Ex-NBA chair urges Nigerian leaders to complement human capabilities, technology
By Taiye Agbaje
Mr John Peters, a former Chairman, Association of Master of Business Administration (MBA), says leaders in Nigeria should foster environment that complements human capabilities.
Peters, a renowned leadership speaker, gave the advice on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Responding to question on how leaders can ensure smooth technology adoption, he said: “For Nigerian executives striving to drive digital transformation or smooth technology, adoption demands more than new tools.
“it requires embedding technology as a driver of organisational agility and resilience.”
Peters suggested leveraging proven frameworks such as Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model and the ADKAR model.
He emphasised the importance of cultural alignment in fostering employees’ buy-in.
“Leaders need to foster environments where technology complements human capabilities. Adobe’s transition to a cloud-based model succeeded because it ensured employees’ buy-in at every stage.
“Similarly, Nigerian organisations can benefit by tailoring training to address specific challenges, as seen in Microsoft’s Office 365 rollout,” he said.
According to him, this aligns with TEXEM’s methodology, which integrates interactive and context-relevant learning to empower leaders with actionable insights.
Peters said Nigerian leaders can drive technology enhanced efficiency by aligning technology investments with organisational goals.
He alluded to Interswitch, which successfully synchronised its digital payment systems with Nigeria’s cashless policy, thereby enhancing both customer experience and national financial inclusion.
“Leaders must ensure that technology adoption translates into measurable outcomes. For instance, Nigerian Breweries leverages analytics to optimise its supply chain, demonstrating how technology can boost productivity,” he said.
The ex-NBA’s chair highlighted automation as a game-changer, particularly when it augments human roles rather than replaces them.
“Nigerian banks, like GTBank, have implemented AI-driven chatbots to handle routine inquiries, improving response times and customer satisfaction,” he said.
Peters, however, said that automation’s true value lied in enabling employees to focus on higher-value tasks.
NAN reports that Peters is expected to speak at TEXEM’s upcoming programme titled: “Thriving in this Digital and Disruptive Era,” scheduled between Nov. 25 and Nov. 28 in Oxford.
He will be joined by two other distinguished faculty members; Prof. Rodria Laline, a global technology innovator and former SVP at Oracle, and Prof. Paul Griffith, the trailblazing academic who led the first management team to launch a rocket into space.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
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