Nigeria: NLNG to improve operational efficiency of domestic LPG supply - ITREALMS

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With continuous improvement culture, the NLNG has committed to working closely with its stakeholders to scale up operational efficiency in its Domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas (DLPG) supply to the country, reports ITREALMS.

At an engagement session recently with stakeholders in Lagos, NLNG highlighted its plans to enhance engagement and improve operational efficiency of its LPG supply through digitalisation of some of its processes which include a new platform designed to streamline regulatory processes, optimise risk management, and enhance the buyer experience. 

DELIVER Nigeria to boost smallholder farmers’ livelihoods, improve diets - ITREALMS

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The DELIVER Nigeria is now officially underway, with the objective of enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder vegetable farmers and promoting healthier dietary habits in Nigeria’s Kaduna and Kano states. 

The full name of this three-year project is “DEcent LIVelihoods for small-scale producers delivered through Economic and Resilient food systems in Nigeria”, and it is being run by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation (EWS-KT), and Wageningen University & Research (WUR).

Alliance outlines path to improve HPV vaccines - ITREALMS

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A new Gavi market shaping roadmap for Human Papilloma-Virus (HPV) vaccines showcases how partners, manufacturers and countries must work together to secure a sustainable supply over the next decade.

The action plan outlines how this can be achieved by improving the predictability of demand, a competitive supplier base, and closely monitoring and responding to countries’ needs.

FirstBank enhances FirstEdu loan solution to improve education - ITREALMS

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FirstBank has said its FirstEdu product designed to put schools at an advantage in the financing of capital projects such as the acquisition of new property, school expansion and reconstruction has been remodeled to a period of up to a maximum tenor of 48 months.

Since its launch in 2018, the FirstEdu loan has promoted the continued improvement of schools whilst putting them at an advantage in meeting their mid and long-term goals. These goals include the expansion of the school through the acquisition of landed properties, purchase of school bus, modern educational facilities, tools and equipment to optimize the day-to-day operations of the school.

Empower Local Governments, improve access to clean water, sanitation, hygiene - ITREALMS

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Access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene is essential for human health and well-being. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 is about "clean water and sanitation for all". However, in many developing countries, these necessities remain out of reach for a significant portion of the population, particularly those living in suburban and rural areas. The popular thinking is that local governments can play a critical role in scaling up interventions to improve access to water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Take Nigeria. It is easily the most populous country in Africa with a rapidly growing population that is expected to reach 400 million by 2050. Despite its vast natural resources, including water, Nigeria faces significant challenges in providing access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), only 29 per cent of Nigerians have access to basic sanitation facilities, and only 63 per cent have access to basic water services.

Improve National Security: NISS to 'collabo' NCC - ITREALMS

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National Institute of Security Studies (NISS) has engaged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to advance strategic collaboration that would enhance the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) towards improving national security.

Speaking during a visit to the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta at the NCC’s Head Office in Abuja recently, the NISS Director, Research Estimates and Library Services, Dr. Adegboyega Karim, said they wereon a fact-finding mission to enrich ongoing research that focuses on globalization and regional integration for sustainable development in Africa.

Lagos SAT calls for quick intervention to improve PHCs - ITREALMS

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The Lagos State Advocacy Team (SAT) has called on appropriate government health authorities to expedite actions in providing manpower and basic facilities for better community health care delivery in local levels, reports ITREALMS.

This call was made by the State Advocacy Team during a visit to the Medical Officer incharge of Health (MoH) in Ikotun Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) under the Alimosho Local Government.

Sygen Pharmaceutical promises to improve lives of Nigerians – ITREALMS

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One of the Nigeria's healthcare manufacturing companies, Sygen Pharmaceuticals, has promised to improve lives of citizens through innovative sciences, especially in the communities where they operate, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking at the formal brand launch, held in Onikan, Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer, Sygen, Charles Ogunwuyi, said Sygen manufactures and markets a wide range of products including anti-malaria, anti-hypertensive and antidiabetics, drugs among other products.

Lagosians explore Google maps to improve road usage - ITREALMS

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A 2017 study listed the 150 least to most stressed out cities in the world. With Stuttgart in Germany nabbing first spot as the least stressed city to live and work in, Lagos came in at 148 (just two spots ahead of the most stressed city - Iraq) which will be no surprise to daily commuters on Lagos streets.

There were obviously factors other than traffic playing a role in defining this list but lack of space and cramped environments, including high traffic areas, featured high on the list of reasons people are stressed out in cities like Lagos.

Traffic is a challenge, no doubt about it, but there are tools available for Lagos road users to use to help smooth their journeys and make life a little easier.

Do the most with your travel time using Google Maps:

Lagos traffic may seem like an insurmountable, unavoidable, stressful part of the workday, over which it may seem you have no control. The truth is, there are several ways you can use technology to reclaim a few hours every day or make good use of your time on the road.

· First and foremost, how real is the traffic situation?: Who says you have to hit the road at 07h30 or 17h00 sharp? With just one tap, you have access to information like ETAs, live traffic updates and quickest routes to familiar places – like home, work and the gym. This will help you decide whether you should join the fray or stick around, head off to the gym or make a stop to buy the milk you know is needed at home.

