Nigerians Celebrities accomplish landmark on Twitter

 Award winning and multi talented singer, Dapo Oyebanji popularly known as “Koko Master”, orD’Banj @iamdbanj recently joined the league of Twitteratis with Highest numbers of followers in Nigeria. He had about 1,021,631 followers to his credit.

 The Nigerian award-winning singer, Ayo Balogun, a.k.a Wiz Kid @wizkidayo was the first Nigerian artiste to reach one million followers on popular social networking site, Twitter.   He is however, followed by Davido @iam_Davido and Don Jazzy@DONJAZZY, all in the entertainment sector. Others with high number of followers are 2face @2faceidibia , Genevieve@GenevieveNnaji1,Peter Okoye @PeterPsquare, Basketmouth @basket_mouth, amongst others. 

Going down the memory lane, one could envisage that Twitter hasn’t done badly within the year 2014. Various countries of the world have ways in which 2014 played out in Tweets- the biggest Tweets, the standout moments, who joined, and what trended.

To mark the end of the year, Twitter conducted a research about the Twitter moments in the world, and came up with an annual ‘Year on Twitter’ package.

In the same vein, Katy Perry has emerged the most followed person for 2014. It was the year that Twitter’s most-followed star Katy Perry  https://twitter.com/katyperry hit the 61 million follower mark. She is closely followed in second place by Justin Bieber on 57 million, and Barack Obama, who, with 50 million followers, is the third most-followed person in the world, and the most-followed political or world leader on the platform

Talking about how much people posted selfies on Twitter, Ellen’s Oscars selfie has been retweeted more than three million times on Twitter, making it the most shared message ever on the platform. In fact, since January 1, the term ‘selfie’ has been mentioned more than 92 million times on Twitter - a 500% increase and 12x more than in 2013 - as people from all walks of life have come to Twitter to share their photos with followers around the world. Other memorable selfies included:  Lukas Podolski’s selfies taken as the German team celebrated their World Cup victory , Princes Harry and William sent their first ever selfie as they celebrated the launch of the Queens Young Leaders awards at Buckingham Palace, Andy Murray and Djokvic’s seflie at Madison Square Gardens. 

Similarly, In Nigeria, MTN Nigeria encouraged people to upload their Surprise face selfie to instagram & twitter with the "NUMBER 11" #MTNSurprisefaceselfie #YelloEleven

In the United Kingdom(UK), 2014 was the year in which England crashed out of the World Cup, the Queen sent her first ever Tweet, Scotland debated independence, and @Philae2014 Tweeted live from space as it landed on the Rosetta Comet.

Likewise in Nigeria, 2014 was the year that the Chibok girls got kidnapped and #BringBackOurGirls became trended on Twitter, also Ebola disease shocked Nigerians and @EbolaAlert became trendy, Nigerians also tweeted during the World Cup, amongst others.

Sport also took a dominant spot in 2014. Worldwide, a record 672 million Tweets were sent about this year’s World Cup finals in Brazil. In a World Cup year it is perhaps no surprise that the UK’s top ten most-Tweeted-about moments were sport-related. The 7-1 sweep of mighty Brazil by Germany, not only set a soccer record, it was also a record on Twitter, as the match generated the highest number of Tweets in soccer history. Soccer star Victor Moses @VictorMoses has the highest Twitter followers in the sports category.

It was observed that worldwide, a record 672 million Tweets were sent about this year’s World Cup finals in Brazil. In a World Cup year it is perhaps no surprise that the UK’s top ten most-Tweeted-about moments were sport-related. Joining the World Cup and the Champions League were two other major UK events - the BRIT Awards, in which One Direction won the Twitter vote for the best album, and January 1, as Twitter users ushered in the New Year. In the case of Nigeria, sports fans tweeted severally as regards the World cup

In Nigeria, the early exit of Nigeria in the World Cup was a disappointment for many soccer fans especially after Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations in 2013. The exit of Nigeria in the next edition of the Nation's Cup generated a lot of conversions on Twitter by both fans and leading media houses. Channels Television, https://mobile.twitter.com/channelstv is the media outlet with the highest number of Twitter followers in Nigeria.

About Twitter, Inc.

Twitter (NYSE: TWTR) is a global platform for public self-expression and conversation in real time. By developing a fundamentally new way for people to consume, create, distribute and discover content, Twitter enables any voice to echo around the world instantly and unfiltered. The service can be accessed at Twitter.com, via Twitter mobile applications for a variety of devices, and by text message. Available in more than 35 languages, Twitter has more than 284 million monthly active users. For more information, visit discover.twitter.com or follow @twitter.

