Experts at the Signal Alliance Customer Week Workshop organized in conjunction with Cisco recently have identified technology as one of the key component in the diversification of the Nigeria economy.
The experts agreed that all stakeholders should work together to do the following; Build an ecosystems that will support start-ups from setting up investment institutions from seed funding to technology backed private equity, and promoting incubators and accelerators; deepening government structures that supports indigenous technology like the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, NITDA, SMEDAN, etc; Encourage consumption of local technology through strict implementation of the local content law; and standardization of local technology products to enable them compete internationally.
The workshop theme was; ‘Diversification & Innovation: A technology roadmap to grow Nigeria economy’.
In attendance were business leaders in the public and private sectors, technology leaders & entrepreneurs, and media.
Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, Managing Director Infographics, moderated the conversations by the following panelists; Gerald Ilukwe, Founding MD Galaxy Backbone & former GM Microsoft Nigeria; Richard Amafonye, CIO Skye Bank; Kachi Onubogu, Executive Director Commercial Promasidor; Yemi Keri, Managing Director Edo State Information Communication Technology Agency; Victor Okigbo, Head IDEA Hub and Chris Uwaje, former President ISPON – represented by Pius Eke Jnr.
“We are quite satisfied with the outcome of the conversations that took place, considering the challenge the Nigeria economy is currently facing due to fall in global oil prices, exchange rate collapse, and uncertainty surrounding the elections. This is compounded by the fact that Nigeria is largely an import-based and a mono-product economy.” Said Adanma Onuegbu, CEO Signal Alliance.
This workshop is one of the major activities of the annual Signal Alliance Customer Week that includes; customer visitation across the country, corporate social responsibility programmes in Lagos and Abuja, and customer appreciation event.