Business
Traders Urge Ambode To Reopen Lagos Market
Yam traders at Mile 12
Market in Lagos on Saturday appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to reopen the market in order to save their businesses from ruin.
Some of the yam traders told newsmen in separate interviews that their investments in the business was at the verge of total ruin.
They said that since the governor announced the closure of the market on March 4, their goods in the market were all going bad.
The Tide source recalls that Ambode ordered the closure of the market following the violence that erupted in the market on March 3 and March 4.
Our correspondent also recalls that the violence claimed lives of many and destroyed property.
Mrs Adunni Taiwo, regretted investing huge amount of money to buy yams all the way from the North and brought to the state only to experience market closure.
“Had I know, I would have just gone to buy yams from Abuja at this time.
“The money I am using to trade was borrowed with interest on it and the interest is running.
“I want to beg our responsible governor to help us and consider the losses we had incurred since. We regret what has happened,’’ she said.
Taiwo said that a truck of yams had been stationary at Ibafo Area, Ogun State since without a place to off load or sell them.
According to her, many of the yams had spoilt in the vehicle because of heat.
Another yam seller, who simply identified herself as Mama Tobi, said that she had run into great loss as many of her yams were wasted.
According to her, many of our yams are already spoilt in the vehicle because we cannot come into the market where these yams could be off loaded.
She said the trucks conveying their yams were packed under a tree along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
“We have engaged the service of some local security agents to help us watch over the vehicles.
According to her, nothing less than 15 trucks of yam are about to be wasted, as these vehicles are parked outside due to the closure of the market.
Another yam seller, who simple called herself, Iya Deyemi said, only God can make us recover from these losses.
“We see what we use our precious money to buy going bad before our eyes. We want the governor to reopen the market and punish the culprits.
Baba Ayo, another yam seller, said that rather than crippling the economic activities for many days, the government should tackle whatever that led to the violence and punish the perpetrators.
He called on the Lagos State Government to move the market away from where it is, if that is government’s intention and that it should do that so fast, “before we lose all our sources of income.
“We cannot continue like this any further, let the government move the market to wherever will be more suitable for them”.
Baba Ayo urged the government to consider the pains and losses many traders of perishable items had incurred since the decision to close the market was taken.
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