BusinessDay Weekender 35th Edition

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

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EDITION 35 I 27, MARCH 2021

MY COVID 19 VACCINE EXPERIENCE FASHION

RELATIONSHIP

NEW HARVEST: TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS, ANDREA IYAMA BRINGS NATURE IN STUNNING SS/21 COLLECTION.

DESPERATION IS YOUR ENEMY

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SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

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Contents

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

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C O N T E N T S

7 LAUGHTER IN THE MIRROR

9 FASHION NEW HARVEST: TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS, ANDREA IYAMA BRINGS NATURE IN STUNNING SS/21

14 OPINION

BRANDS RELATIONSHIP MARKETING: KEY TO BRAND LOYALTY

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PRESS RELEASE

WOMEN IN BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW MEET WEEVO MIND THE GAP – DANGEROUS NIGERIA

PENDULUM – CHASING THAT FEELING

RELATIONSHIP DESPERATION IS YOUR ENEMY

LEAD STORY MY COVID 19 VACCINE EXPERIENCE

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MUCH ADO ABOUT REALITY TV SHOWS

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ASSUMPTIONS

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RECIPE HOW TO MAKE MOZAMBICAN STYLE CHICKEN

SPORTS AFCON 2021: SUPER EAGLES SAYS VICTORY NOT NEGOTIABLE IN BENIN Businessday.ng

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Editorial

Editor’s Note SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

Dear Weekender readers, I hope you are reading this in good health. Can you believe March is already coming to an end? Honestly, where does the time go? As parts of the world begin to ease their lockdowns, many people are looking back, and finding the time in isolation seems to have gone surprisingly fast. That’s not what many of us expected when we were first told that our lives were about to become so much more restricted than usual, with weeks of potential boredom, confined within our homes. What an unusual time to be alive. I often wonder what history books will say about the past year. All I know is that I am filled with immense gratitude to be alive.

Our lead story this week is a recount of a Dr's first-hand experience getting the COVID-19 vaccine in Lagos. Regardless of where you stand on the vaccine, we believe it is important to share all perspectives in order to allow our readers to make informed decisions. This first-hand experience outlines the fears, realities, and effects Dr. Monisola experienced getting her shot here in Lagos. Flip the pages to read more.

If there is one thing to truly adore the Andrea Iyamah brand for, it is their ability to make unique womenswear pieces that not only scream style, elegance, and comfort but also make you spend your money without questioning the longevity of the said pieces. Check out our review of the new collection inside.

Is desperation the enemy for singles? Find out in our relationship column.

Customer loyalty is key to business success. It is important and necessary for businesses to consistently acquire new customers to thrive. It is even more important to remember that cultivating loyalty among existing customers is key to the success of any brand. Research has shown that a business spends 5-25 times more; to win over a new customer than it does to retain an existing one. That means that improving customer retention rates can go a long way in helping a brand’s bottom line. Our brand column tells you exactly how to acquire new customers and keep the existing ones.

In the news roundup: Suez Canal blocked by traffic jam after massive container ship runs aground; Elon Musks says people can now buy Tesla with bitcoin; British car racing giant Mc Laren signs 13-year-old Nigerian American karter Ugo Ugochukwu on a long-term; Considering inflation, CBN holds a benchmark interest rate at 11.5%; Prince Charles launches scheme to get 50 million people in Africa and South East Asia access to sustainable drinking water; Twitter to introduce 'undo Tweet' feature for paid customers via subscription service; Wema Bank appoints a new executive director.

Flip the pages of the weekender for much more!

Thank you for reading.

Have a great weekend. BD

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

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SATURDAY 27, MARCH 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 Mercy Ayodele Elvis Kachi Udy Osaro-Edobor Feyisitan Ijimakinwa Stephanie Erigha Dr Monisola Adanijo FMCP 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

MARCH 2021 SATURDAY 27,

Suez Canal blocked by traffic jam after massive container ship runs aground MERCY AYODELE

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ne of the largest container ships in the world has been partially refloated after it ran aground in the Suez canal, causing a huge jam of vessels at either end of the vital international trade artery. The 152-year-old canal ranks as one of the world’s most important shipping lanes that connect the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. The blockage of the Suez Canal

by Ever Given, a 200,000-ton ship that became lodged sideways across the waterway since Tuesday, has cost the world about $27 billion.

Based on calculations by Lloyd’s List, traffic stopped on either side by the blockage costs more than $9 billion daily. Experts say the ac-

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Elon Musks says people can now buy Tesla with bitcoin

B cident was probably due in part to strong winds that turned the containers above deck into a vast sail that blew the vessel off course.

arely after a month that the Tesla CEO Elon Musk bought $1.5 billion worth of bitcoin hinting that it would soon start accepting the world’s most popular cryptocurrency as a form of payment, he announced that that it is now possible to buy Tesla vehicles in the U.S. with bitcoin. The company’s electric vehicles typically cost between $37,990 and $124,000 before tax.

British car racing giant McLaren signs 13-year-old Nigerian American karter Ugo Ugochukwu on a long-term

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ritish motor racing team McLaren has signed 13-year-old Nigerian American karter Ugo Ugochukwu on a long-term deal to aid his development through motorsport’s junior categories. According to McLaren “The 13-year-old American has proven to be a revelation, already securing several titles in his young career in the US and Europe, and most recently winning the 2020 FIA OKJ European Championship. Mc Laren further explained that the agreement will provide the team with an option on Ugo’s services in the future, while supporting his development and evolution as he progresses through the junior categories of motorsport. Ugochukwu is the son

of former Face of Africa winner Oluchi OnweagbaOrlandi.

