Obi of Onitsha harps on synergy to drive technological innovation

Igwe Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, has emphasised the need to develop a Nigerian grown digital technology to achieve the digitalisation of the Nigerian economy.

Achebe, also Chairman, International Breweries, Plc, said this at the Institute of Directors (IoD) 2022 Annual Director’s Conference (ADC) on Thursday in Lagos.

It was reported that ADC had as its theme: “Corporate Governance and Digital Transformation: Leading Purposefully for Growth and Sustainability.”

Achebe charged corporate leaders not to be content as adopters of other countries’ technology but strive to lead the nation’s quest of developing technology fit for its purpose.

He noted that the country had fared quite well with its digital penetration at 51 per cent, behind Ghana, Egypt, Morocco and others.

He, however, stated that the combination of education and technology was critical to national development that was relevant to put the country in the league of countries that had broken the barriers in technological innovation.

“Countries that have broken the barriers in technology have done so as a result of successful synergy between the private sector and academia backed by the government.

“Nigerian students are travelling all over the world to get education and pay in hard currency and in 2021, Nigeria students contributed nearly two billion pounds to the British economic.

“Our present education policy and system cannot effectively support our national agenda.

“Business directors and managers must lead through digital transformation to grow and sustain businesses and contribute optimally to the national development in the short, medium and long terms,” he said.

Achebe charged the organised private sector to take advantage of the recently passed start-up Act 2022 and influence the revision of the national school curriculum to include digital literacy from the primary school age.

This, he said, would close the gap in digital technology development between Nigeria and the leading technology countries.

“We must also fast tract digital literacy among university graduates by more focused endowment fund to advance the technology sector,” he said.

Dr Ije Jidenma, President, IoD, said the fast-paced change in digital technology and COVID-19 pandemic had multi-faceted impact on global corporate governance practices and economies.

She said the conference would provide the means to further explore how to leverage technology to improve board and operational effectiveness, stakeholders experience and shareholders value central to business sustainability.

She added that the deliberations would help shape the thinking of young entrepreneurs, and key actors in the public and private sectors of the economy for long term sustainability.

“The institute is proud to collaborate with the government for the entrenchment of good policies.

“We have our chartered bill which has successfully scaled the National Assembly but is currently on the president’s desk for assent.

“This chartered status is to open new vista for directors to further enable our people play key roles not only on the continent but globally,” she said.

Governor of Lagos, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stated that one of the defining features of successful countries was their level of technological advancement.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs Ajibola Ponnle, Commissioner, Ministry of Establishments, Training and pensions, noted that technology had in the last two years impacted all sectors of the economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said under his administration, there was no sector that had not benefitted from the state’s technology delivery to its over 20 million population.

He added that the state was committed to investing in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure as seen in the 6,000 kilometre fibre optic cable laid across the state.

“Yesterday, we received the integrated Lagos state roadmap and its successful implementation would lead to massive growth and development in the state.

“Via the THEMES agenda of my administration, we have ensured that no aspect is left behind even as we leverage technology.

“We are deploying 2,000 smart cameras across the state to manage traffic, and the red and blue rail lines would be commissioned same time next year among others.

“All these, including education are managed and hinged on technology and we won’t stop until the state becomes the megacity we have envisioned it to be,” he said.