Multinational energy company, ENGIE, is expanding its off-grid energy offerings in Africa through the acquisition of Mobisol. The latter is a pioneer of decentralized solar solutions with operations in Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya.

ENGIE already has significant activities in off-grid electrification in Africa. The company through its solar home system subsidiary – Fenix International – provides access to energy and financial services to over 500,000 customers in Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, and Mozambique.

Once all approvals of the relevant regulatory bodies are received, ENGIE plans to offer a range of affordable energy products as well as extend its customer base from rural to urban areas. To achieve this, the company is banking on Mobisol’s focus on productive use products and Fenix’s inclusive home solar power systems.

Moreover, the purchase enables ENGIE to bring solar home systems to the three additional countries (where Mobisol operates), adding to the six countries where it already has a presence.

“With the acquisition of Mobisol, ENGIE expands its access to a market of millions who are not connected to the grid and establishes itself as the market leader on the continent,” ENGIE CEO, Isabelle Kocher said.

Additionally, ENGIE supplies affordable electricity to rural populations with its PowerCorner. This is done through smart mini-grids powered by solar energy and battery storage.

PowerCorner reportedly offers 24/7 energy services to households and local businesses as well as to public services in villages across Tanzania and Zambia. All of these services are enabled by digital financial solutions such as mobile money and Pay-As-You-Go technologies.

Kocher stated that with ENGIE’s PowerCorner, Fenix, and now Mobisol, the company will “pave the way for a new generation of affordable energy services” in line with its strategy which is focused on “the acceleration of the zero-carbon transition.”

“Not only do we change people’s lives with clean energy but we trigger economic activities for households and entrepreneurs who generate additional income once they are connected,” the CEO added.

ENGIE is a French multinational electric utility company, which operates in the fields of energy transition, electricity generation and distribution, natural gas, nuclear, renewable energy and petroleum.

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world in going digital, a lot of organizations have changed their strategy to put technology at the center of their plans. Many of these organizations need professionals to manage these efforts, and to serve those needs, Digital Marketing agencies were born.

In simple terms, Digital Marketing is marketing via digital channels. As opposed to traditional marketing, Digital Marketing is targeted, data and technology driven.

There are many Digital Marketing Agencies in Nigeria, but here, we have curated the top 10 whose core business is Digital Marketing.

1. Ringier Digital Marketing

Everybody knows Pulse. They are one of the most popular media houses in Nigeria with major interests in consumable content. But this isn’t about Pulse. This is about RDM, Pulse’s sister company, and one of the flagship brands in Ringier AG – a 180-year-old Swiss company.

Ringier Digital Marketing (RDM) provides companies across Nigeria and Africa professional solutions to profit from the full value chain of online marketing. From development and design of online presence, to the support, planning and handling of social and other digital marketing channels, RDM is helping customers reach their audiences online. Some of their clients include Jack Daniels, Nike, Zenith Bank, etc. Their office is in Lekki, Lagos, and their website is www.rdm.ng

2. DM2 Group

“We know money can’t buy love (except in UNILAG) but a great campaign can buy you loads of affection.”

This is one of the first messages you see when you visit the DM2Group website. Scroll further and you will see some of the groundbreaking campaigns in the history of Digital Advertising in Nigeria.

Founded in 2008, DM2 Group was initially a Traditional Agency – with major interests in Outdoor Advertising. They soon went full circle and basically pioneered some of the types of ads that made Digital Marketing in Nigeria this big today. They were the first to create Facebook Apps for a Nigerian brand (Sprite Triple Slam), and also the first to livestream a brand event online. In 2012, the founder and CEO – Uyi Omokaro won the very first Future Awards prize for Media/Communications in recognition of his efforts in the Advertising industry. The organization has remained a force to reckon with and they have served renowned brands like Coca Cola, Mcvities, Haansbro, Tetra-Pak, Mouka Foam, Interswitch, etc. They also built the video ad serving platform Indigen, a platform that serves video ads to Punch, Vanguard, NotjustOk, Lindaikeji and numerous online platforms. Some organizations that use it include Globacom, Zenith Bank, Stanbic IBTC, UBA, etc. Their office is in Lekki and their website is www.dm2group.com

3. Wild Fusion

If this list were ranked in a particular order, Wild Fusion would be the number one Digital Marketing agency in Nigeria. Legend has it that Abasiama Idaresit founded the company with just $250 in 2010. They soon became the first Google Certified Adwords partner in Nigeria and Ghana, and have now grown to become a group that houses ROI Digital – a media sales agency, Wild Fusion Digital Center – one of the foremost Digital Marketing Schools in Nigeria, and Wild Fusion itself, the Digital Marketing agency with offices in Lagos, Ghana and Kenya.