Considering inflation, CBN holds benchmark interest rate at 11.5%

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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday retained its benchmark interest rate, known as the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), at 11.5 percent after the two-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja, citing inflation concerns. The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele said in the last MPC meeting that since the country just crawled out of recession in Q4 202o, if the MPC tightens, it would make it difficult to access credit needed that investment needs to drive growth and the economy could slip back into recession.

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News Roundup

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

Wema Bank appoints new executive director

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he board of directors of Wema Bank Pls has announced the appointment of Chukwuemeka Obiagwu as an executive director of the bank effective from April 1, 2021. According to a press statement signed by the bank’s company secretary/ legal adviser, Johnson Lebile, the appointment has been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The statement describes Emeka as a multidisciplinary professional with a background in accounting, insurance, corporate finance, Stockbroking and Public Finance. He has over three decades experience in banking, financial services and the public service.

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Prince Charles launches scheme to get 50 million people in Africa and Southeast Asia access to sustainable drinking water

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he Prince of Wales has launched a new initiative aimed at ensuring 50 million people have access to reliable and sustainable water sources by 2030. The Resilient Water Accelerator will bring together governments, the private sector, development banks and agencies to help fast-track finances towards protecting vital water services from cli-

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Twitter to introduce 'undo Tweet' feature for paid customers via subscription service

mate and health threats. Some six locations, due to be selected by September, will be identified in Africa and South East Asia for the initiative, where new approaches to tackling the issues of pollution, rising “water-stress” and decreasing supplies can be tested. Work on the ground is expected to begin in January next year.

midst the continuous demands of users to provide an option to edit tweets on Twitter, the social networking site is working on the 'undo tweet' feature. Twitter confirmed the feature of the new 'undo tweet' and revealed that some paid subscription services are also in the works. Security researcher Jane Manchun Wong on her Twitter handle wrote, "Twitter is working on app subscription for paid features like “Undo Tweet” Wong also shared a gif and showcased how the undo tweets feature on the Twitter subscription service will be working. The 'undo teets' feature is different from deleting a tweet. Undo tweets future will enable the Twitter subscription holders to will stop the tweet from being sent out at all. It will also have a timer in form of a progress bar indicating to users how much time they have before they can undo the tweet. However, it has not been revealed how much users will have to spend on this feature or will it be clubbed with other features for which users subscribe.

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

LAUGHTER IN THE MIRROR

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LAUGHTER IN THE MIRROR

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SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

FASHION

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NEW HARVEST: TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS, ANDREA IYAMA BRINGS NATURE IN STUNNING SS/21 COLLECTION.

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ELVIS KACHI

f there is one thing to truly adore the Andrea Iyamah brand for, it is their ability to make unique womenswear pieces that not only screams style, elegance and comfort, but also makes you spend your money without questioning the longevity of the said pieces.

The womens wear fashion brand Founded by the gorgeous 28year old Dumebi Iyamah, wants every woman to see through her and the brands lenses, feel seen, heard and listened to.

Although the brand is known for its eccentric designs through the making of luxury swimwears, they have over time stepped their foot in both bridals and Ready To Wear, RTW, pieces that are very unconventional and fashionable, yet functional and timeless.

As they relentlessly forge forward as a premium brand who's just clocked 10, A.I, as it is fondly called, celebrates its powerful existence through the release of an SS21 collection, New Harvest, reminding us of the beauty of nature, and how soothing surrounding ourselves around it can be.

In the recently released campaign film on their instagram page, you could feel the gentle, nonabrasive power of the collection. Everything was indeed bright and beautiful. Watching the models move in very natural forms as they chatted and posed, left an ecstatic feeling of nothingness. You'd suddenly want to leave the bustle of city life, and be overwhelmed by a consuming aura of green, lush, African and quiet.

Following their aesthetics of very pleasurable ethnic cuts, the brand inculcates the use of bubbly colours, and interphases it through producing ravishing sartorial designs. They also delve further into their interpretation of true femininity and feminine power, as they produced pieces that paid an obvious and intricate attention to details.

The brand, which is rooted in Nigeria and certain major countries in the world, used this collection to visit certain cultural issues in the fashion industry, especially inclusion. This, they achieved through thoughtfully using plus size models, and models of diverse skin tones. The Andrea Iyamah brand is one for everybody.

Here's a few of our favourite looks! BD

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10 FASHION

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FASHION 11

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

Creative Director: Founder, Andrea Iyamah.

Producer: Somkele Iyamah Idhalama Production Manager: Utibe Ayi Stylist: Uche Uba Styling Assistant: Ifeoma Kalu Movement Director: Daniel Obasi Director/Cinematographer: Oluwadabest Hair and Makeup: SwitchArtistry Art Director: William Ukoh Elvis Kachi is a performance-driven Fashion, Culture and Lifestyle Journalist, with years of demonstrated track records in positively impacting organizations through building and strengthening strategic communications, producing digital marketing contents, performing market research and managing projects.

A creative content writer, creator, illustrator, and an overall lover of artistic fashion; currently using his skills to further explore the creative space, and give a voice to a culture he believes in.

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LEAD STORY

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

MY COVID 19 VACCINE EXPERIENCE DR MONISOLA ADANIJO

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ovid 19 has caused so much devastation to so many sectors of our lives: Healthcare, business, and the economy; resulting in loss of lives, bankruptcy, business closures and unemployment. There is a great rush to find ways to control the spread, as well as reduce death and devastation from this pandemic, so we can “go back to living life as it used to be” (although I personally doubt that we will go back to the way things used to be, as we have all evolved!). Several vaccines have been developed amongst so much controversy on the science, storage, side effects, cost, and a myriad of other issues, real or imagined.

