Business
Nigerian Economy’ll Bounce Back – Dangote
Africa’s richest man,
Alhaji Aliko Dangote has allayed concerns over the Nigerian economy brought on by declining oil revenue and political uncertainty over the elections, stating that the country is strong and will bounce back.
Speaking to The Tide source recently, the business mogul said every country faces challenges when markets go through periods of booms and busts, but there was no reason to be concerned about the Nigerian economy, as its fundamentals are strong.
He said the economy was simply passing through a temporary setback owing to low commodity prices, but expressed confidence that the country has the capacity to emerge stronger in few months time.
“As long as we manage our resources property, even with crude oil selling at $50 per barrel, Nigeria has the ability to pull through because the fundamentals are strong.
“So what we are going through should just be seen as a temporary setback”, he said.
Dangote who has seen N1.8 billion of his flagship company, Dangote Cement Plc, wiped out since falling oil prices precipitated massive losses in the Nigerian equities market and a devaluation of the Naira against green back said he had absolute confidence in the economy and would continue to invest in it as appreciable returns on investment were guaranteed in Africa’s biggest market.
In the mean time, Nigeria’s stocks rose for the eighth day recently in what Bloomberg described as the largest winning streak since July 2013 as investors brought into companies they deemed over sold following declines spurred by concerns that lower oil prices and elections may hurt the economy.
“Bargain hunters are taking advantage of the low oil price of a number of stocks”, Ikechukwu Ineanacho, who helps manage about N6 billion ($30 million) of equities and bonds at Chapel Hill Deuham Secrities Limited, said according to a phone conversation with The Tide Correspondent.
“They have sufferedfar beyond what the fundamentals would suggest, largely on the back of oil and foreign investors coming out of the market ahead of the elections”, he said.
The Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index rose from 0.2 per cent to 30,195.56 by the close of trading last Friday, extending its eight day gain to 9.5 per cent.
Stock prices fell to 7.2 times estimated earnings on February 12, the lowest in Africa and below the MSCI frontier Market Index multiple of 9.9.
But valuations rebounded to eight times predicated earnings for the next 12 months on Friday.
Quaranty Trust Bank, Plc, the biggest bank by markets value has climbed, the most in the last eight days raising 36 per cent.FBN Holdings Plc, which owns Nigeria’s largest lender by assets, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, was up 22 per cent, while Zenith Bank Plc increased by 20 per cent in the period.
GT Bank and Zenith are “some of our farourite shares” said Iheanacho. “They are among the banks that have the greatest prosperity to weather the storm.
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