Ajisebutu: Technology Adoption Will Lift Nigeria Out of Poverty

Emma Okonji 

The CEO, 21st Century Technologies, Mr. Wale Ajisebutu has said the fastest way for Nigeria to be lifted out of poverty, is for the country to adopt and implement the right technologies from the wide range of emerging technologies across the globe. 

Ajisebutu who spoke recently on CNN’s Marketplace Africa, said building digital infrastructure in Nigeria had been the priority of his company, insisting that partnering with tech giants can grow the Nigerian economy and the region’s wider economy.

According to him, “Data is generated and consumed and it is increasing in an exponential rate. We want to play a key role in the fourth industrial revolution in this part of the world, which will propel development much faster”

Ajisebutu who ventured into telecoms operations after a chance encounter, said: “I decided to go into telecoms by chance. I had a discussion with one of the richest men in the world and he said, it would be good if I can adopt technology to solve problems in Nigeria. That was 25 years ago.”

Ajisebutu, who expressed his belief that the right technology adoption and implementation would lift Nigeria out of poverty, said: “Poverty in this part of the world is now defined by access to technology, instead of geography. What we want to do is to make technology available to everyone in this part of the world. Training to acquire digital skills is also important because if you train them on digital skills, they will have access to technology, and you can lift them out of poverty.”

Ajisebutu described what it takes to have a successful Nigerian business, adding that there is no challenge anywhere especially in Nigeria where people with digital skills cannot do something to make a difference.

“The opportunities are there. If there is no power, you generate your own power. If there is no water, you invest in whatever facilities to get water. If you do the right thing in Nigeria, the sky will be the limit. Having invested heavily in all facets of technology, from 5G deployment to supporting operators of General System for Mobile Communication (GSM) in Nigeria, 21^st Century Technologies is modernising and making sure that the platform is able to meet all customers’ requirements.

Speaking about the expansion plan of the company, he said the company recently opened an academy with one vision to train ten million Africans in the next ten years. The surrounding ecosystem includes funding and partnering universities such as Schneider University and Oracle University.

“We are planning to launch our own satellite so that we can reach as many people as possible in Africa and ensure that they have access to technology, as we continue to offer technology solutions that will address Nigeria’s peculiar challenges,” he said.

21st Century is an infrastructure company providing services to the top 1000 companies in Nigeria, with the objective to solve critical industry problems for industries and create motivated talent and skilled workforce.