Kunle Awosika

In a blaze of honour, the Pan-African conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) and its Africa’s leading cement manufacturer subsidiary, Dangote Cement Plc were adjudged the Largest Corporate Bond lodgment on FMDQ in gold category and the 2022 Most Trusted Brand of the Year respectively.

On the back of the Largest Corporate Bond lodgment on FMDQ award came another recognition with the Dangote Group named as the Most Outstanding Conglomerate in Environmental Sustainability.

The cement giant came tops in the stock market for its unprecedented N116 billion Series 2 Bond issuance back in May this year.

The FMDQ Gold Awards recognises excellence in Fixed Income, Currencies and Derivatives market. It also recognises demonstrated resilience and agility of the Nigerian financial markets participants and acknowledges the valuable efforts of the stakeholders and their participation in the FMDQ markets and across the financial market. It is also given to the corporate entity for the highest total bonds value admitted on FMDQ Depository. 

During the annual Most Trusted Brand Award, organised by leading research firm Brand Health Ltd, Dangote Cement was chosen as the most trusted cement brand in a survey of 13,000 consumers.

The Chief Executive Officer, Brand Health Ltd, Emman Udowoima commended Dangote Cement for the achievement, describing it as a brand of trust and choice indeed. According to him “four out of ten consumers who took part in the study voted Dangote Cement as the Most Trusted Cement Brand in Nigeria. The popularity and the confidence in the brand is overwhelming as its closest rival scored just 12% while Dangote scored 41%.”

Other cement brands with substantial mentions scored between 3% and 8%. Some of the elements of the survey include questions like ‘the brand that you feel most confident in, the brand that offers you what you want, the brand that offers highest quality, the brand that is distinctive, and the brand you would recommend to your friends and relatives. 

Udowoima stated that about 13,000 respondents participated in the 2022 survey and were interviewed across 12 states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory. The States are: Lagos, Oyo, Enugu, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Plateau, Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna and Kano and the respondents were drawn from both urban and rural communities.

The survey, he said, used quantitative method to elicit responses from the consumers, and also focused on such demographics as gender – Male 50%, Female 50%; Social Class: AB 15%, C1 C2 40%, DE 45%; Age: 18-25, 30%, 26-35, 30%, 36-50, 25%, 51+ 15%.

He explained that “The Most Trusted Brands (MTB)” Awards was instituted in 2010 to reward brands that keep promises to the consumers. The award is an enabler for brands to do more for consumers, knowing full well that consumers either reward or punish brands according to their experiences.

The Dangote Industries Limited also received the award of the Most Outstanding Conglomerate in Environmental Sustainability. The award was given by the Environmental Sustainability Conference, Expo and Awards (ECOSEA) initiated by Brand Communicator, a frontline brands and marketing publication. 

Joshua Ajayi, the convener of the conference and awards said, "corporate sustainability practices evolved rapidly in the country’s business space, from just being a cosmetic charity activity into organised sustainability needs built into a vision with specific goals.” 

The award, which took place during the celebration of the organisation's World Environment Day recently also gathered the best sustainability players to discuss various issues in sustainability during the conference themed Only One Earth: Building a Safer Environment.

Dangote Industries, a fully diversified conglomerate with annual group turnover of US$4billion has invested heavily in building a sustainable business which cuts across Cement, Sugar, Salt, Petroleum, Fertiliser and food. 

Anthony Chiejina, the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer at Dangote Industries thanked the organisers, describing the awards as another milestone in the Dangote Group’s business trajectory. He said it is a testament to the strategic business model being executed by the manufacturing giant, which is aimed at rejuvenating Nigeria’s economy and engendering developmental growth of Africa. 

He expressed the assurance that the Dangote Group would not relent in its commitment to Africa’s development, adding that, “we will continue to impact lives positively through production of goods that meet the peoples’ need.”

It was a great spectacle to behold as the Christmas and Yuletide season came to life at the 2022 Zenith Bank Christmas Light-Up Ceremony, which was held at the Ajose Adeogun Street Roundabout, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday, November 19, 2022.

In pursuance of one of the core objectives and visions of KUTH Foundation in reaching out to those in need, while keeping their hope alive, today marked a milestone in our charity work as we began our Widows Outreach Program tagged *“You are not forgotten”*.

Few days ago, another shocking testimony of God’s healing power was made in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Popular servant of God, Apostle Johnson Suleman, prayed life into the unconscious body of a five years old boy.

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has once again assured its loyal customers of a remarkableChristmas celebration as the bank plans to reward them with exciting prizes in its upcoming Super Savers draw.

The organizers of Leadership Excellence And Dignity Awards, Project Lead Africa, have announced First Lady of Ondo State, Mrs Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu as Guest Speaker at the forthcoming 2022 edition. The event, which hold November 27th at the Dome International Conference Center, Akure, is set to attract several dignitaries within and outside the State.

Governor Nyesome Wike of Rivers state has again come under scathing criticism by antartica/South Pole explorer Prince Ned Nwoko who accused him of instigating crisis in PDP since he lost the presidential primary to Atiku Abubakar and the party’s vice presidential nomination despite wasting huge sums of money belonging to Rivers state trying to bribe some party officials.He has impoverished Rivers state through wasteful and expensive inordinate ambitions to remain in power.

Without doubt, a gregarious man and versatile lawmaker is an example and testimony of God’s grace, who rose from nothing to something, from peasant politician to political titan/warlord.

Lagos Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, is currently enmeshed in crisis as aggrieved staff of the Service, on Monday, stormed the state House of Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, to protest against what they termed “inhuman treatment” by the management of the agency led by the Executive Chairman, Hamzat Ayodele Subair.