Stakeholders in technology business in the country gathered at the weekend in Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos, to discuss possible ways of taking lead in the generally identified business shift to the emerging markets due to growth potentials in ICT.

Put together by a frontline Technology magazine publisher, Logica group, publishers of Nigerian telecom news, the interactions were woven around two broad lectures, “The Nigerian Telecom market: Championing the African Course” and “ICT, a tool for societal development” delivered by the CEO, Airtel, Mr Segun Ogunsanya and the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, respectively.

With a keynote speech by the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah, through the Director Public Affairs, Mr Tony Ojobo, the stage was set for a discuss that stirred emotions, set targets and raised hopes.

However, one common agreement that seemed to have no dissent opinion at the end of the day was that the prospects of Nigerian ICT was high enough to take the economy out of the doldrums and therefore should not be toyed with.

NCC charged the platform

It was the the EVC of NCC that set the ball rolling when in his keynote speech, he declared that whenever the issue of impact of ICT to societal development is being discussed, his commission feels a sense of being evaluated and therefore always availed itself the opportunity to listen and learn how it’s regulatory function could impact more positively.

For Juwah, who was represented by Ojobo, “it has been widely established that the economic development of a nation can be accelerated by improvements in the country’s ICT infrastructure. The explosion in technology which ushered in the Information Age has become the basis of defining power in the modern world. No modern economy can thrive without an integral information ICT infrastructure. This is because ICTs provide the veritable platform for development across the economic and other sectors, if well harnessed” with these, the guest lecturers took their turns.

Ogunsanya:

Broadband can give Nigeria over N190bn in 2015, if….

Even though broadband has been generally identified as the key to the growth of Nigeria’s new technological advancements, apparently giving Nigeria the confidence to recently draw and approved a national Broadband Plan, Ogunsanya in his lecture, however, said that Nigeria could be jeopardizing the chances of earning additional N190bn within the next one and half years if implementation of this action plan is delayed.

He challenged the government to fast track the implementation of the  action plan and attract over N190  into the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP by 2015.

According to him, implementation of the action is not even a tough challenge any longer, considering that all the stakeholders to the success of this action plan, including the operators themselves were ready to give avowed support.

He described the Broadband Plan as a right step in the right direction and assured that the Telcos are deeply committed to partnering with the Government to implement the plan and facilitate Broadband realization for the country.

Although, he admitted that the implementation requires long-term commitment and significant action by Federal, States and Local Governments, he advised that best strategy would be for government to affirm action targeting the delivery of social and public services over Broadband.

He added that the zeal applied by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Federal Government in E-Payment and Cashless Policy initiatives should also be replicated in driving adoption and utilization of broadband by the populace.

Beyond that , ogunsanya was also of the opinion that government must continue to patronize readily available local applications and solutions even as it strives to deepen partnerships with telecoms operators, ICT players and development partners.

He highlighted growth potentials which have presented Africa as the next best destination for telecom businesses and charged the country to seize the opportunity. “African data market is growing and Africa internet market is getting robust. Nigeria, despite having the loudest voice market, is still ahead in African internet penetration chart . However, out of over 150 million Nigerians, only 6 % have access to broadband. This means that the country’s strong internet penetration is through the mobile devices. It makes the country the next port of call for broadband business” he added.

Aregbesola:

We must exploits potentials of ICT for societal good

However, what Aregbesola, apparently wanted the participants to understand was that it was not enough to recognise the potentials of ICT but to apply them in creating opportunities for people and societies. “I have long recognised the huge potential of ICT for bringing qualitative improvement to bear on our lives and society.

I have therefore always tried not to miss an opportunity to apply it wherever and whenever I can to improve my situation and that of the people around me. And this is what I have been doing since I became governor in the State of Osun. Even in the course of actualising my governorship ambition, I was tremendously aided by the application of ICT.

During the election of April 14, 2007 in which I was elected asgovernor, we employed mobile phones and the internet to coordinate logistics and communicate with polling representatives”.

Aregbesola also hinted that since he became governor of the state of Osun, he had introduced many life changing programmes in the areas of health, Agriculture, Education revenue creation and proper accountability. with the aid of ICT.

“Since I became governor in November 2010, I have given an important place to ICT in the way we run the business of government. One of the first areas of ICT deployment in the State of Osun  was revenue reform.We immediately moved to discard the old methods of payment system and tax administration which were fraught with leakages and loopholes. The result was instant; our monthly internally generated revenue (IGR)jumped from N300million to N600million in less than one year.

We have also applied ICT to agriculture. Through Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques.

Our deployment of ICT to public education is now world-famous, especially through the iPad-like computer tablet, Opon-Imo, or tablet of knowledge.

There is also the O’YES-TECH empowerment project, which isa six-month intensive programme in ICT training. ” he added.

For him, the invasion of Africa by telecom business men can only be a good omen if the continent is ready to capitalise on the gains that would accrue from such invasion. “The possibilities in the world of ICT are big enough to accommodate all-comers. All we need is the will and discipline to explore and exploit them. In Osun, we have set about it, and we will continue to explore it for the maximum benefit of our people and society” Aregbesola promised.