JULIUS BERGER-AFP WINS THE 2021 ‘BEST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMPANY IN NIGERIA’ AWARD.
Julius Berger-AFP has won the 2021 ‘Best Customer Experience Company in Nigeria’ Award. AFP is the furniture and furnishing unit of Nigeria’s leading engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, whose seamlessly horizontally integrated business value chain is widely reputed as the nation’s most dependable deliverer of excellent performance and customer satisfaction in all its impeccably delivered contractual obligations and transactional history in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Customer Service Award is the flagship and most prestigious annual award that celebrate companies’ customer service excellence in Nigeria. The award seeks to recognize and acknowledge reputable and alpha-rated companies that deliver effective and exceptional customer services in order to raise the standard of customer services and to encourage companies to go beyond merely paying lip service to customers.
To qualify for the highly rated award, companies are assessed based on their customer service practices in a process that includes customer feedback (nomination), review of staff and management process that relates to customer services, and lastly the Nigeria Mystery Shoppers Provider Service (NMSPS), www.mysteryshoppers.org.ng. Most importantly, Nigeria Customer Service Award is designed to better the evaluated companies’ own performances as opposed to the competition. The award helps organizations to listen to the voice of their customers by conducting an independent assessment of quality customer service using international survey tools to collect and analyze feedback from customers, and grade their responses using global rating standard as benchmark.
The nomination for the award opened in January 2021 via www.nigeriacustomerserviceawards.com, and through surveys and opinion polls. The second phase of the nomination was by using mystery shoppers to physically monitor the service delivery process of nominated companies in other to determine the best. Companies across Nigeria spends a great deal of time and money every year in their effort to win and retain customers. Research however, reveals that most companies are not doing enough to build strong customer relationships, even as more work is needed to build a strong, loyal and long lasting mutually satisfying relationship.
The vetting process for award nominees included the evaluative contexts of empathy, choice and personalized experiences of customers. Further analytical filters included a company’s verifiable discovery portals, access, ease of buying experience, ease of payment, customer’s satisfactory use of product or service, during and after sales support, customer departure protocols and customer return or retention. The MD and CEO of the award organizers, Customer Service Award Limited, Dr Aliyu Ilias said ‘…Julius Berger-AFP scored significantly well on all customer service delivery considerations to top the chart above its peers. Thus, Julius Berger-AFP is meritoriously announced the winner of the ‘2021 Best Customer Experience Company in Nigeria’ award’
Responding to the award to Julius Berger-AFP, the Head of Public Relations for the Julius Berger Nigeria Plc group, Prince Moses Duku, who received the award on behalf of the AFP, said, “As a responsible and dependable corporate entity, Julius Berger’s business philosophy and practice historically resonates with integrity, performance, solution-oriented partnership with the client, and uncompromising service reliability”. Duku also said that, “AFP being a proud member of the Julius Berger corporate heritage is commendably flying the great and excellent quality banner of its pedigree, the Julius Berger standard, offering only the very best product and service quality to its customers.” He further said that “…to emphasize the point, let me say it is not a fluke that the Julius Berger-AFP, for the past five consecutive years running, has won the Nigeria’s Furniture Company of the Year Award at the prestigious Abuja International Housing Show, Africa’s flagship continental housing exhibition platform”.
Duku concluded his remarks on a very cheerful note, saying, “…We can therefore humbly but truthfully say that in this business, both in product quality, style, functionality and strength as well as in service and support offerings and customer satisfaction, the Julius Berger-AFP has only itself to beat, and we intend to seriously keep it that way.”
“On behalf of our MD, executive management, the AFP team and indeed all our staff, we thank you for this encouraging award, and we commit to a consistently and progressively satisfactory customer service delivery to every existing client and future clients of the AFP.”
Keen watchers and watchdogs of the annual event comparatively consider the 2021 edition a more engaging and better-planned event with about 27 sectors in focus. The 2021 award saw the introduction of Customer Service Ambassadors in Nigeria for the first time. It also involved the participation of leading consulting firms, value assurance experts and real time mystery shopper monitors who, as undercover service ‘Police’, physically monitor and measure services performance by companies. Their aim in the service evaluation process include, to improve customer satisfaction, retention and loyalty to the brands, and make frontline employees aware of critical service needs of customers. The larger objective is to assist companies to listen to the voice of their customers and boost companies’ productivity and revenues.
