As President Tinubu assembles his cupboard, some stakeholders in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem are being thought-about for key positions.
Four stakeholders in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem are being thought-about for key positions in President Tinubu’s administration, TechCabal can solely report. Bosun Tijani, Oswald Osaretin Guobadia, Olumide Soyombo, and Idris Alubankudi Saliu are reportedly amongst those that had been thought-about for key positions—together with a ministerial seat—within the Tinubu administration.
While the great listing is but to be finalised, two sources near the presidency have confirmed that these people have been thought-about for key roles on the federal degree. “I can’t guarantee they will get it, but they’ve all been considered for the ministerial role. It’s possible they get other roles too,” an nameless supply shared.
These 4 people have, at scale, demonstrated enterprising management in technology-related initiatives and earned reputation throughout the African tech ecosystem. While it stays unsure how their candidacies will form the ultimate composition of Tinubu’s listing, their standing as technocrats holds promise for Nigerians who’ve lengthy advocated for the appointment of industry-specific experts into key roles.
Let’s take a better take a look at their lives and work.
Bosun Tijani
Bosun Tijani is the CEO and co-founder of CcHub, considered one of Africa’s main know-how hubs. He has led the growth of CcHub throughout Nigeria, Kenya, and extra not too long ago, Namibia. From its humble beginnings in Yaba, CcHub has grown to turn into a major catalyst of tech development in Africa by empowering younger folks with the instruments, communities and capital they should launch impactful ventures. CcHub hosted Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg in 2016.
Tijani holds two levels from the University of Jos, Nigeria: a Bsc. in Economics and a Diploma in Computer Science. He subsequently obtained an MSc. in Information Systems and Management from the Warwick Business School in England. In March this 12 months, Tijani accomplished a PhD program in Innovation and Economic Development on the University of Leicester.
Bosun Tijani describes himself as an advocate of social change, a title greatest captured by his work at CcHub. With a billion naira progress fund, CcHub has dedicated to impacting over 95 early-stage companies together with these bringing innovation to Africa’s schooling and healthcare programs. In 2017, New Africa Magazine named Tijani as one of many 100 most influential folks in Africa.
Oswald Osaretin Guobadia
Oswald Osaretin Guobadia was the Senior Special Adviser to Former President Muhammadu Buhari. In that position, he led the design and drafting of the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA), which up to now stays one of many presidency’s most vital achievements for Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. He can be the co-founder of DBH, an African infrastructure and IT firm that gives consultancy and specialised options in markets internationally.
Guobadia obtained a Bachelor’s diploma in Biology from Wesley College and a Master’s diploma in Telecommunications and Computer Science from PACE University, a non-public college in New York. Post-graduation, Guobadia’s final job within the US was a 5-year stint at international advisory agency Goldman Sachs, the place he was VP and Project Manager.
In an earlier interview with Techcabal, Guobadia shared that he obtained into authorities with the ambition of constructing enterprise simpler in Nigeria. After holding prime roles at UBA and Renaissance Capital, he transitioned into policy-making, the place he led efforts within the drafting of the NSA, an act that seeks to enhance the convenience of doing enterprise in Nigeria and entice overseas investments. The startup act has been lauded globally and concerted efforts are underway to cultivate the act throughout Nigeria’s 36 states. Although, domesticating the act throughout the states has had a major tussle thus far.
Guobadia held his position at DBH for over a decade, throughout which the corporate deployed banking infrastructure, buying and selling flooring, and tech options for authorities and company shoppers. This position positioned Guobadia in relations with each non-public and public sectors, getting ready him for the realities of main a nationwide coverage drive.
Olumide Soyombo
Olumide Soyombo is an funding mogul in Nigeria. He is extensively referred to as one of many earliest traders in Paystack, a pan-African funds firm acquired by Stripe for $200 million. Beyond Paystack, Soyombo is described as considered one of Nigeria’s most prolific angel traders whose investments have formed the evolution of the nation’s know-how ecosystem. In 2021, he launched Voltron Capital, an early-stage funding automobile that has backed 48 startups in two years.
