Stanbic IBTC supports Brand Journalists’ Mobile Money conference

L-R: Melvin Awolowo, acting communication manager, Stanbic IBTC; Goddie Ofose, chairman, Brand Journalists’ Association of Nigeria (BJAN), and Bennet Frimpong, marketing manager, personal and business banking, Stanbic IBTC, at the press conference to announce the 4th annual brand & marketing conference with the theme “ Mobile Money in Nigeria” held in Lagos. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU

Stanbic IBTC, a one-stop financial services provider in the country has thrown its weight behind the forthcoming 4th Annual Brand and Marketing Conference of Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN) scheduled to hold from November 3rd to 5th, 2016 in Lagos.

The conference themed, ‘’Mobile Money in Nigeria: Challenges, Opportunities and Threats’’ will feature seasoned experts from the banking and telecoms sectors to proffer solutions to the challenges and opportunities that abound in the use of mobile money payment system.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the association in Lagos, Mr. Bennet Frimpong, Marketing Manager, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC said the reason to partner Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria on the conference is to ensure that Nigerians move forward in whatever they do.

“As a holding company, our agenda is to make progress real in the lives of the customers. We need to tell them that going mobile is one key thing that saves people a lot. It saves you the drive to the bank, it saves you the drive to anywhere you to go and have access to your money. Being in the comfort of your room you can do anything on your phone that saves you a lot of journey, energy and stress’’, he said.

He added that, ‘We need to send the message home to every Nigerian that in times like this, they need to find creative ways of getting more incomes in their pool. They should look at ways that will ensure less strain on their disposable incomes.

In his remarks, Chairman of BJAN, Mr. Goddie Ofose, said the annual conference is specifically designed to address issues surrounding the effective use of mobile money in the country and to educate Nigerians on the need for mobile money adoption.

“Mobile money in other parts of the world has become widely accepted, especially in Kenya led by Safaricom, the country’s largest mobile-network operator which provides platform for mobile phones transactions without any need to handle cash.

“The conference will address the challenges that are affecting the effective use of the platform in Nigeria and also provide extensive discussion to find lasting solution to better ways of using mobile money in the country’’, he said.

The following companies and government agencies have been lined up to speak at the conference. They are Stanbic IBTC, CBN, NCC and telecommunication companies. The event is expected to be declared open by the Executive of Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

The conference, 4th in the series is the effort of BJAN to galvanize professional excellence in brand reporting, has since 2013 organised annual conferences to stimulate industry discussions on national issues. The theme for its maiden edition was “Repositioning Centenary Brands to Align with Modern Realities” was held in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital.

While in 2014, the theme dwelled on “Tourism Marketing as Catalyst for Economic Development” was held in Oshogbo, Osun State and the last edition in 2015 had “Challenges and Prospects of Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, in Nigeria- the Roles of Organisations, Government and the Media”, held in Ibadan, Oyo State.