Nigerian tech enthusiast, Bosun Tijani, has justified why he made President Bola Tinubuโs ministerial nominee list forwarded to the Senate for screening last week.
Tijani, who had faced backlash over his Twitter post in 2019, where he spoke about his disdain for the Nigerian passport and Nigeria as a nation, told the Senate while being screened on Saturday (yesterday) that he was nominated on merit considering the work that he had done.
The nominee also noted that he has no father or mother or any political godfather.
OsunDailyNG reports that Tijani made this known while answering questions thrown at him by members of the Red Chamber during his ministerial screening yesterday.
Tijani, however, appreciated President Tinubu for nominating him to serve in a โcrucial capacityโ.
While reeling out his profile, the nominee said his journey into public service was driven by a deep-rooted passion โfor our great nation and an unyielding commitment to its progressโ.
He said, โThroughout my career, I have been privileged to witness ๏ฌrsthand the untapped potential and boundless possibilities that Nigeria holds. However, I am also acutely aware of the challenges that lie ahead, and it is with a sense of purpose and determination that I present myself before you today.
โAcademically, I hold a Bachelorโs degree in Economics from the University of Jos, a Masterโs degree in Information Systems and Management from Warwick Business School and a Doctorate in Innovation and Economic Development from the University of Leicester.
โI have also attended several executive and professional courses in Innovation, Leadership, and Economic Development from institutions such as the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Stanford University, and the African Leadership Institute.
โI am a Fellow of the Centre for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at the prestigious Stanford University and a Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow.
โI am also currently an Adjunct Researcher focused on Digital Epidemiology at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research and an Adjunct Researcher at the Wits School of Governance, South Africa.โ
Bosun noted that he is focused on driving the application of knowledge for enterprise and economic prosperity.
He said, โI returned to Nigeria to co-found Co-Creation Hub in 2010, as Nigeriaโs ๏ฌrst technology innovation hub, which has now grown to become the largest technology hub in Africa with a physical presence in Kenya, Rwanda, and Namibia, delivering projects and activities reaching over 17 countries in Africa.
โIt is my conviction that we must prioritise the role of Technology and Innovation in raising the productivity level across our economy. We can leverage technology to increase the contribution of multiple sectors, such as Education, the Creative Industry, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Transport, and Security, to our GDP.โ
The IT guru also expressed readiness to work with Tinubuโs administration and assured quality service delivery.
โMany of the prosperous nations that we admire have been built on a strong foundation of innovation. We are blessed as a nation with a significant young population which is a critical resource for harnessing the opportunities offered by Technology and Innovation in support of Mr. Presidentโs stated goal of building a prosperous Nigeria for all.
โI look forward to working with all stakeholders across Government and the organised private sector to provide intentional support that empowers the best of our young population, so they can continue to contribute to the achievement of the prosperous, inclusive, and peaceful society that we all desire,โ he said.
