News
MTN Still Most Admired, Most Valuable African Brand
MTN has again topped the Brand Africa 100® list as the Most Admired and Most Valuable African Brand. At over $5.4bn, MTN is the only African brand valued over a billion dollars.
The 2014 Brand Africa 100 rankings of the most admired and most valuable brands in sub-Saharan Africa were released on Monday at the Nairobi Stock Exchange in Kenya.
In the overall rankings, Coca-Cola toppled Nokia as the most admired brand in Africa, while MTN moved up a spot in the admiration ranks among Africans.
“While it is nice to again be acknowledged as Africa’s most valuable brand, it is even nicer to be ranked the most admired African brand. It means that MTN doesn’t just have a spot in our customers’ pocket book, but in their hearts and minds as well. A special thanks to our employees who are the best ambassadors of the MTN brand. Our employees have also done very well to partner with communities through projects such as the 21 Days of Y’ello Care staff volunteer programme,” said Jennifer Forrester, executive for Marketing, MTN Group.
Established in 2011, Brand Africa 100® measures and ranks the brands that consumers admire and their corresponding value.
Brand Africa 100® was developed by Brand Africa in partnership with Brand Finance plc, the world’s leading independent valuation consultancy, and TNS, the globally respected consumer knowledge and information company, supported by Geopoll, the leading mobile survey platform with a database of nearly 200m users in emerging markets, to create a unique index and ranking that recognises the most admired and valuable brands in Africa.
“Despite a challenging environment for emerging African and non-African brands seeking a share of the lucrative African market, MTN remains the pre-eminent global Africa benchmark and inspiration, with consistent brand leadership and a special place as a pioneering enabler brand for African businesses and consumers,” Thebe Ikalafeng, chairman, Brand Africa and Brand Finance Africa.
The 2014 Brand Africa 100 is based on a survey among a representative sample of eight countries, covering the major sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regions to establish the base top 100 most admired brands.
These countries, Ghana and Nigeria (West Africa; Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda (East Africa); DRC (Central Africa) and Mozambique and South Africa (Southern Africa).
Collectively, these countries represent 51% (477m) of SSA population and 67% ($1,065 trillion) of Africa’s GDP. Their countries’ brands are also often the dominant brands with a dominant influence and consumer base within their regions.
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator, connecting subscribers in 22 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Bosun Tijani, minister for Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, has stated that the federal government is geared towards creating about one million technology jobs for teeming Nigerian youth.
Tijani stated this at the official opening of a solar-powered community ICT center built by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Abeokuta, as part of activities marking the 38th Lisabi festival.
The minister emphasised the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to invest in the digital economy, driving inclusive growth and empowering the country’s teeming youth population.
“The president made it very clear when I came into office, that he will spend efforts and resources in creating one million technology jobs. So, for anybody that is following the development in the world today you will see that there’s no world without technology.
“There is a strong shortage of technology workforce all over the world, and while a lot of the developed countries have ageing population, and not giving birth to kids, in Nigeria, the average age is 16.9, so our young people are being projected to be the workforce of the future, not only for Nigeria.
“This center here is one of many. In the next two months, we are launching about 30 of them all over the country. This center will be properly animated and we will put resources into ensuring that there are courses for young people to come and take here.
“We are also going to ensure that there are job opportunities that we can connect them to and if anyone wants to follow, follow the three million Technical Talent Program which we have started already in the country”, he said.
He therefore charged the youth to remain focus, and not be discouraged, adding that there is massive employment opportunities in technology as there is no enough people to work in technology all over the world.
“If you ask anyone that works in technology, the entry salary is between N350,000 to N500,000. Technology pays really well, so instead of worrying about things being hard, they should take advantage of centers like this, empower themselves and go for the opportunities the world has to offer them”, he added.
Speaking earlier, Oba Adedotun Are, Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, lauded President Tinubu for approving the centre in Abeokuta, saying that this has no doubt marked another new dawn for the people of Egbaland, given rapid growth, development, and economic empowerment of the people.
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) has predicted that the price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) will decline as Dangote Refinery and other local refineries commence full operations.
Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, April 1, NIPSS Director-General Ayo Omotayo expressed optimism that fuel prices would fall once more refineries become operational.
He projected that petrol prices could drop to around N750 per litre before the end of the year with a more stable exchange rate.
“We’re looking at it coming down as low as N750 before the end of the year. And of course, foreign exchange will still drop to about 1.3 before the end of the year, and it is going to continue like that as more of our refineries come into place.
Omotayo acknowledged the current economic hardships but insisted that the policy would benefit Nigerians in the long run.Traditional Nigerian cuisine
“The gains at this time are very little, but in the long run, we will make up for whatever sacrifices we have made today as Nigerians” he stated
U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that a deal for the sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations is expected to be finalized before the April 5 deadline.
U.S. President Donald Trump
The deadline, set by legislation passed in January, mandates TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. assets or face a nationwide ban due to national security concerns.
Multiple non-Chinese firms have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations.
Private equity firm Blackstone is considering a minority investment, potentially joining existing non-Chinese shareholders such as Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic.
In a strategic move to facilitate the sale, Trump suggested that he might consider a reduction in tariffs on China, acknowledging that Chinese regulatory approval may be required for the deal to proceed.
The White House has been actively involved in negotiations to ensure that TikTok remains operational in the U.S. while addressing national security risks.
With TikTok’s 170 million American users watching closely, the outcome of the sale is expected to have a major impact on the social media landscape and the broader tech industry.
Africa’s Data Workers are Being Exploited by Foreign Tech Firms – Report
NIMC Says NIN Mandatory to Government Loans
Fidelity Bank Reports N385.2Bn Pre-Tax Profit for 2024
FG to Create 1m Technology Jobs – Minister
Ponzi Operators Risk 10-Year Jail Term, N20m Fine – SEC
Telecom2 days agoMTN, Lynk Global Make Africa’s First Satellite-to-Mobile Call
E-Financial2 days agoNigeria Gets Fresh $500m World Bank Loan for Economic Stimulus Programme
E-Business2 days agoSystemSpecs’s Subsidiary Deelaa Becomes Whatadeal
General News2 days agoSERAP Asks National Assembly to Drop Bill to Jail Nigerians who Fail to Vote
E-Financial2 days agoUninsured Depositors of Heritage Bank to Receive Liquidation Dividends In April – NDIC
Telecom2 days agoSmart Treasure Investment Team’s Initiatives Eradicate Poverty, Says Aminu
Telecom2 days ago15-Year-Old Autistic Artist, Kanye, to Unveil World’s Largest Art Canvas on Autism Awareness Day
E-Business2 days agoCybersecurity Firm Says It’s Time to Back it Up, As the World Marks World Backup Day