Professor Ali Pantami, the former Minister of Digital Economy and Communication, has reiterated that utilizing the database of National Identification Number (NIN) and SIM registration can help identify perpetrators of insecurity and solve the country’s security challenges.

Speaking on the prevailing insecurity in the country, Pantami recalled that he had written to security agencies several times over the past five years, emphasizing the importance of leveraging the database to combat insecurity.

As Minister, Pantami oversaw the registration of over 100 million people in the database, with 61 million registered in less than three years under his administration, compared to 39 million in 13 years prior.

He expressed disappointment that the database has not been effectively utilized, citing the recent abduction of the monarch of Gobir as an example. Pantami claimed that he had advised security agencies to use the database to identify the location of the abductors, who were using the monarch’s phone.

Pantami also revealed that his life was threatened multiple times due to his insistence on implementing SIM and NIN registration, but he remained resolute, willing to die to be part of the solution to Nigeria’s insecurity.

The former Minister emphasized that leveraging the database can help bring 97% of perpetrators of insecurity to justice.

He also called for timely disbursement of salaries and allowances to security operatives and provisions for their families in case of any eventuality to boost their morale.

Pantami prayed for God’s protection and success for security operatives against insurgents.

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Professor Ali Pantami has re emphasized the importance of social skills over academic qualifications for achieving career success.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony at Al-Ansar Centre for Comprehensive Education (ACCE), Abuja Pantami outlined key elements on the Quran, contemporary world, social skills for a successful career.

While making references to the holy scripture on the importance of knowledge and skill acquisition, Pantami noted that a successful career, depends on individual perceptions and priorities.

He pointed out that some may prioritize material gains, while others focus on the hereafter or their passion.

The professor then highlighted the significance of social skills, also known as human or life skills, in the 21st century and the fourth industrial revolution. These skills, according to him guide individuals in interacting and communicating with others, both verbally and non-verbally, to win their hearts or earn their respect.

Pantami further explained that in the contemporary world, characterized by technological advancements, media influence, cultural shifts, and modernization, the good moral behavior taught by the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad has been packaged and presented as social skills, which are more important for career progression than technical skills.

To illustrate his point, Pantami shared the example of Harry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, who rejected a job applicant not because of his technical skills, but due to his lack of respect and appreciation for the waiters during a dinner interview. This, according to Pantami, highlights the importance of social skills and interpersonal relationships, which are crucial for career success.

Pantami encouraged students and graduates to acquire five important social skills: empathy, tolerance, patience, leniency, and conflict resolution, as well as good body language, including smiling. He urged the education system to integrate these soft skills into the curriculum, beyond just awarding certificates.

The professor’s speech underscores the growing recognition of the value of social and interpersonal skills in the workplace, particularly in the rapidly evolving 21st-century job market.

The founder of Al-Ansar University and ACCE, Dr. Dikwa, expressed his deepest admiration for Professor Pantami, who graciously accepted the invitation to serve as the guest speaker on the topic “Social Skills in the Qur’an and the Contemporary World for a Very Successful Career” at the event.

Dr. Dikwa hailed Professor Pantami as a distinguished Islamic scholar and cybersecurity expert, renowned for his tireless advocacy for a skills-based nation. His exceptional expertise and profound understanding of the intersection of faith and modernity make him an invaluable asset to our academic community.

“Through his lecture, Professor Pantami has illuminated the significance of social skills in achieving success and making a meaningful difference in the world. His insights have resonated deeply with our audience, and we are confident that his message will continue to inspire and motivate our students to strive for greatness,” he added.

Other guests also commended Professor Pantami’s commitment to empowering youths with the skills necessary to excel in their careers and make a positive impact in society.

By PRNigeria

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The immediate-past Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has reiterated his commitment to mentoring the younger generation of Nigerians to achieve success in life.

Pantami made this known at the recent unveiling of his new book titled, “A Scholar’s Journey: Navigating the Academia”, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

According to him, mentors provide helpful guidance and support to their mentees.

Part of the reasons he wrote the book, the ex-Communications and Digital Economy Minister, said was to have a literary material that will serve as a mentorship guide for youngsters in the country, and also the next generation of scholars.

