Thursday 9 November 2023

World Quality Day: 10th Global Quality Alliance Awards Set To Hold Nov 16




The World Quality Alliance brand is set to hold its 10th edition of annual Excellence Awards  which will take place at the Civic Center Victoria Island Lagos on the 16th of November 2023, in celebration of World Quality Day.  


According to the organizers, the focus is charged towards  helping organizations and brands achieve its goals  through quality improvement principles and methods, sharing best practices. It is a time to recognize the achievements of quality professionals, reflect on the successes and challenges of the past year, and share best practices for ensuring quality in all areas of our lives.


World Quality Day, an annual celebration in November which aims to highlight the importance of quality management in Organizations across different industries. Businesses and organizations worldwide come together to share best practices, celebrate achievements and raise awareness about the importance of quality management.



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The main objective of Quality Day is to encourage companies to focus on continuous improvement in their processes, products and services to enhance customer satisfaction and achieve sustainable growth.


The Chartered Quality Institute used to celebrate on the 3rd Thursday in November, but since 2021, CQI now celebrates World Quality Week. This year's celebration will commence on 10th to 16th November 2023, themed "Quality: Realizing Your Competitive Potential".


Highlights of the 2023 edition includes, Lectures on the year's theme, World Quality Day Exhibition and Global Quality Excellence Awards.


The 2023 World Quality Day Exhibition provides Organizations with maximum exposure at a premier congress and exhibition devoted to increase brand visibility. Participating as an Exhibitor at 2023 WORLD QUALITY DAY Showcase and Exhibition can take you straight to target market and demonstrate your level of support and commitment to brand management systems.


The Global Quality Excellence Awards 2023 is meant to celebrate Excellence in Quality conformance to customer needs and promote awareness of the important contributions that quality makes towards a nation, or organization growth and prosperity.


According to the Country Director, World Quality Alliance, Mr Desmond Esorougwe,  the brand is a global quality organization that seeks to improve quality of human life by contributing to the progress of science and technology: and to the development of industry through professional activities for the research and development of philosophy, theory, methodology and application by laying emphasis on Quality Management.


World Quality Alliance is established to provide vital professional stimulus for the development of Quality Management as a profession. It aimed at continuously developing of Quality Management by improving customer's satisfaction and profitability, reducing costs, efficiently managing risk and promoting corporate responsibility. World Quality Alliance is committed to promoting Quality in all field of endeavour by providing Quality Awareness, Leadership Principles, Products and Services.

Monday 26 September 2022

Proper Use Of Tax Revenues Will Enhance Tax Morale And Compliance -FIRS

Muhammad Nami, FIRS boss



When governments deploy tax revenues for the common good of the citizens, there is a concomitant increase in tax compliance by citizens who see the direct benefit of the taxes they pay.


This was the position held by the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami during his opening remarks at the launch of the Public Finance Database by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum at the Wells Carlton Hotel, in Abuja, on Tuesday, last week.



Mr. Nami argued that the low compliance tax rate in most developing countries was as a result of the failure of the social contract between the taxpayers and the government, noting that those in political leadership in the country had a duty to promote a tax-paying culture by relating projects and infrastructural developments executed by them to taxes paid by taxpayers.



“Taxpayers need to see what has been done with their money to be encouraged to continue to pay their obligations under the Social Contract they have with the government.



“I am delighted that one of the sessions focuses on the tax-for-service programmes as they impact tax revenues. This issue is dear to us as tax administrators as there is a nexus between the effective utilization of tax revenue and tax compliance,” he stated.



“The low level of tax compliance in developing countries can be attributed to the failure of the social contract between the taxpayers and the government. It is expected that if the citizens are committed to paying taxes, the government should be committed to using the taxes for the common good of all citizens.”



The FIRS boss further argued that projects funded by taxpayers’ moneys should be reported as such and not personalized so that citizens would begin to relate these projects as the proceeds of their taxes.



“Those in political leadership should promote the tax-paying culture by relating projects and infrastructural developments executed by them to tax.



“The government at all levels are doing a lot with taxpayers’ money but citizens do not easily appreciate these facts because of the way and manner the projects are reported.



