The media has been identified as a strategic collaborator and partner in the realisation of the Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) 2020-2025, according to the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta.
Danbatta who spoke through the Director of Public Affairs, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, at an event organised by the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), held in Lagos during the week, also appreciated the role of the media as a major stakeholder in the drive for the advancement of the ICT industry.
“We are also pleased to always identify with NITRA, a very important professional association of ICT journalists in the country, which has, over the years, remained a strategic partner of the Commission.
“Indeed, strategic collaboration and partnership is a key element of my Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) 2020-2025, and consistent with that, NITRA stands tall as a major stakeholder in our drive for the advancement of the industry” Danbatta said.
Speaking on the theme: “Harmonising ICT Sub-Sectors towards a Digitised Nigeria” Danbatta said, it is important to collectively create synergy among the various sub-sectors of the ICT industry towards achieving accelerated growth of the industry.
He added that the various sub-sectors of the entire value chain of the ICT industry, including the telecoms, software, hardware, infrastructure, Value Added Services (VAS), fin-tech, innovation and technology start-ups, among others are witnessing various degrees of growth with the rapid evolution of digital technologies.
According to him the sub-sectors of the ICT industry are very critical to the sustainability of the growth and contribution of ICT industry to the national economy and as a nation, developing the ICT industry remains a crucial agenda in its quest for socio-economic development in general and in the process of regional and global economic integration in particular.
The ICT industry constitutes a strategic priority for countries in the sub-region in the fight against poverty and in promoting education at all levels and it contributes to economic growth by increasing productivity in all sectors, creating a conducive environment for market expansion beyond national borders and benefiting from economies of scale and reducing costs and facilitating easy access to services, particularly in the fields of administration, education, health and banking, among others.
He said however that ICT influence on the overall growth of an economy depends on a number of factors one of which is the extent to which all the sub-sectors interact, integrate and work with a sense of harmony as technology evolves and harmonising these sub-sectors, there is a need to always ensure that the legal and regulatory regimens, as well as the national ICT institutional frameworks have mutually inclusive handshake towards ensuring a digitized economy.
“Nations that create effective and harmonized policy that triggers disruptive technologies, leveraging the full potentials of digital platforms created, are strategically positioned with competitive edge over their contemporaries who are not acting likewise.
“Having a robust broadband infrastructure enables a nation to acquire strategic edge in dynamic industries, build strong economic foundations, develop an effective and efficient financial system, and create a vibrant environment for ICT innovations that impacts all sectors”, he said.
Danbatta said the NCC has been at the forefront of driving robust broadband infrastructure in the country to improve the performance of all the sub-sectors of the ICT industry which rely on resilient telecommunications network for facilitating Nigeria’s digital economy, adding that with broadband penetration growing, start-ups, Fintechs, software, hardware and VAS segments of the market, among others also continue to witness growth.