General News
Computer Society is Critical In Knowledge Economy – Adewumi
Professor David Adewumi, president, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) is a Professor of Computer Science and dean, College of Information and Communications Technology, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State.
He is also visiting professor of Computer Science to many Universities in Nigeria.
Adewunmi holds impeccable records as a seasoned and highly respected academic administrator and leader with over 40 Journal Publications in reputable journals of international standing, authored many Books in Computer Science, among others.
He has previously served NCS as the chairman, Credentials Committee (1997-1999), 2nd vice president (2007-2009), 1st vice president (2009-2011). He spoke to peter ugwu on the journey so far.
Drive towards Nigeria’s Knowledge Based Economy
The thrust of NCS’ input, particularly, and as will reflect in our next conference coming up in Enugu, is building a knowledge based economy: the role of IT.
We will be at Obafemi Awolowo University between March 4 and 5, 2014 on a research and development workshop on which people will come to discuss research finding and current issues in the IT sector.
The topical issue in IT is broadband; it was not available in most places, especially in Nigeria. Following the policy thrust of the present government and supported by NCS, it portends that in no distant time most Nigerians, organizations will have better access to broadband.
Satisfied With the IT Development Processes in the Country
I have not implied that in my statements. I know that the government is trying to build the local content strength of the country as regards in IT.
Local content, by and large, it is about software and hardware. Majorly, our attention is on software, whereby our young ones, the academics, middle-age professionals will be able to make their inputs directly into the local content.
India, Malaysia, China and other emerging markets; developed and developing worlds are looking at that direction too. And that is one of the easiest ways we can tackle unemployment in our domain.
Marginalization of IT Professionals by the Government
NCS should be involved, not only in the National Conference, but all matter related to IT.
The issue is that for you to have knowledge based, forward looking and an inclusive economy you need to involve IT professionals.
Today, IT and technology drive development. That is why we could call the world a global villlage.
Job Creation
Whatever plan or approach we adopt is geared towards that. If we succeed in making government buy into programmes that will galvanize software development driving local content, broadband penetration, among other various articulated plans, of course, we would have achieve great deals for job creation.
For instance, when there is an available and cheaper broadband, definitely, the challenges we face in the oil and gas, agriculture, e-health, education, manufacturing, aviation, other cottage industries shall be taken care off.
NCS’ Stake in National Broadband Policy Implementation
We are incorporated into the membership of the national broadband council (NBC). Therefore, we had made our input at the council level.
We are also there to support the Honourable Minister’s drives. NCS is not averse to the Minister designs in the way of master plan for broadband penetration drive and the industry at large.
We believe that the giant strides will bring about available and cheaper broadband regime. By the time, economically and otherwise, we are going to witness massive changes in the way we live. Several efforts have been made, for instance, to checkmate rural-urban migration.
There is this light at the end of the tunnel that broadband will make lives in the rural areas become improved, so it is a win-win thing for all.
In addition, job creation is sure. It will open the information high-way we have been talking about. The attitude expected of private sector is that of acceptance, articulating progressive arguments and support towards the proposed national plan. The success of the government in this case is the success of all.
Motivation to Vie for the NCS Presidency
I was convinced that as a long standing member of NCS, the first vice president and having served in the council for a long time also, I have all that was required to contest for the position of the president.
Aside that, I want to leave indelible marks in the heart of NCS by the time I will be leaving office.
I had participated in the elections for more than twice, but this time it pleased God and NCS members to give me the opportunity to serve.
NCS Presidency Seven Months After
Immediately the election results were announced, I told participants at the NCS conference then that we are going to take the Society to another level by building on the development centers and make them the most relevant in the country.
After then, I have listed the eleven-point developmental thrusts of the present administration. We have done a lot since then, particularly on the area of moving to the next level in the sense that we are re-structuring the secretariat.
We are creating awareness about NCS, so that the Nigerian public can get to appreciate our goals as a Body.
We have reached out to the corporate members of NCS and we have recorded a lot of responses in the way of support from them.
Recently, Zinox Computers and Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) donated a bus and a salon car to the Body, respectively.
The goodwill has also rubbed off on the State Chapters like Lagos and Imo States. In fact, we have enlisted the interest of generality of our membership in terms of what we believe in. Nevertheless, the anchor of my leadership is the NCS’ National Executive Council (NEC). I believe in them. Whatever they decide I tend to carry them out.
Expectations of NCS National Conference Scheduled For Enugu
As the President of NCS, I expect every member to be present. The conference is going to have huge impact on the industry and the country at large, because we are focusing on knowledge based economy. We have seen that our oil wells are drying up.
Apart from that there are alternate energy generation schemes; government is faced with a lot of challenges.
So they have a lot of headache on diversifying the economy. The only viable and practicable option is the knowledge based economy. We hope our participants will open their eyes and ears, interact with each other, then there will be changes.