“There is the need to de-emphasize and de-personalize projects so that the citizens will begin to relate all the ongoing laudable projects in the states to tax revenue. This singular act to a great extent will increase the tax morale and enhance compliance.”



Mr. Muhammad Nami, an advocate for a harmonized tax system as a cure for tax revenue leakages used the platform to call for the country to make a bold paradigm shift by harmonizing the country’s tax system to optimize tax revenue collection.



“Recently, there has been a clamour for a holistic review of our tax system. Its proponents, including myself argue that if Nigeria must achieve its tax revenue potentials as the fulcrum of economic development, a harmonisation of our tax system must be undertaken.



“Tax harmonisation for enhanced revenue generation, which was the theme of the 2nd National Tax Dialogue was carefully chosen to reiterate the need for us as a nation to rethink the current tax system being operated.



“There was a consensus at the dialogue that Nigeria needs a transition to a unified tax administration as practised globally by most of the efficient and effective tax jurisdictions that have achieved optimum tax revenue collection.



“Certainly, there is no gainsaying that if Nigeria must be less dependent on external borrowing and buffer from the volatility and dwindling oil revenue, there should be a paradigm shift. Beyond politics and sentiment, the country should be willing to make those bold and hard but beneficial tax reforms and there is no better time than now, if we must avert the looming debt crisis. The gains from a harmonised tax system far outweigh the fears expressed in some quarters, if dispassionately analysed.”

Saturday 24 September 2022

Pharmacists Day: Ogun PSN Seeks Collaboration with Govt on Improved Management of Chronic Diseases

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) in Ogun State has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the state government on the management
of long term and chronic disease conditions.

 

These, according to the body, include both for communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS as tuberculosis and also for non-communicable diseases such as Hypertension, Diabetes, Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease.

 

The State Chairman of the PSN, Otunba Adewale Adenugba said this in his address at the Pharmacy House, Abeokuta, on the occasion of this year's World Pharmacists Day.

 

Adenugba said the collaboration becomes necessary because pharmacists are the closest healthcare providers to the community and also the last port of call in hospital.

 

According to him, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Number 3 sets a number of targets for these disease conditions, saying pharmacists in Ogun state are willing and empowered to collaborate with the state government.

 

He added that globally pharmacists "are recognized as drug therapy experts, health educators and improved patient care advocates."

 

Adenugba said "The Nigeria National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has already deployed machinery to engage the over 6,000 community pharmacies in Nigeria in the National Vaccination Program.

 

"Pharmacists as the closest healthcare providers to the community and also as the last port of call in hospital managed patients have proven to be key in management of long term and chronic disease conditions both for communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS as tuberculosis and also for non-communicable diseases such as Hypertension, Diabetes, Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease.

 

"The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Number 3 sets a number of targets for these disease conditions and pharmacists in Ogun state are willing and empowered to collaborate with the Government and all other stakeholders in healthcare to bring succor and relief to the good people of Ogun State via a united front.

 

"Pharmacists in Ogun state in different areas of practice, Industrial/Production, Community/Retail, Academic/Research, Public Health and Hospital Practice are trained and continuously being trained to deliver effective pharmaceutical care following international guidelines and best practices in the prevention and management of these disease conditions thereby improving the overall health status , quality of life and life expectancy of the good people of Ogun state.

 

"Globally pharmacists are recognized as drug therapy experts, health educators and improved patient care advocates.

 

"The trust and confidence of people in pharmacy and pharmacists as providers of care will continue to increase as more and more pharmacists provide a broad spectrum of healthcare services."

 

Continuing, the Chairman said "In our country Nigeria, following trends already obtained in other advanced countries, patients, policy makers and the society at large are beginning to understand the multifunctional role of the pharmacist. This was revealed in great measure during the recent COVID pandemic where pharmacists across Nigeria being the closest health care providers to citizens played a crucial role in stemming the spread of the disease while also catering for healthcare needs of the majority of citizens who could not access hospital services due to different levels and stages of government announced COVID lockdown.

