The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has urged ministries, departments and agencies to deepen the concept of Digital Public Infrastructure as a catalyst for transforming the Nigerian Civil Service.

According to a statement, the minister stated this during the inaugural event of DevsInGovernment in Abuja recently.

The ‘DevsinGovernment’ is a digital public infrastructure by the Federal government to drive and accelerate technology and digital transformation within the public service sector of the country.

Tijani charged technology enthusiasts and MDAs to strengthen digitalisation for improved service delivery to the populace.

“The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy acknowledges the significant role that technology plays in transforming the civil service into a high-performing, efficient and citizen-centered institution.

“The need to transform government services is the foundation to prosperity and the enabler to Nigeria’s progression towards the building of other digital capabilities in government,” he noted.

According to Tijani, the mandate of this government is to popularise the concept of digital public infrastructure in the system by promoting the use of technology to effectively deliver government services.

He itemised the limitless opportunities inherent in the application of DPI as it will empower civil servants to carry out tasks more robustly.

The minister clarified, “DPI is not about centralising all our solutions, but it is how to promote the use of technology in government services through an effective system and infrastructure for optimal delivery.”

According to the minister, digitalisation is not just about e-Government, nor is it just automating the system, but it is the ability to use technology to transform services with good deliverables.

He told the over 400 participants at the inaugural event that the essence of setting up the DevsInGovernment platform was to share ideas that would change Nigeria and make it a better country.

He also said Nigerians were fortunate to be led by a President who had deep power of technology to transform the nation.

In his opening address of welcome, the acting Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Abdul-Malik Suleiman, noted that digital transformation was at the heart of the current government.

He added that this explained why the President appointed a young and dynamic minister to steer the affairs of the digital sector.

He said the purpose of bringing technologists together was to deepen their intellectual capability as drivers of the system.

According to Suleiman, DevsInGovernment provides a platform for professionals in the civil service to be drivers of the technology in the 21st century, and to go through different stages of learning in order to create a transformative public service that will in the long run give birth to a prosperous Nigeria.

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The digital infrastructural deficit will limit Nigeria’s economic growth, the United States has disclosed.

The world’s number one economy noted that lack of access to high-speed Internet and information across the country would impact the potential of the country’s economy.

It further stated that building the right digital infrastructure in the country would help other sectors of the economy boom.

The US Deputy Secretary of Treasury, Wally Adeyemo, stated that at a recent forum with business leaders at the Lagos Business School in Lagos.

Speaking on the country’s economic growth potential, Adeyemo, said, “In order for that to be successful, you must invest in digital infrastructure.

“Ultimately, if there is no access to high-speed internet and information across the country, it is going to limit the potential of the economy to grow. So, in addition to investing in companies and helping them grow, we want to make sure that Nigeria has the infrastructure it needs both physical and digital to be able to benefit from entrepreneurs and creativity in the economy.”

The Deputy Secretary of Treasury had earlier explained that the US was through its developmental finance corporation investing in Nigeria and supporting its tech industry.

He highlighted that many American tech firms were setting up offices in the country to tap into its growing tech sector.

He stated, “In addition to our government, our companies are investing here in Nigeria because they see a true opportunity. From Meta to Microsoft to Google, to Netflix they are setting up offices here, they are making investments in Nigeria because they know that ultimately it is good for their business.

“This is also good for Nigeria too, from our standpoint. What we want to do is make sure that the investments we are making through the United States government are useful in unlocking growth and potential in the Nigerian economy. We are seeing this great deal of potential because the private sector from the US and around the world wants to come here to do business.”

Adeyemo, who visited Nigeria as part of the President Joe Biden administration’s commitment to deepening the US-Africa economic and trade relationship, stressed that a proper digital infrastructure would improve every other sector of the economy, including the creative, and banking sectors.

He further revealed that the US was investing in the country’s digital infrastructure to ensure that every sector in the economy could benefit from digital transformation.

He expanded, “A big part of this for the US is helping to invest in that digital infrastructure, through things like our investment finance corporations, which make investments here in Nigeria to fintech, and also into financial firms, and also into other firms that are helping to build out an infrastructure that will allow Nigerian firms, be that creatives, SMEs, to benefit from the digital transformation that is helping here.”

Adeyemo also remarked that expanding digtialisation to the government would reduce friction between businesses and the government and will increase their ability to provide services to people.

He added, “A big piece for us is making sure that we work with your government and also the private sector to make investments in the digital infrastructure in the future.”

Recently, the World Bank disclosed that Nigeria’s digital and financial infrastructure was inadequate to support a seamless transition to a cashless economy.

It noted that that was one of the reasons the Central Bank of Nigeria’s naira redesign policy failed.

The global bank said, “The lack of adequate digital and financial infrastructure and processes to support a swift transition to a cashless economy— coupled with the fact that only 40 per cent of adults have a bank account—further exacerbated the situation.”

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TECHDIGEST – Azeez Amida has been named as the new Chief Executive Officer of Pan African Towers (PAT), one of Nigeria’s top telecom and digital infrastructure providers.

Azeez’s appointment, which began on April 1, 2022, will see him oversee the company’s commercial operations as it seeks to improve its position as Nigeria’s largest indigenous telecom and digital infrastructure provider.

“Amida is a young professional who brings with him knowledge in the operation of telecom and digital infrastructure assets across markets in Africa,” stated PAT Chairman Mr. Oluwole Adeleke in response to the appointment. The Board of Directors is delighted to have Amida on board at this key juncture in the economy’s communications industry.”

“It is indeed an honour to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading the management of PAT, and I am delighted that I will be working with a highly-skilled team, and together, we will build a leading strong and competitive indigenous telecomm and digital infrastructure company,” said a visibly excited Azeez.

READ ALSO: Nigeria has Potential to Attract Fiber Optics Investments

Prior to joining PAT, Amida worked for IHS in Nigeria and Rwanda, most recently as the CEO of IHS Rwanda, where he helped the company become the fastest-growing in 13 markets. He previously served as a consultant for Merit Telecoms as Chief Operating and Growth Officer, helping the company integrate its operations with global best practices and position itself to attract institutional investors.

Amida holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and is a graduate of the IE Business School in Spain. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the author of EPE Principle: Understanding the Opportunity Cycle, which will be released soon.

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