“I decided to put this book together in order to support in bridging the mentorship gap and provide a soft (non-physical) approach to mentorship for the future and upcoming generations.

“This is because writing tends to influence more people and to achieve this through this book, we can say that we have created a mentorship instrument that can outlive us. A mentor shares experience with mentees, while an author also shares experience with readers of their books,” he wrote in the maiden chapter of his book.

Pantami, while citing the story of Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, as an example of the power of mentorship, further wrote: “Gates was mentored by investor and philanthropist, Warren Buffett, who recommended the book “Business Adventures” to Gates.

“The book had a profound impact on Gates and helped shape his approach to business. You can see that in this case, the written information in the book helped Bill Gates succeed and also to become the richest man in the world for 19 years”.

Pantami’s 341-page book is based on the author’s own experience and insights, and aims to provide guidance for those looking to pursue a career in academia and other sectors.

Meanwhile, Pantami revealed what motivated him to take up a lecturing job after graduating from the university.

He said it was because of his passion for mentoring students.

In the book “A Scholar’s Journey: Navigating the Academia,” Pantami said he opted for the academia at a time most graduates preferred the new booming telecommunication industry that paid fatter salaries, the oil and gas industry or embassies of foreign countries, where they could be employed and paid better.

He observed that research ought to be the lifestyle and attitude of everyone in the academia for both personal and professional growth.

He urged younger generations to remain patient in their field of endeavours and remain proactive in searching for opportunities outside what their institutions offer, even at their own expense.

“I am apprehensive about the tendency for impatience among our youths, including those that have explored a career in academia.

‘There is a rush to rise in their careers without patiently going through the process. My advice to them is that opportunities will eventually come naturally to those who are patient.

“During my transfer to the academic cadre, we were advised by our senior academics both within and outside the university to improve or obtain writing skills to enable us attend conferences and workshops, which were important part of the academic process and progress.

“Additionally, any opportunity you get which would help build your career even if it is at personal level, use your personal resources to pursue it and you will not regret doing that. In the event that you get grants, do not allow the purpose of such research grant given to you to become futile.

“Any other benefits that you gain materially in the process that is legitimate, should always be secondary. In academia, we must make research to be our lifestyle and attitude,” he said.

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TECHDIGEST – Telecommunications operators have called on the Federal Government not to only suspend the five per cent excise tax on telecoms sector but to remove it completely from the Finance Act.

Speaking under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, said the body welcomed the development and thanked President Bola Tinubu for the suspension, however, reminded the public that the immediate past Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, had made a case to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari for the exemption of telecoms sector from the tax.

“We have on record that approval was granted in that regard. The sector was exempted from that tax. But when the new administration came in, we started hearing about it again. So, the Executive Order President Tinubu signed was to uphold the waiver that was granted to the sector,” he stated.

With that in mind, Adebayo, while speaking on Channels TV, said the body has mentioned before that the burden of the collection of the five per cent tax will be on the telecoms operators, while the weight of the tax itself would be on the subscribers because currently, there is a 7.5 per cent value-added tax (VAT) on every service offered by operators, “if another five per cent is added, it will go to 12.5 per cent and that would have grave implications on the cost of services to end users.

READ ALSO: IPRA Shortlists PRNigeria, NAF, NITDA as Finalists for PR Golden World Award 2023

“So, as an industry, we welcomed it, but truly, it would have been a burden on the subscribers and we also think that it will increase the cost of services and further deny access to many more people. But in this regard, we feel the suspension is good, but we feel a total abolition of it would be in the best interest of the industry and subscribers.”

This, according to Adebayo is because the telecoms sector currently faces over 39 different taxes and levies across the country. He said, while some are captured in several statues and others not in any, quite a number of them are repeated at Federal and State levels and subsequently decrease the cost of providing services to end users.

According to him, when issues of passing the cost of services to end-users emanate, some of these issues arose from the cases of multiple taxation.

