E-Business
Nigeria: In Search of God of Technology
Verily, Verily I say unto you, Children of Nigeria: Unless you consciously change your ways and attitude and fully embrace Science and Information Technology, God may surprisingly shock the nation and her citizenry, if Nigeria fails to take advantage of the Digital promise and opportunities of knowledge automation presented by 21st century information society!
Indeed, if we have faith in God and his recent election message to Nigeria – for transparent leadership and governance throughout Africa, then, this is the time to listen to the wakeup call of making Information Technology the centerpiece of our national development mission or perish?
The above subject matter was informed by my informal discussion with ‘Uncle Sam Amuka’ – Publisher of Vanguard News Paper – an accomplished and inspirational Nigerian knowledge model, better described as a citadel of monumental humility and bundle of wisdom – after my recent appearance on Channels Television to discuss “Technology, 2015-Election and Governance in Nigeria”.
In the feedback encounter with Uncle Sam Amuka one significant thing was identified and perhaps reveled. That is:
The audacity to belief and build trust. According to Uncle Sam, “In life, there is need to belief in something. Nigeria has started to have faith and build the trust for the future of sustainable democracy”.
Indeed, the outcome of Nigeria 2015 Presidential Election is a sign of God – applying and using Information Technology to commence the delivery of free and fair election. Secondly, the most critical lesson learned from the 2015 Presidential election is that all the problems of Nigeria (incorporating Corruption, Terrorism, Technophobia, Nepotism, Ignorance, Tribalism, Anti-Merit syndrome, Hate and Excessive Greed, etc) translate into ‘the absence of the culture of truth and contentment’ and indeed, the absence of a credible institutional umpire to administer truth, fairness and justice at all levels – in the face imperialism and the blatant failure of the custodians of the rule of Law!
While we congratulate INEC & Nigerians, there is need to unequivocally emphasize that Information Technology is the CENTRE of gravity of the current success of electoral processes in Nigeria!
Today, the world is electronically connected with over 16billion devices on the Internet – providing access to knowledge transmission of quantum of trillions of terabyte of data, (IPv4 to IPv6). Relevant white papers show that, five (5) years from now, over 40 billion devices will be connected to the Internet.
God help the nation that neglects to strategically respond to the current challenges of building commensurate capacities and innovative capabilities for her survival. Nigeria be warned! If we have the privilege to mine existing electronic Data in the Nigeria IT Space, – It will reveal that the 2015 election was technologically decided 4 Years ago on Social Media, going by the post election data on the 2011 election. With 70% of Nigeria’s population who are youth and equipped with more than 80 million smart phones of the available over 134 million Mobile phones, it no surprise that the 2015 election is and will predominantly be decided by mobile technology interface.
General Buhari as CEO is elected to govern 180 million Nigerians, but he may not deliver the dividend of Democracy, unless Information Technology and IT Professionals are at the centre of his leadership program. It is practically impossible today to govern effectively and transparently without Information Technology. Paper Ballots:
The first use of paper ballots to conduct an election appears to have been in Rome in 139 BC, and the first use of paper ballots in the United States was in 1629 to select a pastor for the Salem Church.
All in All, Information Technology has made the great difference in the 2015 Presidential election. It has relatively rescued transparency and restored truth as the ultimate currency for the prosperous future of Nigeria.
Therefore, sustaining the critical path and role of information technology to deliver peoples-first, smart and innovative governance is a strategic imperative for our survivability and global competitiveness.
I am concerned, just like other IT Professionals and Practitioners that while technology is at the centre of the electoral processes, Nigeria IT professionals have been totally eclipsed out of the process – against the spirit of Nigeria Local Content ACT 2010 and CPN Act 49 of 1993.
Whereas, more than 40 Years ago, a Nigerian Dr. Issaic Odeyemi, became the 1st African to earn a PhD in Computer Science. Today, we have only 129 Universities for 180 million people. Whereas, the city of Hanoi (Vietnam) with 7 million people has about 103 Universities and Mexico has more than 300 Universities.
Those countries have clusters and centres of excellence for Software: OS, Applications, Bandwidth, Embedded Systems, Firmware, Utilities, etc. No wonder therefore that Nigeria is currently at the end of looser ladder in global IT e-Readiness rating.
The word Technology is a compound name of: two Greek words: Techne meaning Art Skill or Craft AND Logos – which means “To Speak” centered on the collection of Techniques, Methods and Processes required for the production of goods and services.
