Security, Governance Top NCS 11th International Conference

Preparations are in full gear for the 11th International Conference of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) holding in Osun State and will highlight the relevance of IT to governance and National Security.

NCS said it has chosen topic to ensure real, all-inclusive development and transformation of governance through IT. The theme of the conference is “e-Government and National Security”.

Sir Demola Aladekomo, national president (NCS) told journalists in Lagos, that the recent declaration of State of Emergency in three states in the country by the President due to insecurity challenges in those states made this year’s theme all the more compelling.

Speaking on e-government and national security, Aladekomo said: “The Conference is the largest annual assembly of high-level IT stakeholders from business, industry, education, government and social communities in Nigeria. It is the key networking and professional event for advancing Information Technology for development and promoting the interests of IT stakeholders in the country.

“One way to describe E-government is the application of ICT to strengthen governance – the use of ICTs in the operations and performance improvement of public sector organisations. It also means the use of ICT to achieve better stakeholders’ engagement. When carefully designed and diligently implemented, E-government tackles the problems of poverty, disease, unemployment and hunger. E-government strategies that work facilitate both public sector and private sector development.

“The protection of life and property is the major function and responsibility of any government. All over the world, no nation is excluded from the challenges of insecurity. Murder, armed robbery, terrorism, cultism and other crimes abound despite the best efforts of security and law enforcement agencies. A more proactive IT-led approach to combating this menace is needed in a country like ours. It is our considered view that no organisation is better suited than the NCS to chart the way forward in this regard.

“NCS has diligently over the past few months canvassed the use of ICT towards resolving the issues of security in our Country. We call on the Federal government to engage NCS towards contributing in resolving this massive issue. Once this is done youth empowerment and employment will follow”.

The choice of Osun, he said, “is strategic for its bias for technology-based development. The State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s IT deployment policy in the state makes Osun a familiar and innovation-friendly terrain for IT professionals and stakeholders.

“He recently launched Knowledge Tablet (Opon Imo) and his involvement in ICT policy road map is a testimony to the state government’s commitment to ICT development. These achievements make the governor a first among equals in the application of IT to development. He demonstrated his hospitality, fellowship, interest and support by accepting to host the Conference as far back as December 2012 during our annual NITMA event”.

Expected to grace the event are: The President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; the Vice President, Arc. Namadi   Sambo; President of the Senate, Hon David Mark; Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator Ayim Pius Ayim; Head of Service, Alhaji Buka Aji, members of the Federal Executive Council, state governors, legislators, both at the federal and state levels and the general public.

The series of events already scheduled for the conference include paper presentations, technical sessions, PKI (Public key Infrastructure), networking interactions, national IT quiz competition, Presidential Forum, etc.