“So, while we welcome suspension, we are calling for total abolition of the five per cent exercise duty from the Finance Act. Also, we appeal that there is a need to address cases of multiple taxation the industry is facing. We think it is not sustainable and contrary to the wheel of progress. As President has promised to look at all issues of multiple taxation, we think that the telecoms sector, where issues of the taxes we pay, over 39 of them across the country, should be addressed urgently.”

Speaking on having a working structure that would prevent issues of multiple taxation in the sector, Adebayo said there is a structure, stressing that issues of taxes that are listed in the constitution and regulation are not the problem, but those not under any tax header, such as effluent tax, discharge levy, Right of Way renewal levy, environmental sanitation levy, Diesel Storage Levy and a host of others. He said these sets of taxes have no relationship with the telecoms sector at all and in most cases are enforced at state and local government levels.

The ALTON boss said the behavior of tax collectors at the Local Government level is completely at variance with the will of progress.

Citing instances, he said times LG tax collectors go to lock up telephone sites; to telecoms offices, seize their tools, harass and arrest the workers, do all sorts, “which at the end of the day, such moves make operations very difficult.”

According to him, the problem is not in the taxes and levies that are clearly defined and listed either in the licenses or regulations or in the laws of the federation, but the problems are those ones, states often had to generate in the name of internally generate revenue (IGR).

Largely, he said FG should look at telecoms sector as national economic support infrastructure and provide it with the required requirements such as the Critical National Infrastructure protection.

“There are situations, where you even bring an approval from the Federal Government to state and the officials will tell you, I don’t report to Abuja, it is not applicable in my state. Some taxes at the federal level, the states would still want to collect same. For example, Environmental Impact Assessment, knowing full well that a telecoms site is telecoms site everywhere.

According to him, there must be synergy between the federal and state governments in terms of hamonisation of these taxes, stressing that they shouldn’t be at variance. He said the Federal Government should be firm in whatever directive it is handing out

“What we are seeing in the telecoms sector is very concerning. Concerning in the sense that the sector is seen as an extractive industry, where everybody wants something from the sector. So many things are disjointed, as far as tax administration is concerned in the country. So, the FG needs to be firm in whatever order is given out and ensure is implemented across the board. The sector needs more protection than what we currently have.

With the September date still in focus for the implementation of the Finance Act, where the five per cent telecoms tax is domiciled, Adebayo insisted that the position of the telecoms sector is for the total abolition of the telecoms tax, saying it is strange and alien to the sector because the industry offers services and not hardware.

He posited that telecoms support the lives of people, saying that government should not taxed subscribers to the brim, especially for the sake of the digital economy; this tax should be abolished completely.

According to him, if the tax is brought back in the future, “we are going to pass it to the subscribers. We shall act as revenue agent, where we collect on behalf of the Federal Government, then remit to them. As said earlier, the burden of collection will be on us, but the weight of the tax itself would be on subscribers and I am sure FG won’t want to impose more tax burdens on Nigerians.”

The Guardian

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TECHDIGEST – In a bid to fast track the adoption and utilise the gains of emerging technologies, the Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a National Policy on Blockchain Technology and inaugurated Implementation & Steering Committee to oversee its implementation.

The policy, which was launched by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), is to promote the adoption of blockchain technology in Nigeria and to position the country as a leading player in the global blockchain ecosystem.

While launching the Policy on behalf of Federal Government of Nigeria, Professor Pantami recalled that the journey of Blockchain Technology officially started in Nigeria on 28th November, 2019 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja where President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled and launched the National Digital Economy Policy & Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria.

The Minister explained that the seventh pillar which is ‘Digital Society & Emerging Technologies’ out of the eight captured in the Policy, is now achieving the desired progress as Blockchain remains one of the Emerging Technologies.

He said, “In order to implement the seventh pillar, we had to develop other policies, including Policy on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics which brought about the establishment of the first ever National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) in Africa, sited here in Abuja”.

“Also, in our efforts to implement the policy, particularly, pillar number seven, we developed the National Blockchain Policy for Nigeria”, Prof. Pantami noted.
Prof. Pantami stressed the importance of the technology to the nation’s Digital Economy drive, noting that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is comparatively the one that has not relegated African Continent to the background, especially as African Nations, particularly Nigeria are actively participating in the revolution which he added is an extension of the third revolution.

