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Tag: Cross Rivers State

  • Lafarge Africa Honours Trade Partners at the 2025 Customer and Transporter Awards

    Lafarge Africa Honours Trade Partners at the 2025 Customer and Transporter Awards

    Lafarge Africa Plc, a leading innovative and sustainable building solutions company and manufacturer of premium cement brands, has celebrated its outstanding trade partners at the 2025 Customer & Transporter Awards held on Saturday, February 21, at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The colourful ceremony brought together customers, transporters, and key stakeholders including the Honourable Commissioner for Housing, Lagos State, Hon Moruf Akinderu Fatai, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs, Cross Rivers State, Hon Edema Irom, members of the Board of Lafarge Africa Plc – Mrs. Adenike Ogunlesi, Mrs. Olusola Oworu and Mrs. Elenda Osima-Dokubo, and management and staff of the company, to honour exceptional performance and reinforce the strong partnerships that continue to drive the company’s growth across Nigeria.

    The annual awards ceremony, regarded as the apex of Lafarge Africa’s commercial success, recognizes the invaluable contributions of customers and transporters who ensure the company’s products reach every part of the country. The 2025 edition celebrated partners whose dedication, integrity, and resilience have strengthened the company’s market leadership despite evolving economic realities.

    Elder Ubong Bassey Obot of Ubotex Nigeria Limited emerged the National Volume Champion. Igwe Cosmas Ezeumeh Chizoba of C.C. Umeh and Sons Limited and Chief Etim Effiong Okon of Batoframoje Enterprises secured the titles of first and second runners-up, respectively. As the champion, Ubong Obot received a 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser. C.C. Umeh and Sons Limited and Batoframoje Enterprises were awarded a 2026 Toyota Prado and a 2026 Toyota Fortuner, respectively.

    Additionally, B.I.G MultiQuest Nigeria Limited was recognized as the National Winner- Best Transporter category and was awarded a 2026 Toyota Hilux.  Two customers who emerged as National Growth Champions received 15KVA Generating Sets, while 4 regional champions were rewarded with a Toyota RAV4 each. Other winners received prizes including a Changan CS55, GAC S3, Hyundai Creta cars, 13KVA solar inverters, 80-inch Hisense TVs, and deep freezers, among others.

    Welcoming guests to the event, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Lafarge Africa Plc, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, expressed deep appreciation to the partners for their loyalty and commitment to the business.

    Lolu Alade-Akinyemi noted that Lafarge Africa’s growth story would be incomplete without its partners’ market insights, trust, and consistent support. He emphasized that the company would continue to push boundaries in quality, innovation, and high performance, inspired by the strength of its partnerships.

    “We are here to honour partnership. We want to thank our customers for partnering with us in 2025. In 2025, we expanded our retail presence and focused on customer experience. We strengthened our ready-mix business, launched new products including Ecoplanet Elephant and  Ecocrete, our low-carbon cement and concrete solutions, and walked the talk on innovation, using technology as a competitive advantage. We could not have done this without our customers and partners,” he said.

    In his remarks, the Commercial Director of Lafarge Africa Plc, Gbenga Onimowo, described customers and transporters as “trade champions” whose excellence and unwavering belief in the company’s products have sustained the company’s strong position in the market.

    Onimowo stated that their shared values and commitment to growth have created a mutually beneficial relationship built on trust, loyalty, and integrity.

    “You are a vital part of our business, ensuring our products are visible and accessible across the country. Your contribution merits daily appreciation. Tonight’s expression of thanks is special because it gives us the opportunity to celebrate our wins together, in person. While we celebrate tonight’s winners, we acknowledge that every partner here has contributed meaningfully to our success. We believe this recognition will inspire even greater achievements in the year ahead,” he added.

    Also speaking, the Logistics Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, Osaze Aghatise, acknowledged the transporters as the critical bridge between the company and its customers, ensuring efficient distribution and nationwide availability of its innovative building solutions. According to him, the awards serve as both recognition and motivation, encouraging partners to continue raising the bar.

    The ceremony featured the announcement of various award categories, with top-performing partners receiving special recognition for their outstanding contributions. The evening was marked by celebration, networking with celebrities and notable artists, and camaraderie, reflecting the enduring spirit of collaboration that defines Lafarge Africa’s relationship with its trade partners.

