Media Mgt. Firm to sue Tetrazzini Boss, Donatus Okonkwo Over Breach

Published by Private Media Mart Limited on Tagged Uncategorized

Barring any last minute interventions, foremost publicity and media management organization Private Media Mart limited (PMM) is currently at the verge of instituting legal proceedings against the executive chairman of Tetrazzini Foods Plc, Mr. Donatus Okonkwo on claims of contract breach, stealing and intimidation. Addressing media practitioners during a press briefing recently held in their Allen Avenue – Lagos office, the managing partner of the media firm, Mr. Ejiofor Agada explained that the move is the culmination of other efforts made to resolve the case amicably.

“PMM was engaged to handle the publicity activities of Tetrazzini’s first Annual General Meeting (AGM) that took place on the 18th of November 2011” he said, “mid-way into the activities, the said Mr. Okonkwo made payments to us to the tune of One million and eight thousand naira”. Mr. Agada claimed that on the 17th of November, a day before the AGM, it was discovered that the payments supposedly made by Tetrazzini were with dud cheques. This, according to him, was discovered after his company had already made expenses on behalf of Tetrazzini.

In addition he says, “Apart from the fact that the Tetrazzini chairman directly instructed his accountant, one Chris Onwido to issue us the dud cheques, he also went ahead and warned him not to divulge the information to us, thereby making us to make all necessary arrangements for the AGM without any knowledge of the fraud till a few hours to the event”, he added. When confronted with the issue after the AGM, Mr. Okonkwo claimed ignorance of the action from his company and alleged that PMM did not live up to their part of the agreement.

But producing a Performance Bond signed by the two parties prior to the commencement of the contract, Mr. Agada faulted the claim of the Tetrazzini chairman on his claims and insisted that his company (PMM) are victims ‘of a man that has a history of dubious and often unethical corporate practices in the country’. His words: “Based on the terms of the subsisting contract, Tetrazzini were supposed to pay us 70% of our agreed fee and the balance will be completed two week after the AGM”. By issuing the dud cheques, Mr. Agada, a veteran journalist and publicity consultant with almost two decades experience, claims that the action constitutes a breach of both trust and contract.

He also claims that the action has brought his firm to ridicule amongst journalists as well as his bankers and shareholders. “The dishonor of presenting dud cheques and the confidence erosion with our bank as well as the opportunity and time cost of servicing an account that pauperized us rather than profiting us, he said, “makes this our grounds, not only to get what is due to us, but to salvage our honour”, he concluded. It was also learnt that the same Tetrazzini chairman is also accused of stealing an operational vehicle belonging to PMM.

Speaking during the briefing, the legal adviser to the media company, Ilukwe Ifeanyi explained that the ongoing strike action to protest the recent fuel price increase and the attendant closure of the courts, are the only factors preventing the case from going to court.

Comment now » Read more January 11th, 2012



Signal Alliance, Microsoft deliver Dynamic NAV ERP solution

Published by Private Media Mart Limited on Tagged Uncategorized

Current Microsoft Country Partner of the Year 2011, Signal Alliance, recently held a seminar titled “Microsoft Dynamics ERP – Executive Productivity and Insight”. The seminar showcased Microsoft’s business-critical Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) application. An ERP system is an integrated information system that serves all departments within an enterprise. It becomes a core business application that enables a company to streamline its operations to become more efficient and effective.

Microsoft’s Dynamics NAV ERP system includes software for manufacturing, order entry, accounts receivable and payable, general ledger, purchasing, warehousing, transportation and human resources.

 

The seminar highlighted these features during the two hour seminar which was held in conjunction with Microsoft Nigeria in Lagos.

Introducing the product, Suleiman Lukman, one of Signal Alliance’s Solution Developers and leading Dynamics expert, described the Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 edition as the most powerful, cost-effective, robust and flexible mid-market business management solution available.

