Computer professionals under the umbrella of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) have said that Nigeria must address issues such as inconsistency in policies, economic instability and manpower development to make progress in the new knowledge economy.
The experts, who gathered in Enugu last week for the NCS national conference, also said that without stable polity and society, there will be no stable economy and that investments in the IT and other sectors will be threatened.
Speaking at the Conference, Sir Demola Aladekomo, group managing director of Chams Group, said that the use of improved knowledge and facilities that can provide and protect the economy has become vital.
Aladekomo, who chaired the opening session of the Conference and past president of NCS, said that the Society will not give up in highlighting the need for a knowledge based economy, which formed the major topic discussed at the conference.
He said, “The timing of the theme for this year’s conference is apt. Because, before you make development, you must build the society.
The theme of this year’s conference was: “Building a Knowledge-Based Economy in Nigeria: The Role of Information Technology”.
According to him, a knowledge based security system, (smart) roads accompanied close circuit televisions, among others will help stabilize the security in the environment, while helping the economy achieve greater results.
“I do not see any reason Nigeria will not gain in the current IT revolution having lost in the industrial revolution era. We see it in our children, especially incubators who have proven themselves at angel networks- hubs, providing operational networks,” he said.
Also speaking, Chris Uwaje, past president of the Institute of Software Practitioner of Nigeria (ISPON), said that the Institute views Nigeria as on the threshold of IT transformation following the prevalence nature of broadband and its price on downward trends.
“Indeed, the theme goes a long way to amplify what NCS has been pointing at for years. To take it further, ISPON stands that intellectual property and knowledge-based economy cannot be done without.
“Against that backdrop, broadband is a key factor in achieving all this as we expect it happen soon,” he noted.
On his part, Mr Peter Jack, director general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said that the country has all it takes to achieve a knowledge-based economy, however, all industry stakeholders should rally round the government, supporting her policies and contribute meaningful to towards the drive.
The DG who spoke through Mr Inye Kemabonta, a director at the Agency, said that NITDA has various prgrammes capable of launching the nation in comity of knowledge-based economy, provided industrial stakeholders’ supports are not lacking.
He said, “If we are talking about building a knowledge based economy, it goes beyond codes, but companies, local content, skills developments and sustainable institutions. Through programmes like iDEA (Information Technology Developers Entrepreneurship Accelerator), NITDA has succeeded in making Tinapa in Cross River State tech savvy area. We have a replica in Yaba, Lagos State and other centres on the way. NITDA needs industrial support to achieve even more.
He urges members on improved support for NITDA which is regarded as the voice of the industry in Government sphere.
Earlier, Professor David Adewumi, president of NCS said that the Society will not relent in efforts to sensitize stakeholders on the need to start embracing individual and organizational responsibility for technological growth that creates a better, brighter future for the nation.
He said that, dropping the prevailing analogue mentality in leadership starts with the mainstreaming of technology into all vital practices and programs, adding that a sincere embrace of those driving the society and economy is required.
“The nation fails when it fails to recognize those creating jobs faster and playing critical roles in the developing Nigeria’s knowledge economy.
“NCS therefore is using this medium to call for better and more strategic engagement with Nigerian IT professionals,” he said.
Adewumi also said that there is certainly a serious need for adequate representation of Nigerian IT professionals in decision and policy making in governance and critical sectors, while stressing that the knowledge economy in Nigeria is a joke without a strong technology sector.