Managing Director of Nigeria Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT), Mrs Jane Egerton-Idehen, has asked Nigerians to leverage digital transformation and innovation to unlock the country and curb youth unemployment.
She observed that reliable and affordable Internet access remains a challenge for many Nigerians, stressing that the Federal Government mandated its agencies to boost broadband penetration rate to 70 per cent by the end of 2025, as a way of lifting the economy.
Egerton-Idehen stated these while delivering the 20th Herbert Macaulay Memorial Lecture and Symposium organised by the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) Faculty of Engineering with the theme, ‘Harnessing Practical Engineering Solutions for Sustainable Economic Development’ at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium Hall, UNN, at the weekend.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Championing innovation: Digital transformation and economic diversification in Nigeria’.
She lamented that over-reliance on the oil sector had created a vulnerable economy in Nigeria.
The NIGCOMSAT DG stated that Nigeria’s reliance on oil production for many years had not augured well for the country’s economy.
She told her audience at the lecture that the time had come to unlock Nigeria’s true potential, by embracing digital transformation and fostering a culture of innovation, to further enhance other sectors like Financial and Insurance (Financial Institutions); Trade; Agriculture (crop production); Manufacturing (Food, Beverage & Tobacco); Construction; and Real Estate, among others.
“There are many ways we can frame our road to diversification and non-dependence in the oil sector. With our experience with ICT, we can safely assume we could reform and impact various sectors driving economic growth through digital transformation.
“This could be done by addressing the challenges and harnessing the opportunities. Nigeria can leverage digital transformation as a powerful tool for economic diversification, job creation, and shared prosperity,” she said.
Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof Charles Igwe, said Herbert Macaulay was one of the first Nigerian nationalists and his opposition to many colonial policies paved the way for Independence.
He charged the Faculty of Engineering to provide sustainable solutions towards the power.