 

His words: “This is one innovation that will stand the test of time. If adopted, the Microsoft Dynamics NAV will drive revenues considerably and reduce cost of operations drastically. The solution is very flexible in its adoption, allowing for it to fit the organization seamlessly. The general Microsoft office interface is retained so users immediately find it easy to adapt reducing training time.”

 

Lending credence to the viability of the new product, Mr. Emeka Achebe-Okosieme, Executive Director - Business Applications Division, commented that the Microsoft Dynamics NAV is the competitive edge companies are looking for to adopt.

 

He said “One of the strong points of the NAV is that it is IFRS compliant. This is very important because the new requirement by all companies in Nigeria is that they must submit their financial report in the IFRS format. The NAV also protects a company’s investment in Microsoft solutions by integration with Microsoft Office. Signal Alliance’s vast experience and wealth of technical expertise will serve customers very well in adopting the NAV solution.”   

 

According to him one of the major successful advancement of the MS NAV is the high level security of information. He also highlighted the fact that is a role tailored client solution, which means it is designed in such a way that business owners and managers, are allowed to create their own pattern of work on this platform.

 

“Signal Alliance is ready to provide support services for the users of the MS NAV, as part of effort in ensuring that users harness the maximum potentials of an MS NAV driven business Organizations” he said.

 

Immediate response was visible as several participants’ indicted willingness to test the solution.

 

Signal Alliance is the leading IT systems integrator in Nigeria with key partnerships with global IT technology leaders such as Cisco, CA Technologies and Microsoft. The company provides end-to-end IT services from Network Infrastructure, Unified communications to Electronic Document Management, Collaboration & ERP and Software Advisory services.
Signal Alliance is the current Microsoft Country Partner of the Year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Signal Alliance:

 

Signal Alliance is the leading Nigerian IT infrastructure solutions provider since 1996 and also a gold certified partner and enterprise software advisor to Microsoft; a Cisco Premier Partner, in addition to a ca (Computer Associate) Gold Partner. Signal Alliance is seen as an IT solutions company which specializes in systems integration that has grown to be a most vibrant, forward moving ICT company in Nigeria. For more: Visitwww.signalliance.com 

Comment now » Read more December 16th, 2011



Credit Rating Giants, Moodys to help reposition Nigerian economy

Published by Private Media Mart Limited on Tagged Uncategorized
Moody’sCorporation, the world’s oldest credit rating agency announced that it has taken steps to commence business in Nigeria given the country’s regional significance and the demand for ratings not only for financial offers but also counterparty risk management. This disclosure was made by the Vice-President, Business Development-EMEA, Mr. Michael Korwin at a stakeholders’ breakfast session held recently in Lagos in collaboration with AME&T group and FutureView Financial Services Limited. The meeting according to him was to introduce Moody’s and its services to the corporate community in Nigeria.
Moody’s Investors Service is a leading provider of credit ratings, research, and risk analysis providing expertise that contributes to transparent and integrated financial markets. Moody’s ratings and analysis track debt covering more than 110 countries, 12,000 corporate issuers, 25,000 public finance issuers, and 106,000 structured finance obligations
Being the first and oldest rating agency, the rating securities was invented by John Moody in 1909 with the purpose of providing investors with a simple system of gradation by which future relative creditworthiness of securities may be gauged. Explaining the concept, Mr. Korwin indicated that Moody’s rating methodology is divided into two interdependent segments. The first deals with the operational characteristics and the second with the financial characteristics. Besides quantitative factors, qualitative aspects like the assessment of management capabilities play a key role in arriving at the rating for an instrument. The relative importance of qualitative and quantitative components of the analysis varies with the type of issuer and issue. Rating determination is a matter of experienced and holistic judgment, based on the relevant quantitative and qualitative factors affecting the credit quality of the issuer which considers the available management structures and the financial flexibility of the company to be rated. These put together depicts the risk value of companies in Moody’s rating.
His words: “In doing the rating, Moody’s takes certain factors into considerations. The analytical study of the business, risk profile of the entity, corporate strategy, management structure and liquidity. The rating process usually takes place between eighty to ninety days” he said.
Mr Korwin constantly refused to benchmark his company with the very limited competitors in the marketplace given the extreme conservative stance of rating agencies but indicated that over 80% of the largest institutional investors access Moody’s ratings. He went to say that ratings involve a look into the future, and by its nature, subjective. Moreover, because long-term credit judgments involve so many factors unique to particular industries, issuers, and countries, Moody’s believes that any attempt to reduce credit rating to a formulaic methodology would be misleading and would lead to serious mistakes and so Moody’s uses a multidisciplinary or "universal" approach to risk analysis, which aims to bring an understanding of all relevant risk factors and viewpoints to every rating analysis. By relying on the judgment of a diverse group of credit risk professionals to weigh those factors in light of a variety of plausible scenarios for the issuer and thus come to a conclusion on what the rating should be.
The MD/CEO of Futureview Financial Services limited Mrs. Elizabeth Ebi and Paul Andrew of AME&T who jointly organized the event in collaboration with Moody’s said that the advent of Moody’s into the Nigerian market will make a positive impact on the major corporate entities in Nigeria that have interest in the global financial arena. “We are looking at tapping from the huge wealth of experience of Moody’s with the hope of gaining the desired expertise to operate better and stronger in establishing a stable international presence”. Moody’s called on Nigerian companies to seize the imperative and subject their enterprises to ratings thereby giving them access to global institutional investors.

