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Why Zoho CRM is an Essential Tool For Businesses Aiming for Success- Ogundare

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Kehinde Ogundare, Country Manager, Zoho Technologies Ltd with Africa Digital Enabler Award presented to Zoho at AfriTECH Awards 2022.
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Zoho, a software company, providing solutions for various segments of products clients, has said that its flagship product, the Zoho CRM, is an essential product for businesses that are desirous of recording huge sales, scaling, and optimizing their business processes.

Kehinde Ogundare, Country Manager, Zoho Technologies Ltd with Africa Digital Enabler Award presented to Zoho at AfriTECH Awards 2022.

Mr. Kehinde Ogundare, Country Manager, Zoho Technologies Limited disclosed this last Wednesday while making a presentation at the Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH 2.0) held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

CRM (Customer relationship management) is a technology application for managing all of a business organisation’s relationships and interactions with customers and potential customers.

Ogundare said that the Zoho CRM can be used in different ways, including using it as a customer relationship management tool that businesses can use to communicate, send email, receive email, do automation and all other things.

According to Ogundare, “You can also use a CRM as a data-based and repository hub if you activate it. A lot of businesses use one or two applications if you want to do your marketing, you want to do finance and all that.

“Our CRM will allow you to connect all these applications together and you Can also integrate with third party applications .”

He stated that Zoho CRM can also be used as a sales management pipeline, noting that salespeople are very key to any organisation as they are the backbone of any company, adding that for them to work well, you need somebody to tell you what you are doing, track your tractions, how many people you are engaging, activities he said Zoho CRM will allow you do.

“On our unified platform,  which is Zoho One, it brings together all these applications for you to run your business.

“As of today, you don’t have to pay for them separately; you can just buy Zoho One, which will give you all the tools you need to run your entire organization with one subscription.

Zoho One is a bundle that gives you access to about 40+ products which come with Enterprise features.

These include; Sales, Marketing, Finance, Support and Human Resources management tools; most of these applications are synced together to ease your business processes.

“You want to connect your sales department, your online marketing platform like Facebook, Instagram; you will be able to connect that with your Sales department, then your finance team that will invoice the customer. What we are doing is that we are providing you the software that will bring everything together for you on the same platform,” Ogundare further explained.

The Zoho Country Manager further disclosed that for the marketing department of businesses, Zoho has a series of applications like the Zoho Campaign for email marketing or newsletter in addition to the Zoho SalesIQ for live chat application, Zoho Social for social media marketing.

In his words, “Sales IQ would give you the opportunity to actually engage your customers to be able to know where they are chatting from, the kind of OS they are using, their geo location. And these are data that are very essential and crucial for your business. It will allow you to make informed decisions.

“Take for instance, you are doing a lot of marketing activities in Lagos and you are not getting the traction in Lagos, however, in some other states where you don’t have marketing activities going on, the platform can provide you information that there are opportunities there you can go and explore.”

Ogundare said that Zoho has sets of collaborative applications that were built and developed for ease of business and specifically mentioned the Zoho Mail, which he described as one of Zoho’s best-selling products in Nigeria.

“Zoho Mail is a beautiful email for any organisation to have. I personally recommend it for organisations running any size of business. I encourage customers to sign up for Zoho Mail because it gives you some level of credibility.

“One good thing about Zoho Mail is that if you are an SME with less than 5 members in your team, you will get to use this product for free for life. The moment you scale up to 6, 7, 100, 1000 and above, that’s when we start billing you to pay. And you can get the Zoho Mail domain name easily from anywhere in the world.

“You can also use our invoicing application for free and get quality and brilliant service for the invoicing software. Zoho Invoice is an online invoicing software that helps you craft professional invoices, send payment reminders, keep track of expenses, log your work hours, and get paid faster. All these are for free,” Ogundare stated.

Zoho has more than 12,000 customers in Nigeria that are running their operations on Zoho applications, with over 500,000 customers using its products globally, on a daily basis.


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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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Anambra Deepens Digital Reforms, Eyes Top Ranking in Ease of Doing Business

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From Angela Nwanodu

Anambra State has reaffirmed its commitment to building a tech-driven and business friendly environment.

The State Government led by His Excellency, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR reiterated the commitment at the maiden State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) technical session and statewide town hall meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, held at the International Conference Center, Awka.

The event formed part of the nationwide tour by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), bringing federal reform champions face-to-face with state officials, private sector leaders, and the business community.

In his remarks, Governor Soludo who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim, welcomed the PEBEC team and stakeholders, describing the session as timely and essential.

He stressed that Anambra’s business reforms are deliberate and data-driven, echoing Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo CFR’s belief that “if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.”

Governor Soludo reaffirmed that although Anambra currently ranks 7th nationally and leads the South East on ease of doing business, the state views reforms as an ongoing, measurable process grounded in technology, planning, and accountability.

Princess Zahra Mustapha Audu, DG of PEBEC, in her goodwill remarks delivered via video, described the SABER programme, a $750 million World Bank-supported initiative, as a transformative partnership co-designed to help states implement global standards and create easier, more transparent business environments.

She stressed that while designing reforms matters, real impact comes from effectively implementing them, with states as the true engines of economic growth.

The State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake, in her opening remarks, emphasized that with over 98% of Anambra’s wealth held by the private sector, government reforms must be deliberate and responsive.

She noted that under Governor Soludo’s leadership, Anambra has remained intentional about ensuring businesses face fewer obstacles and enjoy a competitive edge.

