Adamaawa State Delegates from Ministry of Information and Strategy |
The Honourable Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has called on all ties of Government to Leverage on Digital Economy as a panacea for socio-economic development of the Country.
The Communications Minister was speaking during the 7th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Communications and Digital Economy held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House Gombe, Gombe State.
According to the Minister, no nation can develop without engaging on Information and Communications Technology, and urged Nigerians to embrace and implement the provisions the Nigeria local content policy of the Federal Government in all MDA'S and private sectors of the economy. He explained that this was to ensure nation wide adherence to the specific focus on the Four areas of ICT namely, Services, Software, Human Capital development and Hardware.
Professor Pantami however informed the participants that the recent change in the Ministry's name by President Muhammadu Buhari was an upshot of the fact that Information and Communications Technology remained one of the key pillars of the country's economy in terms of contribution to the nation's GDP.
The Digital Minister also revealed that the digital economy is expected to continue growing with out development of new ideas,products,and services as well as new markets and job opportunities
While declaring the Council meeting open, the Executive Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya who was represented by his Deputy Dr. Manasah Daniel Jatau welcomed the participants to the 7th Regular Meeting ,explaining that the Theme for this year's Council Meeting " Leveraging the Gains of ICT in developing and Implementing a Digital Economy Strategy for Nigeria " was not only apt but was also a step in the right direction towards ensuring that Nigeria takes its rightful place in the comity of advanced nation's.
In his remarks the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Musa Fuktur Istifanus expressed his profound appreciation to the people and Government of Gombe State for hosting the week-long event.
The Federal Permanent Secretary explained that it is in recognition of this fact that Government decided to re- Designed the Federal Ministry of Communications as the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy with a mandate to develop and implement a harmonized and well coordinated digital economy policy and Strategy for Nigeria.
Dr. Musa Istifanus said that the policy thrust of the Ministry is clearly to articulate government's intention a number of thematic areas amongst which are Local content development, ICT Research, Development and Innovation, Investment and Funding, Inter Agency cooperation in ICT, ,Hardware production, Universal access and service internet and Broadband.
He also pointed out that the Ministry is fully committed to integrate ICT's into the socio-economic development of Nigeria in order to transform the country into a knowledge based economy, stressing that Connectivity, Capacity building and Inter-agency collaborations are key factors that will bridge the digital divide and enhance Technology development across the nation.
Adamawa State delegation led by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alhaji Salisu Bakari Buba and other Directors from the Ministry presented a memoranda No. NCCDE 2019 (07)/ 24 entitled " The need to develop an integrated Electronic mechanism ( Telecom and Internet ) to Track Crime and Criminal Activities in the Country "
During the Council meeting, the Adamawa Delegates had informed the Council members that the purpose of the MEMO is to seek the Council's endorsement of the draft, national ICT strategic plan for further consultations and processing and also requested the council to note the importance of Technology in prevention of criminality and other vices and to assist security agencies on enforcement of tracking mobile devices and other related Technologies in order to curb criminality and other negative vices in the Country.
Also in her vote of thanks, the Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations Gombe State Dr. Aishatu Umar Maigari thanked all those who afford the 7th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Communications and Digital Economy as success at Gombe State and hope that all the recommendations would be implemented from the States and at Federal level .
During the week long event, the Council had received a total of 92 memoranda out of which 86 were considered after extensive deliberations .
At the policy season headed by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the event also featured a states ICT Peer Review season as well as exhibitions of various ICT related products and services by different government MDA'S and other private sectors.
The National Council on Communications and Digital Economy is a yearly event that attracts all states Commissioners in charge of ICT from the States of the Federation as well as stakeholders the Nigerian ICT sectors.
The 8th Council Meeting has slated to hold at Imo State in the year 2020.
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