BusinessDay Weekender 38th Edition

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

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EDITION 38 17, APRIL 2021

THE BEACH GETAWAY YOU DESPERATELY NEED PLACES

CULINARY DELIGHTS'

HOV BEACH: “LAGOS AWAY FROM LAGOS”

A GUIDE TO SELECTING THE PERFECT ROOFTOP LOCATION Businessday.ng

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SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

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Contents

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C O N T E N T S

7 LAUGHTER IN THE MIRROR

8 PLACES HOV Beach: “Lagos away from Lagos”

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BRANDS BRAND EVANGELISM: TURNING CUSTOMERS TO ADVOCATES

A GUIDE TO SELECTING THE PERFECT ROOFTOP LOCATION

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HOMES

BOOK REVIEW SPOTLIGHT WHY CEO’S NEED TO ADÉWÁLÉ: FIRE THEMSELVES. MY MOTHER’S

HOW NATALIA ZUBIZARRETA, SPANISH INTERIOR DECORATOR MAKES PEOPLE’S HOMES REFLECT WHO THEY ARE

HEALTH THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON PLASTIC SURGEONS - DR. HUMBERTO PALLADINO

INTERVIEW AN INTERVIEW WITH (ANDREATA MUFORO) OF TLCOM CAPITAL

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CULINARY DELIGHTS'

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SON

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PEOPLE HOW MAO LAL BECAME ONE OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE DIGITAL MINING INDUSTRY

SPORTS WEMBLEY AGOG AS CHELSEA BATTLE MAN CITY FOR A PLACE IN FA CUP FINAL Businessday.ng

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Editorial

Editor’s Note SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

Dear weekender readers,

PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Frank Aigbogun MANAGING DIRECTOR Ogho Okiti EDITOR BUSINESSDAY SATURDAY Lehlé Balde EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Fabian Akagha

I hope you are reading this well and that you are staying safe.

I would like to wish Ramadan Mubarak, to all the Muslims readers who are observing the holy month of Ramadan.

As much as the world seems to be moving forward, COVID-19 is still very much out there. It's incredible to believe that we been over a year that we have been dealing with the coronavirus. Have you taken the vaccine yet? If yes how do you feel? I have read varying reactions to people taking the vaccine. Some have had little to no side effects, while some have had very disturbing side effects. I am interested to know where you stand on the vaccine and if you plan to take it.

This week our lead story tempts you to visit a beach getaway. I find that Lagos has been incredibly hot lately and a beach getaway is always a good idea. Inside you will find a beach house that you can check out in Illashe, in case you find yourself in the mood for some fun in the sand. Inside an interview with Andreata Muforo a partner at TLcom Capital, a venture capital firm investing in startups building tech-enabled solutions for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Our offices are in Nairobi, Lagos, and London and our portfolio includes companies such as Andela, Kobo360, and uLesson.

Inside our brand column, we explore the concept of brand evangelism, as businesses employ different techniques and strategies to achieve this. One important tool that brands can use to achieve this is brand evangelism/ flip the pages to learn more.

Did you know that Netflix is presently available in more than 190 countries? In 2017, Netflix brought us the ground-breaking La Casa de Papel, popularly known as Money Heist, a series that quickly became a household name and is now the most-watched non-English language series on Netflix ever. What’s intriguing about this success story is the elimination of the language barrier. Through dubbing, people around the world could understand and enjoy shows like Money Heist or Lupin in their preferred languages. Inside you will see how much you can do with the subtitle and dub features on Netflix.

You will also find a restaurant review and guide to pick the perfect rooftop bar, a recipe, a piece on interior decoration, a comprehensive sports review. In the news roundup: Twitter snub Nigeria for Ghana, inflation hit 18.1%, SIM card registration, Appzone raises $10 million; Twitter chooses Ghana and not Nigeria as first African headquarters; Food inflation hit highest in 12 years; Nigerians can now buy and register new SIMs from April 19, 2021; Controversy on whether or not Nigeria printed N60 billion for FAAC allocation; Ex-Burkina Faso president charged in predecessor’s murder; A Nigerian is about to buy Shoprite; NPA suspends electronic call-up system in Apapa; Nigerian Fintech Appzone raises $10 million for expansion.

I hope you enjoy your weekend and get away to the beach just like our cover story says you should.. BD

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

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

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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 Udy Osaro-Edobor Dr. Helen Zidon Ifeoma Okeke Bella Ikeme Feyisitan Ijimakinwa Anthony Nlebem oyemade

PHOTO CREDIT unsplash, Google Images, Freepik ENQUIRIES lehle.balde@businessday.ng samuel.anyanwu@businessday.ng '

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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

APRIL 2021 SATURDAY 17,

Twitter chooses Ghana and not Nigeria as first African headquarters

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MERCY AYODELE

n what came as a disappointment to many Nigerians, twitter announced that it will set up its first Africa base in Ghana. Many Nigerians believe twitter’s decision to snub Nigeria was as a result of the "inconducive business environment" for Twitter choosing Ghana over Nigeria. This might not be far from the truth as Twitter described Ghana "as a champion for democracy, a supporter of free speech, online freedom, and the Open Internet,” majors reason for its choice. Twitter chief executive Jack Dorsey capped a whirlwind tour of Africa in 2019 by pledging to move to the continent for several months in 2020 and this seems to be his first move.

Controversy on whether or not Nigeria printed N60 billion for FAAC allocation

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Food inflation hit highest in 12 years

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igerians cannot afford to buy as much as they used to as food inflation is now at the highest it's ever been in over 12 years, heaping financial pressure on households already faced with a shrinking wallets. Inflation rate hit 18.17 percent in March, according to the report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Food prices, which make up the bulk of the inflation basket, rose 22.95 percent. The NBS report noted that the rise in the food index was caused by increases in prices of Bread and cereals, Potatoes, yam and other

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t all started when Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo State, said that N60 billion was printed in March to support allocation to states. The minister of finance, budget and national planning, Zainab Ahmed, said this while speaking with state house correspondents in Abuja that the claim was untrue and even sad that Obaseki would say such. However, after Nigerian took to social media to demand the truth over the confusion, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor, Godwin Emefiele said the apex bank bailing out the federal government is not peculiar to Nigeria. According to him, “What is being done is being done in any clime. Nigeria is unfortunately in a very bad situation. I'm not going to pretend about it, in the sense that we are facing problems about productivity output which is GDP, we are also confronted with issues of inflation and prices and the rest of them.”

tubers, Meat, Vegetable, Fish, Oils and fats and fruits.

Nigerians can now buy and register new SIMs from April 19, 2021

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he federal government has announced that from April 19, 2021, Nigerians and foreigners alike will be able to buy and register new Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) in Nigeria. This is coming after the Nigerian government banned the sale of new SIM cards and mandated every Nigerian to link their NIN to their SIMs or risk getting barred.

This development followed the Nigerian Federal Government’s resolve to lift the ban on new SIM registration on April 15, 2021. The policy has affected individuals,

businesses, and subscribers for telecom companies have dropped drastically.

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News Roundup

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

Ex-Burkina Faso president charged in predecessor’s murder

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military court in Burkina Faso has charged former President Blaise Compaore in connection with the 1987 murder of his predecessor, Thomas Sankara. Thirteen other people were charged in connection with the killing, including Compaore’s former right-hand man, Gen. Gilbert Diendere.

Charges against Compaore include undermining state security and concealing corpses, according to military documents seen. The circumstances behind Sankara’s death, who was killed during the coup, have been shrouded in secrecy. Sankara, who became an iconic revolutionary West African leader, took power in 1983 at age 33 after he and Compaore launched a

A leftist revolution to overthrow a moderate military faction. In 1987, Compaore turned on his former friend, staging the coup and ruling with an iron fist for more than 27 years before being ousted in a popular uprising in 2014.

A Nigerian is about to buy Shoprite

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igerian property group Persianas, owned by Tayo Amusan is buying Shoprite’s Nigerian business after the South African retailer decided to retreat from other African markets.

