Business
NLC Advocates Social Justice, Decent Work
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for support of the international community for the fight for social justice, inequality and decent work around the world.
NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, made the call when the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Jonge Anneeaza visited him at the Labour House in Abuja.
Wabba said it was unfortunate that the level of inequality had continued to increase unabated around the world.
He said that emerging developments over time in Venezuela were not good reports, describing the challenges by the country as unfortunate.
“Nigeria and Venezuela have so many things in common; the working class all over the world believed in the principle of social justice and shared prosperity.
“So, we will not be unmindful of the current challenges facing Venezuela,” he said.
He said in spite of the challenges, the country had remained focused, especially in the area of managing its petroleum resources.
According to him, we must as a people, continue to fight for authority and independence because clearly speaking, what is happening around the world today is the fact that inequality has continued to increase.
“There is a new trend of neo-liberalism where the interests of our policies are being undermined and the interest of few countries around the world drives the process of development everywhere, this is unaccepted.
“For us, freedom must be total without limitation or restriction. Countries must be allowed to use their resources for the betterment of their citizens.
“They must also be able to use their resources for the process of development of their citizens and I think this has being the challenge in most countries.
“They are undermining the serenity of the country and the people and that is why peace has continued to elude us around the world.
“So, we must choose where there is peace and freedom and development as where there is freedom, certainly, this issue of security will be a thing of the past,” he said.
Wabba said that the NLC had followed with keen interest, the developments in Venezuela and would continue to support policies aimed at advancing the will of the people, especially the working class.
He noted that the issue of Venezuela had featured prominently in discussions at the International Labour Organisation.
According to him, labour will continue to support because, if there are injustices around the world, there is injustice everywhere.
Earlier, Anneeaza, said that the country was being threatened with military action by President Donald Trump of the United States of America.
Anneeaza said that President Trump had also placed economic sanction against the country.
He added that as a result of such sanction, the country was not able to assess any facility from international finance institutions.
“At the moment, our only alternative route is with the help of many countries such as Russia, China, Turkey among others because, they know about this kind of blockage in the economy,” he said.
He said that the country had concluded plans to hold a presidential election in April.
He added that the Venezuela government was committed to keeping to the agreement reached from a dialogue between the government and opposition members on election in the Dominican Republic.
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
