E-Business
Opinion: Nigeria Strides into Q4
By Lukman Otunuga, Research Analyst at FXTM
Nigeria displayed its resilience in the global arena on repeated occasions this year, by confronting a currency crisis, navigating depressed oil prices and rebounding from an economic deceleration.
With the nation currently in the process of recovering from its worst slump in 25 years, despite the headwinds created from both external and internal risk, the overall outlook remains highly encouraging.
Annual inflation has eased considerably, while core fundamentals suggest that the economic landscape continues to stabilize. With the driver behind Nigeria’s economic rebound fuelled by sustainable sources such as manufacturing, agriculture and trade, it is clear why sentiment is slowly turning bullish.
Now that Nigeria has shown the world that it resilient, the central bank is likely to direct its focus towards mitigating inflation and further supporting the local currency.
The fact that Nigeria managed to grow 0.55% in Q2, despite suffering a painful contraction for five consecutive quarters, highlights the tenacious nature of the nation and prospects for future growth. Consumer prices also eased to 16.01% in August, pointing to signs of improving price stability.
While there is still some distance to go before inflation falls back within the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 6-9% target, improved Dollar supply which has eased inflation by reducing import costs, may play a part in inflationary pressures becoming a theme of the past.
Although the combination of accelerating growth and falling inflation may encourage the CBN to cut benchmark interest rates in the future, it is only one element of the equation. While an interest rate cut is likely to boost business confidence and support the nation further, attention should be directed towards the fiscal side.
Taking a look at the fiscal side of the equation, it can be said that Nigeria is in dire need of a national infrastructure plan. Major roads remain in poor condition, bridges and railways need to be renovated and education needs an overhaul.
It should be kept in mind that a solid and stable infrastructure yields a healthy economy, while a weak foundation limits growth and exposes the nation to downside risks. Rectifying these issues has the ability to not only create employment but it would also support economic growth – ultimately boosting investor confidence.
On a positive note, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently reported that Nigeria recorded an export rise of 73.5% in the second quarter of 2017.
There was a significant rise in non-oil exports with agricultural goods increasing in the country’s foreign exchange earnings. With agriculture remaining the backbone of Nigeria, this report was highly encouraging, especially when you consider how the nation has an ongoing quest to diversify from oil reliance.
Focusing on the foreign exchange outlook, the Naira held its ground against the Dollar in September, with prices trading within a narrow range on the parallel market exchange. The implantation of the Investors and Exporters (FX) Window has bolstered confidence over Nigeria’s outlook and this may be reflected in the Naira’s current stability.
The Naira’s price action also suggests that the increased supply of foreign exchange into the largest economy inAfrica has attracted investors, ultimately creating another wall of stability in the FX markets.
While the outlook for the Naira is starting to look encouraging amid the stabilizing fundamentals, markets will still be observing how Nigeria tackles the system of multiple exchange rates. With the central bank aiming to erase the multiple exchanges, which would require an official devaluation, it becomes a matter of when and how.
Resurgent oil prices have positively impacted the nation’s government revenues and even reinforced the stability of foreign exchange markets. Investors are becoming increasingly optimistic about OPEC’s ability to rebalance the market long-term, as this was reflected in WTI Crude which appreciated towards $52.
With further upside on the cards in the short to medium term amid the optimism, the Nigerian government is likely to receive more revenue. It should be kept in mind that Oil prices still pose a significant external risk to Nigeria in the longer term, especially when considering how fragile the current OPEC supply cut deal really is.
With OPEC requesting Nigeria to cut production by 1.8 million barrels a day, this complicates matters, as the Federal government’s 2017 budget is based on the production of 2.2 million barrels per day at $44.50 per barrel. A situation where Nigeria limits production and oil prices depreciate, could pose a serious threat to the budget, ultimately punishing economic growth.
As the final quarter of 2017 gets underway, markets will be closely watching to see if the stabilizing economic conditions prompt the Central Bank of Nigeria to cut interest rates.
A rate cut will be one the first steps of many the nation takes on in its ongoing mission to recover economically, diversify and continue to rattle the global arena.
SOPHiA GENETICS, a cloud-native software company in the healthcare space and a leader in data-driven medicine, has announced that Nigeria-based Syndicate Bio has signed on to implement MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™.
Syndicate Bio is the first lab in Africa to adopt the MSK-ACCESS® assay via the SOPHiA DDM™ Platform, and the first company to make comprehensive genomic profiling and liquid biopsy widely available to patients throughout the entire continent.
The implementation of this new technology will further existing work from SOPHiA GENETICS, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), and Syndicate Bio to advance health equity on a global scale.
There are roughly 1 million new cancer patients each year in Africa and currently, comprehensive genomic profiling and liquid biopsy testing options are not widely available.
This means that patients are forced to forego this testing or travel out of continent for these testing options. Syndicate Bio’s implementation of this new offering will provide cutting-edge liquid biopsy testing to many of these patients and will help progress the company’s goal of advancing genomics and precision medicine in an area of the world that has been historically underserved in these areas.
“Partnering with SOPHiA Genetics to bring MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™ to our lab is a monumental step in accelerating the cancer treatment and research landscape across Africa, beginning in Nigeria. Next-generation sequencing technologies in oncology and liquid biopsy, which this collaboration enables, hold the potential for creating a leapfrogging opportunity in the oncology treatment and research landscape in Africa,” said Abasi Ene-Obong, PhD., Founder, Syndicate Bio.
“Through this collaboration, we aim to enable the widespread application of precision medicine in oncology across Africa, and thus contributing to the improvement of patient outcomes across the African continent.
