Business
NBCC Urges Vibrant Export System To Improve Trade Balance
The President, Nigerian-
British Chamber of Commerce Mr Adeyemi Adefulu, has called for a vibrant export system to improve the nation’s economy and balance of trade with Britain.
Adefulu told the our correspondent recently that Nigeria could leverage on the large population of Nigerians in the Diaspora by increasing its existing export to Britain.
“There are nearly three million Nigerians living in Britain. There are more Nigerians living in Britain than anywhere else in the world outside of Nigeria.
“That is a market into which we should be exporting daily. There are lots of goods that can be exported to Britain. It is a natural market for our export, even for food.
“But you will be surprised that at this point in time more than 80 per cent of food Nigerians in Britain eat are exported by other countries and not Nigeria.
“Pineapple and yam come from Ghana; Garri is being exported from Ghana, even though they do not eat garri much in Ghana.
“The same thing with cassava ‘foo-foo’ otherwise called ‘Akpu’ which the Ibos here eat, they have the equivalent in Ghana which is being exported to our people in Britain.
“Banana and plantain come from Costa Rica, even ‘Ewedu’ comes from Egypt, the Nile. These are things we should be exporting daily,’’ he said.
Adefulu said that managing the process, value chain and product quality becomes imperative for Nigeria to harness and benefit from the existing bilateral trade with Britain.
“You will not be dumping your plantain and banana the way we dump them here and they will find acceptance. It is only in Nigeria that such will sell they will not sell in other places.
“When a bunch of plantain is harvested, they hang it like that and then export them properly with respect.
“We must give emphasis to quality because Nigerian products have bad storage system and that is affecting everything we do.
“When the products get there, they will reject it because they know we will not comply with the quality standards,’’ Adefulu said.
He urged the government to build infrastructure to support export and create the right financial environment and encourage training of operators who are adding value to export promotion in the country.
“If export thrives, the trade is worth several billions, but you must build the necessary infrastructure; put the right financial intermediation in place and train your exporters.
“There are many goods that can be exported, including flowers and vegetables but when you get to our airports there are no cold room facilities there.
“The goods get to the airport in the morning, remain in the sun all day, by the time they are exported in the evening, they are dead.
“That is a great discouragement for export. If we really want to get export right, these are things that must be attended to.
“In Ghana, all those agricultural products, do not queue. They are given a fast track to the top of the line. They are treated as national priority,’’ Adefulu said.
He urged the government to give the necessary buffer and support to exporters by looking at the risk and help them to mitigate it.
“The government must take it as an article of faith for the survival of our economy,’’ he said.
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