By Michael Adesanya/Abeokuta
Experts in the Nigerian technology sector have tasked the Federal government to invest more in Information Communication Technology innovations and advancements.
The experts, who spoke on Thursday at the first edition of Tech Summit in Abeokuta, lamented that the country has only been consuming other countries’ technology and failed to participate in inventions.
They said the next modern slavery would be technology if the country failed to improve in its technology innovations and advancements.
The Summit, with the theme: ” Disruptive Innovation: Where are we?” had in attendance the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; his wife, Mrs. Olusfunso Amosun; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Suraj Ishola Adekunbi and State Executive Council members.
The experts include Co-founder, Co – Creation Hub, Mr. Bosun Tijani; Country Director of Andela, Seni Sulyman; Group Managing Director of Chams Group, Femi Williams; State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota among others.
Tijani said Nigeria would continue to chase other countries in technology advancements if it fails to invest in it.
“If we fail as a country to invest in technology innovations and advancement, the next level of slavery is going to come from technology,” he said.
Tijani advised the government to focus on agriculture technology in its economy diversification to agriculture, saying it would help in no small measure.
To him, this would assist in monitoring the value chain in order to avoid wastage.
Williams explained that if government can invest more in technology and create enabling environment for the industry to thrive, it would help in area of employment generation.
Amosun, while declaring the summit open, said Nigeria’s system must be technology driven, saying the world is changing to technology driven.
He noted that any country who failed to wake up to technology innovations and advancements would be consumed.
He said his administration would earmark $1 million seed fund for technological incubation that would berth in the state.
He disclosed that the state would continue to support and encourage the four Information Technology Communication, Polytechnics in the State in order to produce technology experts.
The Team Leader of the Tech Summit, Ayoola Olaniyi said the summit was designed to open the state to the world “when talking of technology”.
Olaniyi, a Special Assistant to Amosun, said a technological challenge would be organised from the summit where participants are expected to come up with ideas.
The best 10 ideas would have seed fund ranging from $10,000, brand management and mentoring to developing the idea.
“TechSummit was conceived hoping to start a conversation around developing a viable and sustainable technological system in Ogun State putting into consideration the proximity of Ogun to Lagos and also highest number of higher institution in Nigeria, 21 in number giving us the pool of talents we are looking for.
“Today, it has shown that Ogun State is ready for disruptive technology with the number of people we are having here.
“There’s going to be TechChallenge 2018, which is competitive show and tell competition where we call for ideas among tertiary institutions and we select the best 10 ideas for a show and tell, develop the idea into a workable prototype.”