E-Business
NCS: Walking the Talk, Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Future
Advancing Nigeria’s digital future is crucial for social and economic growth. Tokenist gestures, half hearted sloganeering will not do.
This is the consistent message of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), under the leadership of its President, Professor David O. Adewumi which he emphasizes during high level meetings with critical stakeholders.
To push this agenda further NCS recently met with the House Committee on ICT Chairman, Engr. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, SystemSpecs CEO, John Tani Obaro and Precise Financial Systems MD, Yele Okeremi in separate visits.
At the core of NCS strategy is practical engagement with partners and stakeholders on advancing Nigeria’s digital future for sustainable national development. During the visits, views were exchanged, while an overview was given of relevant strategic programs of NCS.
At the meetings Adewumi observed that though Nigeria has come a long way, it was not far enough. Despite some recent achievements and improvements in the digital landscape in Nigeria, we need to do more, practically, on the ground.
The role of technology is vital in empowering citizens economically and socially and laying the foundations for sustainable development. However, talk is cheap.
We have had more discussions on technology than ever before.
But NCS is concerned that there is too much talking the talk without walking the walk.
Digital Inclusion is still a challenge that can’t be covered up by empty sloganeering. Technology must transform people’s lives.
Adewumi noted during the high level meetings that words will not secure or advance our digital future.
According to him the visits and NCS’s upcoming conference are therefore organized to sensitize stakeholders on the need to start embracing individual and organizational responsibility for technological growth that creates a better, brighter future for the nation.
Taking place from July 23 to 25, 2014 at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu – Enugu State (#NCSEnugu2014), the 25th National Conference of NCS has the theme: “Building a Knowledge-Based Economy in Nigeria: The Role of Information Technology”. NCS is walking the talk through inclusive dialogue and strategic initiatives.
Dropping the prevailing analogue mentality in leadership starts with the mainstreaming of technology into all vital practices and programs.
A sincere embrace of those driving the society and economy is required.
The nation fails when it fails to recognize those creating jobs faster and playing critical roles in the developing Nigeria’s knowledge economy.
NCS therefore used the meetings to call for better and more strategic engagement with Nigerian IT professionals.
There is certainly a serious need for adequate representation of Nigerian IT professionals in decision and policy making in governance and critical sectors.
For example, how in all seriousness can the future of any nation be discussed in the absence of the tech sector – in the 21st century?!
The knowledge economy in Nigeria is a joke without a strong technology sector.
Though they were visited separately, the critical stakeholders all welcomed NCS warmly and expressed support for NCS’s innovative strategies and initiatives.
House committee Chairman on ICT, Engr. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau Gusau confirmed that he would be present at the 2014 NCS Conference, while noting the importance he attached to NCS as a professional association.
He promised to support NCS initiatives and legislation aimed at moving the sector forward. John Tani Obaro, CEO, SystemSpecs urged NCS to keep playing its advocacy role despite the seeming indifference and lack of appreciation.
He committed to supporting the NCS conference and enhancing membership dues collection through Remita, the software product of SystemSpecs.
Yele Okeremi, MD, Precise Financial Systems also appreciated and thanked NCS for the innovative, inclusive dialogue approach.
According to him PFS will start engaging practically in strategic partnerships with NCS on the issues raised.
“We’re not being shy about saying we feel strongly about addressing the absence of inclusion – lack of professional representation in decision making in critical sectors, absence of follow-through as well as the digitally excluded.” said Professor Adewumi.
NCS is dedicated to ensuring sustainable technology impact and development that make a real difference to the lives and future of Nigerians. Don’t just join the conversation, be part of the conversation.
jide awe is the chairman, publicity, events and trade services committee, Nigeria Computer Society.
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has said the certification of data protection professionals in the country will significantly reduce capital flight and create more than 500,000 jobs in the sector.
L-r: Dr. Vincent Olatunji, executive commissioner, NDPC and Dr. Oyedokun Oyewole, president of the Institute of Information Management,
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, executive commissioner, NDPC, stated this at the presentation of the certificate of licence to the Institute of Information Management (IMF) in Abuja.
He said the certification of data protection professionals would not only enhance the protection of personal data, but also boost the country’s economic growth and development.
The projection comes as the commission intensifies efforts to promote data protection and privacy in Nigeria’s rapidly growing digital economy.