  • FirstBank Announced as Sponsors for Calabar Entertainment Conference

    FirstBank Announced as Sponsors for Calabar Entertainment Conference

    Hit FM, the leading radio station in Cross Rivers state, and organizers of Calabar Entertainment Conference (CEC) has announced First Bank of Nigeria Limited as official bank partners for the flagship youth engagement program in the Creative Sector.

    CEC has held every year since 2017, and now in its 9th year, executive producer and CEO of Hit FM, Patrick Ugbe says the creative sector “has not been in more urgent need of interventions that facilitate capacity building, funding, distribution, and thought leadership.”

    This year’s event will hold on the 17th and 18th of October at Hogis Royale, Calabar, Cross River State, bringing together young talents, industry leaders, investors, and policymakers to explore opportunities, tackle challenges, and chart pathways for sustainable growth within Nigeria’s dynamic creative economy.

    FirstBank’s partnership underscores the bank’s long-standing commitment to supporting youth empowerment, innovation, and entrepreneurship across diverse sectors. 

    Ugbe adds: “By coming on board as the Official Bank, FirstBank further demonstrates its role as a catalyst for growth, providing financial inclusion and fostering creativity among young Nigerians. “

    “We are thrilled to welcome FirstBank as the Official Bank of the Calabar Entertainment Conference. Their support not only validates the importance of the creative sector in driving national development but also provides a strong platform for youth to access resources, knowledge, and networks that will help transform their ideas into sustainable ventures”.

    Also speaking on the partnership, Olayinka Ijabiyi, the Acting Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, FirstBank, stated, “At Firstbank, we are passionate about supporting platforms that empower young people and nurture talent. Our partnership with the Calabar Entertainment Conference aligns with our drive to promote innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship as key drivers of Nigeria’s future”.

    “Through our First@Arts initiative, which is geared at consolidating support for the creative arts, we are leveraging platforms like the Calabar Entertainment Conference to enable our stakeholders to explore the wealth of opportunities that the creative industry has to offer.”

    The two-day event will feature keynote addresses, masterclasses, panel discussions, and networking sessions designed to inspire and equip participants to maximise the opportunities in the creative industry.

  • MTN, others get permits to generate electricity

    MTN, others get permits to generate electricity

    The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued permits to MTN Communications Nigeria Limited, Golden Penny Power Limited, Havenhill Synergy, and others for mini-grid electricity generation.

    The NERC said it issued nine new off-grid generation licences in the first quarter of 2024 with a gross capacity of 109.69 megawatts and three new trading licences.

    According to a report by the commission, Golden Penny Power Limited got a licence to build six off-grid gas plants in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Cross River states. The total capacity is 100MW.

    Also, MTN was granted a permit to build four captive generation plants across Lagos State with 15.94MW capacity.

    Others lincenced to generate captive power are SweetCo Foods Limited, African Steel Mills Nigeria Limited, West African Ceramics Limited, Royal Engineered Stones Limited, and Armilo Plastics Limited.

    “Captive power generation permits are issued to entities that aim to own and maintain power plants for generating power for consumption and not for sale to a third party. The commission issued nine captive power generation permits in 2024/Q1 with a total nameplate capacity of 52.57MW.

    Our correspondent gathered that other licensed companies for mini-grids are Daybreak Power Solutions, TIS Renewable Energy Limited, Auro Nigeria Private Limited, Watts Exchange Limited, Centum Dopemu Energy Services Ltd, DMD Electric Limited Lagos State.

    Section 165(1)(m) of the Electricity Act 2023 permits the commission to award licence of mini-grid concessions to renewable energy companies to exclusively serve a specific geographical location indicating aggregate electricity to be generated and distributed from a site with the obligation to serve customers to request service.

    Under this, the commission said it has continued to encourage the development and utilisation of renewable energy by issuing permits and registration certificates for mini-grid development.

    A permit is issued to a mini-grid developer for the construction, operation, maintenance, and where applicable ownership of mini-grids with distribution capacity above 100 kilowatts and generation capacity up to 1MW.

