By Omobayo Azeez
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has confirmed Ali Pantami, minister of communication and digital economy as the keynote speaker at it forthcoming national dialogue on telecoms and ICT.
In a statement signed by Ajibola Olude, its executive secretary, the minister address is will bother on topics such as digital economy in Nigeria: challenges and opportunities; private public partnership and development of mechanism for the seamless management of inter-ministries and agencies: an imperative for broadband infrastructure development in Nigeria.
Other issues to feature in the discussion include national funding and investment strategy for broadband infrastructure and digital economy: the importance of education and awareness; and regulation on emerging technologies such AI, IoT, Robotics, Blockchain, among others.
Meanwhile, ATCON also disclosed that the national dialogue has received massive support in form of sponsorship interest from multiple private and public bodies in the country.
Standing sponsors, as disclosed by ATCON, include Facebook, Airtel, Huawei, VDT Communications, MainOne, 21st Century Technologies Limited, Pan African Tower, PPC, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), have shown supported the programme in form of sponsorship.
Others include the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Broadbased Communications, the Government of Plateau State and a host of others have expressed their sponsorship for the national dialogue.
ATCON had declared a National Dialogue on Telecoms and ICT Sector in Nigeria themed “Harnessing the Digital Resources for the building of our National Economy” and slated for Thursday, March 26, 2020 at NAF Conference Centre and Suites, Abuja.
It said the programme is strategically to channel collaborative efforts toward Nigerian digital economy with the sole aim of accelerating the economy’s performance in relation to other leading African countries.
It also intends to use the exploit the event as a forum to discuss the recently launched documents on digital economy and take stakeholders input for implementation.
“In addition to these, the programme is to optimally X-ray the factors that have worked for and against the telecom and ICT sector in Nigeria as well as discuss regulations and policies around AI, IoT and Blockchain,” the statement partly read.
“The growth across all the sectors of Nigeria’s economy is expected to be exponential as a result of the resolve by the federal government of Nigeria under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to drive the entire economy through digital resources.
“This strategic dialogue plans to bring together the presidency, National Assembly, relevant federal ministries, state governors, ICT state commissioners, telecom and ICT operating companies, World Bank and other international relevant agencies.
“One of the overriding deliverables of this national dialogue on telecoms and ICT sector is that the adoption of digital resources by all aforementioned sectors would lead to development which would eventually make Nigeria to join the league of the top 20 global economies,” the statement further stated.
