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PRGN, Newmark Group Rally Global Expert Panel to Accelerate Growth in Africa’s Tourism and Travel Sectors

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Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) has on Wednesday announced the launch of Global Expert Panel on tourism and travel for Africa, led by its member agency, the Newmark Group, a strategic communications and advisory firm headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.

This pioneering initiative brings together top communications and marketing experts and leaders from across the world to arm tourism and destination management organisations with deep local insights and data from source countries.

It underscores the importance of understanding cultural nuances to significantly enhance the market presence and reimagine Africa’s tourism narrative globally.

Tourism and Travel in Africa has experienced impressive growth since the start of the millennium, as highlighted by a World Travel & Tourism Council report. In 2022, the sector contributed nearly 6% to Africa’s GDP, playing a vital role in economic stability and supporting 22 million jobs across the continent.

Amid this backdrop, the establishment of PRGN’s Global Expert Panel in tandem with The Newmark Group is essential for leveraging Africa’s tourism potential for sustainable development and inclusive growth.

By addressing key challenges and tapping into the expertise of global communication and marketing professionals, the panel aims to push Africa’s tourism industry to new heights and boost its visibility as a top travel destination.

“To elevate Africa’s tourism sector, destination marketers must harness global capabilities and adopt a holistic approach to branding and marketing. PRGN provides unparalleled global resources and local expertise, delivering a unique insight to meet new needs and thus capture market shares,” said PRGN President Natacha Clarac at the formation of the Global Expert Panel for tourism and emphasised the competitive nature of global tourism.

“Data and analyses that our team has carried out indicate that many African destinations significantly suffer from negative perceptions among target audiences abroad, mainly due to historically negative headlines in global media,” said Gilbert Manirakiza, CEO of the Newmark Group and Co-Chair of PRGN’s Global Expert Panel.

“We must equip destination marketers with the insights, tools, content, and campaigns that not only capture the attention of potential travellers but also credibly tell the vibrant and diverse stories of our attractions.”

“Africa’s tourism and travel sector is lively, but consumer trends, media consumption behaviour and travellers’ demographics are constantly shifting in source markets.
“This is the reason why we set out to bring together top experts who can design and help implement strategies that will position Africa’s destinations as preferred, relatable, and trusted attractions.

“This will help promote sustainable growth and enhance the cultural and economic fabric of local communities,” said Christina Rytter, Founder and Managing Director of Scandinavian Communications in Denmark, Co-Chair of the Global Expert Panel and PRGN’s Vice President for the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region.

The Global Expert Panel for Tourism and Travel in Africa is committed to a long-term partnership aimed at driving positive change and improving this sector. The members of the Global Expert Panel include:

● Christina Rytter – Founder, Scandinavian Communications (Copenhagen, Denmark) https://scandinaviancommunications.com
● Gilbert Manirakiza – CEO, The Newmark Group (Nairobi, Kenya) https://newmark-imc.com
● Bill Southard – CEO, Southard Communications (New York, USA) https://www.southardinc.com
● Shawn Jiang Xiaofeng – Managing Director, China Advocate (Beijing, China) https://www.chinaadvocate.com/ab/show.php?id=53&lang=en
● Bradly Howland – CEO, Alkemi Collective (Cape Town, South Africa) https://www.alkemi.global
● Sara Pearson – Founder and Chairman, Spider (London, United Kingdom) https://www.wearespider.com
● Uwe Schmidt – Managing Partner at Industrie-Contact AG (Hamburg, Germany)

Public Relations Germany: Industrie-Contact AG


● Stephane Billiet – Vice President, We Change (Paris, France) https://www.wechange.bz/en/the-agency/
● Valentina Giacaman Hazboun – Founder, RumboCierto Comunicaciones (Santiago, Chile) https://rumbocierto.cl
● Dominique Biquard – Founder & Partner, Identia PR (Buenos Aires, Argentina) https://identiapr.com/eng/

● Loreley Maldonado – CEO & Founder, Eje Comunicación (Mexico City, Mexico) https://ejecom.mx
● Susan McNair – Partner, Currie (Melbourne, Australia) https://curriecommunications.com.au
● Lovelyn Okafor – Newmark Country Lead (Nigeria ) https://newmark-imc.com

 

 


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Eyitayo Iyortim Appointed new President of AfTLD

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A Nigerian, Mrs. Eyitayo Iyortim, has been appointed as the new chairperson/president, Africa Top Level Domains [AfTLD].

Eyitayo Iyortim, AfTLD

According to a report by Techeconomy, AfTLD confirmed the appointment, by the Organisation Executive Committee, of Mrs Iyortim from Nigeria (.NG) as the Chairperson of the Executive Committee and President of the Organization.

She will be deputized by Prof Idrissa Sarr, vice president and the manager of the.SN ccTLD.

Mr Joel Karubiu from Kenya (.KE) continues as the Treasurer.

