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hope you enjoyed last week’s edition on treating your friends the way you want to be treated or the way they want to be treated. This week, we are delving into workplace relationships and how to treat your leaders and followers the way you/they want to be treated.

As a leader of a team, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), manager or any other leadership position, can you boldly say that you treat your followers well? As a follower, can you truthfully say that you treat your leaders well?

The questions above will produce numerous responses if we were to do an actual organisational survey, but the focus here is to contextualise how to build better workplace relationships.

Building better relationships with your followers Do you belong to the school of thought that believes in shouting and creating fear to get the best result? The thing is, to adequately decide the technique to use; you need to know who the members of your staff are.

Human resource management is so important that it is a field of study in Universities, there are professional courses for it and almost every organisation has a team of human resource personnel.

It is important that the human resource team has a file on Businessday.ng

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every member of staff containing everything about them including their personality traits, updated strengths and weaknesses, IQ and other intelligence statistics, amongst others.

As a leader of a team or group of persons, you can either use the information with the human resource management team or you can get to know your team members by yourself. It has been said that what you do not have adequate knowledge of cannot yield unto you the best results, and this principle is very evident in the relationship between a leader and his followers.

The question now is, where does the golden rule (treat others how you want to be treated) or the platinum rule (treat others how they want to be treated) come in? No one climbed to being a leader without being a follower at some point. So to apply the golden rule, remember how being a follower was like for you and all the complaints you had about your leaders. You need to consciously ensure that you do not repeat that same pattern towards your followers.

If you did not like being publicly embarrassed in the name of correction, do not do it to your followers. If you did not like the fact that your leader never sought or used your ideas, ensure to treat your followers how you really wanted to be treated when you were a follower.

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Do not see your followers as just people beneath you that you rule over but build healthy work relationships that have an appropriate feedback mechanism where each follower can talk about their concerns and where you as the leader can also share your thoughts.

The truth is, it is through the open communication line that you would be able to know when to apply the platinum rule. Some members of your team might have more speed or faster finishing time on a task; the deal is not to keep bombarding them with many tasks but to help them to grow to a point of speed. This can only happen when there is a healthy communication line and you are interested in growing your follower based on what you know about him/ her.

Empathy might seem like a weakness to some people, but remember when you were a follower and because of how far your house was you always got late to work and always felt sad when your leader at the time never showed empathy or looked for a way to help you out.

Living far away is just one example; it could be that your follower has a health challenge, family issue, or any other challenge. Be empathetic towards your followers and seek out ways to make their lives more conducive. This is because a happy staff can yield double the results of a sad staff.

I understand that in an organisation there is so much work to be done and maybe no time to pay rapt attention to getting to know the members of your staff. You must have however forgotten that the best resources in your organisation are the people and being able to bring out the best from these people will go a long way in determining your organisational success.

Your followers are all intelligent, smart, and hardworking and so on, but they are all different and do things differently. You cannot continue to

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treat them randomly. See them as a team you belong to and begin to treat them how you wanted to be treated while you were a follower.

In addition, treat them how they would want to be treated based on the adequate knowledge you have of them.

Building better relationships with your leaders In our world today, we are so quick to judge our leaders as bad, not caring and other hurtful phrases, but we have forgotten that to be a leader there must be a pack of followers.

The truth is that the leadership model is not complete without the follower. In every relationship, agreements are of high importance as there would be no reaching a common goal if there isn’t an agreement.

Never forget that your leader is a human being that has several weights on his/her shoulder and for every organisational goal not met, he/she bears the utmost consequence.

It is not in all scenarios that your leader would be the approachable time, so hone your observation skill and pay rapt attention to the behaviour and character of your leader to know how exactly to relate with them.

Do your best as a follower to ask the right questions, carry out your tasks as asked, make your concerns known where necessary, and above all do your part in the whole process of achieving the common goal of the organisation.

In a situation where you are not getting the best results due to different circumstances, do not stay silent as this would only gradually eat up the best of your mental abilities.

The truth is, determining whether to apply the golden or the platinum rule to your leaders is very tricky. The golden rule is however the first go to option and should be employed by registering in your mind that your leader is a human being and should be treated fairly.

That you are a follower today does not mean you cannot become a leader tomorrow. Ask yourself and answer honestly how you would want your followers to treat you. Begin to imbibe those answers first towards your leaders.

Switch to the platinum rule as you move on and never stop observing your leader and learning about their likes and dislikes. Leader or follower, you are all a team and if one party fails to be interested in getting the best out of one another, the organisation will fall one way or another no matter how long it has been standing.

In conclusion, work place relationships are not like the regular relationships we have with friends and family. Bear in mind, however, that as a leader, you do not want your followers to be easily poachable by your competitors. You can only get loyal followers based on how you treat them. Also, as a follower, you are mostly able to be ranked highly by your leaders when you help them make leadership easier.

So do the right things and treat your leaders well. BD

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Fashion

SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

IONA MCCREATH

Creative Director of KikoRomeo Founder and Creative Director of ZIWA Iona McCreath was born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1996.

She has a Foundation in Art and Design from UAL Central St Martin’s and a degree in Sociology from London School of Economics. Growing up as daughter of renowned fashion designer Ann McCreath, Iona has apprenticed in the fashion industry from birth.

With time, she began to take a keener interest in her own role in fashion, exploring her talents and putting to practice the skills she had picked up along the way. In 2013, aged 17, she refashioned KikoRomeo subsidiary Kikoti, taking charge of designing and positioning the line. Kikoti was an affordable fashion forward line aimed at youth. Passionate about animals, she decided to use fast fashion, to highlight the plight of animals facing extinction from poaching. This work was highlighted in a feature in i-D. magazine https:// id.vice.com/en_au/article/mbe3dv/sorry-for-theinconvenience-were-trying-to-save-the-world Whilst maintaining her role as Creative Director at KikoRomeo, Iona has decided to rebrand Kikoti and launch under the name Ziwa. A fully sustainable and ethical brand, Ziwa is a brand that seeks to capture the inner beauty and magic that we all hold within us.

Rooted in what it is to be African, through the brand, she will explore the dichotomy, many of us now find ourselves in as we navigate a highly globalised world.

Did you always want to pursue a career in fashion and when did you first know for sure?

