Business
Expert Urges FG To Stimulate Agric Revolution …Via Green Alternative Policy Implementation
An agriculturalist, Dr Tunde Arosanyin, has urged the Federal Government to stimulate agricultural revolution in the country via the diligent implementation of its Green Alternative Policy.
Arosanyin, who is the National Coordinator, Zero Hunger Commodities, told newsmen in Ilorin that the agricultural revolution was needed to engender Nigeria’s food security and economic development.
“What government needs to do is to simply see to what I term as `agricultural revolution of Nigeria’, a panacea to the challenges facing the country’s food security and economic development efforts.
“I did a fantastic write-up on this and sent it to Mr President, the Minister for Agriculture and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture.
“The package is holistic and what we are saying in that document is that we should identify, under the first phase, 500 farmers in each of the 774 local government areas of the country and support them with inputs for one hectare.
”Looking at the map of Nigeria, we have ecological crop distribution.
“We know the area of crops where Katsina State will do well; we know where Ebonyi will do well, where Kwara and Kogi will do well, and we proposed in the document that we should identify at least two to three commodities per state.
“If the farmers are cultivating one arable crop, the government should then encourage them to go into the cultivation of one cash crop as well,” he said.
Arosanyin stressed that agriculture had contributed significantly to the growth of the national economy in spite of the non-commitment of successive administrations towards the development of the agricultural sector.
“Agriculture, even as we are still practising it, is still the only aspect of the national economy that has recorded a 3.2 per cent growth.
“The other areas are still trailing and it, therefore, points to the fact that agriculture is still a veritable means which can be used to take Nigeria out of economic recession.
”With the acute hunger in the land, government will have to look at the document holistically and see how we can adopt some of the salient recommendations therein.
“I believe that the document is good enough to take us out of the economic recession and food crisis,” he added.
Besides, Arosanyin criticised the government for its low budgetary provision for agriculture, which had negated the Maputo Declaration that called on African countries to devote at least 10 per cent of their annual budgets to agriculture.
“In the 2016 budget, it was just about three per cent for agriculture. This one (the 2017 Budget) is also within that range; it is less than five per cent.
“I strongly believe that if we adhere to the Maputo Declaration and earmark at least 10 per cent of our annual budget to agriculture; we would have a robust development in the agricultural sector.
“I believe the budgetary provision is still very low, particularly if we must use agriculture to drive this economy, we have to appropriate much more funds to agriculture than what we are presently doing,’’ he added.
On Zero Hunger Commodities Programme, the national coordinator said that the programme worked with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, its Chairman, to prepare the working document.
He said that Zero Hunger Commodities was a United Nations (UN) programme, initiated under
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