Comment now » Read more December 6th, 2011



Global Rating giants, Moody’s Set to enter Nigerian Market

Published by Private Media Mart Limited on Tagged Uncategorized
Moody’s is an essential component of the global capital markets, providing credit ratings, research, tools and analysis that contribute to transparent and integrated financial markets. Moody’s Corporation (NYSE: MCO) is the parent company of Moody’s Investors Service, which provides credit ratings and research covering debt instruments and securities, and Moody’s Analytics, which offers leading-edge software, advisory services and research for credit and economic analysis and financial risk management. The Corporation, which reported revenue of $2 billion in 2010, employs approximately 4,700 people worldwide and maintains a presence in 27 countries.
On November 30, 2011, Moody’s will make its introductory foray into the Nigerian marketplace in a breakfast session on Nigeria’s corporate rating followed by a session on Nigeria’s sovereign rating on December 1, 2011. The sessions will look at imperatives of the sovereign rating of the Nigerian economy in light of global economic crisis and its effect on sovereign ratings. The event will look deeply at how corporations can benefit from ratings and maintain strong credibility and relevance through rating institutions like Moody’s. The event, a collaboration of Moody’s, AME&T Group S.A and Futureview Financial Services Ltd. will feature the Hon. Minister of Finance & Economic Affairs Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Hon. Minister of Trade & Investment Dr. Olusegun Aganga,as special guests along with Michael Korwin, Senior Vice President of Moody’s as the Keynote Presenter and other Moody’s Analysts. The team will then proceed to Abuja on December 1 for a government only session that will discuss Nigeria’s sovereign rating.
Moody’s currently rates the U.S. at a top-notch triple-A, though its outlook on the rating is negative. Moody’s affirmed the US’ triple-A rating after the US Congress reached a last-minute deal in early August to raise the debt ceiling, saying it would be a "positive rating factor " if the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction agrees on a path to trim the US deficit by $1.5 trillion over 10 years. However, a rating downgrade wouldn’t be triggered automatically if the group can’t reach a consensus. "As $1.2 trillion in further deficit reduction has already been legislated through automatic spending caps if no agreement is reached.”
Moody’s cut the sovereign rating of India, with a public debt at 70% of GDP; blaming India’s nation’s fiscal deficit and “the debt burden, which is high relative to similarly rated countries,” among the constraints. Moody’s rates India’s rupee sovereign debt a Ba1, the highest junk grade, a level shared by Indonesia and Morocco. India’s foreign-currency debt is rated at Baa3, the lowest investment grade. At the same time, Moody’s cut the outlook for the Indian banking system, Asia’s third-largest economy to a Baa3 — the lowest investment grade rating.
India’s finance ministry pitched for a higher rating in a meeting with Moody’s officials on Nov. 14, 2011 expecting the budget gap to be as high as 5.5 percent and growth slowing to 7.6 percent for this fiscal year ending March 2012 from 8.5 percent last year. Moody’s however stated, “for the ratings to be improved, we will have to be comfortable that India’s government debt is at a level that can be sustained over the medium term
November 9th, Moody’s changed its credit rating outlook from stable to negative for South Africa, expressing concerns that politicians overseeing the continent’s largest economy won’t be able to stick to strict fiscal policies.
Will Moody’s, dovish on the world’s economies, translate Nigeria economic reforms to battle inflation, strengthening its foreign reserves, prioritizing political reform, reducing public debt and improving its balance sheet be reward for its efforts? the next few months will tell.

