Business
NCSU Orders Lilly-West’s Exco To Continue In Office
The national headquar
ters of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), has ordered the Comrade O.T. Lilly-West-led executive committee of the union in Rivers State to continue in office following the disruption of the union’s 10th quadrennial delegates conference at Bachiever Hotel and Suites in Rumuogba, Port Harcourt last Friday.
The National Deputy President of the union, Comrade (Alhaji) Mohammed Tukur who handed down the order said there was the need for the Chairman of the union, Comrade Opuoyibo Lilly-West and members of his executive committee to continue to pilot the affairs of the union in the state in order not to allow a leadership vacuum, saying, he gave the order by virtue of the powers vested on him as the representative of the National President of the union at the aborted delegates conference.
While regretting the disruption of the conference midway by a group of young men loyal to the National Deputy President of the union (South), Comrade Menele Nzidee, Comrade Tukur announced that a later date for the holding of a fresh conference would be communicated to the delegates and members of the union by the national headquarters.
The labour leader also condemned in strong terms what he claimed to be the arrest of four national officers of the union by the police while voting was already going on during the conference, stressing that the police team that whisked them away took them to three police stations within Port Harcourt before they were finally brought before the state Police Commissioner.
He further disclosed that the four national officers of the union wrote undertakings before they were released, stressing that some of the contestants were also ordered to report at the police headquarters on Monday (today) to write their own undertakings.
According to him, the police took that action because of the lies allegedly fed them by the Nzidee group which scuttled the delegates conference.
He, however, urged members of the union in the state to remain calm and peaceful, as the national headquarters would take appropriate actions to forestall a re-occurrence.
While reacting to the disruption of the delegates conference in separate interviews, the former National Vice President of the union in the South-South, Comrade Mike Okeme decried a situation where the conference was allegedly disrupted by a national officer of the union, saying, the national headquarters and the NEC would mete out appropriate sanctions to the culprit.
Okeme who is also the Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Labour Matters said the national officer by virtue of his exalted position was supposed to promote peace and tranquility at the conference instead of truncating it.
On his part, the Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, Comrade Addah Williams said the disruption of the conference came to him as a surprise since Comrade Nzidee was the Number Two Citizen of the union, and wondered what actually brought him to the conference since, according to him, he was not officially invited.
According to him, as an indigene of Rivers State, what he was supposed to do as a national officer of the union was to give fraternity greetings to the delegates and not to disrupt the conference, even if he was a aggrieved.
Comrade Williams, however, urged the members of the union to remain focused and not to be distracted.
The Edo State Chairman of the union, Comrade Henry Eriamiatae-a, on his part, described the disruption of the conference as an eye-opener, saying, it was not in the best interest of the union.
He explained that NCSU, as the oldest union in the country, was expected to show examples to other unions
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