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NPC , JICA STEERS EFFICIENCY, PRODUCTIVITY IN NIGERIA’S SECTORS.
The Director-General, National Productivity Centre, Dr Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi, has emphasized the need for the deployment of kaizen in the Nigerian public and private sectors in order to improve their efficiency, effectiveness and productivity.
Dr Dan’Agundi said this in his Welcome Address at the 2nd National Kaizen Conference, themed “Driving Overall Growth in Nigeria through Continuous Improvement: The Kaizen Approach” , on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at the Zuma Hall, Rock View Hotel (Royale), Maitama, Abuja.
The one-day conference, held in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aimed to facilitate the deployment of kaizen in Nigerian public and private sectors for improved efficiency and productivity.
The conference objectives include introducing the kaizen philosophy, standardizing the African Kaizen Initiative (AKI) in Nigeria, and fostering collaboration among industries, policymakers, and development partners to promote continuous improvement.
The 2nd National Kaizen Conference featured technical sessions, roundtable discussions, and knowledge co-creation sessions with experts and practitioners sharing best practices and kaizen deployment initiatives also brought together stakeholders from various sectors, including government agencies, private organizations, and development partners.
In his address, the Director-General said, “given the high level of competition amongst organizations in the world today, it is instructive, that at firm and sector levels, we focus on improving our managerial and operational practices so that we can be players in the global value chains”.
“It is a fact that there is a desire for overall growth and development in Nigeria, but the earlier we evolve initiatives that can help us identify the productivity gaps in our ecosystem, the better for all of us”.
Speaking on the need for organizations to embrace Kaizen for improved efficiency and performance, the Director-General said:
“Kaizen, which is globally practiced by top tier firms, and has been proven to deliver efficient and effective operational systems, reduction/elimination of wastes, and improved quality, will not only drive growth in our organizations but help them expand by generating additional revenue and profits with the same level of capital, thereby creating additional job opportunities, and development in the country”.
Dr Dan’Agundi expressed his gratitude to JICA for its collaboration and support in organizing the conference, as well as the participation of various organizations and stakeholders, and looks forward to their continued cooperation in deploying kaizen activities in their organizations and sectors.
“I want to thank every participating organization for nominating their members to join us as we build momentum for changing the narrative of productivity and quality in our nation.
“I also want to especially appreciate the Chief Representative of JICA for making it possible for his team to collaborate with us in organizing this event.
My appreciation also extends to the teams from the National Productivity Centre (NPC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their efforts in putting together a well-organized conference.
“Beyond this conference, we shall continue to rely on your cooperation to enable us to deploy kaizen activities in your organizations and sectors.”
The JICA Nigeria Office Chief Representative, Mr Susumu Yuzurio, in his address, said:
“Today’s gathering signifies a critical step in our shared mission to foster economic growth, job efficiency and productivity, and sustainable development in Nigeria. The focus on Kaizen, a globally acclaimed philosophy of continuous improvement, aligns perfectly with this mission, ” he added.
“Kaizen, which translates to ‘change for the better,’ is more than a concept; it is a philosophy, a proven methodology that has revolutionized industries worldwide. Originating from Japan, Kaizen emphasizes continuous improvements, employee participation, and process efficiency. It has been instrumental in transforming businesses, enhancing productivity, and fostering a culture of excellence, “he added.
“For Nigeria, a nation with infinite potentials, Kaizen presents an opportunity to enhance competitiveness, streamline operations, and unlock new avenues for growth. By embracing Kaizen principles, Nigerian public offices and private businesses can achieve greater efficiency, reduce waste, and improve product quality, thereby ultimately contributing to the nation’s economic prosperity. ”
Expressing JICA’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s development journey, he said:
“Over the years, we have partnered with the government and key stakeholders to implement various initiatives across sectors, including energy, agriculture, health, transportation, education, and industry. Our collaboration on Kaizen reflects JICA’s dedication to fostering Nigeria’s growth and human capacity building.
“Through our technical cooperation projects and training programs, JICA has supported the deployment of Kaizen in many countries across Africa, yielding remarkable results. These experiences have demonstrated the adaptability of Kaizen principles to different cultural, economic, social, and industrial contexts, and we are confident that Nigeria can achieve similar success, ” he further explained.
Amongst the dignitaries present were the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment(FML&E), who was represented by the Permanent Secretary FML&E, Salihu A. Usman, PhD, the Director-General, National Productivity Centre, Dr. Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi, who was accompanied by his team of Directors, the Chief Representative of JICA, Nigeria Office, Yuzurio Susumu, Coordinator Kaizen NPC, Engr. Adejoh David, Ms. Sakura Ito JICA Nigeria Office, and the representative of the Managing Director/CEO, Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), Orji Stephen.
Over 90 participants drawn from both the public and private sector organizations organizations attended the conference.
The NPC, a federal government parastatal, is mandated to stimulate productivity consciousness and promote socio-economic growth and development in Nigeria through productivity improvement programmes.
