BusinessDay Weekender 33rd Edition.pdf by BusinessDay

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

EDITION 33 I 13, MARCH 2021

I’M CHOOSING TO CHALLENGE, HOW ABOUT YOU? FINTECH

CULINARY DELIGHTS"

HARNESSING THE POWER OF MOBILE MARKETING TO DRIVE THE GROWTH OF FINTECH ACROSS AFRICA

THE PERFECT ROOFTOP FOR A NIGHT WITH THE GIRLS Businessday.ng

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Contents

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

C O N T E N T S

7 LAUGHTER IN THE MIRROR

CULINARY DELIGHTS'

FASHION SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE WOMENSWEAR LOOKS FROM THE PREMIERE OF COMING 2 AMERICA SEQUEL.

THE PERFECT ROOFTOP FOR A NIGHT WITH THE GIRLS

LEAD STORY

THERAPY LETS CALL IT OUT

I’m Choosing To Challenge, How About You?

FINTECH

HISTORY IN PICRELATIONSHIP DO OLD FLAMES DIE? TURES

Harnessing the power of mobile marketing to drive the growth of fintech across Africa

32 HEALTH INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY MARCH 8, 2021,

RECIPE GRILLED SALMON WITH THYME AND LEMON

SPORTS GLAZER TO SELL £70M WORTH OF MANCHESTER UNITED SHARES Businessday.ng

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Editorial

Editor’s Note SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

Dear weekender readers

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021 PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Frank Aigbogun MANAGING DIRECTOR Ogho Okiti EDITOR BUSINESSDAY SATURDAY Lehlé Balde EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Fabian Akagha

I hope you are reading this week’s edition in good health and in positive spirits. As we continue to celebrate women’s month, you can be certain to find content from women on practical ways you can genuinely #choosetochallenge.

MANAGER, CONFERENCES & EVENTS Obiora Onyeaso

For a young woman growing up in an African country, watching a film at home meant trying to put yourself into a character’s shoes that probably wasn’t relatable and left you wondering why roles played by women truly didn’t depict the woman's point of view. More often women were typecast into roles that put them in a box as either a wife, a secretary, or a damsel in distress.

COPY SALES MANAGER Florence Kadiri

Today, thanks to the efforts of incredibly talented women like Mo Abudu, Genevieve Nnaji, Kemi Adetiba and others, local stories are being told with female voices at the core of their production. The Nigerian film industry has experienced many "female firsts". Read more inside about how Nollywood and Netflix are challenging gender stereotypes. Although relatively new, fintech has become a hit with Africa’s mobile-first population. While traditional financial services institutions have been unable to adequately serve large parts of the African population, a new wave of app-based services have enabled an increasing number of Africans to access financial services that facilitate such experiences they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to have. Our article inside provides guidance on how to harness the power of mobile marketing to drive the growth of fintech across Africa. Have you ever run into an ex ? If so how did you Feel? Neutral? Or did all the feelings come rushing back? Do old flames die? Find out inside. You will also find inside our favourite looks from the Nigerian premiere of the much anticipated ‘Coming to America’; a delicious recipe; a brand new restaurant review in our column culinary delights; a comprehensive sports round up and much more. In the news roundup: Nigeria raises petrol prices to N212 per litre; African payments company Flutterwave now valued at $1 billion; AFDB named world’s best multilateral financial institution; Bulk of young Nigerians shut out of N75bn youth investment fund; States begin receiving Covid-19 vaccine allocation; CBN introduces Naira for dollar scheme Apple appoints Teju Ajani as Managing Director for Nigeria; International women’s day was celebrated with the theme ‘choose to challenge’. Have a great weekend. -Kind regards... BD

Lehlé Baldé is the Editor of BusinessDay Weekender email: lehle.balde@businesssday.ng | social: @lehlelalumiere Businessday.ng

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MANAGER, ADVERTS Ijeoma Ude

DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Linda Ochugbua HEAD OF DIGITAL SERVICES Onyinyechi Eze HEAD, HUMAN RESOURCES Adeola Obisesan DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION Tolulope Ayo-Olubiyo. CONTRIBUTORS Mercy Ayodele Elvis Kachi Udy Osaro-Edobor Daniel Junowicz Maruche Kalu Weyinmi Eribo Stephanie Erigha Dr Monisola Adanijo FMCP PHOTO CREDIT Freepik, Google Images, Pexels ENQUIRIES lehle.balde@businessday.ng samuel.anyanwu@businessday.ng ' ADVERTS ' Ijeoma Ude +2348033225506

PUBLISHED BY BusinessDay Media Limited The Brook, 6 Point Road, GRA, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria. 01-2799100 www.businessday.ng LEGAL ADVISERS The Law Union

News Roundup

MARCH 2021 SATURDAY 13,

Nigeria raises petrol prices to N212 per litre

MERCY AYODELE

t came as a shock to many Nigerians who woke up to the news that petrol prices increased, especially after the Federal Government assured Nigerians less than two ago that there would be no hike in fuel prices. The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has increased the pump price of petrol to N212.61 a litre. The announcement comes amid a partial scarcity of fuel that has lingered for weeks.

5 5

Bulk of young Nigerians shut out of N75bn youth investment fund

T With inflation at a 3-year high and poverty deepening in the country as a result of the pandemic, Nigerians are in for hard times.

African payments company Flutterwave now valued at $1 billion

t was a big win for Flutterwave and Africa after it raised $170 million from investors to expand its customer base, pushing its valuation up to more than $1 billion. The company was founded in 2016 by Nigerians and specialises in individual and consumer transfers. It is one of several fintech groups aiming to facilitate and capitalise on a booming African payments market driven by increased mobile phone use and faster internet speeds. Flutterwave’s CEO and cofounder Olugbenga Agboola announced that they are considering the possibility of listing in New York or a possible dual listing in New York and Nigeria.

he Federal Government announced a N75bn youth investment fund in 2020 to create and boost the Nigerian economy, through the youths access to finance. However, bulk of young Nigerians eligible to apply for a loan from the N75-billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund are stuck on the waiting list in what may scupper the government’s efforts to create badly needed jobs in Africa’s most populous nation. Since it was set up in October 2020, of the 3 million youths that applied only 395 youth had benefited from the Fund, which aims to financially empower Nigerian youth to generate at least 500,000 jobs between 2020 and 2023, as of January, according to the government.