“Blockchain Technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Cloud & Quantum Computing, Virtual & Augmented Reality, Autonomous Vehicle, Bio Technology, 5G, Cyber Security, are all disruptive technologies brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Nigeria is one of the, at least three countries in Africa, that are actively involved in the 4th Industrial Revolution,” he added.

According to the Minister, the success stories of exploits and displays of ingenuity by Nigerian innovators underscore the country’s position as a key player in Africa’s technological advancement and strengthens the country’s position as the leading startup hub in Africa.

While noting the development and subsequent approval of the National Blockchain Policy on the 3rd of May, 2023, Prof. Pantami confirmed that the tech and all its components and types are no more illegal but now legal in the Country.

The Digital Economy Boss maintained that prior to the approval of the policy, a total of fifty six stakeholders and institutions were engaged in the scrutiny of the document.

“This policy is to provide an enabling environment for your teaming young population who are mostly digital natives to partake in critical thinking, identify complex problems, come up with solutions for implementation of adoption in Nigeria or any parts of the world”, Prof. Pantami noted.

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullah, CCIE, who earlier welcomed guests to the auspicious occasion said that the event signalled a remarkable milestone in the journey towards achieving a Digital Nigeria where citizens have access to the latest technology, skills and a conducive environment to innovate in the realm of the Blockchain Technology.

Inuwa affirmed that the policy represents a significant leap and the opportunity to create an enabling environment through investments in talents, access to the technology and domestication.

The DG said “this will give our citizens the opportunity to create and capture value from the enormous benefits of the tech”.

Inuwa who quoted PWC that by 2030, the Blockchain Technology will add $1.76Trillion to the global GDP maintained that the plan is to ensure that Nigeria positions itself properly to benefit therefrom.

“If the policy is implemented, Nigeria can gain up to $4B”, Inuwa avowed.
The launch also featured the inauguration of the National Blockchain Policy Implementation/Steering Committee and graduation of 32,022 beneficiaries trained in Blockchain Technology.

The Minister who inaugurated the committee and presented certificates to some of the beneficiaries trained on Blockchain Technology, said by implication, the action is to consolidate on the initiative commenced by the Federal Government.

The committee members numbering about 29 as inaugurated, comprise of representatives from critical sectors of the economy.

Meanwhile, some of the graduates shared their success stories and promised to judiciously utilise the knowledge gained during the training. They expressed gratitude to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and NITDA as well as the facilitators for affording them the platform to be trained.

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TECHDIGEST – The Federal Executive Council approved the National Blockchain Policy for Nigeria during its meeting today, the 3rd of May, 2023. This followed the presentation of a memo by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami).

The process of developing the Policy involved robust stakeholder engagements across the public and private sectors.

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Blockchain Technologies could boost the global economy with US$1.76 trillion by 2030. The National Blockchain Policy for Nigeria is line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), which was unveiled and launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 28th of November, 2019. The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy developed the National Blockchain Policy for Nigeria on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, in line with the 7th Pillar of the NDEPS, which focuses on Digital Society and Emerging Technologies.

The vision of the Policy is to create a Blockchain-powered economy that supports secure transactions, data sharing, and value exchange between people, businesses, and Government, thereby enhancing innovation, trust, growth, and prosperity for all. The implementation of the National Bloackchain Policy will have a positive effect on both the public and private sectors of the country.

Blockchain Technology has the potential to revolutionise many industries, from finance and healthcare to transportation and supply chain management. Blockchain Technology makes transactions more transparent, trustworthy, and efficient and it can result in considerable cost savings and better user experiences. Furthermore, Blockchain Technology can boost innovation, improve public services, create job opportunities, and drive economic growth.

These benefits have inspired governments around the world to explore ways to leverage this important technology. With the approval of the National Blockchain Policy, Nigeria joins the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Estonia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Denmark and other leading technology countries in adopting Blockchain Technology at the national level.

The activities of the Policy shall be coordinated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. A multi-sectoral Steering Committee has also been approved to oversee the implementation of the Policy.

