By Dorcas Elusogbon
Ile-Ife (Osun) – Prof. Ganiyu Aderonmu, the Head of Computer Science and Engineering Department, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), has urged governments to prioritise Information Technology (IT) development for job creation.
Aderonmu gave the advice during the inaugural lecture, Series 304 entitled: “Jobs nowhere, but everywhere: Resolving Nigeria’s unemployment crisis through information technology,” on Wednesday in Ile-Ife.
“The changes that IT brings to economies and to employment are inevitable and global; to neglect IT is to waste the potential and opportunity that our massive youth population represent,” he said.
He said that unemployment was a threat to democracy and the nation’s future, saying sufficient jobs for the present youthful population was integral to Nigeria’s economic revival.
The don said that there was no short cut to reducing unemployment but information technology was at the centre of job creation if well harnessed.
“With a comprehensive strategy on IT job creation, Nigeria’s population, especially youths will transform the nation,” he said.
Aderonmu called on Federal Government to urgently attract multi-national companies to establish IT facilities provided the IT products were developed for export.
He called for the development of the IT industry through research centers, technology parks and incubators to facilitate collaboration between researchers, industry and sharing of research results.
According to him, the provision of more reliable and affordable information technology infrastructure and creation of a special fund to assist start-up businesses as well as grow existing developers to develop the IT industry.
“Protection of the indigenous IT industry through the enactment of a law that mandates MDAs to patronise indigenous hardware and software is very important.
“Also the provision of fiscal incentives for indigenous software developers in form of tax and tariff rebates is imperative if we must grow the sector,” he said. (NAN)