Business News B2
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, September 7, 2017
Recession exit: MAN urges Nigerians not to expect automatic fall in prices CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1
L-R: Glo subscribers, Nkechi Nwadike; John Ejezie; Comedian, Patrick Onyeke (Mr. Patrick); and Glo subscriber, Ovi Joseph, at the Kano edition of the mega comedy show, Glo Laffta Fest... recently.
Fidelity donates equipment, renovates maternity, Azubike Nnadozie Top Nigerian lender, Fidelity Bank, is touching lives and impacting positively on communities, pan-Nigeria, with its Fidelity Helping Hands Project (FHHP); an initiative that enables the bank and its staff to carry out Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) interventions. Last week it was the turn of a community in North Eastern part of the country to benefit from the bank’s corporate philanthropy initiative, when staff of the bank donated hospital equipment and renovated a maternity and child welfare clinic in Kofaran, Bauchi State. The renovated health centre was unveiled by the bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo in a ceremony that attracted people from the host communities and environs. Okonkwo who was represented by the Regional Bank Head, North-East Region, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Musa Tarimbuka noted that the Bank takes great pride in entrenching the culture of true and responsible citizenship among its staff. The Bank Chief said government alone cannot solve all of societal problems and called on private sector organisations and corporate bodies to lend their support to government, particularly as it relates to the provision of basic infrastructure and social amenities. “Giving is a culture at Fidelity Bank and we will continue to encourage this. Under the FHHP initiative, the bank matches 100% whatever amount that is contributed by staff to fund CSR projects of their choices.
Tony Nwakaegho
The declaration of 2017 as the Year of Telecom Consumer by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has continued to harvest more success stories, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the regulatory body, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta has said. Danbatta disclosed this while receiving a high-powered delegation from Kano University of Science and Technology (KUST) led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Dr Abdulhadi Aminu, on courtesy visit at the headquarters of the commission in Abuja. The NCC, on March 15, this year, launched the year of telecom consumer campaign programme designed to give concrete expression to the centrality of the consumer in the telecom ecosystem, and since then had embarked on
than they are today, maybe, competition and interplay of the supply and demand, I don’t expect prices to change significantly.” Jacobs believe that there is very little the Government can do on a short term basis to make Nigerians feel the impact of the exit from recession. “I’m not sure there is anything the government can do for Nigerians to feel the impact unless there is subsidy in the cost of goods, which looks impossible. But, if the operating environment is improved upon, maybe, the cost of produc-
tion will come down and it will affect the prices of goods. If government can work with Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to lower the current double digit interest rate, create enabling environment, have the right infrastructure in place, reduce cost of funding. Once these are done, it might reduce the price of commodities, he said.” “If a manufacturer can source funding at 5% today, the prices of products will come down. If there is no multiple taxation that manufacturers are subjected to; and there are good roads, then, things will improve”, he added.
NCC’s ‘year of the consumer’ growing —Danbatta aggressive enlightenment drive to educate and empower the consumers of the industry. The key components of the campaign include: Creation of greater awareness on Quality of Service; Facts on Electromagnetic Fields Radiation; Do Not Disturb (DND) Code 2442, which consumers can use to stop unsolicited text messages; and the NCC’s toll free line - 622 - through which consumers can reach the commission in cases where service providers fail to resolve their complaints. “This year has been dedicated to the telecoms consumer, and we’ve been busy from the beginning of the year, trying to educate the telecom consumers on how to protect themselves from unwholesome
practices by the operators, especially the unsolicited text messages, as well as raising awareness on our toll free complaint line. “We have noticed a remarkable improvement in the level of activation of the facility as well as the level of awareness about 622 toll free complaint line. We have the statistics. The successes are there for all to see,” he informed the visitors. Speaking further, the NCC boss who was formally the Acting Vice Chancellor of the KUST congratulated the university on attaining full accreditation status in all academic programmes. He, however, assured Nigerians that the commission will continue to be equitable and consider national spread in its ICT interventions in the country.
Dana Air recruits, trains more Nigerian pilots Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Dana Air has announced its recruitment and training of more Nigerian Pilots in Johannesburg, South Africa and Madrid –Spain, as part efforts towards contributing to the growth and development of the Nigerian aviation industry. The airline also introduced a Special Services Unit which consist of welltrained males and females to among other functions, attend to passengers with special needs, urgent complaints, update passengers on current promos and benefits of Dana Miles at the airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Owerri. According to the Accountable Manager of Dana Air, Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo, ‘Dana Air is committed to the growth
and development of the Nigerian aviation industry. As at 2015, more than 500 Nigerian pilots were unemployed but with our recruitment and frequent training both locally and abroad since 2015, we have been able to reduce the number, by engaging these pilots and paying for their training in South Africa and Spain.” “We will continue to encourage professionalism in the industry and support our Nigerian Pilots to ensure constant growth and development in the industry.’’ On the newly – introduced Special Services Unit, Obi said we introduced the Special Services Unit to further deepen customer service, offer multiple issue-solving options and provide seamless travel experience for our teeming guests.’’
Danbatta Earlier, Dr Aminu commended the NCC boss for his outstanding role in the development of both the telecoms and educational sectors of the country.
Indonesia set to host over 2,000 Nigerians at Trade Expo
Esther Taiwo
Indonesian government has said it will to strengthen its economic relationship with Nigeria by hosting over 2,000 Nigerians at the upcoming 32nd trade expo billed for Oct 11 to 15, 2017 in Indonesia. Addressing journalists recently at his head office in Lagos, Chief Executive Officer of Goldmine Global Services, partner of the expo, Mr. Ishamael Balogun said the expo is open to over 20,000 visitors across the world; and Nigerians would benefit immensely in terms of trade relationship with the country, which will in turn boost Nigeria economically. He said his company was set up in 2005 to empower
Nigerians and reduce unemployment, adding that trade expo is a way of fulfilling its vision by assisting interested Nigerians to secure visa and other necessary documents to attend the expo. “Ability to think globally is what and individual needs to do business, Partnership plays a key role in successful business, as well as passion to expand. Indonesia has the best resources for craft such as furniture making, there is beauty in collaboration,” he said. According to him, Indonesia has overtaken Malaysia in oil exportation; adding that the country took palm seed from Nigeria; and today, it is becoming a global competitor in the exportation of palm oil.
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