Business
VC Advocates Back-To-Agric Era
The Vice Chancellor of the
University of Calabar, Prof. James Epoke, has enjoined the Nigerian Government to consider going back to agriculture, given the erratic price of crude oil in the market.
Prof. Epoke declared this during the World Soil Day seminar, which was organised by the Department of Soil Science, University of Calabar, to mark this year’s International Soil Science Day tagged, “The Role of Soil Science in the Attainment of Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Development”.
The vice chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, (DVC) Administration, Prof. Bassey Igri Okon, said soil remains the foundation of Human Existence and Development, adding, that, the World Soil Day offers man the opportunity to reflect on the negative impact of mono economy led by oil production. He urged students and members of the soil science society to be proud of their profession, that soil is life and nothing can be gotten outside soil. In his address, the chairman of the event and guest lecturer, Prof. Uche Amalu, who is a Fellow of Soil Science Society of Nigeria, (FSSSN), said the journey to the celebration, started eleven years ago in Bangkok where members of the international union of soil science society participated in the world congress of soil science.
The President, Soil Science Association of Nigeria, Prof. V. O. Chude, who was represented by the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Evara Esu, stressed the urgent need to raise awareness and promote sustainability of our limited soil resources. Using the best available scientific information, and building on all dimensions of sustainable development, he stated that, despite the essential role of soil in the life of humanity, their degradation is increasing due to the inappropriate practices, growing population, pressure and inadequate governance of these essential natural resource.
Chude, said the objectives of the International Year of Soil (IYS), include; to create full awareness of civil society and decision makers about the fundamental role of soil to human life, to achieve full recognition of the prominent contributions of soil to food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation, essential eco- system services, poverty alleviation and sustainable development.
Also speaking, the Head of Soil Science Department, represented by, Dr. Nkereuwen M. John said, soil is a finite natural resource and is non-renewable on human time
Responding, Miss Angela Unah and Andy Umo-Inyang, both final year students of soil science department, said soil is where life begins and ends, and they were very happy to be part of the lectures.
In an interview, the Director of Agricultural services, Cross River State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Mrs. Martina Ubi said, that soil is very important for food production and healthy living, therefore, poor soil could lead to poor health. She emphasized that, good soil fertility and plants nutrition could lead to food security.
Friday Nwagbara, Calabar
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