Chairman of Zinox Technologies, Leo Stan Ekeh, has said that information technology is the backbone of the Nigerian economy.

He made the assertion while delivering the Guest Lecture at the maiden Nigerian Online Merit Award (NiOMA) held on Friday night, July 13, at Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

Ekeh, while speaking on the theme, “Leveraging the Internet Revolution to Leapfrog Nigeria’s Development”, said that leveraging positively on information technology can solve Nigeria’s problems if well applied.

He tasked government to fund and support information technology, stressing that a lot could be achieved with the use of the internet, adding that “a country is in darkness without the internet”.

Ekeh recalled how the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) gave internet to over 1,500 schools in Nigeria, and how the use of technology has created job opportunities to those who leveraged on it.

He charged the youth to be creative and innovative in order to help boost the economy as the ICT world would change by 2023.

The event, chaired by former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, drew a full house to the main hall of the upscale hotel.

Among dignitaries that graced the event were Governor Ambode, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan; Publisher of The Guardian, Mrs. Maiden Ibru; former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Wale Omole, and Vanguard Editor, Mr. Eze Anaba, among others.

A brainchild of Nigeria’s leading daily online newspaper, News Express Nigeria (newsexpressngr.com), NiOMA is designed to celebrate outstanding individuals and corporates driving the Nigerian online revolution.