BusinessDay Weekender 29th Edition

SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

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EDITION 29 I 13, FEBRUARY 2021

LOVE IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC HEALTH TODAY HEALTH BENEFITS OF CELEBRATING VALENTINE'S DAY

VALENTINE VALENTINES DAY CELEBRATORY OPTIONS FOR YOU AND BAE Businessday.ng

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SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

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Contents

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C O N T E N T S

8 LAUGHTER IN THE MIRROR

9 CULINARY DELIGHTS' A NEW HIDDEN STAR IN THE LAGOS

13 PLACES VALENTINE’S DAY IN LAGOS: MAKE MEMORIES AT NOK

RESTAURANT SCENE

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INTERVIEW

PERSONAL FINANCE All (other) things being equal…in personal finance (relationships/ marriage)

‘Beyond the gender perspective, women must go after specific skills set’

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INTERVIEW

RECIPE LEAD STORY LOVE IN THE CLASSIC TIME OF COVID: CHICKEN INNOVATION DRIVES PARMESAN GIFT MARKET

‘Beyond the gender perspective, women must go after specific skills set’

38 ENTREPRENEUR THE PATH TO RECOVERY FOR WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.

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HEALTH TODAY HEALTH BENEFITS OF CELEBRATING VALENTINE’S DAY

SPORTS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ACTION RETURNS WITH MOUTHWATERING Businessday.ng

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Editorial

Editor’s Note SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

I hope you are reading this in good health and that the week of love has been filled with love and pleasant surprises for you. This time last year, Lagos city was on lockdown but not for the reasons we are familiar with; the city was on lockdown on February 14th because love was in the air and restaurants were booked to full capacity. This year paints a different picture, and I have a strong feeling this year will be different and less busy given the real implications of exposing oneself to the COVID-19 virus. How do we celebrate lover’s day in the midst of a pandemic? I think the pandemic presents an excellent opportunity to be creative and think outside the box on how to show love to your loved ones this year. Dinner for two at home? Paint and sip at home maybe? Karaoke and card games? The options are endless.

Inside: Whether you are celebrating by yourself, with your friends or your significant other, I wish you a beautiful and love-filled valentine’s day. In today’s edition, you will find lots of valentine’s content: Where to go, where to eat, what and how to gift, and how to celebrate. How do you plan an unforgettable Valentine’s day in Lagos? Don’t worry, we’ll help you answer that. Valentine’s Day is named after a Saint who was a Roman Catholic priest who resided in Rome in the Third Century. Over the years however, the stories have evolved into the legend we know today. With Valentine’s Day comes the intense pressure to show up the right way and give that special person (or family member) an unforgettable experience. There is one undeniable fact: the city of Lagos is full of romantic locations where we can have beautiful experiences. Despite the abundance of choices that Lagos presents, it is still very possible to be quite indecisive when planning for a day like this.

Did you know there are actually health benefits to celebrating Valentine’s Day? Inside learn about the things associated with the day and how they affect the heart. Each year, Valentine’s Day brings an opportunity for people to make the day extra special for their loved ones and for brands to capitalize on the believers of love. Inside we run through all the branding of valentine’s day.

In the news roundup: Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare receives Guinness world record certificate; Kenyan woman’s startup recycles plastic into bricks that are stronger than concrete; IMF says Nigeria needs 5 million jobs annually for the next 10 years to tackle unemployment; Federal high court orders CBN to unfreeze accounts of protesters; First civilian governor of Lagos, Lateef Jakande, dies at 91; Mastercard to allow customers transact in crypto; Bitcoin rockets to record high of $48,000 after Elon Musk’s Tesla buys up $1.5 billion; Ngozi OkonjoIweala set to make history at WTO; World Bank approved $500 million to improve energy access in Nigeria; Trading platform launches payment gateway to bypass CBN policy six days after memo; IMF sees Dangote refinery’s potential of bailing Nigeria from economic downturn.

You will find self-care tips, a book review, the sports round up, delicious recipes and much more inside.

Happy Valentine’s day . BD

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

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SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021 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 Dr. Monisola Adanijo FMCP Titilade Oyemade Chidindu Mmadu-Okoli Anthony Nlebem Mercy Ayodele Toju Akpa Osse Sinare Toyosi Lawal Weyinmi Eribo Stephen Ikechukwu Onyekwelu 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

FEBRUARY 2021 SATURDAY 13,

IMF says Nigeria needs 5 million jobs annually for the next 10 years to tackle unemployment MERCY AYODELE

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he International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said Nigeria might not be ready to absorb the number of jobless people that would join the already existing ones over the next ten years except quick actions are taken. The number of jobless Nigerians rose to 27.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2020, up from 23.1 per cent in the third quarter of 2018. According to a recent report by the IMF, Nigeria would have 54 million new entrants in the labour force

over the next decade. This means the Nigerian economy will need to create at least 5 million new jobs each year for the next ten years to bridge the unemployment gap, the IMF says.

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Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare receives Guinness world record certificate

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igerian sprinter, Blessing Okagbare, has set new records as she has received a Guinness world record as the athlete with the most Diamond League appearances. Okagbare, 32, had already broken Usain Bolt’s record since 2015. The Guinness World Record certificate indicates that Blessing has the most appearances in Diamond League meetings, having participated at 67 Diamond League events between July 3, 2010, and August 31, 2018.

FG warns protesters against #OccupyLekkiTollGate rally

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he Nigerian government has warned against planned protests to demand justice for victims of a shooting during peaceful demonstrations in Lagos last year demanding the dissolution of a notorious police unit long accused of abuses. Nigerians who participated in the hijacked #EndSARS protest are championing a campaign tagged: #OccupyLekkiTollGate after the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses decided to reopen the Lekki Tollgate last Saturday. Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, warned that government will resist the proposed protest and not negotiate with the promoters. He also added that

Kenyan woman’s recycles plastic into bricks that are stronger than concrete

while peaceful protests are the constitutional rights of Nigerians, violent protests are not. Toll gates are also not approved for protests.

Federal high court orders CBN to unfreeze accounts of protesters

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he Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to unfreeze the accounts of 20 #EndSARS campaigners targeted by the apex bank after last year’s anti-police brutality demonstrations.

Ahmed Mohammed, the judge, gave the order on Wednesday after counsel to the CBN and the legal representative of the protesters agreed to end the case. The 20 account holders affected by the freezing order had participated in or contributed to the #EndSARS protests which were triggered by grievances arising from years of harassment and rights violations by operatives of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery

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n absolutely brilliant young woman in Kenya has started a company manufacturing bricks from recycled plastic. Nzambi Matee, a nairobi-based 29-year-old entrepreneur and inventor started to recycles plastic waste into bricks that are stronger than concrete. Nzambi Matee says she was “tired of being on the sidelines” while civil servants struggled against plastic waste in the capital city of Nairobi, so the materials engineer created a product that is 5 to 7 times stronger than concrete. In a day her factory churns 1500 plastic pavers which are not just of good quality but also affordable.

Squad (SARS). The Judge gave the order on the back of Central Bank of Nigeria allegations that the 20 defendants were suspected of terrorism financing.

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News Roundup

SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

First civilian governor of Lagos, Lateef Jakande dies at 91

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ateef Jakande, the first civilian governor of Lagos state has passed on by the age of 91. Jakande was a former journalist before he became governor of Lagos State from 1979 to 1983, and later was Minister of Works under the Sani Abacha military regime.

His administration as governor of Lagos state is still revered for the massive infrastructural development recorded during his four-year stint especially the numerous Jakande Estates built across many local governments in the State as well as sterling investment in schools “Baba Jakande’s record of service as a journalist of repute and a leader of remarkable achievements as

governor of Lagos State will remain indelible for generations to come. His death is a colossal loss and he will be missed,” the Lagos StateGovernor said in a tweet.

Mastercard to allow customers transact in crypto

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astercard said it will offer support for customers to transact in some select cryptocurrencies this year. "We are preparing right now for the future of crypto and payments, this year Mastercard will start supporting select cryptocurrencies directly on our network," Raj Dhamodharan, executive vice president of digital asset products said in a blog on Wednesday. Mastercard already allows cardholders to spend digital assets via external platforms. But this means the transaction doesn't both consumers and merchants avoid having to actually go through its own network. But now, convert back and forth between crypto and tradithe company aims to support crypto partners by tional to make purchases," Dhamodharan wrote. allowing many more merchants to accept digital tokens. This would "cut out inefficiencies, letting

Trading platform launches payment gateway to bypass CBN policy six days after memo

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inance, one of the largest trading platforms for cryptocurrency has launched a peer-to-peer trading platform days after the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) directives to all banks to prohibit crypto trading in the country. Although Binance shut down all its Naira trading platform after Central Bank's announcement but six days later the platform announced another method to buy and sell cryptocurrency in Nigeria. The new trading method is named NGN FIAT and it allows Nigerians trade with zero transaction fees using Bank Transfer and other payment methods.

