Business
Stock Market Downturn: Shareholders Task FG On Friendly Economic Policies
Some shareholder groups
on Monday in Lagos decried the free fall of equities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), The Tide source reports.
The shareholders said that government needed to pursue policies that would propel economic activities and boost investor confidence.
They urged the Federal Government to pursue a friendly economic blueprint that would revamp the economy.
The NSE market capitalisation last week lost N1.21 trillion or 13 per cent to close at N8.087 trillion against N9.296 trillion achieved in the preceding week.
Also, the All-Share Index which opened for the week at 27,028.39 lost 3514.35 points or 13 per cent to close at 23,514.04 due to massive profit taking.
A turnover of 1.46 billion shares worth N14.17 billion were exchanged by investors’ in 15,164 deals last week.
This was against 899.60 million shares valued at N7.67 billion traded in 14,164 deals in the corresponding week.
The Financial Services Industry led the week’s activity chart with 1.29 billion shares worth N8.95 billion transacted in 10,020 deals.
The Consumer Goods sector followed with 59.83 million shares worth N3.07 billion achieved in 2,165 deals.
The third place was occupied by the conglomerates Industry with a turnover of 56.61 million shares worth N152.95 million in 695 deals.
Reports also say that the market since the beginning of 2016 had dropped by 17.89 per cent, compared with 17.4 per cent decline posted in 2015.
Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, a founding member of Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association, said that government should work harder to fix the economy.
Olatokunbo said that National Assembly members should ensure a speedy passage of the budget.
“We expect NASS to hit the ground running instead of the rumour of missing or new-versions of the budget.
“Nigerians expect all hands to be on deck for the betterment of the economy,’’ Olatokunbo said.
He said that government at all levels should ensure discipline in order to correct the errors of the past.
“We messed up our economy and have to pay the price, and until things get back to order, we have to live with the sad situation we have created,’’ he added.
The shareholder, however, said that bad habits of the past years could not be fixed within a very short period.
He noted that the ongoing downward trend did not affect the book values of quoted companies, but their price of equities.
Olatokunbo said the fundamentals of quoted companies were sound and strong, adding that stocks would bounce back once the economy recovered.
President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr Boniface Okezie, said that government should pursue diversification to enhance revenue generation.
Okezie said he was optimistic that the market would pick up with friendly economic and foreign exchange policies.
He said that government could not bail the market with funds, urging the country to learn from the lessons of China.
Okezie said the free fall would continue if market regulators failed to pursue strategies that would bring retail investors back to the market.
He blamed the NSE, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria for the current market development.
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