|
Momodou
Denmark
11629 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Oct 2009 : 17:28:10
|
The Kahs Map Out Road to ‘Silicon Valley’ Calls for a Software I
By Saihou Jammeh
The Vice Chancellor of The University of The Gambia Professors Muhammed M O Kah and wife Jainaba M L Kah, Directress General of Management Development Institute have made recommendations that could lead the Gambia to the realisation of its aspired ‘silicon valley’.
In a statement delivered at the end of the highly anticipated national forum organised recently by UNDP under the theme: capacity building: a cornerstone of development, the Kahs recognize the need to build a software industry, which argued could be done depending entirely on human capital and requires limited infrastructure and upfront investments.
The software industry, they went on to explain, has good cash flows and highly profitable, noting that nations such as India, China, United States and Europe are few examples that took software and innovation seriously and hardly regretted it. And it translates positively into their economic gains while accelerating economic growth as well as enhancing the middle class and reducing the unemployment of youths.
They tasked the policy makers to "think long-term" to support the training of a new generation of Gambian scientists, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, accountants, engineers, mathematicians, computer scientists, software developers and IT professionals at the University level and put in place attractive incentives to employ and retain them. The key is to create an environment to generate new ideas appropriate to the Gambia’s situations and challenges and also to create a stock of skilled labour capable of technological innovation. "Policy makers must also incorporate in their laws a commitment to upholding intellectual property (IP) rights and competition", which are very essential for technology advancement that can result in economic development.
Given the recent registered growth in the financial services sector, especially in banking, ICT’s enabled services will have direct impact not only to provide and public sector but to individuals. In the financial services, e-banking and e-payment systems will enhance their reach and reduce transaction costs.
"Oil is good, but software is brilliant, much more sustainable in the long run and is the fuel of the 21st century and beyond. The ‘economies of software’ and the ‘economies of knowledge’ are much better than the ‘economics of oil’ and do not require huge investments like drilling plus its environmental cost. Perhaps only cost and their intervention to fix existing IT and science programs across our university and give incentives to instructors and the best and brightest. Youth and women will have jobs and we will all be amazed with the outcomes".
"Similarly, the agricultural sector and commercially viable industries can be built entirely on human capital. It also requires limited infrastructure and reasonable investments; has good cash flows and hugely profitable. Self sufficient in food through development and the Gambian president’s ‘back to the land’ initiative requires collective efforts to strengthen capacity and competence in the area. The economics of agriculture, like that of soft ware is hugely better that the economics of oil. Like soft ware, youths and women will have jobs and will stay in the country and will be amazed by the outcomes.
Kahs also implored on government to integrate ICTs on governance processes to enhance the delivery of public services to all citizens. This process the duo said, can transform relationships between stakeholders and influence policy making processes and regulatory regimes in the Gambia.
A skilled human capital is a pre-requisite of a knowledge economy, and an important precursor to the Gambia’s actualization of His Excellency’s vision of developing a robust Silicon Valley in the Gambia and to reach our development aspirations as a nation.
Through a stock pile of skilled human capital in target technologies, the value proposition of the aspired Silicon Valley can or will be realized. However the need, training and ICT skill-sets will have to go beyond low level aiming, proliferated all over the Gambia by emerging IT companies – which will create more retail fronts than IT companies and neighborhood training facilities.
Source: The Daily News
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
Topic Locked
