Access Bank becomes headline sponsor of CNBC Africa's Street Talk show

CNBC Africa and Nigerian-based bank Access Bank have joined forces in a sponsorship deal. The bank is now headline sponsor of the network’s daily morning markets and business news show, Street Talk.

Street Talk is a daily markets show that crosses live to traders and analysts in Nigeria and Kenya as the markets open, to get up-to-the-minute analysis.

"Street Talk is a key and strategic programme on CNBC Africa that consistently delivers on the channel's promise of creating a voice for Africa's business community", says Gary Alfonso, COO of CNBC Africa. "The programme has become a 'must see' for business audiences in particularly West Africa - because of its focus on the markets in Nigeria and regular crossings to influential business leaders in Lagos and Abuja. But it's also the only show that tracks the markets opening from East, South and West Africa", says Alfonso.

Sharing in the network’s success of securing Access Bank PLC as the main sponsor of Street Talk is Pule Molebeledi, CNBC Africa’s Sales Director, who commented: "We are very happy to have Access Bank as one of our key clients in Nigeria. We are looking forward to a sustainable and mutually beneficial partnership with one of Nigeria’s trusted and leading banking group.

"The relationship with Access Bank is important to us as it further demonstrates the growing advertiser confidence developing within Nigeria when it comes to our brand".

Since the network’s establishment two years ago, CNBC Africa has been showing a substantial increase in viewership and attracting the right calibre of decision makers in and across the continent. Partnerships with emerging and driven market leaders such as Access Bank are testament that CNBC Africa is a dependable source of business news in Africa. Alfonso emphasises: "Street Talk brings Wall Street to Africa Street - every day - and gives the world the Africa perspective without fail".

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Michael Joseph said sport was a key pillar of the company’s engagement with its market.

"Sport is not just a core mandate of our corporate giving but a major component of our expanding brand asset portfolio. We are glad to welcome Safaricom Sevens into this family that already includes The Safaricom Marathon, Safaricom Sportsman of the Year Awards (SOYA) and the Safaricom Gusii Golden Series, among others", Mr. Joseph said.

Speaking at the same event, KRFU Chairman Richard Omwela said the tournament would retain its traditional format of sixteen teams, although the union is contemplating increasing the number of participating teams.

Invitations to next year’s event had already gone out to all the teams that participated in this year’s tournament, including South Africa, Fiji, France, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Uganda, Japan, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Bristol University and Greenoble of France.

"I am delighted that Safaricom has finally come on board after many years of courtship. Being associated with the largest telecoms service provider is a big statement and we welcome Safaricom with both arms". he said.

Mr. Omwela said the national sevens’ team’s performance in 2008/9 season was “astounding” and hoped they could pick up where they had left off by establishing themselves among the top four in the world.

Since its inception in 1996, the Safari Sevens tournament has continued to grow in strength as more and more quality sides express interest in attending Africa’s premier 7-a-side rugby tournament. Safaricom is promising an even a better event come next year after taking up the title sponsorship.

The StreamServe Sustainability Program offers a series of research, best practices, and tools designed to help businesses determine the eco-savings that can be achieved through StreamServe’s business communication solutions.

"For over ten years, StreamServe and SAP have collaborated to deploy and support integrated dynamic billing and customer communication solutions at over six hundred joint customer sites, including many of the largest utilities in the world", said Dennis Ladd, StreamServe president and CEO. "In addition to sharing a great desire to solving the business communication needs of today's utilities, StreamServe also shares SAP’s commitment to improving the environment and helping those with the greatest of needs.

"We hope that our sponsorship with SAP of the Clean Water project will not only help provide improved water supplies and health education to the populations of Ethiopia, but also serve as a catalyst for other companies to join us in improving the environment and the world as a whole".