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By Christabel Ume, Abuja
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahi Pantami, says the ICT sector has achieved unparalleled impact on the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) consistently in the last three years accounting for double digits contribution.
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“The ICT sector provided three unprecedented contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country in the last three years, namely 14.07% in Q1 2020, 17.92% in Q2 2021 and 18.44% in Q2 2022. At each time, these numbers [have] been the highest ever contribution of the ICT sector to the GDP,” the minister tells the media in Abuja on Monday to mark the third edition of Digital Nigeria Day.
The event serves as a pre-briefing on the Digital Nigeria coneference and expo holding October 25-27 and organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
“The ICT sector grew by 14.70% in Q4 2020, making it the fastest growing sector of the Nigerian economy in the last quarter of 2020 and the only sector to have grown by double digits. This played a critical role in enabling Nigeria to exit recession. Furthermore, the quarterly revenues also generated for the Federal Government rose from N51.3 billion to N408.7 billion, through spectrum sales and taxes from the sector,” he adds reeling out achievements of his ministry in the last three years.
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The Digital Nigeria Day also doubles as the United Nations’ World Development Information Day. The United Nations Resolution A/RES/65/141 announced this date and noted that “Information and communications technologies have the potential to provide new solutions to development challenges, particularly in the context of globalization, and can foster economic growth, competitiveness, access to information and knowledge, poverty eradication and social inclusion.”
The Nigeria’s digital economy is evolving appreciatively in line with the National Digital Economy Policy & Strategy 2020-2030 (NDEPS), Pantami reiterates and says the ministry’s scorecard includes:
- Implementation of Broadband Connectivity – 134%
- Deployment of 4G across the country – 127%
- Digitalising Government functions and processes – 99%
- Development and implementation of a National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy – 103%
- Implementation of a Digital Identity Programme – 86%
- Improvement and optimization of revenues from all operators and licensees in the agencies under the Ministry’s supervision – 594%
- Active collaboration with the Private Sector to create jobs – 111%
- Empowerment of citizens – 137%
