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Tag: Cross River State

  • Cross River First Lady Promises Support for FOMWAN

    Cross River First Lady Promises Support for FOMWAN

    Wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Reverend Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, has assured the Federation of  Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) of adequate support and partnership of her office ,saying the organisation has played a critical role in envisioned a world where women are empowered to be role models in making a positive impact in the society.

    The Governor’s wife made this known when she played host to the Muslim Women Organization led by its Ameerah, Hajia Lateefah,Yahaya Idinye and her team in Governor’s office,Calabar.

    Reverend Otu reiterated the commitment of FOMWAN interventions in the areas of health, education and women empowerment,
    explaining  that “propagating both Islamic and Western education as  a vanguard of change in the society has single out FOMWAN as  a foremost women Muslim organisation in Nigeria and the impact is felt in Cross River State.

    “I am very pleased to recieve you  today and my  office will  partner with you as you commenced your FOMWAN week.

    Read Also: After 8 Years of Inactivity, NCWS Elects New Exco, Patron

    “Like you know,if a woman is educated, she will know her rights and responsibilities, and everything about her life will go in the right direction and she will be able to play her role effectively in the society”

    “On Hajj,i can assure you that  Muslim women would be included when the Pilgrim welfare  board is constituted as well as  Hajj sponsorship” she said.

    Earlier in her remarks, the Cross River State Chairperson/Ameerah  of FOMWAN, Hajia Lateefah Yahaya Idinye ,said she and her team were in first lady’s office as part of the activities of  FOMWAN week.

    The Ameerah said the  visit was also to congratulate  the Governor’s wife for her motherly role in the state, especially in ensuring that more women have been given opportunities  to serve in the State Executive  Council as well as other sectors of Government.

    “We seeks for  partnership between your office and the   Muslim Women and inclusion  in the state affairs especially the Hajj activities as we are willing to add value to what the state government is doing”she added.

    Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of gifts and  FOMWAN annual report to the first lady, while she in return donated  foods and non food items for the visiting Muslim Women Organization.

  • After 8 Years of Inactivity, NCWS Elects New Exco, Patron

    After 8 Years of Inactivity, NCWS Elects New Exco, Patron

    The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) has elected executive committee to pilot its affairs with the wife of Cross River State Governor, Rev. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu assuming the role of a Patron.

    The election comes after an 8-year lull in the NCWS.

    President of NCWS, Hajiya Lami Adamu Lau, who spoke shortly after the election of the committee members that took place at the Women Development Centre, Calabar at weekend, expressed confidence in the new State leadership and urged Mrs Otu to reactivate the NCWS across the 18 local government areas of the state.

    In her words, “We acknowledge and celebrate your remarkable achievements through your pet projects – the Humanity Without Borders Empowerment Initiative. This initiative covers humanitarian services across various sectors.

    “Your deep concern for children, women and people with disability is highly recommended. We believe that you shall, with this same zeal, do everything within your powers to reposition the NCWS.”

    Read Also: FAAN To Shutdown Power Supply At Lagos Int’l Airport Wednesday

    In her remarks, the new State Patron of NCWS, Rev. Otu, said her investiture as the Patron of State chapter of the NCWS was a call to more service in her determination to advance women’s empowerment and build a just and equitable society.

    The governor’s wife noted that the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) mission aligns closely with her vision for women in Cross River State, and lauded the Council for their work in advocating gender equality and women empowerment.

    Earlier in a welcome address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Edema Irom reminded members that the NCWS remained the oldest women movement in Nigeria that gave birth to the Ministry of Women Affairs at the national and the state level.

    She told the women present to note that irrespective of whatever organizations they belong to, they were members of NCWS, urging the elected executive members to see their positions as tools for service and not to intimidate others.

    Meanwhile in an interview, the newly inaugurated president of the NCWS in the State, Rt Hon Majorie Asuquo, said the new State Executive of the body was determined to take the NCWS to another level particularly with the guidance of the State Patron, Rev Otu.

