Mr. Calixthus Okoruwa, chief executive officer, XLR8 one of the organizers of eNNOVATE 2008 held in Abuja last week said that the technology exhibition and conference focus on the role of technology in leadership is because of it is the driver for social and economic development.
He said technology penetration in developing countries relies heavily on the concept of leap frog, and how best to provide a level playing ground for collective responsibility in order to achieve targets. He noted that even though Africa is slow to adopt some aspects of technology, but with mobile phone fast gaining ground in Nigeria as in most other part of Africa, confirms that the developing countries can leap frog technological advancement to a resounding success.
He added that such phenomenal success can also be extended to issues of leadership and governance in Nigeria. He explained that e-government is all about accomplishing a vertical and horizontal integration of government service delivery and that of the citizens, which are established as epicenter of governance with concerted approach in bridging the gap between government and the citizens as well as building trust and accountability to its citizens.
He noted that XLR8 has for long enjoyed Ken Nnamani’s Centre for Leadership and Development views and that the centre though young will continue to live up to its vision, which portrays the evolution of a new generation of African leaders.
Stressing that XLR8 is only a communication consultancy whose objective is to help organized communication better with key target audience as well as encourage and empowered such organizations to accomplish its objectives.
In a keynote address, Mr. Frederick Udoaka, regional manager IBM West Africa said that economy is the main stream of development for any country in the world and that robust economies attract business expansion and technological developments, adding that leadership is the backbone of economic and technological sustainability. He described Nigerian economy as weak amidst available resources which make the environment not ripe for economic and technological development. He therefore called on the leaders to borrow a leaf from the developed countries in other to strengthen the economy so as to attract economic and technological advancement, if the 2020 Millennium Development Goal’s target is to be achieved.
In his remark Dr. Umar Bindir, director Technology Acquisition and Assessment at the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology who declared the two-day workshop open said it was timely, especially now that the need for technological advancement increasing. He said Nigeria has already lunch two satellite on space one is the earth observation satellite and the communication satellite which was just lunch last two year.
He stresses the need for technology to strive quickly in Nigeria to reach rural areas, because 70% percent of the population living in the rural areas lacks basic facilities. He however acknowledged the speedy rate at which telecommunication is reaching the rural areas where most of them can use mobile phone.
He attributed the slow pace of technological development to lack of good leadership in the country.