AFDB named world’s best multilateral financial institution

Prestigious U.S. magazine, Global Finance, specializing in financial markets and investment banking, named the African Development Bank as the “Best Multilateral Financial Institution in the world for 2021.” The award is a global recognition for the path-breaking efforts of the African Development Bank as it transforms itself into a solutions bank for Africa, through a combination of its operations, knowledge services and investment positioning, which continue to help accelerate Africa’s development. The award is an affirmation of the success of the operational strategy being pursued by the African Development

Bank under the leadership of Akinwumi A. Adesina, who was unanimously reelected to a second consecutive five-year term as President of the institution last year. Businessday.ng

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News Roundup

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

States begin receiving Covid-19 vaccine allocation

igeria received 3.92 million doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines from Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) which it has to allocate between its over 200 million people in 36. Some states have begun to receive the allocations and vaccination has started in some states. Some states that have received are Lagos (507,000), Abuja (209,000), Nasarawa (61,000), Ogun (50,000), Kaduna (180,000), Yobe (65,100), Katstina (160,000), Ondo (75,570) and Jigawa (68,320).

Banks begin Implementation of CBN Naira for dollar scheme

igerian banks have commenced implementation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s new policy on Diaspora remittances, tagged ‘Naira 4 Dollar’ scheme, which offers N5 for every Dollar received into domiciliary accounts or as cash over the counter. The move is an incentive introduced by the regulator to boost inflows of Diaspora remittances into the country. Following the CBN’s announcement, Ecobank Nigeria issued a statement to its customers on the commencement of N5 payment to nounced to their costumers that they have every dollar received. Guaranty Trust Bank begun implementing this scheme. (GTB) and Fidelity banks have also an-

Apple appoints Teju Ajani as Managing Director for Nigeria

eju Ajani has been appointed as the Managing director for Nigeria by Apple. Ajani is a seasoned global Business leader with over 20 years of technology leadership delivered to Fortune 100 technology companies across North America, Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa. She was earlier Google’s Nigeria head for Android, a role she occupied since April 2018. She has also held various leadership positions in YouTube as Head of Content Partnerships in sub-Saharan Africa, and Oracle as Principal Product Manager. Ajani has a record of representing Businessday.ng

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International women’s day was celebrated with the theme ‘choose to challenge’

global tech giants not only in Nigeria but also on the continent. If anything, she brings to the table over two decades of experience as a software engineer.

he world marked International Women’s Day on the 8th of March with the theme choosing to challenge. The social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women was celebrated on this day whilst also calling for gender equality, a world where women and men are treated the same. International women’s day has been marked for over a year with the first gathering marked in 1911.

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

LAUGHTER IN THE MIRROR

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LAUGHTER IN THE MIRROR

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SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

LAUGHTER IN THE MIRROR

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CULINARY DELIGHTS'

THE PERFECT ROOFTOP FOR A DRINK WITH THE GIRLS

n the budding street of Lekki’s Admiralty way, lies Atmosphere Rooftop, a beautiful space that combines the benefits of a lounge with the contemporary aesthetic of a high-end restaurant. Set on the rooftop of Lennox Mall, Atmosphere leaves you breathing in the cool, fresh Lagos air as you clink glasses with your best gals. On arrival, you are welcomed by two outrageously

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For our ladies who love to lunch on a bright Saturday, you can have the perfect cheat day with the Atmosphere burger, two juicy beef patties stacked with cheese, garlic aioli, and slaw in a freshly baked bread bun

CULINARY DELIGHTS' 11

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crucial elements; a Covid-19 safety compliant environment and a whimsical green garden maze that not only builds anticipation for the rest of your journey but provides the perfect setting for a quick group selfie photoshoot with the girls, especially when the sun is out. At the end of the maze, Atmosphere presents various seating options; Firstly, an enclosed indoor space with glass walls, which gives you a sense of exclusivity if your hang out is a bit more private like an engagement dinner or birthday celebration. Your second option is the outdoor seating area which not only allows for the perfect sun-kissed photographs but is also equipped with foldable umbrellas for when

the sun is more a menace than a blessing. At nighttime, sitting outdoors makes you privy to a view of the night’s sky, with golden lights hanging across the entirety of the space, giving off a fairyland-inspired ambiance that allows you to cozy up to your evening adventures. While the general décor at Atmosphere Rooftop is well thought out, there seems to be especially more detail with the selection of tiles and mix of colors used to design the bar –which probably is the longest bar in Lagos. The culinary offerings available at Atmosphere will leave you stuffed and exceptionally happy, with menu items ranging from traditional

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CULINARY DELIGHTS'

favorites like the Abula that reminds you of your grandmother’s cooking to the Braised Lamb shank, a continental delicacy paired with smoothly mashed potatoes and a carrot puree. Atmosphere’s Menu incorporates dishes by Nigeria’s leading chefs to bring you an array of globally inspired dishes that leave your tastebuds gasping for more, like the Imoteda’s bowl. A creation by Chef Imoteda, of perfectly cooked Fennel seed rice topped with chicken, sausage, charred onions, and a spicy roasted sauce, which also comes in a seafood variant. If you’re really into seafood, the menu also has you covered, with a breaded calamari appetizer paired with a honey and ginger dipping sauce. You can also fill up on prawns tossed in Businessday.ng

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SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

a spicy herb sauce with your choice of a Side. Another must-try is the Atmosphere platter; a shareable platter or as we like to call it, “a basket of goodness” which has a tantalizing combination of beef empanadas, calamari, chicken wings, sweet potato fries, yam fries, and a local favorite - peppered goat meat. Think you’ve had your best wings in Lagos? Think again. Atmosphere gives you the choice of juicy crispy, BBQ, honey mustard, or peppered wings. For our ladies who love to lunch on a bright Saturday, you can have the perfect cheat day with the Atmosphere burger, two juicy beef patties stacked with cheese, garlic aioli, and slaw in a freshly baked bread bun and your choice of French

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13 CULINARY DELIGHTS'

fries, yam fries or sweet potato fries. Nothing completes a meal like hearing the pleasant crack when your spoon hits a creme brulee and Atmosphere doesn’t sleep on that. If you want to round up your meal with something less foreign, you can order the freshly baked, satisfyingly gooey, deep dish chocolate cookie crowned with a vanilla ice cream scoop. An outing with your friends didn’t happen if the photographs aren’t flawless and stacking up those likes on the Gram, from when you walk in till your cocktails are downed and everyone is erupting in full laughter, Atmosphere promises a wildly satisfying experience. BD

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FASHION

SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE WOMENSWEAR LOOKS FROM THE PREMIERE OF COMING 2 AMERICA SEQUEL. ELVIS KACHI

or most of us, the Coming 2 America movie would forever be an all-time classic. The Romantic Comedy film which first screened on June 29, 1988, and directed by John Landis, was an original story created by Eddie Murphy. Eddie, who plays the lead role as Akeem Joffer, the crowned prince of a fictional African nation, Zamunda, features with costars Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Shari Headly, and John Amos. Fast forward to three decades and a few years later, a sequel to the age-long and very anticipated film was announced through a teaser video, informing us about its release featuring same veteran characters including the likes of Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, Teyana Taylor, and Wesley Snipes, all directed by the talented Craig Brewer. To us Nigerians and generally Africans, this movie is phenomenal because it not only explores our culture and heritage, but also correctly plays with loads of humour, the significance of African tradition in an effortless light. Imagine our excitement when it was announced on February 24, 2021, that it would premiere in Filmhouse Cinemas, March 5th, with African Royalty as its theme. The excitement was surreal because this was providing an opportunity for us to have a good time viewing, socializing while also maintaining the Covid19 protocols, and watching our favourite celebrities show us how to make an arrival in some of our pop fashion brands. In no order, you would find some of our best celebrity looks below, with credits to fashion stylists, photographers and makeup artists who showed up to grace the red carpet in style and outstanding fashionable pieces. BD Businessday.ng

