HiPipo Money

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MultiChoice Africa is partnering with Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa to launch an exciting new BET channel on the DStv Premium bouquet from Thursday 2 April AT 17:30 CAT.

Designed to reflect, respect and elevate the rich variety and positive values of African and African-American culture, BET will be VIMN Africa’s second BET channel and will be available on DStv Channel 129. The channel will co-exist alongside sister channel BET2 (formerly BET), currently available on DStv channel 135 on the DStv platform and on GOtv channel 23 (where available).

The new 24-hour channel will provide an uplifting blend of international and African programming from a variety of genres, including drama, family-friendly sitcoms, stand-up comedy, documentaries, talk shows, awards specials, reality series, gospel music, and more.

“The new BET channel on the DStv platform will not only enrich our Premium subscribers’ television viewing experience with more current, world-class entertainment but the channel’s inclusion of African productions is in line with MultiChoice’s commitment to showcase African talent,” said  MultiChoice Africa CEO Nico Meyer.

Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa, commented: “VIMN Africa is delighted to announce the launch of this new BET channel that will connect viewers with international trends, talent and thought leaders, whilst simultaneously celebrating Africa’s talent and creativity.  This evolution for the BET brand on the continent significantly broadens our general entertainment offering and provides a dynamic and compelling new destination for viewers.”

DStv Premium subscribers can look forward to the first African produced show on the channel, a brand new reality series, Top Actor, and new seasons of original drama Being Mary Jane (starring Gabrielle Union) and Kevin Hart’s spoof reality hit Real Husbands of Hollywood.

Another new face on the channel will be Martin Lawrence, entertaining viewers with his hilarious stand-up comedy series The 1st Amendment Stand-Up.  In addition, epic entertainment for the Easter weekend will be provided in the form of gripping Biblical drama, A.D. (sequel to The Bible), premiering on BET at 20:55 CAT on Monday 6 April.

DStv viewers will also be the first to view favourite BET franchises such as The Wendy Williams Show, hosted by the chat show queen, comedy drama The Game and high octane music specials such as Black Girls Rock, the BET Awards, The BET Honors and the BET Hip Hop Awards.  Gospel plays a prominent role on the channel in the shape of music and praise from Bobby Jones Gospel, and reality series Sunday Best, SWV Reunited and Mary Mary.

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Telecom Company donates 500 MAMA kits to mothers in Eastern Uganda

Bugiri, Uganda – Airtel Uganda extended its Happiness Campaign to Eastern Uganda by donating MAMA kits to pregnant women in Bugiri district and surrounding areas. The handover of the kits was presided over by the Member of Parliament for Bukoli North Constituency, Honorable Baka Stephen Mugabi.

Also in attendance were community leaders, Bugiri residents and Airtel Uganda employees.

The telecommunications company partnered with the World Health Organisation, Maristopes clinics and local health centers to ensure that the 500 MAMA kits donated would be distributed to those pregnant women in need, free of charge.

Addressing guests at the handover ceremony, Airtel Uganda’s Human Resources’ Director, Mrs. Flavia Ntambi Lwanga, Human Resources Director said the Company was honored to play its part in the advocacy for safe motherhood and family health care.

“2015 is the year in which Airtel Uganda is actively seeking ways to promote the happiness of our customers, countrywide. We want to help our subscribers meet their needs, whatever they may be. These kits will help 500 mothers in Bugiri district with both their personal and family and health needs,” she said.

“In a country with a maternal mortality rate estimated at 505/100,000 live births, we have a responsibility to bring change in our areas of operation and eventually, reduce the deaths of mothers by ensuring clean and safe birthing conditions,” Ntambi added.

Ntambi also thanked the partners for their contribution to the initiative. “We are honored to be working with credible and efficient partners; the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Maristopes Clinic; both of whom are dedicated to ensuring an improvement in the health sector of Ugandans countrywide,” she said.

The Guest of Honor, Honorable Baka Mugabi commended Airtel Uganda and its partners for what he called “…a noble and worthwhile cause.”

“We cannot think of a better way to approach the celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day in Bugiri district. Airtel Uganda has today given hope to 500 mothers and essentially, stopped them from becoming part of the sad statistics,”
he said.

This initiative comes only a few weeks after Airtel Uganda held a community health fair in Arua district in Northern Uganda where medical services were extended to over 1000 people.

Bugiri district is a rapidly growing metropolitan area in Eastern Uganda located approximately 77 kilometers by road, east of Jinja, on the highway between Jinja and Tororo. It lies on the main highway between Uganda’s capital, Kampala, and the border towns of Malaba and Busia. In 2012 the population of Bugiri District was estimated at approximately 426,800 persons. 

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Airtel Uganda thrilled music fans in Uganda with a Women’s day concert that was headlined by top Nigerian artist Tiwa Savage. The concert which was held at Kati-Kati Grounds, Lugogo also featured a lineup of top female artistes including; Rema, Irene Ntale, Cindy, Sheebah, Keko, Lillian Mbabazi as well as Airtel Uganda Trace Music Star winner Sandra Suubi.

Airtel Uganda has become associated to Women’s Day celebrations in Uganda. In 2014, the telecom company sponsored the “Ugandan Women of Substance” 2014 Awards ceremony that featured Jamaican artist Nyanda as the main act.