Nigeria took delivery of her first batch of Covid 19 vaccines, and vaccinations kicked off in various states from the 12th of March.

As a health worker/ front liner, we were billed to kick off the phased implementation of the vaccination and I was personally tired of living in fear of catching Covid from caring for patients, so I was eager to get my shot as soon as possible. I was bombarded with all sorts of data, articles and stories about “complications” from all sorts of people: family, friends, and well wishers alike; who were convinced I would either drop dead on the spot or develop a third eye as soon as I received the vaccine!

Undaunted, first thing Monday morning (15th March 2021) I presented myself at the immunization center, and to my surprise, there were very few people waiting to be immunized. (I guess majority were waiting for those of us that would go first, to decide if they would present themselves for the jab.)

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SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

LEAD STORY

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I took my place in line, socially distanced of course, and I was given a slip of paper to write down my name, age and other details. In a short while, I was called to the registration desk where my details were entered into the online data base and my picture was taken. I was also issued a card with a code attached.

The nurse giving the injection was friendly and chatty and I barely felt pain when the injection was administered. The batch number of vaccine, the name of the vaccinator, and the date of the next shot were entered into my card, as well as a huge ledger. I was asked to wait 15minutes before leaving, to observe for immediate reactions to the vaccine. There were none, so I was asked to leave.

On the way home, due to my experience with immunizing my children, I stopped by at the chemist and got some antiinflammatory tablets and used the recommended dosage; because I expected some body pain and probably fever in the hours/days following the vaccination.

As I type this, its been 3 days after I got the vaccine and apart from body pain, which is promptly relived by the antiinflammatory medication, I am perfectly fine. No, I have not grown a third eye, and I am alive, well and kicking. I am looking forward to the second dose in 12 weeks, but in the interim, I am still wearing my mask in public, keeping social distance, and washing my hands at appropriate intervals.

My advice, based on experience, is that all eligible people should try and get vaccinated as soon as they can, so we can slow down the devastation from this horrible disease. BD

Dr Monisola Adanijo FMCP a Cardiologist and Co founder of Naveen Healthcare.

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

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

Skilled in cardiovascular diagnostic procedures and treatment, a fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, a member of Nigerian Cardiac Society, American College of Physicians, Hypertension society of Nigeria and an international associate of the American College of Cardiology. She also has a Diploma in Leadership and Management from the University of Washington, USA, 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 International. She has helped build capacity in Electrocardiogram interpretation, preventive cardiovascular diseases, management of heart failure, patient education and more.

She launched the first Tele-Electrocardiogram project in Nigeria and West Africa and does her part in contributing to good health and wellbeing, a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG3) of the United Nations.

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OPINION

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

MUCH ADO ABOUT REALITY TV SHOWS STEPHANIE ERIGHA

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here have been arguments about reality TV shows being staged or scripted. This is a valid point of view given that some are obvious. However, some still portray reality which is essentially their selling point. Nevertheless, whatever the argument is, there are lessons for the viewer to be learnt.

Disclaimer: This is an opinion piece and not for everyone’s action.

I like to look at different POVs and play the “devil’s advocate” from time to time. Please read with an open mind.

What I think is the biggest sell for reality shows is the platform they provide. In my opinion, it doesn’t really matter if it is a new show or an existing one; if the producers position it properly, it will make a name for itself. This also goes for the show participants.

How you position yourself to viewers matters. The beauty of it is that you can actually be acting or faking it, but it's all part of the packaging, not so? So as a potential reality star, you need to ask yourself- what do I want to be known for? How can I show the best parts of me or the parts I want people to see? The key takeaway here is that even if you do not win the “prize”, you are still better off than someone that is unknown.

Another thing to understand critically is that these TV shows actually portray reality- so do movies, documentaries and the likes- but more so TV shows where people from different walks of life meet each other for the very first time and have to live together and interact for a period of time. For most of us, if we really look deeper, we can relate to almost everything that occurs. This is simply because they are real people, facing real life decisions which they have no control over and no script to tell them what their next step will/should be. For deep thinkers like me, it’s an Businessday.ng

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opportunity to look inwards, identify with the happenings and draw lessons from them. It can be both entertaining and educative at the same time.

Finally, reality shows have different forms. They may not be set up in the traditional way, such as the likes of Keeping up with the Kardashians or Big Brother are set up. They may actually come in other forms that are competitive e.g The Voice, Nigerian Idols or not necessarily for entertainment such as Book clubs, retreats and fellowships. The point is that all of these are really just platforms to show other people and even yourself who exactly you are. It is now up to them (and you) what you do with the outcome.

In most cases, we have seen the “non-winners” succeed more than the winners of a competition or reality show. This confirms that it is not about the title of the show or how popular or entertaining it is, but about the individual.

A person can move from unknown to known, behind the scene to in front of the camera, and ordinary to star, depending on their point of view. How do you see the opportunities that are out there? Playpen or Platform? BD Stephanie is a strategy and business development professional with experience across various sectors including media, technology and energy. She is a Beta Gamma Sigma International Society honour member and mainly writes about organisational culture, emotional intelligence, and societal issues.

