Telemedicine exploits the advances in telecommunication technology to transfer medical data from one location to another. The phenomenal expansion and rampant proliferation of internet services in the remotest parts of the globe have made the ‘Online Health Care’ now a reality. In 1998 the WHO defined telemedicine as: “….the delivery of healthcare services, where distance is the critical factor, by all healthcare professional using information and communication technologies for the prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of healthcare providers all in the interest of advancing the health of individual and their communities” [1]. Telemedicine is an effective technique to relieve hospital overcrowding and maximize the use of medical resources. Insufficient medical resources and misallocation of resources have become a global problem in medicine. With the advancement in communication and information technologies, telemedicine can now offer patients access to high-quality healthcare services. Telemedicine has tremendous potential to dramatically improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery providing patients with easy access to specialist expertise that was previously inaccessible or difficult to obtain. Telemedicine can be classed into three types of service delivery methods: store-and-forward, remote patient monitoring, and real-time interactive services [2]. In store-and-forward telemedicine service, first, the medical data (such as medical images and bio-signals) are digitalized and then the data is transmitted to a Doctor or medical specialist across distance and time. In remote patient monitoring, medical experts monitor a patient remotely using wearable gadgets, digital video, or other technologies. This method is mainly applied to manage chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and asthma. For the real-time interactive service, patients and doctors communicate through video conferencing. Typically, patients must visit a local telemedicine health center to receive this service, which is provided by the-specialists. Benefits That Come With the Use of Telemedicine Convenience Less expensive Time-saving Less traveling Useful in emergency condition Large target population can be reached easily A dramatic increase in telemedicine services was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many patients who were unable to venture outside were forced to consult a medical specialist from their home via video conferencing. A Glo-Telemedicine Center in Lagos, is providing healthcare services to local Nigerians. This center has collaborations with healthcare providers from India, the U.S., Egypt, and other countries. The clinic is aimed to provide low-cost specialist services to many Nigerians [3]. Despite the potential of telemedicine in Nigeria, there have been obstacles to its widespread adoption [4], some of which are listed below: Inadequate infrastructural development High cost of set up Resistance to change Lack of access to required gadgets by patients Lack of affordability of telemedicine services by patients Internet connectivity Lack of constant power supply Lack of sufficient technicians Community acceptance By making medical expertise more accessible telemedicine can reduce regional diversity in diagnosis, treatment, and clinical care. Integration of telemedicine services into the existing health care delivery system can work wonders in many African countries. However, many challenges have to be first addressed only then the real beneficial power of the telemedicine services can be unleashed. Gradually, in the coming years, once these bottlenecks are solved, telemedicine will transform the healthcare delivery scenario not only in Nigeria but entire Africa. References: Pal, S.K., Pandey, G.S., Kesari, A., Choudhuri, G., Mittal, B. (2002). Telemedicine: E-health and hospital of the future. Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 61, 414 – 422. Wang, X., Zhang, Z., Zhao, J., Shi, Y. (2019). Impact of Telemedicine on Healthcare Service System Considering Patients’ Choice. Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, Volume 2019, Article ID 7642176, 16. New telemedicine center in Nigeria aims to keep patients at home. https://tinyurl.com/ny4btuxj Telemedicine: The Untapped Goldmine in Nigeria’s Healthcare System. Sydani Initiative for International Development. https://tinyurl.com/2vedjmj8 Dr. Sanjoy Kumar Pal is a Professor of Biology in Skyline University Nigeria. He has a PhD. in Animal Genetics from Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

Developing writing skills is germane to the advancement of language skills or wherewithal. Writing is the ability to document creative, academic, or imaginary ideas through scripting. Although hundreds of millions of people are still unable to read and write, humanity relies on writing to an unprecedented extent (Coulmas, 2004). Scholars allude to the writing culture in three major areas. They are Mesopotamia, China and Mesoamerica (Schmandt-Besserat and Erard, 2008). However, since civilization, different countries have adopted the culture of writing to document their historical and sociocultural realities. There are five distinctive writing techniques that writers use to communicate their thoughts and creative ideas and make good money. They include: Narrative writing Analytical writing Expository writing Persuasive writing  Argumentative writing Narrative writing is a text type that is used to tell captivating, enlightening or didactic. Narrative writings are presented in the past tense form because it relays what happens in the past. Popular narrative writings include autobiographies, biographies, memoirs and fictional stories Analytical writing is a form of writing which entails the presentation of logical or critical ideas about a topic or scenario. Analytical writing is expected to go beyond vivid descriptions about a subject matter but captures objective notions of the writer based on deep intellectual ruminations. Expository writing is a technique of writing used to expose relatively unknown ideas to the readers. Expository writing more often than not, exposes readers to the nitty-gritty of a subject matter, topic or situation. Persuasive writing is a technique of writing which entails the use of emotive languages and interpersonal tones to ensure