- Vodacom Advocates IoT for Efficient Service Delivery
Vodacom Business Nigeria has advocated the use of Internet of Things technology to achieve efficiency in different sectors of the economy.
The management of the company noted that Nigeria, one of the fastest developing countries in the world and the most populous nation in the sub-Sahara Africa, required infrastructural development to match its growing population.
The Acting Executive Head of Operations, Olumide Idowu, noted that the only way to increase efficiency in the country was through digitisation.
He spoke at 2018 Information Communications Technology and Telecommunications Expo organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Lagos.
Speaking on behalf of Vodacom Business Nigeria, Idowu said that Nigeria was at a pivotal moment in its technological revolution and the current lack of infrastructure provided a ready springboard for the utilisation of Internet of Things technologies to create a smarter and a more efficient nation.
“Leaders around the world are committed to smart city building as they attempt to chart the course towards the development of their cities in order to meet social, economic, and environmental challenges.”
“By using the IoT technology, which is commercially available today, a host of intelligently connected services such as efficient health care in rural communities become a reality.”
He said in the previous year, Vodacom Business Nigeria, in collaboration with some state governments, made significant strides in the development of smart solutions for problems facing rural communities within their states.
In the area of health care, he said a solution was deployed to help increase the availability of essential medication by monitoring drug stock levels, improving the delivery of health care for citizens accessing public health services.
According to Idowu, in the education sector, Vodacom has also launched a mobile school management solution which provides real-time visibility of all management activities at schools.
He explained that the solution had been deployed in over 4,000 public schools in Nigeria.
He said, “In the area of agriculture, our connected farmer solution provides a platform for connecting various stakeholders within the agricultural ecosystem to create better accountability and efficiency within the industry. Other solutions such as payment solutions, backup solutions, energy, utility and security solutions are just a few examples of smart solutions available within the Nigerian context.”
“The significance of digitisation cannot be overstated in creating a smarter, more efficient and more sustainable economic environment in Nigeria. The sooner the shift to a digitalised system happens, the faster the nation can build a competitive advantage on the global stage and she can begin to reap the social, economic and environmental benefits that are sure to follow,” Idowu said.
