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Tag: Innovation

  • Minister Bosun Tijani unveils ambitious plan to drive innovation, digital growth

    Minister Bosun Tijani unveils ambitious plan to drive innovation, digital growth

    In order to propel Nigeria towards a sustainable digital future, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has unveiled its comprehensive five-year strategic plan.

    The plan which is anchored on five fundamental pillars, sets ambitious goals, aiming to transform Nigeria into a technology-driven economy.

    Tijani, emphasised the ministry’s dedication to openness and co-creation, highlighting the collaborative effort that went into crafting the blueprint.

    “This blueprint has been carefully crafted based on extensive engagement with stakeholders from our ministry, ecosystem stakeholders, and my immediate team.

    “It is designed as a living document outlining our high-level focus areas as we firm up plans to operationalise the goals shared in the document,” stated Minister Tijani.

    The blueprint identifies five core pillars that will steer the transformative journey – Knowledge, Policy, Infrastructure, Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Capital and Trade.

    Minister Tijani noted the importance of data in the digital world, stressing its critical role in economic transformation and value creation.

    He outlined plans to drive the review and implementation of the Nigeria Open Data Policy, ensuring free public access to non-sensitive public-sector data to foster innovation, improve citizen engagement, and unlock economic value.

    Part of the key objectives of the Ministry is to elevate digital literacy rate among youths and adults to at least 70 per cent and the increase capital raised by Nigerian tech startups from approximately $1 billion in 2022 to $5 billion per year by 2027.

    An increased digital literacy rate will empower individuals to participate more effectively in the digital economy, create employment, bridge the digital divide and foster a tech-savvy populace.

    The plan also strives for a 90 per cent increase in broadband penetration and aims to achieve 75 per cent of the fiber optic cable target set by the National Broadband Plan.

    Additionally, the goal of achieving a 50 per cent utilization rate of innovation spaces across the country will encourage innovation hubs, foster a collaborative ecosystem and stimulate creativity and technological advancements.

    The Ministry also aims to modernize 50 per cent of NIPOST locations to improve and grow e-commerce and logistics sectors.

    The Minister expressed confidence in the journey ahead, stating, “I am confident about our next steps as we activate this blueprint and deliver on our plans in line with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, for the good of all.”

     

     

  • UBA Conversations 2023: Innovation, Women Empowerment Critical for Africa’s Growth

    UBA Conversations 2023: Innovation, Women Empowerment Critical for Africa’s Growth

    Collaboration is essential for Africa to unlock its potential, bridge the gap between challenges and opportunities, and empower women at the forefront of development.

    This was emphasized at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Conversations 2023, held on May 23rd, 2023, in Lagos, Nigeria, under the theme “Innovating the Continent for Growth.”

    Chairperson of UBA Tony Elumelu, in his brief remarks, appreciated the women who had contributed to building the Bank and highlighted perseverance as a vital trait for business success.

    Earlier in his opening remarks, the Group Managing Director of the bank Oliver Alawuba, noted that the event’s theme aligns with the goals of the United Nations and the African Union, focusing on innovation, technology, and creating opportunities across the continent.

    Alawuba stated, “In UBA, we will continue to develop products that address the challenges faced by African women in their businesses and workplaces.”

    He proudly mentioned that UBA boasts the highest number of female directors, who make up over 50 per cent of the board, including three executive directors.

    The conversation featured a panel of accomplished women from diverse sectors who are breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes in Africa.

    The first female Executive Director of UBA Abiola Bawuah, shared her journey and how her appointment opened doors for more women to be appointed as Chief Executive Officers.

    She highlighted the importance of innovation, stating, “What has happened in UBA for me is a complete innovation of ideas, changing the status quo, telling the girl child ‘you can make it.’”

    Similarly, a Business and Tech Executive Foluso Gbadamosi, emphasized that innovation serves as a catalyst for positive change and transformation in Africa.

    She expressed the need for intentional efforts to bring about positive change, particularly for the continent’s significant youth population.

    President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc Owen Omogiafo, emphasized that innovation is essential for survival and presents opportunities for growth.

    Despite the challenges faced during the 2020 pandemic, she shared how the Transcorp hospitality business experienced significant double-digit growth.

    Omogiafo stressed the importance of adapting to the digital world and continuously modifying products, services, and contact points to engage customers.

