The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) and Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR) have jointly advocated for the adoption of technology to enhance public communication and improve service delivery within the public sector.

This call to action was made during a visit by Dr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, the Director-General of BPSR, to the headquarters of IMPR in Abuja, where he met with the publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential.

In his address, Dr. Arabi revealed alarming statistics from a BPSR survey conducted in 2024, which indicated that only about 30% of public servants are proficient in utilizing technology for digitized services. He referenced a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) report predicting that Nigeria, along with three other African countries, could reap a $136 billion economic boon from advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI). This underscores the pressing need for capacity development programs aimed at equipping public servants with the skills necessary to navigate the evolving technological landscape.

Dr. Arabi emphasized the importance of upskilling and reskilling initiatives to facilitate a smooth transition into a technology-driven workforce. He also highlighted Nigeria’s governmental master plan and AI adoption policy, which seeks to foster inter-agency collaboration to drive initiatives in information and communication technology (ICT) and the digital economy.

The BPSR Director-General stressed the crucial role of effective public communication in the monitoring and management of state and local government resources. He mentioned that the federal government has implemented several policies and reforms aimed at bolstering transparency in public finance, citing the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and various budget management tools as significant contributors to increased accountability in the public sector.

Dr. Arabi also discussed the progress made in combating corruption and the necessity of strategic communication programs to keep citizens informed about government initiatives. He announced an upcoming Presidential Conference on Customer Experience, scheduled for June, designed to establish service delivery standards and evaluate government performance. Additionally, he revealed plans for the development of a Reform Tracker App, which will provide real-time updates on government reforms and their progress.

In response, IMPR Chief Executive Officer Mallam Yushau A. Shuaib recognized the transformative potential of technology in the public sector but expressed concerns about job displacement among civil service employees. He underscored the necessity for government funding and supportive policies that would ensure a smooth transition during this technological shift.

While acknowledging the risks of potential job losses, he urged the government to implement initiatives to mitigate these effects and promote rapid adaptation to emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain technology.

Mallam Shuaib also highlighted the vital role of public communication in fostering awareness, enhancing government reputation, and encouraging public engagement in governance. He pointed out the benefits of using virtual meetings and remote work at IMPR’s PRNigeria centers located in Abuja, Kano, and Kwara, which have produced cost savings, improved efficiency, and enhanced brand reputation.

He called for digital training programs that would empower public servants to work remotely and harness advanced technology for improved service delivery.

In conclusion, Mallam Shuaib expressed gratitude for Dr. Arabi’s surprise visit and reaffirmed IMPR’s commitment to advancing technological innovations in public communication.

By PRNigeria

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TECHDIGEST – Nigeria is regarded as Africa’s largest ICT market with 82 per cent of the continent’s telecoms subscribers and 29 per cent of internet usage.

Sub-Saharan Africa is also projected to be the fastest growing region with a compound annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent and a subscriber enrolment of over 167 million in the next five years. Nigeria is expected to account for over 55 per cent of this.

The NCC estimates that the country has about 76 million subscriptions on broadband which accounts for 40 per cent penetration and 195.4 million telecom subscribers as of December 2021.

The government of Nigeria recognizes ICT as the enabler for developing other critical sectors including education, healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing. In its drive to diversify the economy from oil and gas, the federal government is encouraging partnerships between local ICT companies and foreign investors. To promote these partnerships and grow an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the technology sector, the country has supported creating government- or private-sector led incubator hubs, youth innovation programs, and science technology parks.

Abuja Technology Village, which serves as an example, received government support to become a destination for research, incubation, development, and commercialization of ICT.

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Construction has begun at the site, and the government has granted Special Economic Zone status to Abuja Technology Village and other hubs to enable duty-free shipments and elimination of labour issues as a fiscal incentive to investors and entrepreneurs.

Speaking at a two-day National Conference on Non-oil Export with the theme, ‘Export for Survival: Optimising Nigeria’s Non-oil Export Potential’, organised by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) recently, Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said “some of the country’s best stories are in the tech sector, with companies valued over $1billion each and all of these between two recessions.”

He said the tech sector is growing so well because there is a very large hand of the regulator upon it and added that “the country must seek to achieve a situation where regulators see themselves as facilitators of business.”

“This has been the focus of the ministry of Industry Trade and Investment especially with the MSME clinics where we try to show that the very best approach is for regulators to see themselves as those that must promote business,” the Vice President said.

Osinbajo said the government’s job is to enable businesses especially with the regulatory policies.

“The core mandate of the Presidential enabling business environment council found expression in the master action plan of 7.0 on the ease of doing business and in the way to consolidate and removal of regulatory constraints especially around agro-export and to drive the electronic filing of taxes and publication of insolvency regulation of companies and Allied matters Act 2020.

The 7.0.agro export plan prioritizes trade facilitation reforms to minimize cross border trade and transport logistics and for Nigerian companies to do better and to be more compliant with the AFCTA export compliance regulations,” he said.

