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Senate Commends Dangote-Sinotruk’s Investment In Vehicle Assembling In Nigeria

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Senate Commends Dangote-Sinotruk’s Investment in Vehicle Assembling in Nigeria

Olushola Okunlade Writes

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industry, Senator Tokunbo Abiru has commended Dangote Sinotruk West Africa for its impressive commitment to Nigeria’s economic development through investment in a vehicle assembly plant in the country.

According to him, with Dangote Sinotruk West Africa, Nigeria’s path to self-reliance in vehicle assembling has begun. “We want to encourage the company to continue to see how best to make Nigeria self-reliant in vehicle assembling as well as encourage other players in the value chain to also get on board”, he said.

Abiru said in as much as members of the Senate Committee on Industry  would prefer a factory setting where almost everything are manufactured here in Nigeria, “we believe what Dangote Sinotruk have in place is a very good starting point towards achieving backward integration in vehicle assembling in Nigeria.”

He stated: “What the company is doing is one of the ways you can advance the economy of this country. The company has a production line that assembles trucks that are needed for economic activities in Nigeria. For us in the Senate, this is a very good starting point. Our desire is for Completely Knocked Down parts (CKDs) to be manufactured here in Nigeria.

“The Dangote Sinotruk plant will assist the government to preserve foreign exchange that would have been used to import trucks into the country. The company is also providing employment to many Nigerians. What we need on the part of the government is to continue to support the company to grow,” Abiru added.

In his remarks, Group General Manager, Dangote Sinotruk West Africa Limited, Hikmat Thapa, thanked the Senate Committee members for taking out time to tour the vehicle assembly plant.

Senate Commends Dangote-Sinotruk’s Investment in Vehicle Assembling in Nigeria

Thapa said the company seeks to meet the growing demand for the automobile industry required for logistics, construction, food & beverage industries in Nigeria to support the government’s efforts to boost economic development across the country.

In his presentation to the Senate Committee members, Assistant Manager, Sinotruk West Africa, Engr. M.J Kogis disclosed that to support the Federal Government’s backward integration drive for Nigerian products, the company is planning a project expansion to enhance value addition and increase local inputs to 40 – 60 per cent within West Africa.

According to him, Sinotruk has installed the capacity to assemble and produce 15 – 16 Trucks per shift, equivalent to 10,000 trucks annually, adding that this project aims to generate about 3,000 job opportunities across Nigeria. He added that the company has expanded its original structure to create welding and paint lines to fabricate various truck cabins.

“Aside from creating an ‘All-in-one’ complete assembly system, this expansion project enhances the local content of CKD operation. Dangote Sinotruk West Africa Limited is the only company with CKD capabilities in West Africa.

“The quality products of Sinotruk are of a high standard which is reliable and adaptable to any environment, enabling them to stably serve our customers in various climatic environments, working sites, and operational conditions of different countries”, he said.

Kogis identified a lack of foreign exchange and unhealthy competition with automobile companies evading government policies and regulations without proper certification for CKD assembly as some of the challenges confronting the company. “Certified automobile companies tend to run at a loss when placed on the same platform of expenditure”, he added.

He urged the Federal Government to review and implement favourable policies toward the development of automobile companies in Nigeria. He also called on the government to provide grants and financial aid through the Bank of Industry (BOI) and direct forex allocation from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the opening of Letters of Credit (L.C.)

Speaking on the importance of Dangote Sinotruk on Nigeria’s economic development, Kogis stated: “Dangote Sinotruk West Africa Limited as a Joint Venture aims to play a strategic and key role in the manufacturing and assembly industry to develop trucks to serve the various logistics needs of the populace. With this goal in mind, we are structured to provide employment opportunities to the masses in line with Dangote Group objectives as well as improve the local automobile industry and promote economic development in Nigeria.”

He said the company has the responsibility to assemble and produce a full range of commercial vehicles covering Heavy-Duty trucks, Medium-Duty trucks, Light Trucks, and other semi-trailers, etc.

He added that the company provides employment opportunities to Nigerians, improves the local automobile industry, adds equipment base, and achieves technological advancement in Nigeria to promote the economic development of Nigeria

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Jumia Nigeria Unveils 2023 Tech Week

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Jumia Nigeria Unveils 2023 Tech Week

…Consumers in Nigeria to leverage the campaign to upgrade their tech devices

Jumia, the leading pan-African e-commerce platform, has announced the launch of its annual “Tech Week” campaign, an initiative aimed at providing consumers access to authentic tech devices such as mobile phones and accessories, TVs, computers, cameras, video games, and much more.

