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Nigeria has lost about $2.5 billion dollars in the last 45 years due to poor implementation of several failed national identity projects says Chairman of Chams Plc, Sir Demola Aladekomo. He spoke at a recent forum organized by the University of Lagos MBA 83-84 class.
Speaking on the topic titled Socio-Economic Benefits of Shifting Paradigms, Aladekomo painted even a grimmer picture, “we may even waste another borrowed $400 million by end of 2021 with the non-clarity in the management of various ID projects in the country.”
With about 210 million Nigerians yet to be identified fully, he foresees increase chaos, anarchy, militancy, banditry, kidnapping, nepotism, secession calls, corruption and blatant stealing. “This will further be exacerbated in 2050 when our population is estimated to be about 400 million if not gotten right at this stage.” Aladekomo said.
For him, just because we do not know and cannot manage our people without proper Identity Management, we will be faced continuously with challenging socio-economic imperatives especially in our education, health sector, infrastructure development, security, rule of law and so on. This he said were gravely exposed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aladekomo then calls for paradigm shift in three areas: prioritizing data and technology, multi-agency approach, and private sector involvement.
Speaking, “Technologies have changed the landscape, digital economy is the new play, we need databases at national, state, agencies and sectoral levels. These data need to be domicile in Nigeria while local technologies should be encouraged.”
In addition, “Our private sector should be deliberately promoted to be involved in the execution of our national identity projects because with them there will be cost effective delivery, speed of execution, and attraction of funding/investment. Moreover, many them have the right and most suited technology for our peculiar environment.” Aladekomo added.
In his contribution, Felix Adejimi, a software developer, says data is the fuel of modern economy. Digital transformation is the driver. As a nation, we need to take it seriously. Moreover, Nigerian government will do better if they just focus more on providing enabling and secure environment for private companies. While Tunde Omitogun, Managing Director of HISPLUS, encourages us as a nation to act fast and implement some of the points highlighted. If not, we will create a criminal nation or a nation of evil doers, that is, if we have not created that already.
The event which is the first of a planned series for the group was moderated by Prof. Lere Baale, Chief Executive of Business School Netherlands (BSN) in Nigeria. The programme was attended by the former Executive Director of First Bank plc, Kehinde Lawanson; Samson Omolorhe, President of the group; and Prof. Tokunbo Onabanjo. Others include some members of Fintech 1000 group; James Agada, Niyi Ajao, Emeka Okoye, Moses Braimah, Deremi Atanda amongst others.