“The plan for reduction of cargo clearance time has also begun with the facilitation of imports and exports with the introduction of installation of scanners supported also by the port community portal. One of the major problems and complaints that we have is that there is always physical inspection of goods as they come, but with the scanners we hope physical inspection will be greatly reduced.

“We have continued to meet the challenges facing us head-on and there are so many challenges, the government’s commitment to infrastructural development and also looking for ways of funding the exports in trade and investment is one commitment that the government has taken very seriously,” he said.

The Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Dr. Ezra Yakusak, observed that report from Pre-shipment Inspection Agencies (PIA) revealed a significant growth in export proceeds in the last 5 years 2017-2021 from $1.2 billion to $3.4 billion as against an annual average of $22 billion food importation alone into the country. “To close this gap, concerted efforts are required from all practitioners in the non-oil export value chain,” he said.

Also speaking on the theme “Sustainable Market Access for Nigerian Non-oil Export,” Ambassador Adamu Mohammed Abdulhamid, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) said the negative impact on Nigeria’s external reserve has exerted unprecedented pressure on Naira and weakened Nigeria’s ability to finance its import and undermine its Balance of Payment position.

He cited increased poverty and livelihood security difficulties and unemployment as part of the aftermath of these negative indices.

In order to build a resilient economy, Economic Diversification and digitization especially export diversification is key.

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TECH DIGEST – The newly appointed Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has paid a visit to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Headquarters in Abuja.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who was received by a delegation led by CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday, March 16, said Nigeria has enough resources and opportunities to exit the recession.

The WTO DG said:“I think we have what it takes in the country, particularly our young people to do the necessary which is to move forward as to how we are going to create jobs and move this economy in the direction that would support our youths in the future.

“There are opportunities that can be used in improving trade so that our economy can climb out of this pandemic recession that we are in faster than would have been the case.”

The WTO boss added that the country also needs to embrace trade remedies and a digital economy to help Nigerian industries.

According to her, “WTO has what we call trade remedies. Without banning things we can be able to protect our industries against dumping and cheap imports if we use those remedies. We can use those remedies as a tool to help our industries.

“Digital Economy has come to stay and people are doing well there. We need to support our young people to make use of the digital economy.”

She added that this is a big task before the country and conversations must start in that direction and also the creative industry should not be neglected as it creates more jobs for the youths.

On his part, Emefiele said the local industry should be given the room to grow as it would create more job opportunities, given the rate of high unemployment

The CBN governor, however, declared that Nigeria is open to business in any part of the world.

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TECH DIGEST – History is made as Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been chosen as the new Director General of World Trade Organisation (WTO).

WTO members made history today (15th February, 2021) when the General Council agreed by consensus to select Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria as the organization’s seventh Director-General.

When she takes office on 1 March, Dr Okonjo-Iweala will become the first woman and the first African to be chosen as Director-General. Her term, renewable, will expire on 31 August 2025.

“This is a very significant moment for the WTO. On behalf of the General Council, I extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as the WTO’s next Director-General and formally welcome her to this General Council meeting,” said General Council Chair David Walker of New Zealand who, together with co-facilitators Amb. Dacio Castillo (Honduras) and Amb. Harald Aspelund (Iceland) led the nine-month DG selection process.

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TECH DIGEST – The United States government on Thursday endorsed Nigeria’s former Finance minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the office of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The endorsement is contained in a statement issued by the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

The statement reads inter alia: “The Biden-Harris Administration is pleased to express its strong support for the candidacy of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next Director General of the WTO. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala brings a wealth of knowledge in economics and international diplomacy from her 25 years with the World Bank and two terms as Nigerian Finance Minister. She is widely respected for her effective leadership and has proven experience managing a large international organization with a diverse membership”.

*THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW:*

“Office of the United States Trade Representative Statement on the Director General of the World Trade Organization

“Washington, DC – The United States takes note of today’s decision by the Republic of Korea’s Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee to withdraw her candidacy for Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

“The Biden-Harris Administration is pleased to express its strong support for the candidacy of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next Director General of the WTO. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala brings a wealth of knowledge in economics and international diplomacy from her 25 years with the World Bank and two terms as Nigerian Finance Minister. She is widely respected for her effective leadership and has proven experience managing a large international organization with a diverse membership.

“The Biden-Harris Administration also congratulates Minister Yoo Myung-hee on her strong campaign for this position. She is a trailblazer as the Republic of Korea’s first female trade minister and the first candidate from Korea to advance this far in the Director General selection process. The United States respects her decision to withdraw her candidacy from the Director General race to help facilitate a consensus decision at the WTO.

“It is particularly important to underscore that two highly qualified women made it to the final round of consideration for the position of WTO Director General — the first time that any woman has made it to this stage in the history of the institution.

“The United States stands ready to engage in the next phase of the WTO process for reaching a consensus decision on the WTO Director General. The Biden-Harris Administration looks forward to working with a new WTO Director General to find paths forward to achieve necessary substantive and procedural reform of the WTO”.

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