TECHDIGEST – Technological innovations have eased the way things are done across the work-life environment globally. Every facet of human activity is becoming increasingly powered by digital technology.

As it is obtainable in diverse industries, technology is also impacting the growth of the real estate or property industry in many different ways.

The property/real estate sector was initially slow to embrace digital transformation. However, with its realisation of the contribution of digital technology in other industries, property/real estate companies are gradually leveraging emerging technologies to reform their industry.

Today, the alignment between property management and technology has given rise to the fast-growing global proptech industry.

Proptech, also known as realtech, stands for property technology and refers to all the software, tools, websites, apps, and other digital solutions used by real estate professionals to optimise buying, selling, researching, marketing, financing, and other real estate activities.

As indicated above, proptech simply refers to the usage of technology and software to assist in real estate needs. These include those of landlords, tenants, investors, brokers, marketers, repair workers, maintenance teams, and property management companies. Proptech also covers smart building technology, space management, and architecture.

The implementation of proptech tools, processes, and strategies is helping to improve the value and performance of real estate and the whole property management ecosystem.

Artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality, big data, and analytics are some of the trends revolutionising the proptech market to enable buying, selling, renting, or managing property.

Virtual reality and inspection drones make it possible for owners, buyers, and investors to visualise or inspect a property without physically stepping into such property. It enables remote transactions and digital contracting that make the customer experience easier and faster.

The use of artificial intelligence, through networks of smart devices and sensors (IoT), helps to power the marketing and investment processes.

Also, proptech solutions facilitate the ease of data collection, automation of paperwork, and cost reduction, and to open more opportunities for business growth, deliver more value to all parties and drive quality communication among landlords, tenants, and estate agents.

FinTech Global reports that the value of proptech companies was $7.1 billion, after the slump in 2020 due to the lockdown all around the world.

A few notable global protech companies are HomeViews (London), Acaboom (London), Ohmyhome (Singapore), Casavo (Milan), McMakler (Berlin), and Knotel (New York). (San Francisco), Divvy (San Francisco), and Homeday (Berlin).

In Nigeria, Fibre, Rumi, Eden Life, Estate Intel, Rent Small Small, Spleet, Property Deal Zone, and Yahshud Property Investment are among the popular proptech industry players.

These companies are making the real estate sector more accessible by simplifying the process for buyers, sellers, investors, and other parties to engage conveniently. They are now enhancing the services in the property technology space with innovative, efficient solutions.

But the lack of transparency constitutes a major anomaly facing the global property/real estate industry. The introduction of proptech in real estate has put greater demands on the need for sustainable transparency and ethical practices.

Property investors, developers, and governments at all levels are beginning to recognise the imperative of real estate transparency to the urban environment.

Real estate transparency is an essential ingredient of a well-functioning economy and society, because the industry focuses on one of man’s greatest needs: Shelter.

Real estate transparency attracts new investments and business activity to a city, helps government and other key stakeholders make smarter decisions about infrastructure, and enables sound long-term planning.

Global real estate services company, JLL, defines a transparent real estate market as one in which stakeholders have ready access to high-quality market and performance benchmarks; where there is certainty, consistency, and rigorously enforced rules and regulations exist.

In this setting, corporate governance standards are found to be robust, and real estate transactions are carried out fairly and ethically.

According to JLL Global Real Estate Transparency Index, 2020, London occupies the top spot as the world’s most transparent real estate market. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sydney, and Washington DC round off the top 5.

Surprisingly, the global top 20 includes several small-to-mid-sized second-tier anglophone cities like Seattle, Denver, Brisbane, and Manchester, with Paris being the notable non-anglophone city.

Real estate transparency in Nigeria is lacking due to the activity of quacks and fraudsters parading as real estate agents in the urban centres.

These unscrupulous individuals have been using the low digitalisation in real estate operations to perpetuate their criminal acts.

Stakeholders such as Real Estate Developers of Nigeria, the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, and others, would do the sector plenty of good by encouraging registered companies to adopt new technologies that are digitalising their operations.

Apart from efficiency, digitalisation would ensure the security of digital documents through the deployment of blockchain technology. This will minimise the incident of forged/fake documents used to defraud clients’ and landowners, thereby safeguarding the interest of stakeholders across the sector.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) should engage with real estate professional groups, public and private stakeholders to streamline innovative solutions that can be safely deployed to ensure transparency.

With the guidance and support of NITDA, tech developers and innovators would be empowered to give priority attention to the creation of innovative digital solutions for the emergence of more proptech startups in the country’s real estate industry.

In the long run, digital transformation of the property industry would promote engagement between PropTech and property businesses, while also providing opportunities to network with property professionals and technology investors.

