President Mohammadu Buhari says Nigeria has recorded 11.81% growth in Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector of the economy in the second quarter of 2018.
The president disclosed in his opening remarks at the 2018 e-Nigeria intetnational conference and exhibition organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in Abuja on Monday.
Themed “Promoting Digital Economy in an Era of Disruptive Technologies Through Effective Regulations” , the president noted that the conference and exhibition is apt as it is building on the 2017 edition theme which was centred that centred on Fostering the Digital Economy through Local Content Development and Effective Regulation.
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“This administration’s commitment towards delivering good governance and development to our people is much stronger than before, considering the huge role of ICT in the successes recorded in the past three and a half years.
You may recall that in my address at last year’s event, I raised a number of issues relating to ICT’s role in fostering the digital economy in Nigeria, including, the sector’s contribution of about 10% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the need for efforts to be made in enhancing this, especially in our efforts of diversifying the economy.
” I am pleased to note that this has been taken seriously and stakeholders’ efforts resulted in ICT emerging as one of the key performers of the second quarter of 2018 by recording 11.81% growth. Challenged our reliance on foreign hardware resulting into the importation of about 80% of ICT hardware through local Distributors of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) by MDAs and other government establishments as well as the need for concerted efforts aimed at reversing the trend,” said Buhari
He noted that the role of Science, Technology and Innovation towards actualisation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) cannot be overemphasised, and adds that efforts of relevant Federal Public Institutions towards ensuring full implementation executive order 003 mandating all ministries, departments and agencies to give preference to locally manufactured goods and services in their procurement of information technology services. In order to strengthen its implementation as well as provide clear policy directions and executive order 005 which was issued in February as part of the administration’s deliberate efforts and strong commitment at strengthening the role of Science, Technology and Innovation towards the actualisation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP)
He commends NITDA’s initiative focused on the Registration of IT Contractors and Service Providers in collaboration with other regulatory bodies with special emphasis on competencies, stressing that it will ensure the delivery of quality IT projects, as well as facilitate the development of indigenous IT companies in line with global best practices.
Oyin Aminu, Abuja
