BrandArena: October 2023

Tuesday 31 October 2023

Africa Online Safety Fund announces grant winners

The Africa Online Safety Fund (AOSF) has announced the grant recipients for this year, including six Nigerian organisations: Access Drive Capacity Development Foundation, Epower, Lagos Mums Foundation, TechSocietal, Teens Can Code, and Zikoko Citizen.

Finance ministers from across Africa convened today to deliberate on political and institutional reforms that will help mobilize an additional $30 billion annually for water and sanitation. This is as much about financing as it is about political will, participants heard.

LIRS Suspends 34 Businesses Due to Tax Debts

…promises to shut down more

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has closed down 34 corporate organizations for failing to remit Personal Income Taxes of their employees and for non-remittance of Consumption Taxes by operators in the hospitality sector to the Lagos State Government. Some of these companies include NTS Nigeria Ltd., Med-In Hospital & Pharma Services Ltd., Danvic Petroleum Int'l Ltd., Business Intelligence Technology, Avaya Nigeria Ltd., Gladstone Tech Ltd., Courier Plus Services Ltd., Kurioucity Ltd., Medilag Ventures Ltd., Future Oilfields, and Seven Six & Ten Limited.

Ethiopia set to host the 2023 African Economic Conference

The stage is now set for the 2023 African Economic Conference, jointly organized by the African Development Bank, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Medallion Data Centre Limited, Nigeria's leading carrier neutral data centre operator, has officially changed its name to Digital Realty.

Payment Service Bank (9PSB), Nigeria's leading and most innovative digital payment service bank focused on financial inclusion, has formed a strategic alliance with XCHANGEBOX, a leading licenced Super-Agent service provider, to provide agent banking solutions to rural, small, and medium-sized businesses through their flagship product, PAYREP. The cooperation was signed at the 9PSB headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Awosika, Adenuga, Akingbade To Be Inducted Into 2023 Brandcom Awards’ Hall of Fame

Three outstanding achievers in diverse areas of branding and Communication are set to be inducted into Brandcom Awards’ prestigious Hall of Fame this year.

How to Use Two WhatsApp Accounts on a Single Device

Have you ever found yourself juggling both sides of your business and personal life, and wished there was a better way to handle communications for both? If this is the case, WhatsApp has some exciting news for you!

In a remarkable display of consumer-centricity, Rite Foods Limited's award-winning Sosa Fruit Drink brand recently took a group of selected consumers on an all-expense-paid trip to its world-class factory in Ososa, Ogun State.

The results are in and today, organisers of the annual Africa Tech Festival, taking place in Cape Town on 14 – 16 November 2023 announced the top ten finalists of the AfricaIgnite Pitch Competition who will battle it out to win the opportunity to represent the African continent in the Startup World Cup on 1 December this year.

9 Payment Service Bank (9PSB), Nigeria's leading digital payment service bank focused on financial inclusion, participated in the recently concluded Nigeria Fintech Week (NFW) among other industry players. The theme for this year's edition was 'Fintech: Resilience, Innovation, & Diversification.'

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has signed a term sheet for a US$40 million pre-export facility in favour of Johnvents Industries Limited on Friday, October 28th 2023 in Houston, United States.

Sustainable development is a global imperative that transcends borders and communities. As a multidimensional concept that seeks to balance economic, social, and environmental goals to ensure a better quality of life for current and future generations, it demands the collaborative efforts of individuals and organizations committed to driving innovation and promoting inclusion.

Mobile Banking, Adware Top the List of Common Cyberthreats - Report

The number of mobile threats for Android devices detected and blocked by Kaspersky in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META) region increased by 5% in Q2 2023 when compared to the same period last year, according to Kaspersky research on mobile cyber threats dynamics. Given the prevalence of mobile devices in Africa, such a growth is cause for alarm.

9mobile, Nigeria's premier brand committed to creating a positive impact, presented its quarterly Health Talk Series, with an emphasis on drug misuse and its consequences on mental health, to honour the 2023 World Mental Health Day events. This episode of the series, titled "Substance Abuse: A Conversation We Must Have Now," featured David Folaranmi, a renowned advocate for substance abuse sufferers, as well as Dr. Damian Avar, also known as the "Sabi Doctor."

Global Gateway: EU signs strategic partnerships on critical raw materials value chains with DRC and Zambia

...advances cooperation with the US and other key partners to develop the ‘Lobito Corridor'

Today, at the Global Gateway Forum taking place in Brussels, the EU signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with partners to develop critical raw materials value chains and boost transport connectivity.

Lagos Free Zone (LFZ), Nigeria's first deep seaport-based private free trade zone, has been named Industrial Champion in the Global Free Zones of the Year 2023 awards by fDi Intelligence, a Financial Times service. fDi Intelligence tracks global greenfield foreign direct investments across industries.