Inyene Ibanga is Managing Editor Techdigest and writes from Wuye District, Abuja; email: inyeneibanga@yahoo.com.

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TECHDIGEST – It was on August 23, 2021, that a man in a black suit walked into our office at 9.30 am. He introduced himself as the Protocol Officer in the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy and announced that the Minister, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, would arrive at our office by 11.00am.

Prior to that, we had sent out invitations to the Minister and the agencies under his Ministry, to a close-knitted and private event of a book presentation in our modest conference room at PRNigeria Centre, Wuye District, Abuja

While aware of the fact that a Monday morning is usually a hectic period for many chief executive officers, we had kept our expectations moderate and hoped that at least the Minister and the CEOs of associated agencies would send representation to the event.

As we went about organising the sitting arrangement of the anticipated guests with the protocol officer, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, arrived, followed shortly by the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of cognate parastatals of the Communications Ministry.

The CEOs included Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Muhammad Abubakar of Galaxy Backbone Limited, Dr. Abimbola Alale of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Engr. Aliyu A. Aziz of National Identity Management Commission, (NIMC), Dr. Ismail Adebayo Adewusi of Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) and Mr. Ayuba Shuaibu of Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF)

We were flabbergasted and exhilarated in equal measure by the arrival of the minister at about a quarter to 11 a.m, before the start of the event, which is highly unusual for an official of his calibre in Nigeria. Following this, our premises became a beehive of uncommon activities.

Before that day, the last time I had met the Minister Face-to-Face was in August 2020, when I led editorial members of the Economic Confidential publication to his office for an interview. That encounter motivated one of our staff writers, Inyene Ibanga, to develop a keen interest in covering the Information Technology sector, going forward.

As a Mass Communications graduate, with a Master’s Degree in Public Relations, Ibanga not only started filing in reports on the sector but he equally wrote weekly articles on Digital Innovation, with a particular focus on activities at NITDA.

By July this year, Inyene Ibanga, who currently edits TechDigest, had developed a remarkable portfolio of published articles on the digital economy sector in Nigeria and other related developments in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Blockchain technology, Big Data, the Internet of Things, cybersecurity, social media, among others.

In realising the paucity of literature on the Information Technology sector in Nigeria, the parent company of our publications, *Image Merchants Promotion (IMPR), which was declared the Most-Creative PR Agency Worldwide in 2020 (check Statista),* decided to compile and publish Ibanga’s articles into a book form entitled, Digital Innovation for Prosperity in Nigeria.

The book comprises eight chapters of 40 well-researched and articulated subjects, with the chapters of the book including, “Enhancing Start-ups”; “Strengthening Innovative Solutions”; “Managing Data for Productivity”; “Protecting Cyber Security”, and “Accessing E-Learning”. The other chapters consist of, “Promoting Digital Inclusion”; “Transforming the Way of Doing Things” and “Advancing the Digital Economy.”

Analogous issues and areas mediated upon in the book include elucidations on the smart city, smart campuses, digital transformation, disruptive technology, e-commerce, e-learning, e-tourism, fact-checking, the Industrial Internet of Things, virtual reality, augmented reality, e-voting, among others.

We were delighted, at the compilation stage of the book, when the Minister accepted to write the Foreword. And, in his recommendation, the erudite scholar and professor of cybersecurity noted that the “book will help expose its readers to the benefits of digital innovation and digital economy.”

As earlier mentioned, with the arrival of the Minister, the programme started with a welcome address by Chairman of the Board of IMPR, Dr Sule Yau Sule, who hailed the rapid development of the digital economy in Nigeria, with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) being the fastest-growing sector of the economy.

Whilst speaking in the same vein, the DG of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, who was also celebrated at the occasion for clocking two years in the saddle, expressed excitement that the well-thought-out policies, initiatives and promotion of digital innovation, as engineered by the Minister, are already yielding huge positive results.

As I reviewed the book, I informed our August visitors that the compendium explores ways in which Nigeria does not get left behind in the deployment of technology for providing solutions to economic challenges. The book also examines the roles of regulatory bodies, especially NITDA in the promotion of Information Technology across all the spheres, through the development of frameworks, standards, guidelines, regulations, and policies.

As the Special Guest of Honour, the minister commended the contributions of IMPR’s titles in constructive engagements and the media coverage of various sectors.

Pantami said: “The publications of IMPR, especially PRNigeria, Economic Confidential and TechDigest have demonstrated the quality of evidence-based journalism.”

Speaking on the book, the minister noted the author, Inyene Ibanga, as highlighting how digital innovation has led to surging economic prosperity in Nigeria, within the framework of the ground-setting and key initiatives of the Ministry of Communication with the full endorsements of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Minister, therefore, urged Nigerians to develop the habit of reading, as “Readers are leaders”, and that all noted world leaders are people who spend quality time reading.

