Business
ECA, World Bank Move To Secure Land Rights In Africa
People shopping for Eid-El Fitri celebration at Abubakar Gumi Central Market in Kaduna, yesterday.
The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the World Bank have signed a Declaration of Intent to establish Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) to secure land rights.
This is contained in a joint statement issued from the venue of the ongoing Third International Conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa on Monday.
In a statement on the ECA website, it stated that the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) also signed the declaration.
The Statement stated that NELGA would complement and support the Land Policy Initiative (LPI), a tripartite partnership of the African Union Commission (AUC), African Development Bank (AfDB) and ECA.
It quoted ECA Deputy Executive-Secretary, Ms Giovanie Biha, as saying:“ the commission welcomed the new agreement to establish NELGA and it will respond to the call by Agenda 2063.
“It will enhance and sustain investments in higher education, science technology and research.
“The partnership is in line with ECA’s strategy to promote partnerships with development partners to generate knowledge.
“It will underpin by robust statistics, and to enhance dissemination of findings and best practices for enhanced land policy development,’’ Biha said.
Also present at the signing in the Ethiopian capital, the statement said that the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dr Gerd Müller, praised the NELGA initiative.
“Secure access to land and other natural resources is of vital importance for the people in rural areas of Africa.
“Assuring that decision makers know how to develop a fair, transparent and development oriented land policy in a participatory way.
It will be an important contribution for food security and growth in the agricultural sectors, especially for smallholders,” it added.
Representing the World Bank, Vice President, Dr Joachim Amsberg, was quoted in the statement as saying that improving land governance was a smart development investment.
He said that it would help to promote investment and agricultural productivity; it is critical for financial sector development and for controlled urban expansion; and it improves domestic revenue generation.
“To the extent that it builds analytical capacity, supports monitoring, encourages policy dialogue, and facilitates integration of land governance in country strategies.
“NELGA will help unlock much larger investments for operations towards strengthening land governance.
“The World Bank is fully committed to support this effort by helping to build capacity for data and, research,” the statement quoted Amsberg as saying.
In addition, the statement said that NELGA would support the African Union’s Agenda on Land, in particular the use of the “Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa.”
The statement said it would also support the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT).
“ It is designed to strengthen human and institutional capacities with regards to the development; implementation and monitoring of land policies in Africa that foster economic growth, are equitable, gender sensitive and pay special attention to marginalized groups.
“NELGA will function as a network among leading African academic and research institutions and liaise with civil society, private sector, land sector practitioners, and decision makers to address gaps in training, statistics and research on land governance.
“A Scholarship programme implemented by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) will create new training and research opportunities for African land practitioners and researchers.
“Germany and the World Bank reaffirmed their support for the Land Policy Initiative in this process and appealed to other partners to help finance it,’’ 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