Business
N350bn Fund: Experts Advise NLC To Shelve Proposed Strike
President, Microsoft International, Jean-Philippe Courtois (left) and Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, during a visit of Microsoft team to Government House in Lagos on Monday.
Some financial experts
have advised the NLC to shelve its proposed strike in view of the disruption it could bring to the planned injection of N350 billion to the economy this week.
The Tide learnt that the Federal Government plans to start releasing the N350 billion it intended to use quarterly to “reflate” the economy this week.
The experts said in Lagos that the strike would have ripple effects on the economy, particularly the capital market if it was not nipped in the bud.
Prof. Uche Uwaleke, the Head of Banking and Finance Department, Nasarawa State University, Lafia, said the strike was not necessary now in view of the planned injection of the fund.
Uwaleke said the release of the fund would increase activities at the equity end of the capital market.
“The major factor that will revive the stock market this week is the release of N350 billion for capital projects as widely reported last week”.
Alhaji Rasheed Yussuf, a former President, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), said there was the need to sustain investor’s positive reaction to the resolution of the 2016 budget impasse.
Yussuf said investors’ expectation of faithful implementation of the capital budget contributed to the current capital market rebound.
He said that implementation of capital projects would lead to creation of jobs and increased demand for goods and services.
“The overall effect will be that manufacturing companies will make more profit and that will lead to strong demand for their shares.
“So, the market is expected to continue to show a strong progress.
“When capital vote is released, it means uncompleted projects and new projects will commence,” he said.
Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Ltd., Lagos, said the release of funds would boost investors’ confidence in the capital market.
Meanwhile, the NSE All-Share Index last week appreciated by 739.43 points or 2.88 per cent to close at 26,441.03 against 25,701.60 posted in the previous week.
Also, the market capitalization, which opened at N8.841 trillion, grew by N258 billion or 2.92 per cent to close at N9.099 trillion.
Tiger Brand led the gainers’ table in percentage terms by 50.13 per cent or N2 to close at N5.99 per share.
It was followed by Diamond Bank which gained 44.29 per cent or 62k to close at N2.02, while FCMB Group increased by 30.30 per cent or 30k to close at N1.29 per share.
On the other hand, University Press topped the losers’ chart during the week in percentage terms by 14.21 per cent or 81k to close at N4.89 per share.
MRS Nigeria trailed with a loss of 9.73 per cent or N4.36 to close at N40.47, while Caverton dropped by 8.48 per cent or 14k to close at N1.51 per share.
A turnover of 1.83 billion shares worth N14.47 billion were exchanged in 20,058 deals last week in contrast to the 910.66 million shares valued at N6.41 billion traded in 15,023 deals in the preceding week.
The Financial Services sector led the activity chart in volume terms, accounting for 1.47 billion shares worth N10.69 billion in 11,038 deals.
The Conglomerate sector followed with a total of 187.03 million shares valued at
N313.29 million exchanged in 1,545 deals.
The third place was occupied by the Consumer Goods industry with turnover of 74.73 million shares worth N2.05 billion achieved in 3,633 deals.
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