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Aba Hackathon Challenge Opens Application Portal for Startups

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The application portal for ‘Aba Hackathon Challenge’ opened for Startups and teams with great ideas on how to add value to the Aba manufacturing clusters.

 

The Hackathon Challenge is an extension of the Proudly Made in Aba Campaign by TBWA in partnership with #StartupSouth and funded by Ford Foundation.

 

The portal will close on February 26, 2018 with the main event scheduled for March 16, 2018.

 

The initial campaign brought more attention to the Aba manufacturing clusters – exposing the great innovative and resilient spirit of the traders/manufacturers.

 

It also exposed the challenges and deficiencies as well as steps required to fully actualize the mandate of the campaign which is to inspire a revolutionary growth of the Aba manufacturing clusters through re-energized interest in their products from both within and outside Nigeria.

 

Proudly Made in Aba Campaign Insight

Some of the insights from the campaign revealed that over eight hundred thousand (800,000) pairs of shoes, three hundred and fifty thousand (350,000) Belts, Bags and other leather goods are manufactured everyday in Aba.

 

Also, another One Million, Five Hundred Thousand (1,500,000) Clothing items are manufactured every week in Aba.

 

This is excluding other manufacturing activities around industries such as upholstery, metal, machine and automobile repairs and fabrication.

 

Some of the challenges identified range from access to market, distribution/logistic difficulties, lack of marketing/branding knowledge to lack of modern manufacturing equipment and processes to mention just a few.

 

The Right Teams / Who Should Apply

The Hackathon Challenge is seeking passionate teams familiar with and knowledgeable about issues mentioned (and others not mentioned) here and building a solution that can solve any or all of the problems.

 

To be successful, teams should be able to demonstrate their understanding of the problem, the impact of their solution to the stated problem area and the experience of their team.

 

Virgin ideas may apply, however, ideas with traction backed by experienced teams stand a better chance.

 

A shortlist of 10 teams will be pre-approved to proceed to the Hackathon camp and made to present to a panel of judges comprised of multi-disciplined seasoned business leaders.

 

About #StartupSouth

#StartupSouth is a Startup Ecosystem development project by Havilah & Hills with a mission to expose, connect and attract investment to startups/founders in the South-South and South-East. Please see www.startupsouth.org for more information

 

About TBWA\Concept 

TBWA\Concept is part of a global network of 300 agencies in over 100 countries committed to helping brands find strategic and creative white space with the main objective of achieving growth through our proprietary strategic tool, Disruption. Please see www.tbwaconcept.com for more information

 

About Ford Foundation

Ford Foundation is an international philanthropy organisation dedicated to the advancement of human welfare through reducing poverty and promoting democratic values, peace, and educational opportunity.

Please see www.fordfoundation.org for more information


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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QNET Reaffirms Integrity: Dissociates from Mighty Infinity Millionaire Ltd in Nigeria

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QNET, a global leader in direct selling focused on wellness and lifestyle products, firmly disassociates itself from any unlawful activities being conducted by unauthorized individuals or entities fraudulently using the QNET name to mislead and exploit members of the Nigerian public.

These concerns have resurfaced following the arrests of several suspects in Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

QNET commends the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its actions in apprehending those responsible and is actively supporting the authorities to prevent further misuse of its brand.

QNET Says NO to Brand Misuse and Criminal Misrepresentation

QNET is a 27-year-old international direct selling company offering wellness and lifestyle products through a network of independent distributors.

These individuals are customers who have purchased QNET products and have chosen to build their own direct selling business using our platform. They operate independently and are not employees of QNET.

Unfortunately, certain third-party entities such as Mighty Infinity Millionaire Ltd, that have no affiliation to QNET, and operate without our oversight or recognition, have grossly misrepresented the QNET business model and acted in a manner that is in no way a representation of QNET business ethics or values.

We unequivocally state that such entities and individuals are not affiliated with or endorsed by QNET. QNET reiterates that Transblue Nigeria Limited remains our sole partner in Nigeria.

Operating Within Legal and Ethical Boundaries

In Nigeria, QNET operates strictly within the legal and regulatory frameworks through our official local partner, Transblue Nigeria Limited. We remain committed to ethical business practices and protecting both our brand and the public from exploitation. We urge members of the public to remain vigilant, verify the authenticity of individuals or entities claiming affiliation with QNET, and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.

Statement from QNET’s Regional Leadership & Legal Nigerian Partner

Responding to the fraudulent activities being perpetrated in QNET’s name, Biram Fall, Regional General Manager of QNET for Sub-Saharan Africa, states, “We are extremely disturbed by the way unscrupulous individuals have misused the QNET brand to deceive innocent Nigerians with false promises. At QNET, our values are rooted in honesty and empowering people to build better lives through genuine means. We remain committed to supporting law enforcement agencies in their efforts to bring these fraudsters to justice and encourage the public to verify any claims of affiliation with QNET before getting involved.”

