Lagos — As Nigerians continue to embrace the use of information technology, IT in their daily activities, the Director General, Nigeria IT Development Agency (NITDA), Professor Cleopas Angaye, has stated that the success of e-payment solutions within the country depends on the provision of adequate infrastructure, reliable helpdesk services and an enlightened population.

Angaye who stated this in Lagos at the recent Finance and IT summit, noted that the widespread adoption of IT has precipitated rapid growth in the area of electronic payment (e-payment) thus reducing to some extend the incentive to carry cash around. He however stated that though the benefits of adopting an e-payment approach are obvious but in the absence of trust, it would be difficult to convince potential buyers and sellers to migrate from the traditional platforms to the more high-tech e-payment and e-commerce.

Professor Angaye, in his presentation at the one-day summit on "Seamless ICT integration in post - Consolidation Era" noted that the reforms in the banking sector was aimed at evolving a strong and robust banking sector that will be able to stand tall in the league of global banks, offer seamless services to the citizenry and be able to withstand attacks from fraudsters and hackers. He stated that one of the steps to be taken to ensure the realization of these goals is the integration of the IT platforms of the banks to such an extent that the customer is shielded from the complexities of having to deal with different platforms, different solution providers, and inhibit successful fraudulent practice among others.

FITS is an annual Summit to designed to create an ICT stakeholders forum where Professionals in the Nigerian ICT sector and financials / banking experts can interface.

The theme for this year's seminar cum mini exhibition, "seamless ICT integration in post - Consolidation Era" was chosen to enable stakeholders review progress made in IT integration post consolidation and to chart a new course going into the future.

In his comments at the occasion, the Deputy general manager, IT, Access Bank Plc, Sina Joseph, "Our experience has shown that seamless IT integration in a merger can be achieved by setting clear and simple goals, define clear plans, identify possible risks and provide mitigants.

Other things that assist this process is to communicate clearly, provide appropriate management support, choosing and working with the right partners and advisers who are versatile in IT integration, obtain stakeholders buy-in and finally the determination to make it a success.

The NITDA DG also spoke of the place of corporate governance, as the key to building, gaining and sustaining trust, which is an essential element in getting people to use technologies.

Chris Ekeigwe, Managing director, EDP Audit and Security Associates collaborating the DG stated that IT governance is an inseparable element of good corporate governance.

Ekeigwe, who is also President, Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA Lagos) disclosed this his paper titled, "Systems Security Reliability Assurance: Governance Roles and Responsibility".

He explained that IT governance is about achieving the following: getting the most value from IT, including involving it towards its strategic goals; ensuring that stakeholders and management understands the key IT risks and manage them and establishing the conditions that allow IT management to operate effectively.

On why IT governance is critical to business, he stated that it is because of the increasing dependence on information and the systems and communications that delivers it, the potential for technologies to dramatically change organisations and business practices, create new opportunities and reduce costs and the risk of doing business in an interconnected world.

He revealed that IT governance has not gotten the attention it deserves due to the fact that IT requires more technical insight than do other disciplines to understand how IT enables the enterprise, creates risks and gives rise to opportunities; IT has traditionally being treated as an entity separate from the business and the complexities in IT.

The systems audit and security expert called on firms to establish IT governance framework as part of measure to align IT strategies with business goals. He said that the IT governance framework would set objectives and provide direction for and measure performance of IT activities.

Chris Uwaje, 1st vice President, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) and managing director, Connect Technologies Limited noted that the software is the oil that facilitates the smooth operations of hardware devices.

He however lamented the current situation where foreign softwares dominant the market arguing that it has security implications for the country.

Uwaje canvassed for support both from government and the private sector in embracing locally developed softwares. He stated that indigenous software holds the key to rapid economic empowerment and wealth creation for the country.

On the issue of security, Emeka Nwonyi, Head, Banking fraud at the EFCC, urged the banks to collaborate with it in tracking down criminals in the sector. He remarked that without information or support from the sector not much could be achieved.

Angaye also joined the call for a tightening of security in every area and for banks to be proactive in evolving new measures to countering the operations of criminals.

Commander Joseph Akunobi, Officer-In-Chrage, Cybersecurity, Nigerian Navy School, reiterated that the responsibility for security belongs to everyone that is involved in acquiring, deploying or managing IT resources.

He insisted that there has to be consistent collaboration between the banks and all other firms that deploy IT infrastructure and the various levels of security organisations in the country. Safe guarding IT infrastructure is a national security issue.

Executive chairman, Alpha Technologies Limited, Col. Aiyegbeni Peters, identified the introduction of the SMAT number service into the integration process of organisations as being capable of boosting number of inquiries from prospective clients, encouraging feedback from existing clients, building customer loyalty while improving revenue generation.