Speaking on behalf of all other special guests at the occasion, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta praised the author and the publisher for the compendium on ICT in Nigeria, and with special reference to the significant milestones that have been attained by NITDA.

In commending the excellent synergy and rapport among the chief executives of agencies under the Ministry of Digital Economy, Mallam Yusuf Alli, one of the directors of IMPR, used the opportunity of the closing remarks at the event to also laud the rare leadership of Prof Pantami.

Mallam Alli, who is an award-winning investigative editor further stated that other ministries and agencies of government in Nigeria could learn a lot from the unity of purpose of these officials, as exemplified in their collaborations for the development of the country, alongside their humility, brilliance, intellection, and high senses of responsibility.

Days after, while the magnificence of that event still resonates, the coming together of a rich calibre of personalities to reflect on Nigeria’s digital journey so far, on a unique Monday Morning, is not only a great honour to many of us who have been toiling to produce information that enhances Nigeria’s image, but also a memory that will remain indelible in our minds for a long time to come.

To the August visitors, especially, the enviable Professor of Cybersecurity, we are indeed highly indebted for the surprise visit and kind words. As PR people, not just communicators, we cherish friendship and the sense of brotherhood through constructive engagements towards a greater nation.

Yushau A. Shuaib
Editor-in-Chief PRNigeria and Economic Confidential
www.YAShuaib.com

The post Pantami Again: When August Visitors Gather for Digital Innovation appeared first on Tech Digest News.

By Abbas Badmus

TECHDIGEST – The recently presented book, Digital Innovation for Economic Prosperity in Nigeria at PRNigeria Centre, Abuja provides readers with insights into the latest development in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector in the country.

The book, authored by Inyene Ibanga, the Editor of Techdigest, was released in honour of the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, as well as the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, on their second year in office respectively.

The 213-page book engages with over 40 issues in the ICT sector, spread through eight chapters, and relating to: “Enhancing Start-Ups”, “Strengthening Innovative Solutions”, “Managing Data for Productivity”, “Protecting Cybersecurity”, “Accessing E-Learning”, “Promoting Digital Inclusion”, “Transforming the Way of Doing Things” and “Advancing the Digital Economy.”

Asides highlighting a host of positive developments in the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, the book also speaks to the plethora of innovative activities carried out by NITDA in the past two years.

Published by Image Merchants Promotion Limited, the publisher of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, some of the major subjects treated in the book include issues around the social media, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, cybersecurity, big data, the Internet of Things, among others.

As a tech journalist, I can testify to the reality of the huge developments in the ICT sector, as chronicled in this very critical compendium on its leaps and bounds in Nigeria.

As outlined in the book, since the appointment of Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi as the boss of NITDA on August 20, 2019, the impact of the agency has been highly felt by many of the sector stakeholders through its various interventions, including capacity building programmes, digital literacy campaigns, ICT skill acquisitions events, smart agriculture initiatives, among others.

NITDA has also developed regulatory frameworks for information technology development in the country. Some of these comprise the Nigeria Government Enterprise Architecture (NGEA), the Public-Private Partnership regulatory framework for ICT and eGovernment projects, Government Digital Service Framework (GDSFrame), and the National Block Chain Adoption Strategy Document, Nigeria Digital Agriculture Strategy (NDAS-2020-2030). Also, there is the Business Process Management Guide for Federal Public Institutions (FPIs), Management System Guidelines for Federal Public Institutions (FPIs), Government Digital Transformation Performance (Readiness) Assessment Toolkit (GDT-PAT), and the eGovernment Masterplan and Digital Transformation for some selected states.

Moreover, the agency has sought to enhance the potentials of Nigerian farmers through the National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA) initiative, which aims at changing the face of the agriculture sector in the country. At least 565 farmers have been trained and empowered with digital devices, alongside additional funding for seeds, thereby creating direct and indirect jobs in the country.

The launching of the National Adopted School for Smart Education (NASSE) has so far led to the promotion of digital literacy and skills among students. While a number of secondary schools were beneficiaries of the pilot scheme, the training of over 2,000 artisans in digital literacy and phone repairs have also been enabled across the six geo-political zones of the country.

Equally, NITDA trained 200 women in ICT and Entrepreneurship, with each provided laptops (having pre-installed e-learning and graphics software), internet dongles and bag-packs. It further built the capacity of 300 Nigerians in software, mobile app and web development, coupled with training in entrepreneurship. The agency also launched the NITDA Academy for Research and Training (NART), which has run some 67 courses, has 58,227 students, and has engaged in 55,539 training sessions.