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FASHION

Beverly Naya Designer: WeizdhurmFranklyn Makeup: FlawlessFacesByJane Photographer: Tobi Olaoja

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16 FASHION

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

Bridget Chigbufue Designer: Ufuoma Erhaboh

Accessories: Wowaccessories Stylist: UFUOMA Erhaboh x Bridget Chigbufue

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FASHION

Wofai Fada Designer: Adetoke Oluwo, SGTCCLOTHING.

Stylist: StyleTerritory Photographer: Ovia_Reflex

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FASHION

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

Chinonso Arubayi Designer: Olabisi Odunne Stylist: Stylepundit Makeup: Bare2Beauty Photographer: Ovia_Reflex

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SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

FASHION

Vee Designer: Ann Cranberry

Stylist: Dami Oke Makeup: PreshyN Beauty Photographer: Oluwatobbie Businessday.ng

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FASHION

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

Idia Aisien Designer: Ppoizn

Stylist: Dami Oke Hair: Ferdinand Hair Photographer: Tobi Olajolo

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FASHION

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

Juliet Ibrahim Designer: CEOLumineeOfficial

Creative Director: Swanky Jerry Makeup: JStonezMakeover Hair: BenFlashesSylva Photographer: Sabiegal

Elvis Kachi is a performance-driven Fashion, Culture and Lifestyle Journalist, with years of demonstrated track records in positively impacting organizations through building and strengthening strategic communications, producing digital marketing contents, performing market research and managing projects. A creative content writer, creator, illustrator, and an overall lover of artistic fashion; currently using his skills to further explore the creative space, and give a voice to a culture he believes in. Businessday.ng

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LEAD STORY

few weeks ago, the whole world re c eive d w it h boundless excitement the news that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had been appointed as Director General of the World Trade Organization. Like many others, I was thrilled, inspired and also at the same time, deeply introspective — mainly because as a leader in the corporate environment, I am familiar in my own little way with the challenges that women encounter on their journey as they ascend leadership, influence and power. We often all see the woman at that pinnacle moment, celebrating her achievements because she represents the aspiration of many and is another lighthouse for those who dare to continue to dream. While every woman’s experience is personal and she must navigate it for herself I believe that the time is now for everyone especially the females on the planet to step into playing a more deliberate, catalytic role towards accelerating opportunities for women.

International Women’s Day today —I’m filled with a renewed sense of hope, determination and purpose. I make a fresh commitment to do all I can in ensuring that the systemic and cultural barriers that prevent women from thriving and reaching their highest potential, are dismantled including the ones that women inadvertently tend to fuel. In this article I wrote last month, I shared a framework that helped me function effectively as a leader in the workplace, especially on the back of a very challenging 2020. Today I am choosing to take a similar approach and share another framework on my thoughts on some of the things we should actively do to create structures that support and enable women, everywhere, thrive. 1. Support is imperative — We need to understand that “supporting women” isn’t just a nice or charitable thing to do, rather one that’s of crucial socio-economic importance. As the global

As the world m a r k s

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marketplace evolves, with more women in business and the workforce, words and good intent are not enough, it should be backed up with clear, measurable and impactful action. Whether that’s ensuring that women have improved access to healthcare, mental and emotional support, childcare, mentorship and equal business opportunities to make them secure, better equipped to balance their role in the continuity of society, as well as flourish in leadership in whatever field they pursue. I for example, work for an organization that gives mothers 6-months paid maternity leave, and last week launched a support programme for women in the work place who are going through menopause. Things like this and more are the kinds of “money where your mouth is” action we need to be taking. Individuals and corporates must rise to the occasion and re-look their policies, quit being traditional about their views on how taking action reduces

I’M CHOOSING TO CHALLENGE, HOW ABOUT YOU? ADENIKE ADEBOLA

“I make a fresh commitment to do all I can in ensuring that the systemic and cultural barriers that prevent women from thriving and reaching their highest potential, are dismantled including the ones that women inadvertently tend to fuel”.

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LEAD STORY

productivity, consider the failure a little too deeply, take said: “The success of every positive impact it has on challenges a little too personally single woman is inspiration engagement, and f inally, (I know I have), and subsequently for another.” And I think that investigate to validate that its move around in a haze of being it’s such a powerful, resonant impact on productivity is the unsure and hesitant; starting to quote to remember, especially opposite. second guess themselves. That’s on a day like this. The more we 2. Challenge Bias & Stereotypes not a productive or useful place amplify and acknowledge the — One of the things that to be in. We need to encourage impact and contributions of exploring the subject of D&I has women to see (and embrace) women, the more it becomes a expounded for me is recognizing failure clearly for what it is — an catalyst to inspire other women how limiting bias and stereotypes opportunity to learn, sharpen to do even better. Traditionally can be — especially for women in skills and become better. Failure women are taught to be quiet business and the workplace. I am should not leave us feeling less about their contributions, you now more vigilant (even with than ourselves, but instead, make are expected to be shy or modest myself), about doing, saying, or us see and realize that we are and to be in the shadows, let’s permitting things that enforce more, and with that knowledge make a concerted effort to stop bias and stereotypes around propel ourselves forward. We doing that today. Other women me. I’m particularly intentional should be resolute ambassadors are counting on you to show up about encouraging the women of “pulling the woman back up.” as the brightest and best version around me to speak up, be Do it again and again for yourself of yourself — so show up, and fearless, take up opportunities and for every woman that you show out! Stop second guessing and trust in the skills and talents come into contact with that yourself and the magic you bring that they bring to the table. needs to hear it, let us drown out to the world — all of it, all of you In the same vein, encourage the voices that are saying no. is what the world needs so let them to be more demanding of 4. Recruit Allies — in creating a your light shine bright. themselves and of the influences world that is more equitable and they surround themselves with. sustainable for women, we must I’m very clear eyed about how I need For me, it’s become increasingly not forget or neglect to recruit to play my part. I am also aware important to ensure that women allies — women and men who that the thoughts above alongside do not count themselves out are unrelenting and consistent the millions of contributions from of opportunities because in their support for the goals we people across the world today as we of considerations that are need to achieve as a collective. mark International Women’s Day, will premised on their gender, and Let’s build and foster ecosystems require action, purposeful planning the fac that they may have other of communities with inclusivity and perseverance because it is a long responsibilities outside of their at the heart, reach beyond race, haul. Notwithstanding I’m “Choosing careers and sources of livelihood. gender, religion and creed. To Challenge” myself, play my part Women are strong and relational, Expand the understanding and make a commitment to stay the their equal presence in leadership that diversity and inclusion are course. How about you? BD benefits organizations, their crucial pillars of belonging and communities and the society at equity — all essential elements large. “When women win, the for women and minority groups world wins.” Clichéd but true. to thrive. 3. Challenge Failure — Women are 5. Celebrate and Amplify — It was sometimes known to internalize Diane Von Furstenberg who Adenike is the Marketing and Innovation Director and a member of the Guinness Nigeria Exec Team. Guinness Nigeria is Nigeria’s only total beverage alcohol company distinguishing itself from the rest of the industry for its portfolio of some of the worlds most loved brands. A collection of premium brands with rich history and a pedigree of exceptional quality including Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Baileys, Cîroc, Orijin, Gordons, Malta Guinness and Dubic to mention a

