Business News
The greatest tech solutions spring from most regular problems
The best bit about coming up with a tech solution is that all there is to do is find a loophole in the traditional way of doing things in absolutely any field.
Think of tech solutions as a reversed orthodox problem. The best bit about coming up with a tech solution is that all there is to do is find a loophole in the traditional way of doing things in absolutely any field. When that gap is identified, the rest will be much more seamless to navigate through.
Today, it presumably appears as though the world simply will not function without technology seeing as we are surrounded by technology every waking moment of our lives and seemingly every problem has an emerging solution these days.
Regardless, there are people in remote corners who have no access to technology, a few who are simply oblivious to the existence of technology and others who consciously choose to live “tech free”.
Whichever category is prominent among all three, noteworthily there is a significant number of people who live dependent on technology. Technology in so many ways has completely changed our world as we know and while people may try to ignore new technology in their personal lives that is not possible in business operations today.
[READ MORE: New tech opportunities amid COVID-19 crisis)
Many businesses know this and are constantly in search for the best tech solutions to give them competitive advantage and optimize operations. When choosing to invest in a tech idea, it is important to ensure to check these off your list:
- A rich user experience: Provide solutions that allow smooth engagement for your users. With technology, the best way to achieve this is by implementing a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that offers an intuitive user interface across a range of devices consistently, simply and intelligently. Even with so many offerings out here, you can this way drive increased user productivity.
- Evolving capabilities: The world evolves every passing moment. It is then important to have technology that can evolve as quickly as people do. To appeal to business owners, using cloud-based platforms will help with the ever-growing need to add services and new features, this way the business owner can stay focused on business goals rather than the system.
- Accessibility: Even before taking steps in publicity or marketing, make sure potential users of your tech product can access it from anywhere and at any time. Mobile accessibility enables users to engage with your product when on the go while configurable desktops can help easy-to-use actions and productivity as well.
- Security: Cybersecurity is such a phenomenon in the tech world. Data security especially has over the years been a major concern for a lot of tech enthusiasts and experts. So in developing a tech solution, protecting your users’ data should be top priority.
- Customer Service: Customer relationships can either break or mar the success of your tech solution. Questions are bound to arise during the day-to-day use of the system, so it is important to ensure live help is available as much as possible. But most of all, make sure your solution does exactly what it promises.
With that in mind, there have been quite the number of tech solution providers over the years who have changed the way we navigate through our days. Candidly, it seems a new tech company/startup erupts from all over the world almost as frequently as tech ideas do.
Case in point – Gaurav Bhalotia realized there is a lot to health beyond medicine, and that our bodies need to participate very strongly to recover from any illness, so he started FindMyHealth in 2018 with a vision to give individuals control of their health, and to help them stay healthy and recover quickly.
[READ ALSO: How International collaborations can place Nigerian Tech space on global map)
More locally owned, Mitchell Elegbe, founder of Interswitch, one of Nigeria’s successful popular tech companies was birthed from the simplest of gaps- Nigeria in the early 2000s did not have ATM machines. Today, it is evident how the observations and attentiveness of one man have changed the way Nigerians handle their finances.
Keep in mind that tech solutions work best when promoting the idea that purchasing your product will help customers successfully solve a problem or deal with a complicated situation, this will enable any tech enthusiast turn into a tech solutions provider in no time. However, it is also important to know that an IT solution in the true sense cannot be isolation in itself, it has to be an aggregation of products and services.
Hospitality & Travel
FG lists approved COVID-19 test centres for international travellers, to sanction airlines over non-compliance
The NCAA also warned airlines to desist from flouting COVID-19 protocols.
The Federal Government has listed the approved COVID-19 test centres for international travellers. This was disclosed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) via its Twitter handle on Monday.
According to the agency, some of the 68 centres are: EHA Clinics, The 54gene COVID-19 mobile laboratory, Medicaid Radio-diagnostics Centre, FCT Abuja; SynLab Ikeja, VI, Lekki; 54Gene Lekki, Medbury Medical Services, Imeja & Lekki; Clina Lancet, Maryland, and Biologix Medical Services, Anthony, Lagos, among others.
Approved #COVID-19 Test Centres For International Travelers.https://t.co/7wSiyfCm7G pic.twitter.com/73idKTEZrx
— Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (@FAAN_Official) September 21, 2020
Also, the FG through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has threatened to revoke the licenses of domestic airline operators over non-compliance with the COVID-19 protocols.
Director-General, NCAA, Mr Musa Nuhu, issued the warning in a letter to all operators (DG39/20), with reference NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/267 on Monday.
Nuhu said the warning was made necessary because some domestic airlines had been flouting the protocols.
According to him, the continuous non-compliance with the COVID-19 protocols would attract severe penalties up to and including cancellation of approval to resume domestic operations.
He said: “It has been brought to the notice of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority that some domestic airline operators have not been complying with the COVID-19 protocols.
“These protocols were released through All Operators Letter (AOL) DG035/20 ref. NCAA/DG/AIR/ 11/16/260, dated Sept. 4 and an Advisory Circular (AC) NCAA-AC-AMS-006, also dated Sept. 4.
