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  • Business - Companies
  • Updated: December 20, 2021

Soundbites From NBCC 17th Inauguration Dinner

Soundbites From NBCC 17th Inauguration Dinner

To celebrate the announcement of its 17th president, the Nigerian British Chambers of Commerce held a dinner earlier this month, which featured members of the chamber, special guests, important dignitaries, and well-wishers who were jubilant with the newly appointed president, Bisi Adeyemi.

The British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, gave his goodwill message to the newly appointed president and highlighted the key role the organization plays in bridging the gap between Nigeria and the UK in trade across different sectors.

"I will say the Nigerian British Chambers of Commerce is a vital part of our relationship when it comes to business to business and economic relationships.

"And I say this to somebody who has seen those relationships from Abuja and Lagos. And it strikes me that often in Nigeria, when you look from the U.K., especially from London, the distance makes it look like a scary place.

"What the organization does is to connect, demystify, and bridge the gap that shouldn’t be there in the first place. And to make the business-to-business connection possible, I think that it is absolutely vital and fundamental for business growth today. "

"And what I really like to see about the NBCC is the way it doesn’t stand still. It moves into the spaces that it needs to be filled with.

"So tech is the latest place that needs to be filled. We know it’s the up-and-coming, vital area of Nigeria’s economy. With others, renewable energy, agriculture, and so on.

So that vitality, that movement, that mobility, I think it's key to its credit and a massive part of why we at the British deputy high commission in Lagos value the NBCC", he concluded.

Dr. Omobola Johnson, the executive chairman of Guinness Nigeria and senior partner of TLcom Capital, also highlighted the importance of technology and how it can serve as an enabler of good governance and economic prosperity.

"I have been sucked into technology since 1983 when I graduated with a bachelor's degree in electrical and electronic engineering.

"And since then, my experience in both the public and private sectors has validated and confirmed my belief that technology is indeed an enabler of good governance and economic prosperity.

"Information and technology communication (ICT) are definitely things that make economic prosperity and good governance possible for a nation, especially a developing nation like Nigeria," she explained.

She also highlighted the key role technology can play in politics, saying it increases participation for all.

"How can technology or ICT enable governance?" She asked. "This has been very well researched and, indeed, Nigerian governments in successful administration have and are still striving to use ICT to enable governance. All with varying degrees of success."

Several government services use payment gateways, which help to reduce revenue leakages while also improving transparency and accountability.

She reaffirmed that through "websites and other forms of electronic media that inform and engage citizens, all government plans and all their different activities are available on the internet, including all the statistical data that is collected by the National Bureau of Statistics."

"Clearly, there is still some way to go for us to really get the benefits of ICT in governance."

She believes that the government is headed in the right direction.

"I think I can speak from experience and say that national and subnational governments need to focus on several critical areas to ensure that ICT really enables governance to meet citizens' satisfaction in Nigeria.

"They must collaborate with all stakeholders to provide a ubiquitous, fast, and affordable internet so that all citizens across Nigeria can benefit from the growing number of useful content solutions provided by tech startups in the key areas of affordable access to quality education and, of course, quality health care."

"Government can ensure that ICT infrastructure in all its ramifications is extended to government ministries, departments, and agencies so that they can deliver more citizen services online in a seamless, convenient, and user-friendly manner. And ensure that civil servants have the capacity and the competence to work productively in the digitally enabled ecosystem that we have today", she concluded.

Kayode Folomo also used the opportunity to appreciate the existing members of the NBCC and send his best wishes to the newly appointed president, Bisi Adeyemi, MD, DCSL.

Bisi Adeyemi used the occasion to appreciate the NBCC as she spoke so overwhelmingly of her elation to take up the role of president of the NBCC.

She also used the opportunity to encourage everyone present to vote in the coming election in order to bring about the change we seek.

In her remarks, she highlighted the desire to have recorded a resounding success at the end of her tenor.

Another key highlight of the event was the launch of the NBCC Software Academy and Business Incubator. This current administration also created the technology sector group, which will serve as a platform for further tech activities and boost opportunities for members.

This newly-launched tech incubator will focus on young women and build capacity for the technology sector of the country.

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