Participants at the just concluded “Technology As A Catalyst: Ease of Doing Business 2018 Conference’’ have said that we must leverage on technology in order to create the much needed enabling business environment in the country.
They made this call at the one day conference organised by Perchstone and Graeys, Knowledge and Resources Ltd. in Lagos.
The theme of the conference was: “Technology as a Catalyst: Ease of Doing Business 2018’’.
Speaking at the event, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, stated that we must leverage on technology if we want to ensure sustainable change in the country.
He added that we should create the right enabling environment for businesses to thrive, adding that we need to leverage on technology in order to reduce cost of running business.
Enelamah applauded the organizer for putting the event together; stressing that if the outcome of the event is taken seriously could produce positive change in the country.
Azuka Azinge, Acting Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), extol the benefits of using technology in running the commission.
According to her, technology have played a pivotal role in streamlining the inter agency partnerships between them and other government agencies.
She added that technology has made it possible for applicants to do their company registration online without coming to CAC office.
She also revealed that technology has made it possible for the commission to run 24 hours registration, which they were not doing before.
In her words, “We have used technology to collaborate with MDA’s.
“We have been able to use technology to disseminate information through social media, like facebook, twitter and instagram.
“Online payment is now available at the commission because of technology.
“Technology has changed the face of how we do business now,” Azinge concluded.
Mr.Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said that the FRSC over the years have leveraged on technology in deploying its services in the country.
He noted that the deployment of technology have given them international recognition.
According to him, “Technology has made it possible for you to sit at your homes and renew your driver’s license.
“We also have deployed technology in solving major crash incidences being witnessed in the country, with the deployment of speed limit devices, to commercial bus operators in the country.
“Technology again has helped us solve the issue of payment, today you can make payment to us within the comfort of your home,” he added.
Dr Adebayo Shittu, The Minister of Communications, speaking at the event, said that Nigeria is gradually emerging as a centre for technology innovations cutting across all sectors.
Shittu described Nigeria as the largest and fastest growing ICT market in the world.
“World’s biggest technology companies are strengthening their investments in the country because Nigeria has made important stride toward improving most of its infrastructure compared to other African countries.
“It is no longer news that Information Communication Technology (ICT) plays a vital role in enabling the diversification of the country’s economy.
“Nigeria has witnessed accelerated socio-economic development resulting from the penetration of technology into all facets of its society, ‘’ he said.
Shittu said that infrastructure had made a net contribution of around 1 per cent point to Nigeria’s improved per capital growth performance, although unreliable power supply held growth back.
He noted that ICT was a catalyst to development and there was need for the country to move from resource-based economy to a robust ICT-driven one.
The minister said that the ministry, among other things, was planning to formulate forward-looking policies that would propel the Nigerian economy to a digitalised one.