The Federal Executive Council has further directed relevant regulatory bodies to develop regulatory instruments for the deployment of Blockchain Technology across various sectors of the economy. These regulatory agencies include NITDA, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), among others.

All other Federal and State Government institutions, as well as the private sector are urged to leverage Blockchain Technologies in education, health, security, agriculture and finance, among many other sectors. Deploying these applications will further support in the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria.

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TECHDIGEST – The Federal Government has announced the removal of excise duty for telecom sub-sector of Nigeria’s Digital Economy Industry in line with the recommendations of the Committee it constituted to review the applicability of the Duty to the telecom sector which is considered already overburdened with taxation and sundry levies.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, disclosed this on Tuesday (today) at a press briefing organised to provide updates on the status of the 5 per cent excise duty, whose applicability to the telecom sector was objected by the Minister in August 2022, following which President Muhammadu Buhari suspended its application to the telecom sector and set up a Presidential Review Committee on Excise Duty in the Digital Economy Sector.

Pantami, who is the Chairman of the Committee, specifically set up for the purpose of reviewing the proposed excise duty in the telecom sector, said the Committee had carried out its national assignment and accordingly submitted its report to the President, justifying why the sector should be exempted.

READ ALSO: NCC Unveils Consumer TELCARE Centre  

The Minister said the Committee’s submissions can be summed up in three arguments put forward to justify why additional burden in form of taxes or any level should not be imposed on the telecom sector to prevent a reversal of the important contribution the sector is making to the growth of the Nigerian economy.

“Our justifications are based on three premises: First, is the fact that operators in the telecoms sub-sector of the digital economy industry currently pay no fewer than 41 different categories of taxes, levies and charges; secondly, that telecoms has continued to be a major contributor to Nigerian economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product Contribution (GDP).

“The third ground for contesting the Excise Duty in telecom sector is the fact that, despite increase in the cost of all factors of production across sector, and naturally leading to increase in costs of products and services, telecom sector is the only sector where cost of service has been stable and in many cases continued to go down over the past years and therefore, adding more burden will destroy the sector,” the Minister said.

The Minister also informed the gathering that the President, having looked into the arguments put forward by the Committee and relying on the provision of the Section 5 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, as amended, has therefore, exempted telecom sector from the list of sectors to pay the excise duty as stated in Finance Act of 2021 and other subsidiary legislations, all of which are not as superior as the Constitution which permits the President to grant such waiver.

Pantami said: “I am happy to report to you that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the exemption of the digital economy sector from the five percent excise duty to be paid and this is because of the strength of the argument presented to him by the Committee that additional burden on telecom sector will increase the sufferings of Nigerians and that other sectors that are not making as much contribution to the economy should be challenged to do more and pay the 5 per cent excise duty.”

The Minister assured Nigerians, who are telecom consumers, that the presidential exemption given to the telecom sector shall be sustained by the incoming administration as “the decision by the President is not about any political party or any administration but about Nigeria and welfare of Nigerian citizens.”

The Minister further noted that the Digital Economy Sector has continued to contribute significantly to the growth of the Nigerian economy, having contributed 14.07 per cent to the GDP in the first quarter of 2020; 17.79 per cent in the second quarter of 2021; and 18.44 per cent in the second quarter of 2022.

He said the sector has also increased its quarterly revenue generation for government from N51 billion to over N480 billion, representing a growth of 594 per cent; while the cost of buying data has also reduced from N1,200 in 2019 to N350 presently, despite the increase in the cost of operations, including the energy challenge that has caused mobile network operators to power base stations with over 32,000 power generating to provide seamless services to their teeming consumers.

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TECHDIGEST – In 2016, the Centre of Information Technology and Development (CITAD) conducted research on access to and use of the internet by society and found that women were largely left behind in terms of both use and benefits of the internet. The result of that research was published in a book entitled “INTERNET FOR MEN? The Digital Marginalization of women in Northern Nigeria”, available at here

We followed this with consultations with several stakeholders across the country on how to address the marginalization of women in the digital space. These consultations culminated in the publication of a model National Gender Inclusion Agenda in 2018, here

Since then, CITAD has been consistently campaigning and calling on the government to articulate a national gender digital inclusion agenda to address the glaring digital marginalization of women. 