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SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

News Roundup

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Bitcoin rockets to rockets to record high of $48,000 after Elon Musk’s Tesla buys up $1.5 billion

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ays after Nigeria placed a ban on trading in Cryptocurrencies, the bitcoin price jumped to an all-time high of above $48,000 on Tuesday morning as investors rushed into the asset after Elon Musk's Tesla said it had bought up $1.5 billion of the cryptocurrency. Bitcoin rival ether, the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network, also rose sharply to record highs as the Tesla-driven rally spread to other cryptocurrencies.

IMF sees dangote refinery’s potential of bailing Nigeria from economic downturn

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he International Monetary Fund (IMF), is projecting that Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery would provide an elixir for the country’s economy when it begins production in 2022. In its latest report on Nigeria’s economy, the Fund raises the hope that the start of production from the refinery, solely owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote could help Nigeria improve its Current Account balance.

It said Dangote Refinery has the potential to catalyze more domestic crude oil production and boost GDP growth.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala set to make history as first woman and African head of World Trade Organization

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ix men have served as director-general of the World Trade Organization since its founding in 1995 but that is set to change as Nigerian-born Ngozi OkonjoIweala is set to become the first woman and the first African to serve as the head of the World Trade Organization. This comes after her only contender dropped out of the race and the US administration offered its support, ending a deadlock caused by former president Donald Trump's opposition. Okonjo-Iweala is a former two-time minister of finance in Nigeria, and a recently confirmed US citizen, Okonjo-Iweala

spent 25 years as a development economist at the World Bank.

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SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

LAUGHTER

RORRIM EHT NI Businessday.ng

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A New Hidden Star in the Lagos Restaurant scene

THE OBSERVATORY C. EBOSIE OKORONKWO

Beneath the Observatory is a rustically decorated almost dive bar location, that signals an ode to Brooklyn. With a barbing station, a pool table and an ambience fit for the manliest of men, it’s no wonder it’s called, “Man Cave”

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CULINARY DELIGHTS

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ook a trip to the Observatory, a new hip restaurant, with a name befitting the restaurant’s ambience. Set In the same location as BLD, which shutdown for renovations a couple of years ago, the Observatory is fortunately nothing like its predecessor in design, ambience and most importantly its food.

stuffed with mushroom, cheese and dried shredded was devilishly irresistible with every bite— we craved second and third helpings!

We were thankful the main menu had unique items; unlike the homogeneity we see with majority of Lagos restaurants.

I tried two things from the Large plates section of the menu the Peking Duck and Beneath the Observatory is a rustically the roast lamb. decorated almost dive bar location, that signals an ode to Brooklyn. With a barbing At first, I was skeptical about trying station, a pool table and an ambience fit duck at a fairly new restaurant, but I took for the manliest of men, it’s no wonder it’s solace in knowing that the executive chef, Chef Obehi and her team are a formidable called, “Man Cave” force in the kitchen and I wasn’t wrong. The Designed as the name suggests after Peking duck was caramelized creating a astrological Zodiac signs, the Observatory great crisping texture of the skin, perfectly also infuses plant life in its décor to create complimented by the honey hoisin sauce an almost starry night outdoor feel, which worked hand in hand to bring out especially at nighttime. What makes the the sweetness of the carrot mash. This name even more relevant is the serenity dish had me shamelessly licking my fork and calm you feel on arrival, as though you in admiration. can observe the hustle of Lagos without Already stuffed and mildly impressed, being a part of it. my gluttonous self, ventured further into Now to the most important part of any restaurant, the food!

To begin with we had something of their small plates’ menu, which looked like cute mini meat pies and tasted even better. This buttery “Smoked Tozo Pie” Businessday.ng

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the menu and tried the spiced slow roast lamb. I was presented with a huge lamb shank, with a pleasing portion of heavenly creamy mashed potatoes. The taste resonated elements of the Korean culture which may have been as a result of the deep Korean soy based sauce which blended quite perfectly with the lamb which I believe was spiced with garlic, pepper and a special sauce which the chef refused to tell us about.

To top things off, the Observatory hosts a one of the best mixologists Lagos has to offer, curating gorgeous thirst-quenching cocktails. I’m yet to try any desserts, but I partly believe some part of me is saving that for a special day.

All in all, it is safe to say that out of all the restaurants great qualities— the creations that come out of its kitchen is by far the Observatory’s true star, which can be attributed to the culinary stylings of Chef Obehi. The Observatory is a Play Africa restaurant. BD

C. EBOSIE OKORONKWO

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PLACES

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PLACES

SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

VALENTINE’S DAY IN LAGOS: MAKE MEMORIES AT NOK

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ow d o you p l a n a n unforgettable Valentine’s day in Lagos? Don’t worry, we’ll help you answer that.

Valentine’s Day is named after a Saint who was a Roman Catholic priest who resided in Rome in the Third Century,

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C. EBOSIE OKORONKWO

over the years; the stories have evolved into the legend we know today.

With Valentine’s Day comes the intense pressure to show up the right way and give that special person (or family) an unforgettable experience.There is one undeniable fact, that Lagos is full of

SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

romantic locations that have the ability to give unforgettable memories. Despite the abundance of choices Lagos presents, it is still very possible to be quite indecisive when planning for a day like this.

The romantic locations in Lagos are so vast that you can have an entire itinerary for that day and visit different places or just prepare extensively for one place. Setting aside the fast-paced Lagos we are all used to, there are a lot of spots that will surely put you in the Valentine’s Day Mood. So, how does one aim to have an awesome Val’s Day in Lagos? Some people will tell you that they do not care for a day like this, but with the infectious aura Lagos has; your romantic side will be sure to be stirred up one way or another.

There are many ways you can choose to spend this unique day of love in Lagos; no pressure, whether it’s at a beach resort, a restaurant, a nature park or a boat cruise; even a staycation is not farfetched.

PLACES

Recreational activities abound.

One of the unique places that would surely make you a romantic (if you are not already) is Nok by Alara; a contemporary pan African restaurant located at 12A Akin Olugbade Street.

This restaurant is known to surround guests with its undeniable African aura that pairs perfectly with the elegance it exudes. It is open Tuesdays through Sundays. Also offers dine in, take away and delivery options. It is sure to leave you salivating for more.

It is no regular restaurant; it also has pieces of African art to add to its PanAfrican design aesthetic. Its menu is indepth as it provides a host of continental meals as well as local African dishes.

Nok by Alara reminds us that Africa is beautiful and can be presented in the most creative and amazing way. It reminds us that the beauty of Africa

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cannot be put in a box and can be enjoyed just as much, perhaps even more than the typical restaurants that we have grown accustomed to. It takes you on a delicious trip back to your roots and also gives foreigners an unforgettable experience as well.

If you want a dining experience different from the norm; Nok by Alara has got you covered; not only do you get to enjoy a meal worthwhile with the person(s) you love, you get to make unforgettable memories.

So we ask again, how do you plan an unforgettable Valentine’s day in Lagos? BD

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INTERVIEW

SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

‘BEYOND THE GENDER PERSPECTIVE, WOMEN MUST GO AFTER SPECIFIC SKILLS SET’

Some sectors have traditionally been male-dominated and energy is one of such. In this interview, Ololade George-Aremu, vice president, People, and Culture at Arnegy, a renewable energy startup and Mariam Melchior, chief finance officer at Arnergy, share their experiences and show readers the factors stopping women from progressing in the renewable energy sector.

Additionally, these accomplished women professionals in renewable energy have also outlined what women require to excel in general and renewable energy in particular. They spoke to Stephen Onyekwelu. Excerpts:

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he focus of this i n te r view s er ies has been women entrepreneurs who have founded and are STEPHEN ONYEKWELU. running renewable energy companies in Nigeria. You two bring a new angle to this; you work as women professionals in the renewable industry.

How did you get into this Nigeria is a great country industry?

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rich in potential, natural resources, raw talent and tenacity in her citizens. For several reasons, the industry as a collective has fallen short of being able to provide consistent and sustainable infrastructure and resources to the citizens of

-Mariam Melchior

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Melchior: I think I will answer this question from the point of view of what motivated me to get into this industry. There are several reasons for this, but I will say the one that stands out most for me is the unfortunate decline in the availability of power to the Nigerian public, and the impact that has had on her people at a socioeconomic level. Nigeria is a great country rich in potential, natural resources, raw talent and tenacity in her citizens. For several reasons, the industry as a collective has fallen short of being able to provide consistent and sustainable infrastructure and resources to the citizens of this country.

