General News
600m Africans Lack Electricity-Heutinck
Eric Heutinck, general manager, MAGHREB and West Africa, Royal Philips Electronics is a consummate salesman. Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Heutinck in this interview said that ‘‘Quality LEDs offer part solutions to some of the key issues we face today, including energy crisis, climate change, resource scarcity, safety in our cities and an enhanced sense of health and wellbeing. He spoke to peter ugwu.
An overview of Philips Cairo to Cape Town Road Show
Philips’ Cairo to Cape Town road show, with a stop over in Lagos, was focused on efficient energy solution and as at today we have the most reliable and cost-effective solar LED lighting solution for outdoor lighting purposes.
Royal Philips Electronics is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation.
As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of “sense and simplicity.
Philosophy behind Solar LED Project
Apparently, LED lighting can deliver very high energy efficiency, long life, and excellent quality of light, design flexibility, controllability and colour – all of which are essential to creating solutions which will improve lighting.
In fact, Philips’ prediction is that by 2020 about 75 per cent of the global lighting market (value) will be LED based, a figure derived from both current sales data and we think about around future trends.
But this still leaves a huge installed base of much older less efficient lighting solutions which are a considerable and unnecessary drain on our resources.
The facts and figures supporting a rapid switch to LED lighting are that lighting currently consumes an average of 19 per cent of global electricity production and the great majority of this current lighting is based on older less efficient technologies developed before 1970.
A full switch to the latest LED lighting would provide very significant energy savings of up to 80% in many applications and an average of 40 per cent for all lighting.
For Africa this equates to approx $10 billion per annum in running costs, or 50 million tonnes of carbon or the equivalent output of 35 medium sized power plants.
In most cases it is a simple switch to make and it should also be noted that more than three quarters of all lighting is in the commercial and industrial world rather than the home.
Interestingly, many global initiatives are currently being taken by companies, governments and NGO’s to speed up the rate of switch.
The rate of adoption will also depend on other factors such as further cost price reductions, the speed of investment and basically how persuasive , the quality end of the lighting industry is in creating awareness and getting the world to switch.
Why Focus on Africa
Philips has global presence, however Philips market intelligence shows that out of 1.6 billion people that lack access to electricity worldwide, 600 million of them are in Africa. The continent with population density of about 1.2 billion is piqued by such uneven access to electricity following debility posed in electricity generation, distribution and transmission.
The results come from a global research study undertaken by Philips into the effects of a switch to more energy efficient LED lighting and are based on Philips internal market figures.
Managing Large Market
It is important to note that we have reached a tipping point in the development of high quality light emitting diodes (LEDs) where this exciting new technology can now be used for general lighting in almost all applications.
Quality LEDs offer part solutions to some of the key issues and opportunities we face today – the energy crisis, climate change, resource scarcity, safety in our cities, productivity in our offices, and an enhanced sense of health and well being to name but a few.
So, the first step we have mapped out is the road show, which will afford the people ample opportunity to get first hand information across to Nigerians on the product. In essence, the road show is our awareness campaign.
Secondly, we will constitute pilot projects in Nigeria and solidify our contact with the government to see outline benefits inherent in the solution and take up demands.
What Spurred the Project?
Well, what is on the mind of Philips is to improve peoples’ lives.
If you take a look, in Nigeria there are a lot of people without electricity, and even others that have access to electricity don’t enjoy it to the fullness, probably due to increasing costs and power cuts, so what Nigerians will need is a cost-effective and efficient electric supply solution.
With our new solution, people can save up to eight per cent lighting. Same time, if there is no electricity grid; it takes a lot of money and time to do that. But in this solution you don’t need the grid.
Impact on Peoples Lives
It is very incredible how it will improve peoples’ lives because one can imagine how the communities go dark as from 7pm, but with a project like this, children can play longer and even study, meetings can hold, while businesses continue.
It will also help municipal authorities create more livable urban environments by applying new, future-proof LED lighting solutions to enhance city lives.
Safety Perspective
Well, it is Philips’ product and by implications it fulfilled all the European and African regulations. First of all, it is a low voltage system, so no risk.
And the LED aspect shows it has low power consumption mechanism.
The solar powered solution does not require any grid to function. That is new Solar Gen2 offers a highly energy-efficient LED solution which is superior to any conventional lighting and allows for a lamp post spacing of up to 50 meters, much wider than with other solutions, while at the same time complying with stringent EU road lighting standards (ME3).
By charging street lighting during the day, Solar Gen2 can also supplement the capacity of the conventional electricity grid. The Gen2 Philips solution also has an entry level range of good value with low medium and high lumen packages ranging from 1500lm to 6000lm.
And the construction is done in such a way that the charging and discharging of the battery happens in a smart way so as to maximize battery life and it can dim the light levels when required based on a self learning intelligence and a history log.
Employment Benefits
If you are considering building a system like this, you will need engineers. For instance, an estate may decide to go for this, you will also need engineers’ capacity to achieve the plan and by that employment is being made available to the people.
And in consideration of the need to have a local assemble in Nigeria, we will still need people to work with.
Challenges
I think the biggest challenge for the government currently is to give everybody power supply.
And there is such a big demand for power supply that is why you have power cuts. So, there will be no complication.
Also the government will be happy to see a platform to reduce the level of power consumption, because it will give room for further projects. And we are currently running a promotion as means to reach out to the people.
General News
Haleon Introduces New Corporate Identity in Nigeria

