It’s been a little more than 10 years since Shoprite launched in Nigeria with the opening of its first store in Lagos in December 2005. Today 99.5% of the supermarket chain’s 2 230 employees are Nigerian citizens and 76% of all products sold are procured locally.
Shoprite’s commitment to support local enterprise means the supermarket chain has developed relationships with approximately 300 leading Nigerian suppliers and small businesses.
“It is one thing to farm vegetables, but having the right channels in place to reach consumers is equally important,” commented Dr. Folashade Disu, CEO of Batfol Farms in Lagos. “This is where Shoprite plays a major role. As the supermarket chain has been increasing its footprint in Nigeria, so too Batfol Farms have been growing its capacity in order to continue meeting the demand for our produce.”
Mr. Samuel Adedeji, Supervisor for feed mills at Fresh Country Chicken in Kwara, echoes these sentiments. “Thanks to unprecedented growth levels since becoming a Shoprite supplier, Fresh Country Chicken started an outgrower programme. Local community farmers are supplied with seed, maize fertilizers and herbicides, Fresh Country Chicken then buys back the maize at market rates after input deductions”.
Shoprite Nigeria introduced the country to a world class shopping experience through its core business promise of lower prices. Having recently opened its 16th Shoprite store in Nigeria, the supermarket chain remains firmly committed to supporting local farmers through mutually beneficial business relationships.
Winners rise in Skye bank ‘reach for the Skye’ millionaire scheme
There was an air of excitement at the Ariaria Market in Aba, Abia State, as more winners emerged on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at this year’s first redemption ceremony of the ongoing ‘Reach for the Skye Millionaire Reward Scheme.
The scheme, which is changing many lives is an effort from one of the top financial institutions in Nigeria, Skye Bank to encourage a better savings culture among Nigerians and it has taken place in six locations across the country since inception, including Ibadan, Onitsha, Benin, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Lagos.
One of the winners, Ejiofor Nkiruka from Umuelemai Branch in Owerri who emerged as a millionaire in Thursday’s reward scheme, screamed excitedly into the phone when she was informed of her reward.
Nkiruka said, “No, it cannot be true. You mean I am a millionaire? Wow! I am amazed. Thank you so much Skye Bank. What can I say again? Thank you.”
In seven months, the Millionaire Reward Scheme has produced 22 millionaires and several other consolation cash prize winners of N250, 000 and N100, 000, while others have gone home with exciting instant prizes at the draw venues.
Speaking about the reward scheme, Head, Retail Banking, Skye Bank, Nkolika Okoli, said there were still opportunities for many more to win prizes between now and July.
Okoli urged Nigerians to grab the opportunity offered by Skye Bank, by opening savings accounts with the bank, adding: “The consistency of our Millionaire Promo is in response to the enthusiasm recorded among our customers about the success and rewards they received during the preceding reward scheme.”
“We are also committed to continually satisfy our customers’ needs, empower them, encourage their savings culture, engender the desire to establish small businesses with limited capital and show appreciation through the Millionaire Reward Scheme.”
Endorsing the scheme, the representative, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Abia State office, Mr. Opara Celestine, said: “I commend Skye Bank on the success of this activation and everybody present can attest to the fact that it was unbiased and without prejudice. So, we are strongly in support of the scheme.”
The ‘Skye Reach for Millionaire’ reward scheme will see Skye Bank give away the sum of 60 million naira during the course of one year to customers who operate the Skye Save Plus account and Skye Ease savings accounts with minimum credit balances of N2,000 on an incremental basis.
MultiChoice presents more digital resource centres to Enugu State
MultiChoice Nigeria, a leading provider of video entertainment services, has once again reiterated its commitment to enhancing education in the country with its resource centre intervention by donating additional digital learning aids to 10 schools in Enugu State, bringing the number of the resource centres in the State to 17.
The intervention, a corporate social investment initiative, dubbed the MultiChoice Resource Centre (MRC) project, involves the provision of a TV set, DStv Explora decoder, satellite dish, a power generating set, uninterrupted power system (UPS), sets of chairs and tables for the laboratory, and other equipment. It avails students access to educational TV channels that include: Discovery, National Geographic, History Channel, ED and Mindset, at no cost to the beneficiary schools.
The project, introduced to improve the knowledge levels and understanding of technical subject areas by students, is in its twelfth year and has been launched in 363 schools in 31 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja.
Speaking on the project, the State’s Honourable Commissioner for Education, Professor Uche Eze, while expressing deep appreciation to MultiChoice for returning to Enugu State to launch more resource centres said; “I appreciate MultiChoice for their timely intervention through the establishment of technology-driven educational MultiChoice Resource Centres making it 17 in the state.”
The commissioner further stated; “bringing television to the classroom is a commendable, creative and innovative way of adding value to teaching and learning. It is a paradigm shift that enables students manage their own learning under the guidance of the teacher. The government of Enugu State appreciates this gesture and like Oliver Twist, we ask for more to be able to reach the unreached. We are ready to do all that is necessary for more schools to benefit from this laudable project” he remarked.
Caroline Oghuma, Public Relations Manager, DStv, said MultiChoice launched the project with a view to improving the standard of education in public schools in the country primarily, and to give back to its host community. “MultiChoice as a company believes that improving the standard of education of its host community is one of the ways by which the company, as a socially-responsible organization can give back to the community. We have a strong conviction that the technological, economic, and socio-political advancement of any country and her future are intrinsically tied to the quality of education that the youth are exposed to. MultiChoice intends to take the learning resource centres to all the states of the federation,” she explained.
She also pointed out that MultiChoice will soon launch the resource centres in Jigawa and Zamfara States.
The 10 new beneficiary schools include; Colliery Comprehensive Secondary School, Ngwo, Government Technical’s College, Nsukka, Queen of the Rosary Secondary School, Nsukka, St. Theresa’s college, Nsukka, Nsukka High School, Nsukka, others are Community Secondary School, Okpuje, Community Secondary School, Obukpa, Boys High School, Orba, Akpugoeze High School, Akpugoeze and Rosary High School, Awgu.
It would be recalled that in 2005, MultiChoicerolled out resource centres in seven schools in the state and the schools are; Queen’s School, Enugu, Urban Girls’ Secondary School, Enugu, St. Patrick’s Secondary School, Emene, College of Immaculate Conception, Enugu, Girls’ Grammar School, Awkunanau, Government Technical College, Enugu and National Grammar School, Nike.
The MRC project, which is MultiChoice’s core Corporate Social Investment in the education sector, started in 2004 with launches in Abuja and Lagos States.