It’s great to see the considerable efforts and intentions being made to improve this in recent years. Having worked in the energy industry for the bulk of my professional career, I’m no stranger to the knowledge of how fossil fuel-generated energy impacts on climate change. The by-product of our current infrastructure being: severe air pollution, rising sea levels and temperatures to mention a few. Our nation contributes its quota to this which

has a direct impact on public health and the sustainability of the human race. Through my experiences working in oil, gas, and renewable energy over the last 20 years I have wanted to contribute to addressing these issues, so when I decided to actively seek out an employment opportunity in the renewables energy space, I was pleased to find a home with Arnergy Solar Ltd. George-Aremu: I have always been interested in startup companies, especially given the under-representation of women in tech startups. I have a deep passion for seeing businesses grow and thrive. I am particularly interested in nurturing them during this stage, given that the foundation of any business is very critical in its growth.

Furthermore, given the current Nigerian climate and the potential of renewable energy that is not being utilised, I saw this as an avenue to solve one of Nigeria's most significant problems which can be such a unique income source. With these in mind, I took up the role with Arnergy in 2019.

You are the vice president People and Culture at Arnergy Solar Limited.

What is your evaluation of the impact women employees at Arnergy are having, some examples would help?

George-Aremu: Being the Vice-President People and Culture at Arnergy Solar Ltd comes with a lot of responsibilities. Still, it

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is also an opportunity to show the younger women and even my younger colleagues that it is possible to be a woman in a maledominated industry and still make maximum impact. This is not a role I take lightly, and this has nothing to do with fame or even the title associated with it. Organisations must understand the role women play at work and the competing demands that demand their time and attention. I am happy to work in such a role because I play a key role in representing women employees and providing a blueprint for what other organisations should strive for, especially in driving gender diversity and improving women's impact and effectiveness in the workplace. Being able to shape the culture on the value women bring to Arnergy has resulted in a happier labour force, reduced job turnovers, and higher job satisfaction and productivity levels.

What do you see as some of the barriers limiting the entry of women into renewable energy businesses and where are the opportunities for women in renewable energy?

George-Aremu: There are many barriers preventing women from entering jobs in the renewable energy sector. I have been studying this in recent times and I can attribute some of the major barriers to - gender perspectives, cultural and social norms, unequal asset ownership, lack of skills and lack of gender-specific training are known problems. There is also a significant role gender perspective plays, and women must understand that there are women in other parts of the world who

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are leading this industry. Beyond the gender perspective, women must go after specific skills set to bridge the knowledge gap in this sector. I think it's also a mindset where specific roles or jobs are perceived to belong to the men-folk. However, strengthening women's role in renewable energy through better education and other measures would boost progress towards SDGs on energy, gender equality, health, and education, among others. The opportunities are unparalleled, and until women begin to seek out these opportunities consciously, they will never know they exist.

By consciously seeking, they need to belong to communities that promote this, attend networking events, seek mentorship and expose themselves to new knowledge by reading books and even materials that are readily available online.

Your role as the chief finance officer for Arnergy means you oversee operations of its financial engine at high levels. Arnergy has received series of funds to expand its operations. What is responsible for these fund-raising successes?

Melchior: There are many reasons I could give to address this question, but I believe ultimately the reason is linked to how we differentiate in the market. Firstly, I must mention our CEO. His vision, dedication and adeptness lend an immeasurable contribution to where Arnergy is today, not to mention its contributions to electrifying Nigeria and reducing global emissions.

Secondly, our products have been intelligently designed with a focus on the user. The size and modularity of our systems allow us to be able to cater to all types of customers based on their energy requirements. We pride ourselves on the affordability, design and technology of our systems. We designed an encasing that houses our batteries and inverter; we also deploy a smart system with remote monitoring capabilities. This allows us to provide a balance between functionality and aesthetics that does not currently exist in the market. It is something that I’m very proud of, and our investors recognize the value . Thirdly,I would say our contribution to reducing emissions, providing clean energy and addressing the power shortage issues in Nigeria were compelling reasons for our

The opportunities are unparalleled, and until women begin to seek out these opportunities consciously, they will never know they exist.

-Ololade GeorgeAremu Businessday.ng

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INTERVIEW

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investors as well as the opportunity to invest in an early-stage growth company with profitable prospects.

Yo u h a ve w o r ke d a t s eve ra l multinationals in varying sectors, spanning chemicals, soft commodities and most of your experience has been in the energy sector. In what roles have you seen women in the energy sector in the past compared to the roles they now play? How can more girls be encouraged to seek careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics?

Melchior: Interestingly enough, my mother worked in the Energy sector and rose through the ranks in her organisation over time.

I was extremely in awe of my mother and wanted to grow up to be like her one day. It never occurred to me that when I finally joined the workforce, being a woman would mean I would be part of a minority group. I started my career in a Global oil trading company based in London, which lacked diversity not only in its ratio of male to female employees but also in race.

I recall there being 3 senior women, none of whom were at the executive level but all worked in the front office. They also inspired me to rise to such ranks one day in my future - most women worked in the back and the middle office. I love that the number of women working in positions of influence and power is on the rise and we’ve not yet hit critical mass.

It’s great that our generation, and definitely the ones that have come after ours are vocal and present advocates for girls and women in STEM. I was privileged and blessed to have a role model in my fearless, trailblazing mother, and champions and mentors in the women I mentioned earlier. So, I guess to answer your 2nd question, it comes down to encouragement and education. We need more progressive, intentional, and sustainable programs to provide our girls with STEM skills, and open doors to STEM job opportunities they would not previously have had access to. Critical to the success of this will be penetration at a grassroots level. Our society needs to be more intentional and consistent in sending positive signals to girls and young women. I tell my daughter every day, believe you can do anything you set your mind to – the stars are the limit.

George-Aremu.. your preoccupation at Arnergy is People and Culture.

The employability of graduates from Nigeria’s educational system has been a major concern of companies, what in your view is the cause of this and what are some of the solutions to it?

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The educational system in any country is a major innovation driver. I believe that everyone has a role to play and so if companies worry about the educational sector, they need to create campaigns and collaborative programs with universities that train and equip students for these roles. I think it is wrong to blame anyone. If we must advance Nigeria, we must work together, and this applies to every sector. At Arnergy, we are conscious about bridging this gap through our six-months Graduate Internship/Trainee program. This program allows fresh and bright graduates to develop their skills and learn the workplace's nuances and culture. A conscious effort of more organisations to focus on approaches and similar initiatives will

be of great value to Nigeria's educational systems. I know we need to do more and we are consciously working on this.

From computer information systems to industrial relations and human resource management, what personal experiences influenced your career choices?

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George-Aremu: In my first job, I identified a need to integrate structures and automation in the workplace. But most importantly, I saw the need to have the human side of things, especially the human interaction in these structured systems and organisations, which fuelled my desire to work in the Human Resources department.

Being an expert in Computer Information Systems, I found it very interesting and fulfilling to solve problems by automating processes in return, contributing immensely to the organisation's growth.

But more importantly, I realised that organisations thrive and fulfill their missions when the human element is not missing, and I have been conscious about incorporating this in all of the roles I have been involved in.

No organisation should eliminate human interaction Melchior: You volunteer and are an associate at WIMBIZ. Why are such organisations important? So, I’ll link this answer to my prior response on how to encourage girls to seek careers in STEM. WIMBIZ has been a pioneer and a strong advocate on precisely this topic. To quote

their vision and mission: WIMBIZ VISION: To be the catalyst that elevates the status and influence of women and their contribution to nation-building. WIMBIZ MISSION: To inspire and empower women to attain leadership positions in business, management, and public service.

They do this by advocating, mentoring, empowering, inspiring, and fostering networks between women at all stages and from all walks of life. Their programs address so many topics from teaching financial literacy to young schoolgirls and entrepreneurs, investment opportunities, career, and personal development advice, and so on. As women, our experiences in the workplace are different from that of men as are some of the social structures and expectations, therefore we require a different kind of support. I am happy to have found this support in WIMBIZ. It is also good to know that my challenges are not just unique to me and should I require a platform to connect with other women and to share experiences, one is always available to me.

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women to men in Arnergy’s staff?

The ratio of women to men is 30:70 and still growing.

What are some of Arnergy’s biggest achievements and their impact on beneficiaries’ lives?

Again, we have quite a few, but we will focus on a few as follows: We have a 6 member executive management team of which the female to male ratio is 50:50. In addition to that, our C-suite is made up of 3 people.

2 of whom are female.. We are proud of the caliber of investors we have attracted into our organisation in Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Norfund, EDFI management, and All- on. The level of support and encouragement each of them provide to us collectively and in their own unique ways is indeed priceless and we don’t take that for granted. We are very proud to contribute to reducing global emissions, providing sustainable power solutions within our nation and beyond as well as the quality of the solutions we provide, What is the proportion of which are affordable, safe, reliable, smart and extremely user friendly. Also, Arnergy prides itself in employee development and growth. We are deliberate about building a learning organisation and have created avenues that support individual growth. One of our core achievements is the Graduate Internship Program. So far, the conversion and retention rate of our interns to full time employment is over 80% and still growing.