 

"Pharmacists were at the forefront in the production, procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment PPEs through various NGOs, Government Central Pharmaceutical Stores and thousands of retail community pharmacy outlets around the country throughout the pandemic.

 

"As Nigeria exits the pandemic era, pharmacists are also at the forefront the prevention of future disease outbreaks as more and more pharmacists are taking on active roles as vaccinators and more and more pharmacy outlets are becoming recognized points of vaccination in Nigeria.This is also in line with the trend in advanced societies like the USA where Pharmacy Based Immunization Services (PBIS) have been available since the 1980s, as at today all states in the USA have fully implemented the PBIS where citizens can get vaccinated in Pharmacies in their neighborhood."

 

The Chairman also appreciated the efforts of His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun on his giant strides on healthcare in the state through different measures such as renovation and equipping of primary health centres, the recently launched Ogun State Health Insurance Agency and the Drug Management Agency in the pipeline asking that more and more pharmacists be engaged into these government agencies for better performance.

 

As part of activities marking this year's World Pharmacists Day, he said the celebration also includes a Charity Visit to the Nigeria Correctional Service, Ibara on Wednesday the 28th of September and also a Public Health Campaign against Drug Abuse and Misuse at Egba High School, Asero also on Wednesday the 28th of September.

 

He said " It is with great delight that I and my entire executives at the PSN Ogun state wish all pharmacists and indeed the entire population a Happy World Pharmacists Day 2022.This year’s celebration also includes a Charity Visit to the Nigeria Correctional Service, Ibara on Wednesday the 28th of September and also a Public Health Campaign against Drug Abuse and Misuse at Egba High School, Asero also on Wednesday the 28th of September.

"I appreciate your efforts and dedication in improving healthcare outcomes in Ogun state."

 

Foundation Empowers Widows, Funds Children Education

 

To reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country and help widows in society, Lawrence Grace Foundation has urged the Federal Government to formulate a policy that will keep children in school and a workable policy document that will cater for the widow’s well-being.

Speaking at the empowerment of 200 widows, free medical outreach, and payment for scores of school children whose parents cannot afford school fees in Agiliti, Mile 12 Area of Lagos state, with the theme, ‘No act of kindness is ever wasted,’ the convener, Oluyinka Adewoye urged government at all levels to create mechanisms through which the needy’s well being can be attended to.


She stated that the aim of the Foundation is to reduce the poverty rate in society to the minimum as well as the rate of out-of-school children in society. “Part of the foundation objectives is to also train widows in different types of handiwork, which will make them self-reliant and able to contribute their quota to nation-building at large.”

Adewoye pointed out that the Foundation started four years ago with the aim of reaching out to widows, and the less privileged in society as well as empowering more than 4000 indigent people.

Also speaking at the event, Programme Coordinator, Kemisola Adeyemi, urged the government to establish more old people’s homes for senior citizens in all the 774 local councils in Nigeria to cater to their needs.

Kemisola Adeyemi

Wednesday 14 September 2022

Nami: Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, One of Greatest Innovations of FG

 

 

The Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme has been described by the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami as one of the greatest innovations of the Federal government in its resolve to tackle Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit.

 

The scheme which provides for public-private partnership intervention in the construction, refurbishment and maintenance of critical road infrastructure in the country with participants being entitled to Tax Credits against their future Companies Income Tax was the subject of debate at the Senate Stakeholder and Public Hearing on the 2023 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Paper, which held yesterday at the Senate Chambers.

 

“I think one of the greatest innovations of the government of the day is the Executive Order 007, which was signed into law in 2019,” Mr. Nami said. “I want to speak to the one we are handling jointly with the NNPC. The NNPC through its subsidiary for instance is investing in about 1,824 kilometres of roads across the 6 geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

 

“Some of these roads had been constructed as far back as 1976. I could remember when I was still rounding up my primary school education, the road that leads Suleja to Lapai-Agaie-Bida was constructed by a company called DTV. I am not aware of any significant work done on that road 40 years later, only until now when the NNPC is using Executive Order 007 to reconstruct the road.

