Business
NPA Seeks Partnership With US Ports
The Nigerian Ports Author
ity (NPA) has said that it had evolved new strategies to attract foreign investors to the nation’s ports.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos recently by the Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Musa Iliya.
The statement said that two ports in the U.S. had indicated interest in having business relations with the NPA.
It said that the two ports – the Port of Miami and the Port of Everglades – recently visited by some members of the board and management of NPA had indicated their willingness to have business relations with the NPA.
According to the statement, this will facilitate technology transfer as well as inflow of foreign investments.
The NPA Managing Director, Malam Habib Abdullahi, led the delegation on the working visit to the two ports.
Abdullahi said the NPA would encourage business relationship with the two ports under the Public -Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The NPA managing director told the management of the two ports on efforts of the Federal Government to reposition the nation’s seaports for efficiency, competitiveness and enhanced performance.
Abdullahi said the continuous growth being experienced in Nigerian ports was a reflection of government’s efforts anchored on the need to deliver service in accordance with international best practices.
He urged the foreign investors to take advantage of the new development in Nigeria and the on-going deep sea ports projects in the country.
The NPA managing director also talked about the abundant maritime business opportunities in the nation’s seaports, all waiting to be tapped.
He said the NPA would do all within the extant laws to encourage prospective investors.
At a business roundtable with the Inbound Business Development Mission in Miami, Abdullahi implored the members, some of whom were Nigerians, to support the Federal Government’s efforts in developing all sectors of the nation’s economy.
According to the statement, at the Port of Miami, Mr Richard de Villiers of the Office of the Port Director, talked about activities in the port.
He spoke on cargo and cruise operations, stevedoring, security as well as crane management.
He said the Port of Miami and the NPA could work out a mutual business relationship, especially in areas of their comparative advantage.
Also at the Port Everglades (a seaport in Florida), the Deputy Port Director, Mr Glenn A. Wiltshire, told the delegation that the port had elaborate plan to collaborate with any port in any region of the world, depending on the volume of trade.
He urged the potential investors to take advantage of the incentives put in place by the Nigerian Export promotion Council (NEPC) under the One-Window-Export programme.
The NPA delegation also held meeting with the Operator and Executive Director, Marie Gill of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) in Miami.
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