few. Adenike oversees Marketing, Reserve, Innovation and the portfolio strategy for Nigeria. Prior to her appointment to the top marketing job for Guinness Nigeria, Adenike has held many roles local and internationally. Most recently she was Portfolio Director, Spirits. Prior to that she was based in London accountable for Guinness’ communications for Africa. She was also responsible for Diageo’s non-alcoholic agenda for Africa spanning 15 countries, leading new market expansion, innovation and content creation. As a younger marketeer Adenike was an embodiment of a dynamic thinker-doer, with a strong streak for strategy and commercial acumen, building a personal trademark over the years of delivering sustainable growth through the transformation of brand equity and long-term commercial performance. Adenike’ s leadership is premised on a personal belief that being the best version of yourself everyday requires courage and commitment and the choice to be brave is yours and yours alone especially if you are a woman. She is currently a member of Diageo’s global task force on Inclusivity and Diversity, leading a new wave of brand accountability and participation with tackling negative female stereotypes in the media and in advertising.

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THERAPY

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LET’S CALL IT OUT. T

WEYINMI ERIBO

he I n t e r n a t i o n a l with power, when women are not a Ginsburg, women belong in all places Women’s day 2021 theme where decisions are made, it should #ichoosetochallenge could not be that women are the exception. not have come at a better Usually, leadership roles are filled time. It was interesting and sad at by referrals, and because more women the same time, to read over and men exist in top roles, the occupied only 11% over all the stereotyping and cycle continues. It is time of senior management stigmatization that women to challenge these barriers have continued to face and act decisively to not roles. In most other over the years. just support women in industries and fields of We cannot continue positions profession, the finance sector leadership to tag sectors as male but appoint more dominated when for women to high – level still lags in balancing equality. a long time, only men d e c i s i on m a k i ng A 2018 report from McKinsey were allowed entrance positions. found that while male and into these sectors Studies conducted by without barriers, some the Harvard Business females in finance begin their even cajoled and pulled School paint a tough careers on equal footing, in. In that, it could imply picture for women in women only account for that women were also finance: among senior in these sectors but were roles in venture capital 19% of the positions unable to make their marks. and private equity, women of power (aka the In recent times we have begun held just 9% and 6% of the C-suite) as their to see women who continue positions, respectively. Hedge to climb over these hurdles and Funds bring that number to lower careers barriers that society has set and are depths: women occupied only 11% thriving in these sectors regardless, of senior management roles. In but it is not enough to simply part of most other industries and fields of celebrate them, it is time to challenge decision making especially on issues profession, the finance sector still lags that concern and affect them, it is in balancing equality. A 2018 report the barriers that exist. Gender equity and equality begins impossible to achieve a balance. In the from McKinsey found that while famous words of the late Ruth Bader Businessday.ng

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THERAPY

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male and females in finance begin their careers on equal footing, women only account for 19% of the positions of power (aka the C-suite) as their careers progress. It is no secret that Women face a less attractive career trade-off than men because of several factors including insufficient flexible work options and the accompanying stigma that women who use these options face, inadequate support for “home responsibilities”, low inclusion culture that affects women such as cultural expectations and unconscious biases amongst others. Studies show that at the current rate of growth, the financial services globally may not reach even 30 percent female Executive Committee representation until 2048. Therefore, if the financial services sector will progress towards gender equality, it will require a blend of structural solutions and challenging underlying cultural changes which should involve putting practice before biases. Women entrepreneurs are not left out of these barriers. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) estimates that worldwide, more than 187million women are engaged in

activities classed as entrepreneurship (Bosma, Wennekers, & Amorós, 2012). The gender inequalities in entrepreneurship exist as social and operational barriers that continue to limit women from starting and growing their businesses. The most obvious are access to finance and limited knowledge and education, but other factors such as restriction of access of land and property, information, credit, network, technology, and markets contribute to the low levels of selfperception of women and increases their fear of failure. When a woman begins her business, oftentimes her business is referred to as a hobby. Most women owned businesses start small and remain small and quasi small businesses for a long time which can easily be attributed to access to less start up capital and investments, in addition to little or no collateral and hence are limited from growth loans and credit. In driving balance for women entrepreneurs, a consolidation of efforts in bringing access to finance, enterprise development skills and knowledge, access to markets, information on opportunities and building strong networks must be realized. Building strong women entrepreneurial networks not only serves as a medium of knowledge exchange but will bridge the gap that exists between women and opportunities that exist for women entrepreneurs. The recent rise in the number of female funders and female focused funds is highly commendable as women are now ready to put their skin in the game and intentionally create more opportunities for other women.

Society has continued to place more value on one woman than the other based on social constructs. The narratives that women, single and married, are to be treated differently and accorded different levels of respect based on titles of Ms. and Mrs. must be overturned. The media continues to advance these narratives of single stories which creates barriers that result in the stereotyping and stigmatization of women. For women who are raising children on their own, these barriers do not only affect them but also create limitations for their children. Women must continue to challenge all the barriers that have held them down for the longest time. More than ever before, women are beginning to be bolder and braver in taking decisions that advance the future of other women and we are here for it! This International Women’s Day and henceforth, women must choose to dream as much as they want, give no chance for self-doubt, normalize rest and prioritize mental health, push beyond limits and step into their full potential. Women should choose to challenge themselves to celebrate other women’s achievement more, women and men must intentionally Call Out gender biases whether it affects them or the next person and promote inclusion in all areas for women. BD

Weyinmie is a development expert with focus on gender, financial inclusion and enterprise development. She is Grants Manager at SME.NG, a gender lens impact investment platform, and the founder of Wevvo Nigeria, a community based platform that supports single female breadwinners.