Nigerians and the business community fondly call the 2021 Winner of the ‘Best Customer Experience Company in Nigeria’ award AFP for short. AFP has its ultra-modern furniture design studio and a vast state-of-the-art production factory located at the Idu Industrial Area of Abuja the federal Capital Territory. With the excellent and very reliable logistical support of the Julius Berger Fleet within the company’s matchless service delivery system, the AFP delivers its aesthetic, strong, and durable products to any destination in the country precisely as contracted, and, where necessary, within 24 hours.
Besides its dedicated interactive website, wwwafp.ng, the Julius Berger-AFP also have its physical showrooms at 55 Gana Street, Maitama Abuja, 33 Sanusi Fafunwa street Victoria Island Lagos; and also at AFP Mall, 52 Stadium Road Port Harcourt.
Julius Berger-AFP national Sales Manager, Uche Uzoewulu, and Sales Consultant, Mercy Ofuonyemeni were also in the Julius Berger Plc delegation to the award event which held at the Envoy hotel opposite the US embassy in Abuja last Thursday.
Cut N26bn presidency budget for medical center, travels, meals, SERAP tells Buhari
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari “to cut the N26 billion presidency budget for the construction of the presidential wing at the state house medical center, local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments, ‘sitting allowance’, and ‘welfare package’, and to use some of the savings to address the growing level of deficit, as well as improve public healthcare facilities across the country.”
SERAP also urged him “to send to the National Assembly a fresh supplementary appropriation bill, which reflects the reduced proposed spending on the construction of the state house medical center, local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments, and ‘welfare package’, for its approval.”
In the letter dated 9 October 2021 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Many Nigerians will find it quite odd, unfair and unjust that the government is spending so much money on many of these items in the middle of a public borrowing crisis. The proposed spending could be better allocated to improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services.”
SERAP said: “The government would continue to borrow to fund the country’s budget until there is a substantial cut to the cost of governance. The government should stop spending so much money on these items. Persistent borrowing is neither sustainable nor fair to the Nigerian people.”
According to SERAP: “Your government has a responsibility to ensure the interest of the well-being and prosperity of Nigeria and its citizens. The growing budget deficit and debt problems threaten Nigerians’ access to essential public goods and services, and will hurt future generations if not urgently addressed.”
The letter, read in part: “SERAP also urges you to publish details of spending on construction and repairs of the presidential wing at the medical center and office furniture and fittings since May 29, 2015.”
“The proposed spending figures highlight the lack of political will to cut the cost of governance, starting from the presidency. This spending is unsustainable, and would take away critical funding to provide access to quality healthcare and education.”
“This would leave the poorest and most vulnerable people without access to these essential public goods and services, and burden the next generation.”
“According to our information, for the Office of the President, you recently proposed in the 2022 appropriation bill to spend N24,835,805,231 for the construction of the presidential wing at the state house medical center, local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments.”
“The construction of the presidential wing will cost N21,974,763,310. N2,309,066,788 is proposed to be spent on general travel and transport while N301,138,860 will be spent on food stuff and catering materials supplies. N250,836,273 is proposed to be spent on refreshments, meals, honorarium, sitting allowance, publicity and advertisements.”
“For the Office of the Vice-President, N1,136,717,757 is proposed for local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments, purchase of office furniture and fittings, and other expenses. The details are: N778,261,411 is proposed to be spent on general travel and transport.”
“N168,210,826 is proposed for office stationeries/computer, consumables, printing of documents, uniforms and other clothing, food stuff and catering materials supplies. N2,350,626 is proposed for cooking gas and fuel cost.”
“N99,795,229 is proposed to be spent on refreshments, meals, honorarium, sitting allowance, publicity and advertisements. N31,909,380 is proposed for computer software acquisition while N30,817,085 is proposed for the purchase of motor vehicles. N25,373,200 is proposed for the purchase of office furniture and fittings.”
