General News
Thierry Henry Joins Guinness Nigeria for Lagos Responsible Drinking Rally
By peter oluka
In demonstration of its strong commitment to promoting the responsible consumption of alcohol, Nigeria’s only total beverage alcohol company, Guinness Nigeria Plc, has today concluded its “Ember months” Responsible Drinking Awareness Campaign, with a grand rally attended by International football icon and Guinness Made of Black ambassador, Thierry Henry at the Ojota Motor Park in Lagos.
Thierry Henry, who is in Nigeria as part of the Guinness’ Made of Black campaign, joined officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other partners and road users at the event marking the end of the campaign. This year’s campaign which was flagged off at the Agege Park in Lagos has already had stops in Benin and Abuja so far.
Speaking at the final rally, Managing Director/CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Peter Ndegwa said: “Through our ember month’s campaigns, we aim to play a part in helping consumers make the right choices. The message we deliver to consumers through our annual campaigns is consistent with our values at Guinness Nigeria. For this event, it is also great to have such a well-known and respected person as Thierry Henry who is an ambassador for our brand but also a great advocate for the responsible use of alcohol.”
“Consumers are at the heart of everything we do as an organization and they are the basis for our success. We are therefore genuinely interested in educating consumers on the dangers of alcohol misuse and increasing awareness of the positive role that alcohol can play in society and as part of a balanced lifestyle.” Ndegwa said.
Guinness Nigeria has been running the Ember month’s campaign in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps for 13 years and it has blossomed into an impactful platform, making it possible for both parties to jointly life-changing responsible drinking messages that annually reach millions of Nigerians.
Mr Ndegwa also commended the FRSC for the critical role it plays in helping to reduce accidents on the nation’s highways. “I would like to specially thank the FRSC for their partnership through the years and for the good work they do every day to ensure the safety of road users in Nigeria. As a company, we are proud of the impact we have been able to make through our partnership with the FRSC and other stakeholders this season. I’m positive that our collective actions will help promote the culture of responsible drinking amongst Nigerians.” he enthused.
Thierry Henry, who has been in Lagos since Sunday 17th has already been meeting fans and hosted the winners of the Guinness ‘Be a front row fan’ promotion to watch the West Brom v Manchester United EPL game on Sunday night.
Henry popularly called “Igwe” by Nigerian fans noted that he is very impressed with how Guinness Nigeria has, via this campaign, provided a unique opportunity for engagement with hundreds of thousands of people on the facts about alcohol, educating and empowering consumers to make informed decisions around if, when and how to drink.
“The misuse of alcohol is a real and on-going concern and Guinness is winning in its strategy on how to tackle it and find more meaningful solutions,” said Henry.
Mrs. Viola Graham-Douglas, corporate relations director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, who also addressed journalists at the closing ceremony said: “As a leading manufacturer of alcoholic beverages, Guinness Nigeria Plc makes effort to promote responsible drinking and work with other stakeholders to combat alcohol misuse. Some of the principles that have defined our approach include the need to combat alcohol abuse, setting standards for responsible marketing and innovation; and promoting a shared understanding of what responsible drinking means in order to reduce alcohol-related harm.”
She added, “It is our desire that the continued partnership with FRSC will galvanize other corporate institutions and organizations to commit and partner with us in raising awareness around responsible consumption of alcohol which would address the issue of ‘drink driving’ in Nigeria.” Graham-Douglas said.
On his part, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, commended Guinness Nigeria Plc for sustaining this giant stride for the past thirteen years, while taking into cognizance the fact that road safety is a shared responsibility.
“In Nigeria, the last four months of the year are often referred to as ‘ember months’ and have been greatly associated with increased incidence of road accidents and casualty. Due to the festivities in these months, particularly in December, there is an upsurge in movement of people travelling to various destinations, thus increasing the traffic on the roads. As we officially close this year’s ember months road safety responsible drinking campaign, I charge everyone to re-direct their minds toward good road use by obeying all rules and regulations. It is our collective responsibility to eradicate or reduce the ever-increasing volume of road crashes on our roads,” he stated.
The various events had representatives from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in attendance.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that as of February 28, 2025, the number of Nigerians enrolled in the National Identification Number (NIN) database has reached 117.3 million.
This marks a significant increase of over seven million registrations since September 2024, when the figure stood at 110 million.