The Centre promotes productivity through various initiatives, including productivity promotion and advocacy, surveys and studies on Productivity; monitoring of productivity trends through Productivity Measurement and Index; specialized and cutting-edge Human Capacity Building Programmes, and implementing quality improvement activities for organizations through the Centre’s Productivity and Quality Improvement Programme (P&QIP) to provide business solutions for firms & enterprises.
The Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Maj.-Gen. Folusho Oyinlola, has decried the influx of large number of cattle into Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State.
Oyinlola, who doubles as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba, near Jos, said this on Tuesday during an engagement with stakeholders in Barkin Ladi.
He noted that the influx of the cattle was constituting a major security threat to the locality and the state in general.
According to him, the isolated attacks, farm destruction, and other illegal activities are as a result of the unhealthy development.
“I must express the concerns of security agencies about recent developments in parts of Barkin Ladi.
“There is a growing unease about the influx of large number of cattle into farming communities.
“While the movement of livestock in Barkin Ladi and indeed Pateau in general is not unusual, the scale and timings of this new influx raise legitimate security concerns.
“Unfortunately, this development has already resulted in adverse outcomes, including farm destructions, isolated attacks, and attacks on livestock.
“The impact of this action on food security, economic stability, and social harmony cannot be over emphasised,” he said.
The commander, who also expressed deep concerns over the recent killings in the locality, called on the stakeholders to unite and fashion out ways to end the violence.
He, however, promised to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime, who would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Oyinlola explained that the stakeholders’ engagement was aimed at ensuring a successful and peaceful farming season in the locality.
“The faming season is already ongoing, and for many families, this is a period for securing their livelihood.
“Therefore, any disruption of farming activities now will have dire consequences for the rest of the year and beyond.
“To this end, this engagement is convened to hear from you, all stakeholders, to listen to your concerns,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the meeting had in attendance heads of security agencies, government officials, traditional and religious leaders, among others.(NAN)
The Catholic Church’s cardinals issued an urgent appeal for peace on Tuesday, one day before they retreat into the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope.
In a joint statement, they called on all warring parties worldwide to “achieve a lasting ceasefire as soon as possible.”
The statement, released by the Vatican, said the cardinals note “with regret” that there has been no “progress in promoting peace processes in Ukraine, the Middle East and many other parts of the world.”
On the contrary, they said, attacks have intensified, especially against the civilian population.
The cardinals called for ceasefires “without preconditions and without further delay” in order to negotiate “the peace long desired by the affected populations and the whole world.”
They also appealed to believers, asking them to intensify their prayers for a just and lasting peace.
The statement was delivered during the General Congregation of the College of Cardinals, the last meeting of the cardinals before the start of the conclave.
Starting on Wednesday, eligible cardinals under the age of 80 are to vote to elect a successor to pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says on Tuesday that more than 30-year difference in life expectancy between the richest and the poorest countries highlights global health inequities.
The global health body stated this in its ‘World Report on Social Determinants of Health Equity’ launched on Tuesday by its Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus.
The report revealed that where one was born could be the difference between living over three decades longer than someone else from a poorer country lacking safe housing, good educational opportunities and access to decent jobs.
According to the report, people in the country with the highest life expectancy will, on average, live for 33 years more than those born in the country with the lowest life expectancy.
It further revealed that lack of safe housing, good educational opportunities and access to decent jobs could be responsible for a reduction in life expectancy in both rich and poor countries alike.
“Our world is an unequal one. Where we are born, grow, live, work and age significantly influences our health and well-being,” said Ghebreyesus.
The report found that inequities in health were closely linked to degrees of social disadvantage and levels of discrimination.
“Health follows a social gradient whereby the more deprived the area in which people live, the lower their incomes are,” the UN global health agency said.
It stated that inequities’ were exacerbated in populations that face discrimination and marginalisation, such as Indigenous Peoples, who had lower life expectancies than their non-Indigenous counterparts.
According to the report, this is the case in both high and low-income countries.
The study was the first to be published since 2008 when the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health released its final report.
The report laid out targets for 2040 for reducing gaps between and within countries in life expectancy, childhood and maternal mortality.
It showed that these targets were likely to be missed and in spite of a scarcity of data, there was sufficient evidence to show that health inequities were often widening.
“For example, children born in poorer countries are 13 times more likely to die before their fifth birthday than in wealthier countries.
“Moreover, modelling shows that the lives of nearly two million children annually could be saved by closing the gap and enhancing equity between the poorest and wealthiest sectors of the population within low- and-middle-income countries.”
Additionally, while maternal mortality declined by 40 per cent between the years 2000 and 2023, the majority of deaths, 94 per cent, still occurred in low and lower-middle-income countries.
WHO called for collective action to address economic inequality and invest in social infrastructure and universal public services.
The agency also recommended other steps, including overcoming structural discrimination and the determinants and impacts of conflicts, emergencies and forced migration. (NAN)