By Chinenye Anuforo, Lagos
Experts who were present at this year’s Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH 3.0), advocated for more deployment of tech infrastructures in rural areas to boost connectivity and usage of tech applications (apps) in those areas.
The Executive Secretary, Association of Telecommunications companies of Nigeria (ATCON) Ajibola Olude, who represented the president of the group at the event, explained that apps are developed to solve socio-economic problems but those in rural areas most times are unable to use such applications because of lack of infrastructures.
Olude emphasised the need for deployment of more telecommunications infrastructure in rural areas stating that if the needed infrastructures are deployed in those areas, the economy can perform optimally.
He also urged other sectors of the economy to latch on to the opportunities presented by technology in order to drive growth and development.
On his own part, Mr Gbolahan Awonuga, Secretary, Association of Licensed Telecommunications companies of Nigeria (ALTON) who represented the Chairman of the group, Mr Gbenga Adebayo corroborated Mr Olude stating that the issue of broadband must be addressed in order to boost connectivity.
He said, “My submission as an association is that, if we are talking about technology, we have to address the issue of broadband penetration. I don’t think we are going anywhere if this is not addressed. The government has set the target for the broadband penetration but what is the driver? The Right-of-Way (RoW). The RoW in so many states in the country is very high. The government is talking about universal RoW of N145 per linear meter but at some state it is as high as N6000 per linear meter and this is disadvantageous to the ICT world because if we have to pay N6000 per linear meter, now calculate it if you want to do about 20 kilometre, we all know what that will translate to”.
He therefore appealed to the state government to make RoW a zero charge, so that, technology will open up the states because when the states are open for technology, it brings in more investors and dividend of digital economy would seen.
Speaking during the panel discussion on the topic Technology-as-a-Service (TaaS) Mr Jide Awe, Founder, Jidaw Systems, said that TaaS would revolutionise the technology sector in the country but there is need for a lot of advocacy and enlightenment as people are yet to know about it.
He said that TaaS would create job opportunities as well as improve quality of lives in Nigeria.
In his welcome address, Peter Oluka, the Publisher, techeconomy.com and the Convener AfriTech 3.0 pointed out that among the innovative trends shaping the continent’s digital sphere, TaaS is one paradigm that stands out, transforming the way businesses and individuals, access and leverage technology solutions.
TaaS represents a shift from traditional technology ownership models to on-demand, subscription-based services. Unlike the conventional approach of investing in costly hardware and software, TaaS allows businesses to access cutting-edge technologies, software applications, and infrastructure over the internet.
“This pay-as-you-go model not only reduces initial capital expenditure but also offers scalability, flexibility, and seamless integration—a boon for Africa’s emerging economy.
Africa, with its diverse markets and fast-growing startups, has embraced TaaS with open arms. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are leveraging cloud computing, software-as-a-service (SaaS), and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) offerings to enhance their operational efficiency without the burden of heavy upfront costs. This approach has empowered businesses to focus on innovation and expansion, driving economic progress across the continent,” Oluka stated.