Growing up with my mum as a fashion designer, I have always been surrounded by highly skilled tailors and artisans, playing dress up with the clothes in the shop and claiming the bargain box in the corner of the shop as my designated spot after school. With time, I began to take a keener interest in my role in fashion and exploring my talents and putting to practice the skills I had picked up along the way.

You and your Mum, Ann McCreath are a fashion duo, to what extent would you say that relationship shaped your interests in fashion and Businessday.ng

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what is it like working together?

It definitely played a massive role in my fashion interests. From a very young age I’ve been mesmerised by the world of fashion. Not just the glitz and the glamour that it is hyped up to be but the nitty gritty of running around backstage during the chaos, as well as the long road trips up and down the country to visit artisans and do photoshoots. The process of taking a piece of cloth and turning it into a garment never ceases to amaze me. Another thing that I live for is first seeing photos after a photoshoot.

That feeling to me is what has been marketed for years as the “Christmas morning feeling”, the excitement is unparalleled.

Working with family is always stressful but I am so grateful to be able to learn

so much from my mum. She is truly a legend in her field and I am honoured that I’ve been able to apprentice alongside her for so many years.

KikoRomeo: “Adam’s apple”; this is a very striking brand name, what’s the story behind it?

KikoRomeo originally began as a menswear brand and that is where the name was derived from.

Quite early on, the demand for womenswear in the market meant that it could not solely have a menswear focus and thus we became a brand that did both. More recently, as the menswear market has begun to emerge much stronger again, we too, have refound our flair for menswear and taken

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an approach to silhouettes that can be worn by anyone but still make you stand out and look amazing.

You have also been able to stand out in your career with fashion for the future with your sustainable fashion brand, ‘Kikoti’. What was the motivation behind Kikoti and your emphasis on sustainability?

In 2013 I launched Kikoti, a brand aimed at global youth, making it a younger, more accessible version of KikoRomeo for all my contemporaries to be able to fulfil our desires to be on trend and in tune with global pop-culture, but at the same time, honouring our African heritage and forming a fusion between the culture that we consumed through media and that which we come from.

Together with fashion, I have always been very passionate about wildlife, thus, the line served to raise awareness around conservation, with a primary focus on Elephants, with an aim at selling into the Far-East concentrating on the markets with the highest demand and consumption of Ivory, to provide a product that would fulfil materialistic desires and serve as an alternative status symbol, which Ivory has been.

Although this seemed like a tall task, I felt that I would be able to make a change by educating the younger generation on the real life consequences.

Fashion

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" I like to use the analogy of music. A fashion designer is like a composer and conductor, you have the vision and the know-how of how to execute it yet you need a multiplicity or different instruments to bring your vision to life. You may be able to play some of those instruments but there’s no way you can compose, conduct and fill the place of a whole orchestra, all at the same time."

What do you consider to be the most important facets of the fashion industry and what’s the most important lesson you carry with you as a young designer?

I honestly believe that all parts of the industry are important and shouldn’t be overlooked. The reason I say this is that we often look to place the most value on only one aspect and thus neglect the rest. However, when you look at it like a machine, you need all the components to get it to work.

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Fashion

It’s incredibly important for me to tell the story of the entirety of the fashion value chain. Most often the fashion designer is looked at as the end all, be all. Yet, we are nothing without our teams. I like to use the analogy of music. A fashion designer is like a composer and conductor, you have the vision and the know-how of how to execute it yet you need a multiplicity or different instruments to bring your vision to life. You may be able to play some of those instruments but there’s no way you can compose, conduct and fill the place of a whole orchestra, all at the same time.

The people behind the face of the brand are equally as important as its face. We all need each other in order to function, right from the farmer to the end consumer. I would like to be in an industry where someone has as great a passion to be a tailor as they do a designer and both professions looking at each other with the same amount of respect.

KikoRomeo’s pieces are distinct, even in the modernity, there is an authenticity that is rooted in the African culture, could you speak more on this please? What inspires these pieces?

So KikoRomeo, who we are, as you can see, is deeply embedded in our clothes. And we've been able to build this brand aesthetic that can transcends time, you always be able to see a KikoRomeo piece and knows it’s a KikoRomeo piece. And there's something about our brand, that it doesn't matter when you wear it, or how you wear it, it always be relevant.

Now, I think this is the authenticity rooted in African culture; if you look at the textiles that we use, they are the mainly African textiles, we try to use a lot of traditional textiles, even if you look from the beginning of the brand. Now, of course, there's times when we've deviated and that tends to happen. But from the beginning of the brand, the use of aso-oke, of mud cloth and of adire has been very prominent, now and then, as well as the textiles that are available in Kenya.

And now as we move into when I'm taking over, it's important for me to go back to what I knew of the brand when I was growing up. Personifying it, who KikoRomeo was and who KikoRomeo Businessday.ng

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is and that is, what I've seen from when I was a child, so going back to being deeply rooted in the textiles that we use and making sure that the textiles are from the African continent, and really being able to produce in the African continent. And I think that's what's really kept us rooted in our tradition, I think as well, looking at our use of adornment, and how we work with different artisans within Kenya and around the African continent, there will always be that sense of being rooted in our culture, if we're working to build from that point; building from what we know, and what's inherent to us, and translating it into how we live our life now.

So someone may not want to be completely adorned in their full beadwork with a full traditional dress.

But if you can carry that forward into a more modern, shall we say, silhouette, that's a great way of still being rooted in your culture but also being able to transcend into a modern world where it may not be practical to be dressed up in your traditional regalia all the time.

And I think this comes from working with artisans; it's not about “oh, I want this done like this”. When you're working, at least personally, when I'm working with artisans, it's a collaborative effort like, “I this is the idea that I have, what do you think?”

“What do you want to do when you see this piece of fabric? How do you want to paint?” “This is the direction I was thinking, but if you have another idea, let's go for it.” Although that can get a bit tricky, because sometimes people are so stuck in their tradition that they don't know how to then push forward, I think it's important to have these conversations and really communicate and have a bit of process. So that even though someone may be just stuck in, “I have to bead it like this”, if you have that conversation, then it opens people's minds up and shows that you can use your traditional skills but in a different way.

