Business
Board Pledges To Deepen Nigerian Content Goals Implementation
Traffic on Abuja-Kubwa Expressway at Gwarimpa in Abuja, recently.
The newly appointed Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Denzil Kentebe, has promised to deepen its implementation process to attain Nigerian Content goals.
This is contained in a statement on Monday in Abuja by Mr Obinna Ezeobi, Media Relations Supervisor, Public Affairs Division, NCDMB.
It said the secretary made the statement at a handover ceremony by his predecessor, Dr Ernest Nwapa, at the board’s headquarters in Yenagoa.
He assured stakeholders in the industry that the tempo of the implementation would be sustained and improved upon to derive more benefits for Nigerians from the operations of the oil and gas industry.
The Executive Secretary thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for the appointment, saying it would afford him the opportunity to serve Nigeria.
He expressed passion about his new assignment and urged staff of the board to adopt the highest levels of passion, responsibility to Nigerians and zero tolerance for corruption in their duties.
He stressed that passion was the key ingredient needed to implement the provisions of the Nigerian Content Act and meet the expectations of Nigerians.
“I have a lot of passion for what I am about to begin and for us to move forward as a country we need to believe in ourselves, and we need to develop the capacity to do things that we would export to the world,” he said.
He commended the pioneer Executive Secretary and staff for the achievements recorded in implementing the Act in the first five years of the board.
He promised to improve on the accomplishments.
“I have followed NCDMB for a while and what we are doing today is not to fix something but to build on what was started off in a wonderful manner.
“We are going to build on that foundation and I appeal for everyone’s cooperation,” he said
Earlier, Nwapa thanked President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, for the opportunity given to him.
He expressed appreciation for the support he got for the implementation process.
He urged stakeholders of the industry to support the new leadership, assuring that the implementation had become institutionalised as a philosophy of industry operations.
He said that provisions of the act and guidelines issued by the board would continue to protect and give advantage to investments in the country.
“The provisions of the Nigerian Content Act are very clear to the industry.
“Anybody doing a project or any operations in the oil and gas industry today asks questions about Nigerian Content and that is something we all should be proud of.
“All we need to do is to continue building on the achievements,” Nwapa 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