Sprinter Obinna Metu, fastest man in Nigeria on CNN’s ‘Human to Hero’

Human to Hero, is a show that gets to the heart of what it takes to be a sporting star and explores the discipline, dedication and determination involved, as well as the sources of inspiration for the world's best athletes.

The show which airs on Wednesday, 17th July on CNN World Sport at 5pm, will this week feature Obinna Metu, the fastest man in Nigeria.

At 10.11 seconds over 100m, Obinna has been unbeatable at home over four seasons. He's been coached by two sporting greats- record-breaking distance runner Haile Gebrselassie and six-time Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt. Hoping to take on every scrap of their advice and win a medal at the Athletics World Championships he tells ‘Human to Hero’ that money is more important than talent for a young athlete - financial support is crucial to success.

According to Obinna, Haile Gebrselassie has been his mentor, “He made me to understand for you to become a great person in track and field or even in sports in general, you have to have the mind to withstand pressure. If you can't withstand the pressure, I don't think you have the qualities of a champion”, he said.

On his dream of breaking the world record, he said, “nobody knew that a world record could become 9.58. But Usain did it.  Another Usain Bolt might come out, and I pray, let it be me, he concluded.

Diageo Announces Change To Executive Committee

Diageo has announced that Ian Wright, Corporate Relations Director since 2004, is to leave the company. Ian will be succeeded by Charlotte Lambkin, currently Group Communications Director of BAe Systems plc. Charlotte will join Diageo in January 2014 and will replace Ian on the Diageo Executive.  Ian will support Charlotte through her first months and leave Diageo on 31 March 2014. His plans for his next role will become public in the coming months.

Paul S Walsh, Advisor to the Chairman and Chief Executive of Diageo commented: ‘Ian has been a principal architect of Diageo’s reputation.  It was he and his team who first articulated our ambition to be one of ‘the world’s most trusted and respected companies’ and he has been a major contributor in our efforts to achieve it.  I know he took particular pride on the two occasions when we were named Britain’s Most Admired Company.  He has made a very important contribution to Diageo’s standing among global corporations and has also been a key member of the Executive Committee.  We all wish him well.’

Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive of Diageo commented: ‘I am delighted to welcome Charlotte Lambkin to Diageo.  Charlotte has an outstanding record of achievement in the corporate relations arena.  Her work at BAe Systems plc, where she has been a member of their Executive Committee for the past five years, marks her out as an excellent leader with a real grasp of the demands of managing the stakeholder agenda of a global business.  I look forward very much to working with her.

‘I want to thank Ian for all the support he is giving me in my transition, and for the part he has played in securing his successor to a critical leadership role for our business.’

Lady Gaga New Album, ARTPOP, To Be 'Supported' With An App

Mother Monster, Lady Gaga, has confirmed that her hugely anticipated album ARTPOP album will be accompanied by an app and be would released on November 11.

Photo: The announcement on the upcoming new album ARTPOP

The album/app can be pre-ordered from September 1, and is preceded by her single that is due out August 19.

On her Facebook page, Lady Gaga posted a statement about what we can expect from ARTPOP and the app itself, which promises to incorporate much more than just interactive videos:

‘Built by TechHAUS, the technological branch of HAUS OF GAGA, the app itself is a musical and visual engineering system that combines art, fashion, and technology with a new interactive worldwide community – 'the auras'. Altering the human experience with social media, we bring ARTculture into POP in a reverse Warholian expedition.’

As an icon herself, she has praised and celebrated those that she loves from the various creative spheres and intends on using this sense of obsession as driving force for ARTPOP. This isn’t the only this that the singer intends to do with her next revolution, for, along with Haus of Gaga, she wants, ‘to bring the music industry into a new age; an age where art drives pop, and the artist once again is in control of the ‘icon’.

Emirates A380 to Serve Barcelona

Following its successful launch in July 2012, Emirates has today announced it will commence a daily A380 service to Barcelona from 1st February 2014.

Increasing overall capacity by almost 44 percent, Emirates’ new 517 seat A380 service will be the first permanent A380 service to operate into Barcelona El Prat Airport, replacing the route’s existing Boeing 777-300ER service and offering 2198 additional seats per week between the two cities.

“Barcelona has been one of the most successful new destinations of 2012,” said Hubert Frach, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations West. “In line with this steady growth we feel that the time is ripe to announce the launch of our A380 service, which will continue to connect customers in Spain with Dubai as well as key destinations in Australasia, the Indian Subcontinent and the Far East.”