    The commission disclosed that it issues registration certificates to a mini-grid developer for one or more systems with distribution capacity below 100kW.

    “Following the satisfactory evaluation of mini-grid applications, the commission issued three mini-grid permits and two registration certificates in 2024/Q1,” the NERC stated.

    During the period under review, NERC stated that it certified six Meter Service Providers, including four meter installers and two meter manufacturers.

    A Meter Service Provider is an entity certified by the commission as a manufacturer, supplier, vendor, or installer of electric energy meters and/or metering systems.

     Meter Asset Provider is an entity that is granted a permit by the commission to provide metering services with roles that may include meter financing, procurement, supply, installation, maintenance, and replacement.

    The certified meter service providers are Genobet Limited (installer), Mojec Meter Asset Management (installer), Epagad International Services Limited (installer), Abdulrahman Ahmadu Zubairu (installer), Smart Meters Company Limited (manufacturer), and Crestflow Energy Limited (manufacturer).

    The commission also said it issued one regulation and 36 new Orders in 2024/Q1. They include NERC–R–001–2024 — Eligible Customer Regulations, 2024; NERC/2023/023—NERC/2023/033 — Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024 for the Distribution Companies; and NERC/2023/034 — MYTO 2024 for the Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc.

    Other are NERC/2023/035 — Order on Performance Improvement Plan of the Transmission Company of Nigeria; NERC/2024/001 — Order on the Regulatory Intervention in Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc; NERC/2024/004 – NERC/2024/014 — Order on Noncompliance with Capping of Estimated Bill by DisCos for the period January – September 2023; and NERC/2024/016 – NERC/2024/036 — February 2024 Supplementary Order to the Multi-Year Tariff Order for the Discos.

    During the quarter, the commission issued 36 orders to guide the activities of licensees.

    Culled from The Punch

  • TPT International Wins Big at the Nigerian Marketing Awards

    TPT International Wins Big at the Nigerian Marketing Awards

    In recognition of its performance in setting standards of excellence in Public Relations response and implementation outcomes, as well as providing value-added and sustainable communication services to discerning clients in the West African sub-region, TPT International Limited, a full-service Public Relations Agency has won the PR Agency of the Year Award in the Industry Category,  and Reputation Management Recognition Award under the Industry Recognition category respectively, at the first edition of the Nigerian Marketing Awards, held in Lagos, Nigeria.

    TPT International Ltd, a foremost PR firm that prides itself on excellent practice in conceptualizing and implementing innovative and bespoke public relations programmes, maintains practice areas in Brand PR Visioning & Strategy, Issue & Crisis Management, Marketing PR, Public Sector Engagement, Government Relations, Political Communications, Damage Control & Crisis Communication, Corporate Communications, Media Relations, Lobbying, Lifestyle, Fashion, Strategic Counseling, Information Communications Technology, Social Media, and entertainment.

    Adetokunbo Modupe, Founder and Chief Consultant, TPT International Limited said that, indeed, the award placed the agency on the right pedestal in the marketing industry in Nigeria, due to the creative solutions it offers to diverse clients in all sectors. He further appreciated the agency’s clientele for entrusting their briefs to the firm while commending his team for the hard work and creativity it proffers toensure clients’ specific business goals and objectives are met.

    “Big congratulations for the TPT double take at the Nigerian Marketing Awards. Fittingly, this is coming from a credible and independently assessed board of jurors. Our place in the marketing industry is engraved with the right medal. Many thanks to our clients for entrusting their briefs to us and no fewer thanks to the team for always distilling and creatively responding to the briefs while providing solutions,” the TPT boss stated.

    The Nigerian Marketing Awards is the ultimate accolade for marketers, designed to celebrate the people and organizations transforming marketing in Nigeria. It is Nigeria’s definitive marketing award designed to recognize and reward outstanding achievements across the entire marketing industry.

    Accordingly, awards are most valuable when they are credible, and this is what the Nigerian Marketing awards sought in enthroning this award by pursuing the highest level of standards of transparency, to ensure credibility. Transparency and credibility was thoroughly manifested in the emergence of the various awardees of this particular award.

