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By Chinenye Anuforo [email protected]
Several years after independence, Nigeria appears to be retrogressing virtually in all sectors, but the information and communication technology (ICT) sector is an exception. Though it still grapples with many challenges, the sector has impacted positively on the nation’s economy.
Stakeholders who spoke to Daily Sun, affirmed that there have been some milestones in the sector, which impacted positively on the economy of the country in the past 63 years, but there are still areas that need improvement.
Jide Awe, CEO of Jidaw Systems Limited, said the ICT sector has done well in terms of advances and efficiency introduced in the economy and society: “Developments in the sector have created jobs and opportunities and new ways of improving productivity. Payments, mobile activities, fintech impact, online commerce and telecom are some apparent influences and changes in society and the economy. The startup ecosystem and youth innovation activities have also been impressive.”
Awe said establishing the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau to recognize the importance of data protection and privacy in building Nigeria’s digital economy was a positive development.
The 5G licensing was also a step in the right direction, in line with providing an environment for growth and future development in the digital era.
However, the ICT guru pointed out that there was still a lot to be done.
He said, “Youth innovation needs more attention, while the growing tech talent shortage should be a cause for concern.
While the sector is making a significant contribution to GDP, we still need to build domestic capabilities in ICT to build a sustainable digital economy that works for everyone and is globally competitive.”
In addition, he said, it is essential to do more to prioritize, encourage and support indigenous innovation to solve Nigeria’s problems.
“The reality is that we still consume more than we produce. Therefore, to protect our interests now and for future generations, we must develop domestic capabilities to solve our problems.
“Strategic focus and investment in youth innovation, the building of domestic capabilities and indigenous innovation have many social and economic benefits, including helping to address the growing youth unemployment problem.”
Continuing, Awe stated that another cause for concern was the digital inclusion gap. The digital disparities noticed during the COVID-19 lockdown period remain. Age, gender, location, socioeconomic status and disability are often the basis for digital disadvantage. “We forget that inclusion helps to accelerate innovation and development.
“Nigeria also needs to improve digital education. The country must do more to prepare students and citizens for future work. The innovation culture should begin at a young age and continue throughout life. The educator sector (formal and informal) should focus on STEAM, STI, emerging technologies and 21st century (digital and soft) skills, with a focus on the Fourth Individual Revolution (4IR).”
On his own part, another ICT expert, Mr. Ajibola Olude, said that in the past 63 years, the Nigeria ICT sector has recorded commendable feats.
Hear said, “The Nigerian Telecom and ICT Sector has done very well in the area of its contributions to the Nigeria’s economy. The sector created a lot of revenue for the government, provided employment for the teeming Nigeria’s population, the capital importation to the country has been impressive.”
Another experts who spoke on conditions of anonymity said Nigeria has been witnessing phenomenal growth in its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry, thus enabling socio-economic development in Nigeria and across the African continent.
According to him, the growth and development that have been enabled by the telecoms sector since independence has been tremendous.
However, he said there are areas that still needed to be improved upon.
For instance, in telecoms industry, he said for Nigeria to have unhindered service quality, all critical factors must be looked into, which he said, include electricity supply, roads, government policies on Right of Ways (RoWs) and multiple taxation.”
He therefore advised government not to tax telecoms operations to death, as currently been seen in some states of the federation.