people take action or step about a particular subject matter. Persuasive writing is often used to fan the embers of commitment to a particular cause or objective. Persuasive writing is a technique often used in advertorials. Argumentative writing is a technique of writing which involves argumentation. It is often used when there is a notion to buttress or confute. Argumentative writing is used when the writer wants to convince or realign the readers to particular thought or notion. All writing techniques require investigation, data collection, diligent research and evaluation of evidence. Hence the development of writing skills is a delicate process that can only be achieved through conscious and dedicated efforts. Impeccable writing skills is not a day’s job because it needs to be cultivated or developed through constant practice, comprehension of writing techniques and acquisition of writing style. References Coulmas, F., (2002). Writing Systems: An introduction to their linguistic analysis. United Kingdom: Cambridge University press.  Schmandt-Besserat, D., & Erard, M. (2008). Origins and forms of writing. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis Group/Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.   Mr. Adelokun Adetunji Oluwapelumi is a Lecturer II at the School of Art, Management and Social Science, Skyline University Nigeria. He has a Master of Arts Degree in English Literature from the University of Ibadan.  You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

Innovation is at the heart of entrepreneurship. Innovation is a word derived from the Latin word “innovare” which means into new. The simplest way to define innovation is by doing something different. Howard Schultz, chief executive and chairman of Starbucks coffee company for more than 20 years, defines innovation: “Innovation must be disruptive. And by disruptive, I mean disruptive. You got to fracture and break the rules and disrupt.” For businesses to thrive in a competitive landscape, they have to be willing to adapt and change – but what does innovation mean in business? Business innovation is the creation of substantial new value for the company and customers by creatively changing or improving one or two dimensions of the business systems (Sawhney, 2006). Business innovation is when an organization introduces something new – whether it’s a new product, services, process, or new market strategy to reinvigorate the company and promote growth and new value. This includes an improvement on an existing practice or method or starting from scratch. Technology also has a connection to innovation. A product that has a combination of other products but with new technology is also seen as a new innovative product (Dolfsma & Leenders, 2016). For any business to become successful, it must have the ability to come up with new ideas to keep the operation running and the services and products fresh. Here is why Innovation is the Key to Success of Any Business Innovation has a link to growth. Studies have revealed that innovation can generate opportunities for persistent growth (Zanchettin & Denicoló, 2016). Businesses strive after growth and the strategy of innovation has been proposed as the greatest strategy in the fight for growth. Deloitte in 2015 had conducted an Innovation Survey which showed as many as 66 percent of companies, stated that innovation is very vital for growth. Innovation helps you gain more customers and grab a bigger share of the market. Innovation helps businesses create a niche in competition. The market is vast and it is occupied with many other companies and individual businesses that may be selling the same category of products as you. Businesses need to stand out differently among all this competition. This is where innovation can help. With the right innovation, businesses can offer something extremely different and unique to their customers. Businesses can take some existing products and give a twist to them, give them a unique shape and make them much better than their original form. This is what makes products stand out in the market and it naturally also means more profit. Innovation can also help meet customer needs. In a very much competitive market, customers needs are dynamic and are constantly evolving. What you are providing them with today may have a great response from their end. But you cannot be sure if tomorrow the situation is going to be the same. They might be demanding something else. Innovative business ideas have the power to anticipate market changes even before they happen and provide solutions to people even before they feel the need for them. This way your customers are satisfied most of the time. It’s tough to meet customer needs unless you bring in constant innovation in your business. If you are happy with the status quo and refuse to introduce new ideas, your business may start struggling. It’s a must to come up with innovations all the time to excite and please your customers if you want your business to stay relevant. How to embrace innovation  Innovation is an idea that has been converted into practical reality. To drive business growth, companies need to stay relevant in times of change and differentiate their products from competitors. Business leaders must think creatively and embrace innovation in their business models. Willingness to innovate is not the only component for success, however: managers and leaders must also have a firm understanding of how to bring the innovation to life. One way of doing this is by acquiring the experience of working on challenging, exciting and innovative projects, as doing so will give you the exposure and skills you need to be an innovation driver within an organization. References Tohidi, H. (2012). Innovation as a success key for organizations.  Druker, p. (1985) Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Practice and principles. New York: Harper and Row Greenfield SM and Strickon A (1986). Introduction. In: Greenfield SM and Strickon A (eds) Entrepreneurship and Social Change.   Ms. Aisha Turaki Ibrahim is an Assistant Lecturer of the Department of Management, School of Arts, Management and Social Science, Skyline University Nigeria. She holds a Master’s Degree in International Business Management from Sheffield Hallam University (U.K) You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria