Business
Western Sahara:NLC, Others Stage Protest To End Colonisation
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has within the week in Abuja demanded that Morocco should put an end to its colonisation of Western Sahara.
The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, made the call during a protest match under the broad platform of the Nigeria Movement for Solidarity with the Western Sahara.
The platform comprises the Nigerian students from University of Abuja and Nassarawa State University, Amilcar Cabal Ideological School, Centre for Popular Education and Partners for Electoral Reform.
Others are Socialist Workers League and Protest to Power Movement, among others.
Wabba, who was represented by Mr Kiri Mohammed, the Deputy NLC President, led the protest to the Moroccan Embassy and the UN House, where the group submitted petitions respectively.
The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Saharawi people must be free in their own country”, “World and Africa people should unite to liberate Western Sahara now”.
Other inscriptions read “Denying Saharawi their independence is an injustice”, “Moroccan oppression of the Saharawi people”, “Morocco should get out of Western Sahara.”
The letter submitted at the Moroccan Embassy called on the country to respect the resolutions of the UN to conduct a referendum to enable the people to determine whether the people want to belong to Morocco or to be an independent country.
“The only viable, peaceful and democratic solution to the decolonisation of Western Sahara is for Morocco to allow the conduct of free, fair and democratic referendum.
“This will ensure the exercise by the Saharawi people of their inalienable rights of self-determination and independence.
“We need the Western Sahara as a free country, as much as we respect the rights of Morocco as an independent country.
“We need the African people as a united Africa nation in the pursuit of African development and global peace.
The letter, which was also read by the leader of the protest, appealed to Morocco to withdraw from further occupation of the Western Sahara and that the people should be free to express themselves.
While saying that Saharawi children must have a future in their own country, the letter also appealed that Morocco should immediately stop the human rights violation in the Western Sahara and that it should also denounce its fisheries agreement with EU.
“Because this is a historical and legal fraud that cannot stand the test of time.”
Another copy of the protest letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon was also submitted at the UN House in Abuja.
The letter demanded that the UN should unfold an action plan to enforce its resolution on the referendum.
The letter, read by Mr Abiodum Aremu, the Secretary, Labour and Civil Society Coalition, urged the Secretary-General to hold a special session of its General Assembly to consider an action plan to decolonise western Sahara.
It stated that the action plan should set the democratic processes and dates and address the security concerns that should pave the way for the conduct of a free, fair and democratic referendum.
“United Nations should immediately ensure that European and America powers should stop interference in the Saharawi phosphate and fish business.
“We want the UN to declare that Moroccan oppression of Saharawi people is a crime against humanity.
“We also want the UN to impose sanctions on Morocco for its violation of universal human rights, ” it stated.
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