Why Nigeria should harness indigenous innovations for inclusive devt
THE 2016 edition of Nigerian Internet Governance Forum ended in Abuja last week with stakeholders in the Nigeria ICT sector urging Africa the Nigeria government to devise its own strategy to harness her indigenous innovations for inclusive development and smarter Nigeria.
With the theme: Harnessing Internet Governance for Inclusive Development and Smarter Nigeria, the participants were of the opinion that for Nigeria to fully realize its potentials and sustainable development goals by 2030, it must create the enabling environment for the ICT sector to thrive and power other sectors of the economy.
Internet governance
The Nigeria Internet Governance Forum serves as veritable platform for stakeholders in the sector to brainstorm on the pertinent topical issues regarding internet governance with a view to forming a national agenda
in preparation for the global Internet Governed Forum, coming up in December this year. Running in its fifth consecutive edition hosted by multi-stakeholders since inception in 2012, the forum was also the first global preparatory NIGF forum since the renewal of the mandate in 2015.
Minister of Communications Technology, Adebayo Shittu, while speaking at the occasion, said the forum was an interesting time when the Nigeria internet community is tinkering with a new internet governance system. He stated that the NIGF also provides opportunities for developing countries to engage in debate and facilitate a common understanding of how to maximize internet opportunities and address risk and challenges that arise.
The Minister who was represented by head of e-Governance, Tope Fashode, said that there had been several important discussions over the period which were aimed at realigning Nigeria with global position on internet governance and charged participants to maximize the opportunity provided by the event to foster new ways Nigeria can realize its potential using the internet, assuring them that the outcome will form basis for public discussions both locally and globally.
In his paper presentation, the Managing Director of SystemSpecs, John Obaro said for Nigeria to compete globally it must begin to look inwards and devise solutions to its peculiar problems without necessarily waiting for foreign solutions. As an industry, Obaro, who was represented by Uche Obiofuma said the forum should serve as a unique time and opportunity for stakeholders in the sector to showcase what we have as Nigerians.
In his own presentation, Dr. Chris Uwaje, while corroborating with other speakers, said for Nigeria to experience technology intervention in the country, government must create the devices, environment and the ecosystem, which is what Internet of Things represents.
For him, internet of things is not new and so, Nigerians should focus on how to respond and engage in internet of things as a thing of mind. He maintained that Africa must start reinventing the will by doing things by itself, solving African problems with African solutions. For the NCC EVC , Prof. Umar Dambatta, the forum was timely as it provided multi-stakeholders the platform to contribute towards the development of NIGF.
With the theme: Harnessing Internet Governance for Inclusive Development and Smarter Nigeria, the participants were of the opinion that for Nigeria to fully realize its potentials and sustainable development goals by 2030, it must create the enabling environment for the ICT sector to thrive and power other sectors of the economy.
Internet governance
The Nigeria Internet Governance Forum serves as veritable platform for stakeholders in the sector to brainstorm on the pertinent topical issues regarding internet governance with a view to forming a national agenda
Minister of Communications Technology, Adebayo Shittu, while speaking at the occasion, said the forum was an interesting time when the Nigeria internet community is tinkering with a new internet governance system. He stated that the NIGF also provides opportunities for developing countries to engage in debate and facilitate a common understanding of how to maximize internet opportunities and address risk and challenges that arise.
The Minister who was represented by head of e-Governance, Tope Fashode, said that there had been several important discussions over the period which were aimed at realigning Nigeria with global position on internet governance and charged participants to maximize the opportunity provided by the event to foster new ways Nigeria can realize its potential using the internet, assuring them that the outcome will form basis for public discussions both locally and globally.
In his paper presentation, the Managing Director of SystemSpecs, John Obaro said for Nigeria to compete globally it must begin to look inwards and devise solutions to its peculiar problems without necessarily waiting for foreign solutions. As an industry, Obaro, who was represented by Uche Obiofuma said the forum should serve as a unique time and opportunity for stakeholders in the sector to showcase what we have as Nigerians.
In his own presentation, Dr. Chris Uwaje, while corroborating with other speakers, said for Nigeria to experience technology intervention in the country, government must create the devices, environment and the ecosystem, which is what Internet of Things represents.
For him, internet of things is not new and so, Nigerians should focus on how to respond and engage in internet of things as a thing of mind. He maintained that Africa must start reinventing the will by doing things by itself, solving African problems with African solutions. For the NCC EVC , Prof. Umar Dambatta, the forum was timely as it provided multi-stakeholders the platform to contribute towards the development of NIGF.
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