Nigeria’s Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) market is on a fast-growing trajectory and is predicted to be valued $2.61 billion by 2030, up 83% from $1.42 billion in 2024, owing primarily to the rapid emergence of fintechs in the country.
This observation was stated in EnterpriseNGR’s State of Enterprise 2025 report, which focuses on how fintechs are reshaping Nigeria’s business landscape through digital innovations, accessible credit systems, and mobile-first financial tools.
As a credit system, BNPL allows users to stagger payments for products and services, making it a key development driver in Nigeria’s developing digital economy.
From 2021 to 2024, the BNPL experienced a compounded annual growth rate of 23.1%. Fintechs have contributed to the rapid growth by providing a range of flexible loan alternatives for e-commerce, retail, and services, bridging financial gaps for millions of disadvantaged Nigerians.
The report highlights how fintechs have contributed to Nigeria’s flexibility and resiliency by simplifying digital payments, automating invoicing and payroll systems, and democratising credit through platforms such as Renmoney and FairMoney.
The report also shows a significant rise in remittance inflows into Nigeria following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 2024 policy adjustments.
According to the report, by 2024, Nigeria boasted over 400 licensed digital lenders who extend collateral-free credit to those commonly excluded by banks.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) strengthened bilateral relations with the Netherlands’ government through an agreement targeted at improving migration governance and border security.
This partnership was confirmed during a meeting at the NIS headquarters in Abuja, which was attended by a Dutch team led by Jurgen Bartelink, Chargé D’Affaires of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Nigeria.
The meeting focused on increasing bilateral migration cooperation and came after the comptroller general of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, paid a working visit to the Netherlands.
Under the agreement, the Dutch government pledged to continue supporting technology-driven solutions targeted at boosting Nigeria’s border control systems and improving migration management.
During the Netherlands Embassy diplomats handed over essential operational tools, such as Edison Software licence keys and the Passport Examination Programme Manual App.
According to NIS spokeswoman ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, “The partnership focuses on enhancing bilateral collaboration on migration management and reviewing ongoing capacity-building efforts.”
Bartelink, Chargé d’Affaires of the Netherlands Embassy in Nigeria, underlined the Netherlands’ commitment to helping Nigeria’s continuing border security and migration reforms.
Also speaking, Rob Bokhoven, head of international affairs, repatriation, and deportation services at the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security, emphasised the country’s strong bilateral relations and announced plans to share a mobile border software solution with the NIS.
Receiving the equipment, Nandap said the delivery of the gadgets would boost West African country’s border security, significantly improve the service’s document verification border management capabilities and support the implementation of Nigeria’s National Migration Policy.
“The engagement will further reinforce the strategic partnership between Nigeria and the Netherlands advancing shared goals in migration governance, border security and international cooperation,” she added.
Peter Enogb, principal country economist, African Development Bank (AfDB), says the rise in global uncertainty, emanating from increases in global trade tariffs, has slowed Nigeria’s projected growth to 3.2% in 2025.
“Without this level of heightened uncertainty, our projections would probably have been somewhat higher. We’ve reduced our projections for Nigeria. We initially were projecting 3.5% – 3.6% growth in 2025.
“But given the current situation, our models are showing that we’re taking a more cautious approach. So that’s why we produced this and, of course, the main driver is uncertainty in the global economy,” Enogb said.
He said this at the launch of the 2025 Nigeria Country Focus Report (CFR) on Thursday.
AFDB projected that real GDP growth would hit 3.1% in 2026. Following the 2024 consumer price index (CPI) rebasing, with lower weights for food items, the inflation rate is expected to reduce over the medium term to 24.7% in 2025 and 17.3% in 2026.
As imports start to rise over the medium term, the current account is projected to decline to 3.9% of GDP in 2026.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that Nigeria’s headline inflation slowed for the second consecutive month to 22.97% in May. This is down from 24.48% at the start of the year
This is contrary to the World Bank projection that Nigeria’s economy would record steady growth of 3.6% despite the shift in the global trade dynamics.
Joseph Ogebe, head of research and development at Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), also said that global uncertainty had been very high in recent times, resulting from the Trump 2.0 effect.
“And also with the recent war between Israel and the international community, we’ve seen what’s happening to oil prices. Even with the call-off of the war, we’ve seen the effect on oil prices too, which has implications on the fiscal side. So it has implications for the general economy,” he said.
The head of research at NESG said that rather than focusing on just growth, what should be looked at is a strategy called growth with depth.
“Growth with depth means that your growth must be diversified, export-led, productive, and technologically driven,” he said.
Ogebe said that if the Government works towards adopting a strategy of growth with depth, there is a tendency for the government to move towards its goal of achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
The report revealed that the country’s recent policy moves, including fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, and tax reforms, reflect a commitment to long-term transformation.
However, it also pointed out that at about 13%, Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio is among the lowest in West Africa, noting that fiscal reforms are urgent.
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