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

BRAND

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RELATIONSHIP MARKETING: KEY TO BRAND LOYALTY FEYISITAN IJIMAKINWA

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t is important and necessary for businesses to consistently acquire new customers to thrive. It is even more important to remember that cultivating loyalty among existing customers is key to the success of any brand. Research has shown that a business spends 5-25 times more; to win over a new customer than it does to retain an existing one. That means that improving customer retention rates can go a long way in helping a brand’s bottom line.

That’s why it is important for brand custodians, managers as well as business leaders to develop interests in, and study relationship marketing. Relationship marketing is an aspect of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) that puts special emphasis on establishing close relationships with customers. Relationship marketing is all about creating and maintaining engagements with customers, over time, through different channels or strategies that increase their chances of returning to your business in the future.

Loyal customers are especially important as they are great sources for referrals and feedback, and are also likely to make repeat purchases.

Fostering these relationships takes a different approach compared to that used for getting new leads, but if implemented correctly; relationship marketing strategies can unlock a number of benefits for brands.

Who cares about relationship marketing?

The modern-day consumer has choices like never before. A five-minute visit to any social media site may yield well over half a dozen adverts for a variety of products and services. Consumers are practically swamped with choices, making it difficult for brands to capture and hold their attention.

Brands that put emphasis on customer value – the satisfaction the customer expects to experience when taking a given action in relation to the cost of that action – have a far greater chance of standing out in the market and developing long-lasting mutually beneficial relationships with their customers.

Depending on your business model, focusing on repeat customers, as opposed to pulling in a continuous stream of new

customers, is often very beneficial (and anyway, a satisfied customer will likely bring another). While not every business utilizes relationship marketing in their day-to-day marketing endeavours, the vast majority of businesses can benefit from this marketing strategy.

Below are some ideas to keep in mind as you craft a successful relationship marketing strategy.

1. It’s all about customer service As the name implies, relationship marketing is all about relating to your customers in a positive manner. That means offering consistent, personal support. Customer service should be a focus in all aspects of your business model, as it shows that you care about the customers’ needs. Simply making sure the people operating your support/help desks or touch points are friendly, courteous, and helpful isn’t enough. A proactive, personal approach to customer service goes a long way in terms of customer retention, and customers will appreciate the personal touch.

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BRAND

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

In every facet of your operations, you should consider potential customer service issues that might arise, and how you plan on handling them, if they do. Once you’ve compiled a list, create a protocol to address these main concerns, whether through direct mail, telephone call, visit or another outlet. Taking this proactive approach to customer service will solve some problems from the get-go and present your brand as more user-friendly.

2. Drive engagements with content marketing While traditional forms of advertising can still be worthwhile, reminding people that your product exists and maybe even striking an emotional chord, content marketing provides a different kind of value to both you and the customer.

Compared to paid searches, for example, content marketing generates three times as many leads. When focusing on relationship marketing, much of your content should help your audience get more from your services. If you supply your customers with truly valuable content on a regular basis, they’ll develop a natural interest in and loyalty to your brand. This is especially true if your content teaches people how to get more out of your products and services.

3. Social media is the new arena A strong social media presence is key in any marketing approach. As many as 85% of ‘online adults’ follow a brand on social media. It’s also important, however, to ensure that your social media campaign is in line with your company’s goals and your brand. Keep your audience’s desires in mind when creating a social media marketing campaign as part of your relationship marketing strategy, but also think about the type of company your target audience wants to do business with, and make sure your social media identity conveys the right personality.

4. Reward loyalty, again and again Determining the best way to promote customer retention and commitment can be a tricky process, but an effective loyalty programme can work wonders.

Although it isn’t always easy to craft an effective loyalty program, you’ll benefit from substantial customer engagement if you do.

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The most important thing is ensuring that your loyalty rewards programme is genuinely attractive to your customers and provides real value. You can use a loyalty programme in your relationship marketing strategy to incentivize a variety of behaviours, so it’s important to first think about what your company needs. Depending on your goals for the programme, you can reward customers for any number of things. In this area, I score airline brands above many other brands. Most airlines do loyalty rewards excellently. Make sure your loyalty program actually corresponds with your overall business identity.

accurate way. Choose your questions carefully and have specific goals in mind.

Each question should move towards that objective. Decide what exactly you want to learn before sending these out through your email marketing. You can use data from these surveys to improve your customer retention, service, and business practices. Even better, customers will appreciate that you took their feedback into account.

Last line: You can forge the strongest of bonds with your customers simply by being a more human brand, and being a more compassionate marketer. BD

6. Know your customers If you want to get to know your customers better, you don’t have to play guessing games. Surveys are an effective relationship marketing method of learning what your audience wants from you and what you could be doing better in a direct, 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

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

PRESS RELEASE

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PENDULUM – CHASING THAT FEELING A Live music + art concert by Femi Leye and Iniabasi

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magine listening to a genius on the guitar and a genius with the paint and brush from the comfort of your home.

That is what you get when you experience “PendulumChasing that feeling” on Saturday, March 27th on the StageIt. com platform brought to you by Chaos Theory Africa - a tech focused Entertainment Company based in Lagos & Port Harcourt, in partnership with STREAMit AFRICA, a Cape Town based company focused on showcasing African talent to the world.

Pendulum is a life therapy session which uses good music and live painting as a therapeutic tool to get you to relax and let go of all your troubles.

“The magic that erupted in that room honestly had nothing to do with us” says Iniabasi. She is referring to the hugely successful Pendulum event held last year. This year promises to be even greater.

Iniabasi will be auctioning off some of her paintings as an

NFT. NFT, short for non-fungible token, is the registration of ownership of a digital object on a blockchain. It can be any type of media including art. The non-fungible part means the object is unique, making it irreplaceable. The market for NFT art is worth millions of dollars and a few have been sold here in Nigeria for hefty sums.

