From Left: Mr. John Obaro, MD Systemspecs; Abiodun Adeoye, MD Contact Solutions Ltd; Mrs. Remi Odunlami, FBN Chief Risk Officer; Sir Demola Aladekomo, President NCS;Mr. Bisi Onasanya, MD First Bank; Mr. Kayode Sobajo, MD HiiT Plc; Mr. Jide Awe, Chairman Publicity NCS

A team from the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) led by its President, Sir Demola Aladekomo on Wednesday, 23rd November, 2011 paid a courtesy visit to the First Bank of Nigeria Plc. The team was warmly received by the Group Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya and other top management staff of the bank which included Mrs. Remi Odunlami, Chief Risk Officer, Mr. Tim O. Bolade, Head, General Services and Mr. Rasheed Adegoke, Group Head, Information Technology.

Sir Aladekomo said the visit was to identify with the bank and commend it for its consistency over the decades and its rock solid performance even with the current economic turmoil being experienced and its show of leadership in most spheres of the lives of Nigerians at home and abroad. On behalf of NCS he wished FBN continued success while looking forward to a mutually rewarding working relationship between First Bank PLC and Nigeria Computer Society

The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) is the nation’s foremost network of Information Technology (IT) practitioners with membership strength of over 7,900 comprising IT professionals, Interest Groups and Stakeholders. Members of the NCS team included: Mr. Kayode Shobajo, MD/CEO of Hiit Plc, Mr. John Tani Obaro, MD/CEO of SystemSpecs Limited representing Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Mr. Abiodun Adeoye, MD of Contact Solutions Ltd representing the Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Mr. Jide Awe, CEO of Jidaw Systems, who is the Publicity and Events Chairman of NCS and Mr. Goke Akinpelu of the NCS secretariat.

Aladekomo noted that in over Thirty Three (33) years of existence, NCS had gotten the Federal Government to establish the Computer Professionals Registration Council (CPN) which regulates the membership of the profession in Nigeria, worked with the Federal Government to establish the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and recently engaged with the Federal Government in establishing the Ministry of Communications Technology.

Mentioning a few of the objectives of NCS which focused on accelerated development in Information Technology in Nigeria, he stated that NCS would be very interested in partnering with FBN towards putting Nigeria firmly in the global IT map to the mutual benefit of both organizations.

He called for partnership with NCS in Employment and Intervention Funding as NCS intends working with the Federal Government towards creating, conservatively, One Million IT related jobs within the next Five years. The NCS President further identified Strategic Partnership in Programs and Projects such as the 2011 National Information Technology Merit Award/Investiture Program, the NCS 2012 Annual Conference specifically targeted on the Cashless program of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and support in establishing the NCS major National Secretariat Building in Abuja, FCT. The NCS President also commended FBN Nigeria PLC for being a corporate member of NCS and advised the bank to fully activate its membership.

Responding the GMD, FBN, Mr Onasanya commended the laudable objectives of NCS and thanked NCS for the visit. Noting that NCS is at the forefront of IT development in Nigeria, he promised to look into all issues raised. He specifically mentioned cashless initiatives of the bank and expressed the desire of FBN to be identified with the Cashless initiative of the CBN. In addition, FBN takes its Corporate Social Responsibility seriously and in fact has a structured framework for participation.

Messrs Kayode Shobajo, MD/CEO of Hiit Plc and John Tani Obaro, MD/CEO of SystemSpecs Limited both stressed that partnering on these initiatives is the best interests of First Bank, NCS and the larger society.

In addressing the issue of financial support, Mr. Rasheed Adegoke of FBN Nigeria also highlighted the need to explore venture funding opportunities for the IT sector. Mrs. Remi Odunlami of FBN Nigeria expressed the desire for more information on timing, specifications and further details on issues raised. This would enable proper appraisal and assessment in line with the direction and objectives of FBN. The NCS promised to provide the required details on these IT developmental and employment generation initiatives of the NCS.

The visit afforded the Nigeria Computer Society the opportunity to officially invite Mr. Bisi Onasanya, Group Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc to the National Information Technology Merit Awards and Investiture of the NCS President coming up on the 16th of December 2011 in Lagos.

Comments are closed.