To avoid further confusion, QNET wishes to emphasize the following:
● QNET does not operate or endorse any physical or online university under the name “Q-University” in Nigeria. QNET is part of a larger business conglomerate that operates the Quest International University in Malaysia, which does not have any overseas campus.
● QNET is not involved with online medical courses or academic institutions in Nigeria.
● QNET does not support or condone recruitment-driven models that promise employment, scholarships, or guaranteed returns unrelated to the legitimate sale or purchase of QNET products.
● QNET strongly condemns the unauthorized use of our intellectual property – including company logos, founder portraits, and promotional materials – by fraudulent actors aiming to mislead the public.

QNET’s Awareness Creation and Consumer Protection Efforts
Since entering the Nigerian market in 2022, QNET with the support of our local partner, Transblue Nigeria Limited, have prioritized financial literacy and consumer protection. In November 2023, we launched the Say NO! Awareness Campaign to educate the public about scams and promote responsible entrepreneurship. The campaign has reached thousands through multilingual billboards, radio messages, educational pamphlets, and online platforms. As part of this campaign, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FMLE) and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) were also engaged.

Cooperation with Law Enforcement

QNET expresses its full support and appreciation for the EFCC’s efforts to protect citizens and crack down on cyber and financial crimes. We are actively cooperating with the Commission in its investigations and are committed to further educating the public on the nature and values of QNET’s legitimate operations.

Public Advisory: How to Stay Safe

To protect yourself from scams falsely linked to QNET:
● Verify all QNET-related information at: www.qnet.net
● Report suspicious activity via email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +233 256 630 005
● Learn how to identify scams at: www.saynocampaign.org
QNET remains fully committed to ethical business practices and transparency. We stand with Nigerian authorities in protecting citizens from fraud and will continue to cooperate fully to bring those misusing our brand to justice.

 


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Eedris Abdulkareem Teases New Protest Anthem following NBC Ban

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Eedris Abdulkareem, veteran hip hop artiste
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Eedris Abdulkareem, veteran hip hop artiste, is showing no signs of backing down as he hints at releasing another protest song, shortly after his last track was banned by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

Eedris Abdulkareem, veteran hip hop artiste

He recently again stirred the political waters as he hinted at the release of a new protest song, only weeks after his controversial track Tell Your Papa was banned by the National Broadcasting Commission.

The outspoken musician took to social media on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, to share an animated cover design with the words “3 Arms of Government,” suggesting the theme of his upcoming release.

Though the title remains undisclosed, the post was captioned simply with “Stay tuned,” fueling speculation that another hard-hitting social commentary is on the way.

Abdulkareem, known for his unapologetic political views, recently described the NBC’s decision to ban Tell Your Papa as hypocritical. Undeterred by censorship, he appears set to continue using music as a platform to criticize injustice and demand accountability.

The rapper also recently reaffirmed the relevance of his classic hit Jaga Jaga, stating that it would remain the country’s “second unofficial national anthem” until key issues like security, electricity, and governance are addressed.

With another protest song on the horizon, fans and critics alike are bracing for what may be Eedris Abdulkareem’s most direct political message yet.

 

 


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MultiChoice Brings Easter Home with Dedicated Pop-Up Channel

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In celebration of the Easter season, MultiChoice has announced the launch of a dedicated Easter Pop-Up Channel, offering DStv and GOtv subscribers across Nigeria the chance to experience live broadcasts of key Easter events and services from the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

The special channel, which runs from Thursday, April 17 to Monday, April 21, will be available on DStv channel 196 and GOtv channel 28, bringing the significance and beauty of Easter directly into viewers’ homes.

Throughout the Easter period, the channel will broadcast a rich lineup of live religious events. The programming begins on Thursday, April 17, with the Chrism Mass in the morning, followed by the Mass of the Last Supper in the evening.

On Good Friday, April 18, viewers can join in the Good Friday Tenebrae and the Seven Last Words service, followed by the Stations of the Cross from St. Gregory’s, and later the Passion Service.

The spiritual journey continues on Saturday, April 19, with the Easter Vigil Mass late in the evening, leading into the Easter Sunday Mass on April 20. The channel’s special programming concludes on Monday, April 21, with the Easter Monday Mass from Galilee.

This dedicated pop-up channel is designed for those who may be unable to attend church services in person, as well as for anyone seeking to deepen their spiritual observance during the Easter holidays. By broadcasting these significant events, MultiChoice reaffirms its commitment to providing content that resonates with the cultural and religious values of its viewers.

Subscribers are encouraged to tune in to DStv channel 196 and GOtv channel 28 throughout the Easter period to take part in these important religious celebrations from the comfort of their homes.


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