READ ALSO: NITDA, Uniccorn Sign MOU To Promote Indigenous Technologies

It was this campaign that led to working with the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum Team to institute the convening of the annual Women Internet Government Forum as a special pre-event of the National IGF at which issues pertaining to women and internet, and in particular, their inclusion in policy making of the digital space, are discussed with a view to ending the gender digital divide in the country. 

While progress has been made in raising awareness as well as in understanding the key driving factors for the persistence of this gender digital divide, there had been no systematic and policy-based response by the government to tackle this serious development problem. 

It is this respect that we welcome the announcement by Mr.  Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) of the government’s Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy (DGIS). 

The announcement was made at the United Nations International Women’s Day celebration organized by FGN Women Ambassadors Network (FWAN-NET) in Abuja. While we await to see the full contents of the strategy, we commend NITDA for finally seeing the wisdom in having a strategy that can address the various ramifications of gender digital divide in the country. 

We hope that the contents of the Strategy document will be speedily make public and all necessary mechanisms, resources and plans for its full implementation be put in place. 

We also hope that implementation will be driven by wide consultations and engagements of stakeholders, especially women groups in the country. 

We urge for purposeful and diligent implementation that is backed by rigorous and robust monitoring plan to ensure that progress is being tracked and challenges on the way are appropriately addressed. 

CITAD finally commends the visionary leadership of both the Director-General of NITDA and the Minister of Digital Economy and Communication for the foresight in recording this national milestone for digital gender justice in Nigeria.

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TECHDIGEST – In fostering the growth of the digital innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the country and consolidating the achievements made by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the Federal Government has inaugurated a 27 member committee to implement the Nigeria Startup Act 2023 (NSA)

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) inaugurated the committee on behalf of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari in a hybrid event at the Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja.

Giving a historical overview of the journey so far from the conceptualisation of the bill to its enactment into law by the President on 19th October 2022, the Honourable Minister stated that the Nigeria Startup Bill was first drafted and formulated in 2021 with inputs from relevant and critical stakeholders.

He stated that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, private sectors, industry players, young innovators and stakeholders from the academia were engaged in town hall meetings organised in the six geopolitical zones of the country with the purpose of collecting their inputs, constructive criticisms and recommendations to create a robust and credible document.

READ ALSO: 2023: We Blocked Over 200 Cyberattacks During General Election – GBB

Describing the inauguration of the NSA implementation committee as a milestone achievement towards the attainment of a digital Nigeria, Pantami urged the committee members to coordinate operational plans and establish the baseline for the ecosystem in terms of digital innovation and entrepreneurship.

“In this implementation committee, we have brought together relevant stakeholders, some from government, some from the private sector, some from the ecosystem, some from the academia, some from legal institutions and many more to come together and provide the leadership that is required for the technical implementation of this very important law”, he stated.

While noting that economies globally are driven by technology, knowledge, digital innovation and entrepreneurship, Pantami stated that priority and preference should be given to a knowledge-based economy rather than a resource-based economy in the country.

He further stated that countries like the United States of America, China, Japan, Germany, India and the United Kingdom which are the major contributors to the global Gross Domestic Product of 101.6 trillion US dollars are leading economically because they give preference to a knowledge-based economy.

“According to statistics as of December 2022, digital enterprises are directly and indirectly contributing a minimum of 53 trillion US dollars to the global GDP. By implication, you can safely say that more than half of the global GDP depends on technology, digital innovation and digital entrepreneurship”, he said.

“Today, digital entrepreneurship, digital innovation and knowledge-based activities are building the global economy and we need to invest in our youths that have innovative ideas”, he added.

He further stated that Nigeria is blessed with so many talents and innovators, and that young Nigerians have been making the country proud by winning prizes at global ICT events in UAE, Barcelona, USA and Saudi Arabia.

While emphatically stating that the NSA would consolidate the achievements of startups in the country by providing legal frameworks as well as technical and financial backing to further encourage them, the Minister said that “Today in the Act, there is a provision of supporting them financially. The government will set aside a minimum of 10 billion naira annually in addition to other sources of funding that have been captured in the law”.