During the technical session, PEBEC reform leaders Ohiemi Gabriel, Ifeanyi Icheke, and Oluwatofunmi Odunladi commended Anambra’s reform champions for their consistent efforts in reporting, as well as the state government’s resolve which earned the state 7th place nationally and first in the South East in 2021 and 2023.

They encouraged Anambra to deepen its reforms ahead of the next ranking in December 2025, which will spotlight top-performing states and most improved states, alongside tailored recommendations for investors.

The highlight of the event was the panel discussion and town hall meeting anchored by the PEBEC team, featuring members of the State Executive Council as panelists, including the MD/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA; Commissioners for Industry, Lands, Power and Water Resources; MD of ANSIPPA; and MD of ASBA.

During this session, panelists discussed how technology is central to Anambra’s reform agenda. They spotlighted initiatives like the ANAMGIS (Anambra Geographic Information System), which digitizes land processes; the Grievance Redress Mechanism that swiftly addresses investor concerns; the adoption of the .anambrastate.gov.ng domain to standardize official digital communications and strengthen trust in government services; and the ongoing expansion of fiber ducts to enable 5G connectivity, all reflecting the administration’s “Everything Technology, Technology Everywhere” vision.

The conversation also highlighted Solution Lens, a civic engagement platform designed to deepen citizen participation and transparency by allowing residents to track and report on government projects across the state.

Together with strategic projects like road constructions which are deliberate efforts by Governor Soludo to inter- connect Anambra State for easy moving round in doing business.

These reforms aim to enhance transparency, and position Anambra as a smarter, investor-friendly state

As Anambra prepares for the next PEBEC evaluation, government and stakeholders reiterated their resolve to keep reforms measurable, digital-led, and investor-focused

With technology and intentional governance at its heart, Anambra State is strengthening its position as a modern hub where businesses can invest, scale, and thrive.


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MTN’s Karl Toriola and Business Leaders Champion Corporate Climate Reform

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In a defining step toward sustainable transformation, Nigeria has officially joined the global Climate Governance Initiative (CGI), a platform empowering corporate board members to take decisive climate action.

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The initiative’s virtual launch drew a dynamic mix of leaders—former ambassadors, government officials, business executives, and climate advocates from across Africa and beyond.

Dr. Myma Belo-Osagie, Chair of the CGI Nigeria Advisory Board, welcomed attendees with a call to reimagine corporate leadership: climate risks, she noted, should no longer be treated as external issues—they must be integrated into strategic decision-making. She pointed to green finance, regenerative agriculture, and circular business models as key areas of opportunity.

Echoing that sentiment, MTN Nigeria CEO, Dr. Karl Toriola, warned that climate challenges already influence everything from access to capital to long-term competitiveness. “Climate risk directly affects our bottom line. It’s no longer optional to care—it’s necessary,” he said.

Toriola detailed how MTN has embedded climate governance at the core of its operations. From energy-efficient innovations like solar-powered towers and motion-sensor lighting to a nationwide battery and device recycling program, MTN is actively reducing its environmental footprint. Crucially, all executive performance indicators now include sustainability goals—with incentives tied to measurable impact.

He didn’t shy away from the hard truth: genuine climate progress will require sacrifice. “You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs,” he said, urging corporate leaders to prioritize climate resilience even when it’s inconvenient or costly.

As CGI Nigeria joins a growing global network of corporate climate advocates, the message is clear—business leadership must go beyond profit to steward environmental accountability. From the boardroom to rural infrastructure, Nigeria’s private sector has a pivotal role in shaping a more sustainable future.


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Save & Win: FCMB Promo Makes 12 Millionaires, Over 3,000 Winners

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First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has rewarded 3,016 customers in Season 10 of its ongoing Millionaire Promo. So far, 12 customers have won the top prize of ₦1 million each, while 3,004 others have received different cash rewards.

The winners were selected through electronic draws held between January and June, ensuring broad participation. The promo is open to new and existing savings account holders and ends in September.

During the fifth draw held on June 17, four additional customers won the star prize of ₦1 million each, with 112 others also receiving cash prizes. The latest millionaires include Ranti Badmos from Lagos, Wilson Onoezikome in Kaduna, Esther Obafemi in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, and Israel Oruma in Asaba, Delta State.

Israel Oruma, a timber merchant, expressed his delight at winning, saying the prize would significantly support his business.

“This is a pleasant surprise. I have been facing financial challenges recently. The ₦1 million will go a long way in assisting me. I’m investing it in my business and will encourage all my staff, family, and friends to open an account with the Bank. Thank you, FCMB.”

Adetunji Lamidi, Divisional Head of Personal Banking at FCMB, said the Millionaire Promo reflects the bank’s broader mission to enable financial security and opportunity for everyday Nigerians.

“At a time when many are facing economic pressure, savings-driven initiatives like this shift the focus from getting by to making progress. It gives people a reason to save, rewards loyalty, and shows that banking helps create real-life impact.”

Speaking on the integrity of the selection process, Oyinkan Kusamotu, Principal Legal Officer at the Lagos State Lottery and Gaming Authority, stated: “It’s great to witness FCMB’s commitment to compliance, fairness, and transparency throughout the draw process, which builds trust with customers and stakeholders.”

To qualify for Season 10 of the FCMB Millionaire Promo, customers must increase their account balance by at least ₦10,000 and maintain it for 30 days to enter the monthly and seasonal draws. Each additional ₦10,000 saved increases the customer’s chances of winning. Dormant or inactive account holders can also participate by reactivating their accounts. Draws are held nationwide, giving everyone a fair opportunity to win.


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