Business
Bank Pledges Partnership With NASENI On Indigenous Technology
The Bank of Industry (BoI)
has pledged its willingness to collaborate with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), to promote indigenous technology in Nigeria.
The BoI Managing Director, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, said this in Abuja recently when he led the bank’s management team on a working visit to the NASENI office.
Olaoluwa said that BoI was prepared to support and encourage Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) that were ready to patronise NASENI’s products.
He also urged engineers to key into the agency’s initiative by partnering it on technology innovations that were development oriented.
He said there was a direct correlation between technology and the nation’s development, adding that it had been proven that no nation could develop without technology.
“BoI will be prepared to support SMEs that are ready to patronise NASENI’s technology. We are also willing to collaborate with the agency on many of its products like the solar panel and agricultural processing machines.
“A nation that wants to develop must pay attention to technology because it has been proven from the beginning of humanity that technologies control the economy.
“No matter how hard we try, unless we are able to achieve some form of independence in terms of technology, we are only scratching the surface,’’ the BoI boss said.
He said the bank’s role was to serve as an active link between centres of innovation such as NASENI with its affiliate institutes and industries, because BoI was seated at the centre of industrial development.
He urged NASENI to get its technology products patented to be able to get returns in form of royalty from its users to sustain the agency.
Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Dr Muhammed Haruna, said the agency was determined to own its technologies locally to drive the nation’s industrialisation.
Haruna said that NASENI had launched made-in-Nigeria motorcycles and tricycles and many other technologies which included cassava and grain processing machines and solar panel.
He said that BoI’s support for the agency’s innovations would help increase its capacity to produce more.
According to him, the possible areas of collaboration expected from the bank include training and capacity development for new and existing SMEs.
Haruna said the agency also needed the bank’s collaboration in the provision of appropriate technologies for entrepreneurs, indigenous industries, SMEs and industrial parks around the country.
“We also need collaboration in technical support and extension services to sustain the growth of new and existing indigenous industries and the development of off-grid electricity generation to support indigenous industries,” he said.
The NASENI boss said the agency had launched five kilowatts of kinetic turbine in Mada River in Nasarawa State, while currently working on 2×35 kilowatts in Ikeji in Osun.
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