    It is also worthy of note to state that the Nigerian Marketing Awards paraded eminent jurors that constituted the Awards Decision Council Committee which was chaired by Mr. Ekwunife Okoli. Other members include: Iquo Ukoh, Adedayo Adefila, Ijedi Iyoha, Angela Ukara-Makinwa, Babajide Fagade, Bunmi Oke, Dr. Ogechi Adeola, Joan Ihekwaba, Nkechi Ali-Balogun, Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe and Yomi Benson.

    Broken down into Special Award Categories which included Doyen of Marketing, Iconic Brands [Organisations], Iconic Brands [Brands] and Iconic Brands [People]. The recipients of the Doyen of Marketing Award included Elder Felix Ohiwerei, a Fellow of National Institute of Marketing [NIMN] and former Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Dr. Biodun Shobanjo, OON, Chairman, Troyka Group, Mr. Segun Abimbola, former Corporate Relations/Relations Director, Mrs. Bola Thomas, former Managing Director, LTC Advertising and Professor Olukunle Iyanda, Fellow, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria [NIMN].

    The award event portrayed a historical night of honour, glamour, splendor and unending memories for marketing professionals in Nigeria. It is the most ethical and transparent marketing award to recognize, reward, and celebrate outstanding brands and organizations, the best in the Nigerian marketing industry. It also recognized and celebrated the great names behind the brands and the organizations.

    It was indeed an evening of the constellation of the industry stars and beyond which included veterans and industry icons including Elder Felix Omoikhoje Aizobeoje Ohiwerei, OFR, former Chairman/Chief Executive of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Dr. Biodun Shobanjo, OON, Founder/Chairman, Troyka Group, Professor Ogwo E. Ogwo, Professor Olukunle Iyanda, former, Registrar/Chief Executive, Nigerian Institute of Management [Chartered], Engr. Prince [Dr] Yemisi Shyllon, FCIM, Chairman, Advisory Board, Nigerian Marketing Awards, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babjide Sanwo-Olu who represented the governor, Mr. Segun Fafore, Executive Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State on New Media and Public Relations, Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi, fnimn, former Registrar and Chief Executive, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria [APCON], Mr. Steve Babaeko, Founder/Chief Creative Officer, X3M Ideas and President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria [AAAN], Mr. Tunji Adeyinka, President, Experiential Marketing Association of Nigeria [EXMAN], Mrs. Iquo Ukoh, former, Director OF Marketing Services, Nestle Foods Nigeria Plc and Principal Consultant Entod Consulting, Mrs. Bunmi Oke, former, President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria [AAAN], Mr. Lanre Adisa, Chief Executive, Noah’s Ark, Mr. Lampe Omoyele, Chief Executive, NITRO121, Mr. Kola Oyeyemi, General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Dr. Felix King, Chairman, Oracle Experience and Charles O’Tudor, Principal  Consultant, ADSTRAT among others.

    With the PR Agency of the Year Award and Reputation Management Recognition Awards bagged at the first ever Nigerian Marketing Awards created to encourage and stimulate hard work, innovation and overall high quality in marketing planning and execution, TPT International has once again demonstrated its excellent practice in bespoke public relations programmes designed to generate desirable media interest and exposure to cater to clients’ needs in diverse business sectors in the West African sub-region.

    TPT International also prides itself in the diversity of its client roster, with experience including the Federal Government of Nigeria, Cross Rivers State, British American Tobacco, Pfizer, Oceanic Bank International, FinBank, Heritage Bank, Lagos Lotto, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Procter & Gamble West Africa, British Council, MTN Foundation, Starcomms Plc, Rite Foods Limited, Anap Foundation (GoNigeria – GoNigeria Advocacy Campaign), MasterCard, Mouka Limited, BulkDirect, KloverHarris Limited, PDP National (conceptualization of the rebranding of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in preparation for the 2023 general elections), PDP Kwara (Perception Management in preparation for the 2023 general elections)among many others.

    TPT International challenges the logic to achieve the magic in marketing communications.

  • Cross River born wins Ekiti 10km Marathon.

    Cross River born wins Ekiti 10km Marathon.