So, if you want to bid for Iniabasi’s art or you just want to relax and listen to good vibes from the comfort of your home, Pendulum - Chasing that Feeling is a good place to be.

Tickets are available for just $5 on www.stageit.com – an online venue where artists perform live, interactive, monetized shows for their fans directly from a laptop. In these COVID times where we all seek to limit physical interaction, platforms like StageIt are definitely the future.

We definitely will see a lot more shows and events coming up on the StageIt.com platform brought to you by the good guys at Chaos Theory Africa and STREAMit AFRICA. BD

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS

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SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

MEET WEEVO NIGERIA A

community-based platform supporting single female breadwinners in Nigeria.

More women are fast becoming the main breadwinners for their households, yet the society and investment space have not recognized the contribution of these women, by deliberately increasing investment into their endeavors. In the low-income bracket in Africa, over 80% of women are the sole breadwinners for their families through trading, farming, and micro and quasi-small businesses. A 2016 survey by the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that in Nigeria, 21.1% of households are female-led.

The challenges of single female breadwinners are unique, most of these women require adequate knowledge, microloans, and investments to expand their businesses and careers, and most importantly a community to support and enable them to thrive.

Wevvo Nigeria, launched in October 2019 by Weyinmi Eribo, has grown its community base to over 300 women in over one year with an ambitious goal to support 1 million single female breadwinners in 5 years.

Wevvo Nigeria was founded to cater to 4 different groups of women: single mothers who were never married, mothers who are divorced, widows, and sibling breadwinners. The organization is taking a three thronged approach in its bid to support women who are responsible for their households through its community support, the Academy, and its marketplace.

Wevvo in the last year has created a community of single female breadwinners spread across several states here in Nigeria and through a series of events, webinars, podcasts, blogs, and more, Wevvo is starting conversations towards changing the narratives of stereotypes and addressing the stigmatization that single female breadwinners face. The intention is to create a safe space for these women to share, heal, grow and connect.

The Wevvo academy provides enterprise development training and support for women entrepreneurs within the community through partnerships with training organizations and in-house webinars. There is currently the Wevvo Speed program, which is a free acceleration program for entrepreneurs who have run businesses for between 1 and 3 years. At the end of the training, the beneficiaries are provided with single-digit interest growth loans to boost the capacity of their businesses. The pilot program in 2019/2020 was self-funded but for the current cycle, which is the second, Wevvo Nigeria has partnered with She included, a woman-centered company focused on providing access to Businessday.ng

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financial growth services to provide loans for the beneficiaries. The Academy has also partnered with Techytrain, which is an online tech training company in its Academy.

Access to financial products and services is a major hurdle for single female breadwinners, with the marketplace, Wevvo Nigeria provides access to microloans, investments, microinsurance, and other support services to the women in the community.

Wevvo recently partnered with Lapo Microfinance Bank, Nigeria's largest microfinance bank, to provide loans for business and personal needs at 5% reducing balance interest to the Wevvo women. This partnership is open to all Wevvo community members spread across Nigeria. Also, for investment opportunities, Wevvo partnered with ARM financial advisors, Nigeria’s foremost investment advisory company, through its Money market mutual funds. Under this partnership, women can invest N2000, N5000, and N10,000 monthly into the community fund account.

Wevvo has also partnered with Micro Investment Support Services (MISS) which provides equipment leasing opportunities for Wevvo community members in Lagos, Ibadan, and PortHarcourt. Several women have through this partnership, obtained deep freezers and other equipment to boost the capacity of their businesses.

Furthermore, Wevvo also has a partnership agreement with GOXI Micro Insurance company to provide microinsurance for small business owners within the community. Under this partnership, women can pay a premium as little as N300 monthly.

In the case of a fire, special perils, theft, and burglary of contents of a business, a subscriber can access up to N300,000 cover.

Other monthly premium options are also available through this partnership.

Women struggle in so many ways but for women responsible for their households it is worse. It is a full circle of negligence and lack of appreciation for the struggles they experience. The narrative of single mothers continues to stigmatize women, creating gaps in business support, career growth, life generally and even opportunities for their children. It remains a top priority at Wevvo Nigeria to continue to provide opportunities for single female breadwinners to thrive. BD

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

RELATIONSHIP

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DESPERATION IS YOUR ENEMY IBUKUN AKINBAMIJO

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of who to spend life. I wish I could say that the length of time dating someone is enough to marry them, but it isn’t. Many have married under the illusion of ‘I know this person and today, they are singing a different tune. When making marital decisions, be fully grounded mentally and emotionally; don’t go into marriage thinking you will ‘change’ the other party unless your new name is GOD, that is NOT your job.

Sometimes we ourselves are desperate and set timelines for ourselves, we decide that in a stated number of months, we MUST be married. When we look at goal setting, one of the things we coaches help our clients to do is to set goals within their control. As a single unattached person, setting a timeline when you have no one in view is quite risky. You have your life to be married to this person, how about you just take your time to court and marry right?

In the choice of a spouse, choose a life partner. Choose someone who prioritizes you. No matter how intense the pressure to just marry is, remember that you as a single entity is making a decision for other important expressions of you - your children and your destiny. You need to have a compelling marital vision that is

ear singles,

This thing called desperation is one of the greatest enemies of our marital bliss. We can deny it, gloss over it or even act like we have it under control, but it is truly a big problem that we need to nip in the bud. Desperation (some call it pressure these days) manifests in different forms but I’ll talk about two today.

