Nigeria may have lost about $2.5 billion dollars in the last 45 years due to poor implementation of several failed national identity projects according to Sir Demola Aladekomo, chairman of Chams Plc.
Aladekomo disclosed this while speaking on the topic titled: Socio-Economic Benefits of Shifting Paradigms, at a forum organized by the University of Lagos MBA 83-84 class.
Aladekomo painted even a grimmer picture said, “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, the country 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.
He however, called for paradigm shift in three areas: prioritizing data and technology, multi-agency approach, and private sector involvement. “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,” he said.
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 of them have the right and most suited technology for our peculiar environment.” Aladekomo added.
In his contribution, Felix Adejimi, a software developer, said, while data is the fuel of modern economy and digital transformation is the driver, Nigeria as a nation, needs to take it seriously. He encouraged government to focus more on providing enabling and secure environment for private companies.
Tunde Omitogun, managing director of HISPLUS, on is part, encouraged the nation to act fast and implement some of the points highlighted at the forum. The event which was the first in a series was moderated by Prof. Lere Baale, chief executive of Business School Netherlands (BSN) in Nigeria.
The programme was attended by Kehinde Lawanson, former executive chirector of First Bank plc; Samson Omolorhe, president of the University of Lagos MBA 83-84 class; and Prof. Tokunbo Onabanjo.
Others include members of Fintech 1000 Plus Group such as James Agada, Niyi Ajao, Emeka Okoye, Moses Braimah, Deremi Atanda, amongst others.
