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The Association of Telecommunications Professionals of Nigeria (ATPN) has called for digital transformation inclusion across all sectors for economy sustainability. The national president of the association, Adede John O. Williams made the appeal as the international community this week celebrated World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD).
The WTISD “is observed every year on May 17, to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs) functionalities can bring to societies and economies at large, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide across board in the larger society and in helping people connect around the world.
Hence, we hereby use this medium to call on all Telecommunications and Information Technology professionals as well as practitioners practicing in Nigeria and Nigerians majoring in ICT in the Diaspora to tie with their professional colleagues across the world to celebrates the constant evolution of one of the most important factors of our lives called ‘communication’. The main goal of the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (WTISD) is to highlight the importance of communication and how information technology travels across the world. It also aims to increase the awareness of how crucial effective utilization of communication can impact our lives positively and to stimulate the development of technologies in the world today,” said Williams in a statement issued in Lagos.
The ATPN is a rallying ground for Nigerian’s professionals in ICT; parts of its objectives is to promote growth in people and industry.
Williams added: “At the same time, as we joined our counterpart all over the world to celebrate this year WTISD 2021. With a Theme that is focusing on the important of how we can accelerate digital transformation in a challenging times across all the stratum of the economy, most especially with the fretful of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis which has graciously highlighted in many ways the urgency and important of accelerating digital transformation as well as ways to bridge the digital divide with professional advancement as it relates to the goals and targets of the ICTs Connect 2030 Agenda for the purpose of leaving no one behind the critical role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
“As a matter of fact, the WTISD 2021 celebration with the theme “Accelerating Digital Transformation in Challenging Times’’ is an opportunity to call on Heads of Government, ITU members country, policymakers and industry players in Africa and Nigeria in particular to continue to push for digital transformation inclusion for economy sustainability, by way of promoting digital economy inclusion through Local, States and National strategies for ICT development, with a smart city policies to encourage more investments, cooperation, and partnership in the Telecommunications and Information Technologies sector. As that will further accelerate digital transformation as highlighted in the ITU’s ICT Re-connect 2030 Agenda”
The annual celebration of the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day is an amalgamation of World Information Society Day and World Telecommunication Society Day. The day marks the founding day of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865 while World Information Day is celebrated to focus on the importance of ICT and the wide range of issues related to the Information society with essential aims of advancing standard of living, saving lives and sustaining economies.