When people think about you as a designer and your brand, what ideas do you want them to associate with you?

When people think of me as a designer, I want people to think of me as being innovative, of being fashion forward, of being able to marry tradition with where

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we're going; the future and looking at how we can acknowledge and honour our roots and use them to forge us forward and to really build strong and powerful relationships through the work that we do. I want them to think about having an ability to innovate in any sort of circumstance, and to unite across boundaries and borders that we have between us that keep us away from each other. So I'd like to be able to kind of bridge our divides through the work that I do and through what I put out and how I design.

I think that's one of the most important things, like building community and building a better understanding of each other. But also, it's important for me to build a better understanding between human beings and our natural world and understanding better why we have to be conscious of the things we're doing and how we're interacting with the environment around us and conserving what we have and being able to use our resources in a sustainable way for good and to create more positive than we do negative.

How would you describe your experience at the Arise Fashion Week in Lagos? What new thing would you say your brand has shared with the fashion industry from showcasing?

It has been great to be showcasing alongside so many amazing young designers. It’s great to have a spotlight on the new generation and how we’re doing things. I’ve loved being surrounded by so much talent and most importantly having the opportunity to be creative and showcase my collection in a year when I was not expecting to do so in the traditional fashion format.

It has been amazing to be able to show the new direction of KikoRomeo that although remains within the traditional KikoRomeo brand aesthetic, my interpretation of that is different to my mother’s. Thus, this show serves to further showcase the next generation of KikoRomeo.

I have also loved being able to show the beautiful textiles that are made in Kenya. Many people are unaware of the textiles made in Kenya and our capabilities and so it’s incredible being able to put this at the fore.

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Could you describe your creative process? What gets you in “the zone” as a designer and how do you feel about the work you do?

Right, my creative process. Honestly, it's really random. Inspiration can strike at any point and you may not even realize that that's where the inspiration struck from with this

specific collection. It may just be this sort of inner feeling that you have and then that inspires you to design something or it could be something you've seen or the way a shadow falls. I know that's for me one of the strongest things about this latest collection; it was the shadow that was created by the object, the necklace that I've used a lot in this

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Photo by Reed Davis collection. So that's where it came from, looking at that shadow and just seeing this object every day and then the ideas just floated to me.

I'll be doing the most random thing like lying in bed at night, trying to fall asleep and then all of a sudden, I'm like “Oh! that would be nice as a shirt” or “Oh! I could do the shirt this way and fix it that way.” So it's not kind of like a sit down at a table and I'm like, “right I'm going to draw”, like that is definitely not what's going to work for me, it’d go in the complete opposite direction and then I start to get worried. I'm like, “Oh my gosh, I can't do this”. It's just like the if the environment isn't right for you, then it's not going to work out.

So what gets me in “the zone”, I think it's always important to have that comfort. So for me having the right kind of music, the right kind of atmosphere, being relaxed, being inspired, and just going out and doing things. I might go for a walk or go out to see friends; pre 2020. That's what inspires me, just having human interaction and having that physical interaction with the natural world, like being able to be present in the moment and that's where I derive most of my inspiration from.

And then having said all of that, I may think I may design something and say I want it like this, and it doesn't work out at all. But then it's being able to step outside and be like “Okay, this isn't exactly how I wanted it, but look at it for what it is now, does it work?

How can I make it work?” Something that my mom's always told me is that genius strikes in the most obscure places, you think something is a complete disaster, but it’s actually one of the greatest moments of genius.

I think for me, at least being a designer or creating my designs, is about me being fluid and flexible, and just allowing myself to be in the world and be receptive to what's happening around me and how I'm responding to it. BD

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Lead Story

SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING: GIFT IDEAS FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON OLUWAMAYOMIKUN DEJI-OMOTAYO

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he custom of exchanging gifts during the holidays goes far back and it has continued without much questioning for its origin; it has simply become a practice that “just is”.

With the festivities around the corner, questions of what presents to give our loved ones to show how much we appreciate them are starting to bug our minds.

While we are not obligated to buy presents, we are often inclined to express our love and gratitude through this love language. From colleagues and friends to family and lovers, the question of the “right gift” cannot go unanswered.

You are better equipped with knowledge of the intricacies that determine how appropriate or appreciated a gift might be but here are a few ideas to guide your options.

Gift hampers It might be a grave offence if I did not begin with this timeless gift idea. This is practically the champion of holiday gifts in Nigerian homes. I think the charm of holiday hampers lies in its magic of catering to the whole household; there is usually something for everyone, from sweets and biscuits for the kids to wine and nuts for the adults. Your next meal could even come from the contents of the basket or box.

The simplicity of the idea does not undercut its value, it is received with smiles and gratitude year after year because of its thoughtfulness.

The flexibility of gift hampers remains unmatched; prepackaged or custom, small budgets to larger budgets, Businessday.ng

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hampers can be tweaked to match your pocket, time constraints, personality and nature of relationship with the recipient.

Hampers do not have to be limited to food items alone, you can put anything is a hamper to make it more personal and they could even be thematic.

Nothing says “Thank you and happy holidays!” like trays of yummy chops. Whether it’s small chops platters, seafood

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platters or even dessert trays, it’s very difficult to go wrong with edible appreciation. Just be sure to know if your intended recipient has any food allergies…oops!

Self-care package!

This year has been exhausting!

Whew! While it was inconvenient for some, it was downright horrific for others. Each person’s story has a different colour. It’ll be incredibly kind to give another the chance to steal a few hours to themselves to relax and rejuvenate.

Bath bombs, rose petals, scented candles, beauty face masks, a gift card for a spa day are some contents of a package that says “I care for you and you should too”.

Don’t forget to send a warm note with the package!

Handmade/Personalized gifts When it comes to gifts, the thought is everything. People closest to you want to look at something you got them and let it scream “I was thinking about you and only you”.

A ‘one size fits all’ approach to gifts giving, gets you through your list of persons but does it get you through to them? People are able to cherish

Lead Story

a gift more if they connect with the thought behind it.

A photo album of important memories or milestones shared through the year, regular items with personalized messages, custom items, etc. usually warm the heart.

Get sentimental!

Nice thingsssss!

People love nice things.

This is usually a safer bet if you don’t know a person well enough to get more personal with their gift.

