By 
By Christabel Ume
The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has lauded growth in Nigeria’s digital economy sector and expressed willingness to continuously partner with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and its parent ministry, Ministry of Communications Digital Economy to help the country fully realize its potentials.
Al-Rais and other panelists at the Digital Nigeria event
While speaking at a panel session on ‘Driving Growth and Unlocking Innovations Through Regulations for a Sustainable Digital Economy’ with focus on collaborations to growing the ecosystem, Vice President, Technology and Digital Cluster, DWTC, Bilal Al-Rais, described collaboration as the soul of any ecosystem.
“Collaboration is the soul of any innovation ecosystem. For innovators to thrive, there must be collaborations. The DWTC through the GITEX GLOBAL platform has for nearly 50 years now foster and encourage collaborations for different innovation ecosystem across countries, and helping to provide intra-nation partnerships and to do deals,” noted Al Rais.
He said Nigeria’s digital economy has recorded upward growth owing to the direction offered by the country’s leadership while commending Prof Pantami for series of initiatives now helping to transform the country’s economy.
His words: “Let me particularly commend the Honourable Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, and NITDA for the startling results Nigeria has achieved as the major destination for startup funding in Africa; the new Nigeria Startup Law designed to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.
“In the last three years, we believe Nigeria has initiated a lot of policy and legal frameworks to encourage cross border collaborations and engender investment including the new Nigeria startup law; the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) developed to provide the roadmap for Nigeria’s digital economy aspirations;. its National Broadband Policy to build Nigeria’s e-readiness and prepare the way to expand access and bolster investment.
The DWTC is here to support Nigeria’s drive for international collaborations through the NITDA and its parent ministry.”