Scheduled to run from March 20th to April 2nd, the Tech Week campaign offers all consumers nationwide the opportunity to upgrade their tech devices for less from renowned brands like Xiaomi, Oraimo, Samsung, Tecno, Infinix, Edifier, Weyon, Nexus, Haier Thermocool, Scanfrost, and Binatone, amongst others.

“We believe everyone should have access to quality products at competitive prices, and we are committed to making this a reality. By partnering with leading brands to provide our consumers with access to the latest tech devices, we hope to help bridge the digital divide and empower more people to achieve their full potential. Consumers can be sure to have their tech needs met during this campaign. At Jumia, we remain committed to providing the best shopping experience to our consumers across the country,” said Massimiliano Spalazzi, CEO, Jumia Nigeria.

“Oraimo is delighted to partner with Jumia for this year’s Tech Week. We believe that this partnership is of great significance as it enables us to showcase our innovative and cutting-edge mobile accessories and lifestyle offerings to a wider audience in Nigeria. As a leading e-commerce platform committed to delivering quality products and excellent customer service, Jumia is the perfect partner for Oraimo. Through this collaboration, we are determined to bring amazing offers and deals to our customers and ensure that they have access to our high-quality products. We are excited to work alongside Jumia to provide our customers with a seamless shopping experience and build a lasting relationship with them. Together, we are committed to delivering the best products and services to our customers. We look forward to a successful partnership with Jumia,” said Alex Liu, E-Commerce Operation Manager, Oraimo Technology Limited.

As technology continues to play a vital role in shaping the way we live and work, it’s no surprise that more Nigerians are leveraging its power to improve themselves. According to a recent digital report by Meltwater, there were 122.5 million internet users in Nigeria at the start of 2023, and internet penetration stood at 55.4 percent. These figures are a testament to the growing importance of technology in Nigeria and the increasing role it plays in driving the country’s economy. Jumia remains committed to empowering more Nigerians to take advantage of the benefits of technology through initiatives like Tech Week.

Know More About Jumia: Jumia believes that technology can potentially transform everyday life in Africa for the better. Jumia was built to help consumers access millions of goods and services conveniently and at the best prices while opening up a new way for sellers to reach consumers and grow their businesses.

Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 2019, Jumia is the leading e-commerce company in Africa, operating in 11 countries. The Jumia platform consists of a marketplace, which connects sellers with consumers, a logistics service, which enables the shipment and delivery of packages from sellers to consumers, and a payment service, JumiaPay, which offers a safe and easy solution to facilitate online payment transactions. The company offers goods across a broad range of categories, such as phones and electronics, home appliances, fast-moving consumer goods, fashion, and beauty. The company generated over USD 1 million in Gross Merchandise Value in 2022 and has over eight million customers.

For more information about Jumia, follow us on LinkedIn: Jumia Nigeria and Twitter: JumiaNigeria

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Transforming Transportation 2023: Accelerating Toward Green And Inclusive Mobility

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Transforming Transportation 2023: Accelerating Toward Green & Inclusive Mobility

Today’s global challenges are putting serious pressure on transport systems. From climate change and COVID-19 to conflict and macroeconomic instability, what are the implications of the current context for transport, and for the people and businesses that rely on it?

How can we help the sector navigate these compounding crises? Can this be a starting point to reimagine transport and make it more inclusive, safe, sustainable, and efficient?

These are some of the key questions that we will be discussing with leaders and experts from around the world as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our Transforming Transportation conference.

Join us live on March 14-15 and be a part of the global conversation!

AGENDA

March 14, 2023

8:30 – 10:00 a.m.  EST
Welcome address: Guangzhe Chen, Vice President for Infrastructure, World Bank and Ani Dasgupta, President & CEO, World Resources Institute
Opening Keynote: Bertrand Piccard, Serial Explorer and Environmentalist
Tour around the world: Mayors’ perspectives (Accra, Dhaka, Lima)

11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. EST
Plenary session – Untangling Global Supply Chains: How to Make Green and Resilient Logistics a Reality

March 15, 2023

9:00 – 10:30 a.m. EST
Opening Keynote: Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister, Ukraine followed by Anna Bjerde, Vice President for Europe and Central Asia, World Bank
Plenary session – Resilient Transport: Navigating Climate Change, Conflict, and Disruptions

SPEAKERS

– Patrick Achi, Prime Minister, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
– Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister, Ukraine
– Francois Bausch, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Mobility, Luxembourg
– Axel van Trotsenburg, Managing Director of Operations, World Bank
– Anna Bjerde, Vice President, Europe, and Central Asia, World Bank
– Guangzhe Chen, Vice President for Infrastructure, The World Bank
– Victoria Kwakwa, Vice President, Eastern and Southern Africa, World Bank
– Ani Dasgupta, President, and CEO, World Resources Institute
– Wayan Koster, Governor of Bali, Indonesia
– Elizabeth K. T. Sackey, Metropolitan Chief Executive, Accra, Ghana
– Atiqul Islam, Mayor of Dhaka, Bangladesh
– Bertrand Piccard, Serial Explorer, and Environmentalist

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How Diverse Leadership Teams Boost Innovation

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Jumia Launches Quick Commerce Platform In Nigeria With 20 Minutes Delivery In Lagos

By Enitan Oyenuga, HR Director, Jumia Nigeria

As the business landscape continues to evolve, it’s becoming increasingly clear that diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords but essential elements for success. Every company needs a leadership team that understands and connects with customers from different backgrounds to deliver the best possible service. Today, companies are scrutinising their leadership teams on various criteria beyond education and experience, and having a diverse leadership team has become a necessity to build a successful business that resonates with customers worldwide.

Importance of Leadership Diversity

In the workplace, diversity encourages inclusiveness, which fosters innovation. It welcomes and respects the diverse background of each employee. It also creates a positive, supportive, and respectful working environment that encourages all employees to engage and participate freely. The importance of diversity is perhaps well displayed by a quote from Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, “Diversity is the engine of invention; it generates creativity that enriches the world.”

A recent study conducted by McKinsey & Company found that companies with diverse leadership teams are 33% more likely to outperform their competitors in terms of financial performance. Moreover, they are also more likely to be innovative and adapt to changes in the market.

In addition, diversity is not simply a matter of creating a heterogeneous workforce but using it to create innovative products, services, and business practices that can set a company apart and give it a competitive advantage in the marketplace. By fostering diversity in the workplace, we are bringing together various perspectives, experiences, and ideas. When people from different backgrounds and cultures work together, they are more likely to approach problems and opportunities from different angles, which can lead to creative and innovative solutions.

A business culture that welcomes and supports employees with various perspectives is bound to boost problem-solving and increase productivity. Consequently, to benefit from workplace diversity, inclusion must be integrated deeply into its culture. This holds for leadership positions just as much as for entry and mid-level ones.

How Jumia Nigeria is Enabling Diversity

At Jumia Nigeria, we prioritise diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our business. Over the years, we have implemented policies and practices to ensure everyone in our organisation is treated fairly, and feels valued and supported. This is evident across our employee lifecycle from hiring through to exit.

At Jumia, one of our core values is letting the best people and ideas grow. As such, our hiring process is open and transparent ensuring all employees are aware of and have access to all available opportunities. For example, we have recently introduced 1-minute videos where hiring managers talk about their vacancies and invite employee applications.

Similarly, our training and development opportunities are open to all employees, regardless of their background or experience.

At Jumia Nigeria, we want to be a place where people can bring their best selves without fear of discrimination, where they feel like they belong and are an important part of the team. Providing safe spaces for employees to connect with each other and share feedback are some ways we achieve this; leveraging platforms like our Jumia Women’s Network, informal team events, town halls, and HR roadshows.

Our diversity and inclusion focus also requires that we reflect the incredibly diverse markets we serve. Our diversified clientele includes a substantial percentage of women as buyers and sellers. According to the IFC 2021 report on Women and E-Commerce in Africa, over 50% of our vendors are women entrepreneurs. Giving women visible platforms and opportunities is, therefore, a no-brainer. Building a company that sets the bar for advancing female visibility is essential for us. We are implementing these measures because Nigeria offers great opportunities to reduce this gap.

We are actively tracking gender diversity at Jumia, but we also understand that diversity is much more than this. Our ambition is to promote an inclusive culture that fosters a sense of belonging while boosting productivity.

Conclusion

Despite the many benefits of diverse leadership teams, many organisations still struggle to achieve diversity in their leadership ranks. This may be due to unconscious biases or a need for more diversity in the talent pipeline. To change this trajectory, organisations must be intentional in seeking out diverse candidates and creating an inclusive culture that values differences and provides equal opportunities for all.

 

 

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