Business
‘We Need Fundamental Economic Restructuring’
The Minister of Budget
and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, has stressed the need for a fundamental restructuring of the nation’s economy.
He made the call at the world press conference which essentially launched the 22nd edition of the Nigerian Economic Summit, (NES) organised annually by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
In a statement that was obtained by The Tide through AagroNigeria, recently, Senator Udoma stated that the goal of NES is to unlock the economic potentials of the non-oil and high-employment sectors.
He said this would lead the nation to achieve a sustainable inclusive growth that will ensure that the majority of Nigerians become agribusiness people and more productive, thereby reducing poverty.
Addressing journalists at the NESG summit House in Abuja, he said, the current economic challenges are rooted on the nation’s reliance on a single commodity (oil) whose price has fallen.
“The Nigerian economy is currently in recession and faced with contracting GDP growth, rising inflation and unemployment rates as well as decaling level of external reserves”, he said.
The summit which is themed “Made in Nigeria” is scheduled to hold from October 10 to 12, 2016 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
It is designed to encourage the production of agricultural and other products and the consumption of made in Nigeria goods and services to enable Nigerian producers gain more patronage and be encouraged to implore the quality of their products.
The sub-themes of the summit shall deliberate on the macroeconomic environment; ease of doing business, stakeholders behavior and attitudes, access to finance, job creation and youth employment amongst others.
The key outcomes of the summit are expected to include the development of practical roadmap that will contextualize “Made in Nigeria” as an economic growth and development for short, medium and long term development partnerships.
According to the statement, the summit will also seek to develop policies to deliver desired results and potentials for export of non-oil products and also increase foreign exchange earnings and shore up reserves at home.
In his opening remark, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NESG, Mr. Laoye Jaiyeola, thanked journalists for their support regarding the summit, stating that the contribution of the media is key to its success.
The chairman of NESG, Mr. Kyari Bukar, represented by Mrs. Wonuola Adetayo, urged everyone to be held accountable for the growth of the economy, “as we all at a point in national development will need hands all to come together”.
She also advised journalists to be active in their follow up, even after the summit to ensure that issues discussed are effectively acted upon.
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