    According to her, “It is a privilege to serve and we in the exco are determined to take NCSW to another height in Cross River State. We thank our loving mother, Rev Mrs Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, for resuscitating NCWS which for the past 7 years was like death. As a new Patron of the NCWS, things will continue to blossom for women in Cross River state.”

  • Eto Mkpe community in Akpabuyo gets NDDC relief materials worth millions of naira

    Eto Mkpe community in Akpabuyo gets NDDC relief materials worth millions of naira

     

    By Kelvin Obambon

    Relief materials estimated to worth millions of naira have been delivered to Eto Mkpe Yellow Duke community in Akpabuyo local government area of Cross River State as part of intervention by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in distressed communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

    The Commissioner representing Cross River in the NDDC, Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, who personally delivered the relief materials to the community on Monday 3rd June 2024, disclosed that the items were part of the 2021/2022 palliatives distributed to flood affected communities in the Niger Delta area.

    He explained that Cross River did not get its share of the palliatives as at then, hence when he assumed office, he took up the matter and subsequently secured approval for the release of the items to the state.

    According to him, “it behoves on me to identify certain afflicted communities to try and augment and remedy some of their plights. We’ve been going around, and today we are in Eto Mkpe community to carry out just a simple assignment and observe a little ceremony of handing over some palliatives to the community. We have rice, indomie, slippers, mosquito nets, fishing nets and other essential items that can help jumpstart some of those afflicted.

    Read Also: Cooperate with contractors, C’River NDDC Rep appeals to communities

    “We are just an interventionist agency. Ours is to try to assist. And we pray that in assisting, whatever little token we have to give will not and should not bring acrimony within the community. That is why we simply direct the gifts to the leadership of the community. So we pray in peace and harmony they would be able to allow the rest of the community to enjoy the little benefits coming from NDDC.”

    Speaking further, the NDDC Commissioner said “Let the records show that as much as we want to help out, we will help out in tandem with what the state government is doing. We’ll try and strive as hard as possible to add value to what our governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu is doing. Where we can we’ll do. Where he can augment he’ll augment. We work together. Let that one not be in doubt.”

    He also stated that aside the relief materials, road projects would also be executed in the community when the Commission’s budget for the year gets approval of the National Assembly. He revealed that the projects had already been captured in the NDDC fiscal document.

    Receiving the relief materials on behalf of Eto Mkpe community, the village head, His Highness Anthony Edem Nyong, thanked the NDDC Commissioner and prayed God’s blessings and protection upon him and the Commission.

    Similarly, the youth leader, Mr Felix Nsa Effanga, said that the youths were happy over the relief materials delivered to the community by the state NDDC representative. He thanked Hon. Orok Duke for the ongoing solar light installation project and other projects that would be brought to Eto Mkpe community in the near future.

    The event ended with a town hall meeting where men, women and youths of Eto Mkpe community interfaced with the NDDC representative, who then felt their pulses.

    So far, NDDC had in the last two weeks distributed relief materials to Ikot Offiong community in Odukpani local government area, Esierebom community in Calabar South local government area, Bakassi returnees in Bakassi local government area and Eto Mkpe community in Akpabuyo local government area.

  • Breaking: City Walkers Unveils Fat 2 Fit 3.0 Fitness Day

    Breaking: City Walkers Unveils Fat 2 Fit 3.0 Fitness Day

    City Walker’s Fitness Club is set to host its anticipated Fat 2 Fit 3.0 Fitness Day on June 12th, 2024, at the Football Field adjacent to NUJ, Third Avenue by Amanda Jarvis Hospital, State Housing Estate. This annual event aims to promote physical activity and healthy living within the community.

    Scheduled to commence at 6 am, the day promises a range of activities catering to participants of all fitness levels. From invigorating warm-up sessions led by experienced instructors to group workouts, yoga sessions, and nutritional workshops, attendees can expect a diverse program designed to inspire and support their wellness journey.

    More than just a day of exercise, City Walker’s Fat 2 Fit 3.0 Fitness Day fosters a sense of camaraderie and community engagement. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, share their fitness goals, and celebrate their achievements in a supportive environment.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Labour Leaders Arrive Office Of Nigerian Government Secretary, SGF For Close-Door Meeting

    With its picturesque setting and inclusive atmosphere, this event invites individuals to embrace a healthier lifestyle while enjoying a day filled with fitness, fun, and inspiration. Save the date for City Walker’s Fat 2 Fit 3.0 Fitness Day on June 12th.