The new upgraded capacity will also offer strengthened support for popular markets from Barcelona, with the Emirates A380 servicing 12 destinations in Australia and the Far and Middle East, enabling customers to enjoy a seamless A380 experience.

In February this year Emirates’ popular A380 aircraft was welcomed into Barcelona El Prat Airport by hundreds of onlookers as the airline operated two ad-hoc A380 services to meet the destination’s burgeoning demand.

Since launching its inaugural flight to Barcelona last year Emirates has further committed to this dynamic destination with the five year sponsorship of the Barcelona Open Tennis Tournament earlier this year.

Ashiru, Savage To Grace Rotary Ikeja Investiture

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru will be the guest of honour at the Rotary club of Ikeja, District 9110 investiture ceremony of Rotarian Goke Olayinka as the 47th president of the club.

According to the club, the investiture ceremony is billed to take place at the Best Western Hotel Ikeja on July 21, 2013; it will also witness the induction of the 2013/2014 board of directors of the district.

Other dignitaries expected to grace the event include; the Chairman Guinness Nigeria plc Mr. Tunde Savage who is the guest speaker and father of the day, HRM Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle 11, the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland.

The Rotary club is an international service organization whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. It is a secular organization open to all persons regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, gender, or political preference. There are 34,282 clubs and over 1.2 million members worldwide.

GOtv Extends Offerings to Onitsha and Asaba

GOtv thrilled its teeming customers in Onitsha and Asaba, launched a unique offerings and services in Onitsha, Anambra State and the commercial nerve-centre of the South-East Nigeria, and in Asaba, Delta State back-to-back.

The launch in Onitsha was held on Tuesday, July 16 at Sharon Hall, GRA while Asaba goes live on Thursday, July 18. GOtv signals are now activated in Ibadan, Port-Harcourt, Lagos, Enugu, Benin-City, Aba, Owerri, Kano and Kaduna following successful launches in these cities recently.

Launched by Details Nigeria in association with MultiChoice Nigeria, GOtv utilizes the DVB-T2 technology standard, which allows for no less than 22 channels per frequency and is different from other first generation standard DVB-T1, which only allow for up to 13 channels per frequency.

Thus, there is a dramatic improvement on the dividend of terrestrial frequencies available when DVB-T2 is deployed.

Mrs. Elizabeth Amkpa, General Manager, GOtv, said: “What we offer our subscribers is real value for money when you think of the quality content and programming, which are delivered in great picture and sound quality and at a give-away price. Customers are not likely to find these elsewhere at a affordable rate of N1,500 per month subscription for GOtv Plus bouquet, which has 37 world-class local and international channels and N1,000 for GOtv bouquet with 27 channels. The complete system sells for Nine Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N9, 900).”

Three Nigerians Among Finalists for CNN-Multichoice African Journalists Award

Three Nigeria journalists, Geoff Iyatse of The Guardian, Tolu Ogunlesi, Freelance for Ventures Africa and Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye of Sunday Punch have been nominated as finalists for the 18th CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2013 Competition.

The competition received entries from 42 countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa.

The other 24 finalists are: Gifty Andoh Appiah, Joy News TV, Ghana; Rebekah Awuah, GBC 24, Ghana; Domingos Bento, Seminário Novo Jornal, Angola; Thomas Otieno Bwire, Pamoja FM, Kibera, Kenya; Axcel Micael Chenney, Le Défi Média Group, Mauritius; Florence Dallu, Freelance for Koch FM, Kenya; Nicola de Chaud, Freelance for Carte Blanche, South Africa; Adrian de Kock, The Star, South Africa; Ibrahima-Benjamin Diagne, Radio Futurs Médias (RFM), Senegal; Msindisi Fengu & Yandisa Monakali, Daily Dispatch, South Africa.

Selma Inocência, Rede de Comunicação Miramar, Mozambique; Thanduxolo Jika & Media 24 Investigations Team, Media 24, South Africa; Judy Jeptum Kosgei & Mauritius Oduor, Citizen TV, Kenya; Lucas Ledwaba, City Press, South Africa, Lázaro Mabunda, O País, Mozambique; Carol Natukunda, New Vision, Uganda; Amon Ngabo, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, Uganda; Brenda Okoth, The Star, Kenya; Nassima Oulebsir, El Watan, Algeria; Passant Rabie, Egypt Today, Egypt; Roseline Wangui and Wambui Kurema, NTV, Kenya.

