Business

Leo Stan Ekeh: What Nigeria needs for digital transformation

By Ganiyu Mubarak

Copyright theeagleonline

Leo Stan Ekeh: What Nigeria needs for digital transformation

Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Founder and Chairman of Zinox Technologies, says Nigeria needs uninterrupted power to achieve digital transformation.

Ekeh made this remark at the Institute of Change Management (ICM) annual conference held on Thursday at NECA House, Ikeja, Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference was: “Navigating To The Future: Synchronising People, Processes And Technology For The Next Era of Change.”

Ekeh was represented by Chris Uwaje, the pioneer, National I.T Policy of Nigeria.

He noted that digital transformation required abundant and uninterruptible energy, which remained germane for working infrastructure, production and supply.

He said: “We cannot wish change without prioritising and building abundant energy resources.

“Power-supply is the backbone of the future of digital transformation.

“After all, Africans, as the origin of humanity, discovered the source of the energy we use today by striking two stones together to fire their destiny.

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“Currently, the world is experiencing a multi-dimensional change – an overwhelming challenge presented by AI and exponentially supercharged at the speed of Quantum-computing.

“Suddenly, the AI revolution is upon us.

“Whereas AI was first registered into human consciousness in 1956 at the Conference in Dartmouth, USA, 69 years ago, but with the audacity to navigate and master change, those challenges can be turned into immense competitive opportunities and benefits at the speed of Data Sovereignty and innovative resource production and Control.

“With the advent of AI, it is instructive to state that the next 25 years may not be kind to many families, corporate business, leadership and governance structures.

“And indeed, it may rewrite the history of our collective existence especially in Africa.”

According to Ekeh, the audacity of a well-crafted change mantra drives and delivers a clear vision, pillared on innovative living space, creative education leveraging state-of-the art technologies, best-practice business models, and strategic implementation processes that are resilient.

The computer mogul said that changes must be designed to function with the abilities to disrupt existing state of things and leave memorable impacts as a signpost of historical reference.

He noted that the audacity to sustain change must have the ability to respond to all human conditions by building a merit-first society/workforce of well-trusted energetic and resilient human resources – who must also be satisfactorily remunerated.

He added: “We can collectively build a sustainable future together by amplifying positive actionable thinking and damage control.”

According to Ekeh, every citizen is a change agent, pointing out: “We must factor and encourage experimentation as part of a continuous learning process.”

He charged African leaders on inspiring, motivating, and empowering their workforce and networks to achieve exceptional results.

He said: “Change begins with leadership by fostering a deterministic culture of humility, empathy, trustworthiness, creativity and innovation.

“I urge you to embrace change and innovation.

“Change entails consciously focusing on sustainability, investing in talent and skills development.

“The future belongs to those who are prepared to navigate its complexities with courage, creativity, and resilience.

“I urge you to seize this moment, to lead with vision, and to shape the future of your organisations and society.

“Design and make your models change from incremental change to-transformational-change.

“This is critical to achieve sustainable development mechanisms for future changes.”

Earlier, Nat Osewele, the President, ICM Governing Council, said change leaders needed the power to influence not only their organisations, but also the communities and economies they served.

Osewele noted that the conference is a launchpad for transformation.

According to him: “The transformations we initiate today will shape a more inclusive, adaptive and forward-looking society.

“The future is not something to be feared, it is something to be designed.

“And together, through shared knowledge and collective action, we will design it well.”

NAN reports that the event also featured presentations on Digital Transformation and Organisational Agility by panelists and exhibitions.