Premium enjoyment on a budget 🏖🍿
Hello Venturer,
What song are you singing this weekend? Are you Team 'we outside' or Team homebody? My idea of a fun weekend is deep cleaning my room, lying on clean sheets after a shower, and binge-watching my favourite shows with some snacks, and scented candles burning. So I'm definitely Team homebody.
For those on the other team, there are three main motivations for wanting to engage in social activities: one is the fear of missing out - FOMO. Two, you are a social butterfly who loves to visit new places and meet new people. Three, you have too much money, money is meant to be spent, and it can only be spent outside.
In this issue of VA Weekly, we talk to an experience curator whose job is to offer premium enjoyment to people in the three categories mentioned earlier.
Amoo Zainab
Social Media Executive
What's new?
Food, micro adventures, and travel; The work diary of an experience curator.
Given the state of insecurity in the country, you often have to investigate the safety of certain places. Putting all of these into consideration takes its toll and it’s easy to discard your bucket list for Netflix. Fortunately, people like Chidera Echedom have taken on that planning process so you don’t have to. Chidera is an experience curator who plans and organises fun events, travels, and activities. Read more.
Do development bank loans actually benefit Africa’s smallholder farmers?
On July 19th, the African Development Bank (AFDB) Group Board, approved more than $1 billion for an emergency food production plan. The bank targeted the facility at 20 million African smallholder farmers to end reliance on food imported from Russia and Ukraine. Read more.
My Pivot Journal: How this former engineer found love working in finance
Mercy Bobai’s career was mapped out for her, even before she knew what a career meant. She was going to be an engineer. But after two engineering degrees, a family loss, and some hard money lessons, Mercy realized engineering is not as fulfilling as she hoped. She decided it was time to evolve. A tough decision considering why she had become an engineer in the first place. But a few years later, Mercy is confident she made the right choice. Read more.
Weekly Economic Index: Dollar hike weaken african currencies and economies
On Wednesday, the 27th of July, 2022, the United States (US) Fed hiked its benchmark lending rates by 0.75 per cent to control inflation. The move triggered a depreciation of currencies in several African economies like Nigeria, and within hours, the price of goods and services surged. Experts project less flow of investment due to currency volatility, growth in unpaid dollar debts and weakened export sector in emerging markets like Africa. Read more.
The rise of influencer marketing in the Nigerian tech startup scene
A 2021 U.S report by Civic Science found that 14 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds had bought something within the last six months due to a blogger or influencer’s recommendation. This transcends beyond the United States. The influencer marketing trend is a worldwide phenomenon and smart brands are already reaping the benefits of influencer collaborations. Read more.
Economic characteristics of emerging markets during a recession
In April, analysts suggested that the global market was heading for a recession by 2023 because the US, Europe, and China are simultaneously nosediving into an economic slump by December. What then becomes of emerging markets during a global recession? Here are some features that would characterise emerging economies during a global recession. Read more.
Twitter Space. How can organizations manage brain drain?
In Africa, especially Nigeria, there has been a rise in the brain-drain of skilled professionals to foreign countries. The tech, banking, and medical sectors are the most affected as employees tender resignation for better opportunities abroad. The negative implications of brain drain on organizations and economies include reduced human capital, economic demoralization, limited innovation, slower economic growth, demographic shifts, and lack of knowledgeable staff.
Nowadays, tech talents are in high demand globally, and Nigeria has many. So companies looking to hire talents come shopping in Nigeria and leave with the best talents they find. Countries are also organising programs to lure tech bros over, such as the Tech Nation Visa. But how can organizations manage brain drain? Join us on Thursday, the 18th of August 2022 as we explore this topic.
The impact of the Fed's new lending rate on emerging economies
Typically, a hike in the dollar price on the global market means that inflation would set in vulnerable economies. But this would also trigger some positives for people and economies on different levels. With surging dollar prices, emerging markets could be heading into a recession by default. That is the case currently but not entirely, as economic experts argue. Read more.
Our Weekly Collectibles
Discover interesting tiny love stories in the New York Times’ Modern Love column.
When her daughter’s private photos and information were posted online, a justice-seeking mother takes swift action. Find out how in the most hated man on the internet.
About 56 million tons of clothing are sold every year. But in the end, the cheap garment comes at a high price. Find out how fast fashion has transformed the textile industry in the shady world of cheap clothing.
Ever wondered what your favourite brand logo would have looked like in the middle ages? Check out Ilya Stalone’s medieval branding in how famous logos would look in the middle ages.
#VANUGGET
Remember to stay safe!
