On Friday, a tech expert, Mr. Ganiyu Lawal, emphasized the need to leverage technology to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Lawal, the Chief Executive Officer of COAPPT Solutions, shared this perspective during an interview on the sidelines of the Social Impact Tech Summit (SIT Summit) in Lagos.
The summit, themed “Leveraging Technology towards Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” was organized by COAPPT Solutions to drive conversations about integrating technology into social impact work.
Lawal highlighted the summit’s objective to bridge the digital divide and promote the application of technology to achieve the SDGs.
“There is a significant gap in the use of technology within the social impact space, which this summit seeks to address,” he said.
“The summit focuses on leveraging technology to achieve the SDGs, and we believe technology is a critical element in realizing these goals. We are not just informing participants about the importance of technology but also encouraging them to take action—seeking skills and knowledge to apply technology in their work.
“Let’s even start talking about the use of technology. If we are able to build that consciousness, people will begin to see the need to acquire skills and gain more knowledge. From there, work will be done better. This is why we decided to focus on the SDGs.
“Technology is a vital component of the SDGs, but, to some extent, it has been underemphasized. While we often discuss topics like gender-based violence or poverty, we need to integrate technology into those conversations,” Lawal added.
He cited practical examples, such as digitizing paperwork and using tech to implement and monitor projects, to illustrate how technology could enhance social impact work.
Additionally, the Executive Director of the Nigeria Network of NGOs, Mr. Oyebisi Oluseyi, highlighted the importance of embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to advance education and human development.
“Technology is not meant to isolate humans but rather to complement and support human intellect,” Oluseyi said during his presentation.
He described AI as a powerful tool for fostering a more inclusive and sustainable future, enabling collaboration, innovation, and action.
“AI can help people think further, build on their dreams, and collaborate to achieve shared goals. However, as we adopt AI, we must prioritize education and human development, ensuring that everyone—regardless of gender—has access to quality education,” he stressed.
Oluseyi also reiterated that humans are at the core of education and development and emphasized the role of community and cooperation in building human resources.
In her virtual presentation, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government, Mrs. Diana Eyo-Enoette, emphasized the transformative role of technology in education and governance.
“Technology is not a replacement for human intellect but a form of intellect that should complement education and human roles,” Eyo-Enoette said.
She added that technology has the potential to bridge gaps in the economy and contribute to self-governance, serving as a tool to enhance rather than limit human capacity.
“Technology is a co-occurring part of the economy. It creates bridges to self-governance and enhances education by complementing human effort, not eradicating it,” she concluded.
