Business
SON Tasks PH Tyre Dealers On Quality
In a move to ensure proper
sensitisation of tyre dealers on quality of their products for safety and business promotion, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Rivers State branch, has organised stakeholders forum for the Port Harcourt Tyre Dealer Association.
The seminar which drew a large crowd of stakeholders, took place at the Famous Ground Hotel, Mile 2, Diobu in Port Harcourt, recently.
In his address, the Rivers State Head of SON, Mr. Papanye Don-Pedro, stated that the seminar had become necessary to ensure good quality tyres and promote the dealers’ business. He commended the stakeholders for their cooperation with SON and noted that through the stakeholders engagement the tyre dealers would go back home better enriched with necessary awareness on their trade.
Don-Pedro assured that any dealer who dealt on quality products should not be afraid of the organisation’s enforcement exercise, which only targets substandard product for seizure.
The stateshead of SON explained that it was part of the body’s mandate to protect lives and promote business. But he noted that many times road accidents were caused by fake and substandard tyres, while acknowledging that the seminar was germane because of the approaching Yuletide, when many families are expected to undertake long journeys to different destinations across the country and beyond.
The Rivers SON boss cautioned the association to avoid patronising fake tyre distributors, even as he expressed the confidence that the seminar would among other benefits, help the traders to identify fake and substandard tyres.
Don-Pedro also informed that dealers willing to register with the organsiation for the purposes of importation of tyres into the country could do so by approaching the state branch of the organisation, assuring that they would be properly guided on what to do and bring direct benefits to their business. The SON official commended to tyre dealers association leaders for mobilising their members to attend the stakeholders forum in large number.
Also speaking chairman, Port Harcourt Tyres Dealers Association, Sir Eze. N. Okoye, commended SON for organising a stakeholders seminar for tyre dealers in Port Harcourt. He expressed the joy that the dealers were better informed now than before.
Eze Okoye pledged that the association would apply the knowledge acquired through the seminar in their dealings.
Earlier, the seminar presenter, Mr. Coldman Madu, who took stakeholders through series of awareness, from the paper by the Director General and Chief Executive of the SON Dr. Joseph Odumodu, enumerated the different types of tyres available, which include tubeless, tube, solid bullet proof and aircraft tyres. He went a step further listing tyre classification such as light truck tyres, commercial, all-terrain tyres, among others.
But he informed the dealers that they should expect safety, comfort, grip and ability to carry load in a tyre, adding that good thread, good casing, long supporting bead and leak proof remain qualities of good tyres.
Mildred Jaja
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