Lynda Wedding Pics.... We @ CF celebrate U and Ur Train

GTBank is “Best Bank in Nigeria for 2014” by The Banker

Guaranty Trust Bank plc has won the “Best Bank in Nigeria for 2014” by The Banker Magazine (a publication of The Financial Times) for promoting industry-wide excellence in Global Banking Ethics and adherence to the highest corporate governance standards. The prestigious award ceremony which held on Thursday November 27th, 2014 at Intercontinental Hotel, Park Lane, London had in attendance more than 350 senior executives from well over 120 countries.

The Banker is the world’s leading monthly journal of records for the banking Industry, with over 90 years expertise in publishing development in the banking industry both Africa and on the global scale. For over 1000 applications collected, The Banker selects one winning bank for each of the 120 countries shortlisted.

Commenting on the award, Mr. Segun Agbaje, MD/CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank plc said “we are happy to receive this award”. He attributed the bank’s achievements to the hard work and commitment of its employees and loyalty of its customers. According to the MD/CEO “we are committed to building an enduring institution with strong values and sound corporate governance standards which will ensure that we continue to deliver over and above the expectations of all stakeholders.”

GTBank has continued to push the boundaries with the introduction of products and services tailored to meet the needs of its customers. The Bank was also the recipient of other prestigious awards in the global banking space within the last 12 months. These include “2014 African Bank of the Year” award by The African Banker, “2014 Best Bank in Africa” and “2014 Best Bank in Nigeria” awards by Euromoney.

Guaranty Trust Bank plc has introduced several innovations over the last few months in its bid to further consolidate its position as the most service focused bank in Nigeria. These includeThe MarketHub; an e-commerce platform where buying and selling are transacted in a virtual market space hosted on the bank’s platform, One click Top-up; an alternative service that enables GTBank account holders conveniently recharge their mobile phones with airtime from their bank account with ease.

Guaranty Trust Bank plc with over 200 branches within Nigeria, presently has business subsidiaries in Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the United Kingdom. The GTBank brand is regarded as one of the best run financial institutions across its subsidiary countries singularly for its bias for World class customer service ethics, organizational structure, culture and innovation.

The Bank’s 3rd quarter audited results which were released on the floor of the Nigerian and London Stock Exchange show gross earnings of over N199.2billion and a profit after tax of N66.7billion for the nine (9) months period of January to September, 2014.

A Space Odyssey: ESA Rosetta Mission on Twitter

Information about the mission:

Rosetta is the first mission in history to rendezvous with a comet, escort it as it orbits the Sun, and deploy a lander to its surface.  The robotic space probe, built and launched by ESA, the European Space Agency, already performs a detailed study ofcomet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The spacecraft arrived at the comet on 6 August 2014 following a 10-year journey through the Solar System. Since then the Rosetta spacecraft orbits the comet and gathers data to characterise the environment and the comet nucleus. On November 12, 2014, Rosetta's Lander Philae will attempt to land on the surface. Philae carries a suite of instruments for imaging and sampling the comet nucleus.

The mission is controlled from ESA’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), in Darmstadt, Germany. It is an ESA mission with contributions from its Member States and NASA. Rosetta’s Philae Lander is provided by a consortium led by DLR and MPS (Germany), CNES (France) and ASI (Italy).Scientists claim that this mission is more complex than landing on the moon.

How to follow the news:

1.Hashtags

●     #CometLanding

●     #Rosetta

●     #67p

2.Official accounts

●     @ESA_Rosetta (lead account)

●     @Philae2014 (Rosetta’s comet lander Philae)

●     @ESA (ESA’s main corporate channel)

●     @ESAscience (ESA’s Science and Robotic Exploration channel)

●     @ESAOperations (ESA Spaceflight Operations channel)

●     https://twitter.com/ESA_de/lists/esa-rosetta-on-twitter (official list of around 50 ESA channels)

How to engage with the mission:

●     Tweet or ask questions on Twitter about the mission

●     Send your “good luck tweets” and follow@ESA_Rosetta&@Philae2014 for updates

Why Twitter? Exclusive content about the mission!

●     Highlight: dialogue between@ESA_Rosetta&@Philae2014

●     @ESA_Rosetta live tweeting the event (1st person) - sharing photos, infographics, vines, videos, gifs

●     1st photo of lander descent = Twitter exclusive

●     1st photo of landing/comet surface  = Twitter exclusive

●     Vines of mission

●     Vine statements of ESA chief scientists and discoverer of Rosetta

●     Twitter Q/A with Rosetta Project Scientist Matt Taylor

When is it happening?

