Business
Oshiomhole Pledges To Sustain Dev Projects
L-R: Representative of the Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Tokunbo Afolabi, Chairman, Jumil Farms, Retired Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Jokotola, Deputy Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Prof. Muhammed Yisa, Father of the Day, the Aidonogie of South Ibie Kingdom, Alhaji Aliyu Danesi and founder, National Co-oporative for Commercial and Industrial Agriculture (NACCIA), Mr Felix Okonti, during the inaugural meeting of NACCIA in Lagos, yesterday.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, on Saturday, said his administration would sustain his people-oriented development projects till the end of his tenure.
Oshiomhole gave the assurance while speaking to newsmen shortly after inspecting the 7.3 meter-wide Afokpella Road phase one in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
“We have set a standard, and looking at what we have done over the past six and a half years, you can encapsulate what the next government will do after us.
“So, if we ask you to continue to vote APC, what we are simply saying is that you will continue to have development, and the progress we have started will be sustained”, he said.
The governor said the essence of governance was to foster development and impact on lives with people-oriented policies.
According to him, his government is a product of the people which must give its all to the people.
“Look at the population, you can see excitement on their faces, you can see women dancing, because, for years, as populated as this area is, they didn’t have good road.
“And when you now see good road like this, I feel fulfilled seeing ordinary people very happy that their government is touching their lives,” he said.
Oshiomole said that his administration had continued to embark on high quality projects in spite of limited resources available to it.
He called on the people to reflect on the fact that his administration was working, even in the grassroots, doing a standard road 7.3 meter wide with drainage at a time many states could not even pay salaries.
According to him, even states that are four times richer than Edo in both internally generated revenue and federal allocation, are not paying their workers’ salaries.
The governor, who also inspected work at the gully erosion site in Auchi, commended the company handling the project over the progress made so far in the reclamation of the land.
“It is unbelievable, people who saw this place a few months back can’t believe where we are now.
“This place used to be a very deep valley of more than 30 or 35 meters and at a point, we thought the entire Auchi was gone.
“I am very excited about this outcome, so I thank God for using us to find solution to this problem”, he said.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr Clem Agba, promised that the project would be completed within two years as stipulated in the contract.
“The gully site is designed to take two years, but with the pace we are going, we are likely to do it under two years.
“We are working on the two sections at the moment. We have already done about 50 percent of the work”, he said.
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