Business
Council Welcomes UN’s Adoption Of 17 SDGs
The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) has welcomed the UN’s adoption of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which aim at eradicating extreme poverty and hunger by 2030.
This is contained in a statement by Mr Oseloka Zikora, Head of Communication of AMCOW and made available to newsmenon Sunday in Abuja.
The statement said the council welcomed the good news of all the SDGs, and in particular, Goal six solely dedicated to “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
“One hundred and ninety-three world leaders met at the United Nations General Assembly and approved 17 SDGs to replace the Millennium Development Goals which will expire in December 2015.’’
It congratulated the water and sanitation sector community for celebrating the inclusion of a dedicated water security and sanitation goal, saying without water, these goals could not be achieved.
It quoted AMCOW President, Mr Amadou Mansour-Faye, as saying that the centrality of sustainable management of water and sanitation in ending global poverty and ensuring sustainable development was not up for further debate.
“The benefits extend well beyond the water and sanitation domain to ensuring increased agriculture and food production, energy security, and better education for our teeming populations,’’ Mansour-Faye, Senegal’s Minister for Hydraulic and Sanitation said.
The statement noted that AMCOW played a significant role in the global advocacy for a distinct Water Security and Sanitation Goal.
Such role, it said, was based on the firm belief that this was primarily essential for ensuring secure, productive and sustainable water for all purposes, sanitation and hygiene interventions.
The statement also said that the integrated delivery of sustainable water and sanitation and hygiene interventions were pre-requisites for sustainable socio-economic development and the achievement of good health outcomes.
It said AMCOW’s Executive Secretary, Mr Bai Mass Taal, noted that development goals for poverty reduction and food security, energy and others could not be met without sustainable water resources management and sanitation.
“I am glad that AMCOW worked with partners to advocate for a water and sanitation goal right from the beginning.
“I recall with great pride the side event on water and sanitation chaired by Africa’s Goodwill Ambassador on Water and Sanitation, Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
“That event was organised by AMCOW with partners during the UN Post 2015 High Level Panel.
“This gave the water community’s call for a dedicated goal the needed impetus,’’ it quoted Taal as saying.
It added that “coming from an era of implementing MDGs and learning from our experiences, especially our success and failures, I believe we have an idea of what it will take to achieve the SDGs.
“I believe African citizens shall not forgive us as political leaders, technicians and development experts, if we fail to deliver by 2030 the commitments that our heads of state and government have agreed and signed’’.
AMCOW was formed in 2002 in Abuja, Nigeria, primarily to promote co-operation, security, social and economic development and poverty eradication among member states.
It is to achieve that through effective management of the continent’s water resources and provision of water supply services.
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