On Saturday, October 21, 2023, Fitness+, a community-focused health and wellness institution, sponsored the first edition of its "Yaba Fitness Fair," one of Lagos' largest fitness fairs, at Rowe Park in Yaba. The event was an opportunity for Fitness+ to educate its host community and the general public on the need to prioritise physical and mental fitness in order to live better lives.

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) has submitted to the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE) its Unaudited Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

Coke Studio Africa 2023 is live, igniting a musical fire that promises to enchant people all over the world. This season features the thrilling remix "Traboski (COKE STUDIO)," which features the legendary Nigerian singer-songwriter BNXN, formerly known as Buju, South Africa's Young Stunna, and Kenya's Nikita Kering.

DLM Trust has officially debunked and dissociated itself from the press statement issued by Patricia Technologies Limited on October 24, 2023, alleging a partnership agreement between the two companies.

McEnies Global Communications has sealed a six-month contract with the United Kingdom Met Office to improve weather communication practises and devise effective communication strategies to minimise chronic floods in Nigeria.

Emirates Inflight Meal Preordering Service is now available on 92 routes worldwide, with 30 additional routes, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Delhi, Mumbai, and Kuala Lumpur, launching today. More than 10,000 preorders have now been delivered on over 3,000 flights, and Emirates customers place more than 600 meal preorders daily.

TikTok Goes Beyond the Mobile Screen, Moves into OOH, Cinema Ad Solution For Brands

TikTok is expanding its reach beyond mobile screens with the introduction of Out of Phone, a new out-of-home (OOH) ad solution that allows brands to leverage TikTok content in additional places such as billboards, kiosks, cinemas, retail stores, and more. The solution is tailored to each partner, with tailored programmes designed to appeal to audiences in specific places and locales.

Dove has partnered with sportswear giant Nike and tennis legend Venus Williams to establish the "Body Confident Sport" online coaching programme, which seeks to assist young athletes in building body confidence and self-esteem.

Capital Film Productions (CFP), a film investment firm, launched the Act-3 Film Fund, a $50 million fund dedicated to supporting the strong creative forces driving Africa's film industry, beginning with Nollywood.

Barcelona declare profit of €304 million for 2022-23 season but costs far exceed budget

...estimate €859m in revenue for 2023/24 season

Spanish football giants Barcelona have reported a profit of €304 million during the 2022-23 season, but few are celebrating. Their financial woes were expected to persist for some time, while Vice-President of the Economic Department Eduard Romeu stated that members could expect a 'normalised year' as early as next year.

VC4A Receives IFC ScaleX Award for Supporting Women-led Startups to Raise Capital

VC4A, the leading platform that strengthens the startup community in emerging markets, has been honoured with a prestigious IFC ScaleX award for its contribution to supporting women-led firms in getting finance after finishing an accelerator programme. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, chose VC4A as one of the top five accelerators out of 170.

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has appointed Dr Akinsola Babalola, a banking and finance management professional, Special Assistant to the Bank Group President.

NBA Updates Its App, Launches All-New Personalization Features, Live Game Experience for 2023-24 Season

Team and Player Tabs Personalized with AI and New Social Media Style “Moments” Feed with Video Content Among Latest NBA App Updates; “Bring it Home,” Season 2 of “Pass the Rock” and "Starting 5” Daily Newsletter Lead Lineup of New Original Content and Initiatives Bringing Fans Year-Round Access to Players and Teams.

Mayor Biscuits Company Limited (MABISCO), an indigenous biscuits company in Nigeria, has announced its decision to sell the multi-million dollar biscuits plant and reinvest the proceeds in a new line of business.

World Food Day: 3X4 Gourmet Celebrates the Richness and Diversity of Nigerian Street Food Cuisine

…positions Nigerian street food as the next frontier in cultural exports

On Monday, 16th October, the world celebrated World Food Day, a United Nations observance day celebrated annually to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945. It is a day that reminds us how the food we eat tells a story about who we are and where we come from. It is also a way to share our culture and connect with our shared humanity.

African Energy Week (AEW) 2023 featured a Saudi Arabia-Africa Energy Investment Forum roundtable that explored the untapped potential for stronger economic ties between Saudi Arabia and African nations.

A larger TV screen is often a positive thing. Larger TVs have expanded in popularity and availability among customers over time. The innovations in film technology, allow viewers to fully immerse themselves in the subject matter by bringing our beloved stories to life on screen in more realistic ways.

