In recognition of the importance of the telecommunications sector to Nigeria’s economy, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has called on the sector to position itself strategically for the task ahead.

Yilwatda, during a virtual session yesterday with leading Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of both technology and telecom companies in Nigeria, stressed that technology alone could not transform a nation. Instead, he said the ultimate determinant of Nigeria’s digital evolution rests on the quality of political leadership, policy framework predictability, and strong institutional backing.

He stressed the importance of aligning public policy with private enterprise to construct a resilient, tech-driven economy capable of reaching a $1 trillion valuation.

The APC chairman highlighted the massive contribution of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Referencing the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), he said the ICT sector contributed 11.7 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP across the first three quarters of 2024, expanding at more than twice the rate of the broader national economy. He added that telecommunications and information services alone drove this surge, recording a growth rate near 10.8 per cent compared to the macro GDP growth of approximately 3.4 per cent.

Despite these record contributions, he emphasised that rapid statistical growth hides critical gaps in basic accessibility. He said while broadband subscriptions reached 134 million in mid-2024 with a penetration rate of 47.4 per cent, nearly four out of 10 Nigerians remain completely disconnected from digital services. He noted that behind this structural deficit, affecting over 33 million citizens, are real-world human consequences: farmers unable to check real-time market prices, students cut off from educational resources, and small business owners unable to process electronic transactions.

According to him, to transition Nigeria from a consumer of global tech to an independent digital powerhouse, some core strategies, including vision, predictability, and cohesion, are essential.

Speaking on FG’s 90,000 km fibre initiative, Yilwatda noted that the cornerstone of the government’s digital infrastructure drive is a major initiative aimed at dramatically expanding the country’s telecom backbone.

Further, Yilwatda warned against becoming dependent on foreign tech stacks as emerging platforms like Artificial Intelligence redefine global commerce. Rather than relying on foreign software, he called on Nigerian engineers, investors, and policymakers to build and control domestic AI infrastructure.