Technology, biggest driver of change for African continent – Etisalat boss

Steven Evans, Etisalat CEO                       courtesy: Tonero photos

Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steve Evans, has described technology as the biggest driver of change for developing nations of the world, most in Africa.

Evans gave this description at the just-concluded Economist Conference sponsored by the network operator and held at the Expo Centre of Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, through a representative by the Director, Network Engineering, Mr. Temi Ogunbambi, on “Leveraging Technology to enable inclusive, private-sector led growth.”

Mr. Evans said that technology has been instrumental in Africa’s transformation over the past decade and could not be over-emphasised at this stage of development for the continent and developing world at large.

Most developing nations around the world, he said, have come to realize this fact, hence investment is encouraged in this sector.

He highlighted some of the obstacles to the growth of the telecoms sector, which include that tough regulatory and policy situations were faced on both federal and state levels, especially when applying for right of way or bringing in infrastructure.

“There needs to be some form of national integration. Etisalat Nigeria invests a significant sum in base stations. There needs to be public education and inclusion, to develop a sense of purpose and ownership so that subscribers become aware that if base stations are destroyed, the community will be deprived. Until the environment and policies are friendly, we cannot fully unleash the potential of investments,” he said.

ITRealms recalls that earlier, President Goodluck Jonathan in his keynote address tagged ‘Nigeria Summit 2013: Enabling and Implementing Change,’ said Africa is one of the world’s most rapidly growing economies.

He outlined an outlook for Nigeria in the next decade, saying that government’s commitment was to ensure a clean electoral process, economic inclusion, industrialize the country, especially through the oil and agricultural sectors for the purpose of job and wealth creation.

Remmy Nweke 
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