Regulatory approval for Persianas Group Ltd. to buy the Shoprite unit is expected by the end of April, an anonymous source tipped as the information is not yet public. While the asset has been valued by the seller at N30 billion ($73 million), it’s not yet clear how much Persianas has agreed to pay. Amusan is not new to the business as he used his 25-year property experience to build The Palms, a 45,000 square metre property. Situated on Lagos’ Lekki Penin-

sula, the mall complex has 69 retail stores, among other facilities. He is a Business Administration graduate of the University of Atlanta and also owns three additional malls in Enugu, Kwara, Ota and Ibadan.

NPA suspends electronic call-up system in Apapa

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arely two months after the the NPA or exit cargoes for the next 24 hours. The introduced the electronic call up traffic gridlock has return to Apapa despite system in Apapa, which was an at- the attempt to ease it occurrence. tempt to ease the traffic gridlock, the call up system has been suspended. This follows the disruption of operations at the terminal which is fallout of the dispute between members of the Maritime Workers Union and the management of AP Moller Terminals. The NPA said that while it is working towards resolving the dispute between both parties, APMT will not receive

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Nigerian Fintech Appzone raises $10 million for expansion ppzone, a Pan-African fintech software provider has secured $10 million Series A funding round.

The Fintech software provider offers best-in-class products for digital core banking and interbank transaction processing with clients across seven African countries including Access Bank, GTBank, and Zenith Bank. AppZone further revealed that to date it has served nearly 20 commercial banks and more than 450 microfinance banks, with a yearly transaction value and yearly loan disbursement of $2 billion and $300 million. The funding will be used towards Appzone’s core technologies and the expansion of the platform to promote the digitisation and automation of the delivery of financial services in Africa.

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

FINANCE TOONS

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PLACES

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HOV

BeacH “LAGOS AWAY FROM LAGOS”

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PLACES 9

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t’s so easy to get used to the hustle and bustle of Lagos; consciously or not. A breather is needed every once in a while, and one has to be intentional doing so.

HOV beach resort provides that tranquility and peace ever so needed away from the hustle and bustle of Lagos life. This beach resort is one of the top beach houses on Ilashe Island and rightly so.

HOV beach resort is located at Badagry Expressway, Amuwo Odofin. It is a beach house that is sitting pretty on Ilashe Island; the location is so spot on and unique, it gives a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean.

The awesome view is not the only perk of this unique beach house; the peace and tranquility provided by the facility is definitely worth going off the grid for some days, the well-deserved holiday you so desperately need.

It provides the peace and tranquility that is only right to accompany a place like this.

The cabins that make up the beach resort are modelled to take on a traditional look. This vibe is perfect; it’s a reminder that you are in a place where you do not have to follow normal “Lagos programming”.

This cabin concept just makes you want to put away your phone and every other form of technology and just enjoy and take in your environment.

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The resort is a 5-minute walk away from the jetty once you arrive at Ilashe.

Various facilities that can be enjoyed by guests include volleyball, pool, quad bike riding and a six-bedroom rental beach house.

Now, you may be asking yourself; “how do I know I’m due for a getaway?”; not to worry! we’d help you figure that out.

You are due for a getaway if/when: You are extremely tired You are suddenly bored You feel you need some sort of energy recharge You feel you are running on auto-pilot.

These reasons amongst other things could be why you NEED a getaway; a time to recharge and replenish.

To function in Lagos, you need ample time to refresh as much as possible; experiencing peace and tranquility is a means of self-care in itself.

This is one of the many places in Lagos you can enjoy the peace you need; especially if you are not keen on traveling.

Lagos has many gems and we are committed to showing you just that. There are parts of Lagos that have been intentionally structured to provide a “home away from home” environment for guests.

The awesome thing these unique spots is you do not have to be a Lagosian to enjoy these gems. Looking for a spot to unwind? Be our guest.

We hope after reading this, you positively diagnose yourself of needing a getaway and then we urge you to treat yourself.. .BD

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PLACES 11

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INTERVIEW

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

An interview with

ANDREATA MUFORO of TLCOM Capital Businessday.ng

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INTERVIEW

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Tell us about your career journey so • It is possible to do both effectively, however, the key is having a strong support structure which can include far?

I am currently a Partner at TLcom Capital, a venture capital firm investing in startups building tech-enabled solutions for Sub-Saharan Africa. Our offices are in Nairobi, Lagos, and London and our portfolio includes companies such as Andela, Kobo360 and uLesson. As part of my role at TLcom, I also serve on the boards of our portfolio companies: Ajua, Autochek, Okra, Illara Health, and Twiga Foods. I also mentor entrepreneurs and co-host TLcom’s Africa Tech Female Founder Summit.

My career path has centered around four themes that I’m passionate about - entrepreneurship, investing, Africa, and private sector development and I’ve been privileged to have a range of diverse experiences before joining TLcom. I say I have sat at the same table but in different chairs - as a principal investor into African funds, as an advisor to entrepreneurs, and now as an investor and board advisor to entrepreneurs.

Previously, I worked as a Transaction Manager at Horizon Africa Capital, an M&A firm in Nairobi where I structured and advised on deals and capital-raising transactions across a range of sectors including ICT, financial services, and real estate. I’ve also spent time as an Investment Officer in the private sector department of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Tunisia, working on project finance transactions and evaluating the AfDB’s investments into private equity funds. Also at the AfDB, I worked directly with Dr. Donald Kaberuka, the former President of the AfDB, and his advisors to support them on issues of corporate and strategic significance to the Bank.

– a supportive spouse, extended family, nanny, childcare facilities, work colleagues, etc. I leverage on these structures significantly, especially my husband.

• There are trade-offs that come with pursuing a fulltime career while raising a family. Make sure you understand them and intentionally navigate around them. As we juggle life, it’s important to remember that there are rubber balls that can bounce back easier, and glass balls that crash and are harder to put back together if they fall. Children are glass balls, so if you decide to pursue a full-time career ensure, where possible, that your support ecosystem is resilient to help care for the children.

• Making the decision on how to navigate full-time employment and your family life is personal and there is no right or wrong answer. But once you make your decision, be comfortable with it and structure yourself to fulfill the position well. Personally, when I make long-term decisions, I try to envision my 60 or 70-year-old self and ask myself if I think I would be proud then of the choice I am making now. Once you are more conscious of your long-term goals, I believe you will have more clarity on how to navigate the now.

In light of this year’s theme for I n t e r n a t i o n a l Wo m e n ’s M o n t h (#ChooseToChallenge), is gender bias still an issue you encounter at this stage of your career and if so, how do In terms of my educational background, I graduated you handle this?

Phi Beta Kappa in Economics from Grinnell College in Iowa, USA, and also hold an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Whilst you've had a great amount of success in your career, you've also achieved this whilst being a family woman. What advice would you give to women looking to travel the same path?

The advice I can share with women who are looking to pursue both a professional career and raise a family is the following:

As a partner at a VC firm, encountering negative reactions from entrepreneurs is fairly limited given my decision-making role and ability to allocate capital. Also, at TLcom, our team has a good gender balance and the landscape for our current investors is fairly balanced which also helps.

However, I have faced challenges as a board member, especially on male-dominated boards. In such cases, I focus on ensuring I show up fully for myself, this means possessing a certain level of self-assurance that allows me to avoid internalizing other people’s negative reactions. When you understand your worth, you’re able to protect yourself against negative opinions. I’ve also found that you prove your value over time through the contributions you make. Most times, once people see the Businessday.ng

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FASHION

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value you provide, it changes their interactions with you.

In terms of my approach to dealing with negative reactions, I assess issues on a case-by-case basis.

Sometimes, I’ve found it best to address the situation directly whereas in other situations, I haven’t responded or I’ve called on male and/or female allies and they’ve given me the support I needed. Ultimately, it’s about applying wisdom to each case and taking the best approach for that situation.

Unfortunately, the biases in our world remain but when you’re competent, it definitely helps. Also, find mentors and coaches you can be authentic with and who will support you along the journey. Having a strong female network is critical to climbing up the career ladder and as you rise to the top, make sure you give back and bring other women along with you.