Comment now » Read more November 18th, 2011



Welcome to the Digital TV Summit 2011!

Published by Private Media Mart Limited on Tagged Uncategorized

The 7th Annual Digital TV Summit returns to London on the 6-7 December. This is the only event to exclusively bring together the global business leaders across cable, satellite, IPTV, DTT, mobile and online sectors.

We will once again deliver high-quality speakers, topical debate and unrivalled networking opportunities. As with previous years, the Digital TV Summit brings together the global leaders and innovators in this fast growth sector to discuss the main opportunities – both geographic and by technology.

"It was a fantastic event — I was delighted to see so many participants, especially in the current turbulent environment" - Oskar Tulodziecki, Digital TV CEE Attendee 09 - from our CEE event in the Digital TV series earlier this year

Digital TV Summit is the only industry forum that provides you with an insight into the future of the entire ecosystem while at the same time hearing the key industry decisions directly from the people who make them.

Top 5 Reasons Why Digital TV Summit is the must attend event for anyone involved with the Global TV market:

  1. It is the only event focused on a truly Global Multi-Platform Digital TV industry; Europe, Africa, Asioa, North America all covered including some of the region’s top growth markets and featuring the region’s decision makers.
  2. The agenda delivers insights on the whole TV ecosystem: all operators and service providers (satellite, cable, IPTV, DTT and fibre), regulators, investors, vendors, consultants and more. The event explores the investment opportunities in the region; who the key partners to help you profit in the future are and what the potential pitfalls are in this next stage of digital TV expansion. (With partner level keynote from Ernst and Young)
  3. Digital TV World Summit has an un-paralleled speaker panel compared to other events - exclusive CxO level deliveries and competitor CEOs never before seen in the same room!
  4. It is THE Senior Decision Makers Event! You are guaranteed to network face-to-face with over 44% C and Board level participation, over 80% Director and above level participation from 55% channel, content owner and platform operators.
  5. An event packed with networking and learning opportunities with a wide choice of sessions across two days: keynote interviews, panel discussions, case studies and expert opinion as well as networking breaks and lunches, drinks and an evening networking dinner which has sold out year on year!

Comment now » Read more October 27th, 2011



PR Newswire Service, the only hope for African CorporatesPMM

Published by Private Media Mart Limited on Tagged Uncategorized

The fortunes of African corporate entities especially as it concerns publicity management and media access within the continent, will not reach its global potentials if the companies continue to ignore the services of indigenous PR Newswire agencies. This was the submission of the chief executive officer of Nigeria’s only technology PR firm Private Media Mart limited, Mr. Ejiofor Agada at the recently concluded electronic media content and technology event DISCOP 2011 held in Nairobi Kenya.

