President Goodluck in Abuja said that the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector had contributed 10.56 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2013. Jonathan, who disclosed this at the eNigeria 2014, said that ICT further contributed a combined 2.56 per cent of added value to other sectors. eNigeria is Nigeria’s premier IT flagship conference, which showcases and promotes the country’s viable ICT sector potential.
“In 2011, I created the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology in recognition of the growing importance of ICT to national socio-economic development, job and wealth creation. Two years later, the ICT sector made a direct contribution of 10.56 per cent to the GDP.
“ICT also contributed a combined 2.56 per cent of added value to other sectors, thereby validating our emphasis on a more strategic and deliberate focus on ICT. At last year’s forum, which has the theme: Local Content in IT Development in Nigeria; The Journey So Far” I requested the Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, to launch the guidelines for Nigeria’s content development in ICT sector.
“This key policy has attracted a lot of interests from both local and global ICT stakeholders. Currently, the Office of Nigeria Content Development in ICT, the vehicle to ensure judicious and sustainable implementation is close to being fully operational.”
The president, who was represented by the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, said his administration was doing everything possible to strengthen the local ICT sector. The theme for eNigeria 2014: “Creating Market Opportunities for Nigeria’s ICT Products and Services” is a useful follow-up to last year’s theme.
According to Jonathan, ”the success of our local content initiative will depend on the deliberate and market-driven opportunities through which Nigerian ICT products and services can be delivered”.
The president said that the use of public procurement strengthened the local ICT sector
“Government procurement of ICT goods and services is substantial and will continue to grow. As we deliver more and more services online, use social media to engage the citizens, and leverage ICT to improve the productivity of civil servants and efficiency of public service delivery. A number of policy directives already exist. For instance, government procurement of personal computers, below a certain configuration must be sourced locally.
“Government also gives preference to meaningful technology transfer partnerships and collaborations between local and international companies for the deployment of ICTs services in government MDAs.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Turner Isoun, expressed regret that while Africa had almost 70 per cent penetration of mobile telephony, broadband and internet penetration were less than 10 per cent. Isoun, who was a former Minister of Science and Technology, however, said that the Nigerian Communication Satellite (NigComSat) Limited was already testing the KA Band transmissions.
According to him, the KA Band, which is about the most advanced in satellite technology, will ensure that every nook and cranny of Nigeria has access to broadband. Also speaking, the Chairman, Governing Board of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr Tosin Ajayi, said the rapid development of the Asian Tigers was propelled by their investment in ICT. Ajayi urged the Federal Government to focus on the development of ICT by organising Economic Summit on ICT as it had done on other sectors. The conference, which is an annual gathering of stakeholders from both public and private sectors across the globe, was organised by NITDA.
