By Emmanuel Elebeke

Minister of Communications Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, has said that Nigeria’s ongoing digitization process will soon position the nation’s economy on the global map.

*Communications Technology Minister, Omobola Johnson

The Minister stated this during a press briefing in Abuja recently where she outlined the activities of the industry to enhance the economy.

She said the decision of President Jonathan to create the ministry in 2011, has started yielding the desired results as the ministry had consistently made significant impact on the Nigerian economy.

Johnson explained that the ministry is on a clear path to creating an inclusive digital economy that supports the positioning of Nigeria as a top ranked economy globally, not just from GDP perspective but from productive, efficiency, transparency and good governance. According to her, the new ministry has energized the Information and Communication Technology, ICT, sector, which is now helping to build  a new and better Nigeria, adding that the ICT industry remains the foundation for Nigeria’s transformation in the 21stcentury.

“The industry in Nigeria  has come  a long way, as stakeholders, we have and with the carving out of the Ministry of Communication  Technology in 2011, this has brought a new dimension to the sector and the way it is perceived both within and  outside the country.

“Through the various initiatives by the ministry and in collaboration with its stakeholders, the industry has in the last four years recorded a remarkable feat.

“The domestic value added in key areas was sub-optional and it was characterized by consumer preference for global brands and the level of importation of inputs and finished products. But with the establishment of the ministry, and the laid down ICT documents; the National Broadband  Strategy and Local Content Guidelines, all came through the efforts of the President and the stakeholders. With that, we have been able to make remarkable progress,” she said.

The Minister, who acknowledged a preponderance of challenges in the sector, said the ministry is looking forward to delivering on the promises of the transformation agenda by addressing the challenges in the ICT sector. She underscored the need for the country to leverage on the opportunities that ICT brings to the fore for socio-economic development of the nation.

One of the promises according to her is the provision of adequate and ubiquitous rollout of broadband to all Nigerians by 2018.

To her, the connectivity plan is so dear to her heart with the sole aim of providing a ubiquitous, robust and cost-effective ICT infrastructure to support the creation and development of a digital economy, by ensuring that Nigerians have affordable and reliable access to devices and have the capacity to use them; in a manner that all Nigerians  can all benefits from the ICT resource.