By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Government has begun the provision of broadband infrastructure in 18 higher academic institutions and for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the six geo political zones of the country.
Minister of communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami during the launch in Abuja, Thursday, said the initiative is aimed at boosting the economic drive of the current administration in various sectors.
He said the project which is to be implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was approved by the Federal Executive Council, after the presentation by the Minister, to accelerate broadband penetration in Nigeria and advance the course of digital economy projections for the nation.
He explained that digital connectivity and expanding access to information play a role in enhancing the economy.
The Minister stated that the World Bank estimates that an increase in the digitally connected people across the globe to 75% would result in an addition of up to US$2 trillion dollars per year to world GDP and a creation of about 140 million jobs.
Similarly, a report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation states that 80% of economic benefits in developing countries are as a result of the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and digital skills, while in developed countries, it is even higher at 90%.
In Nigeria, “we have experienced the impact of the digital economy on other sectors of the economy. You will recall that the digital economy of Nigeria played a key role in stabilising and growing other sectors of our economy.
” For example, in the second quarter of 2022, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector contributed an unprecedented 18.44% to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP), this is the highest ever contribution of the sector and this is the third unprecedented contribution since I assumed office in August 2019.
“The ICT sector also enabled Nigeria to exit the recession triggered by COVID a year earlier than predicted by experts. In particular, the ICT sector grew by 14.70% in the last quarter of 2020 and was the only sector that grew by double digits in this quarter and in the entire year 2020”
Pantami reiterated the fact that digital connectivity, access, and skills are critical for human and economic development in both developed and developing countries.
He listed the beneficiary tertiary institutions to include University Of Lagos, College Of Education (Special), Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, University Of Nigeria, Nsukka, Federal Univeristy Of Technology, Owerri, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, University Of Calabar, University Of Benin.
Others are University Of Port Harcourt, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Bayero University, Kano, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina, Borno State University, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Gombe State University, Federal University Of Technology, Minna, University Of Ilorin and University Of Abuja.
