BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Technology, Crucial To Maritime, Blue Economy, Says Peterside
With several countries across the world looking towards the maritime and blue economy sector, the immediate past director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside says developing robust technology infrastructure and leveraging smart applications are the keys to enhancing safety and growth.
Dr Peterside, an international maritime industry resource person, posited this at Normal University Beijing, China, while speaking at a one-day conference on the future of maritime industry in developing countries.
According to him, the maritime industry is a critical component of global trade, and therefore safety should be of paramount importance to all stakeholders.
“Embracing smart applications has emerged as a powerful strategy to bolster safety measures and efficiency in the industry,” he said.
He noted that “Whether for real-time monitoring and data collection, predictive analytics, automation of navigation systems, collision avoidance systems, or emergency response and communication, smart applications represent a transformative approach to enhance safety standards in the industry. “More than any other region, the global south must step up its game in this regard to optimise benefit from the blue economy.”
The much sought-after maritime expert admonished developing countries to invest in the development of robust technological infrastructure and manpower in the maritime industry, saying it is critical for the growth of the sector.
Peterside, who is also a former Chairman of the Association of African Maritime Administration (AAMA) while stating that technological infrastructure is critical for the growth of the blue economy, lamented that “it is unfortunate that most developing countries are just contented using services in the sector without investing in tailor-made technology solutions that address their peculiar challenges.”
According to him, “developing countries can leapfrog growth in blue economy and maritime ecosystem by upscaling application of technology in the sector.”
He praised China for its great accomplishments in the blue economy space, including having 8 of the top 10 ports globally by volume and having the highest number of patent applications in maritime-related technology.
The Turnaround expert also posited that China couldn’t be said to make real progress if other developing countries, which represent the market of today and the future, are not supported to grow.
The former House of Reps member noted that Nigeria, which is the biggest economy in Africa, has recently focused on the blue economy for economic renaissance and should be supported by all who wish Africa well.
Peterside is scheduled to speak later this month in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and London at different maritime events.
Instagram has announced new and improved editing tools to help creators and users better express their creativity on the app. The new tools include several improvements to reels and exciting new updates for feed photos, carousels, and stories, that make it easier to create directly within the Instagram app.
For reels, enhanced video editing tools help users express creativity and tell the story they want to, all within the app. In the feed, new filters for photos and carousels will explore different tones and moods for posts. In addition to the editing tools, Instagram has also built new tools to help creators better understand their performance.
The full suite of updates includes:
Reel editing updates: We’re rolling out new fonts to level up text on reels, and updating editing individual clips with the ability to zoom/crop/rotate; undo and redo edits; and 10 new text-to-speech voices.
Audio updates: On reels, we’re launching the ability to add clips with audio from movies, TV shows,s or your own created audio to your reels from our new media clip hub.
New feed photo filters: We’re launching brand-new photo filters for feed posts and carousels.
Performance insights for creators: understand your Reels performance with a new metric, Reels Replays.
Custom Stickers: make your Reels or Stories stand out by turning part of any photo or video.
Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential flag bearer in the country’s last general election, has once again yelled at the level of waste in the APC administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Obi, who had just blasted the government for sending over 1400 delegates to COP28 as wasteful, has now slammed the administration for proposing over N20 billion in refurbishment and construction of a new office space for the Vice President.
The LP standard bearer said he is still studying the N27.5 trillion budget presented to the National Assembly last week, but could not wait to wonder at the level of waste on nonessential things when the people are suffering and dropping into multi-dimensional poverty in droves.
Reacting in his X handle on Monday Obi said “Even as I am still studying the 2024 fiscal budget as presented to the National Assembly last week, I cannot wait as am compelled to ask what is exactly wrong with us as a country.
‘I ask this question because it is hard for me to understand some of the recent happenings in our nation, in these critical times.
‘The recent news about a budget provision of N15 billion for the construction of a new residence for the Vice President is both shocking and disheartening, considering the many important challenges facing our nation.
Obi recalled that “Just recently in the Supplementary Budget, the sum of N2.5 billion was included for the renovation of the Vice President’s residence in Abuja, which means that he already has a residence. Again, during the budget presentation, I heard the sum of N3 billion was allocated for the renovation of the Vice President’s residence in Lagos. If we total all these sums, we would have budgeted the sum of N20.5 billion for the housing of the Vice President at this critical time when we are not just the world’s poverty capital, but more people falling into poverty, with so many Nigerians not knowing where their next meal will come from”
“Our health facilities have collapsed, and unemployment is skyrocketing. I am convinced that 99.9% of Nigerians can only dream of living in the current residence of the Vice President.
The LP standard bearer also noted that ‘ Several people employed in the universities are not being paid. Just to give an example, the salary of a professor in a Nigerian university is about N400,000, which without removing tax is about N5 million a year. What we have budgeted for the housing of the Vice President who is already luxuriously housed is, therefore, the annual salary of about 3000 professors!
“This is the finance needed to develop the much-needed human capital.
“The budget of N5 billion for student loans, which is yet to be disbursed is only a tiny percentage of the cost of the Vice President’s new home.
According to the former Anambra state Governor, “We are projecting to use four times the amount for educating ALL Nigerian indigent students to house the Vice President, and we are being told there is nothing wrong with us”
“I am sure the major teaching hospitals in Nsukka, Lagos, Ibadan, and Zaria did not receive this much capital vote in the budget this year.
“We have had leaders that were exemplary in the past. Most Nigerians may not know that the popular 1004 flats in Lagos, was land allocated for the building of a Presidential Mansion for the then Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed but he “sternly turned down the offer and instructed that the land should be used to build blocks of flats for civil servants. That is the kind of sacrificial leadership worth emulating.
“Our leaders must therefore stop the recklessness and insensitivity to the plight of the masses. We need leaders who show compassion and are willing to sacrifice for common progress and development. Such compassionate and frugal leaders are critical in our journey to the New Nigeria”
DCSL Corporate Services Limited, a leading corporate service firm is set to celebrate a decade of professional excellence and launch an innovative boardroom app – “The DCSL e-Connect App” on Friday 8th December 2023.
Bisi Adeyemi, Managing Director of DCSL, reflected on the significant milestones achieved in the past decade and reiterated the Company’s commitment to delivering unparalleled professional services across its bouquet of offerings to diverse sectors of the economy.
“Our ten-year journey has been propelled by an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional professional service to a diverse range of corporate and individual clients across various business sectors.
“The introduction of the DCSL eConnect app marks a pivotal moment, as we embark on a new era of transformative possibilities, reinforcing our dedication to innovation and precision in communication and collaboration within the boardroom.
“This celebration marks not only a milestone in our journey but also a testament to our commitment to excellence and innovation in the corporate services landscape”.
The DCSL eConnect App is designed to elevate boardroom communication, and collaboration and redefine efficiency. The innovative App will empower Boards and c-suite executives to efficiently manage meetings, streamline access to and retrieval of documents, facilitate approvals, and conduct polls and performance evaluations, all while ensuring compliance and tracking company plans.
The exclusive event will be graced by key stakeholders, clients, business leaders, and media partners.
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