 

“I can report authoritatively to the Chairman and members of this committee that from December 2021 to July this year, the contractor has completed the reconstruction of well over 50 percent of that road.

 

“The challenge of road construction in Nigeria has always been funding. Yes, there are contracts for the construction of roads, but funding these constructions is the challenge.

 

“The road leading from Suleja to Minna for instance was awarded some 11 years ago to a company for over N20 billion. Ironically, annual budgetary provision in our National Budget every year stands between N150 million to N200 million per annum. If we are to complete that road, going by the annual budgetary provisions it would take an average of 35 to 40 years before we finish it.

 

“I can confirm to the Chairman that with Executive Order 007, NNPC is now providing funds and in the next two to three years that road will be completed. This is an important innovation of the government and I would plead with this distinguished Committee of the National Assembly to support the government on it,” Mr. Nami noted.

 

Supporting the position of the FIRS Executive Chairman, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajia Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed explained further that the tax credit was only provided to the beneficiaries after completion of the construction work, and not before.

 

She noted that several companies had indicated interest in carrying out construction and rehabilitation of roads under the scheme across the country, adding that while some of these companies had commenced work, others were yet to as they were still finalising on some of the documentation requirements such as Bill of Quantities.

 

On the issue of revenue challenges being faced by the country, Mr. Muhammad Nami noted that a major cause of tax revenue loses for the country is the issue of having “fragmented tax systems and agencies.”

 

“In Nigeria we have 774 Local Governments, each of them have a tax authority; each of the 36 States, too, have revenue authorities with their respective mandates; then we have the FIRS and Customs. What I would advise for efficiency and to do things in line with global best practices, is that we should amend our tax laws to harmonise the tax agencies and tax system.

 

“With this, when the FIRS, for instance visits ‘Company A,’ it can serve one assessment on the company, and also on the individual that owns the Company; it can also ask the company to account for the VAT it has collected, and ask for PAYE it has deducted from its employees as well as the Personal Income Tax of the Promoters of the Company.

 

“This is currently not the case, and as such has created a huge gap in our tax system.”

 

The Senate Finance Committee, led by Senator Solomon Adeola charged the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance and members of the government’s economic team to explore novel strategies that would shore up revenue for the Federal Government, including restructuring the remitting formula for Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs).

 

The Committee urged the Federal Government to consider a situation where Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs) remit 100% of their revenue to the government, while being funded by a determined percentage of Cost of Collection as is the case with the FIRS and Customs.

 

Arguing for this, the Committee opposed the current situation where some government agencies were retaining hundred percent of their revenue, spending from it, and paying government operating surplus.

 

The Committee recommended that these GOEs should keep only 5 to 15 percent as their cost of collection from the revenue generated to cater for their salaries, operational expenses and capital expenditure as is currently done by the Nigerian Customs and FIRS, while remitting the difference of 85 to 95 percent of their gross earnings as against the current practice of operating surplus where they spend between 70 and 90 percent of their gross earnings.

 

The Committee noted that this also has the capacity to make them put in more effort to improve their revenue when compared to the FIRS and Customs.

 

The Committee further urged the Federal Government to apply the same logic to the running of government owned universities by providing funding for only research and infrastructure needs through the Education Tax already being administered by the FIRS, while allowing the Vice Chancellors to use the revenue from school fees and other innovative revenue sources to run the Universities.

Ooni of Ife Visits Cavista in Lagos, Lauds Health Technology Solution's Initiative

 

 

His Imperial Majesty Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, recently visited the Lagos offices of Cavista Nigeria, and lauded its founder and chairman, Niyi John Olajide, for his strides in creating advanced technology as a tool for development and job creation.
During the visit, the Ooni further stated that the giant strides of Olajide, a proud descendant of Oduduwa from Erinmope-Ekiti, Ekiti State, should not go unnoticed.

 


“Despite the stereotype woven around Nigerian youths, Olajide has proven himself to be a worthy ambassador putting Nigeria on the world map as a problem-solver.,” the Ooni said.

“The purpose of my visit is to show my unflinching support for him and task the government to encourage technology businesses and entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams by creating an enabling environment.”

