Leveraging Technology for Social Impact: A Business Approach

Lawal, who is the Chief Executive Officer, of COAPPT Solutions, noted this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on the sidelines of the Social Impact Tech Summit (SIT Summit)

NAN reports that the Summit had the theme: “Leveraging Technology towards Achieving the Sustainability Development Goals.”

The expert said that the summit was organized by his company, to drive conversations around the use of technology in social impact work.

He stressed that the Summit aimed at bridging the digital divide and promoting the use of technology in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“There is a significant gap in the use of technology within the social impact space, which this summit seeks to address.

“The summit focuses on leveraging technology to achieve the SDGs, and we believe that technology is a critical element in achieving these goals.

“We are not just about informing participants about the importance of technology but also about encouraging them to take action, seek skills and knowledge to apply technology in their work.

“Let’s even talk about the use of technology, let’s even get it started. So, if we can build that consciousness, then people begin to see the need to seek skills and more knowledge.

“And from there, the work will be done better, so, this is why we decided to focus on the SDGs.

“Technology is an important element of the SDGs, but which to some extent we have been very silent about. Yes, we talk about, you know, gender-based violence, no poverty,’’ he said.

Lawal cited examples of how technology could be used to improve social impact work, such as digitalizing paperwork and using technology to implement and report on projects.

Also, the Executive Director, of Nigeria Network of NGOs, Mr. Oyebisi Oluseyi, in his presentation, emphasized the importance of embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance education and human development.

Oluseyi said that technology was not meant to isolate humans, but rather to complement and support human intellect.

He said that technology was a form of intellect, and it should be a part of our education, contributing to our growth and development.

The expert noted the potential of AI to create a more inclusive and sustainable future, enabling people to work together and build on each other’s ideas.

According to him, AI can help people think further, build on their dreams, and enable collaboration and action.

Oluseyi encouraged people to prioritize education and human development, stressing that humans are the root of education and development.

“We must remember that humans are the root of education and development, and cooperation and community are essential to building human resources.

“As we evolve and take bold steps with AI, we must prioritize education and human development, ensuring that everyone, regardless of gender, has access to quality education,” he said.

The expert also stressed the importance of embracing AI as a tool for improving education and bringing everyone together to achieve common goals.

In her virtual presentation, the Special Advisor to the Lagos State Government,  Mrs. Diana Eyo-Enoette, emphasized the transformative role of technology.

Eyo-Enoette said that technology was not an isolation of human beings but a form of intellect, adding that it helped to understand that technology was supposed to be a part of education.

She said that technology was supposed to be a contribution to education and not a limitation or an eradication of human roles in education.

“Technology is not just about having that. It’s also a more co-occurring part of the economy. It creates a bridge to self-governance,’’ the special advisor said. (NAN)