Prof. Pantami also noted without a doubt that it will consolidate the achievements made thus far by the Ministry in terms of broadband penetration, 4G penetration, development of policies for digitalization, digital ID in Nigeria, government revenue generation amongst others.

Announcing the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE as the secretary of the committee, the Minister urged all the members to expend their time, energy, knowledge and experience to support the ecosystem so as to reduce importation in the country and prioritise production.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Kashifu Inuwa appreciated all members of the committee for agreeing to contribute their expertise to the national assignment of implementing the NSA.

He stated that the committee is responsible for creating an enabling and sustainable environment for young and talented people to develop more profitable and innovative-driven enterprises for national development.

While noting that startups are critical drivers for economic growth, Inuwa asserted that implementing the NSA will be a game changer that will help create a legal and institutional framework to develop the Nigerian startup ecosystem.

“I wish to sincerely appreciate your acceptance to serve on this committee and I have no doubt that our collective expertise and experience will help us implement the NSA successfully”, he concluded.

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TECHDIGEST – As part of efforts towards positioning the Digital Economy sector on the path of sustainable national development, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has tasked the Board and Management Staff of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to continuously engage in critical thinking in order to solve complex problems that will benefit Nigerians and humanity at large.
Pantami said this during a Ministerial Training on “Skills For Successful Leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, organized by the Ministry .

“There is no problem that exists in the world that has no solution, globally, there is non. The only challenge is being able to engage in critical thinking”, Pantami maintained.

He highlighted customer centricity, long-term thinking, passion for invention, and surrounding one’s self with mentors as key to staying relevant and impactful.

The Minister said “Create the future and be the driver of it. When hiring, look at taking-in people with discipline, expertise, capacity to deliver and do away with sentiments”.

While urging the participants not to compromise their core values, the Digital Economy Boss advised that engaging in compromises attract negative results in the long run and so, it should be avoided.
Prof. Pantami took time to explain the modus operandi of managing success, failure, crisis, and leadership in the work space, adding that facts should always precede emotions.

According to the Minister, leadership is about being brave and taking hardcore decisions, especially when it is for the good of those concerned, he however, stressed that they should be taken after critical evaluations of the subject matter.

“As a leader if you want to be successful don’t be worried about today, rather be worried about the legacies you would leave behind.”

“Always be consistent in your determination to do the right things and have a high level of decisiveness”, the Minister admonished.

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, who welcomed the participants, expressed delight in the theme of the training which he said aims at equipping the Board and Management Staff of the organization for growth and resilience in the fourth Industrial Revolution.

READ ALSO: FG Flags Off NAVSA Programme In University of Ibadan

Inuwa particularly appreciated the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, for taking the initiative to share his knowledge and expertise on the subject matter; the knowledge sharing initiative, Inuwa said he has benefited from for twenty-five years.

The DG emphasized that the fourth Industrial Revolution is upon Nigeria, affirming that it presents great opportunities for leapfrogging Nigeria in the digital economy.

“To seize the opportunities that abound, we need to fully equip ourselves with relevant knowledge, skills, expertise and tools in order to position Nigeria to create and capture value from the fourth Industrial Revolution”, Inuwa stressed.

He described the Minister’s leadership over the years as instrumental to the successes recorded by the Agency, noting that it is a golden opportunity for Board members and Management Staff to grow faster in their service delivery, especially as they are part of the training session which is to be handled by the Minister himself.
Inuwa said “when the Honourable Minister formulated the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), he directed us to implement and with his guidance, all the force-set, that is, from the mindset, skill-set to the look and feel of the agency are all his initiatives we implemented”.

The Director-General encouraged everyone to fully participate in the different sessions as he hoped that the training would transform their lives and by extension impact on their performance at work and the Digital Economy of the Nation at large.

The event featured a presentation of Icon of Digital Economy Award to Prof. Isa Ali Pantami by the Board Chairman of NITDA, Dr Sa’id Abubakar in recognition of his immense contributions to the sector.
Meanwhile, a symbolic certificate was also presented to the Board Chairman of the Agency.

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