The Third Edition of the Zenith Tech Fair, tagged “Future Forward 3.0”, is set to be held on Wednesday, November 22 and Thursday, November 23, 2023, at the Eko Convention…
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The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, reassured Nigerians that his government would be fair and just when elected.
Tinubu, who spoke partly in Yoruba language, gave the pledge at a town hall meeting held with Muslim Leaders from South West in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Sunday.
This was disclosed in a statement released in Abuja by Tinubu media officer, Tunde Rahman, on Sunday.
The gathering was in continuation of his engagements with religious groups and leaders in the country to explain his plans to retool the economy for the benefit of all Nigerians.
While describing the 2023 general elections as ‘Nigeria’s momentous encounter with destiny,’ the former Lagos State governor urged the Islamic clerics to educate the people on the importance of voting only tested candidates with a track record of excellent public service.
The APC standard bearer also commended them for their continued prayers, saying they should encourage their followers not to ‘fall for the lies and gimmicks of those that have nothing to offer.’
He said: “My pledge for fairness and justice is consistent with the tenets of Islamic faith. This election season has been a hybrid of facts and falsehood, truth and lies. I would like the election to be one based on facts and truth.
“What is a candidate’s record of performance and what are his policies. I ask you to urge your followers to come out and vote and to do so wisely. Vote for a candidate that has vision for a peaceful, prosperous Nigeria where tolerance and compassion undergird our constitutional and legal rights.”
“A leader in a plural society like ours is enjoined to be a leader of all. If elected, I shall govern in an honest and democratic manner in harmony with our nation’s constitution.”
Citing his excellent stewardship as Lagos State governor, Tinubu promised to use that experience to lead Nigeria in the same spirit of innovation and pragmatic vision to uplift the nation and renew the hope of Nigerians.
On security, he vowed to end the reign of terror, kidnappings and other violent crimes by recruiting more personnel that would be trained and retrained, in addition to providing more security tools and gadgets for an effective fight against criminal elements.
“Regarding the economy, we seek to repair the very structure of the economy. We can no longer flourish as an economy based on natural resource extraction.
“We must become a dynamic, diversified economy where those who want to work can find a good job. But let us also be a society sufficiently compassionate to help those who cannot help themselves.
“We must revive manufacturing and industrial growth so as to create jobs as well as produce the goods and services that improve the daily lives of the average person.
“We seek a minimum of 6 percent growth annually through reform of our industrial policy, infrastructural enhancement, power sector innovation and significant budgetary reform,” Tinubu told the Muslim leaders.
Reacting to Tinubu’s promises, President of the South West Muslim Leaders, Rasaki Oladejo, stated that the event provided an opportunity for him to interface with them on his plans for the nation if elected, particularly on how he could make the country a land of great opportunities where no man will be oppressed.
The National Chief Missioner of Ansar-ur- Deen Movement, Sheikh Ahmad Abdulrahman, however, said the gathering was not to campaign or endorse Asíwájú or any candidate.
Tinubu was accompanied to the meeting by the South West leaders by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Femi Hamzat; APC Governorship Candidate in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin; former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole; Deputy Director-General of his campaign, Hadiza Bala Usman; Senator Fatai Buhari from Oyo and many serving and former members of the National Assembly.
The APC candidate had earlier interfaced with bishops from Pentecostal Churches in the 19 states of the North and the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, where he delivered a similar message as he did to the Muslim leaders of South West.
He had told the Christian leaders that if elected, he would run an inclusive government that will be blind to ethnicity and religion, but fair and equitable to all Nigerians.
Over 220 trade exhibitors from across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North America, Indonesia, South Africa, Senegal, Pakistan, and Egypt. will storm Lagos next week to unveil their products as the continent’s largest international three – day beauty , hair, and cosmetic event gets underway.
Describing the event as another opportunity for many new indigenous companies to expand their post pandemic business, organiser of Beauty West Africa and B to B Events, Mr Jamie Hill said over 4,500 attendees from around the world will utilize the fourth edition of the trade exhibition to participate in seminars and product demonstrations.
Besides, Hill said players in the value chain will also participate in beauty conferences and meet celebrities and influencers from the beauty world.
Hill said : “Excitingly, many new Nigerian companies are looking to expand their post pandemic business.
.”Not only is it the range of exhibitors that attracts visitors, but also the Beauty Conference is a huge draw. “Once again, we will be teaming up with Ezinne Alfa, the founder of Beauty in Lagos, to curate the Beauty West Africa conference programme.”
“This will consist of many panel discussions covering hot topics across the West African Beauty sector. Topics covered will include Penetrating the African market, Beauty Founder Goals and Barriers to entry.
“We will also be welcoming a keynote address from a senior NAFDAC official tackling ‘The Dangerous Trend of Skin Bleaching in Nigeria’. We invite everyone to pre-register ahead of the event to receive complimentary entrance to the exhibition.”
