Kizz Daniel, Asake, Chike unveiled as Glo ambassadors

The three stars, described by Globacom as “role models who have gone through the grind to stand on the highest pedestal of their dreams”, signed agreement as Glo brand ambassadors at a colourful ceremony at the company’s corporate headquarters in Lagos.

They include Ahmed Ololade, globally known by his brand name, Asake, is a graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, while Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe, the Buga exponent, generally known as Kizz Daniel, has a degree in Water Engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State. The third new Glo ambassador, Chike as he is called by his fans, was born as Chike Ezekpeazu Osebuka. He is a graduate of Computer Engineering, from Covenant University, Ogun State.

The company, which marked its 20th anniversary in August stated that it “is celebrating this with the endorsement of these new ambassadors to project the power of youth and enterprise and how much they can achieve with the right focus, passion and dedication that can come from seeing others who have succeeded. This is very much part of our tradition as we believe the strength of a nation lies in the ability and potentials of its youth”.

It explained that the engagement of the new brand icons “is meant to project the best Nigerians as models for younger people who are tirelessly aspiring to succeed. This is more important in an era where positive heroes and mentors are scarce and hard to come by. The intention is not just to promote the growth of music, Nollywood and sports where we have been very prominent, but also to encourage our teeming youths to aspire toward realizing their dreams by looking up to these ambassadors as mentors”.

Globacom, which since inception has always sponsored major events and supported talented as well as enterprising young Nigerians by making them Glo ambassadors, explained that this innovation has become a practice for which Globacom has always led the way in Nigeria.
Congratulating them, Glo which stated that “having these stars as ambassadors of is our way of inspiring a whole generation of young people with vision who can do better and achieve more without losing hope along the way, even when confronted with challenges,” pledged to continue to promote the sector as it held great prospects to promote Nigeria to the world and also transforming lives.

On their part, the new ambassadors promised to represent the Glo brand by projecting the ideals of the company at all times. They thanked the founder and Chairman of Globacom, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr., for considering them worthy of being appointed as the company’s brand ambassadors.

MoneyMaster PSB unveils Flagship Product “G-kala”

Globacom’s frontline Payment Service Bank, MoneyMaster PSB, has unveiled its market offering and flagship product, G-Kala.

The product was launched on Wednesday at a bespoke event attended by stakeholders including regulators, market and trade associations, student union representatives, trade partners, and the media press.

Speaking at the Lagos Travel Inn venue of the event, Managing Director of MoneyMaster PSB, Mr. Demola Elutilo said that G-Kala will increase financial services accessibility as well as deepen financial inclusion and create new job opportunities in the country.

He explained that ‘G-kala’ will attract a huge number of the unbanked populace into the financial system of the country, adding that the operations of MoneyMaster PSB would empower many Nigerians financially and bring, most especially, people in the rural areas, into the banking system.

The innovative features of G-kala, he noted, will equally revolutionize the Nigerian payment system and advance the cashless economy initiative of the federal government while bringing millions of people in urban and rural areas into the financial community.

According to him, “MoneyMaster PSB will bring convenience and inclusion across all our target segments of the population. With G-kala, your phone is your bank. Aside from the benefits to our customers, we are onboarding a very large number of agents for cash in and cash out, through which we are creating new jobs in our various communities, which is also a boost to the nation’s economy. This is the beginning of our journey to revolutionize the financial services landscape in the country.”

The General Manager, Business Development, at Nigeria Interbank Settlement Scheme (NIBSS), Mr. Samuel Oluyemi, lauded MoneyMaster PSB for introducing G-kala into the Nigerian financial services space. Having worked with MoneyMaster PSB from the beginning to ensure a seamless integration of its services with the countrywide banking system, he disclosed that the payment service bank is a great plus to promoting financial inclusion and widening the scope of service providers across the country.

He advised the management of MoneyMaster PSB to seize the initiative of fast deployment of services to address the needs of the critical unbanked and under-banked segment of the population, adding that there was so much expectation from the unbanked population across the country for the services of payment services banks.

