The International Business Machine (IBM) has called for the development of Nigeria’s indigenous Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ecosystem.
Speaking with journalists recently in Abuja, Dipo Faulkner, Country Managing Director, IBM Nigeria, said that through its innovation center in Nigeria, IBM has raised the bar in knowledge transfer needed to transform the country’s IT economy.
“We have intensified efforts towards ICT education and awareness creation following the Company’ believe in improving the lives of the people for enhanced individual’s productivity, organizational growth and economic buoyancy.
“We make our resources- applications and solutions available to ventures that are in need of them to impact the society, like universities,” he said.
He, claimed that the government needs to exhibit foresight in its approaches and plans for the industry; using India as example, he said, ICT programs and innovation supports ought to start with students at the secondary school level, brain drain preventive adopted for the benefit of the country.
In his views, Ife Adebayo, special assistant, Innovation & Entrepreneurship to the Vice President, said that a lot is being done to correct inadequacies in the Nigeria’s ICT plans, adding that the government requires stakeholders support to push through its innovations and policies.
According to him, adequate data gathering and analysis are paramount to executing several projects in the country.
“This government has the will to carry everybody along in the execution of its plans. Meanwhile, we require accurate data to plan. But at the moment we are working with improved data gathering systems, for instance, the BVN is actual data to work with. The FRSC has done biometrics, likewise the SIM card registration. So, we are working on harmonizing these data to have an accurate figure to work with. Therefore, we crave for the industry support to make our plans viable as we continue to implement them.
Adebayo disclosed that every data capturing now harmonizes with the national database and not resident with respective government agencies.
On his part, Mr. Ridwan Sorunke, public affairs Corporate Council on Africa, said that the session was organized, primarily to enhance local and foreign business partners interaction with the government.
He said that Corporate Council on Africa is the leading U.S. business association focused solely on connecting business interests in Africa.
“The Body was established in 1993 to promote business and investment between the United States and the nations of Africa, the Corporate Council on Africa serves as a neutral, trusted intermediary connecting its member firms with the essential government and business leaders they need to do business and succeed in Africa”, he said.
According to Sorunke, the Council’s membership represents nearly 85 percent of total U.S. private sector investments in Africa.
“They represent a diverse pool of industries from Africa’s most promising sectors, including agribusiness, energy, finance, health, ICT, infrastructure, security, tourism and trade facilitation.
“Corporate Council on Africa is a key resource for conducting successful business in Africa. We work closely with governments, multilateral groups and businesses to improve Africa’s trade and investment climate and to raise the profile of Africa in the U.S. business community.
“Most importantly, we work with our member companies to help them increase their investment in and trade with the nations of Africa.
“CCA provides member companies with greater access, connections and insight for doing business between the United States and Africa through some sector- and country-specific working groups, high-level special events, business conferences, customized member services, trade missions and advocacy programs, ” he explained.