    On her part, multi-talented Foodprenuer and Guinness World Record holder for marathon cooking Hilda Bassey, emphasized the need for businesses to find innovative ways to meet customers’ needs.

    She highlighted the undervaluation of the food sector in Nigeria and emphasized the importance of understanding its potential.

    “I feel like food is also oil in Nigeria, it’s just that we haven’t realised it and we just don’t understand it yet,” she said.

    Likewise, Creative Director of a fashion brand Bake Kuku-Lawson, shared her experience of starting her business during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    She highlighted the necessity of innovation to thrive and survive in the ever-changing business landscape.

    “We had to get a website and we had to start selling online. You just have to keep moving with life. So, you’re always, always innovating,” Kuku-Lawson said.

    The event which was the 5th edition of the annual UBA Conversations, served as a platform to recognize and empower women in driving innovation and shaping the future of Africa.

    The panelists’ diverse experiences and perspectives underscored the importance of collaboration, perseverance, and adaptability to foster growth and development on the continent.

  • Federal Ministry of Science and Technology adopts new name

    The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology on Friday has changed its name now to Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, FMSTI, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu in his speech to declare its new name.

    According to Onu, in 2017, the Federal Executive Council, under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, approved the National Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap (NSTIR 2017 2030).

    “This was to use Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to catalyse Nigeria’s Economic Growth and Competitiveness. This document laid out a core policy for driving positive socio-economic outcomes through

    “Science, Technology and Innovation initiatives in all activity sectors of the economy. This has necessitated the Ministry’s change of name from the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI) which has now been approved by Mr. President.

    “This new development will require the Ministry to drive the Innovation Agenda The FMSTI will embark on a branding campaign, in line with its expected mandate and its role in ensuring that there is improvement in productivity, economic growth and societal development through Science, Technology and Innovation.

    “This change of name will help us to meet the needs of other sectors of the Nigerian economy and all stakeholders, by supporting the generation and application of knowledge and innovation to solve socio-economic challenges, as well as providing a policy and funding environment that will establish the National System of Innovation (NSI). As an enabler of government, society and industry through policy, the FMSTI will also focus on ensuring the provision of STI-based solutions to overcome international, national and societal challenges.

    “This approval of the change of name will be gazetted to enable legal and policy frameworks as back-up for institutional and organisational arrangements, effective coordination of the NSI, development of appropriate work programmes and job descriptions. This development will help us bring about a shift in Research and Development (R&D) that is industry and services’ demand-driven, resulting in rapid commercialization and ultimately improved global competitiveness ranking of Nigeria.

    “We all know that there has been a missing link with the statutory responsibility of the Ministry. This decision by the President will ensure that the missing link will be adequately addressed. mitially, Science and Technology (S&T) remained our domain. However, only S&T cannot move the nation to its desired global competitiveness level. Hence, ST&I will spark off a demand-driven knowledge-based economy, characterized by industry and services R&D programmes, projects and activities within the STI Ecosystem.

    He explained that “when we succeed in achieving this, it will lead us to R&D breakthroughs and inventions that are commercializable. With the right policy and legal framework to protect intellectual property right, we can effectively promote commercialization in all activity sectors in the value chain for supply of raw materials, goods and services.

    ” Immediately we are able to commercialize R&D breakthroughs in Nigeria, the nation’s global competitiveness ranking will improve tremendously with varying degrees of development that are sustainable. Some of these will include:

    “The STI Ecosystem will be robust enough to accommodate continuous system improvement, product quality enhancement and guaranteed standardisation of Made-In-Nigeria goods and services; Nigeria will experience irreversible indigenous industrialization; There will be adequate platform for higher productivity.

  • Osinbajo wants judiciary to embrace technology, innovation

    Osinbajo wants judiciary to embrace technology, innovation

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the Nigerian judiciary must embrace technology and innovation for efficient service delivery.

    Osinbajo said technology was imperative for the evolution of the profession and national development.

    The vice president disclosed this in a statement by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, on Monday in Abuja.

    He said when he delivered a pre-recorded speech as guest speaker at the 2021 Annual Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch.

    The theme of event is, “Disruption, Innovation and The Bar.”

    Osinbajo said that technology and innovation would ensure that the country’s justice delivery mechanism was run on a system of enforceable, discernible laws and efficient institutions.

    The vice president said that the country’s justice delivery system could support critical investments in the current dynamic economy.

    “Questions also need be asked about the readiness of our profession to engage in new markets as presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCTA).