The three-day DISCOP Africa event, which was launched in 2009, is a meeting-centric market bringing together international suppliers of television content, with programming acquisitions executives representing African broadcasters, pay-TV operators, journalists and alternative content distribution platforms.

As the keynote speaker representing Nigeria, in his presentation titled: ‘Stretching The Boundaries of Modern Newsgathering: The PR Newswire Model Approach’, Mr. Agada reflected on the changes that has occurred in the process of newsgathering within the last one and a half decades across the globe. He explained that, "though the basic tenets of news states that it is what the media gatekeeper say it is, with the editor concentrating mainly on certain determinants or ingredients in measuring newsworthiness, changes recently recorded in the role of business concerns in political and economic landscape has altered the trend of newsgathering" he said.

This, according to him, has made it imperative for the corporates to maximize the publicity and media access of their information to the larger audience by utilizing online PR newswire service that target African media practitioners. Citing the situation whereby European, Asian and American business interests are utilizing PR newswire service to distribute news content within their regions, Mr. Agada explained that if their African counterparts do not tow the same line, they will continue to be at a disadvantage in the global information flow ratio.

This is because news sources for the journalist, which was formerly, restricted to the efforts of the individual journalist through research/investigations, interviews, scoops, and media briefings/conferences, has so far been enhanced by the importance and use of PR Newswire service by corporate entities. Citing PR Newswire service as the ‘next step’ after the advent of conventional news agency service, Mr. Agada explained that the rise in the use of PR newswire services, which started as far back as 1954, can be related to the emergence of the New media (internet, mobile).

According to the CEO of Private Media Mart Limited (which also operates the only indigenous African PR Newswire service – NewswireNigeria®), "PR Newswire Service is now a generic term to describe new media formats (usually on the internet) hired by corporations, public relations firms, governmental and non-governmental institutions to deliver news and multimedia content to journalists, consumers and investors who access the content via the Web, RSS, e-mail, satellite, equities terminals, and mobile". While pointing out the overall influence of such agencies in that genre in Europe and America, that has not only increased options of news sources for journalists, but also increased the distribution of corporate news on the internet, Mr. Agada lamented that African business concerns are not utilizing the benefits of PR Newswire services.

Differentiating the conventional news agencies from the PR Newswire service providers, he explained that while the former was established primarily to reduce the cost of international news gathering, News agencies can also be corporations that sell news for profit or non-profit based, that mostly target media houses. But with PR Newswire services, the originator of the news are the news-makers themselves and the target are the individual journalist. Thereby making the journalist a ‘receiver’ of news rather than merely a ‘searcher’ of news.

While challenging the African Media practitioners to look towards this service for all content – print, online and electronic, the Tech PR expert opined that PR Newswire service will only grow bigger with the currently growing internet penetration in the continent, with African local content being the differentiating factor.

Comment now » Read more September 19th, 2011



PR Newswire Service, the only hope for African CorporatesAgada

Published by PMM Ventures on Tagged Uncategorized

The fortunes of African corporate entities especially as it concerns publicity management and media access within the continent, will not reach its global potentials if the companies continue to ignore the services of indigenous PR Newswire agencies. This was the submission of the chief executive officer of Nigeria’s only technology PR firm Private Media Mart limited, Mr. Ejiofor Agada at the recently concluded electronic media content and technology event DISCOP 2011 held in Nairobi Kenya.

The three-day DISCOP Africa event, which was launched in 2009, is a meeting-centric market bringing together international suppliers of television content, with programming acquisitions executives representing African broadcasters, pay-TV operators, journalists and alternative content distribution platforms.

As the keynote speaker representing Nigeria, in his presentation titled: ‘Stretching The Boundaries of Modern Newsgathering: The PR Newswire Model Approach’, Mr. Agada reflected on the changes that has occurred in the process of newsgathering within the last one and a half decades across the globe. He explained that, "though the basic tenets of news states that it is what the media gatekeeper say it is, with the editor concentrating mainly on certain determinants or ingredients in measuring newsworthiness, changes recently recorded in the role of business concerns in political and economic landscape has altered the trend of newsgathering" he said.