Your position and status in the maledominated world of tech are an inspiration for many women however, Allyship plays a key role in resolving who are some of the women that society’s inequalities but as women, inspire you? what responsibilities do we have to provide the right support to each Omobola Johnson – we work alongside each other at TLcom and I’m inspired by how she has managed to other?

It’s critical for women to empower each other as nobody understands our experiences like other women.

Personally, I’ve always been privileged to have supportive women in my career and that’s inspired me to give back through mentoring young women in the finance & tech sectors. It’s also the reason why I’m especially proud of our Africa Tech Female Founder Summit at TLcom, which ran for its second successive year in 2020.

Through the event, we brought together female tech founders from across the continent to experience the benefits of connecting, learning from, and being a resource to each other. It’s about playing our part to level the playing field and through the Summit, we’ve been able to build a network for Africa’s most thoughtful and innovative female founders. This has been vital in enabling them to access strategic and operational support as they push to achieve massive value generation.

Currently, you act as a mentor as part of the Endeavor network. What are the main pieces of advice you share with young women beginning their careers?

Pursue your dreams. The world’s views and treatment of women is improving for the better. Do the inner work to become comfortable in your own skin, to know who you are and the value you bring. It’s vital to have a strong sense of self before the world starts diminishing you. If you are already beaten by how you see yourself, you're essentially starting on the back foot.

Secondly, hone your skill sets. Make sure you are technically competent and continue to enhance yourself.

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successfully navigate her family and career. She’s also had three separate careers (management consultant, minister, and venture capitalist) in her lifetime, which has all had a major impact on Africa. She’s an example of the fact you don’t need to stay boxed in and you can influence in a number of different spheres in your lifetime.

Sheryl Sandberg – I met her whilst I was studying at Stanford, and have read her book (Lean In) and listened to her speeches. I am motivated by her drive to bring more women to the table and participate in different professional spaces. Whilst she’s had personal challenges, she perseveres and comes across as strong, resilient, and most importantly, authentic.

Lastly, I would say Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She is a true embodiment of the internal self-assurance I believe every woman should have. She has great strength and aura about her and always gives the impression that she’s determined to execute whatever task she is faced with to the highest standard. BD

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CULINARY DELIGHTS'

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A GUIDE TO SELECTING

THE PERFECT ROOFTOP LOCATION

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here's no party like a Lagos party! It’s a metropolitan city with an array of spaces to host a celebration. As you plan your next soiree, it's time to say goodbye to indoor locations and say hello to the perfect rooftop space.

Whether it's a surprise birthday, an engagement party, an office going away party, or a night out with friends, a rooftop is where you want to host it!

There’s something beautiful about dining close to the stars, and that is a major pro for celebrating on a rooftop venue. The view of the Lagos skyline is best consumed from a point of elevation. Think about it, picture you and your favorite people clinking glasses as you gaze down at the beautiful madness that is Lagos.

If you love that visual, here are some things to consider when narrowing down your options of rooftop spaces to the perfect one.

Pull out your phone for your next Instream post because Atmosphere Rooftop’s entrance is a swanky green maze that lets the sun hit your skin most gorgeously. The beauty continues as you see the outdoor seating area which has bright green carpet grass that lets you have a sun-kissed experience. If the sun

becomes a menace, each table has a foldable umbrella that can be opened for shade. After the sun goes down and the Lagos nightlife begins, the string of golden lights that hang overhead will provide a whimsical vibe to your event.

We can't ignore the reality that it's April and the rains have begun to pour. Atmosphere Rooftop, unlike other rooftop spots like Rhapsody’s, has an exquisite and Instagramable indoor seating space. It is characterized by large mirror walls that enlarge space and enhance the chic decor that can be adapted to any celebration.

Every rooftop space has a bar, but there is more to bars than the stools and alcohol displays. At the Atmosphere Rooftop, the bar is beautifully designed with coloured tiles that will give your guests access to delicious signature cocktails like the decadent Jameson Peach Julep or Ginger me Hard.

Nothing says a great party better than equally great food! At Atmosphere Rooftop, there are a plethora of items on their vast menu. You can order the delicious Imoteda bowl, which is perfectly prepared fennel seed rice topped with a symphony of chicken or

seafood, sausage, charred onions, and a spicy roasted pepper sauce.

The variety doesn’t stop there! The Atmosphere Burger stacks the flavours of a flawless beef patty with cheddar cheese, garlic, and creamy slaw. If you want to go traditional, Atmosphere’s here for you! There’s the notoriously tasty Seafood Okro that can be eaten with your choice of okele.

Looking for more reasons that Atmosphere Rooftop is the premium rooftop spot? Look no further, Atmosphere Rooftop hosts live performances. The rooftop restaurant has hosted artists like Adekunle Gold, Buju, Ycee and Mayorkun; if you come on the right evening, you’ll be entertained by a Dj whose playlist will have your guests whining and grinding into dawn.

Yes, you can leverage their great sound system by incorporating live music and spoken word into the activities of your celebration.

So, the next time you want to plan a fete choose a rooftop space.

The vibe that the perfect rooftop spot creates will earn you exclusivity points with your guests and a place like Atmosphere Rooftop ticks all the boxes for hosting a memorable celebration. BD Businessday.ng

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BRANDS

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BRAND EVANGELISM:

Turning Customers to Advocates

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FEYISITAN IJIMAKINWA

very business wants to grow and gaining new customers is the goal. Businesses employ different techniques and strategies to achieve this. One important tool that brands can use to achieve this is brand evangelism. I dare say that, for any brand, its most effective marketing team is the satisfied and excited customer base, that echoes the brand’s messages, and promotes the products and services to the people they know. This is the crux of brand evangelism, and it is one of the most powerful types of marketing a business can have.

Who is a Brand Evangelist?

Brand evangelists are brands’ customer ‘super fans’.

What sets them different from other customers is their willingness to stretch themselves and spread the word about the products and brand. They consistently extol products and services to friends, come to the brand’s defence and share its messages anywhere; physical or Businessday.ng

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virtual spaces. Infact, someone says “customer evangelists are more than loyal—they’re out there converting new customers

What Makes Brand Evangelists Unique?

Business owners and brand managers, as well as custodians should know that loyal customers regularly buy their products or use their services. Brand evangelists are loyal customers who go the extra mile by telling everyone about the products. They use their own personal brand and social media to promote the brand.

They are passionate and get other people excited about the products or services. They are a source of authentic ongoing content marketing—and they do it all for free.

Brand evangelists are different from brand ambassadors who are mostly paid influencers. Brand evangelists push the frontiers of the brand with strong recommendations borne out of satisfaction and

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conviction. They are unlike brand ambassadors whose endorsements are only transactional and not experiential. Evangelist marketing is incredibly effective. It is word-ofmouth taken to the next level. This type of passionate and authentic support of the brand creates new loyal customers. Evangelists don’t just push messages out there—they convince people that the messages of the brand are worth listening to.

How to Encourage and Grow Brand Evangelism To encourage brand evangelism, the brand must become more than a brand. It must forge an emotional connection with consumers. Brand evangelism might start with an

appreciation for the functionality or image of a brand, which can create a loyal customer. However, brand evangelists go out of their way to talk about the brand, which occurs when they feel a connection.

There are many ways to forge a strong connection with consumers, and which is best will depend on who the ideal customers are. You must have a good understanding of your market, including demographic information, as well as what they care about, how they think, and challenges they face. For example, millenials are more likely to pay more for sustainable products, indicating a strong environmental stance may resonate with this g r o u p especially.

However, t h e s e initiatives are less likely to inspire brand evangelism in older or younger demographics, and might even turn some customers away.

With a good understanding of your customers, you’ll be able to choose which of these strategies is best for inspiring brand evangelism.

• Start Internally: The people that interact with your brand the most are already working for you. If they’re not excited about the brand, it might be because there isn’t a unified understanding of what that brand is. As a first step, businesses should clearly define their mission and core values and communicate them to employees. Creating this sense of alignment will ensure that each employee is representing the business in a consistent way that is unified with their brand’s commitments and goals. This will probably require culture changes and may involve significant growing pains, but getting employees on board is the first step to building a strong brand evangelist base.

