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Nielsen Commissions Projects, Marks Global Impact Day Worldwide
As part of efforts aimed at touching lives of people and making positive contribution to the society where it operates, Nielsen Nigeria, a member of the global brand which offers marketing research and consumer insights for businesses, has extended its philanthropic gestures to pupils of Local Government Primary School, Ikeja, Lagos.
The company recently donated a library, borehole and other items to pupils of the school.
Nielsen Nigeria noted that the donations were part of its CSR activities tagged Nielsen Global Impact Day (NGID) an event organised yearly to impact the lives of people and the society. Nielsen identifies Health, Nutrition and Education as key pillars that help humanity to thrive.
Local Government Primary School, located in Ikeja currently has 280 pupils and 30 teachers.
Pupils in the school hitherto suffered lack of water and good library, but Nielsen Nigeria under its 2015 NGID shouldered the responsibility to renovate the borehole and refurbish the library. The company also donated goody bags which contained useful hygiene items to the pupils.
The school now boasts of clean drinking water and a well-equipped library that is conducive for reading.
Speaking during the handing over of the amenities to the school, Mr. Lampe Omoyele, managing director, Nielsen West Africa, noted that the company deeply cares about contributing to its society through initiatives such as this.
He also said the NGID initiative is observed in over 100 other countries around the world by Nielsen.
“At Nielsen, we are keen about impacting the lives of people, community in our environment. We recognise that the government cannot do it all alone so we are proud to lend support that goes a long way to touch the lives of people. We realise that water is a necessity that is why we renovated the borehole to provide water. Also important to these kids is reading. When they have access to good books and library they learn properly so we donated books and renovated the library,” Omoyele said.
In her response, Mrs. Elizabeth Akapo, assistant head teacher of the school, expressed gratitude to the Nielsen for providing the facilities.
Her words: “Pupils hitherto would go outside the school premises far away to get their drinkable water every day because the borehole was out of order. Water is an essential necessity so the pupils and teachers need it.
They need water after meals and even for other uses while in the school, but the borehole had stopped working for months. With the boreholes restored by Nielsen, it is such a relief and delight for teachers and pupils.
“On the other hand, our school library was not pleasant to pupils to come in and read as it had old text books that were not in the curriculum. So the company out of concern renovated the library to make it appealing to pupils and equipped it with textbooks needed by pupils in line with the curriculum. Now pupils would be motivated to use the facility because it is attractive and well furnished. We deeply thank Nielsen for the love, care and support they have given to us,” she explained.
Mrs Bolanle Shittu, education secretary, Ikeja Local Government, also praised Nielsen Nigeria for touching the lives of pupils in the primary school. She noted that she is a product of the school which was founded in 1952.
She said: “The school has been receiving support from many people and organisations, but Nielsen’s impact was outstanding because it made so much impact in the lives of pupils and teachers.”
Some of the kids expressed appreciation to Nielsen Nigeria for alleviating their plight and giving them hope.
A primary six pupil, Favour Onoja, described the donations as timely and important, while Sunday Babatunde of Primary 5 noted that he felt so special and loved to be cared for by Nielsen Nigeria.
The pupils also entertained the Nielsen Team and other guests present with traditional dance, a playlet on gender discrimination and a debate on the topic ‘Females are better than males.’ Nielsen team also spent time with the pupils by reading books, mentoring and listening to the pupils in all the classes. The pupils were also served with free meals.
Other members of the Nielsen Nigeria team led by Mr. Omoyele include Omolola Oyebola, Associate Director, Human Resource West Africa; Ada-Obi Okafor, Quality Control& Training Manager among others. Guests present at the occasion were Mr. Muritala Mogaji, Chairman, School-Based Management Committee (SBMC); Mr. Ade Abatan, Director, Social Mobilisation Department, Ikeja Local Government; Mr. Patrick Souza and Mrs. Lanre Aina both from the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Lagos SUBEB.
Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has expressed concerns over the impending ban on Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) by the Lagos State Ministry of Environment.
It warned that it could lead to job losses and and lead to economic, operational, and social consequences for manufacturers, traders, recyclers, and end users.
Segun Ajayi-Kadir, director general, MAN, in a statement called on the Lagos State government to reconsider the ban, citing a lack of credible data and stakeholder engagement.
According to Ajayi-Kadir, a recent study revealed that 100% of manufacturers surveyed expressed fears of job losses and workforce restructuring if the ban is implemented.
He said, “A recent MAN-supported study evaluating the possible impacts of the Lagos State SUPs ban revealed significant adverse economic, operational, and social implications across the value chain, from manufacturers to wholesalers, traders, and end users. It has been noted that only poor and developing countries often tilt towards plastic ban as a strategy to combat environmental problems.
“A hundred percent of the manufacturers consulted expressed concern over a ban-induced workforce restructuring. Thus, several jobs will be lost in the industry if this ban were to be implemented.
“It is noteworthy to mention that there is no form of arrangement for social protection for the employees who will lose their livelihoods as a result of this ban.
“Also, there has been no form of social dialogue on the part of the government with these workers or the industry on the potential job losses.”
