Business
PHED Commissions Customer Service Centre
In an effort to improve cus
tomer relations and efficient services, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has commissioned a Customer Service Centre to ensure customer satisfaction and efficiency.
While commissioning the center, the Commissioner, Government and Consumer Affairs, NERC, Dr Abba Ibrahim, commended PHED for providing customer service until which will ensure customer satisfaction, describing it as the first of its kind in the power industry.
Ibrahim said PHED is the first distribution company that has met NERC expectation in terms of standard and customers care and service provider in line with the electricity reform.
He recalled that in 2009, the president re-launched roadmap for the power sector, and the focus was really on the electricity consumer satisfaction, stating that “what we have here is all about this satisfaction.”
According to him, “impressive achievement of PHED has set the standard for others to follow and replicate across all their business units which covers Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bayelsa, and Cross River State.
Abba said these are the level of standard the commission is looking at achieving because it is a new emerging electricity firm in Nigeria, and commended PHED for the feat achieved.
He urged the customers to come forward and make use of the services that are being provided for them, advising the pioneer staff of the customer service unit to be courteous friendly, diligent and work toward the satisfaction of customers.
The NERC boss noted that the commission has been advocating for this kind of service that the telecom industry operates.
According to him, “the PHED customer service is better than what I have seen in some telecom service unit and the staff should be privileged to be part of the transformation and pioneers of the service unit.
“I must say PHED is the first distribution company in the country that has met the NERC expectation and we have to commend and praise them for this feet as we expect others to follow and replicate this to all their zones”, he said.
The Assistant General Manager, Customer Service, Engr Godwin Orowvororo explained that the customer center is an integrated package where all the online services are linked to all the services so that if there is complaint, it will automatically send out signals of the fault to be rectified.
According to him, “complaints and faults are attended to and rectified within six minutes”. “As soon as we get the report, we activate the system, the telephone lines are all linked to all our business units”, he said.
Orowvororo said they also have cash office at the company head office, where payments are paid, adding that the company intends to have a self service portal for people to serve themselves.
Speaking to journalist shortly after the commissioning, the Chief Executive Director, Distribution Services, PHED Engr. Johnkin Achife said the idea of the service center is for their customers to have access to information and for the company to assist them in case there is an issue. He said the company has online facilities that allow them anywhere to have access to reach the company.
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