Nice things can typically range from jewellery to shoes to clothing and accessories or even practical household items. You might be shocked how many people need

a new iron or a new set of sheets.

And of course, a new pair of shoes wouldn’t hurt.

Um … or just get them what they said they want Hahaha I don’t see how you could miss with this. This is a real test of how much you paid attention to those around you all year and a possibly fatal blow to your pocket. At some point, a couple subtle or not-so-subtle “I want (insert probably expensive thing they would rather not buy themselves) for Christmas” might have been dropped here and there.

This gift option is not for the fainthearted and is usually reserved for those closest to you.

You. Yes, you reading this. That thing you want that you would rather not buy yourself, are you at least whispering in the right Santa’s ear?

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The options are not always expensive but oftentimes, you would have to put in the work.

Dear Secret Santa, Call meee, I have a few things on my list too.

In the giving spirit of the festive season, be kind to those around you.

Spread love and happiness. Volunteer your time and resources to those in need and put smiles on faces that have seen tough days.

Happy almost holidays!! BD

Oluwamayomikun (Mayo) DejiOmotayo is a young lady driven to becoming the best version of herself. Currently studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, she spends a lot of her time researching and analysing different economic elements, learning from more seasoned minds and brainstorming on possible solutions. Mayo is also partial to the creative arts and spends her free time touring the arts scenes of the cities she finds herself in and writing her own creative pieces which she enjoys working with others to bring to life. She understands the imbalances in society and is passionate about giving back as much as she can to bridge the gap. She has volunteered her time and skills to a few causes over the years , focusing on the

development of young people and is currently the Team Lead of the Community Service Project team in her university . She dreams of a Nigeria that works and is focused on playing her part in achieving that

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Interview

SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

WE HAVE MORE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, CEOS, TECHNICAL EXPERTS AND ENGINEERS - KABIR Businessday.ng

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SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

About half of Nigeria’s over 200 million people have no access to electricity through the national grid.

Those who do have access to the grid experience unreliable supply and regular power outages. Hybrid mini-grid solar systems are offering least cost solutions. In this interview, Hannah Kabir, founder and CEO of Creeds Energy, a professional solar solutions company talks the reader through the challenges, rewards and opportunities of starting and running a renewable energy company.

She spoke to Stephen Onyekwelu.

Excerpts: Creeds Energy is eight years old, how has the journey been for you?

Starting a renewable energy company has been a worthwhile journey, always exciting to see ideas and plans take shape, crafting a team that has learnt to be resilient, flexible and to adapt in order to survive the various turbulences and obstacles faced by businesses in our climes.

Most importantly, it is rewarding to

Interview witness the impact of our work, by providing a basic necessity such as electricity. We have contributed to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 - affordable, reliable and clean energy, SDG13- reduce harmful emissions and increase access to modern energy, and indirectly SDG1reduced (energy) poverty by stimulating productive use activities, we continue to power prosperity across the nation.

Women entrepreneurs, especially in the energy space are not common. How did your journey unfold as an energy entrepreneur in Nigeria?

Having worked in telecoms and information communication technology (ICT) for six years, I ventured into renewable energy and started Creeds Energy in 2012 after completing my M.Sc. in Renewable Energy Enterprise and Management, on a Petroleum Technology Development Fund scholarship.

Creeds Energy is a professional solar energy services and solutions provider, targeted at improving access to clean and energy efficient technologies, for households, businesses and communities.

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I think the dearth of women in the sector was the case about 10 years ago.

Of recent, more women are involved at all levels, we have more women entrepreneurs, CEOs, technical experts and engineers across the industry. At Creeds, we are deliberate about inclusivity in the makeup of our management and operational team, the interns we groom, as well as in the customers we service.

Your M.Sc dissertation was on solar hybrid systems for urban households, what are some of the results the field research, data collection and insights show about Nigeria’s renewable energy market, problems and opportunities?

In 2009/2010 my thesis findings were that despite the benefits of clean energy, hybrid systems were still cost prohibitive for urban households compared to the grid and fuel generators.

Now, with increasing fuel prices, higher cost of grid electricity and unreliability, solar hybrid backup and hybrid systems have become more competitive and cost effective for both residential and

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Interview

commercial and industrial applications.

What are some of Creeds Energy’s milestones in terms of solutions delivered to the market as products?

Our target for 2019/2020 was to expand our operations by providing solar systems to small businesses beyond Abuja to two other locations and we have achieved this in Rivers and Plateau States, providing solar systems on a lease to own model to both urban and off-grid small businesses. This was made possible by the blended financing from AllOn and USADF. Having installed over 300kWp solar systems across the country for households, schools, health centres, businesses, and corporates, and supported rural electrification projects, we plan to expand on these achievements to reach a lot more businesses and households across these three locations and more in the coming years.

Among other challenges, funding holds a large percentage of Nigerian start-ups back from scaling up their businesses, what has your fund raising campaigns taught you about this?

Patience, perseverance and hard work are required. Creeds Energy has accessed grants, commercial bank customer financing and blended financing in the past.

The YouWin! initiative started us up with a grant facility upon which we were able to lay a good foundation for subsequent financing from Sterling Bank, AllOn and USADF. With various technical assistance support, we are still pushing, going through the motions and navigating the options to raise more funds and deploy more systems.

You are aware that fossil fuels are the direct competition of renewable energy resources and in the context of a lower carbon emission future, renewables represent cleaner energy. What options does Nigeria have given both its abundant natural gas reserves and natural energy resources too?

I don’t see other sources, even fossil fuels as competition or a choice of either or. In terms of achieving sustainable energy access targets, Nigeria, like other countries, would have to determine and leverage on the best mix of energy sources and resources to achieve desired targets and growth trajectories.

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Where are the opportunities in Nigeria’s solar industry?

There are vast applications for solar PV applications ranging from electrification with solar PV systems and mini-grids, commercial captive power generation, agriculture and agro-processing. These can be complementary within urban, grid-connected locations or decentralised power sources in offgrid, rural locations.

The off-grid solar PV opportunity for standalone systems and mini-grids is estimated at between $10bn and $13bn according to IFC Analysis on Climate Investment Opportunities in Emerging Markets, 2016.

