Thought leaders at an event, hosted by the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG) in collaboration with the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, have highlighted the crucial role of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) as a catalyst for African economies.
The Chief Executive Officer, the School of Politics, Policy and Governance, Alero Ayida-Otobo, disclosed this in Abuja, during a media interaction on the Big Ideas Platform (#BIP2023), with the theme, “Reawakening the African Renaissance: Pathways to Inclusive Growth and Development.”
Ayida-Otobo said: “We recognize the interconnectedness and interconnectivity that is occurring, and it is our responsibility to shape the destiny of our continent. The Big Ideas Platform is our contribution to the ongoing debate on how to create and establish the Africa we have all been waiting for.”
She noted that the #BIP2023 brought together five dynamic voices from Africa, each presenting bold solutions to enhance the quality of life in African communities, adding the pan-African intellectual convergence served as a vibrant marketplace of ideas, igniting discussions and paving the way for transformative change.
In her remarks, the Founder of Outsource Global, Amal Hassan, emphasized the vital role of BPO as an economic catalyst. She highlighted India’s success in generating millions of jobs through BPO and identified Nigeria’s potential to replicate this achievement. With a robust infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and a continuous influx of graduates with diverse skill sets.
Hassan believes that Nigeria has the capacity to harness BPO opportunities, cater to global demands while retaining her youths.
Also speaking, CEO of Norebase, Adetola Onayemi, highlighted the disparity between Africa’s population share of 15% and its contribution of only 3% to global GDP.
He emphasized the urgent need for strategies to boost Africa’s GDP and advocated for initiatives that foster continental prosperity and contribute to global economic growth. This led him to present his big idea on Borderless Business.
Ijeoma Akwiwu, Co-founder/COO of Pivo Africa, presented her big idea of building an end-to-end financial operating system for Africa’s supply chain. She emphasized the need for resilient financial systems capable of mitigating disruptions, especially in light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Founder of CODE and Follow the Money, Hamzat Lawal, addressed the concept of “Factivism,” combining activism with data-driven facts.
Lawal recounted the tragic narrative of lead poisoning in Zamfara, where 700 children lost their lives and 1500 were left sick. He detailed how the #SaveBadega campaign, rooted in factivism, garnered significant attention and spurred governmental action in response to the urgent crisis.
Speaking at the event, the Farmer at Soilless Farm Lab, Samson Ogbole, spoke on “Soilless Farming” for sustainable agriculture. Drawing attention to the aging demographic of Nigerian farmers, with an average age of approximately 60 years.
Ogbole highlighted the lack of interest among young people in agricultural pursuits, emphasized the urgency of involving youths in agriculture to address the imminent challenge of an aging farming population and the adoption of soilless farming to ensure food security for the future.
The Big Ideas Platform 2024 will focus on information technology and behavioral change, with the event scheduled for May 25, 2024, coinciding with Africa Day. The event will take place from 9:00AM to 12PM WAT (GMT+1) at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Center in Abuja, with virtual participation available via Zoom.
