Business
Expert Wants More Extension Agents For Farming Families
A professor of Agricultural
Extension at the University of Ibadan, Prof. Ademola Oladele, recently said that the number of public extension agents to farming families was inadequate.
Oladele told newsmen in Lagos that the ideal number is one agent to 500 farming families.
He said that presently, about 3,000 farming families had one agent, adding that more private extension agents could be fused into the
service.
“You cannot do extension work when you have the ratio given to farmers as high as we have in Nigeria currently.
“The recommended ratio of extension worker to farming families is 500 to 800 to one. But what we have now is about 3,000 families to one extension agent.
“So, the extension agent cannot perform adequately when he has so many to cover. Another issue is that as the old extension workers are retiring, new ones are not being employed,’’ he said.
Oladele also said that most extension services present now, were run and funded by international agencies that had projects in the country.
He said that there was not enough government presence in the area of extension services which needed modern equipment.
“There is no modern equipment to work with. As a matter of fact, the present extension services are being run by international agencies that have projects around here.
“Government should come up with programmes that will make extension services vibrant again.
“When extension is not sound and is not rightly structured, we will be unable to get most agricultural innovations that are available to transform productivity,’’ he said.
The professor said that the University of Ibadan was also trying to train graduates to work as private extension agents.
He said that this was not in isolation to the public extension workers as they played a very vital role in extension services.
“At our own level, we are trying to train our graduates to be able to work as private extension agents so that we will not have to depend upon the public extension workers.
“I am not saying that we are going to work without them, no, because they know the terrain better but we will work in collaboration to be able to bring about the needed agricultural development.
“Extension service, what I call public extension service is very weak in Nigeria and it is a major problem that is creating a lot of constraint on agricultural development in Nigeria.
“I have learnt not to depend on government for every development intervention that should come up, our policy makers should make policies that are very vibrant in extension work,’’ Oladele said.
Highlighting who should be extension agents, the don said that they should be Ordinary National Diploma Holders (OND) as well as Higher National Diploma Holders (HND).
“Extension officers, ideally, should be those trained to do the work, starting from people with a minimum of OND and HND certificate in agriculture extension.
“We have so many colleges of agriculture that should be able to produce extension workers. It is not as if we are short of qualified extension workers but they are underutilised by government,’’ he said.
Oloadele also lauded the Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) by the past administration, saying that it would have performed better if states had participated duly.
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