The newly elected Executive Committee members are Mr. Molehe Wesi, Chief Executive Officer .ZA Domain Name Authority (.ZA) and Deo Gratias Tonouhewa Manager JenySAS operator (.BJ).

Other members of the Executive Committee include Ms. Grace Ingabire, Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Information and Communications Technology Alliance (.RW), and Mr. Molupe Molupe, Manager of Lesotho Network Information Centre (.LS)

Who is Eyitayo Iyortim?

Eyitayo Iyortim is the immediate past chief operating officer of the qA).

She has a Masters in Organisational Psychology from the University of Manchester, UK.

Eyitayo has over 20 years’ experience in Project Management, Training solutions, Talent Management Solutions,  Organisational Transformation, Culture re-enginerring, IT Sales and Services.

She has worked for local and global brands which includes SAP, focus on the Family, Nigeria Internet Registration Association to mention a few.

She also consults on ERP, Digitalisation and HR projects.

Eyitayo has worked in project teams for many top-tier organisations in Nigeria including NNPC, FIRS, Dangote, UAC, NLNG.

She is a member of the British Psychological Society with CPDs in Employee Management, Relationships at Work and Assessment Centre Management.

She is also certified in Ability and Personality testing, Project Management and Life Coaching.

AFTLD

AfTLD is recognized as the representative of country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) managers from Africa.

It is an active participant in the ICANN ccNSO, and also actively participates in various Internet governance fora with the African continent and beyond, including the IGF, where it has run a number of workshops.

With collaboration in Internet governance and development a cornerstone of the bottom-up policy development processes that make the Internet truly a multi-stakeholder phenomenon, AfTLD works in collaboration and partnership with other Regional Top-Level Domain Organizations (RTLDOs), these being APTLD, CENTR and LACTLD.


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MNOs Excite Telecom Consumers with Data Management Tips

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In a concerted effort to address widespread complaints about data depletion, Nigeria’s Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have collaboratively launched a consumer sensitization campaign aimed at providing practical guidance for more effective data management. This initiative is designed to enhance consumer satisfaction by helping subscribers optimize their data usage.

In a unified statement, the MNOs highlighted several smart data usage behaviors that can help prevent data depletion. These include disabling automatic app updates, enabling data saver mode, and closing unused apps to prevent background data consumption.

To prevent unauthorized access and strengthen data security, the MNOs advised consumers to use stronger passwords and regularly update their hotspot and Wi-Fi passwords to prevent unauthorized access. For a seamless video streaming experience, users should ensure they have sufficient data and turn off auto-downloads to effectively manage content consumption.

With the advent of advanced network technologies like 4G, LTE, and the latest 5G, which offer ultra-fast data speeds and enhanced browsing and streaming experiences, the speed of data consumption and pattern have increased significantly. Consumers are encouraged to understand these changes and manage their data usage accordingly.

“It is important for consumers to familiarize themselves with the specific terms and conditions of their data plans,” the MNOs emphasized.

“Different plans cater to various needs, including weekend-specific plans, social media-only plans, and regular plans configured for night use only.”

For additional tips on smarter data usage and management, consumers should visit the NCC website at https://consumer.ncc.gov.ng or the official MTN website – https://www.mtn.ng/manage-data/


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Ijesha Digital Innovation Hub Set to Graduate First Cohort Trainees

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Ijesha Digital Innovation Hub has announced the graduation ceremony of its first cohort of trainees.

Ijesha Digital Hub

Ijesha Digital Hub

The landmark event will take place on Monday, July 8th, 2024, starting promptly at 2:00 PM at the Royal Park Hotel on the beautiful campus of Olashore International School, Iloko-Ijesa.

In a press statement on Friday, Dr Adewale Alonge, Vice President, IGAD, said that after six months of intensive and globally benchmarked courses of study, “the hub is proud to graduate 48 trainees who have completed rigorous programs leading to certification in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, and UI/UX Design. The graduating class includes 10 trainees in UI/UX Design, 23 in Cybersecurity, and 15 in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning”.

The ceremony will feature a keynote address by Sir Aladekomo, Chairman of SmartCity Resorts Plc and Founder of Chams Plc, a pioneer in the Nigerian tech industry.

“The event will be chaired by Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi, the esteemed Asiwaju of Ijeshaland, who will also deliver remarks celebrating the achievements of the graduates and the impact of the Innovation Hub.

“The media is invited to cover this significant event, which marks a new chapter for the 48 graduates as they embark on their professional journeys equipped with cutting-edge skills and knowledge. This graduation is a testament to the hub’s commitment to providing skills development training today so that participants can build tomorrow”, Dr. Alonge said.

The Ijesha Digital Innovation Hub, an initiative of the Ijesha Global Alliance for Development (IGAD), is dedicated to advancing the social, economic, and industrial development of Ijesaland in Nigeria. IGAD, a Florida, US-registered tax-exempt non-profit organization, mobilizes the resources and talents of Ijesas across the globe to foster the development of their homeland.


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