Business
Kano Airport Tower: NAMA Conducts Successful Site Acceptance Test
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) says it has successfully conducted a Site Acceptance Test (SAT) of the installed equipment at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
NAMA’s Managing Director, Mr Ibrahim Abdulsalam, announced this in a statement issued yesterday to newsmen in Lagos, yesterday.
Abdulsalam said the successful conduct of the test was the last leg of activities that would culminate in the eventual launch of the Kano Safe Tower project.
He said the project was one of the bold steps taken by NAMA to continue to deploy new technologies in air traffic management for the Nigerian airspace.
Reports say that the Safe Tower Project is aimed at automating air traffic management services at the four major airports in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kano.
While others have since been inaugurated, that of Kano suffered a series of setbacks, leading to the rebuilding of a completely new safe tower for Kano airport.
Abdulsalam said that the SAT, which was conducted using a Test Procedure Book, was intended to ascertain conformity with all specified functions of the equipment within environmental tolerance.
He also used the occasion to declare open a four-day Awareness Training on the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract/Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication (ADS-C/CPDLC) project also to be inaugurated soon.
The NAMA boss described the two projects as strategic in the agency’s effort to transform air traffic management services in the country.
Abdulsalam listed the benefit of the safe tower project, when operational, to include use of electronic or paperless flight progress strips by air traffic controllers.
“It also includes effective and efficient flight planning; reduction in ATC workload and availability of a Radar Monitoring System for enhanced Air traffic situation awareness.
“Others are the automated data storage for effective billing; availability of meteorological information online and real time, vertical wind shear alerting system, among others,” he said.
According to him, the ADS-C/CPDLC will ensure effective ATM delivery within the Nigerian airspace and reduced Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) and Pilot workload.
He added that it would enhance safety through accuracy and efficiency in communication between ATC and flight crew.
“Also included are reduction in flight delays, flight times, fuel burnt and C02 emissions; provision of cost effective surveillance and data communication.
“Another is the elimination of air—ground communication blind spots within the airspace and the provision of effective coverage over the oceanic airspace,” Abdulsalam said.
Also speaking, the Project Contractor, Mr George Eder, expressed confidence that the Nigerian airspace would experience the needed transformation in its flight operations.
Eder said this was due, with the quality of equipment deployed by his company which he described as “world class”.
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