By Our Reporter
The 164th Inaugural Lecturer of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Senator Prof. Stephen Adi Odey, has charged governments and the private sector to invest in skills development and digital education to prepare the workforce for the evolving demands of the digital economy.
Prof. Odey gave the charge at the Godswill Akpabio International Conference Centre, UNICAL, while delivering the institution’s inaugural lecture on the topic, “Social Dialogue and Industrial Equity in Africa’s Emerging Economies.”
He also said governments should prioritise inclusive policies that promote digital literacy, equitable access to technology and social protection for digital workers.
Stephen Odey, a Professor of Industrial Sociology and current Commissioner for Education in Cross River State, also advocated for the institutionalisation of tripartite dialogue processes to ensure that workers’ voices are central in the development of labour standards and economic policies that impact the digital economy.
This came as he urged government to implement and enforce gender-sensitive policies that promote the active participation of women in digital labour markets and protect them from discrimination and exploitation.
The Don also stressed the need for updating labour laws to cover informal and platform workers, as well as recognise non-traditional forms of association, such as cooperatives and digital guilds.
The inaugural lecturer further underscored the need for the creation of national digital registries to map all workers, linked to social security, pension and dispute resolution portals, saying Ghana’s e-Labour pilot offers a model.
He added that as Africa stands at the threshold of digital transformation, it must leverage social dialogue to create an economy that is not only technologically advanced but also equitable and inclusive.
Sen. Prof. Odey noted that collaboration between governments, employers and trade unions will, to a large extent, ensure that the benefits of the digital economy are shared by all and that the rights of digital workers are protected and upheld.
He said achieving industrial equity in Africa’s digital economy requires comprehensive and inclusive policies, strong governance frameworks, effective social dialogue and targeted interventions to address the challenges faced by digital workers.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Linkages and Collaborations, Prof. Anthony Eneji, commended Prof. Odey for his insightful and timely lecture, describing it as a valuable contribution to discourse on labour, equity and Africa’s digital future.
He noted that the topic was not only relevant to academia but also to policy formulation, as the continent grapples with the challenges and opportunities presented by the evolving digital economy.
Prof. Offiong congratulated the inaugural lecturer on the successful delivery of the 164th Inaugural Lecture and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to promoting research that addresses contemporary socio-economic issues.
The colourful event witnessed a large turnout of individuals from all walks of life, including academics, captains of industry, top judicial officers, legislators at the state and national levels, members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers, religious leaders, labour union representatives, students and members of the university community.
Highpoint of the lecture was the presentation of a memento to the inaugural lecturer by the Deputy Vice Chancellor on behalf of the Vice Chancellor.