According to him, findings showed that 89% of operators in the plastic value chain rely on SUPs as their primary source of income with no alternative source of livelihoods, over 75% of end users, including SMEs, depend on plastic packaging with no affordable or practical alternatives, and 93% of dealers, many of whom are women, reported no prior information or social support mechanisms to cushion the impact.
Ajayi-Kadir emphasised that banning SUPs would not resolve pollution issues but merely substitute one problem for another, especially without scalable alternatives or infrastructure to support the transition.
He urged the government to focus on improving waste management infrastructure and promoting recycling, rather than imposing bans.
A Federal High Court in Ikeja, Lagos state has sentenced 23 Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each for their involvement in cyberterrorism and internet fraud.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned them before Justices D.E. Osiagor, D.I. Dipeolu, and A.O. Faji on a single count of cyberterrorism and online fraud.
Dele Oyewale, spokesperson, EFCC, revealed that the convicted individuals were members of a cyber-fraud syndicate comprising 792 people.
He noted that the culprits were arrested on Thursday, December 19, 2024 in Lagos, during an operation known as ‘Eagle Flush.’
Oyewale stated that the individuals identified as Yu Hui (also known as A. Bin), Huang Jin Hui, Fei Fan, Lu Qiang, Hu Xi Zheng, Sun Zhi Peng, Wu Hao, Cong Bing, and Li Qiang alias Yang Huan Huan, Zheng Wei alias A. Hong, Cheng Jian, Da Tou, A Wen, Zhang Lei, Huang Zhi, Pan Jiong, Chen Wen Yuan, Jia You alias A. You, Wang Zheng Feng alias Feng, Liu San Hua, Liu Beixing, and Wen Zong Xu alias Li Long were all charged on one count of online fraud and cyber-terrorism.
One of the charges brought against Yu Hui (also known as A. Bin) claimed that he, along with others, unlawfully accessed computer systems in Lagos around December 2024 with the intent to destabilize and damage Nigeria’s economy and social structure.
According to the EFCC, this act violated Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, and is punishable under that law.
Similarly, another charge filed against Jia You, accused him of accessing computer systems with the aim of undermining and harming Nigeria’s economic and social stability.
This action was said to be in breach of both the Cybercrimes Act and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Initially all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
However, during the court session, they pleaded guilty.
The EFCC prosecution team comprising of Nneemeka Omewa, Babatunde Sonoiki, U.S Kyari, and B.M Isah informed the court that the defendants had reached plea bargain agreements.
The defence team confirmed this and requested the court to adopt the terms of the agreements.
Justices Osiagor, Faji, and Dipeolu found each defendant guilty and sentenced them to one year in prison, with the sentence starting from their arrest date on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.
Each convict was also fined N1 million.
Additionally, the judges ordered the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to deport the convicts within seven days of completing their sentences.
All devices recovered during the operation including mobile phones, laptops, and routers were forfeited to the Nigerian government.
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Galaxy Backbone Reaffirms Commitment to Support Security Agencies with Its Vast Digital Infrastructure
The Board, Management, and Staff of Galaxy Backbone (GBB) express profound sorrow and heartfelt condolences to the governments and people of Benue, Borno, Plateau, Anambra, and other states affected by recent waves of violent attacks and insecurity. We mourn with every family, community, and institution that has suffered the pain of loss, displacement, and trauma.
At Galaxy Backbone (GBB), we firmly believe that security is the bedrock of any thriving society. No nation can make meaningful progress when peace is threatened. These tragic incidents are not just national emergencies, they represent deep personal losses to every Nigerian, and they call for urgent, united, and technology-enabled solutions to support lasting peace.
As a Federal Government organization, entrusted with delivering secure digital infrastructure and smart technology solutions to public institutions across Nigeria, Galaxy Backbone remains resolute in its commitment to supporting state governments and security agencies through cutting-edge digital platforms that enable proactive and intelligent security management.
We also acknowledge and commend the visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the concerted efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria in responding decisively to the security challenges facing parts of the country. The President’s unwavering commitment to peace, safety, and national unity under the Renewed Hope Agenda is evident in the bold steps being taken to restore order and build a more secure Nigeria.
Through our Safe City Security Solutions, GBB offers an integrated suite of smart surveillance systems, real-time data analytics, emergency communication networks, and AI-enabled threat detection tools. These solutions are specifically designed to enhance operational capabilities, strengthen coordination across security agencies, and empower informed decision-making in high-risk environments.
GBB stands ready to partner with both state governments and security agencies that are committed to building safer, smarter, and more resilient communities. We believe that technology must lead the charge in safeguarding lives, and we are proud to serve as a trusted digital ally in Nigeria’s journey toward modern, tech-enabled public safety.
Together, we can bolster early warning systems, expand surveillance coverage, enable faster emergency responses, and ensure that every Nigerian lives in a country where peace and prosperity are not aspirations, but realities.
May the souls of the departed rest in peace. And may strength, healing, and hope return to the hearts and homes of all those affected.
Galaxy Backbone remains aligned with the vision of a secure, digitally connected, and inclusive Nigeria, where every citizen has the freedom to live, work, and dream in peace.
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