Will Nigeria lead Africa’s Digital Technology?

Nigeria is well positioned to lead the digital technology drive in Africa. This became even more apparent in November 2022, when Africa Data Centre launched the $100 million dollar facility in Eko Atlantic, a prime location where fibre optic network and power is guaranteed.

Power is essential to any kind of business but the lack of it couldn’t have pulled the Nigerian ecosystem back. In the broader sense, the challenge remain the expensive digital quality of life. While this reality does not stop the infrastructure being set up, expensive power being used translates into expensive digital technology which will inevitably burden the beneficiaries.

Without energising the people component of computing we will remain at the mercy of expatriates

Eventhough the broadband penetration is at 41% (according to the NCC), it should be noted that the impact, not the spread, matters more. The entertainment industry for example have expanded impressively with the meagre broadband in the past, which has been driven by its content to global reckoning. Nigerian artists have sold out big events centres internationally really because they are able to utilise technology. While Intellectual Property remains an issue, they have been able to do much with their broad band penetration.

Also, there is the platformisation of the economy. Uberisation is happening as platform economy develops. What we are experiencing is the advancement that 4G has brought us. Considering the Metcalfe’s Law in computing which says the quality and the value of every network is the square of the people on that network, if we can bring more people on the 4G, double the effect, triple the impact, a lot more will happen in the country. Even more businesses will emerge as 5G comes on board.

Cyber Security a problem?

Security is a major issue players in the industry have had for a long time. Kudos to the NCC there is now the Computer Security Information Incidence Response team. What this team does is they sensitise Nigerians on zero day attacks. Zero day attacks are attacks that are currently not known to which people no matter how skillful are prone.

How the mind of an hacker works

What the hacker does is foot-printing, ask where your LinkedIn connections or Instagram followers are for example to find a way into your system. Their chance becomes significant after foot-printing. If we do a survey on how many people have been breeched so far we can trace it back to improper insecure footprinitng network. Careless Internet habit like dropping numbers online indiscriminately contributed in helping a ticklist of the hacker.

Role of the academia

Development- matters and infrastructural, is key if the academia would help. We don’t have the material to produce the calibre of talents we need for the future. Without energising the people component of computing we will remain at the mercy of expatriates.

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