Adopt technology to defeat ethnicity, insecurity, don urges FG

Professor Nnaoma Iwu's call to arms for Nigeria, as detailed in The Punch, is a stark reminder that our nation's progress is being held hostage by outdated ethnic considerations. His 61st inaugural lecture, "Killing the Gods of Ethnicity Inhibiting Nigeria’s Journey Towards Technological Innovation: Football Theory of Scientific Development to the Rescue," is not just an academic exercise but a vital blueprint for our future.

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Technology is indispensable in tackling insecurity because insecurity itself uses technology to attack man. So, as a counter, we need more sophisticated technology, intelligence-gathering systems, long-range precision-targeted capabilities, and even technology that can profile and identify people.

The professor's central thesis is that in the modern world, technology is the ultimate arbiter of power and progress. Insecurity, a pervasive challenge plaguing our communities, increasingly weaponizes technology. Therefore, our response must be equally, if not more, technologically sophisticated. This means investing in advanced intelligence gathering, precision-targeted capabilities, and sophisticated profiling systems – tools that can effectively counter the threats we face.

What is particularly resonant from a Nigerian perspective is Iwu's "football theory." This analogy brilliantly captures the essence of meritocracy. Just as a football team selects players based on skill and talent, irrespective of their origin, Nigeria must learn to scout and reward competence across all ethnic divides. Appointing individuals based on ethnic affiliation rather than ability is not only detrimental to national development but actively hinders our ability to compete on the global stage, especially in the critical field of technology.

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It is only in football that ethnicity, colour, race, religion or background do not count. What counts is skill and talent. That is the same principle Nigeria must apply, we must scout for competence wherever it exists, across all ethnic nationalities.

Universities, often seen as ivory towers, are called upon by Professor Iwu to become engines of transformation. They must actively seek out and cultivate exceptional skills, preparing individuals for a world that demands innovation and competitiveness. This shift from traditional roles to active drivers of national development is crucial if Nigeria is to overcome the 'gods of ethnicity' and truly embark on a path of technological advancement.

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When you bring in someone who has no competence simply to represent an ethnic group, of what benefit is that to national development? We should be thinking of Nigeria in relation to global competition, especially in technology.