Business

BREAKING! UNILORIN Graduate Emerges Eva Wine Nigeria Brand Ambassador

Published

3 years ago

August 7, 2022

BREAKING! UNILORIN Graduate Emerges Eva Wine Nigeria Brand Ambassador

A University of Ilorin graduate, Miss Ebun Dosunmu has become the Brand Ambassador for Nigeria’s Premium non-alcoholic drink, Eva Wine.

Dosunmu emerged the winner following “The Search for Miss Eva”, a keenly contested competition, which lasted for 5 weeks and saw no fewer than 600 video entries from young women across Nigeria.

She is now the first ever brand ambassador for the popular non-alcoholic wine drink.

Ebun, a TV/Red carpet host/producer, brand strategist, and content creator, outshined nine other finalists to win the title in a keenly contested grand finale which held at the 5-star Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja on Sunday, August 7, 2022.

The glamorous event brings to climax the high-energy online competition which received hundreds of video entries from young ladies all across Nigeria, among which 30 were shortlisted and 10 finalists emerged.

During the final event, the contestants presented varying performances of their talents and creativity, from singing to poetry, painting and many more, to the delight of the audience.

Nollywood superstar and show host, Deyemi Okanlawon then engaged all the finalists in a fireside chat which gave the judges the opportunity to closely assess them on eloquence, intelligence, connection with the brand and general affairs.

After their review of the night’s performances as well as points garnered earlier in the competition, the judges presented the host with the result and he went on to announce the bubbly Ebunoluwa Dosumu as the winner, while Niki Amachree emerged as the first runner-up and Lilian Orakwe was named second runner-up. Pamela Ifejoku was named third runner-up.

Ebun, who is also a graduate of the University of Ilorin, Kwara state, goes home with the grand prize of 6 million naira, an all-expense paid vacation in Dubai courtesy of Africa’s leading full-service travel company, Voiaj Travels, a complete makeover, staycation, product supply and many more.

The first runner-up wins 500,000 naira, a complete makeover, staycation, product supply, while the second runner-up wins 300,000 naira, a complete makeover, staycation, product supply and other exciting prizes.

The Country Manager for Eva Group, Tope Akanni, expressed excitement at the success of the competition. He identified the high level of creativity displayed by Nigerian ladies in their entry videos as well as the “My Eva Story” videos as one of the highlights of the competition.

He said; “We already promised that our ideal Miss Eva would be a wise young woman who can represent Eva Wine, home and away, as a virtuous, warm, creative, fun, and friendly personality. Now that we have found her, Nigerians should look out for her in the next one year because she will be the face of the brand on TV, billboards, social media, events and everywhere, from chat rooms to boardrooms.”

Reiterating why the Eva Wine brand decided not to engage a top celebrity or influencer as its brand ambassador, Mr Sanni explained how fulfilling it has been for the brand watching exceptional young ladies grabbing the Eva Wine opportunity to become self-made celebrities.

He promised that the Search for Miss Eva is the beginning of a new era in which the Eva Wine brand would support and invest more in the Nigerian youth through the media and entertainment industry.

The Managing Director of Voiaj Travels, who was also one of the judges, Lanre Olaniyan, noted that the toughest task on the night was trying to arrive at the final decision due to the sparkling qualities displayed by all the finalists. He noted that all the contestants are indeed winners and they should be proud of themselves.

“It’s a huge congratulations to the Eva Wine Nigeria team and to the winner. We are indeed proud of this project and our partnership. As the official travel partner for Miss Eva, I’d like to say her celebrity travel lifestyle starts now and we cannot wait to welcome her to the beautiful city of Dubai,” he said.

For five weeks, Eva Wine Nigeria has deployed an exciting online activation engaging young ladies across Nigeria in a reality-type talent competition with intense activities to test their eligibility for its brand ambassadorial role.

Young ladies across Nigeria were required to record a short video celebrating creatively with a bottle of Eva Wine and vibing to the campaign theme song #happymisseva.

The grand finale was streamed live on Eva Wine’s YouTube channel, Eva TV.

