Organisations and government agencies require a digital technology-driven vision and strategy to thrive, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), Chizor Malize, has said.
She spoke at the sixth Nigerian Risk Leadership Summit & Awards (NIRA) hosted by Conrad Clark in Lagos. It had as its theme: ‘’Tech’ in Risk Governance & Leadership’’.
In her address entitled: ‘’Public Accountability, Transparency and Big Data: Leveraging Information Technology to Drive Transformation, Boost Transparency and Enhance Positive Social Change’’, Malize urged organisations and government agencies to embrace technology, as it is one of the most critical tools for leaders to explore for nation building, capacity development, acceleration of economic growth, and risk management capabilities in Nigeria, and across Africa.
She explained that while digital technology has been experiencing exponential growth, especially in the 21st Century, there’s still a gap in its assimilation between developed and developing nations with less than 25 per cent of Sub-Saharan Africa having access to digital services.
“Research has shown that in fostering a technological framework towards the effective governance as well as the attainment of national and sustainable development goals in any nation, the first effective strategy would be the critical assessment or overhauling of the technology infrastructure, to ensure an alignment of policies with Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) goals.
“With consistency and time, digital technology in governance becomes the most effective instrument to safeguard against various economic and other challenges, as technologic ecosystems are still expected to not just help organisations and government in their agendas, but also propel the attainment of their vision and strategic goals,” she said.
“Citizens and society are interested in a more transparent systems, and demand accountability from both organizations and government agencies. To achieve this, leaders must fully embrace technology as the enabler for good governance. Government agencies at all levels must be guided and driven by digital technology led strategies and ecosystems, as they strengthen policies and frameworks for public sector accountability, boosts transparency and enhances positive social change,’’ she added.
Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer, Conrad Clark Nigeria Limited, Joachim Adenusi, noted that governance has been discussed and overrated over the last couple of years.
“Both the private and public sector organizations and stakeholders have been talking about the importance of good governance in nation building. For me, good governance is about ownership, accountability, transparency and integrity. I have observed that people who are not willing to be accountable cannot be responsible, and those who are willing to assume responsibility must be ready to give account. When the sense of responsibility and accountability is combined, it creates a sense of transparency and forces a level of integrity to be displayed,” he stated.
On Nigeria and e-Governance, Malize opined that while government is currently using information and communications technologies to enhance the range and quality of information and services provided to citizens, businesses, civil society organizations, and other government agencies in an efficient, cost-effective and convenient manner, government processes are also becoming more transparent and accountable, and this is strengthening our democracy. This move towards e-Governance is basically a move towards SMART governance implying: simple, moral, accountable, responsive and transparent governance” she noted.
“We can, as a nation achieve Social Change via ICT in the areas of fiscal public participation, accountability, improved revenue drive and improved social economic & environmental outcomes. In addition, involving all relevant stakeholders would hasten the realization of social change. There must also be a collaborative approach to governance and digital technology. Designing effective grounds of communication between the government and stakeholders would help boost accountability and transparency leveraging social platforms, webinars, conferences and other means of social engagements” Malize noted.
While acknowledging the challenges that big data poses for accountability, and transparency, Malize advised that this should not discourage government agencies and organizations from making appropriate investments and harvesting the investments for results.
“Instead, this opportunity should be leveraged to develop methodological frameworks that account for the strengths and weaknesses of the knowledge claims that are produced with a big data state of mind. Invariably, this is the way to drive transformation, boost transparency, and enhance positive social change,” she said.