Expert to govt: Focus on ICT devt

Nigeria must explore information and communication technology in its drive for the diversification of the national economy, a chartered information technology professional, Olusola Fatiregun, has said.

Fatiregun spoke at the public presentation of his book, “A practical guide to software testing” held in Lagos. He said Nigeria needs to diversify from oil dependence to ICT, noting that countries without oil have used the sector to leverage their economies.

The author also noted that the country can tap into information technology to address the prevalent problem of youth unemployment. Fatiregun described ICT as the future, and called for massive investment in the sector by the Nigerian government. He said,

“A lot of countries that do not have oil resources have used ICT to leverage their economy. Example is Rwanda, after many years of war. Now Rwanda has highest number of youth millionaires through ICT in Africa. “So, this is to tell you that ICT is another very huge alternative source to oil.

Not only will oil dry up, knowledge never dries up, especially ICT is in a fast changing world. “In the United Kingdom, for example, they saw it that ICT was going to be the future. So, the country invested massively in ICT, paying for training for individuals;

I benefitted from one of the schemes of the UK. They actually paid for some of my certifications. “I know the (Nigerian) government is aware that ICT is the way forward. But I don’t know if they are scared to take the bold step or they are getting the wrong advice.”

Fatiregun, who stated that his new book, was a guide for anyone converting into ICT, lauded the proposed establishment of an ICT university by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. He, however, canvassed government- funded training courses for individuals in the sector.

“It’s a good thing to have an ICT university but that’s going to bring long-term, far-reaching benefits. You are not going to be realising the benefits in the next 10, 20 years. So, what’s going to be happening to our unemployed youths?

“We need the government to invest massively on short-term, skill-based training courses. Individuals can get on the courses and within a period of one month, they get certified and they are ready for work. This is what is happening in the developed world, I don’t see why we cannot replicate the same in Nigeria.”