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CPN calls for more investments in IT

By on June 12, 2015

The Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to invest more in information technology (IT), in order to drive socio-economic development in Nigeria.

CPN Registrar, Sikiru Shehu, made the disclosure at a press conference in Lagos, to announce the activities of the ongoing 2015 CPN organised IT Professionals Assembly in Calabar, Cross State.

The 2015 IT Professionals Assembly, which opened yesterday, will come to close today, with the theme, “Developments in Information Technology in Nigeria: The Gains, Challenges and Way Forward”.

Shehu called on the federal government to increase its funding to CPN to enable it implement its activities and also implement the resolutions that will come out from the 2015 IT Assembly that is holding at the Transcorp Hotel in Calabar.

According to the Registrar, with proper deployment and funding of IT, issues around corruption and some of the social vices affecting Nigeria, would  be reduced to the barest minimum.

“Government must pay priority attention to IT for digital economy. IT should be part of agenda of the present administration. There is need for more support and investment in IT”, he said.

Speaking on the rationale behind this year’s assembly, Shehu said there is need for CPN to critically examine the effects of the incursion of Information Technology into the various sectors of the country’s economic developmental processes.

“There is no doubt that Information Technology has continued to be a veritable tool for sustainable socio-economic development of any nation. The growth of Information Technology, since its advent, has been astronomical, and it has impacted humanity in many ways that cannot be imagined. It is in view of the foregoing that there is need for a clinical appraisal of the impact and effects of IT on the various aspects of our national life,” he said.

Cordinator, IT Assembling Organizing Committee of CPN, Mr. Idowu Olusile, said Nigeria could only develop and catch up with the rest of the developed economies of the world if IT is given priority attention.

“I want to see IT in governance. CPN is willing to work with the government in this regard. Social vices will be solved if IT is properly deployed. Government should patronise made in Nigeria IT products and services. Government should encourage the patronage of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the country, as part of its local content policy. This is only way to develop local capacities”, Olusile said.

Throwing more light on the IT Assembly, Shehu disclosed that the forum will be an exclusive networking event for senior and up-coming Information Technology decision makers, consultants, entrepreneurs, practitioners, teachers, students, systems administrators and other interested members of the public.

“This year’s assembly is issue-based and topic-focused. There will be no parallel sessions this year. This is to enable all attendees participate fully in all the plenary sessions. During the various plenary sessions, we have decided to critically assess developments in the IT Industry in the country with a view to identifying the gains, challenges and how to chart the way forward,” Shehu said.

“We believe that it is time Nigeria reflects on the developments in the IT industry to ensure that the vast resources and enormous potentials available in the industry, are used to address national challenges”, Shehu added.

 

[ThisDay]