Emma Okonji
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has applauded the consistent growth in ICT contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which hit 17.92 per cent in the last quarter of 2020, and in the first quarter of 2021, and continued on an impressive trajectory.
The Minister gave the figures recently, during the opening of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU’s) Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) roundtable, and technical workshop on Building Capabilities for Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Transformation in Nigeria.
According to the Minister, this “percentage is unprecedented, and this is only the contribution of ICT to our GDP without calculating digital services.”
Pantami said digital access and connectivity have become a necessity, as they play an increasingly vital role in our everyday lives and have become key drivers of the fourth Industrial Revolution.
The Minister assured the audience, including representatives of ITU, FCDO, and other international agencies, embassies, and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, that the “Federal Government understands that enormous private sector support, as well as support from International Organisations, are essential to enable Nigeria to realise her lofty goals for its digital economy and this has informed the country’s decision to partner key international organisations like the ITU and FCDO.”
Pantami said: “The digital age is upon us, and all relevant stakeholders must be prepared for the enormous but inevitable change that will occur.”
The Minister also assured of the federal government’s commitment to the development of the digital economy, with a promise that “the Nigerian government will ensure that all critical infrastructure are made available for the facilitation of digital connectivity, transformation and ultimately, the realisation of a robust digital economy.”
Danbatta, in his speech, revealed that the federal government’s policies in the communications and digital economy sector were already yielding positive results including a reduction in the access gap, improved digital financial inclusion and a steadily increasing contribution to the GDP.
He stated that the sector had remained the most resilient in the country while stressing that the Commission recognises the need to do more in strengthening the telecommunication sector and improving internet penetration.
“As of the end of 2021, the estimated population of people living in the underserved areas declined from 31.16 million in 2019 to 28.87 million in 2021, and the access gaps reduced from 227 to 114,” he said.
Danbatta assured that the Commission would not rest on its oars in supporting internet penetration and digital skills to give concrete expressions to policies and initiatives to close identified gaps.