People Living with Disabilities have also not been left behind, as the agency trained 30 of them in Kano and 52 in Enugu, while laptops were given to them as working tools.

In addition to NITDA’s IT development and capacity initiatives, hundreds of IT hubs, IT parks, and community ICT centres have been either created, furnished or equipped with world class facilities across the states of the country.

In terms of cybersecurity, the agency has conducted five incident analyses affecting the national ICT infrastructure, while handling 34 cases of the hacking of the websites of the ministries, departments and agencies of government (MDAs); and resolving 15 hacking attempts pertaining to the EndSARS protests, the defacement of 10 MDA websites, and repelling 15 incidents of dark web monitoring.

To leverage the skills and abilities of Nigeria’s pools of talents, NITDA established the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), through which it is determined to drive and support the research, development, and adoption of emerging technologies in Nigeria.

The Centre is creating the required environment for Nigeria’s teeming youths, whilst encouraging innovation and the indigenisation of technologies to help address the continuous reliance on foreign products and services, which have a negative impact on the country’s economy. NCAIR serves as a bridge between the government, industry, and academia in providing a research environment for creativity, ideas integration, collaboration, and the development of ICT policies, processes and strategies.

As a result of Mallam Kashifu’s commitment to the ICT sector, Nigeria made history when it received the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) during the handover ceremony of the Root Certification Authority (RCA) for Country Signing Certification Authority (CSCA), and the Country Verification Certification Authority (CVCA) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

With the strategy already in place, the agency has also succeeded in programming, developing and mapping out digital processes to cushion the effect of the coronavirus pandemic in the country, since its outbreak globally.

The Nigeria COVID-19 Innovation Challenge was set up to meet the challenges of our society. Developers, entrepreneurs, and other creative minds have come together to experiment and build software solutions, with an overwhelming number of in-country applicants.

On the level of staff remuneration, Kashifu Inuwa has championed a Condition of Service protocol that includes ‘paternity leave’, which has been endorsed by the Minister, Dr Isa Pantami, and approved by President Muhammadu Buhari. This has enhanced staff’s productivity and put NITDA in the category of some high-end public sector organisations like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications COmmission (NCC).

Abbas Badmus is a Staff Writer with TechDigest.ng, Wuye District, Abuja

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TECH DIGEST – The reality of today confirms that most, if not all, human endeavours would never return to the usual normal after the disruption unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic across the entire globe. All aspects of human activities are reeling from the the blow dealt them by the crisis.

In fact, many economies are struggling to survive as a result of the devastation that the new second wave of COVID-19 is inflicting on a daily basis. This makes it a further imperative for businesses to adjust their operations along the line of the new normal by embracing emerging technologies.

Sectors that have been worse hit are health, education, transportation, tourism and, of course, international trade, with resultant massive job cuts to enable operators remain afloat.

Currently, most developing countries are deploying technology to enable them maintain essential services and keep companies in business. Artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technologies are boosting income and employment opportunities, both in advanced and developing economies.
To thrive within the frame of the current global adversity, many countries are rapidly deploying innovative technologies to keep their economies running now and this would only deepen when the COVID-19 crisis eventually blows over.

Nigeria, blessed with abundant human and material resources, cannot afford to do otherwise. It is important for businesses, especially small ones, to adapt to the prevailing reality in which digitisation and innovation are key to survival in the new normal.

As such, Nigeria has to formulate creative approaches to empower and encourage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to leverage emerging technologies tailored to their specific areas of operation.
Therefore, every economy, no matter its level of development, is left with no other option than the effective utilisation of digital technology to move forward.

SMEs are small and medium companies that employ between 11 and 250 people and have assets in the range of N5 million and N500 million.
Nigeria’s economic space is dominated by SMEs, which outnumber large companies and employ many more people, as they account for about 84 of every 100 jobs in the country. It is believed that over 80 per cent of all the companies in the country are businesses with less than 50 employees.
As engine room for the country’s economic development, SMEs traverse various sectors/industries such as agriculture and food; manufacturing; services; fashion; media and entertainment; beauty and wellness, among others.
Although SMEs are small companies, they are playing a significant role in economic activities in Nigeria. They contribute large outputs of goods and services, create jobs, generate income and expand the pool of entrepreneurial and management talent in the country.

Invariably, these contributions translate into more employment and, by extension, boost the social and economic prosperity of the people.

Small enterprises are dynamic and open to new ideas, innovations, and efficiency, while enabling competition, which impacts on the people within their immediate environments or locations, and provide opportunities for adapting appropriate emerging technologies.