“We would therefore be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our requests.”
“SERAP is concerned that the huge spending is neither necessary nor in the public interest, especially in the face of the country’s dire economic position, the scant allocations to education and health, and the growing level of borrowing by your government to fund the 2022 budget.”
“Spending limited public funds on the construction of the presidential wing at the state house medical center, local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments, honorarium and sitting allowance, and welfare packages at a time the government is borrowing to fund the budget would undermine your government’s constitutional and fiduciary duties to ensure a responsible budget spending.
“The country’s fiscal situation must be changed – and changed quickly – through some combination of cuts in the areas highlighted above. Cutting waste and apparently unnecessary spending would go a long way in addressing the budget deficit and debt problems.”
“The recommended measures would also ensure that your government is spending the country’s maximum available resources to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights to basic needs of the poor and marginalized groups.”
Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director
10/10/2021
Lagos, Nigeria
Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org
Twitter: @SERAPNigeria
Website: www.serap-nigeria.org
For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202
COVID-19: STATE HOUSE PERMANENT SECRETARY RECOMMENDS FOUR NYSC MEMBERS FOR DIRECTOR-GENERAL’S AWARD
- MOLECULAR LABORATORY OPENS SOON
State House Permanent Secretary, Tijjani Umar, has recommended four members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the Director-General’s Community Development Service award.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed this at a send-off dinner in honour of the retired Head of Nursing Department, State House Clinic, Habiba Ahmed, and some outgoing corps members, who served in the Clinic.
Umar lauded the contributions of the outgoing and serving corps members posted to the State House Clinic in maintaining essential health services amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
He noted that the corps members were at the frontline of implementing measures to limit the spread of coronavirus as well as reducing public health risk to workers and visitors to the Presidential Villa.
He, therefore, announced that in appreciation of the exemplary work done by some of the corps members, the State House management will officially recommend them for the Director-General’s award.
Relishing his experiences as a corps member in 1985/86 in Ilorin, Kwara State, the Permanent Secretary recounted that he had a satisfying experience serving his fatherland.
He told the corps members that the one-year NYSC programme shaped his understanding of the nation, its diversity and potential.
‘‘I loved the service. My first encounter at the orientation camp which I enjoyed was serving as a member of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) brigade. President Buhari was then the military Head of State.
‘‘I was also a member of the quarter guard in camp and I loved everything that we did. We also received N90 bicycle allowance at that time,’’ he said.
He thanked the outgoing and serving corps members in the State House for serving the nation with respect and dignity.
He urged those still serving to always take pride in having the opportunity to serve the nation, contributing positively in their places of primary assignment.
The Permanent Secretary later presented gifts to some corps member including Dr Godfrey Okpe, Dr Idris Keji, Chukwueloka Maduegbuna, Abbas Hassan Bala, Casmir Nwachukwu ( Nominee for DG’s Award), Samuel Iko Ojo ( Nominee for DG’s Award), , Muhammad Ma’aji ( Nominee for DG’s Award), and Onwumah Onyelukachukwu ( Nominee for DG’s Award) .
In his remarks, the Medical Director, State House Clinic, Dr Munir Yakasai, announced that a molecular laboratory to test for coronavirus at the Clinic will be activated by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) before the end of the month.
The Medical Director said the laboratory, which increases the number of NCDC approved molecular laboratories in the country, would also handle urological investigations, among others.
He commended the Permanent Secretary for prioritising the repositioning of State House Clinic for effective service delivery.
‘‘We now have a Special Care centre; the Dental wing which was moribund for over 10 years has been completed and now functional, drugs are available and staff welfare has greatly improved,’’ he said.
He wished Matron Habiba and the outgoing NYSC members the best of luck in their future endeavours.
Also speaking, the immediate past Head of the Nursing department thanked the Permanent Secretary and State House staff for the honour accorded her on retirement.