Official ESA time schedule for 12 November 2014 (main events only)

Live From ESA ESOC Mission Control Room

●     08:30-09:15 GMT / 09:30-10:15 NIGERIA time: Lander separation scheduled at 09:03 GMT/10:03 NIGERIA time - descent will take seven hours due to very low gravity of the comet

●     11:00-12:15 GMT / 12:00 Noon-1:15pm NIGERIA time: Science updates and first (‘farewell’) pictures showing Lander descent (expected around 12:00 GMT /

1pm NIGERIA time)

●     14:00-15:30 GMT/ 3:00pm  -4:30pm NIGERIA time: Focus on Rosetta science, Orbiter and Lander already gather data during descent, last preparations for landing

●     15:45-16:15 GMT /4:45pm -5:15pm NIGERIA time: Landing expected at 16:00 GMT / 5:00pm   NIGERIA time (+/- 15 min)

●     17:00 GMT / 6:00pm NIGERIA time earliest: Presentation of first panoramic (CIVA) image from comet 

Livestream:

●     ESA TV will be live streaming throughout the mission athttp://new.livestream.com/ESA/Cometlanding

Additional information:

Essential information and channels on ESA's Rosetta mission:

●     http://rosetta.esa.int
Rosetta landing page, this is where the main live stream will be embedded

●     http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/
Rosetta mission blog with in-depth information

●     http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta
Classic web special

About Twitter, Inc.

Twitter (NYSE: TWTR) is a global platform for public self-expression and conversation in real time. By developing a fundamentally new way for people to consume, create, distribute and discover content, Twitter enables any voice to echo around the world instantly and unfiltered. The service can be accessed atTwitter.com, via Twitter mobile applications for a variety of devices, and by text message. Available in more than 35 languages, Twitter has more than 284 million monthly active users. For more information, visitdiscover.twitter.com or follow @twitter.

Nollywood Star & Rotary Ambassador Tackles Polio on Twitter

Top Nollywood actress and Rotary's Polio AmbassadorFunke Akindele has stepped up the campaign to end Polio disease in Nigeria, including  an active awareness campaign on Twitter. Her tweets, especially just before and after the World Polio Day, have been calling on Nigerians to rise up and do more to eradicate Polio in the country. 

Working closely with Rotary Nigeria, Funke has kept her voice strong on this cause.  On her twitter handle, she made it known to Nigerians and the world the goal of saving lives and why we all need to  join hands to put an end toPolio. She also restated on various platforms that "every  child has the right to live". To  drive this campaign further, she encouraged more Nigerians to add their photos and sign up for the World's biggest commercial against Polio and the global campaign being spearheaded by  Rotary International. 

Funke Akindele aligned strongly with the sentiments and commitment of Rotary Nigeria. "This is our chance to make history by wiping out the second human disease ever from the world (smallpox is the first)"

Polio is an infantile paralysis. It is an acute, viral and infectious disease spread from person to person. Poliovirus enters the body through the mouth, infecting the first cells with which it comes in contact with. It then hijacks the host cells and begins  to replicate itself. It has been eradicated in many countries, but it is still in existence in some developing countries, especially the 3 countries with the acronym PAN  (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria

In eradicating polio in Nigeria, Rotary International and partners created an initiative center  (NNPPC) with the goal of kicking out polio finally. Rotary International Nigeria, pledged   to eradicate the infectious disease paralyzing children across the globe, especially in developing countries.

In Celebrating 2014 world polio day , the Chairman of the initiative Dr Tunji Funsho pointed out that  “ ONE per cent of Nigerians are still at the risk of contracting polio virus. This might seem a small number but 1% of population of 170 million is far from small. At the end of this year, we want Nigeria to be free of polio so that after three years, WHO can certify Nigeria polio-free.  When we do that, we will be doing two major things.  Firstly, we will be saving our children from having polio and secondly, we will be saving the money that would have been spent on eradication of polio and move to other important national matters.”

To enlighten the masses, educate and create more awareness, Rotary Nigeria NNPPC organised a series of debates for schools on why we all need to fight polio and its socio-economic impact taking for granted.  Expert says “ If we don’t end polio now, the disease could rebound to 10million cases in the next 40 years.

The Rotary "BIKE  A THON ", which  took place last weekend is a key platform used to drum up awareness for Polio eradication in Nigeria. Funke used Twitter to give the wider audience a step by step account of the family bike race and fun event.