  • Cross River State Hosts Inaugural Student Leaders Conference 2024

    Cross River State Hosts Inaugural Student Leaders Conference 2024

    The maiden edition of the Cross River State Student Leadership Conference 2024 was held on Friday, 31st May, at the Prof. Eyo-Ita House in Marian, Calabar. Organized by the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, the event aimed to empower student leaders by fostering a culture of service and capacity development.

    In his opening speech, Comrade Enyam Joseph-Kelvin, the Special Assistant on Student Affairs to the Executive Governor of Cross River State, highlighted the importance of the conference. He emphasized that this initiative marks the beginning of an annual tradition where student leaders from various institutions across the state can come together to discuss their challenges and seek solutions through collaboration with the government.

    “Over the years, we’ve not had the opportunity of discussing like this as leaders across various institutions in the state. And I feel it’s time to begin to discuss,” said Joseph-Kelvin. He further stressed the government’s commitment to ensuring a conducive learning environment for all students in the state, regardless of their origin.

    Joseph-Kelvin conveyed a goodwill message from the Executive Governor of Cross River state, Sen. Bassey Otu, who was unable to attend due to pressing national duties. He assured the attendees that the government is dedicated to making significant infrastructural developments and attracting investments to the state.

    Read Also: Cooperate with contractors, C’River NDDC Rep appeals to communities

    “Our state today is getting investors from across the world. We are getting a lot of interventions. Our state is opening up for the first time, opening to investments, opening to a lot of things that will boost our capacity,” Joseph-Kelvin noted. He encouraged students to build their capacity and be ready for the positive changes coming to the state.

    The keynote speakers especially Commissioner Mike Odere shared their experiences and offered guidance on various topics, aiming to equip the student leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed. The Special Assistant urged the students to listen attentively and apply the lessons learned to their leadership roles and future endeavors.

    Joseph-Kelvin expressed optimism about the future of the conference and its impact on student leadership in the state. “This is an opportunity for us to begin to chart a direction. Going forward, we believe that this event will become an annual event in Cross River State under my office,” he stated.

    The conference ended with a renewed sense of purpose among the student leaders, who were left inspired and equipped to make a positive impact in their respective institutions and communities.

    Notable speakers included Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar the chief of staff to the state governor, Ekpenyong Akiba, Esq, the Special Adviser on General Duties, Hon. Justin Atiang Beshel, Hon. Mike Odere, Commissioner Of Finance, Barr. Odum  Ijom Ukam, Commissioner for Youths development, Hon. Pius Edet the commissioner Of works and infrastructure, Sen. Stephen Odey, Commissioner Of Education, Rt. Hon. George O’ben-Etchi, Ph.D, Chairman, Cross River State Forestry Commission, Amb. Chris Lekan of CRID, Hon. Stanley Boyce Nsemo of the 10th Cross River State House of Assembly (CRSHA), Hon. Bassey Effiong Bassey, Chairman, House Committee on Education of the 10th CRSHA, and many others.

    The event also saw participation from several media partners, including AIT, NTA, Arise News, and Sparkling 92.3 FM. It was an opportunity for students to gain insights from experienced leaders and to chart a new direction for student leadership in Cross River State.

  • Cooperate with contractors, C’River NDDC Rep appeals to communities

    Cooperate with contractors, C’River NDDC Rep appeals to communities

     

    By Kelvin Obambon

    For a successful project execution, there is need for community members to cooperate with contractors, Cross River representative in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, has stated.

    The NDDC Commissioner made the appeal over the weekend when he met with leaders, women and youths of Eto Mkpe Yellow-Duke community in Akpabuyo local government area of the state.

    Duke who was in the community to inspect the installation of solar lights, urged them to allow contractors mount the lights, stating that it is for the best interest of the community. He noted that although the lights were not enough, efforts were being made for more to come.

