Business
Crisis Looms In Oil Community …As Youth Body Parades Two Excos
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State (middle), welcoming the Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Prof. Danbala Danju, during a meeting with Executives of BOA in Abuja on Thursday. With them is the BOA Executive Director, Wholesale Finance, Mr Babatunde Igun.
Controversy is trailing the recent election conducted by the Egi Oil and Gas Producing Families Youth Association (EOGPFYA) in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State as two separate executive committees have emerged.
The Tide gathred that the Election Committee (ELECO) put in place by the out-going Executive Committee split into two with each faction led by the Chairman, Mr. Anthony Agileba and the other by the Secretary, Uzoma Ukpaka, conducted separate elections which in turn produced two new parallel executive Committees.
A candidate for the office of President, Mr. Nakad Innocent Okwu alleged that contrary to the constitutional provision for specific date, time and venue of election to be indicated in the election guideline and time-table, these were completely absent.
The aspirant said both the Chairman, Mr. Agilebu and Secretary, Ukpaka worked at cross roads, with each having his own delegates list and also conducting parallel elections same day but at different venues.
“While ELECO Chairman conducted his at the SAR’s office at Erema, his Secretary, Uzoma Ukpaka conducted his own at Obite”, he said, adding that delegates lists were duplicated by the two, thereby making impossible for a free, fair and transparent election to be conducted.
According to Okwu, unknown delegates were forced to queue behind Prince obodo who was later paraded as Chairman by the ELECO.
He rejected the result of the election because of the alleged electoral malpractices and called on the leaders of Egi, the government and all peace-loving individuals to intervene and nip in the bud the impending danger looming over the issue.
However, in a release signed by the ELECO Chairman, Agilebu Anthony dated 14th August 2015, Obodo Prince C was announced the Executive President. He was to lead a 16-member executive that would pilot the affairs of the body for three years.
Affirming the result, the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) Egi Oil and Gas Producing Families Youth Association, Hon. Roland Ajie, said the winner of the association’s general elections held on the 14th of August 2015at SARs Barrack, Erema, was Obodo prince.
The BOT Chairman urged Total E7P Nigeria Limited, government agencies as well as members of the general public to deal only with the said executive.
A release from the board and signed by the Chairman threatened that any transaction in the name of the youth body outside the Prince Obodo-led executive does not get the recognition or acceptance of the board or the association.
The Tide gathered that other contestants were also seeking for their recognition or total cancellation of the election, especially by Total Oil Company.
The fear is that if the confusion is not resolved peacefully and on time the youth election is capable of obstructing the relationship between the body and the oil firm which might in turn degenerate to crisis in the oil-rich Egi clan.
Chris Oluho
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