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FINTECH

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

HARNESSING THE POWER OF MOBILE MARKETING TO DRIVE THE GROWTH OF FINTECH ACROSS AFRICA DANIEL JUNOWICZ

lthough relatively new, fintech has become a hit with Africa’s mobile-first population. While traditional financial services institutions have been unable to adequately serve large parts of the African population, a new wave of app-based services have enabled an increasing number of Africans to access financial services that facilitate experiences they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to have.

world, social media offers businesses in Africa a platform for acquiring users. Africa has some of the highest number of active users on social media, enabling mobile app marketers to define and target new and existing customers using a number of tools. The effectiveness of social media in user acquisition is hard to dispute but many businesses are often unable to ascertain which platform offers the most value for money. Every platform will say it delivers excellent results but in the absence of independent analytics, it can be difficult to know what really works and what doesn’t. Metrics like Cost Per Impression (CPM) and Cost Per Action (CPA) can provide a lot of clarity and help businesses make informed decisions on where to invest their resources. CPM enables you to put a monetary value on the number of times your content appears while CPA puts a value on actions taken as a direct result of seeing your content. An action could be a purchase, a newsletter sign up, or download.

The need for contactless operations to limit the spread of COVID-19 has also contributed to the growth of fintech in Sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 20% growth in the sector in 2020. The ongoing pandemic has made people more reluctant to mingle in crowds and this has led many to explore other options for accessing and managing their money than the usually crowded brick-and-mortar bank branches However, with competition for customers always high in growth sectors, fintechs in Africa arguably have to work harder than most other sectors to acquire users. Here are some of the most effective customer acquisition strategies and some top tips on how African Cost Per Impression (CPM) is a relatively low cost strategy and can be significantly less costly than traditional fintechs can retain their hard earned marketbase. marketing channels such as television and out of home advertising. Cost-Per-Action campaigns are also relatively low-risk and can drive more sales from your app because Acquiring fintech customers payment only has to be made when a specific and Acquiring new customers in any market can be challenging meaningful action takes place. so having a solid acquisition strategy is a critical first step Making the most of owned media in your marketing campaign. Like many other parts of the Businessday.ng

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Another cost-effective way of acquiring new app users is to take advantage of owned channels that you’re already using to communicate with customers and prospects, such as owned social media, email lists, or your website. These channels can be used to display engaging, personalised content, encouraging users to download your app, for example offering a discount, free trial, or a new product feature specific to the app.

Measuring the impact of your financial product marketing Finally, it’s important to have effective measurement and attribution tools in place so you can identify where your installs are coming from, understand what content resonates with specific user groups, and where you should be investing more of your marketing efforts. You’ll also be able to get a clear view of the customer journey, so you can see whether users, for example, click through to your website, but don’t download your app. Or if they install the app but either don’t use it or uninstall it. Having this data-driven knowledge can make the difference in how successful your user acquisition efforts are. With more and more financial services offered via mobile across the continent, fintech is projected to continue to grow across Africa over the next few years. A number of factors such as the ongoing global pandemic and opportunities to access finance for consumers and businesses have been key drivers for the sector’s recent growth and these drivers aren’t going to change anytime soon. With innovation abounding in the space, competition for customers will be strong. Having an effective way to understand how well your user acquisition efforts are actually working and which parts may need improvement will put fintechs in a stronger position to fulfil their ambitions of delivering life-changing financial services to as many Africans as possible.BD

When a user clicks on the banner, they will either be taken directly to the app if they already have it installed, or to the relevant app store. Crucially, when the user opens the app, they will be taken straight to the content they were originally interested in, for example the discount page, instead of having to navigate from the homepage themselves. This small but significant touch can have a huge impact on the overall customer experience and ensure that the users journey from first seeing the advert to opening the app is seamless and personalised. Daniel Junowicz is the Managing Director of LATAM & Africa at AppsFlyer, the global leader in mobile attribution. Prior to joining AppsFlyer Daniel worked in the manufacturing sector in China for over six years. In 2014, Daniel brought his passion to AppsFlyer as the first employee on the Chinese team. Holding a double BA in Business Administration and Far Eastern Studies, Daniel is also fluent in Hebrew, Spanish, Chinese and Portuguese. Currently, as the managing director in LATAM and Africa, Daniel works to bring his knowledge on digital marketing and innovation to provide a holistic view of the mobile landscape in LATAM, Africa and more Businessday.ng

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BRANDS

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

Investing in the Next Generation of Female Storytellers MARUCHE KALU

or a young woman growing up in Nigeria, watching a film at home meant trying to put yourself into a character’s shoes that probably wasn’t relatable and left you wondering why roles played by women truly didn’t depict the woman's point of view. More often Women were typecast into roles that put them in a box as either a wife, a secretary, or a damsel in distress. Today, thanks to the efforts of incredibly talented women like Mo Abudu, Genevieve Nnaji, Kemi Adetiba, and others, local stories are being told with female voices at the core of its production. The Nigerian film industry has experienced many "female firsts": “First Netflix original film ever produced in Nigeria”, and “first time Nigeria had submitted a film to the Oscars” and Netflix, has been that springboard to developing and showcasing Nigerian talent and stories to global audiences. I love this year's theme for International Women's Day - “Choose To Challenge”, because from challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge. EbonyLife’s key focus is to create the largest continent-wide ecosystem within which we can harness and grow our creative economy, creating countless opportunities for all that work within our sector in front and behind the screen, never forgetting that our primary aim must be to tell stories that are world class, exciting, relevant and entertaining. I’m proud to say, that at EbonyLife, we’ve always done this with women at the helm. The world is our oyster Amazon, so let's go explore, ladies.” Says Mo Abudu Our belief in the importance of telling the stories of Nigerian women from all backgrounds has seen us ink the first multi-title African deal with a production company led by Mo Abudu. We understand the need to elevate our Businessday.ng

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role models' statuses to continue to inspire and encourage the next set of creative Nigerian women who have similar dreams of achieving significant feats in Nollywood and the world. If there’s anything Netflix has taught us, it’s that great stories are universal; they can come from anywhere and can be created by anyone, loved by everyone but what truly matters is the authenticity of these stories. Now we must ensure that every deprived voice, in this case, women- gets the same recognition and chance to be heard in this industry. Netflix also recently announced a $5 million investment towards programs that help identify, train, and provide work placements for up-and-coming female talent worldwide as a part of their Fund for Creative Equity.BD