• Fo cus On Your Existing Customer Base: Every business is set up with the goals of growing the business as well as getting new customers. But if you’re a business looking to Businessday.ng

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SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021 INTERVIEW

BRANDS

gain brand evangelists, it helps if your existing customers are happy and excited. This might involve upping your customer service game and adding personalised touches to your business. Most businesses already have potential brand evangelists within their existing customer base that can be easily converted by creating a culture of going the extra mile.

• Create a Strong Brand Identity: Get a good understanding of your customers’ identity, what they want to display to the world, and how your brand might fit in. Use attributes that your customers aspire to or exemplify, such as fairness, toughness, prestige, or environmental stewardship.

• Perform Extraordinary Customer Service: Great customer service starts with the people who interact with your customers every day. Give your staff the tools, power and training to go above and beyond for customers, and make it clear that you want them to do so. It must be part of your business’ DNA. • Highlight Customer Stories: Show Businessday.ng

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that you are listening to your customers. Create closeness by highlighting their stories on social media, through your blog, or testimonial videos.

• Align Your Interests with Your Customers: Customers are more tapped into social and environmental issues than ever. If you feel that this will make a strong impact on your customer base, show support for causes that your customers support. Brands in Nigeria have a lot to do in this wise. A good number of brands in Nigeria do not count this as important and that is why they downplay corporate social responsibility initiatives.

• Consider Your Employees: Happy employees are your first and best ambassadors. When you create a positive work environment, your employees can pass their positive experience on to customers.

Above-and-beyond customer service is unlikely to happen if your employees are unhappy.

• Create a Community: Brand evangelists have the potential to drive communities and movement s . Help you r fans connect and foster a community around your brand.

This might include giving free products to established groups, creating a community forum, or creating a loyalty programme for club members.

Last line: Understanding how brand evangelism happens is just as important as understanding what brand evangelism is. Consider your customers carefully when working on earning these super fans. The catch is that, if a brand can meet the needs of its customer base, and go above and beyond as it does it, the brand may find itself with a loyal and enthusiastic following that will amplify its messages in different ways.BD

Feyisitan Ijimakinwa is a Reputation and Perception Management expert. He has managed some top brands quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, and continues to write on reputation strategies, brand intelligence and corporate communications.

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

HOMES

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mood of the decade.

That mood is what Zubizarreta calls ‘cool vibrancy.’

Stressing her point, she says, “Since the turn of the millennium, time has picked up speed. You can see it all around you. I won’t say that all the results it has yielded are good, but there is a general change in the way people look at the world, starting with their home.

HOW NATALIA ZUBIZARRETA, SPANISH INTERIOR DECORATOR MAKES PEOPLE’S HOMES REFLECT WHO THEY ARE

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IFEOMA OKEKE

atalia Zubizarreta, one of the leading Spanish interior decorators, is all about transferring life’s improvisations onto the tableau of a home.

Her passion leads, and beauty is her mentor.

As an industry, interior design is undergoing a redesign of sorts—a transformation that reflects the

“ As people are getting more global and socializing more than ever, they want their homes to reflect who they are. To do that, they hire people like me to help them understand what they want. For me, that’s the beginning of magic.”

Zubizarreta loves to let her intuitive powers guide her process. She says,” I grew up in a humble household where beauty and aesthetics were paramount. As I grew, that understanding grew with me, and I feel it’s the best time yet for someone like me to express their sense of aesthetics freely. When I work the interiors of a home, I like to get a sense of what the house is about and what the inhabitants are like.

“This gives me a start. Then it’s back to the drawing board where I try to think like a ballerina. Why? Because they know lines, forms, silhouettes, grace, and power all together more than anybody else. And then, it’s a dance of thoughts and ideas of doing away with clunk and weaving in a tapestry of decoration that is full-bodied, easy-going, stoic yet fun.”

The world is changing faster than we can comprehend.

A beautiful home indeed becomes a sanctuary during such times BD

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HUMAN RELATIONS

WHY CEO’S NEED TO FIRE THEMSELVES. Y

ou know the usual “how I began my entrepreneurial journey” epistle. I woke up with a burning desire to solve a problem, to help my community, to change the world, and make it a better place for all of us. Yes, that story! What’s going on with it now? I bet that dream has been clouded with the gazillion fires you have to quench daily.

You started this great journey to solve a problem, the world noticed, paid attention and, started to purchase your product or recommend your service. It was starting to look like you had this path all figured out until the orders doubled, then tripled, then quadrupled and, went far beyond what your current operations could handle. Then the client’s complaints began trickling in, competition set in, you find yourself constantly digging into memo’s, invoices, employee matters like some random staff coming late to the office, pilfering, even queries, multiple “silo” cultures displayed in your formerly zen office, you find yourself hopping from one office meeting to another, sorting bills even PHCN bills.

NO! this was not the dream you bargained for, this was not nearly the way you envisioned this urge that made you start this venture in the first place.

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HUMAN RELATIONS

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

If this sounds remotely like your dayto-day….it’s time to consider Firing yourself.

I don’t mean this in the gloom and doom way, I mean it in the way that frees up space for you to purposely embark on that world-saving mission, you always dreamed of and access your new levels intentionally.

Now that I have you all excited (I assume you are), here's one word I need you to repeat throughout today "OPERATIONAL EASE", (I almost heard you sigh with relief).

Whilst you are still repeating “operational ease” Here's a pro-tip you can implement right now to begin your firing process.

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everyone in your team is doing the same.

Also ensure that you and every single person on your team writes out the following information...

- Tasks they carry out on a daily basis - The tasks they enjoy doing - The tasks they don’t enjoy at all - The tasks they should be doing but don't have time or space to do - The time they spend on all three - The income/revenue generating tasks - The other operational things that keep you all busy but are neither income-generating nor work your clients pay you for

Step 1: You need a big picture view of your current operations and it begins with you.

Let me be upfront with you, this may seem like too much right now, but imagine being able to identify your process offenders, your time wasters, role mismatch, mundane task that could have been automated and lots more.

So, grab a simple excel sheet o r

You should know by now, that what separates the big boys from the small boys, is not the size of their chiseled muscles but how effective they are in allocating tasks and resources within their team for effective operations, scaling and constantly meeting the clients' needs.

Where were we on firing you again? Exactly! I'm glad you have come around to the concept of firing yourself and some of your team members from tasks that do not reflect your passion or your grand goals and vision as a business.

Speak soon.

Nnanke E.BD

google doc sheet and ensure Nnanke is a HR professional and business consultant, with a decade’s worth of experience across major sub-fields within the talent management industry. She is passionate about improving the internal dynamics of organizations (people, processes and culture) to ensure their operations truly reflect their brand promise.

Over the years, she has developed, coordinated and led all Human Resources services including attraction and retention, learning and development, compensation and benefit, performance management and employee relations while supporting executive management in enhancing business processes. She has participated in strategy development, planning and implementation across the organization, serving as a touchpoint for all the people, process and culture needs. She has been instrumental in the development of shared services structures, cross-functional integration and dependence, talent management and career management systems. She has also improved work engagement and instituted a learning culture across the group. She has been recognised for capacity building, training, employee engagement, developing strategy and creating a solid learning and empowerment environment for entrepreneurs and mentees in her network.

She is the Lead Consultant at SiSa Method, a business improvement company, the founder of the stress free community and the owner of the operational ease method.

She is also a John Maxwell certified speaker, trainer and coach, a BPM specialist and a member of CIHRM and an NLP stage II practitioner.

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MOVIES

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

EXPERIENCE NEW CULTURES WITH NETFLIX’S SUB AND DUB FEATURES

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etflix is presently available in more than 190 countries and the titles available for streaming are not only a combination of various genres but comprise titles produced in diverse languages. In 2017, Netflix brought us the ground-breaking La Casa de Papel, popularly known as Money Heist, a series which quickly became a household name and is now the most-watched nonEnglish language series on Netflix ever. What’s intriguing about this success story is the elimination of the language barrier. Through dubbing, people around the world could, understand and enjoys shows like Money Heist or Lupin in their preferred languages.

