Sunny Jackson is the managing director/CEO of Holgate Communications, a thriving IT consultancy, training and event-packaging company. He has worked with different communications company. He spoke to funmi ilesanmi.

Operations
We are a firm that is into marketing and brand consultant, public relations and human resources. We train people on computer systems, package events and concept development.
Incorporating IT into Primary and secondary schools curriculum
IT courses should be introduced from the primary school. In the United Kingdom for example, children are introduced to the computer right from their homes. Parents provide their children with mini laptops and notebooks with instructor ready software and also make sure the children are connected to the internet. For Nigeria to move up with what is applicable in Europe, I believe the most appropriate thing to do is to incorporate these courses especially data processing into the curriculum.
Running successful computer vendorship
Financial support is needed to run a successful computer vendorship because IT is a very wide area. Unlike in other sectors where you can wake up one morning, make plans, forecast and everything falls into place but in IT it is not like that. Everyday we work hard to bring in new innovations, to create software and find ways to solve problems so financial involvement from the government is very important.
A conducive environment in the form of a leveled playing ground is also needed. If it is a government establishment, fair hand should be given to individuals to run it and if it an individual establishment, the government should do likewise.
Personnel is also very important, if possible expatriates should be brought in because everyday ICT comes in a new form. Five years ago, the industry was not like this, five years to come it will not be like this. So we need to be abreast and to be abreast, we need to marry ideas. Marry ideas, bring in expatriates and when they come together they sit with one another to forge a new way forward. Invariably, we can also send our engineers abroad to learn in order to bring in new ideas that obtain out there. IT is about the most expensive course for investors to run now. In our view, we believe in audio-visuals because there is the power of what you see and has a considerable level of impact.
Venture into IT reality show
In the past 36 months, reality TV shows have been on the screen. It has been about dancing and selecting the best dancer with nothing educational wise been achieved. The objective of coming up with the IT reality TV show is to create opportunities for the youths. The winner of the IT reality show has the opportunity to school abroad on scholarship basis which will be a plus for the Nigerian ICT industry and Nigeria as a country, hence our involvement in this empowerment programme. It is also designed for the growth of science and technology in Nigeria because it is developed by Nigerians for Nigerians.
Form of the show
The show requires youths to come up with software they can invent or manufacture and the processes involved in the development. We will bring in professors and experts in the IT space to look at the projects and inventions, and check if it matches the total solution. This means coming up with what you have and we do an elimination test to select the best innovation. We have done out logistics, the feeding will be handled by one of the best hoteliers in town. Every minute detail like accommodation, laundry and others will be well taken care of. We are into partnership with two top ICT companies, a reputable hotel in Nigeria and two other sponsors.
Challenges facing science and technology in Nigeria
Diversion and misappropriation of funds are the greatest challenges facing science and technology in Nigeria. If these funds had been channeled towards developing science and technology, the country’s technology sector would have been well developed. In Akwa-Ibom State for instance, they have an existing science and technology park and I commend the governor for this. If each state government has at least one ICT hub, then the federal government would have imagined the level of science and technology in Nigeria. In a bid to commit financial crime, they misappropriate funds and this invariably affects the growth of science and technology which accounts for why Nigeria as a country is still lagging behind in ICT.   
Preventing users from patronizing obsolete products
What we can do is to create awareness. The government should extend the same zero tolerance that applies to fake drugs to electronic products. The NCC should work hand in glove with the Nigerian Port Authority, the SON and the Nigerian Customs Service to checkmate the importation of substandard products. There should be a standard gauge. 
Setbacks in IT training
One is poor funding; two is lack of conducive learning environment and lack of electricity. Another militating factor is lack of skilled manpower.
Going by the recent ASUU strike, the number of months the students have been out of the classroom, if you are the lecturer teaching them on ICT and you have a syllabus to cover, how would you go about this? That means they can never catch up but when you have a stable programme and you follow it assiduously, you are sure of getting there.
Capacity
Currently, we have two main buildings accommodating our training facilities. As time goes on and the turnout of student increases, we are sure to expand our facility centre to accommodate more people.
Future of Holgate Communications
We seek to add value to the company on daily basis. In the next five years, we hope to build a one stop ICT centre. We are also looking at going into the energy sector.