· Know before you go: If gym is an alternative to traffic for you but queues aren’t, try using Google’s “Popular Times” feature. This is accessible through Search and Maps and will help you decide how to better use your time. If the gym’s too busy and filled with other traffic dodgers, for example, you can choose to see how busy things look at your local mall or the library or the supermarket.

· Share your ETA and location: Sitting in traffic on your way to work and your boss keeps asking for updates? Use the Share Trip Progress functionality in Google Maps to share your journey with them, via Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger or even email. Once they open your shared link in Maps, they’ll be able to track your progress with ease. In much the same way, you can share an actual estimated time of arrival at home with your family, keeping their minds at ease on those “extra trafficky” days.

· Driving in cars with kids: If it’s your turn to drop the kids off at school, and you have an Android device, why not use Google’s Bolo app to use their time in traffic wisely? Bolo is a speech-based reading app that helps kids learn how to read in English - your kids can read out loud with the app, which “listens” to them while offering encouragement and feedback to help improve their reading skills. Bolo operates offline so there can be no “poor coverage” excuses!

· Mixed Transit options coming soon: People, in general, are quick learners and those faced with traffic on a daily basis will often find ways to shorten or ease this process. For some, this means mixed options when it comes to transport. You could drive or cycle to a taxi/bus station, taxi/bus or rideshare from there and then walk the last few metres to work. Google has announced its Mixed Transit feature, which will be coming to your phone soon and promises to help commuters plot their mixed transit options out every day - choosing the fastest option available.

*Nenye Dom/Editor

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Accenture NewsPage to help AB InBev improve sales, distribution in Africa - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Accenture has agreed to assist AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer, better manage its sales and distribution operations in Africa with the Accenture NewsPage Distributor Management System (DMS), reports ITREALMS.

A fully integrated distributor management and sales force automation system, Accenture DMS covers the complete down-stream supply chain, providing consumer goods companies with accurate, reliable data on secondary sales to help them control promotions; improve productivity; and streamline inventory and sales processes and distributor claims.

Under the terms of the three-year contract, Accenture is helping AB InBev implement the latest version of DMS for its operations in Africa. This includes the initial roll-out of the system in Mozambique, Zambia, Ghana and Nigeria, as well as the upgrade of the system in Tanzania and Uganda, where AB InBev has already been using DMS for more than three years.

The DMS implementation will enable AB InBev to track its distributor network and increase visibility into its product stock and sales in Africa. By consolidating all product transactional information — from activities of the sales force and distributors— DMS gives AB InBev’s sales teams the data they need to build relationships with distributors and customers and to closely track product promotions and performance.

The DMS software — which is integrated with the Salesforce-based solution that ABI uses to drive its contact strategy with its customers — will be used by more than 1,570 mobile and 620 back-office users and made available to more than 100 of AB InBev’s distributors.

Accenture has already completed the upgrade of DMS in Tanzania and Uganda, with the implementations in the other four countries taking place over the next several months. Once Accenture has implemented the DMS solution for AB InBev in the six countries, it will continue to support the solution, providing continued hosting, maintenance and application support for the duration of the contract.

“Accenture’s DMS solution has enabled us to enhance our sales and distribution operations in Tanzania and Uganda over the past three years, and we’re excited to upgrade to the latest version and expand its use to other countries in Africa,” said Lee Dawson, Vice President, AB InBev. “With DMS, we’re better positioned to achieve our goal of becoming the number one brewer across the continent.”

Marlize Claasen, managing director at Accenture, said, “AB InBev understands that expanding sales, enhancing efficiency and improving profitability requires full visibility into its sales and distribution operations. We’re excited to be able to continue our successful collaboration with them as they seek to expand their market share in Africa, while developing a more connected and modern relationship with consumers.”

Nenye Dom/GEE

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SEED to improve financial access to education, hosts clinic | ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS:

The Sustainable Education and Enterprise Development (SEED) has reiterated resolve to improve financial access to the education sector, as it hosted a clinic, reports ITRealms.

ITRealms reports from the maiden edition of the SEED Access to Finance Clinic recently in Lagos, founders of SEED, the W-Holistic Business Solutions, revealed this resolve.

According W-Holistic it planned to leverage the network of 723 Affordable Private Schools in the six education districts of Lagos State, insisted that the aim of SEED Access to Finance is to improve access to finance for SEED beneficiary schools.

“…And serve as a platform for the schools to understand the requirements for financing, get further information on various finance options, and commence the access to finance process(-es) for their preferred option(s),” the organisers declared.

The theme of the Maiden Edition of the SEED Access to Finance Clinic was “Financial Inclusion for Affordable Private Schools” with presentations by the SEED Access to Finance Partners including Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Sterling Bank, Jessefield Microfinance Bank, Lotus Capital and FINT. The Maiden Edition of the SEED Access to Finance Clinic had 307 Affordable Private Schools out of its network of 723 Affordable Private Schools in attendance.