    While charging them to always be receptive to contractors, the NDDC rep promised them that roads and other projects would be executed in Eto Mkpe and other communities as long as he remains the NDDC Commissioner.

    Read Also: NDDC Board Member, Rt Hon Orok Duke, Vows To Revisit All Abandoned Projects In C’River

    Furthermore, he urged them to give their total support to the Prince Bassey Otu-led administration which he described as human-centered, reiterating that as an intervention agency, his work at NDDC is to fill in gaps and complement the effort of the state government in critical areas of needs.

    Responding, some of the community members who spoke separately, assured the NDDC Commissioner of their cooperation, even as they pleaded for more projects in their area.

  • NDDC Board Member, Rt Hon Orok Duke, Vows To Revisit All Abandoned Projects In C’River

    NDDC Board Member, Rt Hon Orok Duke, Vows To Revisit All Abandoned Projects In C’River

     

    By Kelvin Obambon

    Cross River representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, has vowed to revisit all the Commission’s projects that have been abandoned across the state.

    Duke stated this Friday during an inspection visit to a skill acquisition center located in Akpabuyo local government area that has been abandoned.

    Describing the project as massive, the NDDC Commissioner underscored its significance to Akpabuyo and Cross River as a whole. He declared that a project of such magnitude if completed would have had great economic impact on the people of the area, which on the long run could address youth unemployment and its attendant restiveness.

    Read Also: C’River NDDC Rep, Orok Duke, presents relief materials to Bakassi returnees

    Duke assured that he would make case for all the abandoned projects in Cross River before the interventionist agency, expressing optimism that they would be looked into with a view to completing them.

    Since assumption of office as the Commissioner representing Cross River, Rt. Hon. Orok Duke has demonstrated unwavering determination to tackle issues affecting communities in the state in line with the Commission’s statutory mandate as an intervention agency.

    He has consistently affirmed that his work at NDDC is to complement the effort of Cross River State government in all aspects of development.

  • Investigation: Akamkpa Community Left To Suffer After ₦297.7 Million Road Project Stalls

    By Archibong Jeremiah

    Residents of Ayeabam community in Akamkpa local government area in Southern Cross River State, are suffering due to an unfinished road project awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2014 and the Cross River Basin Development Authority (CRBDA) in 2021. Both contractors abandoned the project, and NDDC violated the Public Procurement Act of 2007, TheInvestigator uncovered.

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Wednesday, 24th September 2014, contracted Bayou La Batre Ltd to construct the Ayeabam-Awi road in Akamkpa local  government area of Cross River State valued at ₦248,435,000.

    On the NDDC website, the contract is listed as a completed project, but an investigation by this digital newspaper reveals otherwise.

    Apart from lying that the project was completed, TheInvestigator established that NDDC violated section 16, sub 6(i) of the Public Procurement Act of 2007 in the contract awarded to Bayou La Batre Ltd.

    The company was registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on Valentine’s Day, 14th of February 2012, its registration number is RC 1010063, and the directors are Ozigbu Johnbosco, Arigbodi Richardson, and Amangala George.

    It was incorporated for “petroleum products sales and distribution” services.
    Engaging it in constructing the Ayeabam-Awi road in Akamkpa violates section 16, sub 6(i) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 which mandates that a bidder must have “professional and technical qualifications to carry out particular procurements.”

    Secondly, the company got the contract two years after incorporation which is not in line with the Public Procurement Act of 2007 that envisages that all contract-seeking entities would have been filing returns and paying tax, among other obligations, for three years prior by providing a tax clearance certificate.

    Tax clearance for 3 years is sacrosanct, a mandatory document required for review and certification, not operating for three years.

    An on-the-spot road assessment by TheInvestigator shows that Bayou La Batre Ltd abandoned the ₦248,435,000 project halfway. It began from the Mbarakom junction by the highway and ended at the stream that divides Awi and Ayeabam
    communities.

    Second Company Also Abandons Project

    To complete the half-job done by Bayou La Batre Ltd the Cross River Basin Development Authority contracted Bluecream Investment Limited in 2021.

