The Mimister for Communication, Dr Adebayo Shittu on Monday disclosed
that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has attracted
over 42 million dollars direct foreign investment to national
economy between 2001 and 2019.
According to him, during the period ICT also grown from 0.6 per cent
to over 10 per cent.
Adebayo Shittu disclosed this, while declaring open a workshop on
National ICT Roadmap for the Southeast Zone, in Awka, Anambra state.
The workshop was: “The Role of the Private Sector in the
Implementation of the Nigeria ICT Roadmap”.
” Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) attracted by the sector to national
economy by ICT had grown in excess of 42 million dollars during the
same period”he said.
The Minister said despite the positive figures, the potentials of the
sector was yet to be maximised in view of its pivotal role in the
optimal development of the various sectors of Nigeria’s economy.
According to the minister, ICT Roadmap 2017-2020 inaugurated in 2018
was the strategic process which the Federal Government had developed
for the purpose of achieving ICT penetration in the country
He said the private sector was crucial to the success of the roadmap,
stressing that the President Muhammadu Buhari federal government was
determined to support the private sector to play its key roles in
implementing the roadmap.
“As you are aware, the ICT revolution that commenced in Nigeria over a
decade again has impacted positively on our national economy.
“This is very evident in its contributions to the gross domestic
products from 0.6 per cent in 2001 to over 10 per cent in 2019.
“FDI made from telecommunications operators, service providers and
other stakeholders is in excess of 42 million dollar,” he said.
He said the event provided an opportunity for stakeholders to share
collective vision regarding the developmental of the ICT sector in the
medium term.
“In spite of this crucial role, the sector has seen tremendous
challenges and constraints which includes inadequate local content,
poor infrastructure leading to lack of access by many Nigerian.
“As the engine room of the economy ,the private sector is pivotal to
the consultation that culminated in the development of Nigeria ICT
road map 2017-2020.
“It is even more critical now that we are at the stage of
implementation, this event is therefore a milestone in our desire to
reposition and harness the inherent potentials and benefits of the ICT
sector for national growth and development.
“The sector roadmap which was launched in 2018, is to ensure that ICT
gets to every nook and cranny of Nigeria and provide access to
everyone as well as improve efficiency in the public sector,” he said.
In his remark, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, Secretary to Anambra
Government, said the state government under Gov.Willie Obiano had
employed ICT in its processes.
Chukwulobelu said government now give some approval electronically
such that when the governor was abroad some critical processes were
approved online.
The SSG said with the aid ICT, Internally Generated Revenue had from
half a N500 million naira monthly to over N1.5 billion due to
digitisation process as it had led to plugging of leakages.
He said that the Anambra ministry of Agricuilture was the most
advanced in the country and that there was an ICT centre that captured
farmers in the state and their activities.
He said the ministry of education was divided into two, such that one
now oversaw issues of ICT as a means for developin
g a population that was ICT aware.