Professor Mustapha Momoh, a renowned expert in Information Management, has emphasized the need for the federal government and organisation leaders to invest significantly in the development of a reliable database for Nigeria. He made this call during the 43rd inaugural lecture at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), titled: “Managing Information Sources, Utilisation and the Need to know”. This lecture highlights the importance of effective information management in the country.
According to Professor Momoh, having a well-established information system is not enough to guarantee effective information management. He stressed that organisations may possess sophisticated software but still make poor decisions if management lacks goodwill, and employees lack the requisite skills, motivation, or a good organisational culture for effective information utilisation. This underscores the need for a holistic approach to information management.
The Professor of Information Management also emphasised the importance of incorporating developments in digital technologies into education. He encouraged organisation managers to engage in continuous updates of their information to ensure effective information utilisation. This, he believes, will facilitate sound platforms for information utilisation and good information governance in the country.
Despite Nigeria's efforts to capture all citizens on its database, including the mandatory National Identity Number (NIN), such initiatives have yielded little or no success. Professor Momoh lamented that it is discouraging to have data captured, prepared, and processed at a cost, yet the information does not produce value. This highlights the need for a reliable database to ensure that data collection efforts are effective.
Professor Momoh's call for investment in reliable networks, databases, digital repositories, and information systems is timely. He believes that this will facilitate sound platforms for information utilisation and good information governance in the country. This investment is crucial for effective information management and utilisation.
The lecture highlights the need for a reliable database to drive effective information management in Nigeria. Professor Momoh's recommendations are expected to contribute to the development of a robust information management system in the country. The implementation of these recommendations will require collaboration between the government, organisation leaders, and other stakeholders.
Key points
- The federal government and organisation leaders need to invest in creating a reliable database for effective information management.
- Developments in digital technologies should be incorporated into education to ensure effective information utilisation.
- A reliable database will facilitate sound platforms for information utilisation and good information governance in the country.
