The trio of Nokia, Microsoft and Dalberg recently hosted Innovation for Vision 20:2020 Forum to boost Nigeria’s economy and to stimulate discussion about the role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT’s) and innovation in catalyzing development last December in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), especially in agriculture and job creation.
DigitalSENSE
Business News gathered that phone manufacturer, Nokia, in partnership with leading software
maker, Microsoft and Dalberg Global
Development Advisors organized a full day forum to discuss ways the ICT sector
could impact agriculture, job creation and the power sector in achieving
Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020 goals.
The forum
reportedly stimulated discussion around how information and communication
technologies and local innovations could be used for improving the performance
of the agriculture, entrepreneurial and energy sectors and what barriers exist
for unleashing creativity both within public and private domains for making
these solutions a reality.
Speaking,
the Microsoft’s General Manager for Nigeria Emmanuel Onyeje said “it is
important to build our understanding and knowledge about the power of ICT’s,
but only action will allow us to reach our dreams. We need to move from
policies to actionable programs that benefit the people.”
Also speaking,
Mr. Robin Miller, Manager and ICT subject expert for Dalberg explained that the
primary criterion for choosing the agricultural, entrepreneurship and the power
sectors is due to their unique ability to drive inclusive and sustainable
growth.
‘’Nigeria
is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa with potential for global
competitiveness. As such, we must look beyond the traditional solutions and recognize
ICT innovation as a cornerstone of the country’s development,” she said.
The
forum highlighted the current global thinking about the role of technology and
innovation in driving national competitiveness, economic growth and social
development. The forum brought together policy makers, local innovators,
academics and private sector to join forces in developing the Nigerian
innovation society and to build bridges between sectors. The discussions
highlighted the importance of collaboration and demonstrated in practice how
each stakeholder group has a role to play in reaching national development
objectives.
The
forum finished with the participants themselves presenting their solutions and
recommendations for way forward. Excited Nokia’s Vice President for Corporate
Relations Jussi Hinkkanen, noted that with the results of the day “Reaching of
Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020 objectives will require collaboration and alignment
across stakeholders.
Private
sector, Hinkkanen said, is ready to contribute to this process as we have seen
today. The identified solutions showed maturity and now we need to action on
them”.
The
occasion was graced by the Honourable Minister of Communication and Technology,
Mrs. Omobala Johnson under whose patronage the event was organized.
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