‘‘I feel loved by God and it is a privilege to be honoured by people you have spent a greater part of your life working with. When I meet people in the market and they reach out to me and call me Matron, it gives me pleasure and reminds me that for the rest of my life, I will always want to be a Nurse,’’ she said.
Abiodun Oladunjoye
Deputy Director (Information)
(Media & Publicity)
October 10, 2021
PRESIDENT BUHARI CONGRATULATES WINNER OF 2021 NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE
President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates the winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize for Literature, Abdulrazak Gurnah, a former lecturer in Bayero University Kano.
In winning the prize, the Swedish Academy highlighted the Tanzanian novelist’s ”uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effect of colonialism and the fate of the refugees in the gulf between cultures and continents.”
President Buhari believes that given the ignoble experiences of Africans and people of African descent in the past, all forms of race-related vices and injustices have no place in modern history.
The President, therefore, salutes the bold African voices using the arts, music, literature and sports to stress that our world is better when we treat one another with dignity and respect.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 10, 2021
PRESIDENT BUHARI REJOICES WITH GBONG GWOM JOS AT 70
President Muhammadu Buhari rejoices with the Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman, Council of Chiefs and Emirs in Plateau State, His Royal Majesty Da Jacob Gyang Buba, on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
The President joins family, friends and the people of Jos in thanking God for bestowing benevolence on His Majesty in a lifetime of service as a public servant and later as a traditional ruler.
The President thanks Gbong Gwong Jos for serving his community with dignity and wisdom, unwavering in his commitment to peace and stability in the Plateau since ascending the throne of his fathers in 2009.
President Buhari prays that the Royal Father’s avowed devotion to the unity of the country and passion to better the lives of those around him will continue to inspire generations to come.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 10, 2021
PRESIDENT BUHARI CONDOLES WITH LONG-TIME AIDE, SARKI ABBA, ON LOSS OF MOTHER
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his shock over the death of Hajiya Aishatu Abba, mother of his long-time aide Sarki Abba, the Senior Special Assistant Domestic, House Hold Matters and Social Events.
She died in Yola after a protracted illness, leaving behind two sons and several grandchildren at the age of 96.
The President, who was represented at the funeral ceremony by a delegation made up of his personal aides said: “We have lost a deep-rooted community leader, kind and generous whose entire life was devoted to worship and the welfare of the poor and the marginalised. Her life of giving has inspired many and she leaves behind several memorable tales of lives she had touched. My thoughts are with Sarki Abba and his family who have lost a strong pillar of support. May Allah bless her soul and accept her good deeds.”
He also sent condolences to the Adamawa Emirate Council as well as the government and the people of the State.
President Buhari was represented at the burial by Senior Special Assistants Ya’u Darazo and Garba Shehu, the State Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Lawal Kazaure, his personal physician Dr. Suhayb Rafindadi, the Chief Security Officer, Idris Ahmed and the Permanent Secretary State House, Tijjani Umar.
Others are the Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Air Commodore Y. A. Abdullahi and a Special Assistant in the Presidency, Abdulmumin Bello.
The burial ceremony at Jimeta, Yola on Sunday was attended by thousands of people including the former Governor of the state Jibrilla Bindow, the Galadima and Dan Iya of Adamawa, representing the Lamido and officials of the Adamawa State Government.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 10, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
TINUBU REUNITES WITH ASSOCIATES, AS SANWO-OLU HOSTS APC LEADER
…Ex-Governor: ‘I Returned Hale, Hearty And Well’
National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken his first outing since his return from the United Kingdom (UK) last Friday night.
Tinubu, on Sunday, reunited with his political associates and protégés at a welcome-back event and prayer hosted by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the State House in Marina.
At 2:45pm, the former Lagos State Governor was received by Sanwo-Olu in company of his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde.
The simple event was attended by all elected office holders and political appointees in Lagos, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.
Members of the State Executive Council, Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) and council chairmen were also in attendance.
Sanwo-Olu said Tinubu’s return was more than cheery news for his supporters across the country, noting that the APC leader had been rejuvenated with renewed vigour for his next political move.
