Four key projects of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy were launched and commissioned, by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, March 19, 2020, in Abuja.
The four projects include: the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020 -2025; the Communication and Digital Economy Complex; the Emergency Communications Centre and 112 toll-free number and flag-off, of the Digital innovation and entrepreneurship training.
The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.
These projects are expected to drive the 3-point agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which are, Security, Economy and war against corruption.
“The Emergency Communications Centre and Toll-Free Number ‘112’, further demonstrates our resolve, to keep Nigerians safe. We have taken advantage of digital technologies, to ensure that, Nigerians in distress, are only a dial away, from the relevant emergency response institutions, in the country.
This will go a long way, in supporting our efforts, to improve the security of lives and property”, stated President Muhammadu Buhari, on the Emergency Communications Centre and Toll-Free Number ‘112’ at the event.
“Government is aware, of the challenges operators in the industry face, particularly, vandalism of telecommunications equipment and have directed the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, to work with government agencies, to ensure protection of critical national infrastructure’, the President stressed.
Commending the Digital innovation and entrepreneurship training initiative, President Muhammadu Buhari stressed that, it is, one of the Federal Government’s, key initiatives, to empower innovators and entrepreneurs with skills required to thrive in the emerging digital skills.
“This is part of our efforts, to ensure that, our youths, women, unemployed graduates and people, living with disabilities, either become employers of labour, or, get a large number of well-paying jobs, thereby, contributing, to the national drive, of lifting Nigerians, out of poverty”, stressed the President.
On the newly inaugurated Communications and Digital Economy Complex, the President explained that, it would provide a befitting coordinating centre, for the new focus, on the Nigerian Digital Economy. “It signals the desire, to intensify efforts towards ensuring that, Nigeria becomes an active participant, in the Global Digital Economy,” he stated.
On the flag off, of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020 -2025, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, stressed that, broadband penetration is key, to reviving the economy.
In his welcome address at the event, Prof Umar Danbatta, the EVC/CEO of Nigerian Communication Commission, (NCC), stated that, the launch of these projects, is a reflection of the growth and reflection, in the ICT, which commenced with the national telecommunications policy and the full liberalization of the industry.
“As at the time this government came into power, in 2015, broadband penetration was hovering between 4 and 6 per cent. It has now reached 38.5 per cent”, stated Professor Danbatta, reeling out statistics, of achievements in the telecom industry, in recent years.
The event was attended to by several stakeholders, within the ecosystem.
Featured Image: President Muhammadu Buhari, surrounded by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, EVC/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, DG, National Information Development Agency and other dignitaries, as he launches and commissions 4 Key projects of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, on Thursday, March 19, 2020, in Abuja
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