Agencies under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy have continued to implement people-oriented projects to advance the digital economy agenda of President Muhammad Buhari.
Such agencies as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Galaxy Backbone and the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) have not relented in their efforts to contribute to building Nigeria’s digital economy.
On Tuesday, the commitment of these agencies was once again demonstrated during the virtual commissioning of 11 new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) projects implemented by the agencies under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy by the Minister, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, in Abuja at the Digital Economy Complex.
The Minister commissioned such projects as the Emergency Communication Centres (ECC’s) in Ilorin, Kwara State and Calabar, Cross River.
Other projects commissioned include the e-Health/Data Sharing Centre, Medical College, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; and Virtual Examination Centre, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, all implemented by the NCC.
Two projects executed by the USPF were also commissioned, including the Tertiary Institution Knowledge Centre (TIKC), Delta State and School Knowledge Centre (SKC) located at Government Day Secondary School, Hassan Central, Gombe State.
NITDA implemented three projects: the Information Technology (IT) and Incubation Park, University of Ayangba, Kogi State, ICT Capacity Building Centres at the College of Education, Gumel, Jigawa State and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State.
Also commissioned were the new Neighbourhood Post Office/NIRSAL Microfinance Bank branch, Delta State and the Remodeled National Mail Exchange Centre (Mbiama), Ahoada West Local Government Area of River State executed by NIPOST.
Pantami noted at the commissioning ceremony that over 500 projects have been executed by agencies under the ministry in the past five years, adding that the projects are connected to the tripartite agenda of the President focusing on enhancing national security, diversification of the economy and curbing corruption.
The Minister stated that the 11 projects are in sync with seven of the eight pillars of the country’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) unveiled by the President last year.
He thanked the President for being supportive of the Ministry’s initiative towards addressing extant challenges of vandalism of telecom infrastructure, Right of Way (RoW) issues, among others in order to accelerate broadband penetration to 70 per cent as envisaged by the National Broadband Plan (2020-2025).
Prof. Adeolu Akande, Chairman, NCC Governing Board, thanked the Minister for the visibility he is giving the projects being executed by the agencies under the Ministry.
Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, reiterated the commitment of the Commission towards implementing policies and programmes aimed at fast-tracking the advancement of digital economy vision of the Federal Government.
The virtual event was graced by governors and ministers, who were special guests among whom were the Governor of Imo, who was Chairman of the occasion, Governor of Gombe State, Minister of Interior, Minister of State for Education, Minister of State for Mines and Power, as well as the staff of the Ministry, board members and heads of agencies under the ministry, among others.
The special guests commended the Minister for commissioning the important projects and for enhancing synergy between the Ministry and its agencies.
