Reasons have began to emerge on why the Federal
Government through the Ministry of Communication Technology (CommTech) and International
Business Machines (IBM) recently collaborated on technology development to boost
Nigerian economy, reports ITRealms.
According to a joint press statement made available to ITRealms by Mrs. Efem Nkanga, the Special
Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola
Johnson, disclosed that the Ministry coordinated a Ministerial Roundtable with
IBM with a view to identifying technology adoption opportunities in the country
and promoting the exchange of ideas between key government officials and IBM’s
senior leadership team.
ITRealms gathered
that IBM had earlier identified what was described as ‘Grand Challenges’ of Africa
and Nigeria in the areas of water and sanitation, energy management, financial
services, transportation and public safety, healthcare and agriculture.
Also, ITRealms
gathered that the roundtable was aimed at initiating conversations between IBM
subject matter experts and a high level government team with the Ministries’
most affected by these ‘Grand Challenges’ represented by their Ministers or
Permanent Secretaries.
These include the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural
Development, Education, Finance, Federal Capital Territory, Health, Interior,
National Planning, Communication Technology and Science & Technology.
The discussions, however, centered on the various processes
necessary for facilitating the adoption of smart government solutions to
enhance the development of Nigeria in the area of healthcare delivery, government
to citizen engagement, transparency and accountability in government as well as
deploying ICTs for inclusive development.
Speaking at the occasion, CommTech Minister, Mrs. Omobola
Johnson said that technology is a key driver of economic and social development
that should be adopted to facilitate the development of key sectors of the
economy for the benefit of Nigerians.
The Ministry is committed to ensuring that ICT is leveraged
to enhance and facilitate the transformational development of Nigeria in
critical sectors of the economy such as Power, Health, Education, Agriculture,
Interior to enable inclusive development, job creation, transparency of
governance and economic growth,” he said.
For IBM’s chairperson and chief executive officer, Mrs. Virginia
M. Rometty, her firm has historic ties with Nigeria, and expressed support for
Nigeria’s technology development agenda being coordinated by the CommTech
Ministry. Stressing the company’s commitment to Nigeria’s scientific and
technology developmental goals.
Technology
innovation is a key ingredient for social and economic transformation, and
critical for crossing the innovation divide. I am encouraged to see the Ministry
of Communication Technology spearheading technology reforms in Nigeria,
encouraging investment in key building blocks of growth such as education and
skills, digital and physical infrastructure and scientific and technical
research,” she said, maintaining that IBM will partner with the government,
businesses, academia and innovators to aid the adoption of new technologies
which will tangibly support efforts to spur development in Nigeria.
Ms Rometty underscored IBM’s capacity to plug into the local
technology ecosystem, supporting e-commerce and e-government initiatives,
spurring the transfer and commercialization of new technologies from academia
to industry, and deploying IBM’s proven assets and research capabilities to
help resolve “some of Africa's most pressing challenges such as energy, water,
human mobility, agriculture, healthcare, financial inclusion and public
safety.
Remmy Nweke
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Pix: Mrs Johnson, Mrs Rometty and Mrs Ngozi Okonji-Iwella
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