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  • U.S. Ambassador Visits Geometric Power, Tours Metering Infrastructure and Power Plant, Describes Aba IPP as “World-Class”

    U.S. Ambassador Visits Geometric Power, Tours Metering Infrastructure and Power Plant, Describes Aba IPP as “World-Class”

    The Aba Independent Power Project, developed by Geometric Power, Nigeria’s only integrated electric power company, is world class, according to the American ambassador to the country, Richard Mills.

    Mills made known his assessment of the company today after he led a team of top American embassy officials on a tour of the firm’s facilities in the Osisioma Industrial layout in Aba, Abia State’s economic nerve centre.

    He stated: “This is world-class, reflecting the kind of innovation and commitment needed to address Nigeria’s energy challenges”.

    The facilities the American delegation inspected included turbines from General Electric, the world’s biggest and oldest electricity equipment manufacturing firm based in the United States.

    The ambassador and his team also inspected the state-of-the-art digital SCADA facilities used in the distribution and management of electricity in all Geometric Power’s 30 feeders.

    In addition, they were shown the company’s massive steel tubular poles, which are comparable to the poles in San Francisco, California, and Tokyo, Japan, which are earthquake-prone.

    “Though there are no natural disasters like earthquakes recorded in the Aba Ring-fenced Area served by Aba Power, which comprises nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State”, said Professor Bart Nnaji, Geometric Power chairman, “we installed them to ensure that Aba and its environs would continue to have uninterrupted power in the event of a natural disaster”.

    Nnaji, a former Minister of Power and globally respected engineering researcher in the United States before he returned to Nigeria, explained to the Americans that the tubulars are buried 10 metres inside the ground to withstand extreme elements.

    He also revealed that Geometric Power is working with international companies to develop new power projects that will enhance Nigeria’s energy security.

    The ambassador commended Geometric Power for its end-to-end business model, making it the only Nigerian power group that generates power and distributes it to a dedicated area.

    “Nigerians are globally known for their creativity and talent,” Ambassador Mills said.

    “This power plant is a perfect example of that.”

    After listening to Engineer Livinus Mmaram, Geometric Power’s Director of Training and Development, Mills lauded the firm’s arrangements with the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) for the training and retraining of its workforce.

    “These arrangements make the entire enterprise a sustainable business”, he added.

    Among the people on the ambassador’s team were Rick Swart, the United States consul general in Lagos; Mike Ervin, chief of the political and Economic section of the embassy; and Julie McKay, the chief of public diplomacy.

  • Two-Time Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) All-Star and Basketball Analyst Chiney Ogwumike Named Basketball Africa League Ambassador

    Two-Time Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) All-Star and Basketball Analyst Chiney Ogwumike Named Basketball Africa League Ambassador

    The Basketball Africa League (BAL) today named two-time WNBA All-Star and ESPN analyst, Chiney Ogwumike as the First Female BAL Ambassador. The announcement was made by BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall during the Africa Luncheon at All-Star Weekend in San Francisco.

    Ogwumike is a passionate advocate for gender equity in sports and the sustainable development of basketball. Through her work, she aims to inspire young girls and women to take charge of their future and promote inclusive opportunities for all.

    As a BAL Ambassador, Ogwumike will take an active role in the league’s initiatives across Africa, with a focus on engaging and empowering women and girls on the continent. She will also lead various events as well as clinics throughout the season, beginning with the Kalahari Conference, which tips off on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco.

    Ogwumike joins several African NBA legends who are serving as BAL Ambassadors and helping to promote the league in Africa and around the world: 2011 NBA champion with the Dallas Mavericks Ian Mahinmi (Benin), two-time NBA All-Star Joakim Noah (Cameroon), two-time NBA All-Star and South Sudan Basketball Federation President Luol Deng, and former NBA player and G League executive Pops Mensah-Bonsu (Ghana). 

    “I am grateful for this tremendous opportunity to continue to inspire, uplift, and help grow the game across the continent, especially for young women and girls,” said Ogwumike. “Basketball has given me so much, and now, I get to give back in a way that creates real impact and celebrates my sisters on the continent. The future of basketball in Africa is limitless, and I can’t wait to be part of this journey.”

    Ogwumike’s appointment marks a significant step in elevating women’s representation within the BAL and expanding the league’s influence across the continent.

    Since its inception, the BAL has been a driving force for basketball development across the continent, providing meaningful opportunities for communities to engage with the sport. With Ogwumike’s leadership and advocacy, the BAL aims to expand its reach and impact, further inspiring the next generation of players and fans across Africa.

  • Emirates Premium Economy surges to record 160,000 customers trading up to experience the cabin’s quiet luxury

    Emirates Premium Economy surges to record 160,000 customers trading up to experience the cabin’s quiet luxury

    Customers’ preference for the recently introduced Emirates Premium Economy has surged to a record high, with over 160,000 trading up, thereby setting new industry benchmarks in Premium Economy travel.  Emirates is delightfully celebrating this banner first year of full-service operations with the highly popular cabin class, introduced in August 2022.  With strong demand momentum forecasted in the coming months, Emirates  is providing travellers more opportunities to experience its highly-acclaimed Premium Economy product which is currently available on flights to 11 cities, with the list growing to 13 cities by the end of the year, as more retrofitted aircraft with refreshed cabins roll into scheduled service.