With a growing population and over 55 percent of Nigerian populace living without access to electricity, and failing grid supply, renewable energy, particularly solar PV technologies and applications, would play an important role in electrification.

When would Nigeria be ready to start making locally photovoltaic solar panels and batteries? Why is Nigeria not able to do so already?

There are a few companies that have ventured into assembling solar PV panels in country and this is commendable.

Several initiatives are also pushing for upstream activities especially for solar components to be produced locally.

However, like any other manufacturing sector endeavour, I would imagine it is dependent on the available raw materials, the skillsets, quality and standards process in place, other factors of production as well as the ability to compete both locally and on the international market.

While it may be a nice to have, if these dynamics are not aligned in our favour, it will be difficult to justify the competitive advantage and the financial incentive of setting up local manufacturing.

What are some of your expansion plans, short, medium and long term?

Creeds Energy plans to build upon its successes, learn from its mistakes and consolidate on its plans to become one of the top five renewable energy services provider in West Africa, distinguished by quality, integrity, professionalism and environmental stewardship.

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Where do you see yourself as a female energy entrepreneur in the next 10 years?

I envisage that the next ten years will be pivotal for decentralised, emerging and converging technologies, policies and models for energy services provision. I intend to continue to contribute and be instrumental in closing the energy access gap. BD

Hannah Kabir is founder/CEO of Creeds Energy, an indigenous renewable energy company established in 2012. She has a MSc. in Renewable Energy, Enterprise & Management from Newcastle University UK. Her first degree was in Business Economics from Queen Mary University of London. Prior to setting up Creeds, Ms. Kabir worked for six years as a business analyst at Galaxy Backbone Plc, where she was instrumental in strategy and development as well as government relations.

Creeds Energy is a professional renewable energy services and solution provider addressing energy and electricity challenges by improving access to and promoting adoption of clean and energy efficient technologies. Under her leadership, Creeds Energy has installed over 300kW standalone systems across seven states, and project managed solar PV projects that have enabled access to better healthcare, better education and better productivity for individuals, clinics, schools, households and businesses across the country.

Ms. Kabir has over 8 years’ experience in renewable energy consultancy as well as off-grid and backup solar projects serving private sector, public and international institutions across Nigeria. She has developed competence in providing in-depth feasibility studies and community profiling, project management, demand stimulation, capacity building and monitoring and evaluation. As national consultant, she project managed and led the team of national experts supporting the NESP I mini-grid studies, site development and implementation monitoring of the 6 mini-grid sites ranging between 100-150kWp between 2015 and 2017, and continues to lead the local team on NESPII. As international mini-grid expert, she leads the INENSUS GmbH team in Sierra Leone, providing technical assistance to UNOPS, mini-grid operators and government agencies, in developing and operating 94 mini-grid sites under the Government of Sierra Leone’s Rural Renewable Energy Project Ms. Kabir and her team are making great strides by easing access to clean energy alternatives and shaping the renewable energy sector through their work with private, public sector and international organizations.

She continues to be an avid proponent of clean energy matters across West Africa and has contributed to the award-winning documentary on climate change “Nowhere to Run: Nigeria’s Climate and Environmental Crisis”. As a TechWomen Alumna, Ms. Kabir continues to support young girls and women to embrace STEM career paths.

SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

Book Review

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Book Title: Olori Supergal: From Social Misfit to Social Media Hero Author: Oluwatosin Ajibade Publisher: Kachifo Limited Year of Publication: 2018 Number of Pages: 184 Category: Memoir

An Inspiring Story of Perseverance - A Review of Oluwatosin Ajibade’s Olori Supergal From Social Misfit to Social Media Hero TITILADE OYEMADE

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hen things don’t work out, do you give up too soon and too often? Do you feel lost or overwhelmed or exhausted? Does fear, doubt, and failure begin to invade your thinking? If not, how do you react when things become difficult?

Oluwatosin Ajibade is a pioneer in the online media movement. In her book she shows those striving for success how to persevere through challenges in their personal lives, workplaces, and other areas in her memoir titled Olori Supergal.

In it, Ajibade tells no-holds barred stories with themes that span entrepreneurship, work, giving up, failure, patriarchy, domestic violence etc.

Drawing from her personal experience Ajibade candidly chronicles her life journey from an extremely shy child to becoming a bold source of information. This insightful memoir (180 pages of it) is divided into 9 quick chapters each representing a particular stage in Ajibade`s life. The first set of stories in the collection are from Ajibade’s childhood with clear chapter titles made to describe the events covered in each.

Ajibade’s angle here isn’t telling readers to do something - rather, it’s to share her own experience in hopes of inspiring young and aspiring media en-

trepreneurs by drawing lessons from the challenges she faced. Ajibade is seen holding on to hope even during difficult times, as well as being willing to learn from mistakes. She provides hope and wisdom. She also zeroes in on the negative energy and challenges that can, over time, cause us to lose focus on the greater goals.

As one of Nigeria’s celebrity bloggers, Ajibade describes her early eye-opening stint in online media, giving an analysis of the life of Nigerian celebrities and social media while providing a guideline for running one’s business on social media.

Finally, Ajibade shares that perseverance not talent is the true key to success.

This book may appeal more to younger media entrepreneurs or anyone looking to start up a business and wants to learn from someone who has gone a similar route. BD oye m a d e is a business execute in a leading organisation and holds a degree in Russian Language. She’s the convener of the Hangoutwithtee Ladies Event and the publisher of Hangoutwithtee magazine. She spends her weekends attending women conferences, events and book readings. She loves to have fun and to help other women have the same in their lives.

Email: titi.oyemade@gmail.com Social: @tiipree

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Health Tips

SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

ARE YOU EATING TOO MUCH SALT? DR. MONISOLA ADANIJO

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alt is a mineral composed primarily of SODIUM CHLORIDE, which exists in its natural form as a crystalline mineral is known as “rock salt” or ”halite”. Salt is essential for life in general, and saltiness is one of the basic human tastes. It is one of the oldest food seasonings, and it has been an important ingredient in food preservation, especially meat, for thousands of years. While sodium is an essential nutrient for human health, excessive salt consumption may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension.

