Utomi presides @ FINTEX-05, 75 high-profile delegates expected

Erudite scholar, Prof. Pat Utomi would Monday, August 8, lead a high-powered delegation from various states of the federation made up of about 72 Commissioners to this year’s Financial Internet Expo (FINTEX-05) due to take off in Lagos.

The party would also include strong representation from the federal government with three Ministers are expected at the event.

Organisers of FINTEX, the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), said the delegations from across various sectors of the economy with Ministers of Science and Technology, Communications and Finance, have confirmed participation.

NIG President, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, while disclosing this in Lagos, said the first-ever two-day financial internet exhibition and conferences, has selected notable resource persons to also speak at the event.

He said that apart from confirmed participation of three ministers, namely Prof. Turner Isoun for Science and Technology, Dr. (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Finance and Chief Cornelius Adebayo of Communications that 72 commissioners in key areas of the economy also would be at the event with theme: ‘Mainstreaming IT in Banking and Finance’.

Also, leading core professionals expected as guests of honour is the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Charles Soludo, with the likes of acting chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Abubakar Maikafi, and his counterpart at the House of Representatives, Alhaji Lawan Farouk.

For captains of industry due to grace FINTEX-05, according to Dr. Ekuwem, includes the chairman of MTN Nigeria, Sir Paschal Dozie, chairman of the Second National Operator (SNO) Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuagu Jnr and Otunba Otudeko of Vmobile.

Confirmed Director-Generals (DGs) include Dr. (Mrs) Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Prof. Cleopas Officer Angaye of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Alhaji Bello Lafiaji of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), as well as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest C.A. Ndukwe among others.

He also disclosed that estimated over 30 papers have been slated to be delivered at the two-day event. This, would be led by a keynote address by the Managing Director, Equity Bank Plc, Mr. Akin Ajayi, on “The Changing Financial Landscape”.

Others would be on Process Automation in the Financial Services Sector by the President of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and chief executive, Condata Systems Limited, Dr. Chris Nwannenna, the Net Impact Study - The Nigerian Financial Sector Experience would be led by the chief executive of eShekels Limited, Mr. Fola Odufuwa, while the chief executive of Oceanic Bank Plc, Dr. Mrs. Cecilia Ibru would take participants on the ICT Platform for Effective Bank Mergers as well as the District Manager of the American Power Conversion (APC) for West Africa, Mr. Charles Iyo, who would tackle the Modern IT Trends in Data Availability.

Immediate past president of NIG and Chief executive of Zenith International Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia is expected to declare the exhibition part open, even as the event slated to hold at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Center, Onikan Lagos, would examine the cyber security of critical ICT infrastructure within the financial sector.

NIG said its pioneering FINTEX as a leapfrogging platform to boost productivity in institutions within the financial sector using ICT as leverage factor to give relevant institutions a competitive advantage at home as they participate in the knowledge-based global economy.