Brands/Products
Abah Boniface Wins Future Brand Idol 2024
By Adedapo Adesanya
Abah Boniface, representing the University of Ibadan, has emerged winner of the 2024 edition of the Future Brand Idol (FBI), a prestigious advertising contest.
He bested 20 other candidates to win the top prize on Monday in the competition that has run over the last three weeks.
He becomes the new winner of the rebranded FBI which was restarted following a two-year hiatus after a new partnership between Forbes Black Member community member, Mr Emmanuel Dairo and the founder of the contest, Mr Abdullahi Ahmed Atewe.
While Abah Boniface took the top prize, Olowu Evidence, also a student of the University of Ibadan, emerged as the first runner-up, while Promise Odejide of Kwara State University came third.
Boniface wins a scholarship worth N400,000 to O2 Academy Lagos plus a cash prize of N200,000 while Evidence gets an internship in a leading advertising agency in Nigeria plus a cash prize of N150,000, while Promise walks away with an internship opportunity in a leading advertising agency in Nigeria plus a cash prize of N50,000.
Boniface’s emergence sees him continue a trend set by the University of Ibadan which at the last event in 2021 saw Oluwadara Adesanya (UI) emerge as the winner while Favour Olushola (University of Lagos) and Shola Adido (University of Ilorin) emerged as first and second runners-up, respectively.
The participation at this edition was extended with 21 contestants competing from over 10 tertiary institutions and schools, out of which only five contestants made it to the final stage.
For the first week, the contenders were taken on a rigorous bootcamp to train them on idea formation, brief development, and execution among others.
For the second week, there were tasks assigned to each of them and five candidates made it to the final, in the concluding week.
Expressing his excitement on his emergence as the winner, Boniface appreciated all efforts made and applauded the organisers for the training and experience.
The lead judge and Creative Director at Noah’s Ark Communications, Mr Maurice Ugwonoh, praised the contestants for displaying talents that can propel Nigerian advertising into the new age.
Adding his input, Mr Atewe, the founder of the competition said “We are so happy with the evolution of Future Brand Idol, we have seen that talent abound in the country and we are doing our bit to refine and give them the avenue to establish themselves.”
On his part, his new partner for the competition, Dairo said, “This is just a taste of what we are capable of achieving. At the next edition, we will be looking to open this to more talents and even go beyond what we plan on because we are true to our words to connect talent with opportunities.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The chief executive of Canal+ Africa, Mr David Mignot, has disclosed that MultiChoice is now fully integrated into the media group.
Mr Mignot disclosed this via a statement issued on Thursday, noting that this development marks a new phase in the evolution of one of Africa’s leading pay television operators.
He noted that the integration positions MultiChoice within a global media organisation with an extensive international footprint.
“MultiChoice is now a full subsidiary of a truly international media group operating in 70 countries. The group was founded in France, is listed in London and Johannesburg, and has a strong African presence with operations in more than 45 countries,” Mr Mignot said.
The statement underscores the scale of the combined business, highlighting Canal+’s global reach alongside its significant investments across Africa.
The completion of the transaction is expected to strengthen MultiChoice’s position in the African media and entertainment market by giving it access to the broader resources, expertise and international capabilities of the Canal+ Group, while reinforcing the group’s commitment to the continent.
MultiChoice operates across sub-Saharan Africa through platforms including DStv and GOtv, serving millions of subscribers with entertainment, sports and news content.
By Adedapo Adesanya
FoodCourt, a Nigerian cloud kitchen startup backed by Y Combinator, has suspended operations after months of unpaid salaries and mounting debts to vendors triggered a staff strike and forced the company to halt customer orders, according to a report by TechCabal.
The publication reported that customers first noticed on March 4 that they could no longer place orders through the FoodCourt app after the company disabled ordering as kitchen workers, delivery personnel and branch staff embarked on strike over unpaid wages. The company also owed outstanding payments to vendors.
By April 19, FoodCourt had temporarily shut its last operating branch after suspending activities across its Lagos and Abuja locations while seeking fresh funding and restructuring the business, according to the report.
The company’s chief executive, Mr Henry Nneji, said the decision to pause operations was not caused by a single issue but by a combination of operational, organisational and working-capital challenges.
“It’s important to clarify that the decision to pause operations wasn’t driven by one single issue. We reached a point where it became clear that continuing to patch those issues while operating wasn’t the right long-term decision,” he said.
“The objective is to build a stronger business than the one that existed before the suspension. We fully intend to bring FoodCourt back,” he added in an emailed response.
The company acknowledged outstanding obligations to employees, vendors, riders and service providers, but declined to disclose the number of affected workers or the total amount owed. It said efforts were underway to resolve the liabilities as part of its restructuring process.
It was also reported that the startup’s financial difficulties worsened after expansion into additional locations increased operating costs, while its cloud kitchen model came under pressure from rising labour, logistics, food and marketing expenses.
Despite the shutdown, Mr Nneji said FoodCourt intends to relaunch after completing its restructuring, adding that the company believes demand for its products remains strong.
Founded in 2021 by Henry Nneji and Paul Adokiye Iruene, FoodCourt operates cloud kitchens under multiple virtual restaurant brands through its consumer app. According to TechCabal, the startup had previously disclosed raising $1.7 million, delivering more than one million meals and reaching $4.3 million in annual recurring revenue by the end of 2024.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
To further reinforce its commitment to continuous enhancement of customer experience through menu innovation and quality improvements, Chicken Republic, Nigeria’s leading quick-service restaurant brand and a flagship brand of Food Concepts Plc, has improved its Smokey Jollof recipe across restaurants nationwide.
As a customer-centric brand, Chicken Republic regularly evaluates consumer feedback, dining trends, and product performance to ensure its menu continues to deliver the quality and value to which customers have become accustomed.
The updated Smokey Jollof is part of this ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.
The refreshed recipe represents the latest evolution of one of the brand’s most popular offerings.
Developed with a focus on richer flavour, greater consistency and an even more satisfying eating experience, the improved Smokey Jollof reflects Chicken Republic’s dedication to meeting the evolving tastes and expectations of its customers.
“At Chicken Republic, our customers are at the heart of every decision we make. We are constantly listening, learning and looking for ways to improve the experience we deliver.
“The improved Smokey Jollof is a reflection of that commitment. We’ve refined the recipe to deliver an even richer, more enjoyable taste experience while maintaining the flavour profile our customers know and love,” the Managing Director of Food Concept, Mr Olumide Aniyikaiye, stated.
“Great brands evolve with their consumers. This update is not about changing what people love, but about making it even better.
“We are confident that customers will enjoy the improved recipe and appreciate the attention we continue to invest in delivering quality meals every day,” Mr Aniyokaiye added.
The improved Smokey Jollof is now available at Chicken Republic outlets nationwide, allowing customers to experience a more flavourful and consistent version of a fan-favourite menu item.
This latest enhancement underscores Chicken Republic’s broader commitment to innovation, quality and creating memorable meal experiences for customers across Nigeria.