All through history, the availability of salt has been pivotal to civilization, it was one of the world's main trading commodities, of high value to the ancient Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans. In Africa, salt was used as currency south of the Sahara, merchants in the 6th century traded salt for gold, weight for weight, and in the Middle East, salt was used to ceremonially seal an agreement.

Salt is essential to the health of humans and other animals, it is used in many cuisines around the world, and is also an ingredient in many manufactured foodstuffs.

Types of Salt.

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There are a varied array of cooking salts in the market with different colors, textures and flavors. These flavors and colors are due to extra minerals and sometimes algae in the salt. It is however important to note that regardless of color or flavor, the base component in all these varieties of salt is SODIUM CHLORIDE. Different natural salts have different minerals, depending on their source, giving each one a unique flavor.

Table salt is made up of just under 40% sodium by weight so, 1 teaspoon of salt is equivalent to 6 grams in weight.

Fortified table salt; Table salt is a refined salt containing about 97% to 99% sodium chloride. Some table salt sold for consumption contains additives which address a variety of health concerns. Iodized salt has been used to correct iodine deficiency since 1924, and has significantly reduced disorders of iodine deficiency in countries where it is used. Other ingredients in some fortified salts around the world include: iron salts, folic acid, fluoride salts and so on.

Sea salt; Unrefined sea salt contains small amounts of magnesium and calcium halides and sulfates, traces of algal products, salt-

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Health Tips

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resistant bacteria and sediment particles. Sea salt may have a more complex flavor than pure sodium chloride when sprinkled on top of food.

Himalayan salt is salt with a distinct pink color Kosher salt has a larger grain size than table salt and can be useful for brining, baking, and as a scrubbing agent when combined with oil.

Pickling salt is made of ultra-fine grains to speed dissolving to make brine.

Sodium consumption and health The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults consume less than 5 grams (just under a teaspoon) of salt per day. Sodium serves a vital purpose in the human body: via its role as an electrolyte, it helps nerves and muscles to function correctly, and it is one factor involved in the regulation of water content in body organs. Most of the sodium in our diet comes from salt/sodium chloride although it can come from sodium glutamate (MSG), present in a variety of stock cubes and seasonings. Many processed and pre-packaged foods have a high salt content. We generally consume too much salt—on average 9–12 grams /day, (about twice the recommended maximum level).

High sodium intake greater than 5 grams salt/day is associated with a greater risk of hypertension, stroke, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. A reduction in sodium intake by 1 gram/day may reduce cardiovascular disease by about 30%. Low sodium diet results in a greater improvement in blood pressure in people with hypertension, and reducing salt intake has been identified as one of the most cost-effective measures countries can take to improve population health outcomes. An estimated 2.5 million deaths could be prevented each year if global salt consumption were reduced to the recommended level.

How to reduce sodium in our meals When buying prepared and prepackaged foods, read the labels. Watch for the words “soda” and “sodium” and the symbol “Na” on labels, which warn you that these products contain sodium compounds. Note that “low salt” or “low sodium” foods also contain salt, just in lower quantities.

Eat more fruits and vegetables.

Use fruit and raw vegetables as snacks.

Select unsalted nuts instead of the salted variety.

Reduce amount of salt and stock cubes in homemade dishes.

No added salt at the table.

Certain salt substitutes contain a large amount of potassium and very little sodium. They are not expensive and may be used freely by most people, except those with kidney disease. Talk with your health care professional about whether a salt substitute is right for you.

Learn to use spices and herbs to enhance the natural flavor of food.

Add fresh lemon juice instead of salt to season fish and vegetables. BD

Dr Monisola Adanijo FMCP a Cardiologist and the Medical Director at Naveen Healthcare.

With experience spanning over 20 years, she built her pathway in medicine and cardiology working in reputable medical centres such as Mecure Healthcare Limited, Barnes Hospital, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Chevron Hospital, Lagos to mention but a few.

Her passion for preventive cardiology led her to convene the Naveen Healthcare 10,000 Hearts Project, in order to help individuals detect, protect and correct cardiovascular diseases.

Skilled in cardiovascular diagnostic procedures and treatment, a fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, a member of Nigerian Cardiac Society, American College of Physicians, Hypertension society of Nigeria and an international associate of the American College of Cardiology. She also has a Diploma in Leadership and Management from the University of Washington, USA, She launched the first TeleElectrocardiogram project in Nigeria and West Africa and does her part in contributing to good health and wellbeing, a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG3) of the United Nations.

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SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

PRESS RELEASE FMO and WIC Capital partner to support the participation of women in the economic growth of West Africa Dakar, November 23, 2020

WIC Capital ("the Fund") and the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, FMO, are pleased to announce their partnership to support the participation of women in the economic growth of the West African region.

WIC CAPITAL will invest up to CFAF 8 billion (ca EUR 12 million) in women-led early-stage companies, with a strong potential for growth and impact, in Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire. The capital injection goes hand in hand with strong technical assistance to equip these SMEs with the tools necessary for effective and sustainable growth. This support is provided by the WIC Académie, a dedicated technical assistance facility set up by the Women's Investment Club (WIC) in 2020. WIC CAPITAL and WIC Académie will both receive a grant from FMO, through its MASSIF fund.

FMO, is thus stepping up its support to financial institutions in Francophone Africa to promote financial inclusion, particularly through support to women led businesses.

Bas Rekvelt, manager of the Financial Institutions team Africa at FMO, commented: "We are delighted to start this partnership with WIC Capital and WIC Académie to promote women's participation in economic growth in the West African region. We were particularly enticed by WIC Capital’s innovative approach of coupling adapted financial instruments with strong technical assistance, to better address the needs of female entrepreneurs who are still underserved by financial markets.

This is in line with FMO’s DNA and we hope that our contribution will enable WIC Capital to expand its impact in Senegal and in the sub-region".

Evelyne Dioh, Executive Director of WIC Capital, further commented: "We are delighted to partner with FMO, which is one the DFIs that best implements its commitment to strengthen MSMEs across Africa, with a focus on women-led MSMEs. This show of confidence strengthens our belief in our strategy of intentionally targeting women entrepreneurs and strengthening them financially and technically for a more effective development of the continent. We hope that this partnership, which completes the Fund's first-loss tranche, will enable us to accelerate our fundraising and investments, in order to make the case for gender lens investing. We look forward to the next steps of our collaboration. » About WIC Capital (www.wic-capital.net ) WIC Capital is the first investment mechanism to provide appropriate financing and support to women-owned micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Senegal and West Africa. The Fund was set up by the Women's Investment Club Senegal www.wicsenegal.com in 2019, with the vision and ambition to give women entrepreneurs access to modern financing instruments for inclusive development.