The winners of the competition will be announced at an Award Ceremony and Gala Evening in Cape Town, South Africa, on October 12. 

Trebet, New Bottled Water Brand, Unveiled In Warria

Representative of NAFDAC DG, Mrs Esther Aburime, MD/CEO First Beltino Investment Ltd, producers of TREBET TABLE WATERs Mrs Justina Ikpea, Chairman, First Beltino Investment Ltd, Dr. Leemon Ikpea and Chairman of the Occasion, Pastor (Dr) Osagie Ize Iyamu during the unveiling of TREBET TABLE WATER in Warri, Delta State

The market trend in Nigeria’s bottled water market is poised to take a drastic turn in the near future following the emergence Trebet Table water, a new brand in the segment, produced with the latest machinery, and a game- changing technology called reverse osmosis.

The new brand was formally unveiled to consumers at an impressive public presentation ceremony held at Wellington Hotel, Warri Delta State recently. The new brand is produced from an ultra-modern factory located at Kilometre 15, NNPC Road, Ekpan in Warri, Delta State.

The unveiling ceremony was witnessed by the representative of The Director- General of The National Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. E.O Abarime; State Head, Edo/ Delta, Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) Mr. Ojo Ilesanmi Akogun; immediate past President, Nutrition society of Nigeria (NSN), Professor Ignatius Oninawo and, Chairman, Edo State Internal Revenue, chief Oseni Elema, as well as different guests from various sectors of the economy. The Chairman of First Beltino Investment  Nig. Limited( owners of Trebet water) Dr. Leemon Ikpea, and the MD, First Beltino investment Nig. Ltd, Mrs. Justina Ikpea, were on hand to receive guest at the event.

The immediate past President of Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof .I. A. Onimawo delivered a brief   public lecture at the event titled :“Clean and Safe Water as an Important Part of Good Family Nutrition”.
           
In his presentation, Prof Onimawo revealed that, Chlorine, though used by other water bottling companies as water purification element in the form of hypoclorous acid, could also cause cancer.   He also decried the excess exposure of town dwellers in Nigeria to lead because it has severe health effects that can last a lifetime.  In his words, “Lead poisoning can cause damage to your brain, kidneys, nervous system, and red blood cells. In addition, it can stunt growth and has even been linked to crime and anti-social behaviour in children. And Most of the lead in drinking water comes from the lead in pipes that bring water to the home.”

Nigeria's Tope Folarin wins Caine writing prize

Tope Folarin

US based Nigerian writer Tope Folarin has been announced as the winner of this year's 'Caine Prize for African Writing' - a prize which has been described as Africa's leading literary award.

Folarin was among the five writers shortlisted for the prize regarded as Africa’s most prestigious award. He received a $15,000 prize for his short story, Miracle, set in a Nigerian church in the US city of Texas.

On his twitter handle, @topefolarin, he said "What an unbelievable night. I'm still floating. I'm so thankful to everyone who's sending love my way. Much appreciated #blessed #caineprize"

Three other Nigerians were short-listed – Elnathan John for Bayan Layi, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim for The Whispering Trees and Chinelo Okparanta for America.

Massive Turnout Expected As MDA 7 Regional Auditions Begin

Hundreds of thousands of entries have so far been received as the process of selecting Nigeria’s top dancing family begins through the number one family dance television show Maltina Dance All (MDA). The exciting and emotional process will be kick started with regional auditions in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. If the flashmob scene that took place during the press briefing heralding the call to entry for the competition in June is anything to go by, then season 7 of the show tagged “The Evolution” will be uniquely different.

The regional auditions are used as the platform to select family representatives who are expected to qualify their families before the show proper kicks off. Aside Port-Harcourt, the other auditioning centres are Lagos and Abuja.

A breakdown of the regional auditioning dates released by the brand shows that it will kick off in Port Harcourt at the Atrium Event Centre on July 19th - 20th; Lagos - National Theatre on July 25th, 26th and 27th and Abuja - Nicon Luxury Hotel on August 2nd - 3rd. Consumers who missed the opportunity of registering online at http://www.maltinadanceall.tv would have the opportunity to register at the audition venues.

According to Mrs. Ngozi Nkwoji Senior Brand Manager, Maltina is all about the emotions, excitement, fun and the unbreakable bond that ten families will showcase when they challenge themselves by learning and performing various dance styles from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and to the present in the famous Maltina Dance All academy.