    Rt. Hon. Daniel Asuquo, also known as Dansuki, a Member who represented the Akamkpa/Biase Federal constituency in the House of Representatives until 2023 facilitated the contract as his constituency project.

    Records from GovSpend, an analytics site designed to give user-friendly access to information on daily spending at all levels of government show that Bluecream Investment Limited was paid ₦49,280,231.38 for the construction of internal roads in the Ayeabam community – ₦40,316,743.88 was paid on 26th July 2021, and ₦8,963,487.50 on the 15th of July, 2022.

    At least Bayou La Batre Ltd did more than 55% of its job but Bluecream Investment Limited fell short of that because it abandoned the project in an early stage.

    Bluecream Investment Limited graded the road, poured a stone base, and provided gutters from Ayeabam junction in the Awi section of the Calabar-Ikom highway, and ended close to the Government Secondary School.

    Two years after receiving the second tranche of payment the company has not returned to the site, leaving the community residents to suffer.

    The CAC incorporated Bluecream Investment Limited on 30th June 2000, and the registration number is RC 384030 while the directors are Alice John Ikpeme, Nene Ikpeme Asuquo, and Effiong Asuquo.

    The Impact And Call For Action

    As a result of the abandonment, Ayeabam residents are left to suffer because the road’s unfinished state is leading to difficulty in using the Ayeabam axis of the road.

    Residents face difficulties in commuting and transporting goods due to the poor road conditions. Businesses in the area also suffer due to limited accessibility and potential increase in transportation costs.

    Speaking to TheInvestigator residents called for quick intervention from the
    procuring entities.

    Mr Ebin Okon Ita, Youth Secretary of Ayeabam community said the state of the road makes him feel bad and the contractor should be made to return to the site.

    He said, “The contractor should come back to the site because the state in which they left the road is worse than when we were managing it.”

    Pleading, the Youth Secretary said “Our plea to the government is that there should be a modality such that if a contractor is going to carry out any contract in a community he should first meet the community and let us know the designs and dimensions of the project so that we also will monitor the job.

    “It is our own, if the government has remembered us we have so many communities and it remembers a community like ours it is not something that the contractor will come and do a shallow job believing that we don’t have anybody who will question them,” Mr Ebin said.

    Furthermore, he enunciated “It makes me feel bad because these contracts are awarded through the politicians that we voted to go and represent us. My message to them is that, as the representative of the people, there is no way you can share money with every individual in this community but everybody can benefit from this
    road.”

    Sharing some of the challenges the unfinished road posed he said “People have been having serious injuries from this road because of the bad nature. Whatever the government has given to you to take to your people please do it with all amount of sincerity.”

    Relatively, Mr Joseph Itanjok also called for the contractor to return to the site, soliciting that to ensure compliance with standards, community members should be part of the contractors’ team.

    He said “From the look of things, we need a real hand that will assist us to make sure the road is awarded and worked according to standard. We beg the people handling this project to see how they can facilitate the project to completion.”

    Mr Itanjok revealed “Now we use our manpower to see how we can fix it to a manageable state, without using our manpower we wouldn’t have the possibility of moving the way we do.

    “From the look of things, in one way or the other they embezzled the money. When they are sending contractors the CSO should come from the community so that they will insist on standards but when there is nobody from the community they will do what they like.”

    Government Should Not Be Praised For Road Construction – Ukeme

    The Cross River State Coordinator of We The People, Ukeme-Obong Ekong berated the procuring entity for failing to deliver on the project. She noted that the government does not need praise when they do their job because it is their social contract with the people.

    Her words “When government do roads it's not something anybody should clap for any government. This is the responsibility of every government, what they signed in their social contract, this is the right of the people to have access to good motorable roads so that they can have access to market for their products. It is giving your citizens an enabling environment they need, to enable them to go about their day-to-day activities.”

    She called on citizens to be more conscious about government projects around them. “There is no point for the government to come up with policies it cannot keep. Citizens need to understand that when these contracts are awarded they should be in the know.”

    Ukeme-Obong urged the government at all levels to ensure they adhere to the provisions of the procurement law.