To be a chief commercial officer in an organization such as Arnergy requires a lot of creative imagination.

How do you see your m a r ket i n te r m s of demography, size, scope, and outlook?

Omobola Omofaiye: Nigeria is the biggest Businessday.ng

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economy in the African continent and has the largest population in Africa. However, about 40% of the population has little or no access to reliable electricity to drive the sustainability of businesses and human lives. Considering the increasing energy demand in Nigeria, and the inability of the grid to sufficiently meet the energy requirements from different sectors of the economy, there is a shift towards renewable solar energy which is expected to bridge the energy gap and strengthen the power market in Nigeria. Arnergy, as a company is positioned to be the leading solar energy company in Nigeria, providing reliable and sustainable solutions to energy reliability issues in Nigeria and other emerging markets.

women playing in this space. However, in the past few years, there has been accelerated awareness around gender balance in the technology industry. There are huge opportunities in this space which is available for both men and women to benefit from. The narrative is changing gradually, and more women are playing in the technology space and also taking on leadership roles. More so, many organizations as part of their corporate culture, now drive gender diversity as a way of achieving a gender-balanced workforce.

On a personal level and without glorifying the “good old days” what was it about your family, environment, and choices that got you to wherein you are Your career path has today in your career and what crisscrossed information other young women learn from c o m m u n i c a t i o n your experiences?

technolog y, financial services, energy management, oil & gas, and renewable energy.

What is your assessment of the opportunities open to women in those fields?

Omobola Omofaiye: The technology space is still yet to see gender equality in the industry. This space comprises a higher percentage of men with fewer Businessday.ng

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Omobola Omofaiye: I grew up in a closelyknit family with principled parents that hold integrity and hard work in high esteem, which shaped my background and orientation for life. I learned early in life that there are no shortcuts to sustainable success. I am driven by results and am always ready to consistently put in the work to succeed. I strive to put my best foot forward at the instance of any opportunity.

I enjoy learning new things and taking

on challenges as a way of growing and broadening my horizon. To other young women, building capacity and learning should be continuous to get you prepared for the opportunities ahead. “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill What energy mix would the most optimal for Nigeria given our vast natural gas resources, which is perceived as a transitional fuel, and the rapid advancement of various green energy solutions?

Omobola Omofaiye: Renewable solar energy will be an optimal energy solution for the Nigerian market as Nigeria is blessed with an abundance of sunlight and good weather. Green energy is more environment friendly, reduces carbon footprint, and produces no noise pollution.

As the adoption of renewable solar energy increases and more people “go green”, more job opportunities continue to open up to reduce the unemployment rate in Nigeria, and also for faster growth of the sector. BD

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PICTURE OF THE DAY

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PERSONAL FINANCE

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ALL (OTHER) THINGS BEING EQUAL…IN PERSONAL FINANCE (RELATIONSHIPS/ MARRIAGE) TOYOSI LAWAL

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ll other things being equal OR ‘Ceteris paribus’ is a phrase that rolled off easily from my Economics Professors’ tongues frequently in college. Add this phrase to any theory, and you can almost always justify your theory within its defined context. For example, we can say that ‘having a personal finance plan in place is beneficial to a couple’s financial stability, ceteris paribus’. In this context, what are the factors that can prevent your joint financial plan from being effective? A key component to executing a financial plan is budgeting.

Whilst talking about budgeting, I’d like to zoom in on the steps that I highlighted in the last article and also talk about 3 things that could prevent you from sticking to a joint budget. As a re-cap, last weekend I mentioned that when putting numbers to your financial plan, you should make a list of all your needs, estimate the cost for the needs, make a forecast for future years and then each determine/ agree your individual contribution to the joint

plan.

In your joint financial plan, budgeting comes in when making the list of needs and putting numbers to those needs.

There are various guidelines suggested by financial advisors for budgeting, such as the 50:30:20 rule. Such guidelines typically suggest budget allocation ratios to three main categories including Needs, Wants and Savings/ Investments. For each of these categories, you’ll need to decide on what you’ll like to jointly aspire to and which goals (if any) you’ll like to set as individuals. The 50:30:20 rule for Needs, Wants and Savings is pretty standard but you can adjust this ratio as you wish. I recently read an article about a couple (Amon and Christina Browning) who retired at 39 and 41 respectively by saving 70% of their income. For this couple, their joint lifestyle goal was to pursue financial independence and retire way before the average age of 65. Together, they decided to front-load their financial obligations to allow them spend more time with each other and Businessday.ng

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live each day to the fullest. As mentioned previously, your joint lifestyle goal, is as unique as your personal relationship and should be defined by you.

What should I categorise as Needs, Wants and Savings/ Investments?

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a good starting point for prioritising in your budget, what you need to survive versus your wants. Your physiological needs (Food, Shelter, and Clothing) and Safety needs (Health, Property, Security, and Employment) should be prioritized over wants. Your wants are still important.

As a couple you could decide that it is absolutely important for the sanity of your the frequency of your income payments?

And are you able to match the frequency of your income to when your costs are due?

2) Un-necessary spending: Do you find yourself spending on things outside your budget and then regardless of this, having to still bear the costs of your basic needs?

3) Debt: Does your debt re-payment outway your income?

relationship to go on vacation at least once a year. Savings/ investments are critical to your plan as they act as a buffer when your income cash-flow is impacted.

What factors can hinder my budget?

Whilst diligence and discipline are traits required for sticking to a budget, it is important to understand that certain factors could hinder a budget. These include; 1) Income cash-flow: Do you understand Businessday.ng

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Sticking to your joint budget in a relationship/ marriage could be a valuable tool to achieving your joint lifestyle goals/ vision. Ceteris paribus means that the aforementioned factors are not an issue for you in your relationship. Often times, life isn’t perfect and so what happens when these issues are real and present in your relationship? Can one still navigate a joint financial plan? Please look out for next weekend’s article to find out how. BD Toyosi is a Strategy & Corporate Development Professional with over 8 years of experience in the Financial Services industry. She has spent the last 3 years working at FBNQuest Asset Management.

She is passionate about sharing personal finance advice to help others build strong wealth habits. Comments and enquiries can be sent to zolawal@gmail.com

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THE DIARY OF A YOUNG EXECUTIVE:

ABRAHAM JOHN ONOJA Businessday.ng

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INTERVIEW

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What was the last thing you did that requires courage?

To m e, h av i ng c ou r a g e means dealing and overcoming extraordinary challenges. It never dawned on me that every day I demonstrate bravery, but we all do. In fact, even though we aren’t necessarily facing tough physical challenges like climbing a mountain, we deal with a variety of obstacles and a multitude of fears as a part of our daily lives. And for the most part, we dismiss our ability to overcome these, as not worthy of acknowledgement. Therefore, challenging the status quo is something I have consistently done over the years that requires courage, although you want to ensure you’re not seen as always being negative, you do want to challenge the status quo when appropriate. It’s courageous to offer different ideas to stimulate new thinking.

What have you done recently for the first time?

I’ve had to wear a mask for longer hours. Other than that, in light of current realities, I’m doing a lot that’s new these days. Looking at

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Covid19’s gift and curse, I had the opportunity to connect with old friends and talk more often to my family.

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The driving force behind a morning routine that encourages you to get out of bed and achieve your goal should be the first thing you do in the morning.

What is your favourite quote/personal mantra?

My favourite quote/Personal mantra is ‘’If you don't dream it, you can't live it!

What is the first thing you do in the morning when you wake up?

The driving force behind a morning routine that encourages you to get out of bed and achieve your goal should be the first thing you do in the morning. For me, meditating for a few minutes would be the first thing I do after my morning prayers, and at this point, I acknowledge my gratitude and intentions for the day. It enables me to think more efficiently and effectively, thus helping me achieve a more productive day.

Who is your mentor and what valuable lessons have you learnt from him/her? (influential teacher or popular expert) I’ve been fortunate to have several knowledgeable mentors who helped me grow in all ramification. In my experience, mentors are a fantastic way to gain insight into where your career may lead. A strong relationship with a mentor has helped me challenge myself, to improve and grow. One of the lessons learnt from Abraham Lincoln is ‘’ Dare to be different’’ Is there anything that you wish you understand more about, and what is it?

Socrates said: “I know one

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thing: that I know nothing.” I wish I could read someone’s mind.

While listening to people, talking to them or while hearing about some situations, I really wonder what went through a person’s mind that s/he took an extreme step or said something different, may be something which I didn’t expect at all. Sometimes, I think what made a person do something that is not required, what was the intention. Basically, I want to know the answers for the reason behind one’s actions, the thought process.

Inadvertently, my mind invests lots of time in thinking about one’s thoughts behind one’s actions, my life would become much easier if I can read one’s BRAIN !!

How would you define success?