For SMEs to sustainably leverage technology and grow, stakeholders must play their roles in nurturing the entrepreneurship ecosystem spanning the rural and urban areas.

Policymakers, after consultation with the private sector, are expected to formulate growth-enhancing policies to improve the digital infrastructure; agriculture; health and education services; corporate governance practices for growth of the SMEs to mitigate the effect of the pandemic and promote innovation.

Government should provide grants, loans, subsidies and other direct financial support to small businesses exclusively for the adoption of innovative technologies to facilitate remote work, online sales or cashless payment and other online business processes.

Relevant agencies of government can help SMEs transit to emerging or new technologies when they collaborate with private companies to provide free online training courses and materials. Such platforms would enable SMEs to stay productive, expand sales channels, and ensure safer working conditions for employees.

Thus, the continuous education of entrepreneurs should be one of the top priorities of government, to enhance further digitisation of small business operations.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) needs to strategise with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), and the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), and guide SMEs to adopt only relevant technologies.

It is important for NITDA to provide regular cybersecurity training to help small and medium enterprises tackle rising cyber risks. Employees would be educated on common threats to their organisation’s cybersecurity and best practices, as they do remote work in the midst of the pandemic.

As usual, NITDA must demonstrate its resolute commitment to drive the digital economy by facilitating knowledge acquisition opportunities for SME operators to access IT training on the basis of global standards.

Lest I forget, what efforts are the authorities making to reduce the high cost of internet services in Nigeria?
I am confident that a reduction in the high cost of internet services would be a huge incentive for more small business ventures to harness the benefits of adopting relevant, customer-friendly, innovative technologies.

Inyene Ibanga writes from Wuye District, Abuja.

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TECH DIGEST – Nigeria is today grappling with a plethora of economic, social, security and political problems, ranging from corruption, insurgency, kidnappings, banditry, and widespread poverty.
These factors have combined to inflict severe economic and political instability across the country. Most of these challenges can be attributed to the perennial absence of transparent, responsive and responsible political leadership.

Unfortunately, the essence of Nigeria’s democratic governance is totally detached from promoting the interest of citizens. Instead, it is driven by the selfish, greedy, and primitive tendencies of the ‘men in the corridors of power’. This unwholesome trend is compounded by the ever-widening gulf between government and citizens.
The current spate of violent crimes, ethno-religious, inter-communal and political crises across the country makes it imperative for concerted communication, interactions and conversations among citizens. It is evident that an objective, purposeful, targeted and committed process of rekindling mutual trust and confidence among the various segments/sections of the country is long overdue.
Flowing from above, the situation calls for the implementation of strategic communication through the deployment of Public Relations as the most potent and objective vehicle to drive the campaign for national rebirth.

PR is a vital element for accomplishing beneficial relationships among individuals, groups and organisations. The aim of PR by private or public organisations is essentially to persuade their stakeholders to maintain a favourable point of view about their products, services, leadership or political decisions.

While PR in private organisations is geared towards achieving organisational goals and growth, which translate into profit, in public affairs it can be deployed for the promotion of good governance, peace and the stability of a nation. Public service organisations and institutions need PR to further the effective implementation of government policies and programmes for overall national development and the wellbeing of citizens.

PR practice is guided by integrity, sincerity of purpose, transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law. These qualities are needed to drive ongoing efforts towards deepening Nigeria’s democratic culture. Its strong insistence on ethical practices should be entrenched in the political space, which is currently dominated by the divisive tendencies of greed, tribal, religious and other primordial sentiments.

Unarguably, the respect of other peoples’ cultural and religious beliefs is the hallmark of the leading communication field. PR does not only engender the human essence, which fosters greater understanding, empathy and collaboration, devoid of selfish interests, it also offers mutual benefits to both the sender and receiver of the message/communication, thereby sustaining a productive exchange between government and the people.
Therefore, PR programmes should be utilised to correct misconceptions about the rich socio-cultural, tribal and religious diversity among the various components groups of Nigeria. Such programmes include, but are not limited to, inter-community meetings, inter-cultural exchanges/excursions, diversity in employment, peer activities in sports, academic innovations, among others. These strategic activities would help expose people from different parts of the country to better appreciation/understanding of the vibrant diversity of heritage and values in a nation.

Genuine understanding, purposeful interactions and cordial relations among the various constituents of the country can only become a reality when government institutions begin to appreciate the value of PR as a process for building goodwill. Strategic PR activities extending from rural communities to urban centres, academic institutions, religious organisations, and even at the work place, would go a long way in building national integration and cohesion.
In fact, there is urgent need for PR interventions in present day Nigeria to stimulate goodwill and understanding between government and the people. Citizens are alienated from making inputs on the choices that will guarantee their best interests because government is aloof and inaccessible. Thus, the effective deployment of PR strategies by relevant organs of government would help to address the indifference and nonchalant attitude of public officers to the people.

