The Nigeria Computer Society, NCS, has called on voters to raise issues and ask questions from contestants and their political parties, at both the State and Federal levels, about their strategy to develop an innovative economy to address the country’s serious information technology development matters.
This comes in line with NCS’s strategic objectives and mission that are dedicated to ensure development of information technology science and practice; and their deployment as solutions and business enablers to all production practices of human endeavor.
In a lecture titled , “Election 2015: IT Development and IT Sector”, the President, Nigeria Computer Society, Professor David Adewumi expressed the Society’s interest to address Information Technology sector and relevant IT development matters in light of the ongoing 2015 electoral process to sustain and position democracy in Nigeria, noting that NCS is dedicated to play its advocacy role as the umbrella association of all IT stakeholders and professionals to ensure Nigeria receives the very best in technologies, processes and people.
Adewumi said NCS has made the following recommendations and observations concerning Election Management and Election 2015 in the Nigeria;
“NCS advocates for improved and innovative utilization of Information Technology in the organization of Free, Fair and Credible elections in 2015 and in future elections in Nigeria. While our professional association recognizes and acknowledges the IT contributions and initiatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the most recent, being the introduction of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, in the electoral process, there is a need for improved project management in the deployment of IT as well as security management.”
He maintained that the delays and logistic issues in PVC deployment are agonizingly not good in the 21st century, insisting that additional innovation of the electoral management process is needed with input from stakeholders and NCS by considering the electronic voting for subsequent elections.
Adewumi mentioned that the 2015 elections are about Nigeria’s future and the role of IT is important to growth and development.
Even though there have been developments, a lot still needs to be done, hence, NCS challenges both the existing and ambitious political leaders to increase the depth and influence of IT development and prioritize IT sector productivity.
“NCS is concerned that those seeking votes are not addressing these critical matters. We urge the electorate to ask questions and raise issues at all levels (state, federal) with all parties and their candidates about their plans for building an innovative economy to create jobs and address the nation’s developmental challenges. In particular, answers are needed about what they will do to strengthen important government agencies in IT, most especially National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN),” said Professor Adewuni.
He called for an innovative and improved election management; violence free and issue-based campaigns; and the election of informed and innovative leaders, making it clear that the Nigeria Computer Society is prepared and eager to partner with INEC and other stakeholders to push for development in Nigeria.
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