'ICT will be major driver of economy this year'

• Published date: 08 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Olamide Ogunlola is the Executive Director Operations at Costech Computers, a first-rate ICT firm implementing digital designs, construction solutions, infrastructure, manufacturing and project management spaces as a gold partner for Autodesk in Nigeria. In this interview with Evelyn Osagie, he shares interesting insights on how ICT will farethis year. Excerpts:

What in your view is the estimated revenue we can generate from ICT in 2023 and beyond?

ICT will be a major driver of the economy in the New Year: revenue depends on infrastructure, the better the infrastructure, the greater the revenue. To ensure profitable returns, there is an urgent need to install uninterrupted power supply, or tapping from solar power. This will ensure that the smart digital sensors for security work well. Without proper security, the crime rate will increase where laptops and computers are stolen Revenue also depends on the sector of the economy e.g. the ports and airports need advanced digital technology for efficiency and greater revenue

How much can we generate revenue from ICT to help boost our GDP?

Three components are required to enable ICT generate revenue to boost our GDP. These includes first of all creating smart digital systems framework for greater efficiency; developing innovative strategies for synergy in connecting professionals and finally, building sustainable structures that leverage the internet of things and protect the environment. With these said ICT can be our major source of revenue generation for our economy in billions of dollars.

The knowledge of Building Information Modeling among professionals in the building and construction industry is still at a very low level. Universities and lecturers should be provided with adequate manpower to drive technology required for sustainable infrastructure. Parents also have a crucial role to play, in ensuring early exposure of their children to ICT knowledge early enough, by encouraging their wards in participating in training, ICT workshops or internship programmes. For now, the required manpower is not adequate. ICT in banks only benefits a few people although more entrepreneurs have emerged. That is why the poverty and unemployment rate is reducing daily in that sector. While ICT in construction and agriculture industries are still the lowest adoptors. If we are not strategic concerning ICT, it will actually take jobs away from people. ICT has the tendency to make the rich richer and the poor poorer if the...