Soyombo holds a BSc. diploma in programs engineering from the University of Lagos. In 2006, he obtained an MSc. in Business and Information Technology from Aston University, Birmingham. Soyombo returned to Nigeria after finishing his research to launch Bluechip Technologies, a startup that gives information housing and enterprise intelligence options for companies, together with Microsoft and Oracle.
Soyombo’s BlueChip Technologies gives information options and enterprise-level tech consulting providers to banks and companies internationally. The enterprise, which has been on the forefront of Africa’s information warehousing progress, expanded to Europe final 12 months to supply options to companies within the area.
Idris Alubankudi Saliu
Idris Alubankudi Saliu is a long-time entrepreneur, investor, and tech advocate in Nigeria. He is the previous Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Africa’s oldest unicorn, Interswitch Group. Saliu joined Interswitch by way of an acquisition. Vanso, his software program and telecommunications firm, which operated in Lagos, Capetown, and Wurzburg, Germany, was acquired by Interswitch for an undisclosed sum. Unconfirmed reviews declare the exit was a greenback deal in six figures.
Saliu is a graduate of Columbia University, New York, the place he obtained a BSc. in Computer Science. He is presently the co-founder of two fintech corporations: Arca and UK-based Ceviant. Ceviant offers treasury and commerce options for companies throughout the globe. And has labored with mega-corporations like Dantata and Wakanow.
Saliu’s work within the Nigerian tech ecosystem spans over twenty years, through which he has demonstrated deep experience in telecommunications, funds, and scalable digital infrastructure.
Digital portfolios within the Tinubu authorities
Throughout his presidential marketing campaign, Tinubu expressed lofty objectives for Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, together with increasing broadband penetration, implementing blockchain coverage reforms, and creating a million new ICT jobs inside a two-year timeframe. Achieving these ambitions requires the appointment of people who’ve confirmed industry-specific competence—as is mirrored by the work of those aforementioned stakeholders. However, as beforehand maintained, they may very well be really useful for different digital positions throughout the authorities.
Technology brings effectivity, and, when optimised, might be the game-changer for any ministry. However, particular ministerial portfolios require digital technocrats. Some of those portfolios embrace the minister of communications and digital economic system, minister of science and know-how, minister of knowledge and tradition, minister of finance, and the minister of commerce and investments.
The first two portfolios talked about above play an important position in shaping a nation’s digital future, making them preferrred suits for the experts mentioned on this article. However, the ministry which oversees the event of science and tech holds broader tasks, together with championing developments in Nigeria’s life and bodily sciences. This could translate right into a wider choice pool for its minister.
What expertise are wanted for the job?
Ministries overseeing know-how and the digital economic system want leaders with expertise driving large-scale technical initiatives—and dealing with applied sciences corresponding to blockchain, AI, and cybersecurity programs. In Rwanda, a rustic that has gotten consideration for its fast-improving enterprise and tech ecosystem, the minister of knowledge and communications know-how is Paula Ingabire, an MIT graduate and pro-blockchain advocate. Paula attends the month-to-month conferences of the Rwanda Blockchain Community.
For Nigeria, which can be on the cusp of reshaping its love-hate relationship with blockchain applied sciences and crypto, evidenced by a brand new CBN management and a pro-blockchain presidency, a deeply knowledgeable skilled is required on the helm of affairs. The sneakers will match an skilled executor who can steer the nation’s evolving relationship with trendy applied sciences and pave the best way for future progress and innovation.
Ministries tasked with overseeing commerce and finance require leaders that perceive how one can leverage know-how to optimise commerce and finance in any respect ranges. Nigeria’s monetary inclusion and digital entrepreneurship methods are principally non-public sector-led and will do higher with some ingenuity from the federal government. Nigeria additionally has big potential for e-commerce, broadened by alternatives introduced by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Pan African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS). Here, a private-sector enterprise veteran could also be what the nation wants, particularly one with the “innovate and deploy fast” ethos of know-how corporations.
Several native publications have reported that Tinubu’s ministerial listing will likely be shared this week, barring any last-minute adjustments. One factor is for certain in all of this: the eventual appointees must pull their weight round their workplaces and convey vital reforms to Nigerians—whether or not they’re leaders within the tech ecosystem or not.
…. to be continued
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