    NDDC, CRBDA, And Facilitator Can’t Explain

    An FOI request dated 24th of March 2024 asking for details of the contracts was made by TheInvestigator to the Managing Directors of Niger Delta Development Commission and Cross River Basin Development Authority, Dr Samuel Ogbuku and Engr. Bassey Nkposong respectively.

    They did not respond within 7 working days after receipt of the request as required by the FOI Act.

    NDDC’s contact number available on its website, +(012) 345 6789 was called severally but could not receive calls. Another request was made through the website contact form. Still, TheInvestigator has yet to get a response from NDDC regarding why they awarded the contract in procurement violation and why the project was abandoned.

    The Spokesperson for the Cross River Basin Development Authority, Dr Jackson John was contacted over his official line 08185461116 by TheInvestigator on Friday, 29th March 2024, he gave this reporter an appointment for Tuesday, 2nd April 2024, where he asked for a fresh copy of the FOI requesting for information about the contract.

    Between Friday 29th March to 9th May 2024, the Spokesperson for the Cross River Basin Development Authority and TheInvestigator spoke on eight (8) different occasions, and the FOI is yet to be responded to.

    The facilitator of the second phase of the project, Rt. Hon. Daniel Asuquo, until 2023 represented the Akamkpa/Biase Federal constituency in the House of Representatives. He was mailed on 7th April 2024, to provide details of the contract and answers to why it stalled, but it went unanswered.

    WhatsApp messages were also sent and delivered, but TheInvestigator received no response. He was called over 5 times and didn’t take or return the
    calls.

    WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW

    TheInvestigator produced this story through its Environmental and Accountability Reporting  (EAR) project with support from CITAD and the MacArthur Foundation.

  • Interview: Businesses are yet to explore the full potential of online advertising – Wofai Williams

    Interview: Businesses are yet to explore the full potential of online advertising – Wofai Williams

    Calabar-based online advertising expert, Wofai Williams, is of the opinion that businesses in Nigeria, and Cross River in particular, are yet to fully explore the benefits of online advertising. This according to her, has led to so many businesses not making enough sales to maximize profit through turnover.

    In this exclusive interview with the Paradise News, she talks about the fundamentals of online advertising and sponsored ads campaigns on social media and how businesses can key into it for leverage.

    Excerpts

    Please tell us about yourself.

    My name is Wofai Ojeje Williams, I’m the face behind Wofai Online Advertising Agency. I’m from Cross River state. I was born and brought in Abeokuta, Ogun State where I did my primary, secondary and tertiary education. I graduated from Moshood Abiola Polyethnic where I had my Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication. I’m married with 3 lovely kids.

    How long have you been in the online advertising business?

    I’ve been in this online advertising for 2 years now and it has been an amazing journey so far because this is what I love doing, helping people to grow in their various fields by putting their products or services out there for a large number of people to see through sponsored ads on facebook and instagram.

    What Is Online Advertising?

    The simplest definition of online advertising is “any form of promotion delivered through the internet.”

    What are the benefits of running sponsored Ads?

    Unlike traditional ads, online ads can be targeted at a particular audience. For example, if you sell women’s shoes, you can target your ads at women who are in the market for buying shoes or have already made a purchase from you. This way, your ads will be shown to people likely to buy, rather than everyone.

    Real-time tracking and measurement
    Online ads can be tracked and measured. Once you publish your ad, you can track how many people saw the ad (impressions), clicked on it, and went beyond the landing page and bought something. This can also help you determine your return on investment.

    Read Also: C’River NDDC Rep, Orok Duke, presents relief materials to Bakassi returnees

    Compared to traditional advertising, online advertising is a lot more cost-effective. To begin with, running an online ad through Facebook, Instagram, Google Ads, or any of the other digital marketing platforms is cheaper than placing your billboard on a building.

    What’s more, as mentioned above, you can measure what happens with your money and whether or not your ads are actually efficient. This is not the case with traditional advertising, as you can’t really measure how many people stopped at the supermarket after they saw your ice cream billboard on the way home.

