…Advocates Optimal Utilisation Of Digital Resources
The Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has said that its recently held National Dialogue on Telecoms and ICT sector was targeted at changing the narrative of Nigeria’s development through the optimal utilization of digital resources.
ATCON said that to achieve this, State Governors, Ministries, Agencies and Sectors like Agriculture, Education, Oil & Gas, Health, Industry, Trade and Investment, Security and Defence, Transportation, Works and Housing were invited along with telecom and ICT companies in order to see the strategic essence of taking advantage of Digital resources to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their respective sectors for the betterment and overall benefits of the country.
These disclosures were contained in the Welcome Address presented by the President of ATCON, Mr Olusola Teniola at the National Dialogue on Telecoms and ICT sector in Nigeria organized by the Association at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja on October 15, 2020.
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 under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to drive the entire economy through digital resources.
This is aided by the frantic efforts being pursued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Members of ATCON.
Teniola said the strategic objectives of this very important event were to optimally x-ray the factors that have worked for and against the telecom and ICT Sector in Nigeria as well as to discuss regulations and policies around Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), BlockChain and so on.
It was also aimed at proffering sustainable solutions in respect of telecom and ICT Sector; and channel collaborative efforts toward promoting Nigerian Digital Economy and other policies that the ministry of communications and Digital Economy have launched.
“As we all know the well-researched theme for this Dialogue is “Harnessing the Digital Resources for the Building of our National Economy” and it has created a veritable platform for the discussion at the panel sessions,” Teniola said.
The ATCON President said the Nigerian telecom and ICT Sector would help the country to unlock her inherent digital potentials, noting that the Nigerian States that have bought into the Nigeria National Broadband Plan 2020 – 2025 would enjoy and maximize the opportunity that pervasive broadband penetration and other ICT Infrastructure can offer as the people of these States can leverage on uninterrupted telecommunications and ICT services which they have not been enjoying before now.
“It has been widely acknowledged that the presence of telecom and ICT amenities is prerequisite for where to locate businesses as this critical telecom and ICT infrastructure would give Nigerian youths the opportunity to express their gifts and talents thereby exporting them to earn foreign exchanges in turn.
“ATCON has carefully selected thought leaders in the sector who are expected to come up with brilliant ideas as to what the public and private sector can do to maximize the benefits inherent in the digital economy such that the recent fall in Nigeria’s GDP can be reversed.
“The recent Index of Digital Quality of Life positioned Nigeria in the pursuit of the digital economy and ranked as 20th position at the beginning of the survey (Nigeria is currently ranked 81st),” he said.
The ATCON boss hoped that the report that would come out of the extensive deliberations at the event, would be used to improve the investment climate of the telecom and ICT industry in Nigeria.
ATCON was partnered and supported at the event by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), IHS Nigeria Limited, Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited, Facebook, 9mobile, VDT Communications Limited, and Airtel Networks Limited.
Others include The Government of Plateau State, The Government of Ondo State, NIGCOMSAT, MTN Nigeria, Galaxy Backbone, Tecno Telecoms Limited, Main One Cable Company Nigeria Limited, PPC, Layer3 Limited, Pan African Towers Limited, Rack Centre Limited, Broadbased Communications Limited, Estream Networks Limited, IPNX Limited, Phase3 Telecoms Limited, Medallion Communications Limited, IPI Solutions Nigeria Limited, Coollink Nigeria, DOTMAC Technologies Limited, HD Technologies Limited and Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN).