Business
Easter: Banks In FCT Witness Low Turnout Of Customers
Most banks in the Fed
eral Capital Territory (FCT) last Thursday, witnessed low turnout of Customers as workers and residents prepared for the Easter celebrations.
The Tide source who went round banks in the FCT, observed that in spite of the Easter festivities at the weekend, most banks did not have the usual crowd associated with festivities.
Some of the banks visited were First Bank of Nig. Plc, Zenith Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), United Bank for Africa(UBA), Stanbic IBTC Bank and Ecobank.
Among all the banks visited, it was observed that First Bank had the highest number of customers of over 70.
A customer at the First Bank Mr Tunde Adebayo, expressed surprise at the low turnout of customers at the bank, saying this was unusual, especially before a festive period.
“Although, there are many people on the queue, I am sure to be out of the bank soon. I was expecting to see more people than what I saw today.
“ I just got my salary alert and want to collect some money that I will use to celebrate Easter with my family,’’ Adebayo said.
Another customer, Miss Agnes Imeh, complained that the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) had poor network thereby causing delays in withdrawals.
“ Whenever there is festivity, the First bank ATMs are always experiencing poor network and this usually makes customers to be on long queues for a long time.
“ I wish they will find a permanent solution to this network situation because it can be very annoying when you have to stand for so long just to get small money,’’ Imeh said.
A customer at GTB Mr Chinedu Ugochukwu, told journalists that he was at the bank to send money to his relatives in the village because he would not be travelling for the Easter.
He also expressed surprise at the low turnout, saying this was unlike previous festive periods when the bank was usually filled to the brim.
“ I want to send some money to some of my relatives in the village. I am so happy that the crowd is not much today as it used to be during other holidays.
“ The security situation in our country has become something else and we no longer know the safest place anymore.
“ It is better for me and my family to remain in our house and celebrate the Easter instead of being on the road at this period,’’ Ugochukwu said.
Another customer at the UBA, Mr David Pam also said he was at the bank to send some money across to his family members in Kaduna as he did not want to risk travelling due to the insecurity in the country.
At UBA and Ecobank, the banking halls were virtually empty as only few customers were having one form of transaction or the other.
All efforts to speak with the managers of some of the banks on the reason for the low turnout proved abortive as they could not be reached at press time.
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