Success, for me, has always been about earnestly making a difference in the lives of others. If I know that my work helped turn their lives around for the best at the end of the day, then I sleep well at night and wake up eager to start work the next day all over again.

Is/Are there any ideas in your head that you can’t really seem to shake off?

It would be how to improve the

culture of reading and writing in society in general, with more emphasis on quality education.

In your opinion, what is worth paying for? Education, Holidays, Good Food…?

In the idea of creating a more sustainable world, with economies that are stable communities that are more just and inclusive. A difficult but not unattainable target if we can count on the involvement of governments, institutions, businesses, and, above all, a responsible and committed public is education. Education will bring change to many of the systemic factors that have contributed to the delay in poor communities’ development. Education also has a documented effect on health, nutrition, economic development and on environmental protection. This factor can eliminate all forms of poverty because "scientia potestas est" is a Latin aphorism meaning 'Knowledge is power'. It means that knowledge is more powerful than physical strength or ability and no great work can be done without knowledge.

Knowledge is a very powerful factor that empowers people achieve great outcome which is cordial with Sustainable development goal 4 (Quality education).

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Tell us about WIN and what you hope to achieve with it?

The Writers Interactive Network is a literary society comprising writers who came together for the sole purpose of interactively learning, helping, leaning on each other and exploring ways to improve writing skills. The network was founded with a vision of becoming every writer's wing, reaching out to humanity and reenchanting the world through winning writings and expressions. Its mission is to provide writers with a creative platform for creativity and expressions to flourish; contribute to the growth and development of writing; and impact the society we live in; to help writers grow and win in every creative space in a borderless world. This network's aim is bringing together writers of poetry, song, script, etc. to express themselves freely, a platform from which many people have benefitted in order to achieve impactful objectives in society. BD

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COMMUNICATION

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SELFCARE TIPS FOR A HEARTHEALTHY VALENTINE CHIDINDU MMADU-OKOLI

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here’s love in the air! We all can feel it! But it’s different this time, because there is also SARS-Cov-2 in the air! Pre-COVID-19, we had limitless options on how to celebrated with our loved ones. This time, social distancing and serial lockdowns have made us re-evaluate our personal lives, love lives, as well as our relationships with those who matter. People have spent more time bonding virtually, than we have had offline dates, movies, and the likes.

Know your numbers

Whether you are single, taking long romantic walks to your fridge and bed, or you are a couple hanging out in the park, love is still that compels us to give ourselves: time, energy and resources. Hence, there is no such thing as ‘50-50’. It’s a '100-100'. If you wont give your all in your relationship, do not expect others to give their all.

Mind what you eat:

It is not enough to give your heart to another, just make sure it’s a healthy one you are giving. Why? The heart, like the mind, plays a key role in driving our daily activities. Without one, we become permanently absent in the lives of those who cherish us. It is important that you nurture it through healthy habits that will make it work for you, so that you can stay alive for the ones who love you.

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No one sets out on a journey without pausing to think of the past, present or future. Periodic health checks like blood pressure, glucose levels, body mass index, etc are very important and best opimtized and help tie tailor your activities around the recommended health goals..

This season there will be all sorts of food and drinks awaiting and appealing to you in restaurants, fast foods, malls and events.

Make sure that they contain the essential nutrients that your body needs. Always choose to eat a balanced diet and check out heart-friendly food types when you eat out. Each time you choose healthy, balanced meals over junk foods you accord your body the respect that it deserves. You remind your body that it is a gift to be treasured, not a dumpsite that receives all sorts of unhealthy food. According to the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension, a heart-healthy meal should include 50% (halfplate) of fruits and vegetables, 25% (quarter-plate) of whole grains or energy-giving foods (carbohydrates) and 25% of bodybuilding foods (lean proteins). To spice up your time together,

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you may even choose to spend quality time by cooking a healthy meal together with your loved one(s) at home. Eat or snack better with fruits and vegetables, having about 5 servings daily.

boost your energy, gives room for weight control and promotes better sleep.

Make Quality Time: Move your body: Selfcare is the highest form of activism.

Exercise is a major way to achieve your personal revolution. When we move our bodies more than we eat, we reduce our chances of being overweight or obesed, thereby giving no room for high blood pressure and some other heart-related diseases. The World Health Organization

People and their relationships grow when they get involved in activities that allow them to become their best selves and learn more from/about each other. Quality time allows one enjoy the moment. It reduces anxiety, mood disorders, and stress from the everyday hustle and bustle, whilst keeping you refreshed for the next course of action.

This season, people can learn more about themselves through activities like dance sessions, meditation, yoga sessions, deep breathing, watching a movie, etc.

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Avoid Smoking and Alcohol Consumption Smokers and drinkers, more especially smokers who consume alcohol have a higher risk of heart liver, lung diseases or cancer. Smoking makes you inhale toxic components of the cigarette, like nicotine, which damages these organs and causes complications like cancer and death.

Finally, Stay Accountable : You can create or make a pledge rto stay healthy this season and beyond. Always keep to necessary health and wellness tips that allow you to stay accountable to

yourself and the ones who matter in your life.

May your love not be cut short. Take care of your heart today. BD

Chidindu Mmadu-Okoli is a health writer and licensed medical laboratory scientist, who is passionate about telling purposeful and persuasive health stories that promote patient-provider interactions, patient-centered care and inspires healthy living.

She is a 2019 #PreventEpidemicsNaija Fellow with the Nigeria Health Watch where she lends her voice towards advocating for the need for sustainable funding for disease prevention. She is a 2019 Science Communications Fellow of the Africa Science Literary Network, a TEDx Speaker whose talk advocates for patient-centred storytelling as the future of healthcare and a member of the Society for Health Communications, USA.

recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week. Exercising with your partner is one way to hold you accountable and to fight depression,

Chidindu currently hosts The Vital Signs Podcast show for humanizing healthcare, and has contributed through her various communications roles to write, create and design health awareness, education and promotion materials for vulnerable patient populations, the public and policymakers.

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LOVE IN THE TIME OF COVID: INNOVATION DRIVES GIFT MARKET BUNMI BAILEY

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unde Labiyi, a businessman, like many lovers in this season has been preoccupied with the perfect gift for his spouse. But he is confused because she seems to have it all, from perfumes to lace, switch watches, and earrings among others.

He finally settles for a basket of varieties, packed with a fusion surprise in every detail.

This unconventional, classy, definitely-not-boring-packaging are only a few of the many dimensions gift makers are adopting in staying relevant during a period people would rather not spend on gift items. However, the need to extend love to one another, and showing solidarity of sorts as the world passed through a tumultuous past few months, is keeping the gift industry alive.

While retailers told BusinessDay that, over the years, people consider gifting important in showing love and foster relationships, the pandemic, bad as it is as a concept, made the industry more valuable and created a huge opportunity for the retailers. Innovation in gift packing and customization is keeping the fragile, erstwhile highly seasonal gift market in Nigeria thriving.

Mayowa Adisa, the owner of 5kgiftshop said that right now people are learning the act of giving and showing love especially in the pandemic.

“When I started in 2015, the response was not that

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encouraging because many people felt that they could source the gifts themselves by going to the market. But they have found it stressful,” said Damilola Taiwo, creative director of the GiftFairyNg. “When they saw how the professionals package the gifts together, especially in combo sizes or gift boxes and the way the recipients of the gifts appreciated them, they began to see the value in it.”

The gifting industry is segregated into personal and corporate gifting, with the former accounting for up to 80 per cent of the market. Typically, gifting seasons are Valentine's Day, Easter, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and birthdays. Aside from those, gifting is also done during special occasions in people’s lives such as for new babies, new jobs, new apartments, engagements, weddings etc.

A major selling point for those staying relevant in the business today is in their approach to packaging. The spherical canebaskets that dominated the scene for decades in more or less a

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“I did not believe in leveraging on technology but the pandemic proved me wrong. Between the periods of May-September 2020, 100 percent of my sales were from online. Although they were not in large quantities but we still made sales,” said Toyin Ubamadu, CEO, Wuwi Giftings.

Although data on the worth of the Nigerian gifting industry could not be ascertained, Technavio, a leading global technology research and advisory company stated the global gift retail market was worth roughly $62 billion in 2019.

single design, have given way to other more creative materials, and even when the same cane material is used, it is done in very unconventional, eyepopping ways.

“Most of the items in the hampers or packages are items that you hardly find in the market and they are well put together. Plus you get attracted to the colours of the packages,” Labiyi said.

Ayrinde Akinloye, a consumer analyst at United Capital Plc said, there is a cultural shift in the way people treat the act of gifting and it has become more pronounced in building relationships.

“Also, for the corporates, especially the service based ones, giving gifts at the end of the year is a sign of maintaining relationships,” He says.

For the person giving the gift, gift shopping is either a great way to express how much they value someone, or as a social obligation that may or may not be on board with. Whatever the case, the gifting industry is evolving to make recipients feel they have been gifted with the best of intentions.

