Business
SON Shuts 15 Companies, Certifies 100 Others In Rivers
Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has shut fifteen companies producing water, and certified over 100 manufacturing companies in Rivers State.
Making this known recently in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, the State Coordinator of SON, Samuel Ayuba, said the companies were basically shut because of the unhygienic environment in which they carried out their work, and the low standard of their materials.
The Coordinator warned that SON will not spare any company or individual that throws caution to the winds by lowering standards in the course of production, which could endanger the lives of citizens.
He urged the public to always report to SON anybody or company involved in such illicit business through text messages, calls or coming directly to the agency, assuring that prompt attention will be given to such information.
Alternatively, he said, people can visit the SON’s website, where toll-free telephone numbers are provided, to make their complaints.
“SON as a Federal Governnment Agency, is charged with the responsibility of enforcing standards and is poised to discharg its statutory responsibility.
“Just give us the information and watch what we are going to do with it. I assure you that the SON, Rivers State Branch, is a force to reckon with and will at all times ensure that only products of high quality are supplied to the markets, warehouses and shops in Rivers State. The idea is to ensure that people have value for their money,” the Coordinator said.
Ayuba stated further that the Rivers State branch of SON under his watch certified about 100 companies that satisfied the laid down requirements for standards in their production for such operations.
He acknowledged the fact that COVID-19 affected activities in all spheres of the economy nationally and even globally, adding that his branch successfully discharged its duties appropriately.
The SON helmsman said they also conducted market surveillance to ascertain the quality of products that are sold to the public.
According to him, they addressed a lot of consumer complaints within the period under review and the products were in most cases replaced to the satisfaction of the customers and sellers.
He urged consumers not to hesitate in reporting to SON any case of either forging their products or his Agency’s approvals, saying that the Director General (DG) of SON, Mallam Salim Farouk, is passionate about prosecuting offenders of substandard products, noting that some have been remanded in prisons across the country.
Ayuba identified limited resources and attitude of the people in cooperating with the SON towards maintaining standards in the country as major challenges confronting his Agency.
Commenting on the level of sensitisation of the people on the functions of SON, the Coordinator said the Organisation runs a regular sensitisation programme on television, print and even public enlightenment campaigns, stressing that SON is a housewhole name in standards enforcement in Nigeria.
He called on Nigerians to partner with *the Agency by reporting or complainin where things are going around them”.
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