Utomi Seeks More Investments In ICT

Founder, Centre for Value
Leadership, Lagos, Prof. Pat Utomi, has stressed the need for the Nigerian government to explore the advantages of ICT to leapfrog the nation’s economy.
He said this on Tuesday in Abuja in a keynote address he presented at the e-Nigeria 2013 national conference.
The conference, with the theme “Local Content in ICT in Nigeria: The Journey so Far’’, was organised by the National Information Technology Development (NITDA).
Utomi said that if the country must move forward, the government should invest in the development of ICT and explore the benefits of ICT to develop its economy.
“Development is a very important thing for our country; it is no doubt that unless we leapfrog development we could be challenged.
“We are in a position where we can either reap the huge demographic dividend from our population or be challenged by it.
“Information and communication present us a great opportunity to leapfrog,’’ said Utomi, who is also the co-founder, Lagos Business School.
He urged the Ministry of Communication Technology to collaborate with the Manpower Board to deal with the education agenda in the use of ICT to boost productivity.
“If Nigeria will get far in its development, the nature of policies of admission into institutions of higher learning needed to change.
“For too long, we have encouraged people to see going to university as just going to get certificate.
“Once you have the certificate you are entitled to a living. Until we change this perception we will continue to be challenged,’’ he said.
Utomi explained that Nigeria’s local content in ICT should not be seen as replacement or displacement of ICT applications but the values of what Nigerians could offer the industry.
“What we need to sustain rapid economic development is strong institutions, good policies, human capital development, good leadership and the spirit of entrepreneurship,’’ he said.
He called for seamless engagement of the private sector in the development of ICT, and urged the government to take the lead in buying local ICT products, especially software.
The chairman of the ocassion, Sen. Iya Abubakar, criticised the indiscriminate importation of computer software into Nigeria.
He said the importation of N100 billion worth of software annually into the country would lead to exportation of jobs and capital flight.
Abubakar urged the government to provide the necessary infrastructure, like electricity, establishment of ICT incubator centres and offer computer courses to boost the ICT sector.
“To achieve the goal of local content in ICT development, the government should focus on Nigerian youths.
“The youths should be target for ICT advancement and should also be exposed to entrepreneurship,’’ he said.

Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor on ICT, Engr. Goodliffe Nmekini (right), chatting with Executive Director, Keeping It Real Foundation, Mrs Bitebo Gogo, during the donation of computers to some partners of the state government in Abuloma, recently.
Photo: Egberi A. Sampson.