‘Government to leverage on ICT for economic growth’

Nigeria’s Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, has disclosed that the present administration is set to leverage the benefits of the digital revolution and the huge potential of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to kick start the new digitally smart Nigeria.

Adebayo made this known while addressing delegates at the opening ceremony of the 14th Innovation Africa Digital Summit 2016, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

The summit themed: “Harnessing Africa’s Digital Growth” is Africa’s leading ICT business summit over 500 senior executives across government, regulatory bodies, telecoms operators and major end users of ICT from all over Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Explaining the rationale behind the administration’s decision to unlock positive growth using digital platforms, Adebayo said that the Federal Government has developed a roadmap soon to be unveiled that will help it achieve exceptional growth through the ICT. According to the minister “ICT has changed the course of history and added value to all that we do”.

Speaking on the importance of the summit, MTN Executive, Amina Oyagbola, represented by the General Manager, Northern Region, MTN Nigeria, Adekunle Adebiyi, said it is another opportunity for Africa to rethink its embrace of ICT in growing the economy of the region.

According to Oyagbola, “there continues to be an increasing optimism in international circles about Africa potential for growth and development. From education to financial inclusion, agriculture to solid minerals, e-government to mobile health, ICT is a fulcrum for ensuring maximum impact across key elements involving people, processes and productivity. ICT can retool and up skill people in every sector, upgrade processes for greater operational efficiency and enhance productivity for stronger growth while attracting further investment”.

Delivering the goodwill message from the Presidency, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, said that the IAD 2016 summit heralds a new dawn in a progress driven development through ICT as the Federal Government duly recognizes the role of ICT in fostering a viable development.

“We are proud to be part of the 2016 IAD summit because we believe in its potential to contribute to our national and regional development” Lawal said.

Other African countries represented at the event include Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Ethiopia, Ghana and Cameroun.