Gender and State Distribution
The latest statistics reveal that 56.5% of registered individuals are male, totaling 66.2 million, while 43.5% are female, at 51.07 million.
Among states, Lagos leads with 12.6 million registrations, followed by Kano with 10.2 million and Kaduna with 6.9 million.
This is consistent with the high populations in Lagos and Kano.
Other states with notable enrolment numbers include:
Ogun (4.9 million),
Oyo (4.5 million),
Katsina (4 million).
In contrast,
Bayelsa (758,111),
Ebonyi (990,775),
have the lowest enrolment figures.
The government has been emphasising the need for citizens to link their NIN to access essential services, including social services, financial transactions, and telecommunications.
A well-developed and accessible digital ID system is seen as vital for effective digital governance.
Beyond strengthening security and promoting transparency, this initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of service delivery across the country.
As part of efforts to reform the economy for sustained and inclusive growth, the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE has called for a collaborative partnership between NITDA and the MTN Foundation to promote digital literacy and capacity building in Nigeria.
Inuwa made this call during a courtesy visit by MTN Foundation delegation, led by Odunayo Sanya, at the Agency’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.
The Director-General emphasised the importance of synergy in fostering digital literacy and advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda of promoting industrialisation to create a dynamic and diverse economic landscape.
He noted that NITDA’s initiative, DL4ALL, aims to achieve 95% digital literacy across the country by the year 2027. “This aligns with the Agency’s strategic pillar of fostering digital literacy and cultivate talents,” he noted.
Inuwa also highlighted NITDA’s dedication to developing a digital literacy framework based on UNESCO and DigiCom standards, adding that the Agency is collaborating with stakeholders to create a three-phase curriculum for primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, with a focus on prioritising skills over certifications.
The MTN Foundation shares similar goals and currently offers online programmes featuring over 4,000 courses, with 2,000 young Nigerians already registered.
Mr. Sanya commended NITDA’s initiatives and invited the Agency to unveil its academy platform on April 17th of this year.
Both organisations have agreed to establish a committee to efficiently achieve their shared objectives. This partnership is expected to drive digital literacy and capacity building in Nigeria, aligning with the country’s national development agenda.
MTN Nigeria is set to bring its Go Make A Difference (Go M.A.D) campaign to Aba, Nigeria’s renowned enterprise hub, on Sunday, March 23, at Sugarland, Luxury City Hotel.
This initiative continues MTN’s mission to inspire Nigerians to take deliberate steps toward community development and digital empowerment.
Speaking with the press at the campaign launch, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, shared the inspiration behind the Go M.A.D initiative. “At MTN, we believe in driving progress, giving our customers the power to rise above challenges and create something extraordinary. The Go M.A.D campaign is rooted in the belief that MTN data gives you the power to take on the world, to achieve the extraordinary, and to make a meaningful difference, in your community, your family, and your workplace. It’s our way of saying: we see you, we support you, and we’re here to make your journey better.”
Following exciting stops in Abuja, Enugu, Calabar, Ibadan, and most recently Benin, the campaign now heads to Aba with a promise to spotlight the city’s rich entrepreneurial spirit and creative talent.
In Aba, attendees can expect a thrilling fusion of technology, entertainment, and culture, with augmented and virtual reality zones, a flash mob, interactive games, special guests and inspiring real-life stories. The event will also feature Kahoot trivia games, a Go MAD puzzle, a pledge wall, and giveaways of MTN-branded merchandise and digital devices.
A highlight of this event will be the Talent Showcase, dedicated to spotlighting Aba’s emerging creatives and innovators. This platform provides local talents the opportunity to share their creative skills and connect with a broader audience.
Set against the backdrop of Aba’s reputation as a powerhouse of local industry and innovation, the event will celebrate individuals, known as Go MAD Icons, who are making a difference through MTN Data by driving social impact, growing businesses, or sharing knowledge digitally. These icons will serve as powerful reminders of what’s possible when creativity meets connectivity.
As with the previous activations in Abuja, Enugu, Ibadan, Calabar and Benin, cultural expression will remain central to the experience, with performances and installations that pay homage to the Igbo culture while encouraging young people to take positive action in their communities.
MTN’s Go MAD campaign is not just a series of events; it’s a national call to action. By merging storytelling, digital experiences, and grassroots inspiration, the campaign continues to engage Nigeria’s youth and highlight how technology can be a force for change.
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