Data Science Runs Free Boot Camp for Young Scientists

As part of its vision to make Nigeria the data science outsourcing hub for Africa before 2019 and create one million new jobs in the next 10 years, Data Science Nigeria is holding an extensive learning boot camp between Friday 20 and Sunday 22 January 2017 in the Lekki axis of Lagos State. The boot camp will address varying capacity gaps in data science for beginners, intermediate and experts with specific focus on machine learning, R statistics and programming/Python for advanced data analytics.

Data Science Nigeria is a professional-led non-profit designed to train and mentor young Nigerians through face-to-face, virtual online classes, project-based support and holiday boot camps. The ultimate intent is to raise a special breed of data scientists and knowledge entrepreneurs who will set up data science based businesses and attract foreign exchange to the nation.

Data Science Nigeria is an initiative of MTN’s executive, Bayo Adekanmbi who previously served the company as the General Manager Business Intelligence and Chief Marketing Officer before proceeding on a 15-month academic sabbatical for his PhD research on the use of data science for understanding consumer social consumption behaviour.

The boot camp will run as a regimented learning session and will include virtual classes with foreign-based data scientists, self-paced online certificated courses and face-to-face session by local experts in Machine learning, Statistics, Python and R.

Python Nigeria, a user-group that promotes Python computer programming language in Nigeria will facilitate some of the practical hands-on session on Python programming.
The free residential boot camp comes with an intensive requirement. All the world-be participants are expected to complete a 12-hour course on IBM BigDataUniversity.com and submit their completion certificates to secure a placement.

Data Science Nigeria is driven by a compelling push to raise a new generation of world-class data scientists, who can tap into the over $125 billion big data analytics market. Available statistics from IDC Research Group already indicates a need for almost 200,000 people with deep analytical skills in the US by 2018, and a requirement of five times that number for positions in data management and interpretation capabilities.

Analysts, Experts Excited by Nigeria’s First Private Atelier

The opening of Alter Ego Private Atelier in Nigeria by Alter Ego Project Group is already generating excitement among experts in the Nigerian luxury industry. Alter Ego Private Atelier offers bespoke luxury solutions through world-renowned Italian style with a touch of tailor-made interpretations.

Alter Ego Private Atelier launched in Abuja on with an exclusive opening party for high profiled guests in Nigeria.

Chief Executive Officer of Black Pelican Limited, and a partner with Alter Ego Private Atelier, Michael Owolabi, said the presence of the company in Nigeria signalled a new dawn for the luxury industry. According to him, this shows Nigerian luxury industry is coming of age.

In an earlier report, Phillips Consulting confirm that luxury industry was indeed experiencing growth, adding that wholesale and retail trade accounted for about 21 per cent of Nigerian GDP, preceded only by the agricultural sector which contributed 35 per cent.
The report also added that with a growth rate of about 10 per cent, the luxury sector is expected to continue to be a key driver of the GDP, hence the growth prospect for luxury companies like Alter Ego Private Atelier remains bright in years to come.

Alter Ego Private Atelier is already keying into the opportunity by offering bespoke services that covers different aspects of luxury living such as travelling and unique interior objects.
“Alter Ego Private Atelier delivers top-of-the-range expertise in interior design & decoration and exclusive travel accessories,” CEO, Alter Ego Project Group, Julia Lantieri said.

“VIP clients seek for comfort, aesthetics and exclusivity in every aspect of their lives. We are able to give the ultimate response to such sophisticated inquiry. Alter Ego Private Atelier in Abuja adheres to the philosophy of bespoke luxury solutions.”
Before it berthed in Nigeria, Alter Ego Project Group has contributed to luxury lifestyle in major countries across Europe like Italy, France, Monaco, Croatia, Great Britain and The Russian Federation. With the quest to explore the African market, Alter Ego Private Atelier in Nigeria is confident to set new trends in luxury living on the continent.

Africa has a huge potential for growth in the luxury industry as the continent boasts of high profile clients with taste for rare quality. Hence, Alter Ego has identified these key clients who Owolabi says are not different from Alter Ego Private Atelier clients from any other place around the globe.

Okeme, Former Unilever Chief, Moves to Remita

Nigeria’s leading payment platform Remita/Systemspecs has appointed David Okeme, former Brand Building Director, Unilever as its Chief Marketing Officer. Okeme will be spearheading the marketing function of the company, as it makes inroads into the retail space.
Until recently, the Marketing Director of Unilever Nigeria, Okeme has had an illustrious marketing career spanning countries and cultures. A multiple career-award winner, Okeme has initiated many successful traditional and digital marketing initiatives and will be operating as our Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)”.

Remita/Systemspecs is Nigeria’s leading Indigenous payments company, and operator of the Treasury Single Account (TSA). Its already processing over $30 billion transactions. The immediate task is to transform the organisation from a B2B to B2C and C2C, as well as go international.

Okeme has had a distinguished career with Unilever. His working experience with Unilever covers the entire four lanes of marketing: Brand Building, Brand Development, Customer Development & and Customer Marketing. A career high point was his expatriation to Unilever Arabia, based in Dubai in 2008, where he looked after the Unilever Oral Care business in the Africa, Middle East and Turkey region. Upon successful completion of the expatriation stint, He was appointment to the Board of Unilever Nigeria Plc as Marketing Director in 2011. He is passionate about brighter life for African Consumers and one of his pet projects is listed in the Guinness Book of records.

He is a 1990 graduate of the University of Jos, and obtained business education at the Ivy league institutions of London Business School and Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania. Recently, completed the Chief Executives Programme (CEP 21) of the Lagos Business School.

A Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria. Currently, President, Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), and Member, Executive Board, World Advertising Federation(WFA).