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

PERSONAL HEALTH

DON’T SLEEP ON YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE STEPHANIE ERIGHA

motional Intelligence, also known as EQ (Emotional Quotient), is the ability to understand and manage your feelings and emotions, as well as those of other people, and use the information obtained as a guide to interpersonal interactions. Simply put, EQ is being able to read people and act accordingly. We hear a lot about the intelligence quotient, which is a measure of how brilliant you are, but not enough is said about emotional intelligence. In my opinion, EQ is more important than IQ because nobody ever got out of a tight situation with his boss simply by calculating the distance between the sun and the moon in km2. Being able to get to the point where you are able to anticipate a person’s reaction and knowing what to say or not to say in an instance will solve a lot of your social problems and get you into rooms you would ordinarily not be in. Being emotionally intelligent helps you communicate better, build meaningful relationships, improves your network, reduce stress and anxiety significantly, resolve conflicts effectively, and overcome life’s challenges. The psychologist, Daniel Goleman identified five elements that make up emotional intelligence. These elements are: 1. Self-Awareness- This is the act of knowing what mood you are in at every point in time. You can do this by practising mindfulness and also through conducting a personal SWOT analysis. Also, the feedback method works (i.e asking friends, colleagues, family members, etc to tell you what they think about you). 2. Self- regulation- be in control of your feelings and emotions, do not be caught off guard. Find out what puts you in a good state and stick to it- make

it a technique. Manage your feelings and take responsibility for your actions. Doing all of this shields you from outside shocks that may arise suddenly. 3. Motivation- develop the self-discipline to see things through. Set goals (short and long-term) and focus on each one till they are completed. Focus on what truly matters, eliminating distractions. Rediscover your purpose and determine not to deviate from it. 4. Empathy- actively acknowledge the feelings of others. Always listen to understand, not to reply. Try not to make the situation about yourself when someone is being expressive about their emotions. You do not need to have all the answers, just be sympathetic. 5. Social Skills- Find out what you need to improve on and do just that. Learn to build rapport with people and don’t shy away from conflict or negative situations. Build your self-confidence to a level that you can talk to anyone. Like most skills, EQ can be acquired using these five elements explained above. As stated, first step is selfawareness and you can determine your level of selfawareness through various ways. Here are links to some EQ tests to start your journey: Harvard Business Review, verywell mind, Psychology Tools Let us know what you think… BD Stephanie is a strategy and business development professional with experience across various sectors including media, technology and energy. She is a Beta Gamma Sigma International Society honour member and mainly writes about organisational culture, emotional intelligence, and societal issues.

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RELATIONSHIP

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

DO OLD FLAMES DIE? UDY OSARO-EDOBOR

or the purpose of this particular gist, I'm going to and fro Lekki was really quick. Please don't ask me how call myself Amaka. I'll be telling about something we did it, that one is story for another day. that happened to me. So if you know you like gist, please grab your popcorn and join me on this ride. Anyway, we were on the CMS bridge heading back to our office in Marina when I saw him. I wasn't so sure at So here I was minding my business as usual when my boss first. It's been more than 10years but I couldn't mistake summoned me into her office. (By the way I work in a real that face any where. He looked more matured, more estate company. We also handle the interior decorations handsome and well chiselled. He was walking towards for most of our clients). me from the opposite direction. I didn't know what to do...my heart was beating fast. Dunno if those were It turns out that one of our clients had a minor problem butterflies I felt in my stomach. I felt all kinds of feelings with the blinds we installed at his home and I had to at the sight before my eyes. Only one man in this world take Dipo (the carpenter) to Lekki to find a solution to had the power to provoke those feelings inside me and whatever the problem was. he was just inches away from me. I said his name in a whisper but he heard me and he looked my way. Time I was very upset. My boss knew that I had to be at my stood still. I saw the sparks fly. daughter's school for her spelling bee competition by noon but she chose me to handle that task anyway. Bending her There he was... Tim Phillips in flesh and blood. Exuding over my knees and giving her a good whooping would swag from every pore in his skin. Standing tall in his give me so much pleasure. manly glory. I flashed my "fluoride toothpaste advert" smile at him but Driving to Lekki at that time of the day was not in my plan he didn't smile back. Chai!! because of the traffic. Dipo suggested a faster alternative via public transportation and I agreed. As long as it would I wanted to run and give him a hug but I didn't think make the journey faster, I was open to any suggestion. He that was a good idea. His stance was hard and unfriendly (Dipo), was a life saver. True to his words, the journey to Businessday.ng

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pinch me in the face (ok that was a bad joke), but I would rather he said something, rather than look at me the way he was doing. I had so many things I wanted to say to him but the top of the CMS bridge wasn't the right place and right now, wasn't the right time. Besides, it looked as if he couldn't wait to leave. We exchanged phone numbers and he walked away. I stood glued to the ground. My feet felt like lead, they were heavy, I couldn't move. Tim walked away without even looking back. He arched his back like he always did when he was upset about something. I had hurt him really bad and it was obvious that he had not forgiven me. Fate had made our paths cross again and it was time for me to do penance. To be continued....BD

like he had seen a ghost or was trying to remember who I was. Could Tim have forgotten me? Haaa! Not good o. This guy and I have a history, he "can't have" forgotten me just like that. Then I thought I heard him say my name. He said it a second time as he lightly tapped my shoulder and broke my reverie. I breath a sigh of relief, glad that he still remembered me. "Whew", I sighed. "For a moment there I thought you didn't remember me anymore" Still keeping a straight face, Tim said, "Amaka, I could never forget you even if I tried". His expression was bland and unreadable. Tim had every reason not to talk to me. He had every right to be cold and unfriendly towards me but I wish he could just say something. Hurl insults at me,

Udy Osaro-Edobor is the Content Creator for SoTv (Supernatural Online TV) Nigeria. She is a movie/scriptwriter, editor, and proofreader. She has several stories to her credit which she posts for free on her Ebook called Udy's Chapter. She is currently working on two short movies. Udy is also a wife, mother, and a "serial entrepreneur".

udy1717@gmail.com

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HEALTH

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY - MARCH 8, 2021 DR MONISOLA ADANIJO

nternational Women’s day theme for this year is “I choose to challenge”. For me, I choose to challenge gender based health stereotypes and to assist women to be in a position of power to make informed health decisions and decisions about their bodies in general. A woman should be able to decide whether or not to take contraception, to have surgery, or any other beneficial treatment. It’s her body after all! There are so many challenges women face in the health space, let’s highlight a few.

Early menopause;

Did you know menopause can occur at a young age? Some women can start the perimenopause as early as 35 years of age, or younger. It's important that all women, whatever their age, have correct information about menopause and are empowered to approach it positively. Menopause happens when a woman's ovaries cease Businessday.ng

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producing eggs, which leads to low levels of the hormone that controls the reproductive cycle (Estrogen). A woman is said to be in menopause when she has not had a period for more than a year. Genetics, lifestyle, chromosome defects, autoimmune disease, and epilepsy are some of the known causes for early menopause. Generally, women should be aware of the following changes to their body: Irregular, missed or changes in menstrual periods, mood swings, “hot flashes” like panic attacks or heart palpitations, frequent urinary tract infections, difficulty sleeping, vaginal dryness and decreased libido Treatments may include: Hormone therapy, antidepressant drugs, psychotherapy. Early menopause may lead to fertility issues, but there are other options for having children, including adoption, egg donation, and surrogacy.