This, according to him, has made it imperative for the corporates to maximize the publicity and media access of their information to the larger audience by utilizing online PR newswire service that target African media practitioners. Citing the situation whereby European, Asian and American business interests are utilizing PR newswire service to distribute news content within their regions, Mr. Agada explained that if their African counterparts do not tow the same line, they will continue to be at a disadvantage in the global information flow ratio.

This is because news sources for the journalist, which was formerly, restricted to the efforts of the individual journalist through research/investigations, interviews, scoops, and media briefings/conferences, has so far been enhanced by the importance and use of PR Newswire service by corporate entities. Citing PR Newswire service as the ‘next step’ after the advent of conventional news agency service, Mr. Agada explained that the rise in the use of PR newswire services, which started as far back as 1954, can be related to the emergence of the New media (internet, mobile).

According to the CEO of Private Media Mart Limited (which also operates the only indigenous African PR Newswire service – NewswireNigeria®), "PR Newswire Service is now a generic term to describe new media formats (usually on the internet) hired by corporations, public relations firms, governmental and non-governmental institutions to deliver news and multimedia content to journalists, consumers and investors who access the content via the Web, RSS, e-mail, satellite, equities terminals, and mobile". While pointing out the overall influence of such agencies in that genre in Europe and America, that has not only increased options of news sources for journalists, but also increased the distribution of corporate news on the internet, Mr. Agada lamented that African business concerns are not utilizing the benefits of PR Newswire services.

Differentiating the conventional news agencies from the PR Newswire service providers, he explained that while the former was established primarily to reduce the cost of international news gathering, News agencies can also be corporations that sell news for profit or non-profit based, that mostly target media houses. But with PR Newswire services, the originator of the news are the news-makers themselves and the target are the individual journalist. Thereby making the journalist a ‘receiver’ of news rather than merely a ‘searcher’ of news.

While challenging the African Media practitioners to look towards this service for all content – print, online and electronic, the Tech PR expert opined that PR Newswire service will only grow bigger with the currently growing internet penetration in the continent, with African local content being the differentiating factor.

Comment now » Read more September 10th, 2011



PR Newswire Service, the only hope for African CorporatesAgada

Published by PMM Ventures on Tagged Uncategorized

The fortunes of African corporate entities especially as it concerns publicity management and media access within the continent, will not reach its global potentials if the companies continue to ignore the services of indigenous PR Newswire agencies. This was the submission of the chief executive officer of Nigeria’s only technology PR firm Private Media Mart limited, Mr. Ejiofor Agada at the recently concluded electronic media content and technology event DISCOP 2011 held in Nairobi Kenya.

The three-day DISCOP Africa event, which was launched in 2009, is a meeting-centric market bringing together international suppliers of television content, with programming acquisitions executives representing African broadcasters, pay-TV operators, journalists and alternative content distribution platforms.

As the keynote speaker representing Nigeria, in his presentation titled: ‘Stretching The Boundaries of Modern Newsgathering: The PR Newswire Model Approach’, Mr. Agada reflected on the changes that has occurred in the process of newsgathering within the last one and a half decades across the globe. He explained that, "though the basic tenets of news states that it is what the media gatekeeper say it is, with the editor concentrating mainly on certain determinants or ingredients in measuring newsworthiness, changes recently recorded in the role of business concerns in political and economic landscape has altered the trend of newsgathering" he said.

This, according to him, has made it imperative for the corporates to maximize the publicity and media access of their information to the larger audience by utilizing online PR newswire service that target African media practitioners. Citing the situation whereby European, Asian and American business interests are utilizing PR newswire service to distribute news content within their regions, Mr. Agada explained that if their African counterparts do not tow the same line, they will continue to be at a disadvantage in the global information flow ratio.