Other times, it manifests as friends and parents putting pressure on us. There is an intense demand from parents to ‘get married and have kids which really isn’t a bad thing because sometimes, this ‘demand’ is from a place of love. However, before you give in to this and marry just anyone; be settled in your identity and purpose and let this guide your decision

driving this marriage goal and at every juncture, measure your vision against your heart (intending spouse), is there an alignment there?

Look at the marriages around you, are they a model of what you want in your own home? If your answer is yes; how can you make yours better? If it is no, what can you do to ensure you don’t replicate what you have been seeing around you? As singles, we are so quick to state what we don’t want in a spouse, but not so much what we ‘want’ in a spouse.

Let me end by reiterating that, you have a lifetime to be married; rise above desperation and truly wait for something beautiful. You are worthy of that. BD

Ibukun Akinbamijo is a visionary who keeps adding value to men and women. She is the Founder of The Evolution Center; a coaching platform that offers edifying courses engineered towards the training of men and women, to help them live a holistic life.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in International Law and Diplomacy, and a Master's Degree in Political Science. A Certified Life Coach, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner and an Emotions Therapist. She is also an Emotional Intelligence Specialist. Ibukun is a ball of fire who has authored 2 life-transforming books with a number of other book projects in the works, as well as being an Accredited Mediator and ADR Registrar who specializes in peace and conflict resolutions. Connect with her via Email - akinbamijoibukun@gmail.com Businessday.ng

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RECIPE

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

HOW TO MAKE MOZAMBICAN STYLE CHICKEN Ingredients 1 baby chicken butterflied Marinate with the following ingredients: 1 tablespoon garlic 1 teaspoon red garlic masala Lemon juice Olive oil 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon lemon pepper ½ teaspoons black pepper 2 teaspoons crushed red chillie ½ teaspoon arad (Turmeric )½ teaspoon chillie powder Crushed green chillie How to make the sauce: Mix the following 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 tablespoons garlic butter 3 tablespoons Minnies Mozambican sauce 2 tablespoons Minnies Aged chillie sauce 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoon lime and coriander mayo 1 tablespoon crushed red chillies 1 teaspoon dried parsley Boil sauce ingredient Add cooked chicken on platter or foiled board pour sauce Instructions Marinate over night Add Clarified butter to a flat non-stick pot cook chicken on high for 15 minutes till done brown well till charred. BD

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SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

UDY'S CORNER

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I CHEAT AND I DON'T REGRET IT. UDY OSARO-EDOBOR

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ello Udy, I read your story, DO OLD FLAMES DIE? And I felt inspired to share my story. It has nothing to do with old flames but I'd like to tell you why some women cheat on their men. FYI: I don't blame Amaka for falling for

her ex...

Fresh from NYSC Camp, I came to Lagos seeking opportunities in the labor market, this was about 20years ago when things weren't so bad.

I lived with my Aunt somewhere in Aguda, Surulere and in my free time I would hang out with my friends to catch up on the latest street gossip. The word on every lip was that the new guy who lived in house 21b was "a well garnished man". They said, he looked edible like fresh bread. Oh how I used to enjoy those gists.

A few weeks later, on my way back from an interview, I bumped into this extremely good looking guy as I walked into my street, I didn't need anyone to tell me that this was "fresh bread from 21b". He looked finer than the girls had described him.

I really can't remember how we started talking but we actually hit it off instantly and became friends, then lovers and after two years of courtship, Dipo and I were married.

Dipo is a hard working guy. His goal was to hit it big in his career before he turned 40 so he pushed himself and worked extra hard to be successful.

Within a few years of marriage, I could proudly say that we had arrived. We had all the luxury that money could afford but we didn't seem to have a good marriage. From the outside, ours was a picture perfect marriage but I was a very unhappy person.

What drives Dipo is money. He wanted to make a lot of it so he kept on working more and more to have loads of it. He rarely or never had time for the kids and I. He travelled a lot and he could go for months without even touching me yet I always found condoms in his pockets, briefcase etc. Dipo was a chronic and unrepentant womaniser and he didn't know how to cover his tracks because I always found him out. His good looks and fat pocket drew the girls to him like a moth to a flame.

Fast forward to 2016. There was a position in my advertising firm that needed to be filled so the shortlisted candidate was sent to me for the final interview and screening. The name on the file read Denzel but when he walked into my office he didn't look any

like "Mr Washington''. He was not fine at all. "What a waste of a fine name", I thought to myself. But guess what? The interview became a comedy session. Denzel had my ribs cracking, I laughed so hard at his jokes that I almost peed in my pants. He was the sweetest person I had met in a really long time. Of Course he got the job and we became friends.

I was his boss. I owned the company. He was eight years my junior. He could never measure up to my husband in looks or in cash but he had the kindest, nicest, sweetest heart ever. After a while, I stopped seeing his looks and I started seeing his heart. He had a really beautiful heart.

It started as friendly text messages. Then they became flirty.

And now it has become a full-blown affair.

Denzel had to leave the firm in order not to draw unnecessary attention to us. I helped him get a job somewhere else. Within that period, he got married to his long time girlfriend but that didn't change anything about how we feel for each other.

It's almost six years now. Denzel and I are still together and I have no regrets whatsoever. I'm not ready to quench this flame.

Don't judge me.

Anonymous.

What is your story? Do you have any experience with an old flame? Did you cheat on your partner? How did it end?

Share your story with me. Your identity will be protected.