If there’s anything this proves, it’s that great stories can come from anywhere and be enjoyed by everyone, but it has to be communicated in a language that’s understandable to its audience.

Netflix has this in mind when it Businessday.ng

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comes to maximizing its member's experience, which is why Netflix ensures that all its non- English titles come with multiple subtitling options. If that’s not enough, Netflix has invested a lot recently in dubbing— a feature that incorporates the audio translation of Netflix titles to about 30 different languages.

To ensure that the creativity and authenticity of the titles aren’t compromised, Netflix has a dubbing management hub across almost 20 countries. This team supervises the casting for and recording of the scripts alongside other creative choices and technical workflows that ensure the final content is natural to and aligns with the cultural nuances of each territory. Between the subbing and dubbing features, Netflix is breaking language barriers and internationally projecting local creativity.

If you’re not sure not how to use

the Caption/audio feature, we’ve got a guide on how to step into new worlds through the utilization of the captions feature.

I bet you never knew that subtitles can be customized to languages other than English to make your Netflix experience more versatile and enjoyable. All you have to do is play a movie or an episode

of a series, go to ‘audio & subtitles’ and then select a language from the list. If you’re presently learning a foreign language and want to improve your skills, reading a film in that language will go a long way

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to improve your understanding.

Telenovela.

Another thing you can do with your subtitles is change the font.

Looking to spice up your Netflix screen? One new thing you can do is add color to your subtitle font and make the text semitransparent. This can be done by going to Account and then clicking Profile and Parental Controls, from there click on Subtitle Appearance and then Color.

You simply go to your Account, click on Profile and Parental Controls then click Subtitle Appearance and then Font. This might take a minute, but it adds a little delight to your Netflix user experience and goes a long way in increasing the enjoyability of your favorite foreign Netflix titles.

Do you want to make your subtitles bigger or smaller? Netflix’s got you covered. All you need to do is go to Account then click on Profile and Parental Controls, and then click on Subtitle Appearance

Now, if you think there aren’t more fun things you can do with your subtitles, you’re very wrong. There are 8 different background colors to choose from if you want to

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Subtitle Appearance and then click on Background.

Lastly, you can take your subtitle experience to the next level by choosing closed caption. A closed caption is a feature that includes background noises and tracks playing to the written display of the characters dialogue. Additionally, closed caption will include the names of characters who may be speaking off-camera. To activate this feature, Play your chosen Netflix title then go to ‘audio and subtitles and then click on Audio Descriptions.

R e vamping your subtitle experience might be something you didn’t know you wanted, but the moment you begin to switch things up a little you will see that the little things do go a long way.

BD

have a solid background around the text that appears on your screen.

First go to Account then click on Profile and Parental Controls, from there go to

before clicking on Font Size. Now, you can have larger subtitles when you are using your Tv and too lazy to go get your glasses. Also, grandma no longer has to squint too much when she wants to watch that new Nollywood title or Businessday.ng

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UDY'S CORNER

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

MESSAGE FROM A DISTANCE. UDY OSARO-EDOBOR

Based on a True story.

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apa and I were always at loggerheads with each other. I was strong willed and stubborn just like him, we didn't see eye to eye on some issues and we "fought" a lot.

My siblings (seven of them), found it difficult to ask Papa for anything because they were afraid of him but not me. I would match up to him and boldly make my request, Papa knew better than to argue with me or say no to my request because he'd have to give me a good reason for that. Inspite of our cat and mouse relationship, I was clearly his favorite child. I could stand up to anyone without being rude to them. I would never allow anyone intimidate me or my siblings and I always stood up for what was right.

From the corner of my eyes, I had seen Papa several times, smiling whenever I did something that he thought was good.

There was something strange though. Papa and I shared a unique gift that was both weird and surreal... maybe it was telepathy. I remember vividly when I was a teenager, most times when I had a dream and I told Mama about it, she'd scream and tell me that Papa also had the exact same dream. We used to laugh it off at first but at some point it wasn't funny anymore. There was Businessday.ng

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no explaining the weirdness of that sort of thing. Papa sought explanations from our ezemuo, but the wise old man told him that it was beyond him.

Something mysterious happened one time when Papa was out of town. He was a driver and had taken his boss to Umuahia for a wedding. Papa was going to be gone for the whole weekend.

I woke up on Saturday morning and I felt that the dream I had at night wasn't ordinary. It was as if Papa was sending me on a errand. In the dream, he had instructed me on what to do if his brother came asking for money.

He specifically asked me to check in his pillow for some money and give a certain amount to his brother.

I told Mama about the dream and she almost didn't believe me until she heard Uncle Chike's voice later that day. You can't imagine her shock.

These were not the days of mobile phones so there was no way to reach Papa. I reminded Mama about the dream and she grudgingly allowed me to check the pillow. Alas! we found some money in it and gave to Uncle Chike the specific amount Papa had mentioned in my dream.

Mama was surprised. She never knew that her husband had a bank inside his pillow. And now her daughter had broken into his vault.

UDY'S CORNER

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

S u r p r i s i n g l y, Papa was very ple a s e d w it h me when he returned. In his haste, he had forgotten to give Mama the money for his brother. Little did he know that his daughter would understand the dream and then use her initiative to take care of the situation. He was very happy.

His only worry howe ver, was that he had to look for another safe place to hide his money since his "pillow vault" had been discovered.

Papa became very sick and he couldn't work anymore.

He suffered a stroke that left half of his body paralysed. We couldn't survive on the peanuts that came from Mama's farming.

It was dry season and there was hardly enough farm produce to feed our family of ten.

M y parents decided that the best thing to do was to ship off my siblings and I to work as domestic staff at the homes of some rich relatives. Seven of us were scattered all over Nigeria and I landed in Lagos.

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I lost contact with my mother and siblings for several years but from time to time I communicated with Papa in my dream. I was comforted by my dreams but I was getting increasingly worried about his health. I pleaded with my aunt who was also my employer to let me travel to the village to see my father but she refused. She promised that I could go in December when the whole family travelled to the village for the Christmas holiday.

How could she make promises for December when we were in April?

My nights became torturous as I would often see Papa in pains. I will never forget that cold morning in April. It was a wet morning because it had rained heavily all night.

I woke up with a fright and I was sweating profusely. I had the worst nightmare ever..

I knew something bad had happened to Papa but there was no way I could find out. A few days later, Uncle Chike, came to take me to the village. This even fuelled my worry. He didn't have to tell me anything, I already knew that something was wrong.

I saw a heap of sand as I walked into the family compound and I realised that six feet under the heap of sand was where Papa lay.. I can't even tell you how I felt at that moment.

That night, I had a dream and Papa told me that he was still alive when he was buried. He told me how he had lost consciousness and the village drug seller pronounced him dead. And because our family could not afford to pay for a morgue, they decided to bury him almost immediately. My heart was broken to pieces. I was really pained. I shared this startling revelation with Mama and she fainted. It was just too much to for her to bear. It was such a huge blow to everyone one of us..

That was the last time Papa communicated with me.

I miss him so much and I wish he could visit me in my dream one more time. 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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BUSINESS

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

THE TOP 8 QUESTIONS TO ASK TO DRIVE BUSINESS GROWTH AND PROFITABILITY IFEOMA OKEKE

I

n working with professional services firms, and especially the rapidly growing ones, there are some similarities that run through them all. All the organisations that engage in detailed business research at least once a year on their target client group grew faster and were ultimately more profitable.

However on the other hand, those that did more frequent business research (at least quarterly), grew even faster than the latter group and were also more profitable in comparison.

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So let’s think about that for a minute. Doesn’t the thought of possible exponential growth and huge profits sound incredibly appealing?

Let’s start at the very beginning.

There are so many types of research that your professional services company can use, even though you can pick and choose when and how to do this research. I recommend that whatever you decide be based on your unique circumstance; it must be the best option to provide the required results as well as

perfectly timed and executed to avoid false or inconclusive results.