    ” Already Nigerian Banks and financial services are crossing borders in Africa, acquiring banks in several African countries.

    “So, the AfCTA will open new trans-border commercial opportunities, and our profession should pay attention to the rules of engagement for legal services and how they may propel our business.”

    According to the vice president, innovation in Nigeria’s legal profession requires urgency to fit into the world which thrives on knowledge economy and jobs are threatened by digitisation and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

    He cited the example of how continuous improvement in the quality of smartphone cameras disrupted global sales of digital camera.

    “AI is commonly used to perform tasks such as legal research and due diligence, document and contract review, and the prediction of legal outcomes – these are tasks that would have been performed by lawyers.

    “With the continuing progress in technology, it is only a matter of time before the time capsule catches up with us in Nigeria.”

    He called for continuous improvement in the institutional capacity of judges, court registries, court staff, and court infrastructure.

    Osinbajo said that as digitalisation had already disrupted other industries, it was possible to predict that AI would go further and disrupt the business model of the legal industry.

    “For example, the AI legal service called ROSS is an AI system that can research and offer legal opinions about questions that may be posed by lawyers.

    “And ROSS is then able to provide an answer; a properly considered legal opinion, taking into account the case laws and statutory authority in order to be able to come to that conclusion.

    “So, providing predictive legal opinion is no longer the exclusive domain of lawyers, and as the years go by, it will become even more so.

    “We are part of the global marketplace for investment and legal services.

    “So, the extent to which we can attract business to our country depends in part upon investor perception of the quality of our justice delivery system; If we are seen as inefficient and ineffective, we would lose out to more efficient systems.”

    On the issue of delay in the country’s justice delivery process, Osinbajo said that the country’s judiciary ought to find ways to tackle jurisdictional challenges, particularly delays in court judgments, among others.

    “I argued an appeal at the Court of Appeal in 2013, only to learn yesterday as I discussed with former colleagues in the law firm where I worked, that the appeal at the Supreme Court is not even listed to be heard in 2021.

    “As someone said; our problem is not access to justice, it is exiting the justice system with some credible result.

    “Should we not be evolving a cost award system that recognizes the court as a finite public resource, and as such delays and other dilatory tactics are visited with deterrent costs?”

    The vice president said that the Law week, as well as future engagements, provided an opportunity for some reflections by legal practitioners.

    He suggested a hybrid approach to legal education in the country and urged the association to consider how innovation in technology would impact on legal education in the future.

    “Even mock trials can be more effectively done online and courtroom processes can be put on videos and re-watched several times by students. Of course, we may still retain court and chamber attachments,” he said.

  • How COVID-19 accelerated innovation, digital transformation in Nigeria – NITDA

    How COVID-19 accelerated innovation, digital transformation in Nigeria – NITDA

    The Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi has revealed that COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformation journey faster, more dramatic and disruptive, giving opportunities for more convenient online presence with less disturbance, Digital innovation and Internet Economy for drive to Digital Economy”.

    Abdullahi said this while making his presentation at the 8th Annual Instalment of the International Data Corporation (IDC) West Africa CIO Summit 2021 with the Theme: “Innovation Strategies Evolving on the demand of New Realities is Exciting”.

    He stated that Economy Africa reports 2020 revealed that by 2025, the value of Internet Economy in Africa will reach $180b, accounting for about 5.2% of the Continent’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and by 2050 its projection is estimated to be $712b, about 8.5% of the Continent’s GDP.

    “Innovation drives growth in the internet economy, process of taking ideas from inception to impact inspired three digital capabilities; firstly, Ubiquitous Data which is used to make decision and have Information at your disposal anytime. Secondly, Unlimited Connectivity particularly Internet of Things (IoT) which ease connectivity and learning things easily. Lastly, Massive Computing Processing Power which has no limit to what can be processed. These Capabilities are the source of inspiration that ignites innovation and create demand in the digital era.

    “The Global advancement and digital technologies are making the world a better place. We are inspired to deliver rapid business innovations and new customer value prepositions. African Start-ups coming up with unique business models, Digital Transformation platforms and services that creates incredible value with a significant impact on human lives and the economy which indicates that Africa will not miss the Fourth Industrial Revolution unlike the first, Second and Third industrial era where we lost out in creating and capturing values across the globe,” he noted.

