The ongoing national conference as currently structured cannot give Nigeria the required new architecture to resolve the country’s challenges.
Even with the extension for another six weeks, the conference is not likely to fix what has been broken because the majority of the delegates are past their prime.
With all due respect, the generality of the delegates do not fit into the new Knowledge Age which is progressively disruptive and contrasts from their Industrial Age which they allowed pass them by.
The Knowledge Age is hinged on information and communication technology (ICT) with its advanced form of capitalism in which knowledge and ideas are the main source of economic growth.
It is now more important than land, labour, money, or other ‘tangible resources.
Today, no modern economy can exist without fundamental ICT infrastructure because these are the tool for national and economic development.
Examples are India, Malaysia and Singapore, where the governments deliberately orchestrated chains of events that culminated in making countries pillars of ICT in the world.
These governments recognize that embracing ICT will result in improved transparency, speedy information dissemination, higher administrative efficiency and improved public service sectors including: transportation, education, health, water, peace and security.
A new Nigeria must have a responsible government which should be like a catalyst that speed up reaction without seen to be taking part in the reaction.
Currently, the huge disconnect between Nigerian government and ICT is puzzling.
Either by sheer ignorance or refusal to do the right thing at the right time; successive governments in Nigeria have continued to chase shadows.
Political will is not something Nigerian leaders would have to go extra mile to provide. It is so intangible; it takes an individual, generally situated somewhere within the state apparatus (best if the person is at a very high level) to stir ICT revolution.
Nigeria with its wealth of human capital and natural resources has even better potentials but the attention of the ruling class is elsewhere.
There are many compelling reasons why government must embrace ICT for development but importantly because it is the only sector that has shown signs of life despite the general meltdown of the economy.
Having tried every known economic trick to steady the economy without any success; ICT remains the only key to redirecting the economy.
The only way forward is for the ruling class to begin to listen actively and show strong commitment to ICT related issues.
Importantly, the President must assume the role of chief technology officer of the country or appoint one he must listen to.
Agreed that some countries have made some successes using ICT as springboards; Nigeria must not copy and paste their models.
She must grow and deliberately too an indigenous architecture if it must survive in this knowledge era.
In this indigenous architecture, Nigeria can incorporate a special purpose ICT vehicle complete with ICT parks as well as research and development parks.
Also, there is need for ICT practitioners in the country to build a strong and united front to press home their demand for incentives that spur development.
The curricula of the country’s educational system need to be changed to accommodate information communications technology and to reflect the reality of today’s working environment.
It is also important to solve the power supply problem to enable ICT provide the impetus for the growth of the economy.
There should be massive improvement in improvement in infrastructure and need to imbue of the culture of maintenance on Nigerians.