Mr Hill further said: “We look forward to seeing everyone in 2022 where Beauty West Africa will return with its biggest edition to date. Look out for new exhibitors, feature areas, panel discussions, country pavilions, prize giveaways, international hosted buyers, matchmaking software and more!”
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has sensitised the general public, especially those in the informal sector comprising Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), the private sector and self-employed persons on the benefits of the Micro Pension Plan (MPP).
The commission engaged them at the just concluded 2022 Lagos International Trade Fair organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
The MPP is an arrangement under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) that allows the self-employed and persons working in organisations with less than three employees to make financial contributions towards the provision of pension at their retirement or incapacitation.
The Commission showcased the benefits of the MPP as its strategy for expanding pension coverage to the informal sector by educating, enlightening and sensitising the public on the MPP. The fair which was the 36th edition, was officially opened by the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The commission’s stand at the Trade Fair was manned by staff who provided customer care services, sensitised, publicised and offered clarifications on the CPS in general with emphasis on the MPP.
Numerous visitors including Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders, interested members of the public and students from various schools were hosted at the stand.
PenCom publications which included Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the CPS and MPP were also given out to various participants at the fair.
Speaking at the Trade Fair, the Head, Micro Pensions Department, PenCom, Mr. Dauda Ahmed disclosed that over 84,000 Nigerians have subscribed to the MPP, adding that the subscription has further spiked in the last two months.
He said: “Since the Trade Fair is an avenue for business people and stakeholders in the informal sector to come together, PenCom utilises this opportunity to sell the benefits they will derive by keying into the MPP.
“Participating at the trade fair is just one of our strategies in creating awareness on the MPP. Aside this, PenCom also reaches out to unions and leadership of associations, to have sessions with them, so that they can convince their members on the benefits of the plan”, Ahmed said.
Similarly, the Head, South West Zonal Office, PenCom in Lagos, Mr. Tunde Alayande, stated that the MPP is being embraced in Lagos, and that the zonal office is intensifying efforts at creating more awareness on the MPP within the South West geo-political zone.
“Going by the data from the commission’s third quarter of 2022, a total of 4,193 micro pension contributors were registered by 18 Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) bringing the total number of registered micro pension participants from inception to 84,612 as at 30 September, 2022. “Also, the total pension contributions received from micro pension contributors between July to September 2022 stood at N45.135 bringing the total value of the MPP fund to N325.915 as at 30 September 2022”, he added.
Dangote Industries Ltd has said it will continue to partner stakeholders to deepen commerce, industry and economic activities so as to strengthen the nation’s economy.
It explained that part of the efforts at revitalizing the economy is the sponsorship of the 2022 Lagos International Trade Fair. Themed “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value”, the fair is expected to be declared opened by President Mohammadu Buhari. It holds between November 4 and 13 at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Onikan, Lagos.
The collaboration is coming on the heels of similar sponsorship of the recently concluded Abuja International trade fair for which Dangote Group, was a lead sponsor.
Five companies from the Dangote Group-Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar, NASCON Allied Industries, Dangote-Sinotruk, and Dangote Fertilisers are participating in the Fair as the business units plans to open helpdesks to attend to enquires from perspective customers.
Dangote Group yesterday stated trade fairs have become a veritable avenue for the subsidiaries to bond with their customers.
NASCON will be offering its range of products, salt packs, seasonings, and stew mix to customers at the trade fair. The salt pack which is designed to endear the product to its teeming customers still comes in packs of 250g, 500g and 1kg. The design is to make the product more accessible and affordable for consumers and other end users. NASCON would be giving visitors to its stand at the Dangote pavilion a good treat.
Dangote Sugar Refinery will be bringing to the fair all its products ranges while its marketing team will fully be on ground to attend customers and prospective new distributors. Customers are encouraged to visit the stand and buy products at Trade Fair prices.
Dangote Cement, a regular participant at both fairs, will operate an office at the Dangote Group Pavilion. Customers and users of its cement products are encouraged to visit the office during the period of the fair for consultations with the team.
The group stated that customers wanting to be distributor of any of the products from Dangote Group subsidiaries would have the opportunity to be well informed by staff of the companies who would be on hand to put the customers through on how to go about it.
“Besides the products being sold at reasonable prices, lots of gifts have been packaged for potential visitors to Dangote Stand with opportunity from wet sampling of its products,” the group stated.
Group Chief, Branding Communication Officer, Mr. Anthony Chiejina stated that opportunities abound in this year’s trade fair as Dangote Group’s business units would be expanding its customer base and urged visitors to the fair to take advantage of the development to key into various businesses of the Group
According to him, the company will be offering information on every aspect of its business especially the refinery and fertilizer and urged members of the public to patronize the company at the fair.