Business
NQP’ll Position Nigeria Among 20 Industrialised Nations – Aganga
The Minister of Industry,
Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, said the National Quality Policy (NQP) document would position Nigeria among the top 20 industrialised nations if implemented.
Aganga said this when the National Steering Committee (NSC) presented the final copy of the Nigerian National Quality Policy (NNQP) document to the minister in Abuja on Wednesday.
“This is a document by Nigerians for Nigerians for a common goal to reposition the country among the top 20 industrialised nations in the world over time,’’ he said.
The Tide source reports that the policy is aimed at establishing the appropriate framework for the development and publication of national standards.
The committee was inaugurated in January 2014 by the Federal Government to harmonise the quality policy of Nigeria and support the implementation of the Nigerian National Quality Policy.
The minister said that the document would be reviewed and sent to the Federal Executive Council for approval and subsequent legislation to facilitate its implementation in all its ramifications.
“Industrialisation is process and that journey, that train has started. We have started the process and must not allow the train to stop.
“It is the only way we can move from a poor nation to rich nation, from a nation that specialises on the importation of raw materials to a nation that exports processed products.
“No nation anywhere in the world has managed from being a poor to rich nation when it relied on exporting raw materials as we did yesterday and today without having strong industries,’’ he said.
The minister said that the more a nation specialised in exporting raw materials, the poorer it would become, adding, “it is what the industrial revolution plan seeks to reverse.’’
Aganga said that the NNQP was part of National Quality Infrastructure Project (NQIP) put in place to achieve quality products.
He said that the components of NQIP consist of national metrological institute, the national accreditation body, the private sector capacity development and consumer protection to complement NQP.
He said that the government was committed to actualising the implementation of the document in line with the goals and objectives of the transformation agenda of this administration.
He said that the policy document was foundation for safety regulatory framework to assist Nigeria achieve innovation, technology, industrialisation, quality services and quality lifestyles from NQP implementation.
The minister said that the various targeted sectors of the economy were captured in the document and its recommendations would be implemented.
Aganga said that the country had been promoting industrialisation through adding value to commodities, improve the competitiveness of made in Nigeria goods and services, diversifying economy and revenue sources.
He said that the NQP was an indispensable tool for the implementation of the new national trade policy and strategy to integrate Nigerian industrial trade and investment priorities.
He said that Nigerian products were yet to meet the international standards as a large number were rejected because they were not safe for consumption in Europe, America and Canada.
He said that the country had invested in time, money and people to develop quality infrastructure to ensure the country become economy Africa deserved.
He said that compilation of this document was government’s commitment to diversify the economy and improve the competitiveness of local industries, adding, “it is pre-requisite for increasing foreign earnings from non-oil related sector.’’
“The presentation of this document is another milestone in the implementation of Nigeria Industrial Revolution plan. It is a plan that seeks to diversify the economy and revenue sources of the country.
“The policy focuses on the areas where we have competitive and comparative advantage where Nigeria can be number one in Africa and the top 10 player globally. It looked across the value chain globally of each sector,’’ he said.
He said that the document was tied to national development programme of transformation agenda, industrial priorities of the steel ministry, the gas revolution of the Ministry of Petroleum and the integrated mass supply of Ministry of National Planning.
He said that the factors which would make the country competitive include access to affordable finances, infrastructures and power and industrial skills, linking innovations to industries and issue of standard.
He commended the committee, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), EU and UNIDO for their support in different forms in making the document a success.
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