According to Airtel Uganda Brand Assets and Properties Manager, Noella Byuma, “Airtel Uganda realizes the importance of the woman in everyone’s life. By being part of this concert, Airtel Uganda joined the rest of the world to pay respect to the women who have in one way or another, positively influenced our lives.”

“Airtel Uganda will continue to be committed to supporting and recognizing women in Uganda who have made a significant contribution to society through sports, music, public service, arts & culture and media,” she added.

Tiwa Savage is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, recording artist, performer and actress, currently signed to Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Mavin Records. Born on February 5, 1980 in Nigeria, Tiwa relocated to London where she studied and later to the United States where she began her music career as a background singer for artists such as Mary J. Blige, Sting, George Michael, Kelly Clarkson and Spice Girls.

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M-Net has put on hold plans to shut down Maisha Magic in March and extended the viewing of the channel to the end of May this year.  Viewers have now been assured that they will still enjoy their favourite shows as arrangements are being made on a smooth transition as well as a natural closure to some of the channel’s already on-air shows.

Maisha Magic now broadcasting on Channel 161 on DStv, was initially set for termination end of March 2015 due to inability to achieve the required ratings. According to M-Net Sub Sahara Africa CEO Patricia Van Rooyen, the business decision was taken after much deliberation following an assessment of the channel’s performance.

Among shows currently on air on Maisha Magic include popular comedy shows Don’t mess with Kansiime, Mr and Mr’s Singh and Mazagazaga. Others are music reality TV show  Maisha Superstar, Tujuane Plus and drama shows such as Rush and Deception. Veve, an original Kenyan film which won Best Indigenous Movie Swahili category in this year’s AMVCA awards, premiered on the channel in November last year.

While confirming its commitment to the East African region, M-Net has now pledged to utilize its resources towards revitalizing and improving the content on the remaining Maisha Magic Swahili channel, which is on both GOtv and DStv,  to make it more entertaining and appealing to viewers in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

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Johannesburg – MTN Group today announced the appointment of Omotayo Ojutalayo as General Manager for Small and Medium Enterprise Channels within its Enterprise Business Unit, effective immediately.

Ojutalayo joins from MTN Nigeria, where she was a senior manager responsible for the SME customer segment. With the appointment, MTN aims to ensure greater focus on the SME segment at a Group level.

“Small and medium enterprises are a key segment of our customers. We recognise the important role which they play in the local economies of our markets. Thus, we believe that MTN has an opportunity to further aid development in the countries where we operate, by using technology to enable SMEs to grow. This is in line with our purpose to enable and inspire the growth of enterprises in emerging markets. Through the development of this new area, we will ensure there is greater focus on the technology needs of SMEs,” says Mteto Nyati, MTN Group Chief Enterprise Officer.

Nyati says Ojutalayo brings valuable experience and skills to her new role. “As an internal appointment, Ojutalayo is well versed on our business. She has also been working in our Nigerian operation for over four years, with a special focus on the SME segment.”

Ojutalayo has extensive experience in sales and business development, and holds an MBA degree from the University of Lagos.

She will oversee MTN’s strategic and go-to-market approach for the SME customer segment. Ojutalayo will work closely with enterprise business counterparts in MTN’s operations to provide support and ensure successful implementation of the SME value propositions.

Ojutalayo’s appointment follows other key appointments within MTN’s Enterprise Business Unit in recent months, aimed at better addressing the needs of enterprise customers.

About the MTN Group

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator, connecting subscribers in 22 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN.” As of 31 December 2014, MTN recorded 223,4 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. Visit us at, www.mtnbusiness.com, www.mtn.com and www.mtnmmo.com

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Collaborative effort between ASEC Engineering and the American University in Cairo’s Engineering and Science Services Department offers students professional training and degrees in highly specialized fields in Cement engineering and management.

Under the auspices of ASEC Engineering, an engineering services subsidiary of Qalaa Holdings (CCAP.CA on the Egyptian Exchange; formerly Citadel Capital), the American University in Cairo (AUC) hosted on Tuesday, 3 March 2015, the graduation ceremony of the first round of recipients of the university’s inaugural Professional Diploma for the Cement Industry with a specialization in Mechanical Maintenance.

The program offered by AUC’s Engineering and Science Services Department —which was launched this term and whose syllabus was developed in cooperation with ASEC Engineering’s ASEC Training Center—offers a comprehensive academic and practical education in the field of Cement engineering and management and is comprised of three specializations: Specialized Maintenance for Cement plants, Operation & Production Engineering, and Testing & Quality Control.

The degree includes six academic modules, each consisting of 45 credit hour online courses, affording students the ability to pursue their academic aspirations while maintaining their regular employment schedules.

Attending the ceremony will be a number of top-level managers from both Qalaa Holdings and ASEC Holding, including Eng. Khaled El-Sebaie, Chairman of ASEC Engineering, in addition to senior administrators at the university’s Engineering and Science Services Department, such as department’s head, Dr. Mahmoud Farag. 

Qalaa Holdings (CCAP.CA on the Egyptian Stock Exchange) is an African leader in infrastructure and industry. Formerly known as Citadel Capital, Qalaa Holdings controls subsidiaries in core industries including Energy, Cement, Agrifoods, Transportation & Logistics, and Mining. To learn more, please visit qalaaholdings.com.