MoneyMaster PSB’s ‘G-kala’, is designed to operate simpler, convenient and more reliable channels for customers to conduct financial services. It will provide an easy way for people to move money, access financial information, and make bill payments. To open an account, all the customer needs to do is dial *995# then follow the prompts from a Glo line or from any other telecommunications network as MoneyMaster PSB is provisioned to work with any network.

Guests at the event included representatives of several markets and trading centers in Lagos including Ladipo, Mile 12, Computer Vilage main markets, and student union representatives from University of Lagos (Unilag), Lagos State University (LASU), and Yaba College of Technology.

Doyin Fayemi, a student at the event reacted to the launch saying, “I like convenience because for me, it’s about doing something at my own pace and when it’s comfortable. No one wants to run around just because they want to do simple cash-in and cash-out transactions, and pay bills. With G-kala, I can accomplish all of these right now on my phone. G-kala clearly brings a lot of convenience.”

How Carbon is leading Nigeria’s ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ revolution

Once upon a time, in the not-so-distant past, it was nearly impossible to get a loan in Nigeria without going through an agent or being a salaried employee. Much like it was impossible to have a retirement savings account or get a pension plan if you weren’t attached to an employer.

As early as 2015, for example, if you wanted to get a loan from legitimate sources,

like a bank, you would have had to fill out reams of paperwork and answer questions ad nauseam, all with no guarantee you would get what you needed. But times have changed, and companies like Carbon are turning this norm on its head, making it easier and more efficient to access loans and other credit facilities.

At some point in Nigeria, the idea of owning a product, like a smartphone or smart TV, without having to pay the total amount for it was reserved for an exclusive class of people. That is no longer the case.

According to this report from Rest of World, “In a country where only 2% of the 106 million adult population have access to bank credit, credit cards are also conspicuously absent, as banks shy away from consumer lending. BNPL [Buy Now, Pay Later] is becoming a rising alternative and is set for further growth, as Nigerians embrace digital credit.” This is a far cry from what obtained a few years ago, and Carbon is at the forefront of this revolution.

Let’s take some steps back to understand where this is coming from. What was the norm? What were the challenges that came with it? What is the new reality? What are the opportunities that come with it? And what makes companies like Carbon uniquely positioned to continue solving these problems?

Historically, Nigerian banks have taken a risk-averse posture to issuing loans to individuals rather than corporations. In 2017, the Central Bank of Nigeria released a report showing that just 5.4% of Nigeria’s adult population had access to credit. In 2018, that figure rose marginally to 5.5%, and in 2019, it was 6.2%.

To encourage more banks to lend to their non-corporate customers, the central bank issued a directive in September 2019 that raised banks’ Loan to Deposit Ratio to 65%. This directive required banks to give out a stipulated percentage of their total deposits as loans. This initiative aimed to stimulate the economy and encourage more cash flow. However, it also indicated how difficult it had become for the average Nigerian to access the credit they needed to improve their businesses and quality of life.

As with anything else, there’s a flip side to this. Banks weren’t risk averse because they felt like it. Instead, they were that way to protect themselves, and, in some way, that was also a reflection of reality. To properly issue loans, financial institutions need accurate data to assess an individual’s creditworthiness. Underlying infrastructural problems coupled with a lack of agility to innovate quickly meant many financial institutions could not harvest, process, and utilise the data they needed to make significant lending decisions.

But where there are gaps like this, nature always finds a way to fill them. Where some legacy financial institutions were slow to act, other innovators –– younger and more agile –– saw a chance to create solutions that could improve the lives of others and open more doors.

In June 2012, OneCredit, a company pioneering consumer lending in Nigeria, opened up shop. Its promise was simple: to make it easier for salary earners to access loans at a time when it was inconceivable to lend money without collateral. But OneCredit took the risk. In March 2016, the company evolved into Paylater, a platform providing instant loans digitally while offering payment and investment opportunities to its users. It was Nigeria’s first digital lender, another risky move in an otherwise risk-averse industry. In 2019, Paylater expanded and became what we now know as Carbon, a credit-led pan-African digital bank offering affordable loans, a deposit account, a high-yield savings account, free bill payments, free transfers, and debit cards.

