Harrysong set to launch Alterplate Music Company

Former Five Star act,  Harrison Tare Okiri popularly known as Harrysong has concluded plans to launch his own record label “Alterplate Music”.

According to the Nigerian singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, the label will be launched this Friday.

Wakanow Shines at Nigeria’s Top ICT Awards

Nigeria’s first online travel company, Wakanow, has again reaffirmed its position as Nigeria’s most preferred booking portal following its recent recognition as Travelers’ Portal of the Year during the Beacon of ICT Awards held in Lagos.

According to Nigeria Communications Week, organizers of the annual awards, Wakanow was voted the travel portal of choice by over 1.3 million readers through an online poll conducted by the magazine, spanning over a period of five months. By virtue of the win, Wakanow also made history by becoming the first online travel company to win the award for the second year in a row.

Singapore-based Sportswear Signs Kit Supply Deals With FAZ, FKF

Singaporean sportswear firm Mafro has struck deals with the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and Football Federation Kenya (FKF) to supply kit to the national football teams of both countries.

The FAZ announced a two year deal with Mafro Sports for an annual sum of US$200,000.

What happened to transparency?

By Simon Kolawolelive

Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Nigeria's minister of state for petroleum resources

At the annual Nigerian jamboree to the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, the minister of state for petroleum resources, told a “world press conference” on May 5, 2017 that Nigeria’s refineries would soon have new investors. He said 26 investors had indicated interest in the epileptic refineries. “By September, we will unveil the investors for the refineries,” the minister said smoothly, typically. “When we came onboard, the refineries were not working but as we speak, we have sizeable investment portfolio for them to an extent that we don’t know who to partner with for the investment.”

Let’s say I didn’t go to school at all. Or let’s say it was evening school that I attended. These would still be my takeaways from the minister’s proclamations: one, our refineries are now in a position to attract investment; two, 26 investors have indicated interest in taking over the refineries (on a repair, operate and maintain, ROM, agreement); three, we have not taken a decision yet because there are so many suitors to choose from; and four, we will announce the favoured investors by September. Without attending Harvard Business School, I would still conclude that it appeared the process was going to be competitive and transparent.

Andela Launches Operations in Uganda

Andela has launched its operations in Uganda. This is the third operating country for the Zuckerberg-backed developer startup. Andela already has operations in Nigeria and Kenya. Andela trains software developers for 6 months and then deploys them to tech companies around the world that need their skills.

Andela says it chose Uganda after looking at every country in Africa with a population of 3M or more, and then evaluating those countries on a series of metrics including ICT (information and communications tech) prevalence, ICT quality, population, and median age.

Nokia Works With Japanese Operator To Test Applications Using 5G Base Station

Nokia is set to develop the 5G ecosystem with leading Japanese operator NTT DOCOMO, INC. in Japan to prepare for the upcoming introduction of the next generation wireless network. The collaboration - which uses the Intel 5G Mobile Trial Platform - will commence with the key interoperability testing of multi-vendor technology using the 4.5GHz frequency band.

5G will deliver high speeds and low latency in support of a new generation of broadband applications, meeting new requirements for connecting people and devices, especially in megacities such as Tokyo. Nokia will conduct trials of 5G technology with DOCOMO in the Tokyo metropolitan area throughout 2017, with particular focus on busy tourist, shopping and business locations as well as at key public events hosted by the operator.

PayPal Sues Pandora Over Logo Similarities

PayPal has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Pandora, arguing that the company's minimalist logo "dilutes the distinctiveness" of its own branding. "Element by element and in overall impression, the similarities between the logos are striking, obvious, and patently unlawful," the lawsuit alleges.

Last year in October, Pandora donned a new look and launched a new logo that looked very familiar to anyone who’s ever used PayPal before. Now the online payment system is taking Pandora to court, accusing it of ripping off its iconic logo to ride on its popularity.

World Bank Promotes Nigeria’s Food Sufficiency by Supporting Production of Abakaliki Rice

To further boost food production in Nigeria, the World Bank, under its Growth and Employment (GEM) has provided business support for Abakaliki rice-   a company primarily focused on producing Abakaliki rice.

Under the arrangement, the World Bank provided financial support to Ainotrans Energy-the producers of Abakaliki rice to enable it engage the services of vendors that will aid in carrying out its marketing drive. The World Bank, under its Growth and Employment (GEM) project one of the economic empowerment initiatives of the present administration.

Bank Accounts: CAFON mobilises Nigerians against CBN's extortion, excessive charges

…To launch #CloseOneMillionBankAccountsIn2017 campaign

Ms Sola Salako

In view of the public outcry against CBN's directive to increase approved bank charges with effect from May 1 2017, Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria CAFON is set to launch another consumer protest tagged #CloseOneMillionBankAccountsIn2017.

The aimed is to mobilse Nigerian consumers to resist what it described as “excessive charges’’ by Nigerian banks. The Consumer Advocacy NGO initiated the #NoBankingDay protest on March 1, 2016, to draw national attention to bank consumers' dissatisfaction with excessive and illegal bank charges.

Godwin Benson’s Tuteria wins Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation

Godwin Benson's tutoring platform, Tuteria has emerged the winner of the Royal Academy of Engineering Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation with a cash prize of £25,000.

The Nigerian Systems Engineer designed Tuteria, an online platform that links students to qualified tutors in their area and within their budget. Users find the skill they want to learn on an app on their phone, set their budget, and wait to be connected to the nearest tutor.

Arsenal Reduce Ticket Prices After Missing Champions League

Arsenal have offered supporters a reduction in their season ticket prices after the club failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

The Gunners ended the season in fifth place, their first finish outside the top four under Manger Arsene Wenger.

5 LUCRATIVE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN ABUJA

Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria, is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and one of the wealthiest cities in Africa; this makes it one of the best places to do business. Aside being one of the wealthiest and fastest growing cities, it’s also one of the safest and most conducive cities for business. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 lucrative business opportunities for you to take advantage of when in Abuja.

Interior Decoration

Interior Decoration is one of the trending business in Abuja mainly because there is a large number of existing hotels, residential buildings, offices and restaurants (and more to be developed) that are ever ready to hire interior decorators to designs their buildings to make it look classy.

I'm Not Selling My Arsenal Shares - Stan Kroenke Warns

Arsenal majority holder Stan Kroenke has maintained that his company KSE UK's shares in the club "are not, and never have been, for sale''.

In a statement to the Stock Exchange, Kroenke stressed his stance as Arsenal minority owner Alisher Usmanov, who currently owns 30 percent of the club, made a bid of $1.3 billion to acquire out Kroenke last week.

Heritage Bank Partners RIMAN To Promote International Best Practice In Risk Managment

Heritage Bank Plc has entered into strategic partnership with Risk Management Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) to promote global best practices in the implementation of risk management for safer and stronger financial institution.

President of RIMAN, Mr Jude Monye, disclosed this at the first Chief Risk Officer’s time-out/dinner organised by RIMAN, recently.

7 Ways To Fund Your Startup Idea As A Nigerian

A fantastic business remains an idea if pragmatic steps are not taken to bring it to fruition. A huge complaint, drawback or excuse many give is that there is no money to fund the startup or business idea. Unfortunately, many of these million naira ideas have died because of lack of funding. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, agrees that funding is a major factor in business. However, it should not prevent you from going ahead. As a Nigerian, there are ways you can raise capital for your business. Read on to discover these ways.

Savings

Saving is one of the best ways to get money to start a business no matter the number of zeroes in front of your salary. If you have figured out the workability of your idea, you should save a certain percentage of your salary monthly.