The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Professor Isa Ali Pantami is set to lead thought-leaders at the 2nd edition of the NITRA ICT GROWTH CONFERENCE 2.0, an annual stakeholder event scheduled for September 29th 2022 in Lagos, Nigeria.
The conference organised by the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), is in line with its objective to promote and sensitize Nigerians on ICT development through stakeholder partnerships seminars, workshops, training and capacity building. The theme for this year’s conference is “Creating A Digital Ecosystem In Nigeria: The Hurdles, The Gains”
As the industry media body prepares for its stakeholders’ engagement event, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, is billed to lead pertinent stakeholders across the sector to the annual roundtable that x-rays the industry and how to chart growth path for its sustainable development.
Stakeholders will cut across private concerns and public policy makers in the ICT sector, the event will see exhaustive deliberations on ways to move the sector forward, with a view to drive the digital economy to its highest heights
Speaking on the event, the Chairman, NITRA, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi noted: “The theme of this year’s conference is aimed at complementing
the various efforts by governments and private sector towards a digitalized Nigeria”.
Through this, the event aims to effect multi-stakeholder dialogue drawing from both the public and private sectors, to appraise laudable federal government set targets and policies across relevant MDAs including the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the NCC and NITDA. The event also aims to seek ways to implement and achieve these targets in alignment with current realities.
Policy documents to be appraised include NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021-2024); The Nigerian Cybercrime Act of 2015; the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content (NPPIC); The National Telecommunications Policy; the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025; National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), the CBN Monetary Policy, among others.
In addition, the event will hold multi-sectoral panel discussions with sub-themes within the central them of the conference in a bid to crucially examine the hydra heads issues that abound within the sector. These themes will include:
“The Role of Emerging Technologies in Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide”
“Exploring Funding Options For Driving Digital Economy”
“Digital Currencies And the Challenge of Regulation in Emerging Markets”
“Infrastructure As A Ladder To Building A Digital Economy”
Mr. Onwuegbuchi, while commending stakeholders for their support of the event and passion for the growth of technology in Nigeria, noted that the growth in the ICT industry will impact all other sectors of the economy positively.
“Specifically, the Forum will offer stakeholders the opportunities of reassessing and reinvigorating some policies to make maximum impact in the growth of ICT in Nigeria. This is a growth conference, and stakeholders will be allowed to speak out on what the growth indices should be.” he said.
Expected to be at the event, which will be led by Prof. Pantami, include the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta; the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi, The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele; CEOs of other government and private ICT companies, the Media including the full membership of NITRA and other stakeholders in the industry, including COOs, CIOs, CFOs, CROs and CCOs.
According to the National Secretary of NITRA, Mr. Chidiebere Nwankwo, industry associations will also make their inputs. They include NCS, CPN, ALTON, ATCON, ISPON, NiRA and ITAN.
The event will also give special recognition awards to industry players whose innovation have impacted the growth of ICT in Nigeria, and are still contributing to the development of the industry. The Awards will also be for those companies and individuals, who through their innovativeness have revolutionized the ecosystem.