According to Dr. Olatunji, the move aims to enhance the capacity of organisations to protect personal data and promote compliance with Nigeria’s data protection regulations.
Establishing a local institution to train and certify Nigerians would significantly enhance local content in the sector, the NDPC boss hinted.
The commission, he assured his audience, was already exploring the possibility of implementing the licencing framework across Africa—a move that could potentially harmonise data protection standards and expertise across the continent.
Dr. Oyedokun Oyewole, president of the Institute of Information Management, said the licence would effectively address the existing gap in the data protection ecosystem, providing a much-needed solution.
Recalling that the certification process began in 2021, Dr. Oyewole reaffirmed the institute’s dedication to excellence, pledging to provide top-notch education in data protection and set a benchmark for the country’s education system in this field.
The IIM’s certification programmes will cover essential topics such as data protection principles, risk management, and compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
The initiative is expected to boost the confidence of organisations and individuals in the country’s data protection landscape.
Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CrediCorp), has partnered Fintech Association of Nigeria (FinTechNGR) to drive consumer credit scheme initiative through a robust payment platform that would be provided by members of FinTechNGR.
Speaking at a Social Meet in Lagos, organised by FinTechNGR, with the theme: “Augmenting the Future, AI, Credit and Transformation of Nigerian Finance,” the Chairman, CrediCorp Board of Directors, Aderemi Abdul-Bojela, said members of FinTechNGR would have specific roles to play in the partnership, in the areas of providing robust platform for money transfer, technology evaluation, among others.
“Today, CrediCorp is engaging with members of FinTechNGR in a social interactive gathering to discuss collaboration and support for the growth of Consumer Credit Corporation in Nigeria. We want to interact to understand how technology will drive the crediCorp initiative in Nigeria and also to understand the role that members of FinTechNGR will play in all of these initiatives around CrediCorp,” Abdul-Bojela said.
Describing the partnership as a welcome development that will enhance savings culture among Nigerians, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of FinTechNGR, Dr. Babatunde Obrimah, said: “FinTechNGR is an enabler of technology advancement in Nigeria. We bring the players together to drive technology innovation.
“Our role in the FinTechNGR-CrediCorp partnership is to ensure that our members support the growth of consumer credit in Nigeria, by providing the relevant payment platforms for all financial transactions among the banks who are the lenders, the customers who are the burrowers and the CrediCorp who is the guarantor.”
Speaking about the benefits for Nigerians, Obrimah said the Consumer Credit Corporation in Nigeria would enhance the country’s credit culture and enable Nigerians to save and plan well with their savings. “The initiative will address inflation, help in liquidity flow, build trust in customers’ borrowing, boost credit culture and enhance the culture of savings among Nigerians,” Obrimah said.
Addressing the issue of risk and consumer trust, Abdul-Bojela said the CrediCorp has put measures in place to ensure that the banks that would be involved in lending, would be protected and guaranteed of the repayment of the loans within the CrediCorp ecosystem.
He said there would be an independent management that would ensure that the right technology is put in place to recover all monies.
Kashifu Abdullahi, director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), announced plans to integrate digital literacy into Nigeria’s education system, to achieve a 70% literacy rate by 2027 and 95% by 2030.
Kashifu Abdullah, DG, NITDA
The NITDA’s DG made the announcement on Wednesday in Abuja during a media parley.
He stated that in order to include digital literacy in the curriculum at all educational levels, from kindergarten to university, the Agency was collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Education.
Abdullahi, said that this program would equip Nigerians with the digital know-how and abilities they need to succeed in the digital economy.
He emphasized that NITDA would also launch the “Digital Literacy for All Initiative” to educate Nigerians outside the formal education system and provide access to quality digital content.
Nigeria would train over two million young people in in-demand IT skills in order to become significant global outsourcing hub
NITDA is also collaborating with the Defence Headquarters and security agencies to develop digital solutions to address security concerns, including the use of drones, artificial intelligence, and other digital resources to combat banditry, abduction, and terrorism, he said.
According to him, the agency’s draft SRAP 2.0 plan aims to establish Nigeria as a digitally empowered nation, with a focus on innovation, national prosperity, and inclusivity.
The director general of NITDA added that, if successfully implemented, this strategy could propel Nigeria into a new phase of digital empowerment and leadership in the global digital economy.
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