“This is going to be evolution of dance from time past to the present. The winning family will go home with the grand prize of a whooping sum of N6 million and of course, a brand new car. The first and second runners up will also get N1 million and N500, 000 respectively. The show will bring to the fore, the Nigerian people’s essence and values of sharing, happiness unity, cooperation, vitality and creativity”. She said.

The TV show will be aired from 1st of September this year on major TV networks and video uploaded on YouTube and Facebook. Also, viewers can participate and win fabulous prizes through the interactive SMS platform during the show.

Nokia Introduces Lumia 1020, Debutes Range of Exciting Applications

At a press event in New York today, Nokia unveiled the Lumia 1020 smartphone, which also doubles as a high-end 41 megapixel camera.

"Now more than ever, people are using their smartphones to shoot, edit and share pictures," said Marco Argenti, Senior Vice President, Nokia Developer. "With the Nokia Lumia 1020, we are delivering an industry-leading imaging experience that takes people closer to the details that really matter. We've collaborated closely with Microsoft and top developers around the world to deliver unique app experiences, pushing the boundaries of innovation with our ecosystem."

The Nokia Imaging SDK was built with the same technology Nokia uses for its own imaging applications, including Smart Camera and Creative Studio. The SDK gives developers flexibility to create advanced imaging experiences in their applications for Nokia Lumia smartphones. Whether applying or creating filters or adding effects and adjustments to images, developers can offer people the ability to instantly personalize photos or relive the moment in a variety of ways.

Nokia committed to Microsoft's Windows Phone platform in 2011 after seeing its phone business hit by the success of the iPhone and Android. It does not offer any phones with Google's Android software.

The Lumia 1020 with 32GB of storage will be available exclusively from AT&T starting on July 26 for $300 with a two-year contract. While the camera features might beat out the competition, at $100 more than the 16GB iPhone and other Android phones, it stands in a harder position. 

GE Participates In 2nd Annual Women in Africa Conference

General Electric (GE) showed its support yesterday at the 2nd Women in Africa Conference held at Lagos Business School, Ajah.

The company has continue to extend its market in Africa and show more support to the people.

It could be recalled that General Electric Healthcare partners with the Ministry of Health, The Wellbeing Foundation Africa and Save the Children recently convened key stakeholders and thought leaders in a round-table programme designed to discuss ways technology and innovation can contribute to meeting Nigeria’s maternal and new born health goals.

L-R: Toki Mabogunje,Principal Consultant, Toki Mabogunje & Co, Eniibukun Adebayo, both panelists at the 2nd Annual Women in Africa Conference, Tolulope Agiri, Human Resource Director, Unilever Nigeria ,  Nneka Okekearu, Deputy Director, Enterprise  Development Center and  Patricia Obozuwa, Communications Director, General Electric (GE)Africa

Nneka Okekearu, Deputy Director, Enterprise  Development Center and  Patricia Obozuwa, Communications Director, General Electric (GE)Africa at the 2nd  Women in Africa Conference which held at Lagos Business School, Ajah

Excitement as Star League Winners Receive iPads In Enugu

Sequel to the successful completion of the Star League – Text & Play campaign, premium lager beer brand, Star has redeemed the brand promise it made on April 2, 2013 by personally delivering prizes to winners in their homes and offices in the coal city of Enugu.

Peter Oyiniachunomo Obayin, a retired Manager of Union bank received his prize excitedly, at his No 8 Awolowo 1 Uwani, Enugu North home while Chukwunonso Odiari had his iPads presented to him at his workplace, Nike Lake resort hotel, Abakpa Enugu.

The other winners, Chinedu Ogbue, Ada Igwe (NYSC member), Ubala Nwabueze, Agbo Ugochukwu Athanasius, Maduka Madueze, Nnabike Jablin, Segeus Alaimalu and Uche Aliamanu received their prizes at a special prize presentation event that took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in the presence of family members and friends.

Speaking at the prize presentation event, Star Brand Manager, Omotunde Adenusi said the brand is redeeming the promise it made to consumers at the commencement of the league.  “We are constantly looking out for revolutionary and creative ways to excite, engage and reward our consumers. It gladdens my heart that people have come to love it.  We believe that there is no limit to what one can achieve”.

What made the promo more exciting is that consumers had the rare opportunity to view their position by the points accumulated on a specially designed League table per State of entry on the Star website. At the end of the Offer Period, participants with the highest points from each “State League” were rewarded as follows: For each of the 36 States and Abuja: Top 15 winners got iPads with customized sleeves; Next 550 winners got Premium head phones while next 1000 winners got Exclusive Star DVDs.