Having said that: Science is concerned with ‘HOW and WHY things happen’, whereas, Technology is concerned and focuses on making things happen. Nigeria’s e-readiness ranking over the years remains unimpressive. We need a bold and extra sharp vision to re-focus the IT profession and Industry for national survivability.
Thanks to Information Technology, the snatching of electoral ballot Boxes has diminished from over 90% in the past elections in Nigeria to an insignificant percentage in the 2015 election.
However, there are still much work to do on electoral infrastructure and ICT Tools, Software Application and Database Management.
Technology is the application of knowledge to the practical needs of human life. The norm of the civilized world is: Train a doctor, build hospital, train Lawyers, build Court Rooms, train Computer Scientists and Technologist and empower them with local content laboratories and national tasks to create digital solutions.
The worlds has moved on, and now talk about IPv6, Embedded Systems, Trojan Horses, e-Innovation, CyberSpace Intrusion, e-Warfare, Automated Government, Superlative Start-ups etc. while we are busy wasting precious knowledge time defining Card Reader out of context and talking about calculator- based election results! IT and Software-Nigeria has come of age and must be trusted, empowered and challenged to perform.
Resolving the National IT Challenge:
1. Mandatory automation of all Government processes, functions and operations (long overdue)
2. Create a consolidated and centralized National Database (overdue 40 years ago)
3. Establish Office of the Chief Information Technology General of the Federation
4. Approve the pending National Software Strategic Policy and Cyber Security Bill. (long Overdue)
5. Create 10 IT or Knowledge Innovation Parks in the 1st 100 Days in Office
6. Establish 2 Software Engineering Institutes (SEI) within 2 years in Office – in fulfilment of the spirit of the Local Content Development ACT
7. Convert the NYSC to an IT Retooling Camp as IT Capacity Disaster Recovery Strategy
8. Create a meaningful Stimulus Package to empower the IT Industry.
Dexude, a leading edtech platform with operations in Nigeria, has announced that it has been awarded the prestigious Business Finland TEMPO funding.
Charles Emembolu, founder of Dexude,
This significant funding injection marks a pivotal moment in Dexude’s journey towards transforming education through its AI-powered, live-first, expert-led, and community-driven platform.
The Business Finland TEMPO funding is specifically designed to support startups and SMEs aiming for international growth by building their expertise and solutions into international success stories in innovative ways.
Dexude’s commitment to innovation, coupled with its vision to enable a billion learners worldwide, aligns perfectly with the objectives of the TEMPO funding.
Commenting on this milestone achievement, Charles Emembolu, founder of Dexude, remarked, “We are incredibly honored and excited to receive the Business Finland TEMPO funding. This funding is not only a validation of Dexude’s mission to reinvent education but also a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. With this support, we are poised to accelerate our efforts in democratizing access to quality education and empowering learners across Nigeria and beyond.”
L-r; Kelvin Chikezie, co-founder of Dexude; Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); and Charles Emembolu, founder of Dexude
Kelvin Chikezie, co-founder of Dexude, added, “Securing the Business Finland TEMPO funding is a significant milestone for Dexude. It underscores our commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to revolutionize the way people learn and grow. We are grateful to Business Finland for believing in our vision, and we are excited to embark on this next chapter of Dexude’s journey.”
Dexude is on a mission to redefine education by providing learners with access to influential experts and thought leaders, live interactions, and a vibrant community-driven learning experience.
Through its platform, Dexude aims to break down barriers to learning and empower individuals to pursue their passions and unlock their full potential.
SOPHiA GENETICS, a cloud-native software company in the healthcare space and a leader in data-driven medicine, has announced that Nigeria-based Syndicate Bio has signed on to implement MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™.
Syndicate Bio is the first lab in Africa to adopt the MSK-ACCESS® assay via the SOPHiA DDM™ Platform, and the first company to make comprehensive genomic profiling and liquid biopsy widely available to patients throughout the entire continent.
The implementation of this new technology will further existing work from SOPHiA GENETICS, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), and Syndicate Bio to advance health equity on a global scale.
There are roughly 1 million new cancer patients each year in Africa and currently, comprehensive genomic profiling and liquid biopsy testing options are not widely available.
This means that patients are forced to forego this testing or travel out of continent for these testing options. Syndicate Bio’s implementation of this new offering will provide cutting-edge liquid biopsy testing to many of these patients and will help progress the company’s goal of advancing genomics and precision medicine in an area of the world that has been historically underserved in these areas.