Wild Fusion has provided Digital marketing services to top Nigerian and International brands including Unilever, Diamond Bank, Knorr, Visa, Samsung, etc. You can find them on www.wildfusions.com

4. Terragon Group

Terragon Group has been a big player in the Digital Marketing space for about 9 years now. Its core business capabilities are Mobile Advertising, Business Solutions, Data and Intelligence. With subsidiaries – Terragon Digital and Twinpine, the group may just be the biggest player in the mobile marketing sector.

Founded by Elo Umeh, a product /project development and management specialist with a vast amount of experience in the African mobile telecommunications industry, Terragon has helped brands like Guinness, Close Up, Samsung, Sunlight, etc., reach their audiences via Mobile and Digital channels. They have also bridged the gap between Publishers and Advertisers, giving them a platform to profit while uniting them with consumers. They have offices in 4 countries across Africa, and their website is www.terragongroup.com

5. Interactive CT

Interactive may have started in 2011, as an offshoot of Centerspread, one of Nigeria’s foremost Advertising Agencies, but they have since grown to become one of the leading Digital Marketing firms in Nigeria. Led by Tola Obi who also doubles as COO of the aforementioned communications house, the Texas-Educated daughter of Kola Ayanwale (founder of Centerspread) has marshaled her matchmakers (members of the Interactive team) to enable the chemistry of fruitful relationships between brands and their audience.

With offices in Anthony Village, they have executed projects for leading brands like Oando, Heinz, KFC, MTN, Heritage Bank, etc. Their website is www.interactivect.net

6. Anakle

Anakle is a digital advertising agency based in Lagos. Easily the most creative Digital Marketing Company in Nigeria, the Editi Effiong-led organization has perfected the art of not just marketing, but building experiences for online audiences. They have been around since 2010, but gained national and global reckoning when they created the viral Brideprice App in 2014. The app, which calculates the brideprice of women broke the Internet and spun conversations that lasted weeks. It featured on many international media, including CNN, Independent and Cosmopolitan, and it has become a case-study on the inexact science of virality.

Anakle has since executed Digital Marketing and Advertising briefs for multinationals including Access Bank, PZ, UBA, Coca Cola and global Internet giant, Wikipedia. They have their offices in Lekki, and their website is www.anakle.com

7. Bytesize

An affiliate of the Rosabel Group, Bytesize was co-founded by Bukola Akingbade in September 2009. It is one of the pioneer Digital Marketing agencies in Nigeria and has been known to combine consumer research, creativity and insight to transform people’s businesses. In their portfolio are globally renowned brands like P&G, Hennessy, Nigerian Breweries, Nestle, Philips, Dangote Group, and ARM pensions. They were the guys behind memorable campaigns like Star’s Football digital campaign for the 2014 World Cup, which had competitors (and other sponsors) scrambling to catch up.

Now under the leadership of Nosa Ademola, a 20-year veteran in the marketing industry, Bytesize is now a part of independent agency network – Worldwide Partners and its clients have won local and international awards for their work, including Digital Agency of the Year award at the 2015 MarketingWorld Awards. Their office is in Ikeja, Lagos, and their website is www.bytesizeng.com

8. Webcoupers

Sometime in 2012, 3 young men came together to create Webcoupers, an online advertising agency domiciled in Yaba, Lagos. These men are Abiodun Adepoju, Olabode Olatoye and Peter Ajegbomogun, all ex-classmates at the University of Ibadan where they graduated with degrees in Computer Science. As managing partners at Webcoupers, they lead a team of 20+ people whose mission is to help brands grow the reach and visibility of their businesses online through a combination of digital marketing, creative solutions and an astute understanding of advertising platforms.

They have executed design, marketing, technology and rich media briefs for clients like Google, Payporte, Globacom, etc. Their website is www.webcoupers.com

9. IDAfrica

The youngest agency in this list, IDAfrica is a subsidiary of Black House Media Group, a conglomerate that houses BHM – the PR agency, TheNetNG, the news and entertainment platform, Plaqad – a platform that connects publishers/influencers with marketers and brands, amongst others.

Founded by media mogul, Adekunle Ayeni in 2015, the young agency combines cutting-edge technology with creative strategies to help individuals, brands or organizations connect with the people they care about, while optimizing their influence, growth and revenues online and offline. They have served high-end clients, including Pepsi, Aquafina, MTV, American Honey, the Lagos State Government, etc. Their office is in Lagos and their website is www.idafrica.ng

10. 3rdfloorDigital

Do you know Simon Page? Scratch that. If you’re in the Nigerian Digital Marketing/Communications space, then you should know Simon Page. It is arguably the number one Digital Marketing School in the country and they have trained over 5000 people since inception. But this is not about Simon Page. This is about 3rdfloorDigital, ‘their’ Digital Marketing agency.

3rdFloor Digital is an integrated digital marketing consultancy that basically partners with brands to achieve their business objectives by recommending and strategically deploying various Internet marketing tools.