Top Media Performing CEOs in the Banking, Telecoms and Insurance sectors in Q3, 2023

In a constantly evolving landscape within Nigeria's banking, insurance, and telecommunications sectors, the significance of public relations, media performance audits, and intelligence cannot be underestimated. P+ Measurement Services, a leading media intelligence consultancy, on Tuesday, 17th of October, released its comprehensive analysis of the dynamic media landscape for these industries' CEOs during the third quarter of 2023.

Rite Foods Limited, a leading Nigerian Fast Moving Consumer Goods company, joined the global community in celebrating World Food Day 2023 with the theme "Water is Life, Water is Food" on the 16th of October. Rite Foods reaffirmed its unwavering dedication to sustainability with a special emphasis on Bigi Premium Drinking Water.

Nigeria's inflation rate hit an all-time high of 26.72 per cent, a 0.92 per cent increase from the previous month's 25.80 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Jerry Sawyerr Named Chief Marketing Officer of The Alternative Bank

Strategic communications practitioner, Jerry Sawyerr has been named Chief Marketing Officer at The Alternative Bank.

On Thursday 12 and Friday 13, October, Spotify brought together celebrities, podcasters, influencers, music executives, media personalities and music fans at two experiential events dubbed #SpotifyPodcastsLagos and #SpotifyAfrobeats. The events held at La Madison Place in Lekki, Lagos, showcased and celebrated the rich culture of Afrobeats and the remarkable achievements of the genre through the years.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Moroccan government, represented by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, to construct a $1 billion Morocco-Africa Trade and Investment Promotion initiative.

LG Electronics (LG) unveiled its new television lineup for 2023, which boasts a range of technological advancements designed to deliver superior picture quality, sound performance, and usability. This lineup is headlined by its most advanced range of OLED TVs yet, the OLED evo C3. With premium self-lit picture quality, powerful image processing technologies, and an enhanced webOS platform offering even more smart features and services, the company’s latest OLED TVs elevate viewing experiences as only LG OLED can.

Dubai Celebrates Innovation and Entrepreneurship as Expand North Star Opens

Expand North Star, the world's largest startup exhibition, debuted today at the new Dubai Harbour location, showcasing the most recent advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship. The four-day event brings together 1800 companies from 100 countries, as well as over 1,000 investors with more than $1 trillion in assets under management.

Emirates introduces new wildlife amenity kits emphasizing endangered species

Emirates Premium Economy and Economy Class travellers on long-haul flights around the world will soon receive new complimentary amenity packages. The amenity kits were created in collaboration with United for Wildlife to highlight eight of the world's most endangered species.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has eased foreign exchange restrictions on 43 imports, demonstrating its commitment to increasing liquidity in the foreign exchange market.

Sony Group Corporation has launched the "Sony Innovation Fund: Africa," which aims to boost the growth of Africa's entertainment sector. Since 2016, the company has actively participated in developing new businesses around the world, contributing to the growth of startup enterprises through its different innovation funds.

The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), today announces the selection of 30 dynamic individuals for the Behavioural Insights Network Transparency & Accountability (BiNTA) Fellowship, who will participate in an innovative program aimed at driving behavioural change and combating corruption in Nigeria. BiNTA Fellowship, a pioneer for behavioural re-engineering, is designed to build capacity among innovators and changemakers as champions in the fight against corruption.

MediaTek, a global fabless semiconductor manufacturer that powers approximately 2 billion connected devices each year, has partnered with Airtel Nigeria, a significant telecoms service provider. The alliance intends to accelerate technological improvements and improve mobile connectivity across the country, bringing hundreds of millions of people into the digital economy and, as a result, advancing mobile connectivity throughout Nigeria.

Fitness+, a health and wellness centre with a focus on the community, has announced plans to host the largest fitness fair in Yaba, Lagos State, under the name "Yaba Fitness Fair." The goal of this celebration is to encourage community health and fitness.

Recently concluded Big Brother Naija Season 8 dubbed All Stars edition recorded 23 million views globally, a study conducted by leading media intelligence consultancy P+ Measurement Services, has revealed. Former housemates from previous seasons of the famed Big Brother Naija series appeared on the eagerly awaited reality television programme. Key results from the audit, which was painstakingly analysed, including the most frequently cited housemates, media sentiment, media reach, media share by countries, and reality show sponsorships.

The African Development Bank Group’s (AfDB) Chief Economist, Prof Kevin Chika Urama, has urged entrepreneurs in Nordic countries and Ireland to make Africa their business and investment destination.

Tuesday 31 October 2023

Monday 30 October 2023

Sunday 29 October 2023

Saturday 28 October 2023

Thursday 26 October 2023

Wednesday 25 October 2023

Thursday 19 October 2023

Wednesday 18 October 2023

Tuesday 17 October 2023

Monday 16 October 2023

Sunday 15 October 2023

Saturday 14 October 2023