The Governor said: “We have countless reasons to be grateful to God for bringing Asiwaju back home, fully rejuvenated. Since Friday when our leader and father came back, it has been a joyful moment for the teeming residents of Lagos, his supporters and Nigerians across the country. We give glory to God who brought you (Tinubu) back with sound health and stronger vigour.
“On behalf of all political office holders, party leaders and faithful, we welcome our leader back and we give praises to God on his behalf that the intention of evil-minded people who spread malicious rumour against our leader did not materialise. This event shows Asiwaju is healthy and possesses more energy to embark on his next move in politics.”
Tinubu, clad in dark grey kaftan and blue cap to match, said he was highly elated to return after his three-month absence from the country.
The APC National Leader said the prayer event was an emotional one for him, saying he was overwhelmed by good wishes from Nigerians while he was away. He said took all prayers as valuable compliments.
Tinubu said: “I’m a little emotional now but I’m happy. God is the giver of life and the only one who can take life. And he (God) says, if I grant you power and the privilege in this life; I am the only one who can take it from you if you don’t use it in the way and manner that promotes humanity. God can give power to anyone he wills.
“It is the same God that has spared us till today and has given us the privilege. I give glory to God, because I’m standing before you hale, hearty and well. Today is a day of joy for me, having fixed today for this great event. We are here giving praises to God. May God bless all of you in attendance. I am grateful. I cannot say more than that today. Thank you all.”
Dr. Hamzat said Tinubu’s return deepened his associates’ belief in God, stressing that the APC National Leader’s full recovery from the knee surgery was a sign of strength and favour from God.
“Now that Asiwaju is back, we are ready for work. The work has started and we are committed to doing it,” the Deputy Governor said.
Gbajabiamila, who spoke on behalf of the National Assembly members, described Tinubu as “an eagle”, who is focused and always ahead of the game.
The Speaker wondered why a “simple knee surgery” became a national issue, but the solidarity shown towards Tinubu across ethnic divides indicated the APC National Leader is an enigma.
Obasa called Tinubu a teacher and benefactor, saying his return had put malicious rumour against him to rest.
Chairman of Conference 57, who spoke on behalf of the council chairmen, said members of the Conference were ready to join Tinubu in his next political move.
Others who spoke glowingly about the APC National Leader included the lawmaker representing Lagos West in the Senate, Sen. Olamilekan Adeola, and GAC chairman, Prince Tajudeen Olusi.
Prayers were offered for Tinubu by Muslim and Christian clerics, while party leaders at the event took turns to welcome him back to the fold.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
OCTOBER 10, 2021
Adebola Williams launches book to celebrate International Day of the Girl Child
In commemoration of International Day of the Girl Child, Pan African Entrepreneur, Adebola Williams has released a self-published children’s book capturing the lives of notable women of African origin.
Williams, through his book, ‘African Power Girls’ seeks to underscore the notion of positivity, diversity, and inspiration among young girls who are daily faced with inequality, chauvinism, and misogyny.
“I got the inspiration for this book while trying to purchase inspirational publications for my goddaughters,” said Williams. “I realised that I was unable to find a suitable African story book that told the stories of women who had conquered their world so that young people can emulate.”.
“This book is the first in a series of three books highlighting powerful women in Africa,” he added.
Going as far back as the 1900s, each page of the book showcases the strength, freedom, challenges, and victory of spotlighted female legends.
African Power Girls is for kids, especially young girls seeking great exposure and inspiration to follow their purpose, succeed in their chosen careers, and fulfil their mission. Additionally, it is for parents who want their children to establish a deep connection to their rich heritage.
“As a chief storyteller for several brands, individuals, and corporations across the continent, it is an integral part of my mission to tell stories about, and for Africa. Therefore it has been a delight to tell the stories of our great women, especially as a catalyst to raising many more like them,” he concluded.
Adebola Williams co-founded and runs RED | For Africa, the continent’s largest portfolio of media and storytelling brands engaging the youth. He uses storytelling strategies to change human behaviour towards ideas, brands, and people.
Adebola and his team at RED | For Africa currently consults for individuals and corporates across the continent.
