AT&T Reaches Deal to Acquire Time Warner for $85 Billion

AT&T on Saturday announced its plans to acquire media giant Time Warner for $85 billion — a blockbuster marriage that would transform the telephone company into the United States largest entertainment company and a major force in Hollywood.

Should the deal be approved by regulators, AT&T will take control of HBO, CNN, TNT, Warner Bros. studio and the rest of Time Warner’s assets.

"It's a great fit, and it creates immediate and long-term value for our shareholders," AT&T chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson said in a statement.

Apple's iconic MP3 player, iPod turns 15

Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs on October 23, 2001 launched iPod, a portable music player that transformed the way people buy and listen to music.

iPod laid the foundation for the powerhouses that Apple has had with the iPhone and iPad today.

Early iPod featured a 5GB hard drive, FireWire port for syncing and a physically-rotating scroll wheel that could save 1,000 songs; the next set of the device came with touch control and added Windows support.

The device has also evolved as tech innovation advices thus extending into three versions: iPod- the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano and the touchscreen iPod Touch.

AABLA 2016: BUA Group’s Abdulsamad Rabiu is Industrialist of the Year

…restates commitment to expanding investments in Nigeria and Africa

Abdulsamad Rabiu (L), receiving his 'Industrialist of the Year' award from fmr. Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi at the 2016 CNBC All Africa Business Leaders Award held in Lagos recently.

Billionaire industrialist and Executive Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, has emerged winner of the 2016 West African Industrialist of the Year at the prestigious All Africa Business Leaders Award (AABLA) held in Lagos recently.

Rabiu was recognized as Industrialist Leader of the Year – West Africa at a regional ceremony for his enormous and consistent contributions to the growth of the Nigerian/West African economy as it aims at spreading across other African countries. CNBC Africa has pioneered All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) since 2011  to salute and recognise bold leaders and change-makers of business in East, West and Southern Africa, who through strength, innovation and foresight induce positive changes in an evolving corporate Africa.

On accepting the award, Rabiu expressed his appreciation to the organisers for the award. He went further to thank his wife for her support and tolerance despite the demanding nature of running a large business. He also thanked the staff of BUA Group for their passion, dedication, commitment, hard work and the confidence reposed in him which had made the recognition possible.”

Adetu, Tagoe inspire undergraduates at First Primus Open day

Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, First Primus West Africa Li​​mited, Otunba Seni Adetu, and the Executive Director, Education, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), Dr. Noel Tagoe,have advised Nigerian undergraduates to remain focused and be more strategic in the application of their skills in their various endeavours in order to be successful.

Speaking at an Open Day session organised for members of the CIMA Undergraduate Club from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) at the Lagos Headquarters of First Primus West Africa in Lagos. Adetu and Tagoe in their speeches to the students said the youth must have clearly defined aspirations and objectives, and must define how they would like to achieve it.

L-R: Executive Director, Education, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Dr. Noel Tagoe; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, First Primus West Africa Limited, Otunba Seni Adetu; Executive Member, CIMA Undergraduate Club, UNILAG chapter, Mr. Smart Omokolade Ogunsemore; and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Invent Media  Limited, Mr. Adekunle Adeshina, at the Open Day at First Primus, as part of CIMA mentorship programme in Lagos​.

Mr. Adetu, who is also a Director at Fidelity Bank, mentioned that while education is a vital tool which grooms the mind of an individual in understanding the dynamics of life, it is not an outright determinant indefining the level of success of a person.

Making reference to his progression as a senior leader in business, Mr. Adetu said young people must open their mind to the possibilities of life irrespective of their educational qualification, and should endeavour to employ their skills in the best possible way, as evidenced by the way he has become a renowned name in marketing, despite having a first degree in Chemical Engineering.

Black House Media To Mark 10th Anniversary In November

Come Monday, November 7, Black House Media, a Lagos-based PR and Digital agency will be marking its 10 anniversary.

According to the agency’s MD, Ayeni Adekunle, the idea is to celebrate this achievement with friends and colleagues. He added that the party will last throughout the month on social media like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

“On Monday, November 7, 2016, we will be hosting our clients, friends, staff, journalists, partners, suppliers, etc to an open day of beer, barbecue and brandy. We’re not working all day,” he said.

There would be a charity visit to neighbourhood schools on Tuesday, November 8 where the firm would donate gifts for the kids.

Akwa Ibom Teacher Emerges 2016 Maltina Teacher of the Year

Mr. Imoh Essien, a teacher from Special Education Center for Exceptional Children, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has emerged the 2016 Maltina Teacher of the Year at the grand finale in Lagos on Thursday. For the feat, Mr. Essien was rewarded with One Million Naira in addition to Five Hundred Thousand Naira he received as state champion from Akwa Ibom. He will also get One Million Naira every year for five years, a training program abroad and a block of six classrooms built at his school.

Essien, a teacher of Computer, Basic Sciences and Physical Education revealed that he draws his inspiration for teaching from his fun loving personality through which he is able to help children with special needs. He added that a strong emotional and mental stability is vital to positively impact children with special needs, a job he has done for twelve years.

L-R: Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde;  Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwukah; 2016 Maltina Teacher of the Year, Mr. Imoh Essien and Professor Pat Utomi, Chairman, Panel of Judges, Maltina Teacher of the Year during the grand finale of the 2016 Maltina Teacher of the Year in Lagos on Thursday.

Mohammed Binta Lawan, an English teacher, from Borno State, who was the first runner-up last year, repeated the feat this year, while Ogwu Patrick from Government Day Secondary School, Adankolo, Lokoja, Kogi State emerged second runner-up.

