Business
‘SIM Card Registration, Major Exercise In Telecoms’
The registration of the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards by the NCC was one of major developments in the telecoms industry in 2011.
The NCC registration exercise started immediately after the conclusion of individual service providers’ registration of the SIM cards. The SIM registration by the service providers started in 2010 and ended in 2011.
The NCC registration was officially flagged off by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, on March 28, 2011.
Juwah said that the involvement of NCC in the project was to ensure that the registration project achieved the primary goal of checking crime rates in the country.
He said that the NCC registration was significant as the nation had been waiting for the day when all the SIM cards being used in the country would be registered.
The NCC EVC also said that the project would enable the country to have a central data base for all mobile phone users in Nigeria.
He said that NCC would bequeath to the nation a pool of data that would assist other agencies of government, especially the security agencies and the National Identity Management Commission.
“Although challenges are not unexpected in an exercise of this nature, we will make every effort to minimise and overcome such challenges as they occur.
“We currently have over 89 million active lines in the national telecoms network and after six months from today, all these lines are expected to be registered.
“The registration exercise will last for a period of six months,’’ Juwah said.
He called on users of mobile phones in Nigeria to register their SIM cards with NCC appointed SIM card registration agents nationwide.
“No Nigerian or visitor to Nigeria, using mobile phones, is exempted from this exercise.
“At the end of the six months of this registration, all unregistered SIM cards will be disconnected from the various networks,’’ the NCC’s chief said.
The NCC directed that proxies could register the SIM cards of their minors or elderly persons.
Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management in the NCC, Mr Okechukwu Itanyi, said that the gesture was allowed where such dependents could not come out physically to register.
“A dependable relation can register on behalf of a subscriber, which means that the photograph and biometrics of such relation would be taken in place of the phone owner,’’ Itanyi said.
He said that the decision of the commission to allow for proxy registration was to ensure that no SIM card user was left out of the exercise.
At the end of the six months provided for the registration exercise on September 28, the NCC announced an extension of the exercise.
Muoka said that the extension was to provide time for the harmonisation of the data collected during the six months period.
“While the Commission commends all telephone subscribers who were able to register their lines within the six months schedule for the registration, a new window of opportunity is now open for those who have not yet registered their SIM cards to do so within the limited period of the harmonisation exercise.
“This limited period, provides the last chance for all users of existing SIM cards to register as all unregistered SIM cards will be promptly disconnected without further notice at the conclusion of the harmonisation exercise,’’ he said.
Mouka said that the Commission was fully aware of the clamour by interested stakeholders for extension of the period.
The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON),
Mr Gbenga Adebayo, said that service providers asked for extension and NCC granted it.
Adebayo said that NCC was in a better position to tell how long the harmonisation period would take because they were the custodian of the data.
“We hope that in no time, we can harmonise these data and conclude the exercise,’’ he said.
Director of Customer Care at Globacom, Maria Svensson, said that although the operators wanted an extension of the registration period, that there was need for a specific date to be given.
Svensson said that subscribers’ enthusiasm to the exercise had waned as they had the feeling that there was no definite deadline.
The President of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS),
Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, said it was wrong for NCC to allow indefinite registration of SIM cards among subscribers and the registering telecoms operators.
According to him, the suspected indefinite extension will not help NCC achieve its mandate on SIM registration.
The NATCOMS President called on NCC to fix a time frame for the harmonisation of data to enable Nigerians have a clear understanding as to when the registration would end.
Business
MoneyPoint Empowers Pharmacists With Payment Solutions
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
Business
Embrace AI, CIIN Urges Insurance Operators
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.
Business
NASRDA Reassures On Strengthening Nigeria’s Space Capability
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