Someone might just learn something from your experience.

I look forward to reading your email.

Ciao..BD Udy Osaro-Edobor is the Content Creator for SoTv (Supernatural Online TV) Nigeria. She is a movie/ scriptwriter, editor, and proofreader. She has several stories to her credit which she posts for free on her Ebook called Udy's Chapter. She is currently working on two short movies. Udy is also a wife, mother, and a "serial entrepreneur". udy1717@gmail.com Businessday.ng

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BOOK REVIEW

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SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

Ways to Hit the Reset Button on your Work Life – A Review of Sunday Olanipekun’s Mind the Gap Book Title: Mind the Gap – Dangerous Assumptions Author: Sunday Olanipekun Year of Publication: 2020 Number of Pages: 87 Category: Career

MIND THE GAP

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ometimes, we feel trapped at work – stuck or just unhappy with the way things are going. Considering how well some people are remunerated, how come they still consistently feel miserable at their jobs?

Why can’t they have a positive workplace environment either?

Those questions and more, the book, Mind the Gap, by Sunday Olanipekun seeks to address.

Mind the Gap claims to find answers to questions that affect our life and work life because of events taking place in our environments – and it does just that. This doesn’t mean that you will magically feel better or more empowered after reading the book, but the book actually provides actionable steps you can take to regain a sense of control and freedom in your life and improve your mental health.

Olanipekun speaks to the heart and soul of some of today’s most pressing issues relevant to working professionals, with the author’s experience shining through the nine value-packed chapters. Also, he draws a lot from people who have been victims of the issues addressed in the book, meant to prevent readers from making mistakes, to acquire more wisdom and to succeed in life.

The text is simple and an easy read.

The book places lots of importance on “the how” of balancing between life and work, giving some guidance on drawing a clear line between your professional and personal lives. In fact, the author debunks the idea of having a job that pays well but focuses more on satisfaction. And the guidance is also on how to be a solution rather than a problem.

Several chapters later however, he introduces enjoying your personal life. According to him, employees are responsible for achieving a satisfactory work-life balance. Then, Olanipekun makes clear that pursuing personal growth, not comparing yourself to others and seeking spiritual development, is extremely important.

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Finally, in Sunday Olanipekun’s opinion, the secret to a successful living is impact. As a leader, you have the opportunity to positively or negatively influence the lives of those around you.

This may not seem like much of a revelation to you, however, anyone who wants to know how to change the world knows that impacting the world is an important factor, so you can begin living a more meaningful life.

Mind the Gap succeeds in providing a series of guidelines for finding meaning and happiness in life. In addition, its key lessons do offer a chance to remind employers of the importance of providing a positive work environment for its employees and the benefits. Olanipekun’s approach is doable for both employees and employers.

This book will appeal to all professionals, and if you are an employer that has an interest in the well-being and success of your employees. . BD oyemade is a business execute in a leading organisation and holds a degree in Russian Language. She’s the convener of the Hangoutwithtee Ladies Event and the publisher of Hangoutwithtee magazine. She spends her weekends attending women conferences, events and book readings. She loves to have fun and to help other women have the same in their lives.

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

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

SPORT

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ANTHONY NLEBEM

AFCON 2021: SUPER EAGLES SAYS VICTORY NOT NEGOTIABLE IN BENIN

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igeria’s Super Eagles insist they will go for the three points when they come face to face with neighbours, Benin Republic, in Porto Novo on Saturday, in one of the Day 5 games of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification series.

With three –pointer Sierra Leone scheduled to commence hostilities with bottom –placed Lesotho at 3pm GMT, and Nigeria and Benin due to kick off at 6pm GMT, it means the match in southern Africa would have ended before the group leaders take to the pitch of Stade Charles de Gaulle in west Africa.

A draw in Maseru sends Nigeria through to the finals in Cameroon, but the armada of Europe –based actors that Nigeria has again assembled say they are not interested in the encounter in Maseru and would rather concentrate on achieving a double over the Squirrels.

“We are not looking at what happens in Lesotho,” said Captain Ahmed Musa. “It is not necessary for us to bother ourselves with what they play. Our focus is to get the three points in Porto Novo and wrap up qualification. Three points will get us to Cameroon no matter what anyone plays, and that is what we are determined to get.”

In the earlier fixture between both teams, in November 2019, the Squirrels shocked the Eagles with a goal inside the first five minutes at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, before goals by Victor

Osimhen (from six yards after defender Olaoluwa Aina was upended in the box) and Samuel Kalu (after a solo run) earned the Eagles all the points at stake.

Nigeria followed up with a 4-2 defeat of Lesotho in Maseru four days later to fly to the top of the pool, but draws in their home-and-away duels with Sierra Leone a year later (the long interlude as a result of the coronavirus pandemic) prolonged celebrations of qualification and drew the sharp angle of fans’ tongues.

While the team appears to have overcome that experience and looked sharp and ready for battle in their training sessions in Lagos this week, Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has talked of the importance of rediscovering winning mentality to go into the FIFA World Cup qualifying battles with both wings in rude shape.

“I am keen for the winning mentality; we need it very much and when we rediscover it, we must keep it.”

Nigeria’s contingent for Saturday’s crucial 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying hit Benin Republic on Friday afternoon, arriving at the Porto Novo Jetty in half a dozen boats across the waterways from Lekki, Nigeria.