    He added that in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, has laid foundation for a Digital Nigeria by expanding the Mandate of Ministry Communications to cover Digital Economy, which the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has a larger focus vision of digitalizing the country.

    “In 2019, the Ministry formulated a National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a digital Nigeria, serves as laid down foundation to create and capture value from innovation in the digital Economy.”

    “The Implementation of the strategies within 2years, has significantly impacted the economy with the digital sector being the fastest growing sector which bailout the country out of COVID-19 induces session. Nigerian National Digital Economy Policy and Strategies primary implementer crafted the Strategic Roadmap and Action plan SERAP 2021-2024 with the objectives: Articulating new strategies for the Nigerian Ecosystem in accordance with the current aspirations of the Government the new realities of today and the future demands, this was built on seven (7) strategic pillars namely: Developmental Regulation, Digital Literacy and Digital skills, Digital Transformation, Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Cybersecurity, and Emerging Technologies, he identified,” he explained.

    He averred that part of the NDEPS is to develop and innovate solutions using emerging technologies like: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Blockchain and IoT among others to provide quality life, education, poverty eradication, health and wellbeing. According to him, CB Insights 2021 reported that there are total of six unicorn companies in Africa which 3 are from Nigeria namely: Flutterwave, Interswitch and Jumia respectively.

    Abdullahi encouraged Chief Information Officers from organizations and Corporate Nations to focus more on initiating digital innovation strategies considering global digital trends and new realities.

    “Every organization or country is unique and has its peculiarities but the digital strategies will provide a map for your journey. Our dream in Africa is to be digitally self reliant and become a digital hub for digital services exportation, a critical driver for digital transformation and a frontier for vibrant and highly competitive digital Economy. Our youthful population, location and time zone are our competitive age, and we the CIO’s are the drivers of our dreams in our respective organizations and countries, being proactive and responding to opportunities offered by technological innovations,” he concluded.

  • Ecobank Group wins the Award for Innovation in Financial Services from African Banker

    Ecobank Group wins the Award for Innovation in Financial Services from African Banker

    The leading pan-African banking group, Ecobank, is delighted to announce that it has won the Award for Innovation in Financial Services at the 2020 edition of the prestigious African Banker magazine Awards. The Awards, which reward banking excellence in Africa, were announced at a virtual ceremony held on 26th August.

    The African Banker’s judging process sought to recognise the African banks that have demonstrated original and practical uses of technology to provide customer convenience, improved and more affordable services and greater access to the financial services sector in Africa.

    Ade Ayeyemi, Group Chief Executive Officer said: “Winning the Award for Innovation in Financial Services from the African Banker magazine is such an honour. It provides public recognition of our pioneering role in harnessing technology to complement our pan-African presence and partnerships, to deliver accessible, convenient, affordable and innovative banking products which are making a difference to millions of lives and businesses across sub-Saharan Africa. Five years ago, we commenced a digital transformation journey to transform our banking products and services. This award attests to the success of that journey and we are delighted that our significant investment in technology is yielding the desired results.”

    “Our one bank model, powered by our robust pan-African banking digital platform provides diverse products and services to governments and corporate clients using our digital platforms including Ecobank Omni Plus amongst others, Ecobank Omni Lite for our SMEs and commercial bank clients as well as our Ecobank Mobile App and Ecobank Online for our consumer clients. These are in addition to the highly effective cash management, transaction banking solutions and our cross-border Rapidtransfer remittance solution – a few of the headline-grabbing innovations that we have delivered to meet and exceed the evolving needs and expectations of our customers. I applaud all my Ecobank colleagues for their continued commitment and dedication to serving our customers especially during these challenging COVID-19 times.”

    Other African banking awards won by Ecobank so far in 2020 include amongst others, Most Innovative Bank in Africa, Best Bank for Payments& Collections, Best Integrated Corporate Banking Site in Africa (Global Finance) and the Best Bank for Corporate Responsibility (Euromoney Awards for Excellence).

  • FG moves to fund indigenous inventions

    FG moves to fund indigenous inventions

    President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to take full inventory of all indigenous inventions and innovations for possible financial assistance.

    Maryam Zakari, Press Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology made the disclosure in astatement issued on Thursday in Abuja.

    The statement said Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, Minister of State for Science and Technology, disclosed this when he received a young Nigerian Inventor, Mr. Usman Dalhatu, in his office on Thursday, in Abuja.

    According to the statement, the president is also the Chairman of the Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovation (PSCII).

    ”President Buhari had also directed the Committee to identify credible research products with potentials to impact all areas of national life.

    “Usman Dalhatu came to display to the Minister his inventions- medical ventilators and sweeping machine,’’ the statement read.

    Abdullahi assured the young innovator of the support of the ministry and directed the agencies to broker a partnership with the young inventor so as to make his products globally competitive for exportation.

    Speaking earlier, Mr. Usman Dalatu, said his inventions were environmentally friendly, cost- effective, elastic and could be powered by solar energy.

    “ The ventilators can also be used in ambulances, armoured tanks,’’ he said.

    Dalatu had called on the Federal Government to assist in patronizing and promoting his products.

    He said the products had gone through clinical trials for one week in Gombe, he added.

  • NITDA calls for contributions to ICT innovation, entrepreneurship vision

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called for contributions from Information Technology (IT) stakeholders to develop a document on Nigeria Information Communication Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Vision (NIIEV).

    Mrs Hadiza Umar, the Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations of NITDA, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Umar said that NIIEV, launched in 2017, was in line with the development of the agency’s policies and strategies to reposition the country from being a tech-consuming to a tech-producing nation.

    The external relations head added that “to unlock our national potential, NITDA proposes a number of urgent measures to connect, educate and enable digital innovation, hence the birth of NIIEV.

    “NIIEV comprises policy recommendations and incentives on key components for building a tech ecosystem.

    “In an effort to enrich the NIIEV document in line with NITDA’s policy of participatory regulation, industry stakeholders and the public are invited to review the document.

    “The agency is working with entrepreneurs, IT hubs and hub networks to review the best practices across Africa and around the world to support digital transformation in Nigeria.”

    According to Umar, NIIEV is focusing on digital infrastructure, education reform, skills development, research and development, as well as supporting the ecosystem for innovative entrepreneurship.

    She, therefore, urged stakeholders could make their inputs through the consultation tool at https://niiev.ictinnovation.gov.ng via www.nitda.gov.ng and click important notice via facebookchatbot at http://m.me/ngrinnovation.

    According to the NITDA spokesperson, interested stakeholders could send emails to info@ictinnovation.gov.ng, while the opportunity for submissions will be open from Nov. 13 to Nov. 27.

    Umar recalled that NITDA in 2017 hosted the maiden edition of the ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship stakeholders meeting, adding that it was result-oriented.

     

  • How to grow Science, Technology, Innovation in Nigeria

    The Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) on Saturday said that channelling funds towards education and manpower development would aid Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) growth in the country.

    The President of NAS, Prof. Mosto Onuoha, made this assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    According to him, there is the need for Nigeria to begin implementation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommendation of 26 per cent of national budget to education.

    “Presently, Nigeria has only allocated 7.04 per cent to education, and this falls short of UNESCO’s recommendation.

    “If the country is not devoting enough finance to education and manpower, it will not help the country to achieve much with STI.

    “We need to also have resources allocated to research and ensure that the teaching profession is taken seriously so that the country can compete favourably with other countries,’’ he said.

    Onuoha urged the Federal Government to look into the state of public schools in the country, as their environment, facilities, and remuneration for teachers which do not come as and when due, needed to be given attention.

    He also called for proper and continuous training of teachers so that they would be abreast of what obtains in the educational system.

    “The incident that happened in Kaduna State where the government tested the teachers and found them lacking in skills and expertise is not a good experience.

    “Owing teachers backlog of salaries also does not augur well due to the fact that it can bring down the morale and zeal to teach,’’ he said.

    The NAS president said that the benefits of pushing STI forward could help the country in solving problems, as there was no problem that did not have a science base to solving them.

    He said that STI was required in many fields, like in health, where it could help people to be conscious of personal hygiene which would help reduce the constant outbreak of diseases.

    “The issue of Lassa fever that was reported to have killed hundreds of people; if people observed good hygiene, it would have reduced the impact.

    “We need to teach our people, raise the awareness for a clean environment for people from primary to secondary schools.

     

  • Q/A: FG mulls new national technology council

    Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said plans are underway by the federal government to set up a national technology and innovation council to cater for technological advancement in the country.

    Vice President Osinbajo stated this in an interview with journalists at Co-Creation Hub during his visit to ICT/Innovation hubs/companies in Lagos on Tuesday.