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lifestyle enjoyment. In general, women's health is strongly linked to the overall health of the society.

There gender difference when it comes to heart disease.

The health problems of “Modern Living”

Modern life can mean a hectic life. It is a life of making money, fulfilling professional and personal goals, raising a family/ taking care of the home, keeping in touch with friends and so on. This causes mental and physical health of most women to be of low priority, usually because it’s difficult to make time for healthy living and health practices. Many women lead high-pressure lives, and their health is important, not just for themselves, but for the well-being and success of the family, society and the economy. Unfortunately, disempowerment of women and girls in our society often puts them at a greater health risk. Access to quality health services are related to socio-cultural and economic factors. According to the World Health

Organization (WHO), some of these include:

Coronary heart disease kills more women as breast cancer every year, all over the world and survival rates for a heart attack are lower in women than in men. This could be partly due to gender inequality in terms of awareness. Heart attacks are often seen as a “man’s disease” and is not a diagnosis that is readily entertained when women present with suspicious symptoms. Some symptoms of heart attack in women: • Chest pain or discomfort that happens suddenly and persists, like pressure, tightness or squeezing which may spread to the left or right arm or to the neck, jaw, back or stomach • Sweating, light-headedness or shortness of breath • Sudden anxiety similar to that of a panic attack • Excessive coughing or wheezing • Pain in the upper abdomen

• Unbalanced power relationships between men and women • Social circumstances that lessen education and paid employment opportunities • An exclusive focus on women’s need to reproduce • Potential or actual experience of physical, sexual and emotional abuse • Poverty, such as malnutrition and an unsafe cooking environment • Problems accessing information . Some health issues affect women more commonly. A lot of the time these go undiagnosed. These include: heart disease, breast and Change starts from us. We should cervical cancer, autoimmune disease, be ready to challenge and change depression and anxiety. the status quo when it comes to gender based health issues. Healthy living can help prevent #ChooseToChallenge #IWD2021. BD disease, prolong life, and increase

Dr Monisola Adanijo FMCP a Cardiologist and Co founder of Naveen Healthcare. With experience spanning over 20 years, she built her pathway in medicine and cardiology working in reputable medical centres such as Mecure Healthcare Limited, Barnes Hospital, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Chevron Hospital, Lagos to mention but a few. Her passion for preventive cardiology led her to convene the Naveen Healthcare 10,000 Hearts Project, in order to help individuals detect, protect and correct cardiovascular diseases. Skilled in cardiovascular diagnostic procedures and treatment, a fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, a member of Nigerian Cardiac Society, American College of Physicians, Hypertension society of Nigeria and an international associate of the American College of Cardiology. She also has a Diploma in Leadership and Management from the University of Washington, USA, As a Continuous Medical Education (CME) provider, she has worked with the likes of Trigen Healthcare Solutions, Pfizer GP Academy, Diamond Helix Medical Assistance, Pfizer Pharmacy Academy, Global Health Project and Resources, Sanofi-Aventis Nigeria, Novartis Nigeria and Servier International. She has helped build capacity in Electrocardiogram interpretation, preventive cardiovascular diseases, management of heart failure, patient education and more. She launched the first Tele-Electrocardiogram project in Nigeria and West Africa and does her part in contributing to good health and wellbeing, a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG3) of the United Nations.

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RECIPE

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

GRILLED SALMON WITH THYME AND LEMON

his quick and easy grilled salmon recipe is infused with the delicious combination of lemon and thyme. If so inclined, you can use fresh herbs instead of dried. This recipe works well on both salmon fillets and salmon steaks. This is a classic way to season salmon and it will blend well with a side dishes inspired by many different cuisines. It allows the flavor of the salmon to shine. For an extra burst of flavor, squeeze fresh lemon juice on the salmon just as it comes off the grill.

Ingredients • 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets • 1/4 cup lemon juice • 1 tablespoon lemon zest • 2 tablespoons olive oil (or avocado oil) • 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, lightly chopped • 1-2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 teaspoon of sea salt • Optional: lemon wedges

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Steps to Make It • Gather the ingredients. • If the salmon is frozen, allow it to defrost in the refrigerator. • Combine the lemon juice, lemon zest, oil, thyme, garlic, and salt in a large resealable bag. Add the salmon and turn the fillets or steaks to coat them evenly. • Seal the bag and refrigerate it for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Do not allow it to marinate any longer as the salmon can become mushy. • Preheat the grill for medium-high heat. Right before placing salmon on the grill, oil the grill grates well using large tongs, folded paper towels, and oil. Make several passes across the grates. This will help the fish from sticking and breaking apart. • Remove the salmon from the bag and place on the hot grill. Brush salmon with marinade from the ziptop bag only once, at the start. Grill the salmon for about 4 to 6 minutes per side. • Remove the salmon from the heat once the internal temperature of the fish reaches 145 F. The salmon should be light in color and flake easily through the thickest part. • Optionally, squeeze fresh lemon over each fillet right before you take it off the grill. Serve and enjoy!

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

HISTORY IN PICTURES

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SPORT

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

ANTHONY NLEBEM

GLAZER TO SELL £70M WORTH OF MANCHESTER UNITED SHARES

anchester United cochairman Avram Glazer and the club last week revealed debt has put shares worth was up 16% to £455.5m following 12 more than £70m up for months of the pandemic. In response to the share issue, the sale. The club announced “the offering Manchester United Supporters’ Trust of 5,000,000 of its Class A Ordinary said: “On balance Must welcomes this Shares by the Avram Glazer announcement of the sale of shares Irrevocable Exempt Trust” following as a further small step towards a Thursday’s Europa League draw with more diversified ownership model. Milan. The offering is expected to Ultimately this is the Glazer family close on Tuesday and the current New relinquishing some of its control, York Stock Exchange valuation of albeit in a relatively limited way. For $20.13 each (£14.39) per share would those of us who want a change in mean he is in line to rake in $100.65m ownership model, the Glazer family selling shares is the only way this can (£72.2m). The club als o conf irmed happen. “Manchester United will not receive “The downside of this move any proceeds” from the sale of the is that the shares being sold have Class A shares, which have a tenth of inferior voting rights and the proceeds from the sale will not go the voting rights of Class B shares. Avram Glazer’s personal stake into the club. We believe there is an would reduce to 10.2% if they are alternative model that would allow sold, reducing the Glazer family’s fans to buy shares in a way that would benefit Manchester United ownership from 78% to 74.9% The Glazers completed their and, in the long term, give supporters leveraged buyout of United in 2005 Businessday.ng