The Maiden Edition of the SEED Access to Finance Clinic also featured a Keynote Presentation by Nigeria's first licensed credit bureau, FirstCentral Credit Bureau, represented by the bureau’s Head of Sales and Marketing, Mr. Olanrewaju Agbede. Other features of the SEED Access to Finance Clinic included messages from Heads of School Associations, which are SEED Acquisition Partners, and messages from one of the partners of SEED, Developing Effective Private Education in Nigeria (DEEPEN). The SEED Access to Finance Clinic also had a Panel Discussion session, Updates on SEED Project session and Breakout Sessions which contained Visits to the SEED Access to Finance Partners’ desks by the SEED Alumni for Contact and Registration on Various Finance/Loan Products.

According to the CEO of W-Holistic Business Solutions and Project Director of SEED, Mrs. Olanrewaju Oniyitan, in her Welcome Address, the SEED Access to Finance Clinic was initiated to bridge the gap between Affordable Private Schools and Finance. 

She reiterated the history of the SEED Project which was started as a result of the desire and interest to change current status of education in Nigeria and positively affect the future incomes and livelihoods of today’s school-aged children through a multipronged business development support approach which impacts major stakeholders in the school business sector including school owners, school administrators, teachers, parents, communities, and most importantly, the school children. 

Stressing that the SEED Alumni in attendance should be open minded towards the opportunities which the SEED Access to Finance Clinic was going to afford them including the opportunities to interact with the SEED Access to Finance Partners one-on-one. 

She urged the schools to take full advantage of the platform for accessing funds for aspects of their School Transformation Plans which required external financing for their schools’ growth and sustainability.

During his message on behalf of one of the SEED Funders, Developing Effective Private Education in Nigeria (DEEPEN), the National Program Manager, Dr. Gboyega Ilusanya, stated that there was an essential need for partnership and support for low-cost private education in Nigeria as these private educational institutions contribute to provision of services to children from low-income households. 

He opined that despite the increasing debate across the world on the UKAid’s funding of low-cost private education as against channeling such funding to the underserved and underfunded government-owned public education, it remains critical that funding should also focus on low-cost schools as enabling environment including access to finance should be provided to them to support their sustainability towards education of children from economically-disadvantaged households. 

Further, he stated that partners seeking to support low-cost education should focus on ensuring regulations leading to enabling environment for service providers, access to finance, school improvement services and access to information for their growth and continued existence. He added that the approach adopted by SEED for Affordable Private Schools provided a sustainability platform for low-cost schools while lauding the SEED Project including the SEED Access to Finance Clinic.

In attendance at the clinic were representatives of school associations including the President of Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Mrs. Ifejola Dada, and the Chairman of Association of Model Islamic Schools (AMIS), Lagos State Chapter, Alhaji Misbaudeen Zakariyah, took turns to describe the SEED Project was a laudable and impact intervention by W-Holistic Business Solutions towards changing the narrative and landscape of Affordable Private Education in Nigeria as the SEED Project has been able to address critical challenges faced by Affordable Private Schools in Nigeria.

Uj. N. Dominic/ED, Ops

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Weco, Cisco seek seamless B2B connectivity

ITRealms:

The duo of Cisco Systems and Weco Systems International have canvassed for seamless business to business connectivity so as to improve service delivery, reports ITRealms.

This was the submission of experts from both companies at a training tagged “delivering better value with intelligent mobility" held in Lagos.

The training attended by heads of information technology and other IT experts from financial institutions, telecommunications, oil and gas and other service providers, saw the Systems and Solution, Mobility/MPLS Manager, Weco Systems Limited, Omotunde Ogunbiyi disclosed that, businesses are looking for new and smart ways to connect with people, processes, data, and provide advanced intelligence, efficiency security. 

“It is about connecting experiences and operational efficiencies while supporting bring your own device (BYOD) and the Internet of Everything (IoE),” he said.

Also, he said, Enterprise mobility services (EMS) facilitate network access, Mobility for work-force, IP Telephony, Digital Media Streaming, video services, Location Services, Biometrics, Assets tracking services and much more. 

“The fourth industrial revolution has created a new landscape for organizations; new business challenges and competition are coming up as well. It is a platform for businesses to provide seamless connectivity to business resources for more productivity and smarter decision making.

“Enterprise Mobility Management facilitates swifter roll out of business applications and services as secured connection is provided for users and technology systems alike. Enterprise wireless technology has evolved over the years from ordinary wireless access media to highly secure enterprise mobility networks. The mobility concept has reduced the operating expenditure for building structured cabling and the clumsiness that old cabling systems can cause in an organization.” Omotunde revealed.

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Pix: (L-R) Chief Operating Officer, Weco Systems International Limited. Nnamdi Onyebuchi; Territory Business Manager Sales, Cisco Systems, Eberechi Nkoro; Telecom / Network Officer, Diamond Bank, Charles Ifinedo and Solutions Manager, Mobility and MPLS Omotunde Ogunbiyi, of Weco Systems during  Weco/Cisco Enterprise Mobility Workshop in. Lagos