Haleon, a global consumer health company with a purpose to deliver better everyday health, is introducing its corporate identity across Nigeria in a phased transition. Trusted brands such as Panadol, Sensodyne, Macleans, Otrivin, Voltaren, Cac 1000 and Andrews Liver Salts remain unchanged in formulation, quality, and effectiveness.

Following the formal demerger from GSK, Haleon was launched on July 18, 2022, as an independent company 100% focused on consumer health. Haleon is the new home for brands like Sensodyne, Panadol, Centrum and others, trusted by millions worldwide for their proven effectiveness in improving everyday health.
From relieving tooth sensitivity or pain to providing essential vitamins and nutrients, our products are designed to fulfil Haleon’s purpose: to deliver better everyday health with humanity.
This revised corporate identity is a branding change only and does not affect the safety, quality, or efficacy of the products. Haleon is sharing this update as part of its commitment to transparency and consumer confidence, helping consumers continue to choose the brands they know and trust.
Haleon’s collaboration with Fidson Healthcare forms part of this approach, reinforcing the value of local production in supporting trusted everyday health brands in Nigeria.
Panadol Extra 100s and Panadol Pain & Fever 100s are currently being produced and supplied to the market under the Haleon identity. Sensodyne Rapid Action will bear the Haleon corporate identity from mid-June, followed by Andrews Liver Salts later this year.
In due course, additional brands—including Otrivin, Voltaren, Cac 1000, Macleans, and the wider Sensodyne portfolio—will also transition to the Haleon identity.
Haleon remains committed to ensuring consumers can continue to access the same high-quality brands at pharmacies, supermarkets and other retail outlets across Nigeria.
“As Haleon introduces its identity in Nigeria, we want consumers to feel informed and reassured. The trusted products they rely on remain the same in quality, formulation and effectiveness.
“At the same time, our local production approach in partnership with Fidson Healthcare supports reliable access to high-quality everyday health products in Nigeria,” said Himanshu Raj, Haleon General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa.
General News
Elon Musk Makes History as the World’s First Trillionaire

Tech entrepreneur and SpaceX founder, Elon Musk, has become the world’s first trillionaire after the successful public listing of SpaceX pushed his net worth beyond the $1 trillion mark.

Elon Musk
According to multiple financial reports, Musk’s fortune surged to approximately $1.1 trillion following SpaceX’s historic stock market debut on June 12, making him the first individual in history to achieve the milestone.
The sharp increase in wealth was driven primarily by SpaceX’s initial public offering (IPO), which valued the company at more than $1.7 trillion at listing before rising above $2 trillion during its first day of trading. Musk’s holdings in SpaceX, combined with his stakes in Tesla and other ventures, significantly boosted his net worth.
Musk, 54, is also the founder or co-founder of companies including Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink and The Boring Company. He acquired social media platform X, formerly Twitter, in a $44 billion deal and has remained one of the most influential figures in technology and business.
Financial analysts noted that Musk’s wealth now far exceeds that of any other billionaire.
Matt Durot, deputy editor at Forbes Wealth, said the gap between Musk and the world’s second-richest individual had widened significantly, with no other person currently close to the trillion-dollar threshold.
Despite the historic achievement, Musk’s vast wealth has reignited debates over global inequality and the responsibilities of ultra-wealthy individuals in addressing humanitarian challenges.
Advocacy groups have frequently pointed to issues such as hunger, disease eradication and access to education as areas where large-scale private philanthropy could make a significant impact.
In 2021, Musk publicly challenged the United Nations to provide a detailed plan showing how billions of dollars could help combat world hunger. Although a proposal was later presented, no donation followed.
Analysts note that much of Musk’s wealth remains tied to company shares rather than liquid cash, meaning his net worth can fluctuate significantly with market movements.
Nevertheless, the SpaceX IPO marks a historic moment in global finance, placing Musk in a wealth category previously considered unimaginable.
Commenting on Musk’s business achievements, Jamie Dimon, chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase, described him as “the Edison of our time.”
Musk’s rise from co-founding internet startup Zip2 in the 1990s to becoming the world’s first trillionaire is regarded by many analysts as one of the most remarkable wealth creation stories in modern history.
General News
Kaspersky Warns of “Grey” Scam Websites Exploiting User Trust