The End Polio Now is a Twitter handle in many countries around the world, as well as UNICEF, demonstrating the ability of Twitter to communicate complex messages in a manner that is fun, simple and relatable

  

 Photo tweeted  by Funke Akindele, showing children as part of the Polio action   

Makeup bag essentials ...Enjoy

No doubt, a makeup bag should contain all your makeup instead of scattering all over in your handbag.
However, it is important to carry only the essential makeup items that will help give you that dazzling look at any time of the day.
Here are the essential beauty basics that you should carry daily in your makeup bag
. • Concealer: Every woman needs the perfect concealer. It hides undereye circles and blemishes perfectly whether you blend them with your fingers or a brush.
• Blush: The prefect blush is one that makes you look like you are naturally glowing. So it is essential to have it in your makeup bag.
• Eyeliner: Every woman needs to have some eyeliner to add more drama to her eyes.
Whether you wear a little or a lot, eyeliner is a great way to open your eyes and make them look brighter. Make sure you get one that slides on smoothly and does not tug the eye.
• Mascara: To get the most out of your mascara, choose one whose wand has bristles with spiky tips that grabs tiny corner lashes.
• Eye shadow palette: Choose a palette with at least three to six different colours.
However, ensure it has dark and light colours for during the day and evening look
 • Eye pencil: They are easy and comfortable to apply. They come in different colours and can be used to create a sharp line or a softer, smoky effect.
 • Nude lipstick and lip gloss: Sometimes you just want to look natural, so it is ideal to use nude lipstick or lip gloss.
• Red lipstick: It is the ultimate lipstick for women. A red lip is always appropriate whether it is worn during the day or at night. So, choose and have the right shade that compliments your skin tone in your makeup bag.
• Nail buffer: This comes in an array of styles and sizes. You will surely find a buffer that will fit perfectly into your make up bag. It is important that the hands look as beautiful as the face.
• Brush set: Using the right brush can make all the difference so always make sure you have the right brush on hand.
• Makeup remover wipes: It is important to have makeup remover wipes to wipe your makeup instead using tissue paper or handkerchief.
It removes makeup; dirt’s and leaves your face clean and fresh. There are various brands you could select from.
So now that you know what you really need inside your makeup bag, it’s time to drop all the unnecessary makeup that you seldom or don’t even use and Turn On Your Charm!!!

Congratulations Hajia Kuburat on Your Nikkai.....we @ CF wish u HML

MEET RONKE ADEBULE, COLORS AT RONNIES’S BOSS

Meet Ronke Adebule, MD, Colors AT Ronnie’s. A goal-getter, young and a fashionista, Ronke Adebule’s zest for life is seen in her fashion and style. Her love for looking good and feeling good, not just for her but for others as well, led to the creation of the Colors At Ronnie’s brand. Connect Nigeria spoke to her on how her brand started out and what she desires it to be known for. Enjoy the interview.

Q: Tell us a bit about your educational and professional background?

A: I am a graduate of History and Strategic studies with a Masters Degree in Public and International Affairs (MPIA) from University of Lagos. I am a seasoned PR Consultant with two decades of experience and currently the Executive Director of a foremost Public Relations Company. I specialize in Consumer PR, PR Strategy, Brand activations and Events management and I have successfully serviced several blue-chip companies and international brands in my career.

Q: How did Colors AT Ronnie’s start out?

A: Colors AT Ronnie’s was borne out of my love for exciting fashion and great style. At church services and social outings, I have had friends, relatives and even complete strangers often call me to commend my appearance and my sense of style. My color combinations and accessories are usually admired, with many asking where I get my accessories and fabrics from. I therefore decided to start a business which would specialize in providing Nigerian women with high quality, colorful and stylish fabrics. This eventually encouraged me to formally create the Colors AT Ronnie’s brand in 2013 and opened our retail shop in October of the same year. After a few months of opening, based on popular demand by our customers, we decided to add to our fabrics,  a range of unusual and exotic accessories of largely costume jewelry.

Q: What inspired the name “Colors AT Ronnie’s”?

A: I appreciate the idea of combining colors in elegance and in style. Also, African fabrics, especially Ankara, come in a wide and exciting array of patterns and colors, hence the name Colors AT Ronnie’s.  At our store, we stock various exciting and exquisite African fabrics which can be used for both traditional and contemporary attires. Of course, the Ronnie’s is from my name Ronke. Colours AT Ronnie’s is synonymous with fabrics and accessories that make you stand out at every occasion.