This is because news sources for the journalist, which was formerly, restricted to the efforts of the individual journalist through research/investigations, interviews, scoops, and media briefings/conferences, has so far been enhanced by the importance and use of PR Newswire service by corporate entities. Citing PR Newswire service as the ‘next step’ after the advent of conventional news agency service, Mr. Agada explained that the rise in the use of PR newswire services, which started as far back as 1954, can be related to the emergence of the New media (internet, mobile).

According to the CEO of Private Media Mart Limited (which also operates the only indigenous African PR Newswire service – NewswireNigeria®), "PR Newswire Service is now a generic term to describe new media formats (usually on the internet) hired by corporations, public relations firms, governmental and non-governmental institutions to deliver news and multimedia content to journalists, consumers and investors who access the content via the Web, RSS, e-mail, satellite, equities terminals, and mobile". While pointing out the overall influence of such agencies in that genre in Europe and America, that has not only increased options of news sources for journalists, but also increased the distribution of corporate news on the internet, Mr. Agada lamented that African business concerns are not utilizing the benefits of PR Newswire services.

Differentiating the conventional news agencies from the PR Newswire service providers, he explained that while the former was established primarily to reduce the cost of international news gathering, News agencies can also be corporations that sell news for profit or non-profit based, that mostly target media houses. But with PR Newswire services, the originator of the news are the news-makers themselves and the target are the individual journalist. Thereby making the journalist a ‘receiver’ of news rather than merely a ‘searcher’ of news.

While challenging the African Media practitioners to look towards this service for all content – print, online and electronic, the Tech PR expert opined that PR Newswire service will only grow bigger with the currently growing internet penetration in the continent, with African local content being the differentiating factor.

Comment now » Read more September 10th, 2011



PR Newswire Service, the only hope for African CorporatesAgada

Published by PMM Ventures on Tagged Uncategorized
The fortunes of African corporate entities especially as it concerns publicity management and media access within the continent, will not reach its global potentials if the companies continue to ignore the services of indigenous PR Newswire agencies. This was the submission of the chief executive officer of Nigeria’s only technology PR firm Private Media Mart limited, Mr. Ejiofor Agada at the recently concluded electronic media content and technology event DISCOP 2011 held in Nairobi Kenya.
The three-day DISCOP Africa event, which was launched in 2009, is a meeting-centric market bringing together international suppliers of television content, with programming acquisitions executives representing African broadcasters, pay-TV operators, journalists and alternative content distribution platforms.
As the keynote speaker representing Nigeria, in his presentation titled: ‘Stretching The Boundaries of Modern Newsgathering: The PR Newswire Model Approach’, Mr. Agada reflected on the changes that has occurred in the process of newsgathering within the last one and a half decades across the globe. He explained that, “though the basic tenets of news states that it is what the media gatekeeper say it is, with the editor concentrating mainly on certain determinants or ingredients in measuring newsworthiness, changes recently recorded in the role of business concerns in political and economic landscape has altered the trend of newsgathering” he said.
This, according to him, has made it imperative for the corporates to maximize the publicity and media access of their information to the larger audience by utilizing online PR newswire service that target African media practitioners. Citing the situation whereby European, Asian and American business interests are utilizing PR newswire service to distribute news content within their regions, Mr. Agada explained that if their African counterparts do not tow the same line, they will continue to be at a disadvantage in the global information flow ratio.
This is because news sources for the journalist, which was formerly, restricted to the efforts of the individual journalist through research/investigations, interviews, scoops, and media      briefings/conferences, has so far been enhanced by the importance and use of PR Newswire service by corporate entities. Citing PR Newswire service as the ‘next step’ after the advent of conventional news agency service, Mr. Agada explained that the rise in the use of PR newswire services, which started as far back as 1954, can be related to the emergence of the New media (internet, mobile).
According to the CEO of Private Media Mart Limited (which also operates the only indigenous African PR Newswire service – NewswireNigeria®), “PR Newswire Serviceis now a generic term to describe new media formats (usually on the internet) hired by corporations, public relations firms, governmental and non-governmental institutions to deliver news and multimedia content to journalists, consumers and investors who access the content via the Web, RSS, e-mail, satellite, equities terminals, and mobile”. While pointing out the overall influence of such agencies in that genre in Europe and America, that has not only increased options of news sources for journalists, but also increased the distribution of corporate news on the internet, Mr. Agada lamented that African business concerns are not utilizing the benefits of PR Newswire services.
Differentiating the conventional news agencies from the PR Newswire service providers, he explained that while the former was established primarily to reduce the cost of international news gathering, News agencies can also be corporations that sell news for profit or non-profit based, that mostly target media houses. But with PR Newswire services, the originator of the news are the news-makers themselves and the target are the individual journalist. Thereby making the journalist a ‘receiver’ of news rather than merely a ‘searcher’ of news.
While challenging the African Media practitioners to look towards this service for all content – print, online and electronic, the Tech PR expert opined that PR Newswire service will only grow bigger with the currently growing internet penetration in the continent, with African local content being the differentiating factor.