By December 2021, the company generated N7.72 billion in revenue, with a gross profit of over N5.6 billion. By mid-2022, it had crossed N3.9 billion in revenue, with a gross profit of over N2.65 billion. Now, it has over 3 million customers.

In January 2021, the company launched Carbon Zero, which allows users to purchase items they want and pay in 4 instalments with no interest added. This is particularly useful with Nigeria’s inflation rate at one of its highest ever –– 21.47%, having risen steadily for ten consecutive months. Purchasing power is also at one of its lowest levels ever, much of it eroded by rising inflation rates. Products like Carbon Zero admittedly make it easier for people to purchase items with payment structures that are more pocket-friendly.

Carbon has become one of Nigeria’s major BNPL players with this product, joining America’s Affirm and PayPal, Australia’s Afterpay, Europe’s Klarna, and East Africa’s M-Kopa. According to Insider Intelligence, BNPL users grew from 50.6 million in 2021 to 79 million in 2022, and that number is estimated to reach 88.2 million in 2023 and 104.6 million in 2026. Its market size was valued at $141.8 billion in 2021, according to Global Data, and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33.3% through 2026, when it will be worth $596.7 billion.

While these figures are global estimates and, in many ways, optimistic projections, they paint a picture of what could be and the many opportunities that lie ahead.

According to Zeeshan Anwar, a corporate and retail banking expert in the UK, “BNPL is an important and growing element of the payments industry. It delivers compelling benefits to consumers by expanding the payment options for low-income customers, while saving money by helping reduce the need to pay excessive credit fees. There is significant value and ethical contribution in the BNPL proposition if delivered correctly.”

Nigeria is one of the low-income countries that Anwar describes. However, it is undergoing a digital financial revolution, which is still in its early days. Ten years ago, it would have been inconceivable that the average Nigerian could access a loan or pay in instalments for a product they dearly want. But that is not the case today. A lot has changed, but there’s more work to be done, and Carbon seeks to be at the forefront of what could be.

Written by Ifeanyi. O

Yvonne Jegede had Mercy Johnson Okojie all emotional in Episode 2 of “Mercy’s Menu” Season 3!

In this episode of Mercy’s Menu season 3 Mercy Johnson Okojie is joined by her colleague, Nollywood star and Film producer, Yvonne Jegede.

The movie stars shared exciting conversations and emotional moments as they prepared Peri Peri Chicken and Coconut Milk Pasta.

They discussed her Marriage, Divorce, Son, Challenges and Charity work.

This episode was filled with so much emotions.

Watch video below

5 Ways of Improving Your Brand Image with Social Media

When you can understand how people view your brand, you can control their opinions using the appropriate medium. Image branding is the method and strategy used in creating impressions in the mind of customers about your brand.

The image of a brand is developed over time through PR and Advertising campaigns with a consistent theme validated through the customer’s experiences with the brand.

There are several factors you need to consider  when it comes to image branding:

1. Identify your target audience

The first step is to know your audience. You need to specify who your audiences are as they comprise of customers, partners, industry analysts and employees.

Have an achievable goal

You have to create a feasible goal. Having an attainable goal is critical for image branding, this will let you perform tasks at your own pace.

3. Create a good brand persona

Once the key audiences have been identified and achievable goals have been set, you can now start to build your brand persona (what your brand stands for).

4. Key messaging

After defining your brand persona, it is important to document your message to appeal to your target audience.

5. Be consistent

Customers like knowing what to expect from the interactions they have with your Brand. This means you have to deliver a clear and consistent message through social media channels. Especially during your PR and advertising campaign.

 

 

 

 

 

4 FACTORS NEEDED FOR EFFECTIVE BRAND MARKETING

 

 

This article will highlight the four key points you need to understand in building your brand with social media.

Social media can be used to achieve lots of objectives like selling products, gaining subscribers and swaying the opinions of your readers and followers but first you have to create awareness about yourself and your brand.

Here are some important tips you need to acknowledge about social media as a means of brand building:

1. Select channels that support your brand image

Facebook is one of the most popular platforms for promoting your brands with over 2 billion users. Facebook is one of the best platforms to promote almost any brand

Instagram is a social network that places focus on images and videos.