While welcoming guests at the event, the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde explained that Nigerian Breweries operates with a philosophy of “Winning with Nigeria” and has championed causes that add value to the society since its inception in 1946.

International Advisory Panel Holds Inaugural Meeting

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s International Advisory Panel on October 19, 2016, held the its first meeting in Beijing. The Panel provides impartial, objective and independent advice to the President, allowing the Bank to benefit from the international experience and expertise of Panel members.

At the meeting, the Panel discussed the global economic situation and its implications for the Bank’s operations, the need to promote green infrastructure in the new global agenda and the importance of increasing private sector involvement in infrastructure in the region.

At the close of the meeting, President Jin said “It is a great honor to convene such an experienced and diverse group of international leaders to advise on the development of the Bank's strategy. I have no
doubt that the advice the Panel provides will help shape the development of the Bank in the years ahead, and I could not ask for a better group of ambassadors to help promote our new Bank to the
world”.

CBN, Heritage Bank Disburse N774m To 310 YIEDP Beneficiaries

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Heritage Bank Plc, Nigeria’s most innovative banking services provider and The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have disbursed a whopping sum of N774million to 310 beneficiaries under the Youth Innovative Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YIEDP).

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony for the disbursement of funds to young entrepreneurs under the YIEDP, on Thursday, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, commended Heritage Bank for its painstaking effort to buy into the vision of job creation and piloting the programme to a successful stage.

The governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, said the CBN in partnership with Heritage Bank and NYSC instituted the programme to reduce the alarming rate of unemployment affecting over 16 million unemployed youths in Nigeria, adding that the access to credit via this platform would be a powerful instrument to grow businesses and the economy.

He noted that the YIEDP was part of the plan by the CBN and the Federal Government to create over one million direct jobs by 2020.

Ecobank targets 100 million customers across Africa with Masterpass QR

The Ecobank Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mastercard to roll-out Masterpass QR, a mobile payment solution, across 33 African countries. This new agreement will give Ecobank the scale and capacity to achieve its 100 million customer ambition in a profitable and sustainable way by 2020.

The MoU signals the largest Masterpass deal of its kind for Mastercard globally, with the QR solution specifically being selected due to Masterpass QR’s ease of use and convenience for merchants and consumers in the selected markets.

Ecobank customers in Nigeria already enjoy the benefits of Masterpass QR.Soon all remaining 32 countries in across Pan-African will receive the benefits of the partnership by the end of 2016.

Hello Paisa wins second annual MasterCard Foundation Clients at the Centre Prize

The MasterCard Foundation today presented its second annual Clients at the Centre Prize to Hello Paisa. The US$150,000 Prize recognizes the company's innovative work in South Africa to facilitate international money transfer for foreign workers.

The award came after the 300+ members of the audience at The MasterCard Foundation Symposium on Financial Inclusion voted for one of three finalist firms competing for the Prize. The Symposium is the annual gathering of financial service practitioners and experts serving the needs of poor people in developing countries, being held this year from October 20-21 in Kigali, Rwanda.

Winner of The MasterCard Foundation Clients at the Centre Prize 2016 is Ahmed Cassim, Managing Director of the Hello Group Financial Services (right). Presenting the award was the Foundation's Ann Miles, Director of Financial Inclusion and Youth Livelihoods (left) and Sumaiya Sajjad, Program Manager (centre)

The MasterCard Foundation believes that banks and other financial service providers in developing countries should focus on the needs and expectations of people living in poverty. Putting poor clients at the centre of the design of new financial products and services helps bring underserved people into the formal banking system, improving their livelihoods and their ability to plan for the future. The Clients at the Centre Prize finds and recognizes the most customer-focused organizations working to deliver access to formal financial products and services to poor people.

Lampe Omoyele Takes A Bow As CEO of Nielsen West Africa

One of Africa's top brand strategist, Lampe Omoyele has quite his position as the Managing Director/CEO of The Nielsen West Africa. Omoyele took a bow at the multinational research and marketing outfit in September 2016.

His unceremonious departure is coming exactly one year and seven months after he took the job which made him a reference point for consumer and marketing research in Nigeria. While at Nielsen, Lampe provided insights as well as consulting services to various brands and corporate organsations in the country.

In a telephone chat earlier today Lampe, confirmed that he had actually left Nielsen West Africa, but would not disclose what his next port of call would be. “I am no longer with Nielsen, but I cannot tell you now what I am up to next. As soon as I make up my mind on that, I will let you know,” he said.

Apple plans to launch unveil new MacBook Pro on October 27

Apple confirmed its plan to unveil new MacBook Pro computers during a press conference on October 27.

There are rumours that new MacBook will not only offer the latest Intel processors, but also a thinner design — possibly at the cost of full-size USB ports. Apple is expected to outfit the new MacBook Pro with a special OLED panel above the keyboard that can be used for shortcuts, quick launch options and more.

The Mac event is expected to take place at or near Apple’s Cupertino campus rather than in San Francisco, where the company held many recent events, including the iPhone 7 announcement.

Tribeca PR Clinches TomTom SA Account

TomTom South Africa has hired the service of Tribeca Public Relations as its public relations agency with immediate effect. Tribeca will be responsible for developing and managing TomTom’s local communication strategies as well as executing communication campaigns across its GPS sport watches and wearables and drive devices.

TomTom is a global leader in navigation devices, traffic and map products, GPS sport watches, fitness wearables and enables businesses to easily manage and improve their fleet efficiency with its fleet management solutions.

“We’re very excited to be working with the Tribeca team as we believe they are results driven and poised to deliver the calibre of storytelling needed to support our business,” says Julie-Anne Massey-Hicks, marketing manager of TomTom South Africa.