“Approval for resumption of domestic operations are predicated on compliance with the above protocols.”
Nuhu added that this was a warning to all domestic operators who were not in compliance to desist from such acts immediately.
Coronavirus
COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
On the 21st of September 2020, 195 new confirmed cases and 2 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.
The spread of novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria continues to record increases as the latest statistics provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reveal Nigeria now has 57,437 confirmed cases.
On the 21st of September 2020, 195 new confirmed cases and 2 deaths were recorded in Nigeria, having carried out a total daily test of 1,162 samples across the country.
To date, 57,437 cases have been confirmed, 48,674 cases have been discharged and 1,100 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. A total of 480,874 tests have been carried out as of September 21st, 2020 compared to 479,712 tests a day earlier.
COVID-19 Case Updates- 21st September 2020,
- Total Number of Cases – 57,437
- Total Number Discharged – 48,674
- Total Deaths – 1,100
- Total Tests Carried out – 480,874
According to the NCDC, the 195 new cases were reported from 11 states- Enugu (51), Gombe (40), Lagos (39), Plateau (23), FCT (15), Rivers (12), Kaduna (8), Ondo (3), Bauchi (2), Edo (1), Ogun (1).
Meanwhile, the latest numbers bring Lagos state total confirmed cases to 18,982, followed by Abuja (5,566), Oyo (3,254), Plateau (3,231), Edo (2,612), Kaduna (2,356), Rivers (2,255), Delta (1,799), Ogun (1,767), Kano (1,734), Ondo (1,600), Enugu (1,285), Ebonyi (1,038), Kwara (1,025), Abia (881), Katsina (848), Gombe (839), Osun (817), Borno (741), and Bauchi (691).
Imo State has recorded 562 cases, Benue (473), Nasarawa (448), Bayelsa (394), Jigawa (322), Ekiti (317), Akwa Ibom (288), Niger (254), Adamawa (234), Anambra (232), Sokoto (161), Taraba (95), Kebbi (93), Cross River (85), Zamfara (78), Yobe (75), while Kogi state has recorded 5 cases only.
READ ALSO: COVID-19: Western diplomats warn of disease explosion, poor handling by government
Lock Down and Curfew
In a move to combat the spread of the pandemic disease, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days, which took effect from 11 pm on Monday, 30th March 2020.
The movement restriction, which was extended by another two-weeks period, has been partially put on hold with some businesses commencing operations from May 4. On April 27th, 2020, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari declared an overnight curfew from 8 pm to 6 am across the country, as part of new measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19. This comes along with the phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos, and Ogun States, which took effect from Saturday, 2nd May 2020, at 9 am.
On Monday, 29th June 2020 the federal government extended the second phase of the eased lockdown by 4 weeks and approved interstate movement outside curfew hours with effect from July 1, 2020. Also, on Monday 27th July 2020, the federal government extended the second phase of eased lockdown by an additional one week.
On Thursday, 6th August 2020 the federal government through the secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 announced the extension of the second phase of eased lockdown by another four (4) weeks.
READ ALSO: Bill Gates says Trump’s WHO funding suspension is dangerous
Business
AfCFTA: Nigeria securing approval to ratify agreement – Trade Minister
The Minister revealed that Nigeria has set up a National Action Committee on AfCFTA.
Minister of Trade, Niyi Adebayo said Nigeria is currently in the process of securing approval to ratify the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement soon.
The Minister disclosed this during a meeting with the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA), Mene Wamkele on Monday.
The Honourable Minister @NiyiAdebayo_ , welcomed the Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA) Secretariat, H.E @MeneWamkele, to the Ministry today.
During the meeting, the Honourable Minister informed him that Nigeria has established … pic.twitter.com/vSDnNqcfmE
— FMITI Nigeria (@TradeInvestNG) September 21, 2020
Recall that Nairametrics reported last week Mr. Adebayo said that Nigeria is actively working to attract more foreign direct investments into key industries to meet the demands of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“As we gear up to meet the demands of the enlarged continental market which will be fostered by AfCFTA, we are actively working to attract more foreign direct investments into key industries,” the Minister said.
In today’s meeting, The Minister told the delegation that Nigeria has set up a National Action Committee on AfCFTA, which would implement Nigeria’s roll-out strategy in a bid to take advantage of the agreement. He added, “Nigeria is currently in the process of securing approval to ratify the agreement within the shortest possible time”.
The African Union announced in August that the first commercial deal of AfCFTA will be taking off on January 1, 2021.
FG lists approved COVID-19 test centres for international travellers, to sanction airlines over non-compliance
COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
Oil prices slump over prolonged COVID-19 restrictions, Libya resumes production
AfCFTA: Nigeria securing approval to ratify agreement – Trade Minister
Nigerian Stocks immune to high sell-offs recorded in Global Stock Market
COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
Daily Parallel Market Exchange Rate – ₦455/$1
COVID-19 forces tenants to request moratoriums from property owners
World’s biggest sovereign wealth fund now owns cryptos
Naira falls at black market as dollar scarcity hits the forex market