The public sector demands greater need for PR in order to provide good governance to the citizens who are dependent on government and its institutions for the equitable distribution/administration of national resources. Being a knowledge-based profession, its specialisation is founded on truth and honesty. It demands integrity, transparency, accountability at all times.

PR is all about creating the connection between organisations and their internal and external stakeholders through a two-way communication approach for exchange between them. Moreso, it nurtures true cooperation and understanding between government and citizens, who are direct beneficiaries of public policies and programmes.

Consequently, effective PR will facilitate the timely sharing of reliable information to sustain the government’s image in the minds of citizens, both at home and in the Diaspora.

This involves regular communication and engagement with the citizenry. With the effective deployment of PR practices in the public sector, administrations would be able to restore lasting peace, progress and stability in the country.
PR strategies are vital for the political dialogue and awareness creation required to bring about social and institutional reforms. Providing access to information enables all citizens to be better informed, to claim their rights and use state services to purposely pursue their aspirations.

Considering the existing political and socio-economic uncertainty pervading the country, it becomes necessary for government to urgently deploy strategic PR efforts nationwide to galvanise the citizenry towards patriotism, respect for values of togetherness, understanding and cooperation for Nigeria’s development and stability.

Emphasis must be placed on the recruitment of professionals to oversee affairs of the PR departments in government institutions and agencies. Personnel should discharge their duties under strict adherence to the ethics and laws guiding the profession without any interference whatsoever.

Finally, governments should engage state chapters of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relation (NIPR) to carry out strategic PR communication campaigns on their behalf. Such partnerships will provide platforms for government to constantly engage with the people by highlighting policies and programmes to enable them make inputs into this. In the process, government will be able to earn the trust and confidence of the citizens, thereby building enduring cooperation and integration for the overall interest of the people.

Inyene Ibanga is Managing Editor, TechDigest, Wuye District Abuja

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TECH DIGEST – The 23rd day of October, 2019 is going to remain a memorable day in the history of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

On that day, President Muhammadu Buhari granted approval for the former Ministry of Communications to be renamed Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. He noted that the renaming is in line with global best practice, which will further reflect the priorities of his administration.

Evidently, the renaming was to allow the minister, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami to reposition and empower the Ministry to fulfill its Digital Economy objectives. This further expanded its mandate to capture the goals of digitalisation and diversification of the Nigerian economy, in line with the demands of the Economic Growth and Recovery Plan (EGRP), one of the key agenda of the present administration.

In his request for renaming the Ministry, Pantami noted that the change of nomenclature would propel the Ministry to reposition its strategic objectives towards accelerating the growth of a digital economy in Nigeria.

Historically, author Don Tapscott first coined the term Digital Economy in his book, The Digital Economy: Promise and Peril in the Age of Networked Intelligence, published in 1995.
The term, also known as the Web Economy or Internet Economy, is defined as an economy that focuses on digital technologies and applications, and involves all economic transactions and activities that occur on the internet, whether personal, business, social, and cultural.

The digital economy encompasses the artificial intelligence infrastructure, the Internet of Things, augmented and virtual reality, big data, cloud computing, blockchains, robotics and autonomous vehicles. Hence, the term also describes the impact of digital technologies on patterns of production and consumption.

Producers and consumers are witnessing an ever-increasing number of digital platforms which greatly influence our lives and the way we do things. These digital technologies have integrated the critical aspects of our lives such as healthcare, education, banking, entertainment, agriculture, immigration, transport, defence and security, among others.

Unarguably, the digital economy is developing rapidly worldwide as the single most important driver of innovation, competitiveness and growth. Many advanced and emerging countries are adopting the digital economy as the most productive pathway for development. It is believed to hold enormous potentials for entrepreneurs, small- and medium-scale enterprises, especially start-ups, across all sectors of national economies.
New digital trends such as cloud computing, mobile web services, smart grids, and social media, are radically changing the business landscape, reshaping the nature of work, and the boundaries of enterprises.

These trends do not only facilitate technological innovation, they spur innovation in business models, business networking and the transfer of knowledge and access to international markets. Thus, local business operators are able to access the international markets through the deployment of relevant digital technologies.

Already several African countries like Tunisia, Ghana, Benin Republic, and South Africa, among others, are gradually integrating digital technologies into their traditional economies and emerging as digital economies.

In Nigeria, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is mandated to create and formulate policies that will propel the country’s drive towards a digital economy. It has the responsibility to promote and facilitate ICT as a key tool in the transformation agenda of the country in the areas of job creation, economic growth and transparency of governance.