    Cross River State–born Sadjo Ismael made history by becoming the winner of the maiden edition of Ikogosi 10km Marathon race in Ekiti State yesterday.

    He beat over 2,000 other athletes to the finish line to win the N1 million prize in an impressive time of 30 mins 40seconds.

    Sadjo was trailed by Plateau-born Adamu Shehu Mu’azu who came second at 31mins 22seconds, while Oyebode Dada Samuel from Osun State came third at 31mins 48seconds.

    The State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who was the special guest of honour at the event, presented the winners with their prizes and congratulated all the participants for daring to take part in the epoch making event.

    Fayemi said his administration would not only invest in the education and human capital development of the youth, but will continue to partner with relevant private sector players in providing them platforms to showcase their God-given talents.

    The overall winner, Sadjo smiled home with N1 Million; the first runner up got a prize of N500,000 while the second runner up got N300,000.

    The race which was flagged off by the State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi in Aramoko- Ekiti at 9:25am.

    There were winners in other categories, including the female elite category where Rose Akuso from Plateau State came first in 36 mins 51 seconds. She was trailed by David Abiye from Ondo state who came second in 36 mins 59 seconds, while another runner from Plateau State, Oman Sale came third.

    They also received N1 Million; N500,000 and N300,000 respectively as their prizes.

    In the female indigene category, Adewole Hannah Jumoke from Ikere Ekiti came first by reaching the finish line in 38 mins 49 seconds. She got N1million.

    She was followed by Sehinde Favour (43mins 32 seconds) and Folorunso Fayokemi (44m, 38s), who took the second and third positions respectively.

    In the male indigene category, Shedowo Adewale came first at 34mins 51s, while Lawal Azeez came second at 35 mins 16 seconds. Arowolo Tunde came third with 36m, 17secs.

    Fourteen years old Dolapo Morakinyo, from Oke Imesi-Ekiti was apparently the youngest participant in the race and was the cynosure of all eyes as she got to the finish line.

    The Ikogosi Marathon race was organised by the Ikogosi Marathon Initiative in partnership with the Ekiti State Government. Over 5,000 registered for the race online, while close to 2,500 collected racing materials which qualified them for the race yesterday.

  • Buhari approves Cross River’s Bakassi Deep Seaport project

    Buhari approves Cross River’s Bakassi Deep Seaport project

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday gave the clearest indication of his support for the Bakassi Deep Seaport Project of the Cross River State Government with the issuance of Outline Business Case certificate for the project by the Federal Government.

    The certificate was presented on behalf of the Federal Government by the Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi to the Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade at the ministry’s Abuja office.

    Amaechi stated that with the OBC, the state would move on to the next step of action.

    He said: “What they (Cross River) have got right now is the OBC. We will take the next move to verify all the necessary instruments that we need and then proceed back to the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission for the FBC before we go to the cabinet for approval.

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday gave the clearest indication of his support for the Bakassi Deep Seaport Project of the Cross River State Government with the issuance of Outline Business Case certificate for the project by the Federal Government.

    The certificate was presented on behalf of the Federal Government by the Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi to the Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade at the ministry’s Abuja office.

    Amaechi stated that with the OBC, the state would move on to the next step of action.

    He said: “What they (Cross River) have got right now is the OBC. We will take the next move to verify all the necessary instruments that we need and then proceed back to the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission for the FBC before we go to the cabinet for approval.

    His words: “The certificate is an Outline Business Case. It shows that there is a full densification commitment of the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Transportation to say yes we have come to recognise and accept that Cross River State Government should go ahead with the Full Business Case towards the construction of a deep seaport.

    “And the emphasis on the deep seaport is agro-industrial, not exclusively, but to show that the core target is to do an agro-industrial transformation of Nigeria. It will be the major leading port in that respect but will have other industrial parks.”

    He said the issuance of the OBC by the Federal Government through its Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission was the fastest ever recorded in Nigeria.

    On when actual construction would commence at the seaport, Ayade said, “Work started there more than six months ago when we got the EIA approval which allowed us the legal right to get access to the ocean.

    “But right now with this OBC certificate, we are going to be dealing directly with the concessionaires towards arriving at the specific location, data and commencement of actual work plans. But that can only come with the FBC.”