    “One of the things we are trying to do is to set up a council of sorts. Already, we have an industrial and competitiveness council. We want to look at doing one for technology and for innovation as well,” he said.

    Osinbajo said technology will massively dictate the future of the country, while also stressing that the future is here already.

    “There is so much going on, so many young people, and so many creative ideas. It’s just incredible. And that tells you what the future is going to look like. Already, as we always say, the future is here.

    “I have seen for myself the sheer creativity. Practically every type of enterprise has been disrupted by the technologies that we see. And a lot of the payment systems that we have been seeing, a lot of the technology companies that we see are doing incredible things.

    “A lot of the technologies and innovators we’ve seen got the attention and to where they are by being innovative and being creative. So, the only way to keep ahead of the curve, the way to keep ahead of anyone else is by increasingly innovative and by finding newer ways of doing things better.

    “My advice is that the only way to keep ahead is by ensuring that you are ahead in terms of innovations and technology,” the Vice President stated.

    Question: What’s your impression of the seven Technology & Innovation hubs you visited?

    Vice President: It has been an exciting day. We’ve been, as you said, to a number of technology enterprises and hubs. We’ve been to Paystack, Andela, Flutterwave, Workstation, FarmCrowdy, African Fintech Foundry, and here we are at Co-Creation Hub.

    What strikes one immediately is the sheer amount of innovation that is available and is going on. And I must confess that it is unbelievable that so much is going on.

    I have been talking for a few months now about some of the businesses and the hubs that I visited today. I had a chance to chat and talk about various things. What strikes you is that there is so much going on, so many young people; so many creative ideas. It’s just incredible. And that tells you what the future is going to look like. Already, as we always say, the future is here. I have seen for myself the sheer creativity. Practically every type of enterprise has been disrupted by the technologies that we see. And a lot of the payment systems that we have been seeing, a lot of the technology companies that we see are doing incredible things.

    Question: How can the Federal Government harness these tech talents?

    Vice President: As you know, I chair the Economic Management Team of the Federal Government. I’m also chair of the National Economic Council. Technology is obviously the future; the future of our economy, the future of commerce and the future of industry. We recognize this in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and that’s one the reasons why I am here in the company of the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, the DG of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and, of course, the Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, and Commerce. We recognize that this is the way commerce is going to develop and that is why we are taking, first of all, such an active interest in their personal engagement.

    We are also trying to see how we can collaborate, how we can partner with all of these enterprises and, in some cases, with membership organizations they have in order to be able to create the kind of environment that makes it possible for this to happen seamlessly and in a way that we actually can have a multiplication or replication of all we are seeing today.

    So, we are collaborating already with a number of hubs and also with some that we are starting. For example, we are doing some work in partnership with Civic Hub in Abuja. We are doing some with the Humanitarian Hub in the North East, where we are focusing on the humanitarian challenges in the North East of Nigeria, and creating technology and innovation that could be helpful in solving some of their problems. We also have a Climate Change Hub in collaboration with the Lagos Business School. And, of course, we intend to collaborate and partner with Co-Creation Hub and several other hubs.

    The point is that we are anxious not to get in the way. Government can sometimes get in the way of enterprise. What we really need to do is to partner and to work hand in hand with them so that we help in whatever way, in whatever difficulty that they have. In some case, it might be credit; in some others, it may just be in creating and ensuring the right policy.

    So, one of the things that we are trying to do is to set up a council of sorts. Already, we have an industrial and competitiveness council. We want to look at doing one for technology and for innovation as well so that we bring in some of the key players and thinkers around technology working with government and government officials to develop policy and various ways we can help them to do what they are doing better.

    Question: Advice to existing and potential tech developers in the country?

    Vice President: I’m going to borrow from the wise Minister of Science and Technology, who, earlier in the day in our discussion, said something. It is that a lot of those who are doing these enterprises, a lot of the technologies and innovators we’ve seen got the attention and got to where they are by being increasingly innovative and creative.

    So, the only way to keep ahead of the curve, the way to keep ahead of anyone else is by increasingly innovative and by finding newer ways of doing things better. My advice is that the only way to keep ahead is by ensuring that you are ahead in terms of innovations and technology. From what I’ve seen here today, it is obvious that these guys do not have any plans to rest on their oars, as they say. They certainly intend to keep ahead. I’m excited to say that the advice they need is the advice they’ve already taken. I hope that when we come back to see them, what we see here would be much more advanced than what we are seeing here today.