Google+, this is a platform that does not have as much users as Facebook or Instagram but is a great medium to reach users affiliated with the technology industry

Pinterest is a social network fixated on women as the dominant users as it is used to promote brands selling jewelry and clothes.

2. Create content with value

Your reputation as a brand will increase with each useful and valuable content you produce.

3. Leverage Influencers 

It won’t be enough to write killer content if you have a relatively unknown brand. The fastest means to get recognition for your brand is to sway the existing influencers in the industry.

4. Drive content with social media

A lot of brands use competition based campaigns along with other social media strategy to gain visibility and exposure. Provide incentives to attractive user participants and make sure your campaign provides value for all who participate.

Mercy Johnson Okojie Becomes Spokesperson For Mr. Chef Salt

Nollywood star Mercy Johnson Okojie has just signed an endorsement deal with Mr Chef Iodized salt as she becomes it’s brand ambassador. The event took place hours ago in Lagos.

Mercy Johnson Okojie took to her Instagram page to make the announcement.

“I’ve been teasing you for a few days I know…Say hello to the new brand ambassador for Mr Chef iodised salt!

We will be cooking up a storm very soon and I’ll be sharing all the delicious and healthy details!

I’m very excited about this new relationship with Mr Chef iodised salt and I can’t wait to tell you how using iodised salt has literally changed my life!”

This endorsement is the actress’ first for 2018.

How to Leverage Trends for Brand Awareness on Social Media

Every business person wants their business to generate more income and grow beyond the teething stage.

They exploit every opportunity that lean towards this end and make the best of gains out of them.

Savvy business people do more. They go the extra mile to ensure things happen, including spending on marketing using social media. And adequately maintaining a successful social media account for a business comes with some handsome budgeting, but leveraging trends for your social media marketing efforts can get your business an organic viralty that can compete with its paid counterparts.

The good news is, the Nigerian society and its political arena presents on the steady, tons of trends that can be leveraged by businesses to drive massive social media awareness for their brands and save social media marketing costs.

An example is the story of the snake that swallowed 36 million naira which many businesses latched on to create conversations around their brands.

A good example leveraging a trend for social media content

Here’s how you too can do same.

#1. Understand your audience

We know that you already know your target audience, but when a trend surfaces and you wish to jump on it, there’s the need to remind yourself of those basics again.

Ask yourself, who’s my audience? Will this flow with them? How are they going to perceive this? Before you proceed.

#2. Be hyper sure it’s a trend

Trends are ongoing conversations and opinions about an issue of massive common interest. Not every noise is qualified to be a brand.

You need to be able to decipher which conversation deserves the trend crown before integrating them into your brand conversation.

The easiest way to do this is to pay attention to the trend section on Twitter, and check out for real time conversations on Twitter surrounding the identified trend.

#3. Play by audience location

Consider the location of your audience before jumping on trends.

The trend should match with your audience location. This is because trends in countries foreign to your audience will only generate snubs and no engagements. Engagement is needed to be able to drive awareness using trends.

#4. Twist narrative to suit your brand offer

When you notice a trend that suits your brand and fits in with your audience, the next thing to do is to create and weave a message that is in tandem with your brand’s offer around the trend before sharing them with your audience.

#5. Be creative, make it fun

One basic truth about marketing on social media is this, the audience wants to be either educated or entertained.

For this reason, any message with a touch of fun easily gels with online audience and sparks them into engaging with them.

So, make it fun.

Good intentions gone sour: A social media post weaved around a trend that triggered a customer’s ire.

#6. Scrutinize for offensiveness

Even when they have checked out on all the other criteria, social media content meant to leverage a trend for brand awareness still needs to be cross-checked for offensiveness.

Share the post with a friend or colleague who shares similarities with your target audience how they feel about the content before you post.

#7. Share with appropriate hashtags

This caps it all.

When you’re done with every other thing, share your post with industry hashtags that match with the topic of the content you wish to share. Then post.

Bonus

Of all the other social media platforms, trends go more viral on twitter. Consider using Twitter for posts weaved around trends.

Posting on the social media when your audience is offline may limit the performance of your post, so note when your audience is online and make your post to meet them at the point of their visit to your social media handle.