Yemi Oriade, a banker, said that although he appreciates when gifts are given to him, there is much appreciation from the gift packages because it is an opportunity for him to support others with those items.

In addition, digitisation has played a vital role to the industry. It has made it a customer-friendly space where consumers can choose from numerous options with just the single click of button.

For Taiwo, however, the Nigerian segment “Is a billion dollar industry because it is a big market that has many aspects such as balloon items, souvenirs, actual gift items, corporate gifts, surprise industry, fresh flower industry etc.”

For Ololade Odunsi, owner of Iwose Footwear & Accessories, it is quite a lucrative business, especially for those selling female focussed gifts.

However, gift retailers face high production/packaging costs as most of the items are imported, and at the mercy of high exchange rates.

“The gift industry has come to stay but it all depends on innovation. We have a lot of gift retailers in the market but only few are doing well based on their ability to innovate especially in this recession,” Ubamadu highlighted. BD

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Valentine Season and Emotional Branding FEYISITAN IJIMAKINWA

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t is the season of love and despite the issues of COVID19 pandemic; we can still say we have it better, in this part of the world. At least, there is no forced lockdown or restrictions on social interactions. With all that happened in the last one year, no thanks to the pandemic, Valentine’s Day gives brands another opportunity to enrich their connections with their customers through emotional branding.

Emotional branding is all about building meaningful connections with customers and making them feel loved and nurtured. Each year, Valentine’s Day brings an opportunity for people to make the day extra special for their loved ones, and for brands to capitalize on the believers of love, and go out of their way to heighten the sentiments for them.

Brands that know how to pluck at the heartstrings of people, and connect with them emotionally are the real deal. These brands do their homework very well, and hit the scene with a host of mesmerizing Valentine’s Day packages. Such brands know it is always a win-win for brands and customers.

They go out of their way and spend extra on campaigns, to elicit customer engagement, capitalize on the feelings of happiness and love surrounding Valentine’s Day, and capture the customers’ hearts (and, of course, their pockets).

One Valentine’s season, a couple of years back, leading Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) brand, Tastee Fried Chicken (TFC), with a little touch of ingenuity swelled its emotional capital with its customers. That love season, TFC produced a well branded Compact Disc (CD) compilation of 16 evergreen love songs (with necessary copyright permission) and handed these out to their customers. This resulted in an unprecedented emotional connection between the brand and its customers.. The novel idea drove traffic of customers to TFC’s outlets, spiked sales and further etched the brand into the soft spots of its customers’ hearts.

There are brands we swear to defend with our last breaths and there are brands we wish we would never have to contend with. What customers aspire for is an emotional connection; an ability to connect with what’s behind the brand, and what’s behind the promise. Customers are defined by human Businessday.ng

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needs, such as ego-gratification, security, power, and love, among others. These subconscious emotion-based needs are leveraged by marketers to appeal to consumers. Successful companies aspire to build their brand by appealing to a consumer’s emotional aspirations, needs, and state, putting the needs of the consumers ahead of the products. Not only does this newly formed bond between the consumers and a brand nurtures brand loyalty, it makes consumers feel a sense of trust with brands.

Since its Valentine’s season, love is in the air, and Cupid is thrashing about with arrows notched. If any brand wants its customers to fall and remain in love with it, the brand has to show the customers what sets it apart from other brands jostling for their attention and acceptance. That brand has to appeal to the customers’ emotions, depicting by its actions how they are always in its mind, and how it is willing to go out of its way to prove it to them.

Last line: While I can offer up plenty of Valentine’s Day campaign ideas, why not leverage your existing brand elements to leave a lasting impact, and help imprint your business in the backs of your customers’ minds for good.

You can make the customers fall in love with your brand this season by concocting a love potion with your offerings. BD Feyisitan Ijimakinwa is a Reputation and Perception Management expert.

He is a prolific writer and researcher who, at different times, served as Head of Corporate Communications of top brands quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A versatile communications specialist, he practiced extensively as a print journalist and was variously engaged in the broadcast media, working on radio and television. Feyisitan continues to write on corporate communications, brand reputation and perception management, and brand intelligence, among others. He organises the ‘Brand Intelligence and the Marketplace’ masterclass. Feyisitan advocates a pollution free and sustainable environment

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ENTREPRENEUR

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THE PATH TO RECOVERY FOR WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES. WEYINMI ERIBO

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ME.NG conducted a national survey in partnership with the Federal Ministry for Women’s Affairs and the Nigerian Association for Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (NACCIMA) to assess the impact of the pandemic on women-owned businesses. The result of the survey revealed several areas that contributed to the vulnerability of women’s businesses in Nigeria to economic shocks. Most SMEs in Nigeria are run by women and given their limited knowledge and experience on how to conduct businesses online, women led businesses were the most adversely affected by the pandemic. It revealed that the stimulus packages that were introduced during the early days of the lockdown did not take into consideration the unique challenges women owned businesses face and as such were not designed to support women’s diverse businesses. The survey revealed that 61% of women entrepreneurs had limited awareness of the various government and private sector interventions that were available to support businesses. Given that majority of these women-led SMEs remain excluded from Businessday.ng

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the digital ecosystem as a result of limited access to broadband and nonavailability of adequate devices and the fact that internet has become the major platform that disseminates information about the available interventions, this is not farfetched.

The impact of the internet on the lives and businesses of entrepreneurs around the world cannot be overestimated, the saying that the world has become a global village is most true now especially after the pandemic but access to and the use of these technologies has not been equitable. Various research continues to show that women and girls are the most disadvantaged by the cultural, economic, and social barriers that restrict their access to technology and the gains they offer. In some parts of Nigeria, a large number of women are unable to access the internet due to deeply ingrained gender, cultural and social norms.

While research shows that the males in the household are often the ones who control access to technology, it further reveals that even the women have internalized these norms and restrictive behavior. This continues to present barriers to their acceptance and use of the

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internet and technology in general.

The road to recovery for women led SMEs in Nigeria should involve digitalization, market access, and cheap and patient capital – these three factors particularly access to this technology and its related infrastructure is critical to the recovery of businesses from the pandemic.

As the world continues to gravitate towards a digital era of business, there needs to be an accompanying plan for the digitization of women owned businesses in Nigeria. Small businesses continue to be strong drivers of employment, therefore enabling their digitization will bring more women into the economic mainstream and further promote equity in Nigeria’s digital Businessday.ng

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economy. Plugging into the digital opportunities for businesses will further create better opportunities for the future.

Solutions for women entrepreneurs should include systems that empower them to be sustainable without necessarily extracting from outside their locations and so we must continue to encourage home grown solutions for local problems.

Training majority of women business owners around Nigeria to accept and use technology and its accompanying infrastructure may be an uphill task but women owned businesses can leverage platforms to promote their businesses if they have access to solutions that can enable their businesses to thrive.

Where institutional voids exist, connecting women entrepreneurs to technology-based solutions that empower them is the solution.

Within the entrepreneurship e c o s y s t e m , i n n o v at i o n i n business models especially during unprecedented times like we are in now, where consumer behavior continues to evolve and the accompanying acceleration of change during moments of crisis must be encouraged.

The overall wellbeing of Nigerian women and their businesses is an Businessday.ng

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important indicator of Nigeria’s successful recovery from the negative effects of the pandemic.

The Digital Economy Diagnostic Report survey by the World Bank Group showed that in 2018 the e-commerce spending in Nigeria was estimated at USD 12 billion and was projected to increase to USD 75 billion in revenues by 2025. This diagnostic argues that accelerating access to digital technologies spurs innovation, efficiency, and productivity, and as a result brings about choice and opportunities for greater growth and inclusion.

If more women entrepreneurs are mainstreamed into the digital ecosystem, there is a higher chance for the digital economy revenue of Nigeria to increase.

To overcome the challenges of

women entrepreneurs in Nigeria, in addition to adequate trainings and access to finance, the use of E-commerce should be promoted as E-commerce is vital in providing new horizons to entrepreneurs in developing economies. With limited resources available to women owned businesses, these women may be unable to host their own personal e-commerce websites and so it is extremely important that in this road to recovery for women owned businesses, a solution that bridges this gap is designed. This solution should also provide a platform through which these women entrepreneurs can easily begin to connect and network with each other, form new partnerships and expand the reach of their businesses beyond their locations. BD

Glory Enyinnaya is an international business consultant and corporate change agent who has consulted for a diverse range of blue-chip companies, including Accenture, Nigeria LNG, British-American Tobacco, Access Bank, FCMB and MTN. She has also advised over 200 entrepreneurs for clients such as the Centre for Global Enterprise (New York), the Entrepreneur Scan (Netherlands) and the International Business Accelerator (United States).