Critical sectors of the economy include health, education, agriculture, security, banking, transportation, power and energy, and the Ministry is at the forefront of encouraging every sector to effectively and efficiently deploy IT in order to enhance sustainable growth.
Digital entrepreneurship is another strategic area of focus for the Ministry, as this involves the provision of policies and infrastructure to support and encourage digital creativity and innovation among the people, especially the teeming youth demographic.
The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy will clock one year on October 23. It won’t be out of place for the Ministry to do a self-assessment on its performance, in line with the Digital Economy objectives of the Federal Government, so far.

Foremost among the Ministry’s ambitious initiatives is the Digitalise Nigeria Programme, launched by President Buhari on March 19, with the objective of providing options for the digital training of Nigerians.
As a matter of fact, the president underscored the essence of the Digitalise Nigeria Programme to the country’s digital economy objective by identifying it as “one of Federal Government’s key initiatives that will empower innovators and entrepreneurs with skills required to thrive in our emerging digital economy”.

This goal attained an important level of reality when the Federal Government partnered the African Development Bank and Microsoft to launch Digital Nigeria eLearning Platform. The platform will provide marketable skills to the country’s youth.

The platform offers courses in web development, content creation, and data science, among others. Currently, close to 6,000 enrollees have completed at least one training course and earned a certification. In addition, the AfDB’s Coding for Employment initiative is geared to build linkages between the public and private sectors to create millions jobs in Nigeria’s digital economy in the next ten years.

In line with its commitment to successfully advance the digital economy, the Ministry is partnering with a number of institutions to enable Nigerians acquire cutting edge digital skills from the comfort of their homes. It is collaborating with IBM as part of the IBM Digital Nation Africa programme to provide Nigerians with over 280 hours of free learning and nearly 90 courses on key emerging technologies.

Interestingly, one of the highpoints of the Ministry’s celebrations commemorating Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary, was the formal launch of the Digital Nigeria Portal and Mobile App. The Portal forms a part of the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria.
Through the Digital Nigeria programme, Nigerians will be empowered to develop skills and build innovative solutions to tackle challenges within the economy.

A large pool of highly skilled and competent digital technology experts is crucial to the actualisation of the nation’s effort at transforming into a digital economy. Creativity and innovation remain the bedrock for sustainable economic growth through the sector. From the forgoing, I strongly believe that the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has shown substantial commitment to developing the capacity of Nigerians to use technology to solve problems.

The Ministry should be applauded for the sterling works that the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and to some extent the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) is doing to further propel the digital economy. However, the other agencies under its supervision need to be proactive and come up with creative ways of further impacting on the economy.

As the Ministry turns one year on October 23, I enjoin the minister and his management team to remain consistent in their drive to ensure the effective implementation of strategies for the attainment of a robust digital economy in Nigeria. They should forge ahead and encourage the Ministry’s leading agencies not to relent in their commendable performances.

One year may not be the best timeframe to appraise the performance of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy under the watch of the goal-getting, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, but it leaves one optimistic and hopeful that there would be much morefor the Ministry and Nigerians to celebrate come next year.

Inyene Ibanga is Managing Editor TechDigest and writes from Wuye District Abuja

The post Pantami: One Year of Digital Economy Ministry And The Pathway To National Development appeared first on Tech Digest News.

Tech Hubs As Catalysts For Creativity and Innovation In Nigeria

By Inyene Ibanga

TECH DIGEST – Information Technology (IT) hubs, simply called tech hubs, have continued to gain recognition in many countries across the globe as the most potent catalysts for the promotion of economic growth across all sectors. IT facilitates and provides access to information that enables creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship, towards the development of a knowledge-based economy.

Tech hubs are rapidly changing the landscape of local and international business operations through impactful disruptive technologies. And, Silicon Valley in the United States of America, rated the world’s tech powerhouse, is home to the world’s biggest technology companies.

Facebook, Apple, Google, Intel, Cisco, Hewlett Packard and Adobe are a few of the giant tech companies founded in Silicon Valley.

In recent years, many successful tech hubs have equally been springing up in London (U.K.), Singapore, Tel Aviv (Israel) Tokyo (Japan), Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, and India. Unarguably, these cities boast of modern digital infrastructure to drive high level creativity and innovation. This makes them attractive to young professionals, startups and global tech players.

A tech hub is a community that fosters innovation by technology startup companies. It offers support and facilities to tech entrepreneurs, and consists of incubators, accelerators, university-based innovation hubs, maker spaces, technology parks, and co-working spaces.

