Business
IPMAN Leadership Crisis Escalates As FG Recognises Faction
Things have fallen apart and the centre can no longer hold again in the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN)as the leadership crisis rocking the association assumed a new dimension with the Federal Government’s recognition of one of the two contending factions, Comrade Lawson Obasi as the authentic IPMAN National chairman.
But the faction of Comrade Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo has stoutly kicked against such recognition describing it as illegal and contrary to the laiddown Labour rules and regulations.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Port Harcourt by Comrade Okoronkwo factional IPMAN chairman, said the Federal Government lacks the authority to appoint leadership for professional bodies as well as trade unions.
Okoronkwo explained that Obasi did not at any time contest election to be chairman of IPMAN and wondered why the immediate past Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Joel Ikenya will decree a person into leadership position without election.
He said the action was deliberate ploy and calculated attempt to cause crisis in the Association, and further entrenched a group of “oil cabals” in the association to the detriment of the law-abiding members of IPMAN.
He advised the government to immediately withdraw the recognition accorded Obasi as the National Chairman of IPMAN in the interest of peace and unity of the Association, stressing that whereas government fails to heed his leadership advice, the legitimate members of the Association will have no alternative than to explore legal means to seek redress.
Meanwhile, Comrade Lawson Obasi has reacted to the statement issued by the Comrade Chinedu Okoronkwo IPMAN faction by stressing that his recognition as IPMAN chairman was in order.
He said in a statement at the IPMAN Eastern Zonal Office in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the whole marketers were very pleased about the step taken by the federal government over the Association’s leadership crisis.
Obasi said the step will go a long way to stop the incessant scarcity of petroleum products in the country.
He said his recognition will strengthen the association as it was the wish of the majority of the members, stressing that IPMAN was in support of deregulation as it will encourage healthy competition and alleviate the suffering of the masses in their bid to get petroleum products.
The I[PMAN president said that deregulation will attract foreign investors into the oil and gas sector to create more job opportunities for Nigerians.
He said the Association is calling on the federal government to issue licenses to investors to establish modular refineries and small refineries to eradicate scarcity of the product and bring down cost.
The immediate past Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Joel Ikenya had in a letter dated May 25th, 2015, addressed to the Director General, Department of State Security Services (DSSS), Inspector General of Police, Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and other government agencies informed them of the Federal Government’s recognition of Comrade Lawson Obasi as the authentic IPMAN National chairman.
The former Minister said the recognition followed the submission of the report of the Presidential Committee set up by ex-president Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the leadership crisis in IPMAN and that one of the recommendations was that Comrade Lawson Obasi be recognised by the government as the lawful National President of IPMAN and government compliance was with, immediate effect.
Philip Okparaji
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