She is a technology entrepreneur, having founded Kleos Africa, which is Africa's pioneer consulting platform. She is a Regional Partner for Faster Capital, a venture capital fund in the UAE which funds entrepreneurial projects around the world.

She is a founding member of the African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative (AWEC).

She facilitates sessions on strategy and entrepreneurship at Lagos Business School and Regenesys Business School. She is also a frequent contributor to the FATE Foundation's MSME Hub and the SME Toolkit of the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University. She is available to advise aspiring and current entrepreneurs on Kleos Africa and can be reached at glory@gloryenyinnaya.com.

SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

BOOK REVIEW

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Book Title: Son of my Parents Author: Tosin Olukuade Year of Publication: 2016 Number of Pages: 158 Category: Non-Fiction

A 50 Year Love Affair - A Review of Tosin Olukuade’s Son of my Parents TITILADE OYEMADE

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rue love is hard work, a choice made every day to put someone else before yourself. It’s no wonder that so many relationships end these days! 50 years of committed marriage and lasting love is exceptionally rare and something worth celebrating in this day and age of failed marriages.

It is not surprising that, Tosin Olukuade, author of the book Son of my Parents head down memory lane to reminisce about the love story of his parents, Solomon Adebayo and Rebecca Modupe Olukuade.

Based on his relationship with his parents whose single powerful flame inspired everyone they touched, the story is told through anecdotes, honest dialogue and golden moments. Son of my Parents shows how a child's perception of the marriage his parents have created is the key to his ultimate well-being.

Olukuade takes us into the very real world of his parents’ life, stretching from their childhood to the present day.

The book covers a multitude of topics, including relationships with family and friends, how they met, getting married, to photos, tributes, places, ideals and the unexpected loss of his father’s vision and eye sight; It’s truly a piece of history!

Talking to both parents, Olukuade learns a lot about patience, compromise and resilience. As his mother stands by her husband during his sight loss, one can't help but feel inspired by Solomon and Rebecca Olukuade’s true love for each other.

The story is told in brief and divided into eleven (11) chapters and where the book manages to be unique and interesting is in the jumping around in time, from past to present and back again.

Spending half a century in love with one person is no easy task but readers are left feeling brave and ready to devote themselves to true love that comes their way.

Olukuade has presented an eye-opening and highly readable book - one that offers illuminating insight for couples (engaged, married, or somewhere on the way) in this happily ever after book. BD 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.

oyemade

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RECIPE

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SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

HEART SHAPED COOKIES FOR YOUR LOVER

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icing.

ho needs presents for Valentine’s Day when nothing says “I love you” quite like homemade heart-shaped cookies? Just cut simple sugar cookies into hearts, bake and frost with royal

INGREDIENTS 2 3/4 c. all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. kosher salt 1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temp 3/4 c. sugar 1 large egg 1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract Royal icing Luster dust and vodka, for decorating This ingredient shopping module is created and maintained by Businessday.ng

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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 • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

• In another large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and then vanilla.

• Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated.

• Shape dough into 2 disks and roll each between 2 sheets of waxed paper to 1/8 inch thick. Chill until firm, 30 minutes in refrigerator or 15 minutes in freezer.

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using floured cookie cutters, cut out cookies. Place on prepared sheets. Reroll, chill and cut scraps.

• Bake, rotating positions of baking sheets halfway through, until cookies are light golden brown around edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

• Ice cookies with royal icing and let set. When ready to decorate, combine luster dust with a touch of vodka and use a paint brush to “paint” on stripes.. BD

HEALTH TODAY

SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

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Health benefits of Celebrating Valentine’s Day DR MONISOLA ADANIJO

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n the 14th of February every year, we celebrate Valentine’s Day. A day of expressing love, giving and receiving gifts. Did you know there are actually health benefits from celebrating Valentine’s Day? Let’s have a look at the things associated with the day and how they affect the heart.

Dark Chocolate: A component in cocoa used to make chocolate: (Flavonoids) can contribute to heart health. Flavonoids are antioxidants, known to protect against free radicals in the body. These free radicals damage

arteries and trigger buildup of fat in the wall of blood vessels. Antioxidants can also help lower the level of "bad" cholesterol (LDL), and increase the amount of "good" cholesterol (HDL).

This antioxidant effect is apparently greater in dark chocolate, because it has a higher concentration of cocoa. While we celebrate the amazing qualities of dark chocolate, let’s not forget chocolate contains sugar, saturated fat and is high in calories. Small quantities are advisable.

Red wine:

For people who drink a moderate amount of red wine, there's a heart health benefit.

It has been shown that red wine also contains Flavonoids, similar to those in dark chocolate. The Flavonoids in red wine are gotten from grape skins (wine is made from grapes) and they have an antioxidant effect, may raise good cholesterol levels and may help prevent blood clotting in the blood vessels. I would caution against excessive drinking, or encouraging nondrinkers to start drinking. Red wine; although great for the heart, also contains alcohol, which is directly toxic to body organs. Alcohol consumption can raise the risk of liver problems, high blood pressure, obesity, breast cancer, suicide, Businessday.ng

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HEALTH TODAY

SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

Day, the color is also linked to passion, love, and desire. It is also good for Heart health. Red fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, red bell pepper, strawberries, cherries, and cranberries are packed with cardio-protective nutrients such as Lycopene; which reduces the risk for heart disease, Vitamin C; which reduces inflammation and boosts immunity, Folate; improves flexibility of the blood vessels, Fiber; which helps lower “bad” LDL-cholesterol, and other valuable nutrients.

Love improves your overall health:

and accidents. Alcohol can harm the growth and development of an unborn child. The recommended amount of red wine per day should generally be a wine glass (120mls). Red wine is not a first line of defense against heart disease.

Studies have shown that good relationships have health benefits, it has been shown that “love” can help prevent fat buildup in the arteries, it protects against heart disease, boosts immunity levels reduces levels of stress chemicals, decreases risk of early death. Personal contact turns on a part of the nervous system, which has a calming effect, and reduces the amount stress chemicals in the body. The human touch can lower blood pressure, and illicit a sense of safety, connection, and comfort.

mind, and lowers blood pressure!

The color RED:

With all these benefits, I am sure we are extra committed to having a love filled Valentines.

Red is the favorite color of Valentine’s

Happy Valentines Day!!. BD

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

With

experience spanning over

medical centres such as

20

years, she built her pathway in medicine and cardiology working in reputable

M ecure H ealthcare L imited , B arnes H ospital , L agos U niversity T eaching H ospital ,

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, As a Continuous Medical Education (CME) provider, she has worked with the likes of Trigen Healthcare Solutions, Pfizer GP Academy, Diamond Helix Medical Assistance, Pfizer Pharmacy Academy, Global Health Project and Resources, Sanofi-Aventis Nigeria, Novartis Nigeria and Servier

Red roses:

International. She

Giving Roses are just not all about being romantic, roses (and indeed flowers in general); can help to lower blood pressure.

Studies have found that simply looking at fresh roses for a few minutes relaxes the Businessday.ng

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has helped build capacity in

Electrocardiogram

interpretation , preventive cardiovascular diseases , management of heart

failure, patient education and more.

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. moni.adanijo@naveenhealthcare.com www.naveenhealthcare.com

Instagram: https://Instagram.com/moni_adanijo https://Instagram.com/naveenhealthcare

SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

RECIPE

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CLASSIC CHICKEN PARMESAN Ingredients 1/2 c. Italian-style breadcrumbs 1/2 c. Grated Parmesan 2 large eggs 4 small chicken-breast halves, about 1 1/2 pounds 3/4 c. marinara sauce 6 oz. mozzarella 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 •

Preheat oven to 450°F.

•

Combine 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan in a shallow bowl.

•

In another shallow bowl, beat 2 large eggs.

•

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.

•

Dip the 4 small chicken-breast halves into the egg, then into the breadcrumbs. Then, add chicken to the skillet and fry until golden brown on both sides.

•

Put the cooked chicken into a baking dish, and top with 3/4 cup marinara sauce.

•

Shred 6 ounces of mozzarella. Then, sprinkle the cheese on top of the chicken.

•

Bake everything for 20 minutes..BD Businessday.ng

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SPORT

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SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

ANTHONY NLEBEM

CHAMP LEAGUE RETURN MOUTHW TIE

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2021.

he last 16 first-leg action of the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League kicks off on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 February

The first game opens on the evening of Tuesday 16 February with RB Leipzig hosting Liverpool at the Red Bull Arena on Tuesday, 16th February, as well as Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain reviving their rivalry at the Camp Nou. The Reds – winners of this competition in 2019 – topped Group D in relative comfort ahead of Atalanta, Ajax and Midtjylland, but since then their domestic form has wobbled badly, with Jurgen Klopp left wondering where his side’s aura of invincibility has gone. The German tactician will hope the thrill of returning to Europe inspires his side to step up for what is sure to be a tough challenge from RBL. “It's my job to make sure the boys have the right feelings, the right amount of confidence and make the right decisions,” Businessday.ng

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said Klopp. “When you have the problem of something not working you have to try harder, longer and more often and make better decisions.”