Business

ASR AFRICA EMERGES WINNER OF THE CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 2024 INDEPENDENT AWARDS

Published

6 hours ago

March 16, 2025

Sahara Weekly

ASR AFRICA EMERGES WINNER OF THE CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 2024 INDEPENDENT AWARDS

ASR Africa emerges the Corporate Social Responsibility Champion of the Year at the Independent Awards 2024 in Lagos recently. Dr Ubon Udoh, the MD/CEO of ASR Africa, represented the Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu (CFR, CON) at the event to receive the award on his behalf.

Dr. Ubon Udoh thanked the organisers of the Award for recognizing the immense contributions of Abdul Samad Rabiu in creating sustainable homegrown solutions in Nigeria and Africa at large, in the area of health, education, mentorship and social development. He noted that the award, no doubt, will serve as an impetus for ASR Africa to continue to do more.

ASR Africa is an initiative of one of Africa’s biggest philanthropists and serial entrepreneurs, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder & Executive Chairman, BUA Group. At the heart of our mission lies a deep-rooted commitment to fostering substantial progress across the African continent through focused investments in education, health, and social development sectors.

Business

UBA, ICAN Partner to Drive Innovation, Excellence in Finance and Accounting

Published

10 hours ago

March 16, 2025

Sahara Weekly

UBA, ICAN Partner to Drive Innovation, Excellence in Finance and Accounting

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc on Friday, hosted the 60th President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chief Davidson C. S. Alaribe, FCA, in a meeting aimed at fostering collaboration and innovation between both institutions.

The meeting signalled a pivotal moment in the relationship between the two institutions, as they explored strategic partnerships aimed at driving mutual growth and development in the financial and accounting sectors.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who welcomed the ICAN President and his high-profile delegation, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership and assured that the bank is ready and willing to support the institution in its drive for excellence.

He said, “UBA is proud to be home to a significant number of ICAN members, whose expertise has been instrumental to our success as Africa’s global bank. This visit reaffirms our shared commitment to excellence and innovation.

Continuing, Alawuba stated, “We are particularly excited about potential collaboration in the Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP), training initiatives, and other business opportunities that will create a win-win for both organisations.”

The delegation had distinguished members of the institute’s council and executive team, including Immediate Past President of ICAN; Mr. Oladele Nuraini Oladipo, FCA, ICAN Council Member; Dr. Oluseyi Oladimeji Olanrewaju, FCA, ICAN’s Honorary Treasurer; Mr. Biodun Adedeji, FCA, ICAN Council Member; and Dr. Lanre Olasunkanmi, FCA, Registrar/Chief Executive of ICAN.

Alaribe who was visibly excited at the corroboration between both organisations, said, “UBA is not just a financial powerhouse in Nigeria but a global leader with a strong presence across Africa and beyond. ICAN recognises the immense value UBA brings to the table, and we are excited to explore opportunities for collaboration in areas such as capacity building, professional development, and business expansion. This partnership will undoubtedly benefit our members and the broader financial ecosystem.”

The discussions also focused on several key areas of collaboration in capacity building, Joint training programmes to enhance the skills of accounting professionals and UBA staff, collaborating on initiatives to promote ethical standards, financial literacy, and best practices in accounting and finance and setting up a branch of ICAN at the UBA House.

This historic meeting marks a significant milestone in the relationship between UBA and ICAN, two institutions committed to driving excellence and innovation in the financial and accounting professions. Both parties expressed optimism about the future and pledged to work closely to achieve their shared goals.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) is the leading professional accounting body in Nigeria, established to regulate the practice of accountancy and promote excellence in the profession. With over 50,000 members, ICAN is dedicated to advancing the science of accountancy and fostering ethical standards in the industry.

United Bank for Africa is Africa’s Global Bank. Operating across twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology. UBA is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally.

UBA, ICAN Partner to Drive Innovation, Excellence in Finance and Accounting

Business

DESPERATE NIGER BEGS NIGERIA FOR FUEL AMID CATASTROPHIC SHORTAGE!

