Telecom
LCCI Seeks Active Citizens Involvement in the Evolution of Fourth Industrial Revolution
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said that the country must be actively involved in the evolution of fourth industrial revolution inorder to benefit from it.
Mr. Babatunde Paul Ruwase, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) stated this at the ongoing 5th edition of ICTEL EXPO 2019, holding at the Landmark Event Center, Lagos
The theme of the conference is: ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) – The Nigerian Story’.
Mr. Ruwase in his address noted that Nigeria must narrow the gap between technological potentials and the required policy framework needed.
He said that it has become more pertinent more than ever for us as a nation to focus on exploring innovative approaches to harness the benefits of technological advancement in this ever-changing world.
According to him, “To be actively involved and benefit from this fourth revolution however, Nigeria must narrow the gap between technological potentials and the required policy framework needed.
“It has become more pertinent than ever for us as a nation to focus on exploring innovative approaches to harness the benefits of technological advancement in this ever-changing world.
“To do this therefore, the engagement of key stakeholders has never been more urgent than now”.
The LCCI President further stated that for us to reap the benefits of new technologies while maintaining trust requires the collaborative efforts of government, businesses and other stakeholders in the society.
He added that recent technological advances have the potential to fundamentally redefine the economy and that this presents ample opportunities that needs to be explored for the present generation and future generations.
Mr. Ruwase explained that for the country to catch up with the fast-growing trends in ICT, it needs to address necessary policy challenges in three key areas: E-commerce, data flows and new technologies.
He called for concerted effort to be made in developing digital skills of the Nigerian youth, in order to be able to respond to the challenges posed by the digitization of the labour market.
“We have a great challenge of boosting Nigeria’s digital development and we all must rise to this challenge if we are to benefit from the fourth technological revolution.
L-R: Representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Technology, Mr Chima Igwe, Immediate past president, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (LCCI), Dr Nike Akande, Director of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Ministry of Communications, Mrs Moni Udoh , President, LCCI, Mr Babatunde Ruwase and Chairman, trade promotion board, Gabriel Idahosa, at the Opening ceremony of the LCCI 5th edition of ICTEL EXPO 2019, in Lagos, on Tuesday
“We must design and implement an agenda that promotes a digital transformation, with modern regulations, infrastructure and digital education.
“Nigeria missed out of the first, second and third industrial revolutions, in order not to miss the fourth industrial revolution therefore, we must put in place appropriate structures and policies, and both private and the public sector must play active role as stakeholders in the attainment of technological advancement urgently needed by this great nation.”
He added that Nigeria as the leading economy in Africa must show the way in transforming the lives of its citizens through technological advancement.
Also at the event, Afrione launched its AfriOne mobile phones and other consumer devices, a feat the company describes as a technological breakthrough and precedent for the enterprise and Nigeria’s 200 million strong populous.
Rajan Nahal, Chief Operating Officer, Afrifone limited, said that their aim is to democratise technology, by offering affordable innovations through its product offerings and removing barriers for large scale adoption of advanced technologies in Nigeria.
He noted that it’s module is to provide affordable smart and feature phones for all strata of the Nigerian society.
The Chief Operating Officer added that their mobile phones and tablets are all assembled in Nigeria, while its mobile accessories and other new products range are currently not being produced in the country.
He stated that they are setting up mobile phone laboratory at the Lagos state polytechnic (LASPOTECH) where students will be taught how to manufacture mobile phones.
Afrione is the first in-country produced smartphones for sale in the Nigerian marketplace.
It champions corporate socio-economic development, while wholly supporting the “Made in Nigeria” campaign if the federal government.
They offer a wide range of feature-rich and technologically loaded product lines from dual sim mobile phones to educational tablet PCs and even android smart watches.