Niyi Gbodimowo, a member of the Computer Professionals of Nigeria, has stated that because of the Covid-19 pandemic and its demographic, Nigeria has remained a leader in venture innovation and investment in Africa’s economy.
Mr Gbodimowo made these insights recently when speaking with the media on the country’s Information and Communications Technology sector.
He emphasised the pandemic’s impact, which provided the opportunity for many young Nigerians to investigate technical advancements that have become critical to the nation’s economy.
Mr Gbodimowo also stated that the Information and Communications Technology sector’s contribution to the Nigerian economy would continue to grow in the future, owing to the country’s youthful demography.
He expressed optimism that Nigeria will continue to be a major player, particularly in the technology sector, as it has emerged as one of the top global destinations for venture capital. He also noted that numerous industries, even traditional ones, are investigating how to capitalise on the benefits of Information and Communications Technology.
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ICT improved Nigeria’s investment and talent
According to Mr Gbodimowo, the Nigerian youth’s active participation in the technology sector has propelled the country to become a hub of innovation. He cited examples of companies that have experienced rapid growth, becoming multimillion and multibillion-dollar entities. He also noted that the sector’s compensation, development opportunities, technical capacity, and financial rewards have attracted more talent and investment.
Mr. Gbodimowo emphasized that Nigerians are achieving remarkable feats in the technology sector and require an enabling environment to excel further. He noted that the country’s secondary schools and tertiary institutions have laid a strong STEM foundation for young Nigerians, enabling them to make significant contributions to the sector.
Nigeria and Artificial Intelligence
Regarding the impact of 5G technology on Nigeria, Mr Gbodimowo predicted that the changes in the next few years would transform the world, making it almost unrecognizable in five years, especially in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
Mr. Gbodimowo also highlighted Nigeria’s unique advantages that position it to lead the technology sector in Africa with adequate support.
Mr. Gbodimowo outlined that the necessary support involves establishing the National Centre for AI and Robotics within the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), with the primary objective of promoting AI research and innovation in Nigeria. He emphasised the importance of creating awareness about this support system in Nigeria to enable people to leverage it effectively.
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Nigeria’s incoming govt must evaluate previous efforts in ICT
Regarding how the incoming administration of President-Elect Bola Tinubu can fulfil his promise of creating jobs and employment opportunities for Nigerians by leveraging the technology sector, Mr Gbodimowo suggested that the first step would be to evaluate previous efforts in this regard.
He highlighted the significant technological innovations that have occurred in the Information and Communications subsector over the last eight years, resulting in a contribution of over 18 percent to Nigeria’s economy. Mr Gbodimowo expressed optimism that this trend would continue, especially with the Ministry of Communications Technology and Digital Economy taking the lead and agencies like NITDA making their contributions.
Mr. Gbodimowo pointed out that the significant impact of agencies like NIMC and NCC within the technology sector, which has captured the identity of almost 100 million Nigerians, is a game changer. He emphasised that this development represents a significant milestone for the country as Nigerians now have a clear identity.
He advised the incoming administration of President-Elect Bola Tinubu to build on the foundation laid by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in the ICT sector over the last 8 years. Furthermore, he urged the administration to ensure that the policy around the recently signed Start-Up Act is precise enough to promote development, economic empowerment, and national sustainability.