The cost to the economy of postponing the presidential election is estimated at $1.5 billion according to General Director, Lagos Chambers of Commerce. This is apart from the inconveniences caused to people in travels, event disruptions, business and school closures etc.
Unfortunately this may repeat in the next four years if nothing to done to address the root cause of the problem. We cannot continue doing things the same way and expect a different result.
While we may look at the cause of this problem from different perspectives. I believe the foundation of this problem is that we still use largely manual electoral processes that required massive movement of men and materials.
IN THIS DIGITAL AGE, WE DON’T NEED TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO VOTE, WE DON’T NEED TO CLOSE SCHOOLS AND SHUTDOWN THE ECONOMY BECAUSE OF AN ELECTION IF WE HAVE A DIGITALLY ENABLED ELECTORAL SYSTEMS THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO VOTE FROM WHEREVER THEY ARE AND POSSIBLY WHILE GOING ABOUT THEIR NORMAL BUSINESS.
Irrespective of who wins the forthcoming election, Nigeria needs to transform radically and digital technology provides a great pedestal to drive this change. These radical changes may not come from people in government circles as they do benefit from these inefficiencies sometimes.
We need to arise as a people and push for change by offering alternatives, alternatives that are in line with the present age. We need to offer strategies and initiatives for a new and a Digital Nigeria and push until these are adopted by whoever is in government. We don’t need to be in government to bring about these changes.
Ideas rules the world and Change comes from people of ideas like you.
Digital technology offers us great opportunities to bring about transformation in our nation and in our economy . There are individuals who have more followers they can influence on social media than membership of all the political parties. As an individual with access to data and analytics, you have better insights than 100 analogue leaders put together.
Digital technology actually gives power and we must muster this power for the transformation and development of Nigeria. THIS IS THE DIGITAL NIGERIA CHALLENGE.
The Digital Nigeria Challenge is about mobilizing Nigerians at home and in diaspora with ideas and competences to transform Nigeria leveraging the power of technology. This challenge will drive the adoption of digital initiatives to transform different aspect of our National life and economy including but not limited to the ELECTORAL PROCESS. This is non-political and non-governmental but will offer its service where and when needed to ensure the transformation of Nigeria leveraging the power of Digital technology.
You can join the DIGITAL NIGERIA Facebook group and share your ideas to be a part of this challenge. NIGERIA CAN WORK, LETS MAKE IT WORK.
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