Business
Stakeholders Task Buhari On Sea Pirates, Others
Some stakeholders in the
maritime industry have bared their minds on what they expect from the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as regards the maritime sector.
The stakeholders who expressed their feelings in an interview with The Tide correspondent in Port Harcourt recently said the issue of adequate security to curb the menace of sea pirates, the operations of the Port concessionaires, maritime workers welfare and training, increased tariff at will and National Carrier among others should be looked into seriously in order to make the industry more attractive.
According to them, as one of the sectors that generates revenue into the Federal Government coffers, serious attention should be given to it in order to improve its operational standard in line with world best practices.
The chairman, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Rivers State, Comrade Jonah Jumbo in his view said, “it is obvious that the past government did not treat maritime workers well in spite of the fact that the maritime sector looks into the issue of cabotage law as it has to do with engaging the youths into marine industry”.
According to Jumbo, some seafarers job were being taken over by expatriates, as they man Nigerian positions in some vessels despite their qualifications.
He said given some foreign vessels waivers should also be addressed as it is also not in the best interest of the country, adding that the administration should also encourage Nigerians to buy vessels in order to employ Nigerian seafarers who are roaming about the streets with their masters certificate in seafaring.
In his own opinion, Babalola James of shipping Trade Union briefly opined that a lot of re-organisation and steps should be taken in order to revamp the maritime sub-sector for effective service delivery, and noted with dismay that the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was ill-advised by his aids in terms of maritime development.
Another stakeholder, Chief Solomon Tibida harped that government should provide adequate security on our waterways including inland, coastal, creeks and ocean domain because the level of insecurity is alarming and that they should put in place measures to tackle the ugly trend in the maritime domain.
Comrade Frank Alade of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) said the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government should look for an avenue to make the industry more attractive for foreign investors to come and do business in Nigeria for the economy to be viable once again.
“I will also want the government to champion the course of promoting local content for investors to gain from the sector”, he opined.
Another maritime stakeholder, Sir Charles Uloma called for encouragement of maritime schools in the country inorder to compete with others globally.
Uloma said a national carrier to compete with other foreign vessels is very important in this present dispensation.
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