Contact: Ms. Evelyne Dioh, Executive Director edioh@wic-capital.net Phone: +221 77 740 25 42 Address: Immeuble le Thiargane 8th floor, Mermoz Place OMVS Twitter : WIC Senegal LinkedIn: WIC Capital Youtube: WIC Capital About WIC Académie (https://wic-capital.net/wic-Académie/ ) WIC Académie is an initiative of the Women's Investment Club that aims to provide women-led SMEs with the tools necessary to achieve significant and sustainable growth.

WIC Académie works with a large group of women-led companies, including WIC Capital's pipeline and portfolio companies.

WIC Académie capitalizes on the expertise of WIC members, technical partnerships with local and international organizations, and external expertise to provide high-caliber coaching and technical assistance to African women entrepreneurs.

About FMO (www.fmo.nl) FMO is the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank that promotes sustainable growth of the private sector in developing countries by investing in ambitious projects. FMO believes that a strong private sector is the key to economic and social development and has a proven track record of 50 years in empowering people to use their skills and improve their quality of life. FMO focuses on three sectors that have a strong impact on development: financial institutions, energy and agribusiness, and food and water. With a portfolio of over €9.7 billion, FMO is one of the world's largest bilateral private sector development banks, covering more than 85 countries.

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SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

Recipe

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Roast Duck With Orange Sauce and Cauliflower Greens Stuffing INGREDIENTS: FOR THE DUCK 1 (5-lb.) duck 2 tbsp. kosher salt 2 tbsp. granulated sugar 2 tbsp. dark mushroom soy sauce 1 tbsp. freshly grated ginger 2 cloves garlic, grated 2 tbsp. rice wine vinegar 1 tsp. cooking wine 1 tbsp. five-spice powder 1/4 tsp. ground white pepper 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 2 tsp. ground chili pepper 1 tbsp. crushed red yeast rice

FOR THE STUFFING Diced tender stem and greens of 1 cauliflower (about 5 c.)

1/2 red onion, finely diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1/2 c. pork belly braise sauce (optional) 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 2 tbsp. hoisin sauce 2 tbsp. Sriracha FOR THE ORANGE SAUCE Juice of 4 tangerines (about 1 c.)

1 tbsp. granulated sugar 2 tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce 1" piece ginger, thinly sliced 2 star anise 1/4 tsp. ground white pepper 1 English cucumber, thinly slivered, for serving 4 green onions, thinly slivered, for serving This ingredient shopping module is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content on their web site.

DIRECTIONS

Prepare the duck: In a large pot of boiling water, blanch duck for 30 seconds. Transfer to a large bowl and use a heatproof measuring cup to carefully pour boiling water into the bird for a thorough blanching. Drain completely and pat dry with paper towels.

Combine salt and sugar and rub mixture all over and inside the duck. Let stand on a cooling rack for 1 hour at room temperature, then pat dry again.

Meanwhile, make spice rub: In a medium bowl, whisk together all remaining duck ingredients. Rub mixture all over and inside the duck. Transfer to a cooling rack set over a baking dish and refrigerate for 2 days.

Make the stuffing: Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, toss together cauliflower, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and oil until evenly combined then transfer to a large baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes, then add hoisin and Sriracha, tossing to coat evenly. Return to oven to continue baking, tossing every 12 minutes, until greens are golden and half-crispy, about 25 minutes more.

Stuff duck with roasted greens mixture, then pin wings into the body with toothpicks, and secure legs with twine and tuck under the fat flap to prevent burning.

Bake duck breast-side up for 35 minutes. Flip the bird and bake for 35 minutes more. Flip once more and bake until internal temperature reaches at least 155°, 15 to 20 minutes more. Increase oven temperature to 400° and continue roasting until deeply golden and perfectly bronzy, about 15 minutes more.

Meanwhile, make orange glaze: In a small pot over mediumlow heat, combine all ingredients and bring to a simmer.

Reduce for 20 minutes, or until mixture thickens to a slightly syrupy consistency.

Let duck rest for at least 20 minutes before carving. Serve with orange glaze, cucumbers, and green onions.BD

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SPORT

SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

ANTHONY NLEBEM

Talking points from this weekend’s Premier League fixtures Boost for City as Agüero returns

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aving made a 14-minute appearance against West Brom in midweek Sergio Agüero could return to Manchester City’s starting eleven as they seek to end a run of two successive draws. Agüero has scored in each of his last three appearances against Southampton and in four of the last five – the Saints’ 1-0 win in this fixture in July came while the Argentinian was out with a knee injury. This is the first time in a little over six years that Southampton will go into a fixture against Manchester City above their opponents in the table. In November 2014, they hosted a battle between second and third, but a 3-0 away win saw City vault above the Saints and into second place, where they stayed for the remainder of the campaign; Southampton lost their next three league games and finished seventh. BD

Ndidi back in Leicester midfield

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oth Tottenham and Leicester go into their meeting on Sunday on the back of defeats to Merseyside clubs, with both in need of at least a point to keep spirits up for the festive period. Having been forced to play Wilfried Ndidi in a makeshift defence against Everton, Brendan Rodgers will welcome back Jonny Evans from suspension, while the expected return of Timothy Castagne after nearly two months out will further bolster their defence. Making his second start after an eight-week absence through injury, Ndidi was one of few Leicester players to impress against Everton and his return to his rightful place in midfield could prove crucial as Rodgers plots to nullify Tottenham’s potentially lethal attacks on the break. BD

Klopp magic

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ürgen Klopp loves a Saturday lunchtime kick-off away from home after his team has played on the previous Wednesday night, and the lucky Liverpool manager has another one to look forward to at Selhurst Park. Despite his grumbles about the dire need for extra substitutes to help ease player fatigue in this compacted season, Klopp didn’t use any of the three available to him against Tottenham, a lack of touchline activity BT Sport reporter Des Kelly might be minded to inquire about if Businessday.ng

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he’s feeling brave. With eight of the team that started against Tottenham having played the full 90 minutes against Fulham, Klopp may freshen things up a little before a festive schedule in which his team is slated to play four matches in 13 days, including the FA Cup tie against Aston Villa.