 


The Ooni also said Olajide, the founder and president of leading global healthcare technology company Axxess, a global partner to Cavista, is setting an extraordinary example for other business leaders.

 

“At a time when the best brains of our young people are relocating out of Nigeria due to a harsh economic climate, Olajide is in Nigeria utilizing his wealth of experience to create opportunities for job creation while ensuring consistent development of technology solutions in healthcare delivery across Africa,” the Ooni emphasized.

 


“Olajide is doing a lot, not only for himself but for the Nigerian youths he has engaged,” the Ooni continued. “Nigeria requires more than 65% of its total young population to take the lead in instituting modern governance and leadership, as well as establishing the noblest economic outlooks capable of competing favorably with any nation in the world through their entrepreneurial spirit.”

 


Since Olajide created Axxess in 2007 as an IT consulting firm, it has created and pioneered innovative healthcare solutions using cutting-edge technology to solve complex challenges in healthcare in North America and Africa. Today, Axxess is trusted by more than 9,000 organizations that serve more than 3 million patients worldwide.

 


“With investments in Cavista Nigeria, where more than 250 software engineers are currently employed, we provide cloud-based solutions that can be used anytime, anywhere, so people can receive the absolute best healthcare efficiently and in the privacy and comfort of wherever they call home,” Olajide said.



“Olajide’s story of struggles and challenges resonate with me and strikes a chord with a lesson of always believing in your dreams,” the Ooni said. “His toughness and doggedness exemplify the widely-held belief of ‘no pain, no gain.’ Indeed, there is the promise of greater value and reward for the price of persistent and intentional work.”


Appreciating the Ooni for his words of encouragement and playing his fatherly role during the visit, Olajide noted he kick-started his entrepreneurial sojourn from his days at the University of Texas at Dallas, where the vision for Axxess was conceived.

 


Axxess has a diverse pool of employees representing more than 45 countries worldwide.

 


“I believe that when we can harness the power of our diversity, we will replicate our success around the world in Nigeria at Cavista,” Olajide said.

Tuesday 13 September 2022

Siju Iluyomade Kicks Off 14th Arise Women Empowerment Project *skills acquisition, golf play, conference, others listed

 

 

Its yet another season of series of humanitarian gesture, with several activities lined up as usual to mark the 14th edition of Arise Women, a non-governmental organization championed by Dr Siju Iluyomade as a tool of intervention to awaken the consciousness of not only women in the society but humanity as a whole and as well support the efforts of government in cushion the effect of current socio-economic situation in Nigeria.

This year’s event has already started with several sensitization programmes including the official unveiling of the 14th edition special T-Shirts with different designs as well as revelation of the official theme of the season tagged ‘Appointed To Live’. The Convener, Dr Siju whose passion to continue impacting positively to the upliftment of the downtrodden made past editions of the event to be successful despite the financial constraint, is again poised to make sure all activities proposed for the 2022 season are achieved.

 

The initiative, which has always been experienced by thousands of individuals including prominent Nigerians and internationals in business, politics, entertainment and also the vineyard of the Lord regardless of faith or religion, has also been witnessing tremendous anticipation this year. According to information made available to us by the organizers, this year's main event will kick off with the Arise Golf Tournament on Friday October 7 at the Lagos Ikoyi Club and it is expected to Tee-Off by 7am. This is a new initiative to sensitize prominent Nigerians who are into the sport to support Arise in navigating several humanitarian projects proposed in assisting the less privileged in the country.

The Yearly health-awareness Arise Walk for Life will follow up on Saturday October 15th 2022 globally and it will commence at 7:00am in over 50 clusters across different African countries, including the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada and Australia and several European countries. Each cluster will be having a minimum of 25 persons amongst whom are influencers and celebrities

Later in the Month of October, there will be Skills Acquisition programmes in different fields, including Hairdressing, Catering, Computer Training, Soap & Cream Making among others. The event will culminate with the Arise Women Conference.

The 2022 Arise Women Conference as usual will witness prominent Women leaders, First Ladies and top celebrities across the country.