Business
RSSDA, RSNC Seek Synergy To Boost Business Opportunities
As part of government
strategy to diversify the economy by maximising available resources to increase revenue base, the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (RSNC) have begun exploring viable partnerships to boost business opportunities and accelerate profit inflows.
To this end, the Business Development Units of both Rivers State Government-owned organisations are to initiate engagement sessions to enable experts fine-tune mutually beneficial business collaborations to open windows for enhanced revenue into their financial dragnets.
Executive Director, RSSDA, Larry Pepple, said during a working visit to the RSNC, publishers of The Tide Group of Newspapers, Wednesday that a range of opportunities existed for viable partnerships that could turn around the fortunes of both government business outfits.
The chief executive officer said that at a time when government revenue allocation was grossly dwindling and chronically inadequate to meet ever-increasing needs, departments and agencies of government needed to think out-of-the-box with creative and innovative new ideas to broaden and enliven operational environment in order to open fresh sources to boost internally generated revenue.
Pepple said that in line with the vision of the founding fathers, the commercial printing arm of the corporation should have amassed a large chunk of the bustling business environment, but lamented the dearth of modern equipment to drive profit in a highly competitive climate.
He promised that professionals from RSSDA would work with RSNC staff to ensure that manageable facilities are overhauled and revived while efforts would be made to see how those that require complete replacement may be retooled, particularly the Exercise Book Printing Machine, and the Oldenburg commercial printing machines.
On the near-dormant Goss Rotary Machine, the RSSDA boss said that the agency’s experts would work with The Tide to procure and install the CTTP component of the hi-tech printing machine, so as to set the stage for a whole new era in state-of-the-art printing in Port Harcourt, and directed the Communications Unit of RSSDA to explore strategies to ensure that new printing requirements of the agency are domiciled with the corporation.
In his remarks, General Manager, RSNC, Celestine Ogolo, expressed gratitude to the executive director for the visit and the pledge to partner the corporation with a view to increasing its revenue profile, and assured that his management would synergise with any inward-looking government agency to explore alternative means of boosting revenue sources.
Ogolo pointed out that the corporation could not put the new Rotary Machine to effective use because the CTTP, a critical component of the facility, which enhances speedy return on investment, was not available, adding that if the CTTP is procured and installed, the corporation would be hub of commercial printing business East of the Niger.
The general manager further said that if the Exercise Book Printing Machine is overhauled and made to respond to the needs of modern environment, the corporation would reposition itself as the epicentre of commercial exercise books printing business and major supplier of the essential need for educational institutions, among others, in Rivers State and beyond.
He also regretted that the corporation could not compete favourably in the competitive commercial printing environment because all printing machines procured by the Alfred Diette-Spiff administration at the inception of the newspaper outfit in 1971, were now obsolete, easily breaking down, and expensive to maintain, adding that with new or rejigged printing machines, business would boom again, and revenue inflow would rebound.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
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