    Online ads allow you to try different approaches and strategies. You can experiment with different platforms, audiences, and creative pieces without investing much money. You can target people based on their demographics, or based on their interests. And if your ad isn’t efficient, you can stop your campaign and replace it. Moreover, you can also A/B test your ads to see what works best, so you can double down your efforts on that.

    What are the challenges of Online Advertising?

    Unfortunately, nothing is ever perfect, not even in online advertising. In fact, online advertising is plagued by its own demons and sometimes, they’re pretty complex. For example, the following challenges online advertisers face don’t have clear-cut solutions.

    Still, being aware of them helps you avoid and mitigate them as much as possible, so you can still reap all the benefits of running ads online.

    It is estimated advertisers will lose $100 billion in 2023, all due to ad fraud. Although this issue is not as frequently discussed in mainstream media, it’s obviously a very stringent, painful, and costly one.

    On the other hand, if your ads are defrauded, and you want to take the matter into a court of law, you will find it very difficult to prove the intent of the malicious actions, which also means you won’t have an actual case.

    Ads fraud prevention tools can help you minimize the impact of click fraud, as they use automated systems to spot, block, and prevent future clicks from fraudulent sources.

    For a long time, people have been bombarded with ads everywhere. Pop-up ads, banners everywhere, Google Search getting increasingly more focused on advertising—there’s a whole world of online ads out there, and sometimes, they can feel intrusive.

    Ad blockers were developed to help people protect their attention and time. They basically block ads, allowing users to browse webpages advertising-free. However, this is a real challenge for businesses and advertisers, as you cannot actually make anyone turn off their ad blocker. What you can do, however, is to make sure your ads are creative and entertaining, so people won’t have the urge to put up a blocker.
    Be mindful that people don’t always want to see ads—some may appreciate them, while others will not. Respect their decision by giving users the option to opt out of ads.

    The reason ads can target users so well is that websites collect a lot of data on those who visit them. Although not nominal, all this information is used to create target groups based on a variety of factors, such as age, gender, location, and even preferences and online behaviors. Cookies lie at the very foundation of internet ads, but with rising privacy concerns over how data is collected, managed, and used, some online advertising platforms are moving away from cookie-driven advertising.

    For instance, Google will phase out cookies in the second half of 2024, and replace them with Privacy Sandbox APIs, a more user-friendly way of supporting online advertising. Although at this point (February 2023), cookie replacements aren’t all ironed out, they will sooner or later come into effect.

    Ad fatigue is another challenge modern advertisers have to overcome. Essentially, ad fatigue happens when people see your ads too often. Instead of being drawn by these ads, users start to ignore them altogether, developing a form of “ad blindness” that makes it hard for advertisers to get their attention.

    The key to overcoming ad blindness is to keep the messaging fresh and interesting. That way, users won’t get so tired of your ads that they ignore them completely. Experiment with different ad formats and creative elements to keep things interesting for users.

    All of these challenges in online advertising may seem daunting and even insurmountable, but they don’t have to stop you from running campaigns. With the right strategies and tools, you can overcome each challenge and run ads that yield the results you’re aiming for.

    What are the best practices for Online Advertising?

    Online advertising can be complex, but not impossible. Although every online advertising platform has its own algorithm, rules, and settings, it all boils down to several best practices. Some of the most important ones include:

    Understanding your target audience

    Knowing your target audience is essential to running advertising campaigns that work. The reason behind this is easy to understand: if you don’t know who your ideal customer is, it will be hard to:

    Create targeted campaigns

    Write copy that speaks to your ideal audience.
    Create ad designs that get their attention.
    To really understand your target audience, you should:

    Research their interests, pain points, needs, and wants.
    Create buyer personas to get a better idea of who you’re targeting
    Use quantitative data to find your demographics (e.g., data in Google Analytics and other analytics tools).
    Use qualitative data to understand your audience’s triggers, how they speak, and what they want (e.g., run customer interviews).
    Run recurrent surveys to understand why people buy from you (and why they don’t).
    Essentially, you should know your target audience like someone you met personally, as this will help you devise ad strategies and build ad creatives that get your ideal customer’s attention (and make them click).

