 Thank you for staying with us. You're still on to the breakfast on Plus TV Africa and right now we sign for our next hot topic We're talking about the fact that Nigeria slips lower on African ICT Development Index and we're joined by guest Dominic Rume O'Reary. He's a certified blockchain architect and metaverse experts Good morning Dominic. Thank you for joining us. I was tempted to say Rume Good morning. I'm glad to be here Thank you. Thank you so much. So we're seeing that Nigeria slipped lower on the African ICT Development Index Please can you just help me make sense of this because it's I was trying to like do my research There's a lot of numbers. There's a lot. So just explain this to me in layman's terms Okay It's very sad as we have seen Nigeria truly sleeping the global rankings for ICT Context right compared it to a country like Mauritius in Africa Which it is the first and then we just won Bafana Bafana yesterday South Africa the rank second in Africa followed by Kenya Nigeria is far down on that particular list So you can imagine some of the what number are we on now? I think we're about 60 something we're about 15 on that particular list But I've seen on that particular Yes in Africa now one of the major things that have cost this is is that we've had Poor internet infrastructure. We've had low Infrastructure gap That's the fact that they are low They are no more charm the smart devices that is available to the layman that can really do all of these things is Not as cheap as what the man can truly afford So these things have been a major factor. In fact another thing too has been The policy and regulation that have also been there. You see it was in 2022 that 22 that License was even released to some other private Companies to be able to see that they carry out the program So that has been one of the things that has made us to rank really low in that particular ICT Right great things. So what does this even what does this mean for us now? Is there any chance that we might still go up or this is where we are at and how can we What are the things that we need to do to make sure that we rank higher? Maybe when the next survey is being done Okay, it's really right now. This means this is Not a good place for us to be playing as a giant of Africa But it's a good one because we as a young population The population is doing its best to be able to see that some of the major challenges like the lack of internet connectivity We saw it as of life since the Stalin came I know a lot of young Nigerians that have gone ahead of government to be able to buy themself a very good device Right now because they've been able to go and buy themself a very good device You can see that they can be able to bridge that particular technological gap of data problem now So there's one was a look at what the Honorable Minister of Mr. Tijani He's doing very well in terms of his include trying to include much more trajectory and plans and strategy to see that We will be able to get out of this in under two years You know it all starts with a plan and because there's a plan who will be able to achieve it The future is looking bright on Nigeria because money and investments is going in already and we look at 224 as a time The better 5G connection all over Nigeria so from here, we're moving to where number 15 is quite low and What are the immediate things that need to be done to make sure that we return to this place? Because if you're talking about infrastructure or poor internet poor this poor that it may not It may not be a problem that we can solve just now. Does it mean we are going to linger in number 15 or there is hope for us? We will linger there. There is hope for us Like I said Infrastructure a gap is already being Tackled in terms of ICT when you say the information communication technology of the country What do you really mean the ability for? Information to be able to be disseminated very very fast. There are also a lot of Educational programs are also going to be able to see that the skill sets the manpower That's actually needs to be built like in terms of routing switching and showing that networking goes well in big companies There are a lot of Cisco certification programs that are already being done So we have more personas that are equipped entering into this new industry Now, let's not call it new but relatively young industry especially here in Nigeria because we're not yet at the forefront of it So the youth population They are also very interested in saying that they go the way of technology. You see everybody now saying tech bro Texas and because of that particular part that they were so taking they need to find the ways to be able to fix These problems themselves and I tell you the truth and I know it is just a function of a better policy More exposure to funding that we were able to see that okay We can cover up these basic gaps and then we definitely be doing well Okay, so what role do you think? education and skills can start to improve these gaps that we're talking about so Education is very important because I tell you we're going to be a tech bro. Texas. You need to know a lot about that Right. So what book and education? Play with this in making sure that we're covering the gaps and you know We're coming back up because like young booth and number 15 is not a good spot to be on so education and skill is I think in the world of the wise man He says your skill is the only thing you have when a product has been taken away from you so for a country like Kenya you can see how well they've developed their ICT sector They've also taken out time to be able to upskill the young population. They don't They build hubs like the Nigerian government have invested in more hubs in digital hubs Programs that are for empowerment to be able to see that young people also get involved However, this is just something that has possibly be done on the surface level We need to go more grassroots. We need to be able to do it the way we carry out election campaign it's as serious as sensitizing our citizens against To be able to be aware of polio because in your digital world It is an anathema to see the genet of Africa pick such a position in the world We cannot be taking such a position in the world So it is something that needs urgent fixing in terms of Building more hubs that can actually engage people Digitally and with this skill set, you know, it is wanting to talk the talk It's also another thing to work the talk now for us. I just it just cost us about about Stay seven thousand dollars to be able to fix steady power with the current Situation here and the current situation will happen in this country and that because we are the tech hub We're able to afford seven thousand dollars to fix our solar How many other people will be able to afford seven thousand dollars to fix your solar? Which means that if there's no power if there's no this I think in MTN also We just increase the prices of data as well. So you can see that the bundle you normally do is no longer available So that means I will say they should subsidize some of these things but truly there needs to be like a high level of competition to even with the skill and Training to be able to see that some of the major infrastructure gaps like the lack of internet is one of the worst thing the internet the internet in Reduces the assets the assets you have to the global world So skill would definitely be a good thing because of course you can't do that And you need education to establish an economy like our match I always say we need education to establish an economy I would have education you can't even skill All right, I think that's a very good way to leave it. We wish you had more time But yes, thank you so much for joining us. Thank you Thank you very much for me. All right, I think very much my very good friend You wouldn't remember my name. I'm not room. So It's all right, thank you so much for being a part of our show this morning All right, we're speaking to Dominique Rume Rui Rui is a certified blockchain architect and a metaverse expert I'm talking about the fact that Nigeria has slipped well to number 15 now on the African ICT Development Index, but this is where we wrap it up on our show. We hope that you've had a good time with us really Yeah, I'm calling the final words Congratulations Nigeria Congratulations to Nigeria. Yes, we defeated the buffoon of the banner and right now we're in the finals and hopefully on Sunday We're going to be emerging as well as the super egos are going to be sorry But as far as I'm concerned They have already won the trophy in my heart whether they emerge victorious or not because all the odds were against us Even from our own people nobody believed in them or believed in the coach But now we kept progressing one goal at a time until we are in the finals So whatever happens, congratulations still a super egos. Well, hopefully when we come on Monday We'll be given like a congratulatory But yes, this is where we wrap it up. We'll see you again tomorrow. Thank you for joining us. My name is Brumette Let's do it again tomorrow