India’s Minister of Communications, Manoj Sinha, said that the long standing trade relationship between India and Nigeria was major reason his country adopted Nigeria as hub of Indo-Africa initiative adding that Nigeria’s ICT growth rating among emerging markets was the reason for the choice of Nigeria.
Sinha made the disclosure at the end of the third edition of the Indo-Africa ICT Expo in Lagos. Sinha who felt bad for his inability to attend the programme in person addressed the gathering through a pre recorded TV broadcast. He said that this edition of the summit has special significance, not only for India and Nigeria, but also for the entire Africa, adding that the success of the first two editions held in Kenya gave the organisers the confidence to shift the focus to West Africa.
“I strongly believe that the vast experience gained by India in setting up of ICT infrastructure can be leveraged by the governments as well as the private business enterprises in Africa. To explore synergies on the ground in ICTs, more than 50 ICT companies from India are participating in this
ICT Expo” he said.
Citing the key capabilities of Indian companies and what they can offer Nigeria, the Minister said that India companies have developed the engineering capabilities and experience with smart innovations. “They have the ability to train employees at scale; innovative business models at low
cost. This makes them well-positioned to support the booming African ICT sector” he said.
According to the Indian Minister, India and Africa are having similar demographic and ICT usage profile and should therefore work together to achieve common goal of establishing digital economy in respective countries. “We are fully committed to share our ICT experiences, expertise and
software skills with other countries in the developing world. India is also willing to explore opportunities of financing the emerging opportunities”.
The organisers, TEPC, is working in conjunction with the National Association of Software and Service Companies, (NASSCOM), which is the premier trade body and the chamber of commerce of the IT-BPM industries in India. The TEPC stated that the vision of a knowledge based society “is built on an edifice where IT and Telecommunications merge,” adding that “rapid technological convergence has already established a symbiotic relationship between the development strategies of IT and telecommunications. IT flourishes on the telecom-network and in turn permits modern day
telecommunications to use sophisticated IT-software.”
The Council says as Africa is among the fastest growing markets worldwide, improving macroeconomic indicators, conducive business environment, larger, younger and more affluent population, rising middle class – all are strong indicators of not only a source of capital but also of job creation, skills development, technology transfer, infrastructure development, responsible governance and most of all –sustained growth that eventually will lead to transformation of African economies!”
Other ministers at the conference include Mr. Vincent Sowah Odotel, Deputy Minister of Communications, Ghana and Mr. Getachew Negash Tekla, State Minister of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. Dignitaries at the inauguration of the conference include Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, former executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission who is chairman of Openmedia Group, Mr. Olusola Teniola, President of the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of Association of Licensed Telephone Operators (ALTON) and Mr. Tayo Adeniyi, President of the Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN), as well as Chief Charles Okeke,
chairman of the IT/Telecom Trading Group of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, (NACCIMA) and Mr. Ahmed Ojikutu, President of the Computers and Allied Products Association
of Nigeria (CAPDAN).