Some of them are: • Benchmarking research • Brand research • Client satisfaction research • Employee surveys • Lost prospect analysis • Market research • Persona research Now that you know the types of

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research, let’s move forward quickly, shall we? We looked across the research we have done on behalf of our clients to isolate the most insightful and impactful areas of inquiry. The below listed top 8 research questions are the result of some of the most discerning, cogent and impactful areas of enquiry that are able to drive business growth and profitability:

1. Why do your best clients choose you?

There is an absolute difference between your best clients and your ideal clients. One of my most popular mantras for business is ‘only happy customers refer others’.

Really understanding what your best clients find appealing about you can help you not only serve them better thereby possibly extending deal size and customer lifetime value but it also enables you to find others just like them and convert them into your next new client.

Yes, you know your services and what they are intended to do for clients. But what do they actually do, according to your clients? More often than not, our professional services clients are surprised to learn the true benefit of their service to their customers. For example, you might have gotten a deal based on your good reputation, but after working with you, your client might value your team’s collective skills and expertise the most.

When you fully appreciate the true value and benefit of your services, you are in a better position to enhance or even develop new services with other true benefits.

This information also comes in useful when you are designing loyalty and referral programs.

2. What exactly are your best clients trying to avoid?

This could be the exact opposite of the first question but it provides a valuable perspective. You need this information to avoid being ruled out too early during a prospective consideration or not being considered at all, which is probably worse! The responses here are also important in helping to shape your business model and strategy.

From experience working with service providers and their clients, we have discovered that the main circumstances that your clients want to avoid in a service provider are not getting the job done, not solving the problem in the long run and billing surprises including overpaying. Never assume or misjudge your potential clients’ priorities, listen to understand and not to impress so you know how your prospects think in order to convert them into clients.

Some follow up questions to provide better clarity on this are ‘How do they perceive their challenges?’, How do they describe and talk about their issues? A very good example is when clients are fixed on cost reduction to increase profitability but in actual fact, an improvement of their processes and customer experience is a more sustainable way of addressing the cost issue. Imagine if you are not able to connect the dots for them and communicate your offering, you would most likely miss the business opportunity.

3. Who are your real competitors?

A lot of professional service businesses think they are very good at identifying their true competitors, but would you believe

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me if I told you that when you ask a firm to list their competitors are and then ask their clients to do the same, there are not a lot of overlaps?

So what does that tell you?

It’s usually because you know too much about your industry and rule out competitors too easily, and you are also viewing a client’s problems through your ‘not very objective’ lens and therefore completely overlook different categories of solutions that they are considering. Ever since an interior design company client of ours with over 2 decades of experience lost a massive hotel deal to a young lady and her team of 3 with less than 5 years of experience, we begun to take even more special care with not just looking into our clients’ competitors but their substitutes as well. For example, a company facing a rapidly drying up leads pipeline could easily consider sales training, reduction in pricing or a new PR campaign.

Therefore, If you consult on new product development, business development or digital marketing - the other possible solutions are all competitors. In any case, ignorance of true competitors rarely helps you compete.

4. What are the emerging trends?

In speaking about trends, it is not just about the industry but also about the market and your target clients. Where is the market headed? Will it grow or contract?

What services might be needed in the future? In the new normal following the pandemic, many of your prospects and clients are struggling to protect their cash flow right now or probably slowing or stopping their payments to protect their own businesses. Clients are asking to see more—and faster— value before they release those Businessday.ng

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payments to you.

Underst and i ng emerg i ng trends can help you better target and conserve limited marketing spend. I am still always amazed at how several businesses have added entire service lines, including new hires and big marketing budgets, based on little more than hunches and flawed observations.

Big decisions must be driven by research and data. Regular research is normal in large market-driven industries, but it is surprisingly rare among professional services firms.

5. How strong is your brand?

What is your company known for? How visible are you in the marketplace? How strong is your reputation? You must know where you stand to not only guide your overall strategy, but to have a huge impact on your marketing budget and how it is expended across various programs. Please be humble about this and be willing to truly listen and do something about whatever the findings might be. When you understand your brand’s strengths and weaknesses, it would help you understand why you might be getting traction in one segment over the other.

6. What is the best way to market to your ideal target clients?

Wouldn’t it be gratifying to know where your target clients go to get recommendations and referrals? Is it too much work to accurately identify how they want to be reached? Systematic business research is critical to be able to answer these questions.

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The answers will greatly reduce the level of spending as well as expensive trials needed to reach your best clients. This is perhaps one of the key reasons that firms that do regular research are more profitable. They are not spraying and praying, hoping that something that works will stick.

clients to refer you to others? These are the kinds of questions that can help you audit and optimize your processes as well as get a more accurate feel for what the future holds. Sometimes clients unravel previously hidden strengths that were never considered, or reveal important weaknesses that need attention.

7. How should you price your services?

It is important to note though that clients are rarely eager to tell you the truth..at least not directly.

It might be best to hire a research firm but another option is to build it into your processes especially across marketing and business development functions. You can begin to adopt and follow the research but once a year at the least, hire an outsider to get this done.

As a professional service firm, you must stop overestimating the role price plays in buying decisions.

It is the easiest reason for a customer to share when providing feedback, which is why most businesses are dealt the price card as the reason why they did not win a deal.

However, should an impartial third party be engaged to dig deeper into why it loses competitive business, the company often learns that what appeared to be a price issue may really be perceived suboptimal level of expertise, lack of attention to detail or an impression of non-responsiveness and lack of commitment.

Understanding the key questions discussed above can have a positive impact on your firm’s growth and profitability. There really is tremendous power in well-designed and professionally executed business research.BD

8. How do your current clients really feel about you?

What would your best clients change about your firm if they could? How long are they likely to remain a client? How likely are Bella Ikeme is a multipreneur, business growth and profitability enabler, a partner and catalyst for African businesses and entrepreneurs. She is the Founder & CEO of Caizen Business Development Company that provides marketing, communications and content solutions for professional services and other service businesses. It is her unwavering belief that Africans have the ability to build successful legacy businesses that not only impact lives, but the socio-economic development of the continent. When she is not working, she is spending time with family and friends, reading, journaling or obsessively studying the Japanese.

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

MENTAL HEALTH

How Olamma Cares Foundation is leading conversation about mental health and inclusion with Short Film, Circles

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stablished in 2017, Olamma Cares Foundation has continued to raise the awareness on mental health and mental health issues in Nigeria by encouraging the social acceptance of people living with mental health conditions and the provision of support for persons living with a mental health condition or in need of mental health support. The Non-profit

The sheer denial of mental issues among Nigerians and in various communities and social structures. However, as is the foundation’s aim, more and more Nigerians are becoming aware of mental issues and have shown adequate interest in seeking mental support where needed.

Olamma Cares, having position itself to provide

Organisation have also invested in the training of mental health first aiders over the years.

mental support for those who needs it, has also been able to reach out to over 5000 individuals across Nigeria within the past four months with its Telemedicine Project.

In celebration of its fourth anniversar y, Olamma Cares Foundation in collaboration with UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office for the Digital Access Program, has provided mental health support across various communities in Nigeria within the past four months.

From rural to urban communities in Nigeria, one thing is common.

The project which is aimed at providing Mental Health Support for Digitally Underserved Persons in Nigeria during the COVID-19 has successfully fostered digital inclusion by promoting effective, sustainable and viable community based mental health care that leverages on creative solutions to provide telemedicine to digitally

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underserved communities in Nigeria.

In celebration of its fourth anniversary, Tuesday, 30th March, Olamma Cares Foundation will also roll out a short film that portrays the need for mental awareness in Nigeria. The documentary, CIRCLES which will be released in Pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa will also go a long way to show the importance of having conversations about mental health and the need for a support system for everyone.

S p e a k i n g about CIRCLES, Olamma Cares Founder, Chioma Nwosu states the importance of using the media as a tool to spread positive messages.

