Prof. Raymond Akwule, president, Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), has said that Africa and indeed Nigeria with little or no contributions to core Internet development are the outskirts of the information superhighway.
Waxing worriedly, Akwule, urged experts to come up with ways to improve the continent’s contribution to Internet development.
He spoke at the 2012 edition of the Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable held in Lagos, organized by DigitalSENSE Africa Media in collaboration with National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Internet Society (ISOC) Nigeria chapter, with the theme: IPv6 and the Future of Internet in Nigeria.
Akwule who was chairman of the occasion, said it has become worrisome there is absolutely no contribution from Nigeria on core internet evolution.
“You will find out that there has been absolutely no contribution from our own country in this process,” he decried, wondering if this was because Nigeria and Africa at large lack the requisite people and capacity. Is it because we don’t have people who understand language of the internet, architecture, engineering software?” he asked.
The DBI boss was quick to add that the above should not be the case, declaring “if we don’t have them in country, we have them in Diaspora.”
As the current president of Digital Bridge Institute, Akwule said unequivocally that Nigeria has what it takes to make relevant impact and contribute to the development of the Internet in some areas.
He, therefore urged experts to come up with how to improve on Nigeria and Africa’s contribution to Internet development, saying that this could start by crafting what happens in the core architecture of the internet such that Nigeria’s presence will be felt not just as users of the internet.
He enjoined Nigerians not to worry about studying a particular subject, pointing out that most bright Information Technology (IT) person he met so far in all institutions including the current one did not study IT.
“My best IT person that does all kinds of wonders did not study IT and I always say that because there is lesson there,” he submitted.
Earlier in her welcome address, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, executive director, Operations at DigitalSENSE Africa, the organizers, noted that the Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable, which is on its second edition aims at providing a platform for all stakeholders in the country to share IPv6 knowledge and experience, chart a roadmap for early transition to IPv6 as Internet Protocol version Four (IPv4) has ran out.
Also, she said the Roundtable was initiated to promote IPv6-enabled products and services in the country, stressing that the event stimulates public discourse and creation of awareness on the technological cum business benefits of this rapid advancing technology.
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