Zain Boosts SMEs with ‘OgaLine’

Zain, the leading mobile telecommunications provider in Africa and the Middle East, has announced the introduction of ‘OgaLine’ from Zain My Business, a unique package that is specially designed to assist and improve the efficiency of mobile usage for business owners and their workforce.


‘OgaLine’ from Zain My Business is a result of extensive research conducted across several Zain markets to uncover what entrepreneurs require from their mobile service provider to support their day to day commercial activities, so they have the peace of mind and more time to grow their businesses.
‘OgaLine’ from Zain My Business comes with several ground-breaking features that will, for the first time in Africa, allow business owners to manage mobile communication costs throughout their commercial enterprise by controlling both budget and airtime usage, as well as being able to transfer airtime to those who are part of their ‘OgaLine’ mobile network.

Business owners may have up to 50 people on the service, as the package is sold with an oga and a worker line initially, with the option to increase to 49, the number of worker lines. These proprietors and entrepreneurs will then be able to manage and monitor their staff or worker mobile phones by using the oga line to send airtime anytime, anywhere to them as ‘OgaLine’ from Zain My Business is part of Zain’s ‘One Network’ platform that covers 22 countries across Africa and the Middle East.
 With the new package, business owners can also determine and allocate exact call time needed for specific business transactions, control budgets, and make mobile calls between ‘ogaline’ and workers’ line at a discounted rate.
 “We are proud to be the first telecommunications operator in Africa to offer a world class innovation that will empower business owners, entrepreneurs and proprietors to conduct their businesses in an all new, impressive fashion. This is, without a doubt, an extension of our brand promise of a ‘wonderful world’ to informal - small and medium scale business owners in Nigeria,” said Alain Sainte-Marie, Chief Executive Officer of Zain Nigeria.
 All lines under the ‘OgaLine’ from Zain ‘My Business’ package have access to the usual prepaid Zain Value Added Services – One Network, roaming,, Voicemail, WAP, information services, MMS, social network, inspirational services, caller ring back tone, data roaming etc. – at the standard rates.

According to the Chief Commercial Officer of Zain Nigeria, Shamel Hanafi, the introduction of the new package is an expression of Zain’s commitment to continuously support and boost informal enterprises in Nigeria as the product will help drive business efficiency and productivity, thereby growing the Nigerian economy.
“We consider this product launch an epoch-making occasion because we are entering into a new phase of our journey to empower and help Nigerians, especially business men and women in the informal sector of the economy, to enjoy a wonderful world,” said Hanafi.

For more details on the dynamics of “OgaLine from ZainMy Business’, please visit http://www.ng.zain.com/

HOW TO CARE FOR… Ur’ Handbag

BY OBY



INTERIORS
Many bags are lined with canvas, nylon or pig suede. To clean, gently pull the interior inside out and use a standard lint roller to pick up debris.


Zippers
Keep these fasteners working smoothly by running a piece of natural beeswax (found in hardware stores) over a zipper’s open teeth.



HANDLES AND STRAPS:
Residue from lotions can discolor and age material-another good reason to keep hands clean. Also, don’t overstuff a bag; too much weight can weaken stitching or damage straps.


HARDWARE:
Deep scratches or cracks on metal are virtually impossible to repair. But bag and shoe repair shops can replate hardware to hide finer flaws.


EXTERIORS:
Leather, of course, is a skin, so keep it happy and moisturized with a leather conditioning cream. There’s no reason to treat it with a protectant or a silicone spray, caught in the rain? Run for cover, then dab-don’t wipe –moisture away.


BOTTOMS:
Structured bags with stiff bottoms often have “feet” (metal rivets incorporated into the base) to protect the leather against scratches and stains. Feet can also be added by a professional.

MY DESIGNER HAUS - RECREATION SHIRTS

THE COLLECTION
The collection, themed Patterns and Prints is a fresh fusion of western and ethnic fabrics to create shirts that are not only accessible but also stylish. Past collections were focused more on western fabrics, but with the new collection, there is a flirtatious edge mingling with African and western fabrics simplicity with an ethnic fringe.

Pattern&prints aptly describes this marriage between the two worlds and this would surely take our Recreation lady a notch higher in CLAS.

Recreation shirts is geared at Re-create"ing" the norms of how women wear and enjoy their number one wardrobe staple: Shirts. The vision is to provide alternative stylish shirts for the discerning woman of style. The Recreation woman is pure CLAS! She is Confident, Lovely, Accessible& Stylish.



TALE’S FASHION PROFILE
Tale’s fashion foray started when she went to fashion school at 16 and learnt the ‘traditional rudiments of cut and sew’. She simply put this flair at the back burner to pursue a degree in Accounting and an MBA. Her love for fashion was rekindled during her MBA when she did cases like Kate Spade, the designer who started her accessory and then fashion line after her own schooling. This led her to put her 7 year corporate career to rest to learn pattern making.
These combined with her love for retail led her to start a shirt line called ‘Recreation’ with the inspiration to make wardrobe staples more stylish and versatile. Recreation is gradually transforming to offer more pieces for the stylish upwardly mobile woman.
Her industry role models include Anne Fontaine, Karen Millen and Naracamicie. As a commercial designer she strives to continue to create stylish affordable clothing.

ZAIN NIGERIA UNVEILS STATE-OF -THE -ART CONSUMER POINT IN LAGOS

Niyi Tabiti
News Editor

As parts of efforts to promote consumer satisfaction, Zain Nigeria, one of Nigeria’s leading telecom companies recently unveiled a state of the art consumer contact point in Lagos. Gistmaster gathered that Zain is committed to serving its numerous consumers and provide them with unique mobile services experience.

Photo Caption:

1. Babatunde Williams, Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Corporate Matters; Khaled Khorshid, Chief Operating Officer, Zain Nigeria; Shamel Hanafi, Chief Commercial Officer, Zain Nigeria; and Tamer Halbouny, Director of Sales, Zain Nigeria, during the commissioning of Zain’s new state-of-the-art Consumer Contact Point in Lagos at the weekend

2. Susan Onuigbo, Sales Support Team Member showing the guest of Honour, Babatunde Williams, Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Corporate Matters and Khaled Khorshid, Chief Operating Officer, Zain Nigeria how to operate one of the gadgets a visual display device) deployed for customers use, during the commissioning of Zain’s new state-of-the-art Consumer Contact Point in Lagos at the weekend

HOUSE OF TARA BEAUTY WORKSHOP

Learn the basics of makeup in 1 day: gele tying, everyday look, engagement look and more. (certificates will be awarded).

Date: 27th February, 2010 (Ikeja)
Venue: 22a, Omotayo Ojo street, Ikeja, Lagos
and
Date:6th March, 2010 (Victoria Island)
Venue: 9a, Oko Awo street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Time: 11am-3pm.

NIGERIA BILLIONAIRE OBA OTUDEKO BATTLE FOR ZAIN TELECOM AND $10.7 BILLION BHARTI AIRTEL ACQUISITION

By Niyi Tabiti
News Editor/www.gistmaster.com

The Chief Executive officer of Zain Telecom,Nabal Bin Salama has said there is no need for the public to be worried over the current ownership dispute that is facing its Nigeria operations.Salama made the statement in India last week.



Salama said he is confident the dispute involving two major 'minority' shareholders in its Nigerian operations would be resolved soon. It should be recalled that Nigerian Billionaire and investor, Mr.Obafoluke Otudeko, whose company owned 14 per cent of Zain (through his company, Broad communications) and South Africa’s Econet wireless had publicly questioned the acquisition of the 65 per cent controlling shares of Zain by Bharti Airtel.


The aggrieved parties thereby went to court to terminate the potential acquisition because it did not follow due process.Otudeko and co also said the company should have given them the benefit of refusal of the stakes before inviting Bharti


Salam said the judgement in the case is yet to come and that they are in a good position so no one should panic.


Bharti is set to acquire 65 per cent of Zain Nigeria for a whooping sum of $10.7 billion dollar. Economic Times report that the company’s stock fell by 12 % last wee due to panic on the side of investors.


Last week Otudeko’s Broad Communications said it has won a temporary injunction at the Federal High Court restraining from managing the Nigerian unit. It also said, it is ready to enforce the injunction.

Who wins this Nigeria business battle? Lets keep our fingers crossed!

SHEILA OKONJI BRINGS HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL TO NIGERIA

Sheila Okoji

Photo 2-Kaffy...photo 3-Stella Damasus NzeribeFor lovers of Disney’s record-breaking 2006 movie High School Musical, here’s some piece of good news!The American televised musical movie is coming to Nigeria for the first time ever, and already the licensees at Kidztrust (headed by international Entertainment tycoon Sheila Okonji Ashinze) are setting plans in motion to make this a reality.

 ‘We are doing all we can to make this work” Ashinze told journalists last week. She continues, “We are in the process of activation, right now, we have a team going round universities to enlighten the students about high school musical and you need to see the excitement on their faces’.
 Sheila has over time led KiDZ TRUST into