    Since Emirates debuted its Premium Economy Class, customer response has been overwhelmingly positive with demand exceeding expectations and bookings growing month on month, demonstrating its appeal to a broad range of traveller segments who want to try out its understated luxury and meticulously elevated experience at great value. Nearly half of the customers flying in Emirates Premium Economy are solo travellers venturing off for holidays, while couples and families constitute the other half.  More than 60% of customers who booked to fly in Premium Economy in the last year were also loyal Emirates Skywards members and regular customers of the airline.

    Emirates currently flies its A380s with the latest Premium Economy cabins to London Heathrow, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch, Singapore, Los Angeles, New York JFK, Houston, San Francisco and Dubai, with flights regularly registering full seat loads in Premium Economy. The airline plans to make Premium Economy available to customers flying to/from Mumbai and Bengaluru from 29 October, and additional cities will be announced soon. Emirates currently operates 20 aircraft fitted with Premium Economy, 14 of which were retrofitted in-house by the Emirates Engineering team in Dubai over the course of the last nine months.

    Since August 2022, the airline has operated close to 4,500 flights with Premium Economy, traversing more than 36 million kilometres around the globe. On those flights, over 192,000 meals from its carefully curated menus which include the finest ingredients were served to customers who enjoyed regionally inspired, generously portioned dishes. Unique touches include indulgent desserts garnished with edible gold leaf, among other signature offerings. Premium Economy menus are updated every month to ensure a diversity of flavours and dishes, especially for well-travelled customers. Over 126,000 pieces of chocolates were served to round off meals for Premium Economy customers. Emirates also served 6,700 kilograms of mixed nuts and 8,650 litres of complimentary fresh lemon and mint juices in Premium Economy. The airline’s robust beverage selection in Premium Economy includes a global exclusive for Emirates customers, Australian sparkling wine, Chandon Vintage Brut 2016, alongside a choice of a unique white and red wine.

    The airline’s philosophy to constantly innovate and redefine service excellence through the introduction of Premium Economy has earned it numerous top placings and accolades in the cabin category at the 2023 Skytrax Awards, Business Traveller awards, Airline Ratings Excellence Awards, and 2022 Business Traveller Middle East awards.

    In May, Emirates launched a global campaign with Academy Award winning actor and philanthropist, Penelope Cruz, which also featured her enjoying the spacious seats in Premium Economy. The airline has also provided a glimpse of its Premium Economy offering through guided tours of the new cabin class to media and influencers, trade partners, airport, tourism and government officials across cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch, Singapore, New York JFK and San Francisco.

    The Premium Economy roll-out is a core component of the airline’s multi-billion-dollar retrofit programme which will see the interior upgrade on 67 Emirates A380 cabins, as well as 53 Boeing 777 cabins. By the end of the programme, over 4,000 Premium Economy seats will be installed, along with over 700 First Class suites and 5,000 Business Class seats refurbished with the latest interiors.

    Tickets in Premium Economy can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via both online and offline travel agents.

  • Feature: Nigeria needs to have National Monument

    Feature: Nigeria needs to have National Monument

    Were someone like Obafemi Awolowo standing in next month’s presidential election, he would have plans to build a monument like this to not only revive tourism by also provide a feel good feeling

    Ayo Akinfe

    [1] Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer Statue
    [2] India’s Taj Mahal
    [3] Germany’s Brandenburg Gate
    [4] San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge
    [5] Australia’s Sydney Opera House
    [6] Egypt’s Great Pyramid in Giza
    [7] New York’s Statue of Liberty
    [8] London’s Big Ben
    [9] France’s Eiffel Tower
    [10] The Great Wall of China

    As a people, we need to start building massive edifices like this just to make ourselves feel good. It does a lot for national morale when you unveil architectural masterpieces.

    Sadly, nobody is discussing lifting national morale as part of this campaign. Our people need something to give them a lift just as the unveiling of Liberty Stadium, Cocoa House and the Western Nigeria Television Station once did.

  • Emirates and United Airlines sign historic partnership agreement

    Emirates and United Airlines sign historic partnership agreement

    Emirates and United announced a historic commercial agreement today that will enhance each airline’s network and give their customers easier access to hundreds of new destinations* within the United States and around the world.


    From November, Emirates customers flying into Chicago, San Francisco, and Houston – three of the biggest business hubs in the U.S – will be able to easily connect onto United flights to and from nearly 200 cities across the Americas on a single ticket.
    At the eight other U.S. airports served by Emirates – Boston, Dallas, LA, Miami, JFK, Orlando, Seattle and Washington DC – both airlines will have an interline arrangement in place.


    United will launch a new direct flight between New York/Newark and Dubai starting in March 2023 – from there, customers will be able to travel on Emirates or its sister airline flydubai to more than 100 cities. Tickets for United’s new Dubai flight are now on sale.