“Partnering with SOPHiA Genetics to bring MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™ to our lab is a monumental step in accelerating the cancer treatment and research landscape across Africa, beginning in Nigeria. Next-generation sequencing technologies in oncology and liquid biopsy, which this collaboration enables, hold the potential for creating a leapfrogging opportunity in the oncology treatment and research landscape in Africa,” said Abasi Ene-Obong, PhD., Founder, Syndicate Bio.
“Through this collaboration, we aim to enable the widespread application of precision medicine in oncology across Africa, and thus contributing to the improvement of patient outcomes across the African continent.
“We believe our scientific expertise, combined with AI-enabled technologies and data-driven solutions enabled by SOPHiA GENETICS, presents a unique opportunity to fundamentally transform the journey of cancer patients through non-invasive cancer analysis, predictive genetic testing, and effective precision medicine.”
Syndicate Bio is driving genomics and precision medicine initiatives across the world’s most diverse regions through large-scale partnerships with governments, industry, and other stakeholders. Through its work, Syndicate Bio is making local impact while accelerating drug discovery and development.
By focusing on Africa, Syndicate Bio is poised to make a significant impact, starting with Nigeria, by introducing its pioneering clinical oncology offerings in an underserved region.
Through this endeavor, Syndicate Bio aims to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment for African patients. This initiative not only facilitates local next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing and liquid biopsy testing but also extends access to clinical trial participation, empowering patients and healthcare providers alike.
MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™ is a decentralized version of a highly validated ctDNA test developed by MSK that involves the deep sequencing of 146 key cancer-associated genes, and will augment Syndicate Bio’s tumor profiling capabilities, allowing them to utilize a small blood sample to generate a comprehensive report in an efficient and expedited time frame.
The use of liquid biopsy is less invasive than traditional biopsy, and can help simplify patient monitoring, whilst driving the uptake of precision medicine.
The offering combines the sophisticated analytics, state-of-the-art algorithms, and decentralized, cloud-based offerings of the SOPHiA DDM™ Platform, with the scientific and clinical expertise of MSK in cancer genomics to provide a best-in-class liquid biopsy solution.
“In our mission to democratize data-driven medicine, our decentralized global network and unique set of partnerships enable us to help reach underserved populations, just as those that are served by Syndicate Bio,” said Philippe Menu, MD, PhD., Chief Medical Officer, SOPHiA GENETICS.
“By implementing this solution, Syndicate Bio will make a measurable impact throughout Africa, while also helping to generate an unparalleled and comprehensive dataset and provide invaluable insights and knowledge to shape the future of global healthcare.”
In late 2023, SOPHiA GENETICS and MSK announced they are working in partnership with AstraZeneca to bring the world-class MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™ testing solution to countries and regions around the globe, including underserved areas where access to testing remains scarce.
Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has reaffirmed the importance of collaboration in advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
L-R: Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general, National Information Technology Development Agency, with Brig. Gen., Abdulrahman Idris, team lead of the Senior Executive Course 46 2024, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos during a strategic tour visit to the agency headquarters in Abuja.
Abdullahi disclosed this during a strategic engagement with participants of the 2024 Senior Executive Course 46 from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), a delegation led by Brigadier General Abdulrahman Idris.
Abdullahi emphasised that no organisation can achieve its goals in isolation, stressing the need for collaborative efforts to harness ideas, experiences and insights for national development. He highlighted the potential of collaboration between NITDA and NIPSS to leverage technology and digital innovation for driving economic growth, creating job opportunities and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
“At NITDA, we have re-imagined our social contract with Nigerians, focusing on improving service delivery and fostering the swift growth of the ICT sector,” said Abdullahi. He emphasised the agency’s commitment to serving Nigerians and outlined the strategic direction outlined in NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2024-2027) 2.0. The SRAP is structured around eight pillars aimed at fostering digital literacy, building a robust technology research ecosystem, strengthening policy implementation, promoting inclusive access to digital infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity, nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship, forging partnerships and cultivating a vibrant organisational culture.
The brigadier-general provided insights into NIPSS’s role as Nigeria’s foremost policy think-tank, tasked with developing top-class technocrats to drive national development initiatives. He highlighted NIPSS’s contributions to policy formulation and implementation over the years, emphasising the institution’s mandate to address issues of national interest, particularly in the digital economy sector.
The collaboration between NITDA and NIPSS underscores the importance of synergistic efforts in harnessing technology and innovation for national development. By leveraging each other’s expertise and resources, both organisations aim to drive economic growth, foster job creation, and position Nigeria as a leading player in the global digital economy.
Through strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives, NITDA and NIPSS are poised to chart a path towards sustainable development, leveraging digital innovation as a catalyst for socioeconomic transformation and inclusive growth.
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