Investing in digital infrastructure is one of the fastest ways to transform a country’s society and its economy, as the development of such infrastructure is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
So, while Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professionals continue to play their roles as light bearers, policy shapers and collaborators, the government has a greater responsibility to put proper policies and infrastructure in place for the future digital revolution to come.
The President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Professor Adesola Aderounmu made the remarks in his goodwill message the Computer Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN) IT Assembly 2019 held at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
He said that the IT sector has kept its trajectory of organic evolution and revolution going forward in Nigeria and the entire word because it is a unique industry where change, innovation and transformation are constant phenomena shaping the present and defining the future.
Prof. Aderounmu reminded the professionals that technology trend are relentlessly evolving at the speed of the future, such that they must all keep up with the trends or risk missing the train.
“So, it is instructive that the chosen theme for this year’s edition of CPN IT Assembly echoes the national mantra of the new government that has just been inaugurated at the Federal level.
“The new national government’s thematic slogan is Next Level in governance, while CPN’s chosen theme for this Assembly is Digital Infrastructure: Defining the Next Level. One quick inference from this thematic coincidence is that the IT industry practitioners in Nigeria must continue to be digital light bearers showing the right path to sustainable national development and secured future through ICT.
“Now, digital infrastructure is a reality that stands behind the digital transformation of economies and businesses today.
“It comprises of fundamental services that are imperative for the ICT capabilities of a nation like ours. In other words, digital infrastructure is necessary to the economy and quality of a modern nation.
“As we all might be already aware, examples of digital infrastructure transforming businesses and national economies today include internet backbone, fixed broadband, mobile telecommunications, communications satellite network infrastructure, data centres cloud computing, software platforms, operating systems, applications, APIs and integration, smartphones, tablets, laptops, and of course, the Internet of Things (IoTs).
“Believe it or not, everything in the technology space now relies on digital infrastructure.
“According to IT researchers, there are billions of connected mobile devices in the world today, along with over 3.5 billion mobile broadband subscription, one billion fixed broadband subscriptions and over give billion IoT devices, all to over one billion websites globally.
“These are all just the beginning of greater digital transformations to come. As time goes on, applications and content will keep driving higher volumes of data; mobile traffic will keep growing in leaps and bounds; networks and data centres will be getting more fully virtualized
“And while we are still celebrating 4G technology in Nigeria, 5G wireless technology is already fast approaching with the promise of incredible transformative impact never seen before.
“Of course, the Internet of Things (IoT), from connected devices to sensors, from wearable to autonomous cars, will also generate amazing amount of data that far surpass the current data volume we know now.
“Virtualization of data will keep accelerating the transition to the cloud computing. And above all, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will shape the next level of global digital transformation, which is being driven by the digital infrastructure phenomenon we talk about today. You will agree with me that all these enumerated digital disruptions will take us to the next level of global frontiers; the impacts on our lives, businesses and national development can either make Nigeria or mar her fortunes.
“Everything comes down to the availability and sustainability of robust digital infrastructure in our country to leverage the ever evolving digital transformations”.
“So, while we as ICT professionals continue to play our roles as light bearers, policy shapers, and collaborators, the government has a greater responsibility to put proper policies and infrastructure in place for the future digital revolution to come.
“In fact, one of the fastest ways to transform a country’s society and its economy is to invest in digital infrastructure, because the development of infrastructure is critical to achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The NCS President, therefore, recommended that policy-makers, industry players and other stakeholders must work together closer than ever to bridge digital gaps in the country’s IT development.
He further recommended that “Government must commit to actions that promote the long-term growth of the digital economy in Nigeria.
“Government should remove the barriers to the acquisition and expansion of digital infrastructure in our country
“Government has critical responsibility to modernise policies to encourage investment and innovation throughout the internet ecosystem.
“Above all, government should promote a sustainable environment in which the private sector investments can thrive”.