The Federal Government weekend, lamented that the social media instead being a source of unity among Nigerians is being used as a tool by unscrupulous individuals to tear the country apart by spreading hate messages.
Speaking at the send-forth ceremony organised by Galaxy Backbone Limited for Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, pioneer Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Mr. Anyim Pius Anyim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that instead of using the social media and Information Communication Technology, ICT, to drive the growth and development of the country, it is instead being used to create animosity and rancour.
Anyim, who was represented by Mr. Ferdinand Agu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Research & Documentation , said, “ It is unfortunate that ICT is being abused. If you go to the social media, you do not see love anymore, you do not see learning anymore, what you see is so much hate and violence.
“We seem not to be aware that the purpose of ICT is one and simple; it improves the human capacity of our nation by giving people the tool and weapons to understand and acquire knowledge and also unite us, for us to build a better country.
“If ICT does not serve these purposes, it will not liberate our country from ignorance. We have to use the tools provided by ICT to bring our country together,” he said.
Anyim commended Ilukwe and the management of Galaxy Backbone for their efforts at using ICT as a tool to contribute to Nigeria’s growth and development. He maintained that when the objective of the organisation is fully achieved, Nigeria will be wired and poised for greatness.
“I am calling on everyone to use the opportunity we have with ICT to make this country a bigger and stronger nation,” he added. Also speaking, Mr. Yusuf Kazaure, the current Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Galaxy Backbone, stated that Ilukwe has during his tenure at the helm of affairs of the company, been able to grow the company to enviable heights.
“Today, Gerald is leaving a vibrant company , with over 4,500 locations connected. He has left an organisation that will continue to grow. “Gerald was able to create a Galaxy Backbone with a culture that strives in a very ambivalent environment. We are a public company that strives like a private company.” Kazaure said since 2007 , Galaxy Backbone has leveraged its mandate to build a common services platform consisting of in-country and offshore VSAT hubs.
“From this platform, Galaxy is growing its coverage of public institutions nationwide and currently connects about 4,000 locations spread across various parts of Nigeria representing over 350 Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDA,” he added.
Gerald Ilukwe was Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of Galaxy Backbone between September 2006 and September 2014.
Ilukwe, in his ternue at Galaxy Backbone, oversaw the operations of over $180 million, about N36 billion of ICT infrastructure for the delivery of networks, data hosting and application services to customers primarily in the public sector.
“Ilukwe had the responsibility for the negotiation and execution of ICT projects worth over $145 million through vendor financing and bi-national loan agreements,” the Organisation said.
Anyim social media is an uncontrolled platforms for the oppressed to ventilate their views in public domain.
Nigeria should never had been one country and if we appreciate this then we should take deliberate steps to divide the nation into more cohesive and manageable units for growth and development. This pretense that we would achieve unity some day is delusional and pedestrian.