“As an organisation we understand that the media is a great tool to pass across a message.

We decided to leverage drama to drive home key points about mental health and its issues in Nigeria.

“Having this short film in different languages also makes it easier for individuals living in underserved communities to also be a part of this cause,” Chioma stated.

CIRCLES is set to premier on 30th March 2021 to celebrate Olamma Care Foundation’s 4th Anniversary.BD Businessday.ng

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HEALTH

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON PLASTIC SURGEONS - DR. HUMBERTO PALLADINO

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IFEOMA OKEKE

he COVID-19 pandemic has hit many industries and left them reeling. The JAMA Network highlights the struggles that sole modern practitioners have faced since the virus's arrival.

Despite this, there is hope.

Some doctors have changed their procedures to better deal with the impact of COVID-19. However, some of these doctors were ahead of the curve. They pivoted into remote working and telemedicine successfully, building on the framework they had already set up beforehand.

One of these professionals is Dr. Humberto Palladino, and here he explains how his practice adapted to the changing times efficiently.

A New Normal to Contend With Dr. Palladino's practice was already working on developing a streamlined patient management registry. The proprietary customer management software on the clinic's machines allowed him to keep in contact with patients and access their records at the tap of a button. Since 2019, the doctor has been introducing significant changes into how his practice operated to increase efficiency, eventually resulting in a series of changes that made his practice resilient to the pandemic's impact.

Among these were:

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Virtual Consultations and Follow-Ups The doctor realized that telemedicine would be the future, and he wasn't wrong. Medical Xpress notes that telemedicine use grew by as much as 1,000% in March 2020 and almost 4,000% in April of the same year. Dr. Palladino was clearly ahead of the curve by instituting these follow-up and consultation actions using secure software.

S t re a m l i n e d a n d Structured Visits One of the worst things to ask of a patient is waiting in a confined room while a pandemic ragea around them. Dr. Palladino recognized that patients didn't enjoy the confinement and streamlined his appointment system to ensure that waits were kept to a minimum.

He was so successful that he managed to do away with the need for a waiting room, with patients coming in as their appointments came up.

A Concierge Approach Concierge doctors aren't a new development, but a concierge plastic surgeon may raise some eyebrows. The doctor believes that controlling the variables in a patient's procedure can make for a more efficient surgery and recovery.

As a result, Top Aesthetics offers

private aftercare, transportation, and massages, while reducing contact with others outside of the clinic’s-controlled circle. The fewer people that clients have to interact with, the lower their chances of infection.

Safety First Within the practice, staff and visitors are all required to wear masks for everyone's safety. Social distancing is practiced with each team member, ensuring that patients maintain the required distance at all times. The office has temperature control and sanitization locations, brand new operating rooms, and equipment that is cleaned after every visit. The doctor takes the safety and wellbeing of his patients seriously.

Looking to the Future While COVID-19 may have a vaccine seeing distribution, the doctor intends to keep offering many concierge services after the world has returned to normal. He's noted how much more willing patients are to perform remotely and with telemedicine than coming to his offices.

He's an entrepreneur who knows that his patients have needs and wants as well. Relying on remote meetings and optional visits allows them more flexibility with their schedules.BD

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

PEOPLE

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HOW MAO LAL BECAME ONE OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE DIGITAL MINING INDUSTRY IFEOMA OKEKE

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quick look around us will let us know how things have been fast-moving and changing across business industries and fields all across the globe for the better. To be a part of this change, one needs to embrace the modern innovations and create a brighter future for themselves, explains Mao Lal, who stands tall as one of the expert professionals and entrepreneurs in the vast and ever-growing blockchain technology industry.

This man has showcased his passion and prowess in the entrepreneurial world with his continuous learning habits and his eye for detail, and his innovativeness when it comes to growing his businesses in the field.

It all started for his incredible man in the year 2003 when he founded his firm Deutsches Edelmetallhaus (https://www. deutsches-edelmetallhaus.de/).

His abilities to walk with the changing times of the world helped him get into the trading of precious metals. He had predicted then that gold, silver, and trading of other rare commodities would make an important place in the financial sector in the future and that has what exactly happened.

In 2010, when a new digital and decentralized currency became more popular called bitcoin, he

knew what he wanted to do and since then, Mao Lal has never looked back.

He confesses that the more he became involved with the idea behind the innovative construct of the decentralized managed currency, the greater his enthusiasm became, which still remains unbroken even after more than a decade in the industry. Hence, he says even if bitcoin someday may disappear, the idea and concept behind it will still remain as it is the future.

Mao Lal started with mining bitcoin in 2010 with his computer.

He gained more motivation when he was able to mine the first bitcoins after only a few hours.

Today, Mao Lal has become one of the biggest names in the digital mining industry with building his own mining farm in Norway.

His other business, Bitsons Management GmbH (https:// bitsons.io/), provides varied services in business consulting, product development, marketing, and IT solutions and gives people an opportunity to build an additional income. The company develops innovative services and products with their partners and customers, taking up the advantage of blo ckchain te chnolo g y, integrating them into the existing industries.

With Coinygram LTD (https:// www.coinygram.com/), Mao Lal has offered people an exceptional cryptocurrency trading platform, which is amongst the few providers in Europe, focusing on already experienced crypto traders as its target group and opening the market around crypto products and virtual currencies to the broad masses.

Mao Lal made a unique name for himself through years of consistent hard work, goal orientation, discipline, persistence and courage. He explains that it is essential for people to accept setbacks from time to time and learn from their mistakes, to get up again, push harder and achieve bigger. Mao Lal wants to continue growing his business through intensive and continuous training.

He always makes sure to keep up with the latest developments in the sector and advises the same to others. For that, Mao Lal says that strategic partnerships are extremely important.

His ambition was and is to develop innovations that offer real added value and his goal is the next big leap in the industry and not just the next small step forward. BD

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BOOK REVIEW

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

A Poor Childhood that Led to Success in Adulthood - A Review of Michael Adesanya’s Adéwálé: My Mother’s Son Book Title: Adéwálé: My Mother’s Son Author: Michael Adesanya Publisher: TweakCentric Solutions Limited Year of Publication: 2020 Number of Pages: 276 Category: Memoir

ADÉWÁLÉ: MY MOTHER’S SON

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veryone’s childhood is unique and every one would have a lot of stories to share of it. But growing up in a poor family can be frightening and can present a perception that one’s prospects are not bright. In a country that has an increasing number of people still living in absolute poverty, poverty is not a stranger to many! Adéwálé: My Mother’s Son by Michael Adesanya was written to remind one that bad times are not eternal, and that’s because he has been there too.

Adéwálé: My Mother’s Son is a 276-page book packed with details from Michael Adesanya’s childhood and educational journeys. The story of a boy who grew up in poverty, the book starts off with Adesanya introducing his mother’s first crush, how his father met his mother and his grandparents. Stories with his mother set the tone of this book. When his mother gets a baby for her second boyfriend, life gradually gets worse for her; about this, Adesanya bares the difficult relationship between his parents.

“There were two days when all we drank was water,” Adesanya writes. He and his brother, Gbenga, mastered the habit of managing hunger. Reading the work, you feel as if you’re sitting with the author and hearing his stories about his moments of pain and sadness. From homelessness to other hardships, his life is on the pages. As the readers, you will get real insights into his family’s hardship, but also how easy it was to get caught up in it. However, the book isn't just filled with tales of pain and suffering as Adesanya brilliantly balances this harsh living conditions with triumph.

Divided into three sections, the work deals with themes of family, poverty, domestic violence, pain and hope; he also gives a glimpse into the Nigerian history.

Adesanya's writing is engaging and overly descriptive, Businessday.ng

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perhaps that’s why, on some pages of the book, Adesanya describes the tension between him and his father. He details feelings of abandonment and recalls how his father didn't seem capable of taking care of them financially, young Adesanya knew he wanted a life that was different than that of his father.

Adéwálé’s mother, Omotayo, is the book’s real hero. She is independent, strong and hardworking.