Q: What products and services does Colors AT Ronnie’s offer their customers?

A: We sell colorful and exciting patterned fabrics like Daviva, Excellence etc.  We also sell accessories to complement and complete your look for maximum effect and admiration. Our customers also enjoy free consultation on color and outfit combinations suitable for different occasions. Our desire is to make our customers stand out every time. We plan to add more high quality labels in the future to satisfy our ever increasing, discerning clientele.

We also provide aso ebi services for all occasions, with free consultancy.  Our services also include specialized events management for our goal is to add COLOR to life!

Q: Who are your target customers?

A: Our target audience are women, men and even teenagers who wish to look good and stand out wherever they are – at work or play. We also serve Nigerians and foreigners outside the country.  Social media has made the world a global village and we are strong players on this platform.  Interesting to note is that our customer base outside the country is growing quite rapidly and we envisage that by mid-year they will account for 40% of our sales volume. We have been widely contacted by our customers via facebook and Instagram.

Q: What challenges did you face starting out?

A: The major challenge was getting the right location because at some point, I had to build a store.  But right now, location is not a problem as we meet our customers, even in their homes and offices.

Q: If you could start over, what would you do differently?

A:Build a bigger store.  But so far, I am thankful to God and I do not have any regrets.

Q: How would you rate your customers’ satisfaction level?

A: Our customers have always expressed a high level of satisfaction with us due to the wide and irresistible range of our inventory. In fact they are so delighted that I often get referrals.  Word of mouth has been a great asset for us at Colors AT Ronnie’s.

Q: What is your unique selling point and why should Nigerians choose you over your competitors?

A: Our pricing is competitive.  We stock quality materials providing a wide array of great choices. We also do home and office deliveries when required.  We give our clients free consultation on color combinations and classy dress sense.

Q: How do you spend your days of leisure?

A: I am an highly sociable person so I regularly attends parties and corporate events. I love meeting people, dancing and enjoying herself.

Q: What books have impacted your life positively?

A: The  Bible. Theodore Roosevelt tells us that a thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education-Theodore Roosevelt. Also, I have read, 21 Irrefutable laws of leadership and Leadership 101 by John C. Maxwell.

Q: What’s your long term vision for Colors AT Ronnies?

A: To make Colors AT Ronnie’s a reference point in the African fashion and style scene and to positively project African fashion across the globe.

Q: What advice do you have for those who desire to start their own business in Fashion?

A: Follow your passion, never give up and trust God in every situation.

Source: www.connectnigeria.com

Nigeria Leads in Skin Bleaching, Says Expert

A dermatologist at the  University of  Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Dr. Nike Omotoyosi, has said Nigeria has  the  highest number of  people who  indulge  in  skin bleaching.

Delivering a lecture entitled,  “The Harmful Effects  of Skin Bleaching,’’ yesterday in Ilorin at a Lenten season programme, organised by the wife of Kwara State governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, the dermatologist stated that  the rate of skin cancer and other kidney diseases was on the rise due to bleaching.

“Nigeria is the foremost country where people bleach their skin in the whole world due to the negative effects of advertisements on billboards where white skinned women are portrayed as beautiful.

“There is the misconception that only fair people are beautiful. As such, those with dark skin would want to attract the opposite sex by removing the dark spot using different chemicals to bleach,” a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted her as saying.

Omotoyosi, who  noted that some were lured into bleaching due to societal pressure, added  that the trend was now popular with men.
Bleaching, according to her, reduces  melanin, a pigment of the skin.
According to her,  melanin protects  the skin from the harsh rays of the sun  while acting as a protective agent against cancer and other dangerous skin diseases.

She said  active bleaching agents and chemicals found in most Nigerian markets were hydroquinone, mercury and steroids.

“Many countries,  including Nigeria,  have banned the use of these active ingredients in cosmetics but bleaching  still persists in this country,” Omotoyosi said.

She said other side effects of bleaching included  burns, dark  nails, permanent luekodermia, easy bruising, stretch marks, recurrent skin infections, dermatitis, pimples breakout and onchronosis.

“Mercury poisoning on its own causes  severe nerve problems, movement disorders, hearing impairment, kidney damage and psychiatric disorders,” the dermatologist added.

Omotoyosi, however,  recommended sensitisation  of  the public on the dangers of  bleaching while also advocating the use of  moisturisers and sunscreen cream.

She further  called on government to check  advertisement copies , which  portray  the black race in negative light,  saying “Black is beautiful.’’

credit: Dr. Nike Omotoyosi