    Emirates and United announced their agreement today at a ceremonial event at Dulles International Airport, hosted by United CEO, Scott Kirby and Emirates President, Sir Tim Clark, featuring United and Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and flight crews from each carrier.


    Sir Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline said: “Two of the biggest, and best-known airlines in the world are joining hands to fly people better to more places, at a time when travel demand is rebounding with a vengeance.


    “It’s a significant partnership that will unlock tremendous consumer benefit and bring the United Arab Emirates and the United States even closer. We welcome United’s return to Dubai next year, where our hub Dubai essentially becomes a gateway for United to reach Asia, Africa and the Middle East via the combined network of Emirates and flydubai. We look forward to developing our partnership with United for the long term.”


    Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines said: “This agreement unites two iconic, flag carrier airlines who share a common commitment to creating the best customer experience in the skies. United’s new flight to Dubai and our complementary networks will make global travel easier for millions of our customers, helping boost local economies and strengthen cultural ties.


    “This is a proud moment for both United and Emirates employees, and I look forward to our journey together.”
    Customers of both airlines can soon book these connecting flights on a single ticket – making check-in and luggage transfer faster and easier. For example – travelers will be able to visit United.com or use the United app to book a flight from New York/Newark to Karachi, Pakistan or go to Emirates.com to book a flight from Dubai to Atlanta or Honolulu.


    This agreement will also give the loyalty program members of both airlines more opportunities for more rewards: Emirates Skywards members can soon earn miles when they travel on United-operated flights, and United Mileage Plus members flying on United’s New York/Newark to Dubai flight will be able to earn and redeem miles when connecting beyond on Emirates and flydubai.


    Eligible customers traveling on codeshare flights will also soon enjoy access to Emirates and United lounges. More details on frequent flyer awards and lounge-sharing benefits will be communicated in the coming weeks. Both airlines have recently announced significant investments in the customer experience.


    Emirates will retrofit more than 120 aircraft as part of a $2 billion effort that includes elevated meal choices, a brand-new vegan menu, a ‘cinema in the sky’ experience, cabin interior upgrades, and sustainable choices.


    At United, the airline will add 500 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft to its fleet with a focus on a new signature interior that includes seat-back screens in every seat, larger overhead bins, Bluetooth connectivity throughout, and the industry’s fastest available in-flight WiFi.

  • Visa Opens First Innovation Studio in Africa to Advance Future Payment Solutions

    Visa Opens First Innovation Studio in Africa to Advance Future Payment Solutions

    …the Innovation Studio in Nairobi is the first in Sub-Saharan Africa and will provide partners with cutting-edge capabilities to co-create future commerce solutions

    Visa (Visa Inc), the world leader in digital payments, has today opened a new Innovation Studio in Nairobi, its first dedicated innovation site in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This facility will serve the sub-Saharan Africa region and joins a network of innovation centers operated by Visa since 2016, in cities including Dubai, Singapore and San Francisco.

    The new facility supports Visa’s commitment to promoting innovation and creating opportunities for clients and fintech partners to co-create market-relevant payment and commerce solutions throughout the region. The facility is designed to replicate the success of Visa’s flagship innovation center, One Market in San Francisco, and provide Visa’s partners with access to tools that strengthen their capabilities in developing new solutions.

    “Sub-Saharan Africa is a fast-growing region with a tech-savvy population. As we continue to grow digital payments adoption in the region, our aspiration is to deepen our collaboration with clients and partners in developing solutions that are designed around the unique needs of Africa,” said Aida Diarra, Senior Vice President & Head of Visa in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    As a brand built on technology, Visa has driven the major technological advancements that make electronic payments what they are today. We are confident that the innovation studio will continue that legacy and cement Sub-Saharan Africa’s position as a leader in creating out-of-the-box solutions to deal with our most pressing challenges as a region,” added Diarra.

    Businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa have been leading the way in introducing new methods of paying and being paid, by harnessing innovative technologies. Ideas to expand the growth of emerging payment areas such as Tap to Phone and Pay on Delivery will be explored at the Innovation Studio alongside the ongoing development of cutting-edge smarter payment solutions that leverage blockchain, the Internet of Things, Virtual Reality and biometrics.

    The studio will help Visa clients and partners from across the continent extend their service offerings. Through a human-centered approach, the studio’s immersive environment will also provide clients and partners with tools to overcome some of their biggest business challenges while uncovering new commercial avenues of opportunity.

    Visa’s Innovation Centers have been instrumental in the conceptualization and implementation of new business ideas and platforms around the globe. Several Sub-Saharan Africa companies have already leveraged Visa’s innovation center capabilities, these include Paga; who collaborated with Visa to co-create a platform that offers tools to small businesses; and Safaricom on a solution to enable 24 million M-PESA users to transact at Visa merchant locations, and 150,000 M-PESA merchants to accept Visa card payments.

    The studio was officially opened by the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, Dr. Patrick Njoroge, at an event attended by leading banks, financial technology companies and innovation specialists from across Sub-Saharan Africa.