Struck by her spirituality, Adesanya says she obviously shaped him into the man and the success he would become as an adult. Adesanya 's love and respect for his mother shines through on nearly every page. This is a thought-provoking, and emotional book, although there are too many flashbacks, it can start to feel more like a diversion, not a literary device.

Toward the end of the book, Adesanya took a childhood of deprivation, and fear and turned it into a fulfilling and meaningful life. Adesanya is now a firstclass graduate of Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos, a Stanford GSB alumnus and Africa MBA Fellow. He is currently building sustainable retail solutions for Africa and he credits his mother with shaping him into the man he is today.

Adéwálé: My Mother’s Son is a worthwhile and required reading for people interested in climbing higher in their own lives and pulling themselves up to a better more fulfilling place.. 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 17, APRIL 2021

SPORT

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ANTHONY NLEBEM

WEMBLEY AGOG AS CHELSEA BATTLE MAN CITY FOR A PLACE IN FA CUP FINAL

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ootball lovers can look forward to an exciting action from the 2020-21 FA Cup, with the semi-final matches scheduled for this weekend.

while Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is enjoying his side’s FA Cup adventure but wants “more precision” going forward: “We need to catch the momentum to be sharper, to be closer and to be more aggressive,” said The first semi-final in this the German tactician. weekend’s FA Cup action sees Chelsea face Manchester City at The second semi-final on Sunday Wembley Stadium. The Blues are 18 April sees Wembley Stadium looking to return to the FA Cup final host a clash between Leicester City for a second successive year (after and Southampton – the two dark their defeat to Arsenal last season), horses for the trophy. The Foxes while the Citizens were last in the showed their pedigree by putting out final in 2019, when they famously Manchester United in the previous thrashed Watford 6-0. round, but they would do well not to underestimate a Saints side which The teams last met in a Premier can afford to put all of their effort League clash at Stamford Bridge and intensity into this clash. earlier this year, with City claiming a 3-1 away win thanks to goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and “I think we have shown in the Kevin De Bruyne.

FA Cup against Bournemouth, okay only a Championship team, "I trust my players so much. They but even there we have shown what don't trust me but I trust them with made us strong and how we can their quality!” said Man City boss Pep play,” said Southampton manager Guardiola coming into this clash,

Ralph Hasenhuttle. “We expect a much tougher game now against Leicester, but we must have the same behaviour and same effort, then we have a chance to win against them.”

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers, meanwhile, is hoping to make history with the Foxes, as the club’s best showing in the FA Cup is four runners-up finishes in 1949, 1961, 1963 and 1969.

“We are in the semifinal and we have a chance to get to the final and create history,” Rodgers said. “For the club to get to the final and win the trophy would be really special. It’s a trophy in their history they haven’t won. It’s a tough game in the semifinal but the club has never won the FA Cup so to be able to do something like that will be special.”. BD

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SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

FA CUP: TUCHEL VOWS TO HUNT MAN CITY

homas Tuchel admits Chelsea still lag behind Manchester City as he prepares to face the runaway Premier League leaders in an FA Cup semi-final but vowed to hunt down Europe's "benchmark" club next season.

Chelsea face City at Wembley on Saturday, with Tuchel chasing a maiden managerial win over Pep Guardiola, whose side are still on course for an unprecedented quadruple.

The Blues' German boss believes Chelsea still have long-term ground to make up on City but has exhorted his players to close that gap just for 90 minutes.

And it's important that we accept this without making ourselves too small.

"So from next year on, from day one of next season we will hunt them, we will try to close the gap between us," added Tuchel, whose side are currently 20 points adrift of City in the Premier League.

"And this is the benchmark. For me in Europe there are two teams who are the benchmark, there is Bayern Munich and Manchester City."

Tuchel said his side, who have lost just twice since he took charge, had the belief they could close the gap for one game.

"We have to accept that there is a gap between us and Manchester City," said Tuchel, who replaced Frank Lampard in the Stamford Bridge hot seat in January,

"I arrive happy to compete against the benchmark in England and Europe," he said.

"If you look at the fixture in the Premier League and the fixtures in the last years we have to accept this.

"We want the momentum of football on our side, and to play at the top level it's not to force things, and we'll need a bit of luck."

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Former Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss Tuchel has taken on Guardiola five times and remains winless against the City manager, whom he could also face in the Champions League final.

He revealed the Catalan had had a major effect on his coaching style, conceding he was glued to the screen during Guardiola's Barcelona tenure.

"He's a huge influence on me because when he was coach at Barcelona I didn't have the chance to know him personally, but I was watching almost every game," he said.

"I was very impressed by the way they made success happen, by the style they were playing, all the academy guys, the offensive ball possession.

"And what was maybe most impressive about this team was the mentality and how they defended when they lost the ball.".BD

SPORT

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

POGBA SLAMS MOURINHO’S STYLE OF MANAGEMENT

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a n c h e s t e r Un it e d midf ielder Pau l Pogba says current b oss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer "wouldn't go against the players" like former manager Jose Mourinho.

Pogba re-joined United in 2016 for a then-world record £89m when Mourinho was manager at the Old Trafford club.

strange thing I had with Mourinho and I cannot explain to you because even I don't know."

Pogba helped United win the League Cup and Europa League in 2017 under Mourinho but he was stripped of the vice-captaincy by the Portuguese in September 2018.

But the pair fell out by the time Mourinho was sacked in December 2018.

He was also an unused substitute in a 3-1 defeat by Liverpool in what turned out to be Mourinho's final game in charge of Manchester United before he was replaced by Solskjaer.

"Once I had a great relationship with Mourinho," Pogba told Sky Sports. "Everybody saw that and the next day you don't know what happened."

After Mourinho was sacked, a post on Pogba's Twitter account said "caption this", along with a knowing expression on his face, before being deleted.

The 2 8 - ye ar- o l d Fr anc e international added: "That's the

"What I have now with Ole is different because he wouldn't go

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against the players," said Pogba.

"Maybe Ole wouldn't pick them, but it's not like he puts them on the side like they don't exist any more.

That's the difference between Mourinho and Ole." Mourinho is now manager of Tottenham, who were beaten 3-1 last Sunday by a United side containing Pogba.

Following the match, Mourinho was unhappy with comments from Solskjaer criticising Spurs forward Son Heung-min.

"I am sure Mourinho said something that made people speak.

That's what he does," said Pogba.

"We got the result that we wanted. Ole knows it and we enjoyed that moment.

"We know Mourinho and what he likes. We don't need this. We just focus on us.

"We won the game, he lost the game, and he doesn't want to speak BD

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SPORT

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

AGUERO DEMANDS £200K WEEKLY WAGE FROM NEW CLUB

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hel s e a t arge t S e rg i o Aguero is demanding £200,000-a-week wages f rom his ne x t club, according to reports.

The Manchester City legend is leaving the Etihad at the end of the season when his contract expires and there are four clubs looking to land the 32-year-old.

Barcelona, PSG and Juventus are the three teams battling Chelsea for Aguero's signature, according to AS. And the striker's agent told Italian giants Juventus they would have to cough up £200k-a-week in order to sign him, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

Aguero - who currently earns between £230k and £260k-a-week - is trying to capitalise on his free agent status with any club not required to pay a transfer fee for such a talented player.

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Barcelona are unlikely to cough up the big dough with their finances crippled

by Covid-19. But the chance to play with his friend Lionel Messi - if he stays in Catalonia - could tempt Aguero to the Nou Camp.

Juventus are also facing financial difficulties with the Old Lady 'considering selling Cristiano Ronaldo'.

As a result, it is only PSG or Chelsea who could likely afford Aguero's demands.

Kylian Mbappe's future will dictate whether the French champions make a move.

But Chelsea are reportedly in the running to make a bid at the end of the season, something the player is said to be aware of.

And Aguero looks motivated by the prospect of breaking the Premier League goal record.

Currently on 181 strikes, he is 79 behind Alan Shearer's leading tally of 260.

The Argentine has averaged just over 18 goals per season for City, a ratio which will require around five years to catch the Newcastle legend..BD

SATURDAY 17, APRIL 2021

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