Published

20 hours ago

March 16, 2025

Sahara Weekly

DESPERATE NIGER BEGS NIGERIA FOR FUEL AMID CATASTROPHIC SHORTAGE!

Nigeria Rescues Its Defiant Neighbor as Fuel Crisis Spirals Out of Control

Abuja/Niamey – March 15, 2025 – In a stunning turn of events, Niger Republic has turned to its long-estranged neighbor, Nigeria, for help after being crippled by a catastrophic fuel shortage. Despite months of diplomatic tensions, hostile rhetoric, and even allegations of sabotage, Niger’s military junta has been forced to swallow its pride and beg Nigeria for emergency fuel supplies to prevent total economic collapse.

Sources reveal that a high-powered delegation from the junta rushed to Abuja in a desperate plea for assistance. The outcome? A staggering 300 truckloads of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) approved for immediate delivery—a move insiders say Nigeria is leveraging as a “strategic bargaining tool” in negotiations to pull Niger back into the ECOWAS fold.

Niger’s Fuel Nightmare: Prices Soar to Unthinkable Heights

With its economy in free fall, Niger’s fuel crisis has reached nightmarish levels. Reports indicate that petrol prices have skyrocketed to an eye-watering N8,750 per liter in some areas—forcing citizens into dire straits. Border towns, once lifelines for smuggled Nigerian fuel, have been left paralyzed.

A Nigerian transborder businessman, Mallam Abubakar Usman, described the situation as “beyond critical,” revealing that in the border town of Konni, fuel sells for 1,200 CFA (N2,500 per liter), while in Agadez, prices soar to 3,000 CFA (N7,500 per liter). The situation is even grimmer in Arilit, near Algeria, where a single liter costs an unbelievable 3,500 CFA (N8,750).

How Niger’s Junta Backfired on China—And Paid the Price

Niger’s woes, experts say, are self-inflicted. The junta’s reckless confrontation with Chinese oil giants has backfired disastrously. After securing a $400 million advance from the China National Petroleum Corporation, Niger found itself unable to repay. But instead of negotiating, the junta took a hardline approach, slapping an outrageous $80 billion tax demand on Soraz (Zinder Refinery Company), despite owing $250 billion to Chinese oil firms.

China’s response was swift and brutal. It shut down operations, expelled Nigerien officials, and froze accounts, effectively collapsing Niger’s petroleum sector overnight. The Soraz refinery—a lifeline for fuel supplies—ground to a halt, plunging the country into chaos.

Yet, despite the junta’s blunders, Niger remains too proud to admit its dependency on Nigeria. Reports indicate that Niger’s state-controlled media has deliberately avoided acknowledging Nigeria’s critical intervention, instead painting the fuel supply as an internal success.

Nigeria: The Unexpected Savior?

Despite Niger’s earlier accusations that Nigeria was plotting against it, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has chosen to rise above past animosities and extend an olive branch. The silent fuel deal, orchestrated behind closed doors, is more than just humanitarian aid—it’s a masterstroke in diplomatic strategy.

A senior Nigerian government official revealed: “We do not want to blow our trumpet. Rather, we want to use this as leverage to bring them back into ECOWAS. The truth is, they simply do not have the resources to sustain themselves without us.”

Nigeria’s Oil Industry: Strong Enough to Bail Out Niger?

Oil marketers and industry experts confirm that Nigeria has the capacity to shoulder Niger’s crisis without disrupting its own economy. With the Dangote refinery, the Port Harcourt refinery, and additional imports, Nigeria remains a dominant force in West African energy.

Billy Gillis-Harry, President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, confirmed that the country has ample resources: “If we have a diplomatic reason for this, it is completely doable.”

Will This Lifeline Bring Niger Back to ECOWAS?

While Niger’s military rulers have yet to acknowledge Nigeria’s help, the reality remains—without Nigeria, Niger’s survival is at stake. This fuel crisis has exposed the junta’s vulnerability, forcing it to rely on the very country it once accused of betrayal.

As Nigeria continues its strategic maneuvering, one question lingers: Will Niger finally come back to the ECOWAS fold, or will it gamble on further isolation?