While Nigeria has experienced significant growth in the use of digital technology and number of tech companies, there is still much room for much improvement, especially on how to effectively use digital technology for mass education and for healthcare.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) stated this on Friday evening at the United Bank for Africa Group Chairman’s Forum for 2022, held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
According to a statement by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, the VP said, “Beyond all of the successes that we are seeing, we need to educate a large number of people, and train teachers; that’s going to be a major issue in all of this, especially in states where we have a large number of out-of-school children.”
Osinbajo noted that providing more access to education and healthcare services to a larger population has to be technology-driven to ensure maximum impact.
The statement was titled, ‘How to leverage technology to improve access to education, healthcare, by Osinbajo’.
Explaining the role technology would play, the VP also restated Nigeria’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2060. He stressed the importance of transition fuels for Africa and developing countries, noting that gas, which Nigeria has in huge reserves, is an important transition fuel for the country, as well as other African countries.
Speaking on the topic, Digitization, COP26 and African Development, Osinbajo noted that digitization and climate change will determine to a large extent Africa’s growth trajectory in the next few decades, especially as digital technology offers the most effective way for Africa to fast-track development.
“So we have a robust health system. But the issue is that there are just several millions of people out there in the nook and crannies. And technology must play a role; technology must play an increasing part in our abilities to be able to reach our population everywhere they may be,” the VP further said.
On the growth of digital technology in Nigeria and on the continent, Osinbajo said, “Africa’s total inbound international Internet bandwidth capacity increased by more than 50 times; the operational fibre-optic network extended by almost four times; mobile telephony, mobile cellular subscriptions more than doubled; and about 58% of the population now live in areas covered by 4G networks. Africa has over 480 million mobile money accounts, more than all other developing regions taken together.
“Over 640 tech hubs are active across the continent. Here in Nigeria, we have six unicorns, most of the fintech companies, that are valued at over a billion dollars. We are also leveraging digital technology in various ways, especially to deliver public goods and social services.”