fRIDAY, JA NUARY 21, 20 \I
Agricultural sector needs finance to survive Stories: Ronke Badmus
S
TERLING Bank's Group Head for Lagos Island Region, Mr Tunde Adeola, has called for more and robust financial provision for the agricultural industry. He said this in an interview with our correspondent shortly after the inauguration
of Funtuna Eggs Life by the Animal Care Services Konsult Nigeria Limited in Lagos on Thursday. Adeola, who represented the Group Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Yemi Adeola, said financing the country's agricultural sector by banks and other financial institutions would
boost farmer's activities and improve sector's chances of creating
employment
and
food for the youths in the country.
According to him, banks have been said to honour loan applications in the industrial sector than agric sector because the intricacies are different.
"We only need to know the basis of agriculture and know what we want to go into unlike commerce which is usually ca,h and carry. But banks offer loan to farmers much more now through CBN's support towards granting of loans. "They also make available special grand's dedicated to agriculture from the government," he added. Speaking at the unveiling of the new brand, the President of the company. Dr. Olatunde Agbato, said, "The new 'Funtuna Egg Life' was designed by our company to project the image of the brand in the market and consolidate its position as a market leader. 'The unique ma;keting strategy was to take our brand out the generiC class, create a niche for the brand and place us on top of the pack among competitors.
According to him, the theme of the inauguration was 'Funtuna Eggs-Sustainig Healthy Living', as time goes on would be treated to an exergesis on sustaining healthy living with relevant nutritional benefits of eggs. He added, "Due to our continue interest in sustaining among healthy living fellow Nigerians, we have constantly devised means of adding value to Funtuna eggs to keep the brand on top of the pack with superior nutritional advantages.
!-Ie explained that the new brand contain higher level of available and deliverable nutrients as a result of the unique and naturally wholesome grain based 'Animal Care' ration fed to the birds that lay these eggs. He noted that its consumption would effectively correct nutitional inbalance among highly vulnerable groups induding pregnant women, nursing mothers and children, among others.
Shoprite boosts SME products in Nigeria IGERIA Suppliers, and distributors entrepreneurs have said that the coming of Shoprite to the country has boosted and encouraged the activities of the Small and Medium Enterprises particularly those in agriculture subsector of the economy. According to a statement from the company on Thursday, the company, on its record purchases groceries and perishables from on average 140 listed local suppliers monthly, making it one of the largest distributors of made-inNigeria products. A stakeholder and distributor for the company, Mr. Michael Obienyem, said, "The company has not only supported farmers in the country, it also has the potential to remain a force to be reckoned with in the retailing business in Nigeria, for their openness and insistence on quality. "Shoprite rather not have products on their shelves than display sub-standard goods," he added. Obienyem said "The packaging and marketing strategy of Shoprite is world standard and outclasses all other distributors of our products". He stressed
N
that the challenges faced in ensuring efficient and effective supply of its products has been the logistics; insisting that the government should do more in easing the hassles involved in transportation and security. "Shoprite understands our challenges and have been very cooperative". According to a supplier, Mrs Margaret Udoh, the very reasons the supermarket retailer had been successful was the strict adherence to quality, the mode of payment, and the elimination of the favouritism syndrome. "My bankers can testify to the fact that Shoprite has never owed my company or delayed in payment" she said. The statement added that the company has enjoyed a reputation for offering best-value merchandise to consumers at the lowest prices, which they can trust always. "Not only has this been substantiated by independent market research companies. but price surveys conducted by consumer groups and the media regularly confirm that the Group remains the price leader in its field," it stated.
PZ unveils new 3-in-one product Pz
Cussons Nigeria as one of the standards set to enhance lives of consumers by setting standards in the production of quality consumer products in the country has inaugurated as one of its brands 'Morning Fresh 3;ln~One Hygienic Anti~Surface Cleaner'. The Managing Director, Commercials, Mr. Alex Goma. at the inauguration of the brand in Lagos on Tuesday, said, "The product is another "Healthy" move one and shall make a remarkable and innovative difference in our homes and
offices all over Nigeria. According to him, the new brand, which contained contents of a revolutionary germ barrier and 24 hours germ'free called Byotrol would help eradicate germs in homes and other surfaces even when the surfaces has dried up. He added that the company believed that a Healthy nation is a wealthy nation. Therefore, "PZ Cussons has been an integral part of the Nigerian
environment manufacturing products that touch the lives of the great people of Nigeria to promote healthy living every day." Goma said the unique structure of the content containing in the brand IByotrol), is known as 'Amphicelles' which kills germs, make what consumers do with their hands more effective and work harder than the person doing the cleaning. "This is the first in the history of hygienic cleaning because it makes life easier in the household,"路 he added.
January 20,2011
RE: GUNMEN KIDNAP UNIUYO vets HUSBAND - AREJOINDER
T
he attention of the University of Uyo Management
has been drawn to the defamatory news report of one Kazeem Ibrahym in the Punch Newspaper of
Tuesday, January 18, 2011. In the Report, Mr, Sani Magaji, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, is credited as saying that the kidnap of Dr. Memfin Ekpo, an Associate Professor of Pathology and husband of Prof. (Mrs.) Comfort Memfin Ekpo (the Vice Chancellor of the University) is "an internal arrangement." Contrary to the fabricated publication, facts available to the University reveal that Dr. Memfin Ekpo was kidnapped during a church service at Goodness Evangelical Team, No.2 Ubo Way, off Abak Road, Ikot Oku Ubo Offot, Uyo, by four gunmen who drove in a deep green Audi 80 Car with Registration Number AQ 236 CAL. The University promptly reported this sad incident to the Nigerian Police the same day. It followed it up with a written report to the Akwa lbom State Police Command, on Tuesday, 18 January 2011. A staff of the Nigerian Police duly signed for and received the report, The University is dismayed that, despite the above facts, the Commissioner is credited with the above unsubstantiated and inflammatory statement. The Punch Publication even quotes the Commissioner as saying that the University is not cooperating with the Force. The UniverSity takes great exception to the Punch Newspaper Publication, especially as the Reporter did not confirm this story before publishing on such a sensitive issue. It is particularly painful that, at a time when concerned persons should be working towards getting the release of Dr. Ekpo, a reporter should choose to be sinister, The University hereby demands a retraction, with an apology, of the said defamatory publication by the Punch Newspaper within 30 days from the date of this publication, Should the Paper fail to do so, the University will be at liberty to seek appropriate legal redress against the Newspaper,
UKO, MAURICE (MR.) For: Director of Information & Public Relations