Led by founder and CEO, Princewill O Omorogiuwa – a 25-year veteran in the marketing industry – 3rdfloorDigital has worked with brands like Peak, Imperial Leather, Thermocool, Scheider Electric, etc. Their offices are in Lagos, Ghana and Kenya, and their website is www.3rdfloordigital.com

Worthy mentions

Some other Digital Marketing agencies that are doing fantastic work are:

Streettoolz

Amplify

Dotts Media

Thisruption

Giga Lagos

Penzarrville

Syracuse

Note: For the sake of clarity, a lot of big advertising/media/communications organizations are not featured because they are not core Digital Marketing agencies. They may be Creative, Public Relations, Traditional and Media Communications Agencies, but their core business is not Digital Marketing, like the ones listed.

Top 5 Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning service providers to energy companies in Nigeria

EPCC services (Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning) has always been the basis for the fabrication, design, procurement, installation and commissioning process modules for operators in the oil and gas/ power industry. These services are capital intensive and require well experienced players in this space. This form of contracting is very common amongst major IOCs in sub-saharan Africa, and very few standard providers play in this space in Nigeria. This article outlines 5 top EPCC providers currently operating in Nigeria.





NESTOIL

Nestoil is at the heart of innovation with cost-effective EPCC solutions. The company was incorporated in 1991 and is currently Nigeria’s largest indigenous Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) Company in the Oil and Gas sector. As a major indigenous EPC provider for major IOCs (International Oil Companies) in Sub-Saharan Africa, Nestoil has grown exponentially in its industry through investing heavily in the development of its human and material capacity. With its pipeline construction and pressure vessel manufacturing, Nestoil is keen to providing an adequate in-country facility” to deliver first class services.

Some of Nestoil’s projects includes the Shell Nembe-Cawthorne channel trunkline replacement project, Shell Kolo-Creek- Rumuekpe trunkline replacement, and the Nestoil’s tower project which was designed to be highly environmentally friendly.

Services
Pipeline/Flowlines Construction
Horizontal Directional Drilling
Pressure Vessel Manufacturing
Steel Structures Fabrication
Services and Consulting

Website - https://nestoilgroup.com/




KAZTECH ENGINEERING LTD

Kaztec Engineering Limited is a 100% indigenous Engineering, Procurement, Installation, Construction, and Management (EPIC-M) Company. Incorporated in 2005, Kaztec has become the pace setter EPIC-M company in the Onshore / Offshore Pipelines and Facilities

Services
Offshore Fabrication and installation
EPCI for onshoreFacilities & Pipelines
Subsea Pipe Laying


Website:
http://www.kaztec-eng.com/



DORMANLONG ENGINEERING

Dorman Long Engineering Limited was established in 1949. Dorman Long is one of the top leading Oilfield Equipment, Structural Steel, Marine Structures Engineering and Fabrication Company in Nigeria.



Services
EPC (Onshore & offshore)
Pressure Vessel Manufacture




BROWN ROCKS NIGERIA LTD

Brown Rocks Nigeria Limited was incorporated in Nigeria under the Companies and Allied Matters Decree, in the year 1998 to render various services to oil and gas sectors of the Nigerian economy at on- shore and off-shore locations respectively. Brown Rocks Nigeria Limited is wholly an indigenous firm that focuses on engineering – Mechanical, Civil, Welding and Corrosion Control, Electrical and Instrumentation, Local and International Industrial Support Services to Oilfield production and facilities. The company aims at providing quick solutions to construction, design and engineering problems as they affect the Oil and Gas industry.



Services
Fabrication of Offshore Platform Deck
Piping, Appurtenances
Onshore Construction & Maintenance


Website: http://brownrocksng.com/Brownrocks/




ALCON Nigeria Ltd

ALCON Nigeria Limited commenced operation on the 10th day of May 1982 as MED Construction, incorporated with registration no: RC 47042. On March 30, 1984, due to the need to increase its scope and framework, it was renamed ALCON Nigeria Limited. The main office is located at Plot 17 Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt. ALCON also has a marine base/fabrication yard in Woji, Port Harcourt, Rivers State and a branch office in Ughelli, Delta State.

The Company has over 3,000 well trained workforce comprising both local and foreign nationals with a Nigerian Shareholding of just above 64%.

ALCON is an Engineering, Procurement, Installation and Commissioning (EPIC) Contracting Company and a highly esteemed organization with the capability of carrying out over 250,000 man-hours for Engineering and Technical services and in excess of 6,500,000 man-hours for Construction services in the Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Instrumentation Fields. ALCON has about 30 years of experience with excellent performance and sound proved records of project executed and under execution.

Services
Onshore/Swamp Construction
Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering Works.


Website: www.alcon-nig.com/


In conclusion, most EPCC companies as we can see, although presented as EPCC service providers, do not offer these services completely down to the commissioning stage of the EPCC process. It is therefore worthwhile to take this into consideration during inquiry stages of an EPCC company to consider when embarking on a new project. The main players are IOCs (international oil companies), who sometimes for new projects, consider working with different EPCC providers. However, having one company handle an EPCC service from start to finish would be mostly ideal.

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