His Excellency Ambassador Olawale Awe, Nigeria’s ambassador to Benin Republic, led mission staff to await the delegation and then accompanied the team and its officials to Cotonou, where

the group is ensconced at the Golden Tulip Hotel. The Super Eagles will ride by bus to Porto Novo on Saturday morning and return to the Golden Tulip after their clash with the Squirrels at the Stade Charles de Gaulle.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation and FIFA Council Member, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, assured that the team is happy to travel to Benin Republic by the waterways as Lagos State, where the contingent is camped this time, “is the State of Aquatic Splendour.” He praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his many youth development schemes that are changing the face of Lagos State.

“I believe the Eagles will not only win in Porto Novo, they will come back and beat Lesotho and still play many more matches in Lagos going forward.”

Qualification will guarantee Nigeria’s 19th appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations, having won three times, secured second spot (silver) four times and finished third (bronze) eight times in 18 previous participations” BD

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SPORT

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

GERMANY PLAYERS PROTEST AGAINST QATAR'S HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE

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ermany players wore T-shirts to show support for Qatar migrant workers before their 2022 World Cup qualifying win over Iceland.

The starting side each wore a black shirt with one letter in white on it that spelled out 'Human rights'.

It follows Norway players wearing T-shirts bearing the message 'Human rights on and off the pitch' before facing Gibraltar on Wednesday. The World Cup is scheduled to get under way in Qatar on 21 November next year.

"We have the World Cup coming up and there will be discussions about it," said Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka, who scored his side's opening goal in a 3-0 win in Duisburg.

"We wanted to show we are not ignoring that.

"We have a large reach and we can use it to set an example for the values we want to stand for."

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After Wednesday's protest, football's world governing body, FIFA, said Norway will not face "disciplinary proceedings", adding that it "believes in the freedom of speech, and in the power of football as a force for good".

A report in the Guardian last month said 6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since the World Cup was awarded in 2010.

Qatar disputes that figure and said in a statement: "We deeply regret all of these tragedies and investigated each incident to ensure lessons were learned. We have always maintained transparency around this issue and dispute inaccurate claims around the number of workers who have died on our projects."

The Qatari government said the "mortality rate among these communities is within the expected range for the size and demographics of the population".

The country controversially beat rival bids from the United States, Australia, South Korea and Japan to host the

tournament, with hundreds of thousands of construction workers arriving from overseas.

Qatar has been building seven new stadiums to stage the tournament, which has been moved to winter to avoid the country's extreme summer heat.

Earlier this week, Amnesty International called on Fifa to press Qatar to honour promised labour reforms before the tournament.

In a four-page letter to Fifa president Gianni Infantino, the human rights organisation said "urgent and concrete action" was needed.

In response, the Qatar government said it "is committed to working closely with its international partners, including Amnesty International, to protect all workers and ensure the new laws are effectively implemented and enforced"..BD

SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

EVERTON £500M NEW STADIUM PLAN GETS GOVERNMENT APPROVAL Everton's plans for a new £500m with 52,000-seater stadium have received government approval, the club said.

The Bramley-Moore Dock site on Liverpool's waterfront was given council approval in February, but the government had asked for time to review the proposals.

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REVEALED: BALE EARNS £1.69M PER GOAL Gareth Bale's return to Tottenham will not have a happy ending after all.

An Everton statement read: “The decision to approve a new 52,888-capacity waterfront arena allows the club to complete its agreed acquisition of the site from Peel L&P and the funding solution for the project, ensuring the club can begin to make the plans a reality.

The Welshman, 31, confirmed he would return to Real Madrid next season after just a year in North London under Jose Mourinho.

Spurs fans could be forgiven for their excitement when Mourinho pulled off a year-long loan for Bale at the beginning of the season.

“It is estimated that the stadium development and plans for a Goodison Legacy will deliver a 1.3bn boost to the economy, create more than 15,000 jobs and attract 1.4m new visitors to the city.

After all, he did arrive at his former club with four Champions League trophies and two LaLiga titles under his belt.

“On such a momentous day, the football club would like to thank every Evertonian, along with the many organisations, the tens of thousands of people across the city region and the team of dedicated staff who have played a vital role in ensuring the club reached today’s milestone.”

And while he scored 55 goals in 203 appearances during his first spell at Spurs all those years ago, his return this season has been a damp squib.

The Premier League club have played at Goodison Park since 1892 and have been looking for a new home for 25 years. BD

SPORT

A lack of match fitness and drop in form has limited Bale to just 12 Premier League appearances, scoring just five goals.

With wages of a whopping £650,000 a week, of which Real Madrid are contributing half, it means each Premier League goal has cost Spurs a staggering £1.69million.

Bale has also achieved only two league assists throughout the campaign although he'll have to go back to the 2015-16 season for the last time he reached double figures

for setting up goals.

Mourinho has been eager to build Bale's match fitness throughout cup clashes, especially in the Europa League.

In 10 appearances in Europe, he has scored three and assisted one with two of those strikes coming against Wolfsberger.

Bale also made two appearances in the FA Cup, scoring against Stoke, and one in the League Cup. During his time at Tottenham, he has cost the club a whopping £8.45m in wages with that figure continuing to rise until his loan deal expires in June.

Mourinho and Bale's relationship has also appeared more strained as the season went on.

In January, the Portuguese boss sent him a brutal warning shot during training by saying 'you want to stay here? Or go to Real Madrid and play no football?'

And a month later Mourinho was reportedly furious when Bale undermined him with an Instagram post.

After Bale was left out on an FA Cup defeat by Everton with Mourinho citing a fitness issue, the forward then posted an image of himself in training alongside the caption 'good session today..BD Businessday.ng

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SATURDAY 27, MARCH 2021

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