Comment now » Read more September 10th, 2011



Signal Alliance Becomes 2011 Microsoft Country Partner of the Year

Published by Private Media Mart Limited on Tagged Uncategorized
Signal Alliance, one of Nigeria’s leading IT solution providers, has won the prestigious Microsoft Country Partner of the year award for Nigeria 2011 at the recently concluded World Partner Conference in Los Angeles. Signal Alliance was rewarded for providing outstanding solutions and services, as well as demonstrating excellent subsidiary engagement in Nigeria for Microsoft.
According to Jon Rodskill, corporate vice president, worldwide partner group, Microsoft Corporation "we are pleased to recognize Signal Alliance Nigeria as Microsoft country partner of the year. Signal Alliance demonstrates commitment to serving its customers and our strong partnership is core to our winning together".
The chief executive of Signal Alliance, Mr. Collins Onuegbu, while acknowledging the award, praised Microsoft Corporation for the initiative to reward hard work and encouraged healthy competition when it comes to IT solutions development.
He reiterated the vision of Signal Alliance and the resolve to achieve excellent service delivery. His words: "This award is a testimony to the hard-work and dedication of the Signal Alliance team and we are really happy that Microsoft Corporation given us due recognition. This award also throws up a challenge to keep and exceed our standards for next year to remain in the number one position."
He further stated that Signal Alliance prides itself with its vast years of experience and the thorough understanding of the IT business landscape and the combination of appropriate technology to meet the surging needs of its numerous IT based customers. According to him, "this award surely keeps us on our toes, to confront whatever challenges, and most especially bring to mind, our sole aspiration to stay at the top".
The Microsoft awards, which comes up during the yearly World Partner Conference, seeks to honour partners at country level, who have demonstrated business excellence in delivering Microsoft solutions to mutual customers over the past years.
The award recognizes Signal Alliance as succeeding in effective engagement with their local Microsoft office, while showcasing innovation, business impact, driving customer satisfaction and winning new customers.
Signal Alliance is one of the leading Systems Integrators in Nigeria and currently holds Gold competencies in Microsoft Solutions. In addition to this, they provide enterprise solutions in core ICT areas such as Unified Communications, Borderless Networks solutions and Network Monitoring, Service Management and Assurance, Enterprise Resource Planning and mobile applications.
About Signal Alliance
Signal Alliance is the leading Nigerian IT infrastructure solutions provider since 1996 and also a gold certified partner and enterprise software advisor to Microsoft; a Cisco Premier Partner, in addition to a ca (Computer Associate) Gold Partner. Signal Alliance is seen as an IT solutions company which specializes in systems integration that has grown to be a most vibrant, forward moving ICT company in Nigeria. For more: Visit www.signalliance.com

Comment now » Read more August 12th, 2011



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