Midfielders Naby Keïta and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are both fit again and may well feature against Palace.

BD

SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

Iwobi to haunt Arsenal

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rsenal’s trip to Goodison Park is also a dose of nostalgia for manager Mikel Arteta, while former Gunner Alex Iwobi is starting to regain the form which caused Everton to spend around £30m on the Nigerian international. In a slightly deeper role, Iwobi has added work rate and tactical understanding to complement his attacking flair under Carlo Ancelotti, who was full of praise for the Arsenal academy graduate after Everton’s 2-0 win at Leicester. “It’s Iwobi’s best moment since I arrived. He is showing confidence, is really good in one-on-one situations and is working hard.” All qualities which Arsenal could do with for Saturday’s match. BD

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first since 2013 - as they clinched a sixth Champions League crown with victory over Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon to go along with an eighth successive Bundesliga triumph and record 20th German Cup. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski were named in the attack for the 2020 FIFA FIFPro Men's World11.

The trio were all finalists for The Best FIFA Men's Player award and so were unsurprisingly included in the FIFPro Men's World11.

The chief shock elsewhere in the team saw Alisson preferred in goal to Manuel Neuer.

Neuer, who captained Bayern Munich to the treble, had earlier been named The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper, beating Alisson and Jan Oblak to the award.

The Germany skipper had said: "It's one of the best years of my career, of course. We were so confident with our team and it's amazing what we have done in this year, 2020, especially in the summer when we played together in Lisbon [in the Champions League]."

In a team voted for by the players, Alisson was joined by Liverpool teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Thiago Alcantara.

Liverpool, Bayern dominate FIFA FIFPro World 11

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iverpool and Bayern Munich were unsurprisingly strongly represented as the Fifa FIFPro Men’s World XI for 2020 was named on Thursday night.

Liverpool finally ended their 30year wait for domestic league success with a dominant 2019-20 campaign under Jurgen Klopp, while Bayern completed a historic treble - their

Thiago spent the majority of the year with Bayern, who were represented by Alphonso Davies and Joshua Kimmich as well as Lewandowski.

Sergio Ramos and Kevin De Bruyne completed the line-up.

FIFA FIFPro Men's World11: Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Sergio Ramos, Alphonso Davies; Joshua Kimmich, Kevin De Bruyne, Thiago Alcantara; Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo.

FIFPro’s Men’s World XI 2020: Alisson Becker (Liverpool); Trent AlexanderArnold (Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich); Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool), Kevin De Bryune (Manchester City); Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) BD Businessday.ng

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SPORT

SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

Messi’s £500k-a-week wages no longer affordable -Barcelona

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ionel Messi's wages are no longer affordable for Barcelona - a presidential candidate claimed.

The £500k-a-week ace is out of contract in the summer and set to leave the Catalan giants.

The La Liga side are facing financial ruin with £700m debts amid the coronavirus pandemic.

And Emili Rousard - who is bidding to replace former chief Josep Maria Bartomeu - insists he wants Messi to stay but he'd have to take a pay cut.

He told Spanish newspaper AS: "We can't just cut everywhere, and that's it because we would become small and we have to think big.

"The future (of the club) is in his hands, but at the moment Leo's salary is not affordable.

"Messi is a winner and if he goes it won't be to be paid more. Leo Messi is the player who has given most to Barca in their history and what Messi has given is not quantifiable.

"We won't speak with the player until we are in power, but the person that brought him to Barcelona is in this bid, Jose Maria Minguella."

Last month Barcelona players and boss Ronald Koeman agreed pay cuts to save the club from a financial meltdown.

have been locked in talks with players, pleading with them to accept a pay-cut for the good of the club.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gerard Pique, Frenkie De Jong and Clement Lenglet all signed new deals earlier this month.

They agreed to a temporary pay-cut of 30 per cent at the time of putting pen to paper.

But the rest of the squad stalled on talks, including Messi.

Barcelona had seen their debts double over the course of the 2019-20 season due to the lockdown.

Finally progress was made on Friday, with Koeman and his entire coaching staff all agreeing to cuts.

The club has recently been hit with a wage cap of £342m - with the club previously allowed to spend up to £601.5m - a drop of 43 per cent.

And now his players have followed suit, agreeing to help save a combined £110m after many stars initially refused to take a cut. BD

All season long, Barcelona chiefs

Hamilton sets to sign new £40m Mercedes deal

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ewis Hamilton is close to agreeing a new £40million contract with Mercedes following his seventh Formula 1 title win last month.

The Brit’s victory at the Turkish Grand Prix saw him become the most successful racing driver ever, bringing him level with Michael Schumacher ’s championship record after already surpassing his number of race wins in October.

And now Hamilton is set to be rewarded with a new Mercedes deal, with the F1 team tweeting a picture of their star man and writing: “Announce soon”.

Hamilton then accompanied the post by stating: “I plan to be here next year.

I want to be here next year. I think we as a team have more to do together and more to achieve, both in the sport but Businessday.ng

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even more outside it.”

He has made it clear that he wishes to remain a member of team Mercedes next season and set his sights on resolving his future before Christmas.

News of Hamilton’s imminent contract extension comes as Mercedes prepare to announce UK billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe as new joint owner alongside current head of motorsport Toto Wolff.

According to The Sun, Ratcliffe - who is worth a staggering £13billion - will work closely with Wolff and Mercedes next season after acquiring a stake in the company.

Meanwhile, Sergio Perez has reportedly put pen to paper on a deal with Red Bull that means he will partner Max Verstappen in 2021.

Perez’s arrival will see Alex Albon demoted to reserve and test driver for the Milton Keynes based team next year.

The 2021 F1 calendar was confirmed yesterday, with a gruelling 23 Grand Prix’s making it the longest season of all time.

Hamilton will be bidding to secure a record-breaking eighth world title next year. BD

SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

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SATURDAY 19, DECEMBER 2020

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