The Barca v PSG clash, meanwhile, promises to be a thriller. The teams’ last meetings were in the knockout stage of the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League where the Parisians claimed a 4-0 home win in the first leg, but were blown away 6-1 in the return game in Catalonia for one of the most astonishing turnarounds

SPORT

SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

47

PIONS ACTION NS WITH WATERING ES last European crown coming way back in 1995-96.

“Winning a trophy doesn’t change anything for me, I want to win more,” said Pirlo after the Bianconeri emerged triumphant in the Italian Super Cup. “We’ve had some ups and downs, just like every other team this season. It’s due to the packed fixture list and lack of preparation. Everyone is feeling mental fatigue, it’s not easy to stay concentrated for 90 minutes every three days, but we are working on it.” in European football history.

The evening of Wednesday 17 February features Porto tackling Juventus at Estadio do Dragao and Borussia Dortmund visiting Spanish side Sevilla at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

With Juventus looking unlikely to claim a 10th successive Serie A title, manager Andrea Pirlo may focus the team’s energy on trying to win the UCL – something they have achieved just twice, with their

The Sevilla-Dortmund tie, meanwhile, could well hinge on the form of Borussia’s Erling Haaland: the young Norwegian has six goals in the Champions League this season (level top of the chart with Neymar, Alvaro Morata and Marcus Rashford) and will be a clear and present threat to the Spanish hopefuls. BD

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SPORT

SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

B

arcelona news has been dominated by Lionel Messi’s contract of which the full details were revealed earlier this month by a report in El Mundo.

Among many revelations of the 80-page document detailing Messi’s multiple clauses, was the headline figure that he earned €555.237.619 over the course of the four-year deal.

Messi to pay Spanish government €370m in taxes

A report in El Periódico de Catalunya now details how the player will pay the Spanish treasury a total of €370m in taxes over the course of that four-year contract.

Personal income tax is said to account for the bulk of that amount – said to be €275m – while wealth tax, corporate

FIFA RE-ASSERTS FAS INDEPENDENCE FROM THIRD PARTY INTERFERENCE

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orld football –governing body, FIFA, has once more emphasised its zero tolerance for third party and political interference in the affairs of its Member Associations, declaring unambiguously that such would, without fail, always attract heavy sanctions from the world body, including the suspension of the affected Member Association.

In an official correspondence dated Tuesday, 9th February 2021 and addressed to the General Secretary of the Sierra Leone Football Association, FIFA frowned Businessday.ng

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at a recent summon issued to the SLFA, its independent committees and judicial bodies by the country’s Chairman of Parliamentary Oversight Committee for Sports, and the resolution issued after the meeting.

“We took note of the resolution issued on 5 February 2021 by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee for Sports, which appears to have instructed the Independent Committees and judicial bodies of the SLFA to put the ongoing electoral process on hold while the matter is being adjourned.

tax for image rights and advertising contracts are also included in the payments.

According to the contract he has with Barcelona, Messi earns about €70m gross fixed annually, meaning that each year he pays an amount between €3540m approximately, a figure that varies each year according to the variables.

Another important part corresponds to the 15 percent for image rights.

Messi has won a record six Ballon d’Or awards during his time at Barcelona, while helping the club win 10 Spanish league titles and four Champions League crowns. BD

“In this context, we would like to remind you that according to art.14 par 1 and article 19 par 1 of the FIFA statutes, all Member Associations of FIFA including SLFA are obliged to manage their affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties, including Government Authorities.”

It added that “any breach of this obligation may lead to sanctions as provided in the FIFA statutes, which may also include the suspension of the Member Association.”

BD

SPORT

SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

49

Super Falcons off to Antalya for Turkish Women’s Cup

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eigning African champions Nigeria will land in Antalya on Monday to participate in the fifth edition of the Turkish Women’s Cup taking place 15th – 24th February.

Ukraine, Serbia, India, Bulgaria, Uzbekistan and Equatorial Guinea are among teams confirmed so far for the 10-day tourney, though Tokyo Olympicsbound Zambia have pulled out for undisclosed reasons.

The Falcons will aim to become the first African side to triumph at the tournament, following the third pplace finish by Ghana’s Black Queens last year.

Chile won the trophy with Hungary as runner-up.

It is the first run-out for the Super Falcons, who reached the Round of 16 at the 8th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in France in the summer of 2019, since being shockingly edged out of the race for the Tokyo Olympics by Cote d’Ivoire penultimate autumn.

Nine-time African champions Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea’s Nzalang Nacional have been lumped into the same pool alongside Uzbekistan, with the Guineans handed an opportunity to address a 6-0 spanking by the Nigerians in the group phase of the 2018 Women Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ghana.

Poland (2017) and France (2018 and 2019) are the other previous winners of the Alanya Gold City Cup.

It is also the first call of new Head Coach, American Randy Waldrum, with the squad he is expected to mould into credible competitors for honours at global level.

Also known as the Alanya Gold City Cup, the tournament ranks as one of the more notable events on the women’s football calendar worldwide.

Nigeria’s Head Coach Waldrum has invited 23 players, mostly from the group that reached the Round of 16 at the World Cup in France, including goalkeepers Tochukwu Oluehi and Chiamaka Nnadozie, defenders Onome Ebi and Chidinma Okeke, midfielders Rita Chikwelu, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene and Halimatu Ayinde, and forwards Gift Monday, Rasheedat Ajibade and Asisat Businessday.ng

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SATURDAY 13, FEBRUARY 2021

be on the three points once the ball gets rolling.

LaLiga: Real Madrid look to close gap on Atlético

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Sevilla face SD Huesca in the next game, which is a battle between teams at opposite ends of the standings and teams with different objectives.

League leaders Atlético Madrid travel to Granada CF. After an eight-match winning streak was ended in their previous outing, Atlético will be looking to get back to winning ways to strengthen their position at the top of the standings.

They’ll have fond memories of playing Granada too, after thrashing the Andalusian outfit 6-1 in their opening game of this campaign.

Barcelona and Alavés then square off in the Saturday night game in a matchup between two coaches who know each other very well. Ronald Koeman and Abelardo used to play centre-back together for Barça back in the 1990s under Johan Cruyff, but they’ve never taken each other on as coaches. It’ll be a special occasion, then, as they cross paths again at the Camp Nou, but the focus will

eal Madrid have had an excellent week, taking six points out of six available with victories on Saturday and Tuesday. This, coupled with league leaders Atlético Madrid dropping points last time out vs Celta, has really sparked the title race into life as just five points and two games in hand separate the city rivals at the top of the table. As Matchday 23 arrives, Los Blancos will be hoping to close the gap further, but they’ll have to overcome Valencia who thrashed them 4-1 earlier in the season.

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Sevilla is aiming for a top four finish, while their opponents are simply looking to move off bottom place in the table.

Two other teams in relegation trouble then clash in the next fixture as SD Eibar host Real Valladolid. Both of these teams are level on 20 points at the edge of the relegation zone, so the stakes could not be higher.

Sunday’s slate of fixtures commences with Getafe CF vs Real Sociedad, with the capital city side needing to get back to winning ways after a poor run of results.

La Real have lost every time they’ve visited the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez since the Azulones’ return to Spain’s top tier four years ago, though.

Then comes Real Madrid vs Valencia CF at 4.15pm CET on Sunday afternoon.

This is a classic LaLiga fixture which has produced so many goals in recent years, with an average of 3.7 goals per game over the past eight seasons. Five goals went in during their previous meeting with Valencia running away with a 4-1 win thanks to a hat-trick of penalties from Carlos Soler. If Real Madrid want to keep up the pressure on Atlético , they’ll need to find a way past Los Che this time around.

Levante UD vs CA Osasuna is always a special match for the attacking leader of the Pamplonabased side, Rubén García. Garcia came through the Levante academy, but is now Osasuna’s star man up front and knows full well there can be little room for sentimentality once the whistle blows in this crucial fixture.

Up next, to conclude Sunday’s action, is a mouthwatering match-up between Villarreal CF and Real Betis. This is a fixture with some interesting coaching storylines as Unai Emery will face the club who were his main rivals during all his years in charge of Sevilla FC, while Manuel Pellegrini will return to the city where he enjoyed some of his greatest coaching successes. More importantly, though, this should be a brilliant game of football because these are two teams who like to attack and who boast world-class offensive players.

Brace yourselves for goals.

Then, Cádiz CF vs Athletic Club rounds off the weekend as these two clubs from opposite ends of the country meet on Monday night. Cádiz shocked the Basque side in Bilbao last time they played by winning with just nine men, but Athletic have changed coach and improved a lot since. They’ll be seeking some revenge on the south coast in this colourful Monday night match.

BD

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