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genuine influence. That requires a recognition of the special status of fan shareholders.”The statement added: “In order to optimise the appeal to fans and maximise their participation in future share ownership we believe parity of voting rights, along with a direct benefit for the club by generating new funds to strengthen Manchester United both on and off the pitch, are key elements which need consideration. “Must will continue to campaign and engage with the aim of achieving this goal.” BD

SPORT

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

PINNICK ELECTED INTO FIFA COUNCIL SEAT

resident of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick, was on Friday in Rabat, Morocco elected into the FIFA Council – the highest decision-making organ in world football. Pinnick attained the exalted seat after defeating his only rival, incumbent Walter Nyamilandu of Malawi by 43 votes to 8 at the Congress held inside the Royal Ballroom of the Sofitel Hotel in Morocco’s administrative capital. Four of Pinnick’s five rivals, Lamin Kaba Bajo (The Gambia), Wallace Karia (Tanzania), Nick Mwendwa (Kenya) and Andrew Kamanga (Zambia) threw in the towel before the vote and opted to back the Nigerian. General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi casted Nigeria’s vote. It is a remarkable case of rapid global football boardroom upliftment for a man who, a little over six-and-half years ago, had no intention of contesting for even board membership of the Nigeria Football Federation, but has now been in the post for six-and-half years (becoming the first person to democratically secure a second term), won election as Member of

the CAF Executive Committee, served as CAF’s 1st Vice President, still serving as Member of the Organizing Committee for FIFA Competitions, and now a revered member of the world’s highest decision-making organ for football. Pinnick’s entr y into the 37-member FIFA Council came at the 43rd Ordinary and Elective General Assembly of CAF, and was accomplished hours after the man he supported for the CAF Presidency, Dr Patrice Motsepe of South Africa, mounted the ‘throne’ unchallenged. Motsepe’s challengers Augustine Senghor of Senegal, Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and Jacques Anouma of Cote d’Ivoire had all withdrawn from the race before today’s poll. The elevation is for a four-year term, and automatically makes Pinnick a Member of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football. A man who sets and pursues his vision doggedly, Pinnick thus becomes only the third Nigerian to serve in world football’s highest decision-making body, after the late Etubom Oyo Orok Oyo and Dr Amos Adamu. The quest by the suave and effervescent football administrator for the seat was solidly backed by

the Government of Nigeria, which delegation, led by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Nebolisa Anako was on ground in Morocco. A mining billionaire who is a ls o i nto b an k ing and telecommunications and has businesses in 40 African countries, Dr Patrice Thlopane Motsepe is also the owner of top South African club, Mamelodi Sundowns. In his acceptance speech, Motsepe expressed gratitude to the African football family for his attainment of the position, saying it is a huge honour to serve African football at the highest level.“All of us can and will work together,” he said, underscoring the need for team work, collaboration and sense of togetherness as he praised Senghor, Yahya and Anouma who withdrew from the race..BD

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SPORT

SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

FIFA PRAISES AFRICAN TEAM SPIRIT

IFA President Gianni Infantino has stressed the importance of “team spirit” to project African football to the top of the world in his address to the 43rd CAF Ordinary and Elective General Assembly that took place today in Rabat. “We know the values of football, but the most important value is team spirit. This is the team spirit that we have witnessed these days in Africa”. Referring to the future of African football, the FIFA President said: “I have already said it, and I say it again. We must stop saying that it is necessary to develop African football. It is about projecting it to the summit of world football. "The time for talking has stopped. We must move on, and we must move on as a team: as a CAF team and a FIFA team that also includes all the confederations and associations from all over the world. You are CAF. You are FIFA.” In relation to Patrice Motsepe, who was today elected as the new CAF President, the FIFA President commented: “I want to wish all the very best for the next four years, to the new leading team of CAF, of African football, and to Patrice Motsepe, to all those who have been involved, to Augustin, Ahmed, Jacques and everyone. I want to assure you that FIFA is not at your side. FIFA is together with you.” BD

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JUVENTUS CRISIS DEEPENS WITH TITLE HOPE FADING, EURO HOPES DASHED …. Ronaldo considering exit as Pirlo faces sack

erie A giant, Juventus fell to a shock exit in the Uefa Champions League last-16 for the second year in a row and the reaction of players, club legends and the press was damning. Italian daily Corriere dello Sport described Cristiano Ronaldo's 'betrayal' of the team. For Il Mattino, the exit 'puts everything into question'. Libero described it as a 'failure of the club management'. Any club boasting the grandeur of the Bianconeri will react badly to every defeat but Tuesday night's away goals exit appeared to neatly summarise the all-encompassing

issues facing the club today. It was telling how Ronaldo transitioned from being the inescapable protagonist of the European knockout stages to the flimsiest component of the wall that collapsed for Porto's de facto winner. The 36-year-old arguably secured his move to Turin by belting a godly overhead kick past Gianluigi Buffon in the 2018 quarter-finals. It was the sort of moment that built his amazing Real Madrid legacy but a first-year hat-trick past old foes Atletico Madrid stands as his only tie-winning contribution in the

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knockouts for Juventus. Criticism of Ronaldo's weak display was inevitable and talk has naturally turned towards his exit. The winger still has another season to run on his contract and the club may well put off any difficult decisions for as long as possible. They will know that it is currently inconceivable that the team would be better without Ronaldo than with him. This season's tally of 27 strikes in 32 appearances actually represents his best goals-per-games ratio of his three years with Juventus. The problem is that no one else is regularly scoring and would Pirlo be wise to reduce Ronaldo's influence to try and squeeze more out of Alvaro Morata, Paulo Dybala and Dejan Kulusevski? The coach is another man being

subjected to a stern probation period and he could get away with only winning the Supercoppa and Coppa Italia, were Juve beat Atalanta in May's final. But that position is always vulnerable to review after such a loss, despite reports beforehand that the club would stick with him no matter what. Indeed, the club's recent European record is anything but 'Super' - yet could be worth every penny for Amazon's upcoming docu-series. Against two Champions League final appearances under old coach Massimiliano Allegri, the Bianconeri have otherwise made it to the last-four only once in over 20 years. Perhaps Agnelli is so keen to ensure the inflation of another cash cow to bolster against the financial doom threatening the Old Lady.

Pretty much every club has found the going extremely tough in the pandemic but every one of Juventus' revenue streams fell last year with debt topping £300million. Player sales have been vital to cash flow but that well can only dig so deep without seriously affecting the team. Throughout the past decade, the club has been able to rely on the Scudetto for reassurance and even that has disappeared this year. Inter Milan, a club themselves clouded in a sense of perpetual crisis, sit ten points ahead with AC Milan popping into second place. The old accusations that Juventus were failing in Europe because they were finding domestic life too easy have been tested, and failed.BD

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SATURDAY 13, MARCH 2021

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