Business
MD Wants Buhari To Appoint Bizman Power Minister
President Muhammadu
Buhari has been urged to appoint a businessman who understands the relationship between power and national development as the next power Minister.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ibeh Kalam Limited, a Port Harcourt based oil and gas company Mr Emmanuel Amaechi who gave this advice in an exclusive interview yesterday with The Tide in Port Harcourt said the tradition had been to appoint an expert in power or politician as power minister in Nigeria.
“That exactly had been our undoing. I tell you that if you bring in a businessman who is conversant with the relativity of power to the socio-economic development of the nation. You will just see the difference,” he said.
The Managing director explained that the power sector remains the most critical driver of the nation’s economy, but regretted that in spite of the abundant resources particularly in the power sector, Nigeria had never gotten it right.
“The water is everywhere to harness hydro power, the coal resource is there. The gas, of course, Nigeria is richer in gas than oil as the sixth largest gas abundant nation in the World. Come to climate, the sun gives enough to harness solar, then what we need is a professional businessman that understands business operations and the relativity of power and business, for us to move to the next level”, he stated.
Amaechi expressed the view that for any Nigerian President to succeed, he must fix the power challenges such that Nigerians enjoy 24 hours supply.
Power drives the economy more than any other factor in any developing economy. It would force down production cost and the prices of goods and services especially those with their operations in the country and it will be good for the government, the industry and for the people”, he maintained.
“Amaechi urged Nigerians not to be deceived by the National Power grid idea, saying, if centralized power grid could work well in other countries, there was no way it could work in Nigeria because of the inherent diverse power sources.
“God does not make mistakes where there is water in abundance, use the hydro, and where there is coal, use it and also take advantage of the beautiful climate in terms of solar, and we shall simply be there. I tell you, until Nigeria gets the power issue right, we can only be rigmaroling about development,” he stressed.
He urged President Buhari to take the issue of power as most critical in his administration and to also consider such human materials as Prof Pat Utomi as Power minister or those with his level of exposure to revive the power sector.
Amaechi condemned the privatization of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) by the immediate past administration describing it as politically motivated and urged Buhari to review the exercise as to draw a distinct line between politics and socio-economic interest of the initiative.
Chris Oluoh
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