Recent research by Kaspersky has shown that the so-called “grey” websites repeatedly target all world regions, and this may be driving both financial loss and large-scale data harvesting.

Grey websites are deceptive online platforms that fall outside traditional phishing definitions but still manipulate users into voluntarily handing over money and personal data. Kaspersky’s new report provides detailed insights into the threats posed by the grey websites on global and regional levels.
Unlike classic phishing attacks, which aim to steal credentials outright, grey websites rely on persuasion, misleading interfaces, and hidden terms to exploit users. They often impersonate legitimate services such as e-commerce platforms, financial tools, AI services, or subscription-based content, making them significantly harder to detect.
Kaspersky analysis shows that the majority of suspicious resources globally fall into several recurring categories:
- Fake browser extensions and “security tools” that actually harvest browsing data and track user activity.
- Fraudulent financial platforms including crypto exchanges, trading tools, and investment schemes promising unrealistic returns.
- Intermediary services (e.g., legal or real estate), charging for low-value or nonexistent services while harvesting sensitive personal data.
- Subscription traps offering low-cost trials that convert into costly recurring payments hidden in fine print.
- Fake online shops that either deliver counterfeit goods or nothing at all.
Example of a grey website.
A notable trend is the emergence of tools disguised as AI services or image-processing platforms, reflecting attackers’ ability to adapt to current digital trends and target younger audiences.
There are proven security solutions that help users to detect grey websites across different types of devices – those running on Windows, Linux, Android and iOS. The detection model is based on many factors, including domain name and age, IP reputation, stability of the infrastructure used, DNS configurations, HTTP security headers, digital identity and popularity of the web resource and other criteria.
Regional specifics
Regional variations in grey websites demonstrate how threat actors localise scams based on user behaviour and trending technologies.
In Europe, the threat landscape is dominated by links to suspicious browser extensions and fake “privacy-enhancing” tools.
These resources often present themselves as security solutions, promising safer browsing or anonymous search capabilities. In reality, they function as browser hijackers – intercepting traffic, collecting cookies, tracking user behaviour, and injecting advertisements.
The popularity of these threats reflects a high level of user concern around privacy and security, which attackers actively exploit. Additionally, these regions show a steady presence of phishing intermediaries and crypto-related scams, indicating a blend of technical and financially motivated attacks.
Across African markets, financial scams are the most prominent category of suspicious resources. Fraudulent trading platforms, fake brokers, and investment schemes frequently mimic legitimate financial services, often accompanied by fabricated licenses or endorsements.
These platforms typically prevent users from withdrawing funds, instead introducing additional “fees” or taxes to prolong the scam. The concentration of these threats highlights how attackers leverage growing interest in online investing while exploiting gaps in regulatory enforcement and financial literacy.
In the Middle East and North Africa region, suspicious resources frequently mimic communication (Internet telephony) tools, financial platforms, or betting services. Additionally, Ponzi-style investment schemes and crypto scams are widespread, often presented through polished interfaces that mimic legitimate platforms.
Web browser-based threats also play a significant role, with malicious extensions targeting user data and browsing activity. The regional threat profile reflects a convergence of financial fraud and technical compromise, where users risk both data exposure and monetary loss.
“Suspicious websites don’t look harmful at first glance. But they exploit trust, urgency, and familiarity, and a single click on what looks like a harmless AI image tool, a “secure” browser extension, or a heavily discounted online shop could be all it takes to lose money or expose sensitive data.
Instead of direct credential theft, attackers turn to behavioural manipulation – whether that’s subscribing, investing, or installing software,” comments Anna Larkina, Web Content and Privacy Analysis Expert at Kaspersky.
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