More than 22 institutions, comprising 18 universities and six polytechnics, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), drawn evenly from the six geopolitical zones in the country, have benefited from the Federal Government’s N16.7billion broadband infrastructure projects designed to accelerate Nigeria’s digital economy initiative.
At the unveiling of the projects being driven by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in Abuja, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, said the projects underscored the importance of broadband connectivity and access as central to the accomplishment of the targets of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030 for a digital Nigeria.
Pantami said the projects are in line with the mandates of President Muhammadu Buhari on job creation and economic diversification.
Pantami, who was joined by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Mohammed Bello at the event, disclosed that the key infrastructure provided for the project, comprised broadband infrastructure for tertiary institutions of learning; broadband infrastructure for MSME; distribution of 6,000 e-pad tablets, in addition to the provision of broadband connectivity to 20 markets as a pilot.
He said the interest in supporting the MSMEs is justified by their current contribution of more than half of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) before the COVID-19 outbreak, and now constitutes 96.7 percent of entire businesses in the country, and therefore, “any effort to develop our economy without bringing the such important sector into the equation will amount to efforts in futility.”
The event had in attendance the Chairman of the Board of the NCC, Prof. Adeolu Akande; the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta; the Executive Secretary of, the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed; and the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof Idris Bugaje, among others.
A book written by Pantami, which is entitled, “Skills Rather Than Just Degrees” with a foreword written by Brad Smith, President of Microsoft Corporation, was unveiled for the industry.
Pantami said the book is his intellectual contribution to bridging the skills gap to enable Nigerians to tap into the opportunities that exist in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and other sectors of the economy.
The book was reviewed by three different Vice Chancellors – Prof. Muhammad Abdulazeez of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Prof Owuanari Georgewill of University of Port Harcourt; and Prof. Sagir Adamu Abbas of Bayero University, Kano.
They commended the efforts of the Minister in putting his thoughts and experience to paper.
In his remarks, the Chairman of, Governing Board of NCC, Prof.Adeolu Akande, assured of the commitment of the Commission to completing the projects, which will add the necessary fillip to achieving the major objectives spelled out in the NDEPS, 2020-2030.
He said the project would fast-track and enhance the ongoing efforts of the NCC to deepen connectivity towards achieving the targeted broadband penetration of 70 percent by 2025.
Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, highlighted the Commission’s drive towards deepening broadband penetration in the country and the promotion of digital skills acquisition to improve service delivery in other sectors of the economy, including education, commerce, healthcare, agriculture, finance, transportation, governance, among others.
The event attracted so many stakeholders especially from the academia, as well as technology enthusiasts, including prospective start-up companies, fintech organisations and other interested sectors whose activities are billed to be energised through the diligent implementation of the NDEPS and other extant policies guiding the digital economy agenda of the Nigerian government.