It creates an environment or location specifically for encouraging experimentation and helping firms network with like-minded individuals and enterprises. Over time, the hub steadily attracts enthusiasts, innovators, angel investors, as well as venture capitalists who help to nurture startup companies in all sectors of the economy.

Essentially, a tech hub makes it easier for firms to meet investors in order to get funding for their ideas and innovations. Moreover, it helps in speeding up the application of technology and social capital for economic progress.

Currently, Nigeria is probably the continent’s leading home of tech hubs. Lagos and Abuja boast of the highest number of this communities that nurture economic growth through creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. Many firms are fast springing up in these cities to exploit the opportunities offered by existing clusters of educational institutions, banking institutions and digital infrastructure.

Consequently, the upsurge in tech hubs has altered the face of business operations in Nigeria. As IT continues to expand, several disruptive technologies are evolving with newer approaches to solving age-old problems for consumers, industries and business operations.

Recent disruptive technology in Nigeria include those related to e-commerce, online news sites, ride-sharing apps, e-health/ e-learning applications and GPS systems. Electricity, banking and television services (digital pay TV) are the most prominent aspects of these technologies impacting us today.

Evidently, the technologies are created by startup companies, rather than their established counterparts. This is because most startups embrace risks and are open to experimenting with fresh ideas or revolutionary changes.

With over 100 tech hubs spread largely in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, many upstarts are beginning to impact their sectors through the provision of efficient, cost saving and easy to use applications. These companies cut across the critical sectors of the economy such as education, health, agriculture, transportation and even power and energy.

Certain factors are necessary to enable tech hubs to thrive, including the availability of digital infrastructure, high speed Internet bandwidth and supporting ecosystems, i.e banks, law firms, and accounting firms. These are major attractions for startup to flock to certain cities, which also have markets for their products and services.

Moreover, tech hubs offer startup companies access to CEOs, entrepreneurs and captains of industry who link them to mentoring and innovation networks.

Nigeria is now witnessing a significant increase in the number of tech startups, skilled workforce, investments and meaningful partnerships. In the process, hundreds of jobs are being created across the IT value chain, while also offering new solutions to some of the citizens’ most critical needs.

A case in point is myclinic.ng, one of the winners of the Nigeria Covid-19 Innovation Challenge recently organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Myclinic.ng is an online, on-demand platform that enables people to see and talk to doctors at anytime of the day and from any location at an affordable price, in comparison to the cost of physical consultations. Subscribers either use the mobile app or dial a smart number (for non-smart phone users) to talk consult a healthcare professional

For me, this disruptive and innovative app is unique because it targets all classes of people, especially those at the lower rung of the economic ladder. Through this tech intervention, ordinary Nigerians gain unfettered access to medical personnels, from anywhere and at any time.

Thus, the app successfully minimises the problem of self-treatment/self-medication. Considering the grave consequences of self-medication/self-treatment, it is heartwarming to know efforts are underway to reduce the menace.

Abubakar Hassan, co-founder of myclinic.ng, explained that his healthcare startup is one of those currently undergoing incubation at one of NITDA tech hubs in Abuja. According to him, the agency has continued support the startup through effective mentorship and the monitoring of their project.

“You can call a doctor from anywhere at any time, so you have no reason to self-medicate. It’s never a bad idea to talk to a doctor. We provide access, which is the problem we are solving.

“NITDA has been part of our journey, since the participation in the competition with NITDA. It has been supportive. They are not like other organisation. They monitor the progress to success.

“We are currently running an accelerator programme under the supervision of NITDA. We’ve had a great deal of mentorship from NITDA. They monitor the projects, its execution aspect, and marketing and also connect us to opportunities till it is successful”, he said.

NITDA has established several tech hubs in strategic locations nationwide to attract and support stakeholders toward the promotion of IT for industrialisation. Through these hubs, the agency is poised to provide the right enabling environment through a combination of high quality infrastructure and support services in a specific place.

Moving forward, it is expected that many persons and organisations will utilise the facilities available at the centres to create a full value chain across the IT sector to engender economic expansion.

Agreed, NITDA has done well by establishing tech hubs nationwide, there is plenty of room to do more. It is imperative for the agency to seek partners that add value to the core mission of startup tech companies.

Tech hubs require partnership with mentors and people with the right skills, alongside sound experiences, who are running and managing business operations across the IT value chain and other sectors of the economy.

Beyond mentoring and monitoring startups, the agency should as matter of priority ensure that the public is regularly informed about the progress of projects under incubation. Nigerians need to be aware of and monitor the progress of startup companies, while equally keeping track of the great value they are adding to society.

Inyene Ibanga is Manager Image Merchants Promotion Ltd, Wuye District, Abuja.

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