“We believe our scientific expertise, combined with AI-enabled technologies and data-driven solutions enabled by SOPHiA GENETICS, presents a unique opportunity to fundamentally transform the journey of cancer patients through non-invasive cancer analysis, predictive genetic testing, and effective precision medicine.”
Syndicate Bio is driving genomics and precision medicine initiatives across the world’s most diverse regions through large-scale partnerships with governments, industry, and other stakeholders. Through its work, Syndicate Bio is making local impact while accelerating drug discovery and development.
By focusing on Africa, Syndicate Bio is poised to make a significant impact, starting with Nigeria, by introducing its pioneering clinical oncology offerings in an underserved region.
Through this endeavor, Syndicate Bio aims to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment for African patients. This initiative not only facilitates local next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing and liquid biopsy testing but also extends access to clinical trial participation, empowering patients and healthcare providers alike.
MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™ is a decentralized version of a highly validated ctDNA test developed by MSK that involves the deep sequencing of 146 key cancer-associated genes, and will augment Syndicate Bio’s tumor profiling capabilities, allowing them to utilize a small blood sample to generate a comprehensive report in an efficient and expedited time frame.
The use of liquid biopsy is less invasive than traditional biopsy, and can help simplify patient monitoring, whilst driving the uptake of precision medicine.
The offering combines the sophisticated analytics, state-of-the-art algorithms, and decentralized, cloud-based offerings of the SOPHiA DDM™ Platform, with the scientific and clinical expertise of MSK in cancer genomics to provide a best-in-class liquid biopsy solution.
“In our mission to democratize data-driven medicine, our decentralized global network and unique set of partnerships enable us to help reach underserved populations, just as those that are served by Syndicate Bio,” said Philippe Menu, MD, PhD., Chief Medical Officer, SOPHiA GENETICS.
“By implementing this solution, Syndicate Bio will make a measurable impact throughout Africa, while also helping to generate an unparalleled and comprehensive dataset and provide invaluable insights and knowledge to shape the future of global healthcare.”
In late 2023, SOPHiA GENETICS and MSK announced they are working in partnership with AstraZeneca to bring the world-class MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™ testing solution to countries and regions around the globe, including underserved areas where access to testing remains scarce.
Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has reaffirmed the importance of collaboration in advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
L-R: Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general, National Information Technology Development Agency, with Brig. Gen., Abdulrahman Idris, team lead of the Senior Executive Course 46 2024, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos during a strategic tour visit to the agency headquarters in Abuja.
Abdullahi disclosed this during a strategic engagement with participants of the 2024 Senior Executive Course 46 from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), a delegation led by Brigadier General Abdulrahman Idris.
Abdullahi emphasised that no organisation can achieve its goals in isolation, stressing the need for collaborative efforts to harness ideas, experiences and insights for national development. He highlighted the potential of collaboration between NITDA and NIPSS to leverage technology and digital innovation for driving economic growth, creating job opportunities and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
“At NITDA, we have re-imagined our social contract with Nigerians, focusing on improving service delivery and fostering the swift growth of the ICT sector,” said Abdullahi. He emphasised the agency’s commitment to serving Nigerians and outlined the strategic direction outlined in NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2024-2027) 2.0. The SRAP is structured around eight pillars aimed at fostering digital literacy, building a robust technology research ecosystem, strengthening policy implementation, promoting inclusive access to digital infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity, nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship, forging partnerships and cultivating a vibrant organisational culture.
The brigadier-general provided insights into NIPSS’s role as Nigeria’s foremost policy think-tank, tasked with developing top-class technocrats to drive national development initiatives. He highlighted NIPSS’s contributions to policy formulation and implementation over the years, emphasising the institution’s mandate to address issues of national interest, particularly in the digital economy sector.
The collaboration between NITDA and NIPSS underscores the importance of synergistic efforts in harnessing technology and innovation for national development. By leveraging each other’s expertise and resources, both organisations aim to drive economic growth, foster job creation, and position Nigeria as a leading player in the global digital economy.
Through strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives, NITDA and NIPSS are poised to chart a path towards sustainable development, leveraging digital innovation as a catalyst for socioeconomic transformation and inclusive growth.
Ivorypay, a blockchain-based payment and remittance firm, has teamed with Tether, the stablecoin pioneer, to improve crypto-based transactions across Africa.
Tether is the business that developed the stablecoin, USDT, and with this agreement, it will mint and issue USDT straight to IvoryPay.
According to the partners, this agreement would provide more dependable and economical digital transaction choices to businesses and consumers across Africa.
Ivorypay will leverage Tether’s widespread acceptance to provide a buffer against the typically unpredictable nature of crypto-currencies, increasing user confidence in using digital currencies for daily transactions as well as cross-border transfers.
“Partnering with Tether is a strategic move that aligns perfectly with our vision of simplifying and securing crypto transactions across Africa,” said Oluwatobi Ajayi, CEO, IvoryPay.
He added: “It gives us easy access to the liquidity we need to cater to more businesses and individuals across the continent and to do that cheaper and faster than anybody else, which we believe will significantly enhance user trust and increase adoption rates across our platforms.”
“This strategic partnership between Ivorypay and Tether represents a transformative step for digital transactions across Africa,” said Aly Madhavji, managing partner of Blockchain Founders Fund.
“By incorporating USDT into their payment systems, IvoryPay aims to increase financial inclusion and streamline cross-border remittances, establishing a new standard for stability and efficiency in the region’s financial services We are thrilled to assist Ivorypay as they endeavour to create new opportunities for businesses and consumers across Africa.”
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