The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, InfoGraphics Nigeria Limited and Partner, iX Consults, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, has emerged the new President, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON).
He succeeds Dr. Yele Okeremi who was the fifth president after completing a one-term tenure of two years.
The election took place at the just concluded ISPON’s Annual General Meeting.
During his inaugural speech at the handover ceremony, an elated Mba-Uzoukwu thanked the founding members of ISPON for their vision in establishing such a legacy.
While expressing appreciation to the present members for their vote of confidence, he promised to build on the legacy that the immediate president left behind.
He also thanked Dr. Okeremi for his stewardship during his reign from 2018 to 2020 and promised to accomplish the task ahead of ISPON.
Mr. Mba-Uzoukwu said, although the new executives are coming on board at a time the country and indeed the world are faced with Coronavirus pandemic, it however, presents a unique opportunity to make transition to knowledge-based economy, with software playing a major role in the transition.
“The ‘new normal’ has become the in-thing today, but we seem to speak about it with uncertainty. Therefore, it is our responsibility, as part of the ecosystem, to create that ‘new normal’. Often times, we are marred in the negativity as consumeric nation; dependent on imports. It is our responsibility to write this history. The situation (COVID-19 pandemic) has presented us with historic opportunity to reset and reimagine what we can actually do and begin to tell that story in the manner that people can actually believe in the local software”, he said.
He called on the government to support and encourage ISPON members and software developers in Nigeria by patronising indigenous software, which he said, needed the encouragement of industry stakeholders and the government to thrive.
Earlier, in his handover note, Dr. Okeremi said that ISPON has continued to engage successive governments to implement policies and provide supports that will ensure the development of the Nigerian software industry.
He admonished the new president to keep this going and ensure a clear and consensus voice to educate government and policy makers on the need to embrace ‘developed-in-Nigeria’ software.
He pointed out that the inclusion of the younger generation in the technology ecosystem is becoming an important aspect of ISPON activities.
“We know that; these are the days of the younger people. I will encourage you and your team to pay attention on having programmes that will bring these young people into our fold.
He also highlighted a need for the new leadership of ISPON to work with relevant stakeholders.
Other members of the new executives of ISPON are:
- Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu (FNCS) President
- Mr. Chuks Onyebuchi 1st Vice President
- Mr. Bimbo Abioye 2nd Vice President
- Mr. Lanre Adelanwa General Secretary
- Dr. Abiodun Falade Treasurer
- Mr. Peter Ogedengbe Chair, Membership Committee
- Mr. Wahab Sarumi Chair, Policy & Strategy Committee
- Mr. Danjuma Attah Chair, Education & Capacity Building Committee
- Mr. Bunmi Okunnowo Chair, Media & Publicity Committee
- Mr. Adekunle Ajiboye Chair, Diaspora Committee
- Dr. Yele Okeremi (FNCS) Immediate Past President
ISPON is the industry professional body for indigenous software developers and practitioners in Nigeria. Established in 1999 with the aim of creating an enabling environment for local content developers, ISPON has been in the forefront of championing the advocacy for the application and utilisation of locally developed software in order to boost our economy, GDP and give Nigeria an alternative to oil as a revenue earner.
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