Chairman MTN Group, Ernest Ndukwe, has said that Nigeria will continue to remain underdeveloped without the right kind of investments in technology and infrastructure.
The former Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, said Nigeria currently suffers from a serious infrastructure deficit; adding that the situation is slowing down the pace of the country’s development.
Ndukwe stated this in a keynote address entitled: Technology: The missing link in Nigeria’s Development delivered at the 70th birthday lecture and book presentation for the Founder/Chairman Emeritus, DAAR Communications, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi.
According to Ndukwe, Nigeria currently ranks low in all spheres of technology-driven infrastructure especially in the areas of Energy, Water, Education, Communication, and Information Technology.
To build the robust infrastructure Nigeria needs, the ICT expert wants the government to invest more heavily in the sector if it hopes to bridge the gap between the country and developed nations of the world.
He, however, pointed out that government funding can not be reasonably sufficient to meet up with the $16 billion recommended annually for Nigeria to build itself a world-class infrastructure that will help lower its current rate of unemployment and improve social security.
But apart from poor infrastructure, Ndukwe believes corruption and crass incompetence have combined to slow down Nigeria’s development.
The former NCC boss called for concerted efforts with the political leaders taking the initiative and begin to measure their own successes in office by the number of their own citizens who have access to internet connectivity.