    Developing a clear and concise message

    People are busy. They don’t like very complicated things, particularly in a world where instant gratification is the de facto mode people use the internet. As such, your advertising messaging should be clear and concise: it should tell people what it’s in it for them if they buy your product.

    That doesn’t mean there’s no room for creativity in your advertising campaigns.

    On the contrary, using emotion, humor, pop culture references, and power words can help you stand out from the crowd (and thus, increase the efficiency of your advertising efforts).

    Creating engaging and high-quality ad visuals

    Your ad creatives matter as much as your targeting and copywriting, so invest in high-quality, engaging designs that cut through the noise and grab people’s attention. People may not always read every ad they stumble upon, but if the ad design attracts them, they’re more likely to stop scrolling (and start paying attention).

    For example, here are some tips on how to make your visuals more engaging:

    Use high-quality images that align with your ad’s message (but make sure they adhere to the policy of the ad platform you’re using).
    Incorporate bold, attention-grabbing content.

    Staying up-to-date with industry trends and changes.
    Like it or not, online advertising changes a lot What works today may not be available tomorrow, but next week might bring something entirely new and exciting into your life as an advertiser. Rules change, algorithms get updates, and markets shift so you need to stay on top of everything to make sure you’re up to date with industry trends and changes.

    Online advertising has a very enticing proposition: it allows you to be where your ideal customers are for a fraction of the cost traditional advertising used to entail. It’s not without challenges, but once you overcome them, online ads are a very effective way to reach your target audience and help them find your products.

    How do you build confidence and trust among your clients?

    Building trust with clients who want to advertise is crucial for establishing long-lasting relationships and ensuring successful partnerships.

    My customer service is topnotch, Clients who feel valued and well-supported are more likely to trust your agency.

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    What kind of business can be advertised online?

    Any kind of business can be advertised online, there’s no limitation.

    Do you have any form of training for people who wish to learn online advertising?

    Yes. I teach business owners how to promote their business online. People who are in Calabar can have a physical class with me since I reside here in  Calabar. You can chat me on WhatsApp or call 07039447471.

  • C’River NDDC Rep, Orok Duke, presents relief materials to Bakassi returnees

    C’River NDDC Rep, Orok Duke, presents relief materials to Bakassi returnees

     

    …Says intervention serves to complement state government’s effort

    The Commissioner representing Cross River State in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, has presented truckload of relief materials to Bakassi returnees to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

    Presenting the items to the coordinator of the Bakassi returnees camp at Ikang on Friday, Duke stated that the intervention was to complement what the Cross River state government is already doing to address problems faced by the people.

    He charged the camp coordinator to ensure that the relief materials get to the people who needed them most, stating that this would spur up the NDDC to do even more for the Bakassi people.

    After receiving complaints from the people regarding their immediate needs such as roads, electricity, jetty and boats for security agencies in the area, the NDDC Commissioner assured them that their complaints would be presented to the Commission for urgent intervention. He also told them that aside the needs articulated, he would draw the attention of the interventionist agency to other critical areas of development such as education, healthcare, economic empowerment, among others.

    Read Also: INEC urges parties to shun violence in Edo

    Additionally, Duke stated that in subsequent exercise other parts of the state would be duly captured, noting that “we have invasion and refugee camps in Obanliku and Boki which we are working towards. Ours is to ameliorate whatever situation we find ourselves in.”

    In their separate remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Niger Delta, Hon. Ani Esin and the former member representing Bakassi state constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Dr Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, thanked the NDDC Commissioner for reaching out to the Bakassi returnees.

    Receiving the relief materials on behalf of the returnees, Prince Aston Joseph Inyang, the camp coordinator, who was in company of members of the camp management committee, expressed gratitude to Hon. Orok Duke and the NDDC for the donation. He assured the Commissioner that the items would be distributed in a manner that would reflect fairness.

    The relief materials comprise of bags of rice, bags of beans, beds, cartons of noodles, tin tomatoes, toiletries, foot wears, mosquito nets, seasoning cubes etc.