Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), will today, be leading other information and Communications Technology (ICT) stakeholders to the 14th Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Lecture/Awards holding at the Oriental Hotels, Lekki, Lagos.
While Pantami is the special guest of honour at the event seen as the biggest gathering of ICT stakeholders, it will be chaired by Engr. Ike Nnamani, group managing director, Medallion Data Centre.
Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, director general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) will deliver industry regulatory keynotes at the event.
This year’s lecture is themed “Digital Transformation and Cloud Services as New Order” even as Cloud services now play a critical role in accelerating digital transformation and delivering essential public services.
To achieve the next stage of digital transformation and enable countries to reap the benefits of the global digital economy, governments must prioritize the adoption of cloud services where feasible.
Cloud technologies offer cost savings, the ability to scale rapidly, access to advanced cybersecurity features and big data processing using AI.
Ken Nwogbo, CEO, Communication Week Media Ltd, organisers of the ABoICT Distinguished Lecture/Awards Series said, “Prof. Isa Pantami has since his appointment as minister of Communications and Digital Economy, brought about positive changes in the sector.
“Among them are linking of NIN with SIM which has reduced the use of mobile phones for nefarious activities, digital transformation in the public sector as well as laying the foundation for a digital economy.”
Under the supervision of Prof. Isa Pantami, Nigeria’s ICT sector recorded an unprecedented 17.92% highest-ever contribution to the country’s GDP in the 2nd Quarter of 2021, having also accomplished an increase in the growth rate of the ICT sector to 14.70% in the 4th Quarter of 2020 making it the best-performing sector of the economy that contributed to Nigeria’s exit from recession.
Another accomplishment is the formulation of the Nigerian startup bill which was finally passed into law by the Senate on the 20th of July, 2022. The Nigerian Startup Bill (NSB) would help address more than 90% of the challenges confronting technology innovators in the country.
Past speakers of the ABoICT Distinguished Lecture/Awards include Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, then executive vice-chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC); Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, former Director-General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC); Biodun Omoniyi, Managing Director/CEO, VDT Communications; Ayotunde Coker, Managing Director, Rack Centre Limited; and Peter Adedayo Arogundade, managing director and chief executive officer, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited, among others.
The events drew top politicians and government functionaries as well captains in the ICT industry and financial institutions.
