The Chairperson of the Al
liance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), Dr Omobola Johnson, says technology revolution is essential for the development of Nigeria and Africa at large.
Johnson said this at TechPlus 2016, an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) conference and exhibition with the theme: “A Connected World’’ in Lagos.
Our correspondent reports that over 10,000 people converged for the second edition of TechPlus, which ended on Saturday.
She said that developments in technology were fundamentally altering the way people live, connect, communicate and transact.
The A4AI chairperson said that these developments have had profound effects on economic development in Nigeria and Africa at large.
According to her, to promote technology advancement, developing countries should invest in quality education for youth.
‘’There should be continuous skills training for workers and managers for stakeholders to understand the importance of the continuous revolution in technology.
“Technology has now become a key driver to development because technological revolutions underpin economic advances, improvements in business, health systems, education and infrastructure.
“The technological revolutions of the 21st century are emerging from entirely new sectors, based on micro-processors, telecommunications, bio-technology and nano-technology.
“Products are transforming business practices across the economy as well as the lives of all who have access to their effects,” she said.
Johnson said that the most remarkable breakthroughs would come from the interaction of insights and applications arising when these technologies converge.
The Managing Director of Connect Marketing, Mr Tunji Adeyinka,  organisers of the conference, said that TechPlus had come at the right time to tap into the buzz surrounding technology in the country.
Adeyinka said that the event was a catalyst which would bring together the entire ecosystem in technology.
“When we started, we were looking to create a platform that would allow companies, individuals and businesses in the tech space bring together customers, clients and for all players to showcase their products and services.
“This event is meant to be a practical opportunity to talk about technology and feel the impact that technology has on different facets of life, both from a business perspective and from a consumer perspective.
“The theme for this year’s event could not have come at a more auspicious time as Cisco had predicted there will be 20.8 billion connected devices by 2020,” he said.
Adeyinka said that TechPlus sought to highlight the increasing connecting nature of the world and identify Nigeria’s role in this new global reality through a variety of different tracks.
He said that there had been government’s increasing commitment to the development of the ICT sector and the rapid emergence of innovation hubs and incubators across the country.
‘’It is clear that technology is on the brink of revolutionising the country and TechPlus is gravitating towards becoming a key part of this dialogue,” Adeyinka said.