Business
Kogi, Agency Move To Explore River Niger Shorelines
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) is collaborating with the Kogi State Government to explore the shorelines of River Niger for the benefit of the people of the state and the country.
The Agency’s Director-General, NIHSA, Mr Moses Beckley, said this in Lokoja last Sunday after jointly exploring shoreline open spaces and some other spots along River Niger with the team of Kogi Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
Beckley told newsmen that he came to Lokoja with his team to see how the state and the agency could take advantage of the excess waters in the confluence state for exploration.
He said the team had gone round the sites which had natural beauty scenery and some other possibilities along the River Niger that could be maximised and exploited for the benefit of the people.
“We are also here in the light of the flooding that characterises this environment, and we have deliberated on how to come up with a conference on climate change, knowing fully well how it has affected water resources potential.
“We are looking at all of these possibilities so that we can synergise and help the state to see how the water resources can be maximised for socio-economic benefits of the people and Nigeria,” he said.
The director-general advised the people to ensure that their surroundings were cleared and well drained.
He also urged governments to ensure that people obeyed rules of town planning and environmental laws.
“Presently, flood has been recorded in close to about 20 local government areas in 13 out of 34 states earlier predicted by NIHSA.
The state’s Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, said that the government was collaborating with relevant agencies in the area of annual flooding, climate change, shoreline exploration, social recreational areas, coastline structure and de-silting of rivers.
Osikoya said the major one was the impending flood as informed by partners that the 2012 cycle of flood occurred in every five years, and was due to have come again this year.
She said that the Department of Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment had convened a meeting with the World Bank in February where they were informed that one of the quickest solutions to flood in Kogi was the construction of Dam.
“Beyond dam is the issue of water reservoir where water is strategically managed to divert some of it into a lake like you have in ‘Jabi Lake’, that is why we went to see the site along River Niger at Jimgbe axis.
“This is because during the dry season it was a Sandy Beach and the idea of having a beach just less than two hour-drive from Abuja is not a Lokoja beach anymore but a Nigerian thing.
“So, we are happy that NIHSA is partnering with us as part of the recent declaration of the state of emergency on the environment by Gov. Yahaya Bello on July 14, at the special State Executive Council meeting.
“We are engaging our stakeholders at the federal and international levels to look at the cross-cutting issues, which was part of the visit by NEMA to the state on Friday.
“We hope to do more of assessment of the 14 flooding incidences we have so far experienced in Kogi this season; but this is not the peak of our season.
“So, these are all plans for the future and some of them have immediate consequences,” the commissioner said.(
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