Connect with us

Business

Firm Plans Big For Consumers In PH

Published

on

Smirnoff Premium Spirit Drink is on course to become a house hold name this year as the producers plan to bring unique experience to the brand’s consumers in most cities in the country.

The Smirnoff Brand Manager, Mr Amaechi Kobi who stated this at a midnight circus organized by makers of Smirnoff Premium Spirit drink in Port Harcourt said they wanted something unique, unusual and different for its consumers as never before.

Okobi said the objectives of the mid-night circus which started in Lagos, Calabar and Port Harcourt cities were to give consumers of Smirnoff premium spirit the good feel of uniqueness which Smirnoff is known for.

According to him, we are learning an unforgettable experience on our consumers in the hope that their love for the brand will remain strong.

He however advised consumers of the brand to always drink responsibly, adding that they wanted people in Port Harcourt and Rivers State at large to have a great time.

DJJimmy Jatt was on hand at the ‘party, dishing out scintillating tunes that held the crowd spell bound. His electrifying mixes added the desired jives to the already exciting atmosphere. Also, the winner of the Port Harcourt Smirnoff DJ Search competition DJ Bombay, showcased why he is Port-Harcourt’s DJ champion as he put up a spectacular performance.

Smirnoff Midnight Circus Ringmaster Ikechukwu, one of Nigeria’s foremost rapper of the scalade fame was also on hand to entertain and engage the crowd. The party however got an interesting twist when one of the male guests proposed to his long time female friend who promptly accepted in front of a cheering crowd.

The party provided guests the rare opportunity to interact with the stilt walkers, clowns, dwarves, lions in cages and the ever glamorous Smirnoff girls in their stunning costumes, while the circus feel was further heightened with the distribution of circus gifts such as face masks, cat tails, circus hats, pop noses among others to be worn by guests. While the guests enjoyed their favourite Smirnoff drinks, they were encouraged to drink responsibly and also sign on the “Drink Responsibly Signature Wall,” which, according to Okobi, is one special form of Social Responsibility which the Diageo Brand advocates.

“Responsible drinking is one thing we hold dear as a brand. We are mindful and advocate enjoying drinks in moderation. So if you have attended any of our parties, you will find that water is served at regular intervals to people while they enjoy their drinks. As you heard the ringmaster said: drink responsibly, do not drink and drive and know your limit” Okobi said.

The Smirnoff Midnight Circus, according to our reporter, truly lived up to its billing of re- defining nightlife experiences across Nigeria and will for a long time remain in the memories of guests who attended the event.

Continue Reading

Business

Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

Published

on

Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

Continue Reading

Business

NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

Published

on

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
Continue Reading

Business

FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

Published

on

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
Continue Reading

Trending