By Nigeria’s foremost voices in Information Technology, Chris Uwaje is set to bring a unique historical and policy perspective to the eWorldForum as the forum celebrates 25 years of the GSM Revolution and marks the launch of a new book by Aaron Ukodie.
Also joining the conversation is Gbenga Sesan, a former Nigeria IT Youth Ambassador and Chief Executive Officer of Paradigm Initiative, who will bring a youthful yet deeply informed perspective to the discussion on Nigeria’s digital transformation and the future of the technology ecosystem.
Uwaje, whose contributions to Nigeria’s technology ecosystem date back to the formative years of the country’s ICT development, has remained a prominent voice in conversations around technology policy, digital transformation and the future of Nigeria’s technology industry.
His voice has resonated from the 1990s through the landmark period around 2001, when he, alongside the late Professor Gabriel Ajayi, was among the leading voices advocating for the development of Nigeria’s Information Technology policy and the institutional framework that eventually culminated in the establishment of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
A strong advocate for technology-driven economic development, Uwaje has consistently championed software development and indigenous technological capacity as strategic avenues for diversifying Nigeria’s economy beyond its dependence on oil.
He is also the author of Time Is Running Out, a work that reflects his longstanding concerns and perspectives on Nigeria’s technological development and the urgency of building a sustainable digital economy.
At the eWorldForum, Uwaje is expected to draw on his decades of experience and historical perspective in the conversation on “GSM Revolution: 25 Years After.” He will examine how far Nigeria has come since the arrival of GSM, the transformation it triggered across society and the economy, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
For his part, Gbenga Sesan is expected to provide a contemporary perspective on the evolution of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, particularly the impact of technology on young people, innovation, entrepreneurship and access to digital opportunities.
As the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, Sesan has been closely associated with advocacy around digital rights, inclusion and the responsible use of technology, bringing a perspective that connects Nigeria’s technology history with the realities facing a new generation of digital citizens.
The combination of Uwaje’s historical and policy experience and Sesan’s contemporary, youth-focused perspective is expected to add depth to the eWorldForum conversation, particularly as the forum reflects on the legacy of GSM and considers what comes after the GSM Revolution.
The eWorldForum, which will also feature the launch of Aaron Ukodie’s new book, brings together key voices from Nigeria’s telecommunications, technology, media and business communities to reflect on one of the most consequential technological transformations in modern Nigeria.
The forum will examine not only the achievements of the past 25 years, but also the emerging technologies, opportunities and policy questions that will shape Nigeria’s next phase of digital development.
