Marketing matters

WITH NETA NWOSU

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 GLOBAL satellite operator SES S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) has, in collaboration with Digital TV giant, StarTimes, announced the successful wrap-up of a training workshop specially designed to offer superior after-sales services to StarTimes’ direct to home (DTH) satellite television subscribers in Nigeria.

ELEVATE, launched in 2012, is the SES Quality Assurance and Accreditation training programme for installers across the African continent. This programme aims to create an engaged installer network essential to support DTH growth in Africa. The ELEVATE certificate provides the opportunity to generate more income, further develop skills, learn cutting edge techniques and improve the overall quality of installations.

The one-week specialised satellite services training and workshop, which kicked off on 21 March in Lagos, was designed to train 60 senior after-sales, installation and maintenance officers to help them enhance their installation skills and build capabilities for the technical officers in areas such as maintenance and satellite trouble-shooting.

Commenting on the training and the partnership, Dare Kafar, Sales and Marketing Director at StarTimes, explained that the strategic partnership with SES is in line with StarTimes’ drive to upgrade skills and resource level of its technical personnel, ensure compliance with globally acceptable standards and improve its installation services to its subscribers.

“We are mindful of the strategic significance of well-equipped human resource and personnel in the quest to keep subscribers happy, particularly in the 21st century. In this light, our alliance with SES is a deliberate step towards ensuring a technical force that is top of class, with up-to-date global standards and best practices, and also ready to offer remarkable satellite television installations and management services to excite our subscribers,” Kafar noted.

SES Vice President Marketing, Paul Freeman, expressed excitement at the partnership withStarTimes and added that the goal is to bring satellite TV services closer and at their best to more Nigerians. He further remarked, “The Elevate training programme was born out of a need to complement the satellite and digital television roll-out on the African continent with quality installations. It also serves to empower and benefit local business growth across the digital broadcasting environment through skills development. In addition to the training sessions, installers are provided with specialised tools, free training material and downloadable manuals.”

One of the participants, AkindeleOluwaseyi, said the new training has further deepened his skills and knowledge for professional installations and will help him service subscribers better in the areas of signal reception and tracking.


 Shoprite berths in Onitsha 

 SHOPRITE demonstrated its commitment to expansion in Nigeria with the successful opening of its Onitsha shopping mall, Anambra State, recently.

Eager shoppers enjoyed a vibrant programme of music and dance before flocking to the store to take advantage of the great opening specials and deals. The opening proved to be an overwhelming sales day for the store, with satisfied shoppers all-round.

Located in the state’s first modern shopping mall, the store is set to bring consumers the same everyday low prices and convenience that Shoprite is known for. As the flagship brand in the mall, the store will cater for all customers’ daily, weekly and monthly food and household requirements. Over and above a wide range of food and non-food lines, it features various service departments, including a meat market, bakery, deli, and a fresh fruit and vegetable department. 15-till points have been set up to deal with high volumes of shoppers. All of this in a world-class shopping experience.

Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, who was accompanied by his wife and other government dignitaries officiated at the opening of the store and mall, remarking that the occasion  was a milestone in his administration’s efforts to make the state the centrepiece for commercial activities.

Through the store opening, Shoprite, in partnership with the management of Onitsha mall, is doing its part by creating over 1,000 job opportunities for locals. The Onitsha store marks Shoprite’s 18th store opening in the country since it first began operations in 2005. Shoprite employs over 2500 people in Nigeria and is committed to supporting local enterprises. The Group has built relationships with over 400 leading Nigerian suppliers, small businesses and farmers, securing a wide assortment of local brands.

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Additionally, as part of the brand’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, the Shoprite Community Network hosted a two-day free breast cancer screening for women in Onitsha, in conjunction with Run For A Cure Africa (RFCA), a national NGO specialising in breast cancer awareness work.

Speaking during the event where over 250 women were screened, Founder of RFCA, Ebele Mbanugo, said: “It has been a rewarding experience partnering with Shoprite to offer free breast cancer screening to the women of Onitsha because a lot of people go about their daily routine without taking the time out to examine their body. This contributes to the increasing rate of breast cancer deaths. I wish more organisations would take a leaf from Shoprite and their continuous push to create awareness about the dangers of breast cancer.”


 NIPR supports PRCAN with IT tools 

THE Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has moved to improve quality service delivery of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) by presenting information technology tools to to foster the good relationship of both organisations. A delegation from NIPR, led by the institute’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Willy Ogbidi; Dr. (Mrs.) Grace Ekpoanwan Achum, S.A Media; Mr. George Akpan, Senior Manager, Operations and S.A. to the president on chapter secretariat, Mr. Matthew, accountant.

In his presentation, the Chief of Staff, Willy Ogbidi, apologised on behalf of the president, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, who was unable to make it to the PRCAN Secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos, for the presentation because of an urgent assignment in the Gambia.

In response, Mr. John Ehiguese, the PRCAN President, appreciated NIPR for playing a fatherly role, at a time such assistance was most needed. He, however, congratulated the NIPR President, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, for his re-election in the just concluded NIPR AGM/Election in Ibadan.

Mr. Muyiwa Akintunde, Vice President of PRCAN, went down the memory lane to describe the long mutual relationship existing between NIPR and PRCAN as mother and child, while Mike Nzeagwu, the assistant secretary general prayed that the presentation of the tools to PRCAN by NIPR had opened a new vista for the two bodies that manage corporate and public image of organisations and the country.


 Indigo wins Nigerian Bottling Company PR account 

 INTEGRATED Indigo Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading Public Relations agencies, has won the highly competitive pitch for the Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC) public relations account.

The agency was appointed as the public relations consultant to the company, having emerged tops after rounds of pitch presentations, involving several leading Public Relations agencies in Nigeria.

In the letter of appointment issued to Integrated Indigo Limited and signed by the Legal, Public Affairs and Communication Director, Mrs. Folasade Morgan, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited noted that it was pleased to appoint Integrated Indigo Limited as its PR agency, following various discussions held during the just concluded PR pitch process.

With the appointment, Integrated Indigo Limited is expected to manage Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), as it relates to PR advisory services, media engagement, media coverage (traditional and online media), advertising and event management, working closely with the Legal, Public Affairs and Communications department.

According to the Managing Director/CEO, Integrated Indigo Limited, Mr. Bolaji Abimbola, the agency is excited and proud to partner with NBC.

“We are very proud to have emerged as the PR agency for NBC. NBC is a company that every agency would love to work with not only because of its thought leadership positioning in the sector where it operates, but also because of its rich heritage derived from its over six decades of operations,” he said.

Abimbola revealed that the contract took effect from April 1, on a retainership agreementwith the main responsibility to manage, sustain and entrench the positive image currently enjoyed by NBC among its stakeholders.

“Beyond the opportunity to manage the NBC corporate image, we would also manage its extensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) portfolio through which the company supports and enhances the lives of its employees, consumers, the communities where it operates, its trade partners, and other relevant stakeholders,” he added.