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The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant and former Vice President (1999-2007), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta; former Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC and current Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, and other stakeholders have lauded Nigeria’s strides in the rollout of digital infrastructures despite mounting challenges.
The ICT sector have remained dynamic and continued to record pulsating growth, the trio agreed in a rare concordance among politicians, regulators, operators and critical observers.
The trio spoke at the recent 11th eWorld Forum which featured the launch of a book: “Nigeria Drivers of Digital Prosperity: The Trajectories of the Digital Evolution, Sector Analysis and Players Contributions”, authored by the Convener of the forum, Mr. Aaron Ukodie, a veteran ICT journalist and publisher of eWorld News Online.
Atiku: Nigeria will be a more digitized country
Atiku, who was Vice President under President Olusegun Obansajo, and headed the economy team, revealed that apart from forestalling efforts by some people in government to scuttle the GSM license on the day it was held, he “in February 2002, I inaugurated a 22-member Telecommunications Sector Reform implementation committee, aimed at increasing access to phone services for Nigerians, primarily through the GSM, and further facilitated all necessary licensing for the GSM to come into effect in Nigeria”.
While commending Ukodie for “this very important book,” Atiku said the introduction of the GSM revolution made possible by Digital Mobile Licensing, has reshaped the economic and social wellbeing of Nigerians and Nigeria as a country.
The PDP presidential aspirant expressed gratitude for being acknowledged through “this book as one of the pioneers of and contributors to Nigeria’s digital transformation within the ICT sector, in addition to the efforts of the Nigerian Communications Commission.”
He assured that if voted to into power next year, he will “continue in that stride of making Nigeria a more digitized country, and provide enablement for the youths to prosper through enhanced and pervasive digital platforms. He was represented at the event by Barrister Uyi Giwa- Osagie,
L-R: Head of Online at the NCC, Dr Omoniyi Ibietan and Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Dr Ndukwe
ICT in positive growth curve – NCC
According to Prof. Umar Danbatta, Nigeria has recorded outstanding results with broadband penetration since November 2021 to place it among the world’s leading achievers in that realm. There is a record of seven million new subscriptions bringing the country closer to achieving 70% national coverage by 2025.
who presented the figures in Lagos on Thursday, at the launch of a book on the impact of broadband on the economy, said the steady growth in broadband penetration is positively impacting other sectors of the economy such as healthcare, education, agriculture, finance, transportation, commerce, governance, and other sectors.
“Internet subscribers have grown from 90 million in 2015 to 150.36 million as at May 2022. Also, within the period under review, broadband penetration increased from 8 per cent to 43.67 per cent, indicating that over 83.3 million subscribers are on broadband networks of 3G and 4G. Indeed, between November 2021 and May 2022, the networks have added 7 million new users,” said Danbatta while making the keynote at the event chaired by Dr. Ndukwe.
“It is our belief that the communications industry will continue to experience more quantum leaps that will be beneficial to the nation’s economy and its citizens,” said Danbatta, who was represented by NCC’s Head, Spectrum Administration, Abraham Oshadami.
He said as at Q1 2021, the ICT sector contributed 12.61%t to the GDP from 8.50%in 2015. Active mobile voice subscription also increased from 151 million in 2015 to over 204 million as at May 2022, while teledensity is 107.17%
He added that the telecom regulatory agency has been working to implement all the digital economy-oriented policies through its Strategic Vision Implementation Plan (SVP) 2021 – 2025. A 5-Point Agenda designed to achieve the goals of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025, and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), 2020-2030.
Ndukwe expressed faith in the sector even as he lauded the NCC for remaining through its global recognition as a respectable umpire.
Awards
Atiku was honored with an award as Nigeria Digital Prosperity Enabler for championing the liberalisation of the telecom sector. Also honoured were Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government, and former president of ATCON who got the award of Order of Excellence for Impact on Nigeria’s Digital Prosperity; Prof Danbatta received the Icon of Nigeria’s Digital Prosperity award while Dr. Ndukwe was honoured as Champion of Nigeria’s Digital Transformation and Prosperity.
