An It Professional Of Distinction

He had his first degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering but what really got him interested in telecommunications, and subsequently, IT was the way one of his teachers, Prof Adekola handled the course while teaching them in the university. According to Olujimi Falaiye, now the Country Manager of Cyberoam, an identity-based network security solution provider: “He made the subject of telephony and data networks simple and interesting, he always spoke about evolving technologies in this regards and this made me curious and interested in the field”.

Aside from this, Falaiye stated that what got him further interested was the excellent internship he had at D-Link Networks under the leadership of Mr. Laide Temowo saying it gave him the needed environment to have hands-on learning about IT networks.

With added certifications from Alvarion, Cyberoam, D-Link and other technology solution providers, Falaiye has now become a thoroughbred IT professional. One thing that however continues to bug his mind is the low level of ICT literacy amongst Nigerians. He lamented that most institutions are yet to tap into the potentials of IT because they are yet to realize its use as a major driver of growth.

Asked what can be done to correct the trend, he said there is a need for serious human capacity development in the field. “For the sector to grow”, he canvassed, “we need to build and own our own technology inspired by our peculiar environment. We need to go into primary and secondary schools and develop young minds in programming and the likes”.

It is his contention that Nigerian professionals can perform if provided with the right atmosphere, infrastructure and policies. According to him, technology is the same everywhere in the world and Nigerians write the same certification exams as their counterparts in developed countries even as they beat them in these exams. “It is the policies and structures that differ, and thus the difference in results”, he says.

He is of the view that all professionals in Nigeria need to come together in order to proffer solutions to all the challenges facing the country. He stressed that representatives of government will also need to be on such platform so that all parties can work in tandem in drawing a roadmap. He believes the platform will however achieve better result and a wider reach if driven by technology.

To upcoming professionals, he charged them to keep on improving themselves and not to give in to the vicissitudes that currently confront Nigerians.