Business
Investors’ Hopes Rise, As New SEC DG Takes Over
Two key events took place last week at the Nigerian capital market which could as well serve as a pointer to what 2010 holds in stock for various players in the market.
The first event was the formal resumption of Arunma Oteh, the new director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), albeit after a long wait since her appointment was approved by the National Assembly.
The other good news happened to be the positive growth that was recorded in the equities sector (surprisingly in the first week of the year) with the market capitalisation closing at a high. Market operators are more optimistic about the Nigerian capital market improving than the previous year.
The performance of stocks in the top ten gainers class in the period were in the region of 22 per cent and 27 per cent price appreciation. In the banking sector, Oceanic Bank Plc, Bank PHB Plc and Afribank Plc, made the list of the top ten gainers with 25.99 per cent, 25.36 per cent and 24.28 per cent, respectively. The market trend shows that most of the stocks in the period outperformed the All-Share Index.
According to analysts at Proshare, “the surge recorded in the market performance in the last seven trading days might not be unconnected with the pronouncement from the CBN on the moves toward increasing liquidity situations in the economy, the fact that tension in the banking sector is being doused, the change in SEC leadership with the resumption of the new DG, promise from the regulators to lead a more transparent and more efficient capital market, US Export-Import Bank $1 billion loan support guarantees to 14 lenders bailed out by CBN, and most importantly, the present status of most of the value stocks which are trading at discount.”
As an investor, what would you rather have: a good year or a good decade? Forget the good year. Of course, you’d much prefer the good decade. The lesson? It’s better to think in terms of decades than single years (or, worse, quarters and months).
As we start a new decade, expectations are high and investors would like to put their money where their mouth is. For the new SEC DG, it is expected that she would work to bring confidence to the market.
“The shortlist of what she must do, according to Victor Ogiemwonyi, would include the quick and immediate implementation of the Dotun Sulaiman committee report, the sustained effort to cleanse the market, by quickly completing the efforts already started by Daisy Ekineh who was acting DG before she resumed.” It has also been suggested that Oteh should investigate and decide all cases of market manipulation of the recent past.
“This way, we can rid the market of bad news quickly and learn from the mistakes by making new rules that will ensure the infractions do not happen again. She should also work to strengthen industry trade groups that will act as market monitors and allow her to focus on the big picture,” Ogiemwonyi said.
Finally, stakeholders want the new DG to also learn quickly that regulators do not talk like politicians. They speak only when necessary
MoniePoint Inc. a digital financial firm in Nigeria, has said it is empowering community pharmacists across the country with innovative payment solutions to improve access to drugs.
The financial firm said it had also provided loans for pharmacists under the aegis of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) to drive healthcare delivery in the country.
MoniePoint in a release titled, “Inside Nigeria’s community pharmacies: How Moniepoint drives healthcare access with payments and funding”, has reaffirmed its commitment to providing digital payment solutions to improve health outcomes in Nigeria.
The release examined how community pharmacies play a crucial role as vital access points for medical care in Nigeria, especially in areas with limited hospital or clinic access.
According to the release, the ACPN National Chairman, Ambrose Igwekwam, highlighted the critical role played by community pharmacies in Nigeria’s healthcare system over the years.
Igwekwam, however, expressed concerns over the challenges confronting the nation’s pharmaceutical industry which he said was hindering access to affordable medicines.
The pharmacist listed poor infrastructural systems, power, transportation, regulatory bottlenecks, importation dependency, and limited research opportunities as major challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector.
He also stressed the need for robust collaborative efforts with institutions like Moniepoint to strengthen the sector.
“As Nigeria continues to grow, improving local pharma manufacturing to meet the demands of this growth presents a key opportunity for us all.
“There is also the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, which is expected to boost our industry, especially when we start producing our drugs locally, which will provide the much needed foreign exchange from exports.
“We are also seeing advancements in digital health and technology which would hopefully deepen the practice of e-prescription in Nigeria”, the ACPN boss said.
Corlins Walter
In order to enhance customer service and streamline operations, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has called on stakeholders in the insurance industry to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The President of the institute, Yetunde Ilori, made this call at the 2024 Office Representatives Committee (ORC) Workshop, organised by the institute, with the theme “AI and the Future of the Insurance Industry”, in Lagos.
Ilori at the event, emphasised the importance of AI adoption, noting that it was not a threat to jobs but rather a tool to improve efficiency across the insurance sector.
“It is not about AI taking over our jobs, but about us using AI to simplify processes and give maximum satisfaction to all the customers we serve whether as underwriters, brokers, loss adjusters, or in educating our members”, she said.
The workshop, which brought players in the insurance sector together, aimed to address how AI could be leveraged to transform business processes and improve customer interactions.
The Chairman of the ORC, Monica Nwachukwu, underscored the role of AI in modernising the industry, adding, “AI can automate customer and claims processes, allowing insurers to provide faster and more efficient services to their customers”.
She explained how AI could help extract data from legacy systems, enhancing decision-making processes.
“By integrating AI with APIs, insurers can feed valuable data into AI solutions to improve operations and customer service”, she added.
In his address, the Managing Partner of A4S and Training Heights, Orlando Odejide, stressed the need for companies to align their strategies with future technologies like AI, especially as they prepare for 2025.
“Any organisation that wants to grow into the future must have its strategic plan in place. If your strategy for 2025 is not ready, it should be done by October”, he advised.
He encouraged participants to think critically about how AI could be integrated into their business models to ensure they remain competitive.
“The idea is for you to use this workshop as a platform to think about your organization and how AI can help streamline your processes and improve growth”, Odejide noted.
In order to gain global respect and recognition, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has reaffirmed its determination to pursue its goal in ensuring that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global space economy.
In a statement by the Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, NASRDA revealed that the Director-General of the agency, Matthew Adepoju, emphasised this during recent engagements at the 79th United Nations General Assembly and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Global Alliance Business Association international conference in Michigan, United States.
The statement noted that Adepoju outlined a forward-thinking agenda, stressing the importance of Nigeria’s space programme as a leader in research, exploration, and technological innovation.
“Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
“We must foster collaborations with global space agencies to enhance our satellite capabilities and technological infrastructure”, he stated.
The NASRDA boss said the agency is focusing on enhancing satellite capabilities, expanding international collaborations, and leveraging space science for national development.
He said NASRDA will have no stone unturned in pursuit of excellence, ensuring the agency secures the necessary resources and recognition to propel it forward.
“The relationships we build today will pave the way for tomorrow’s advancements in space science.
“Innovation and progress thrive in an environment built on collaboration and inclusivity”, he stated.
He emphasised that with the support of the government, international partners, and a dedicated team, NASRDA is poised to make significant strides in the evolving global space landscape.
“We are on the brink of a new era for Nigeria’s space agency. Together, we will ensure our nation stands out in the global space economy”, he said.
Corlins Walter
