The Cloud Network Foundation (CNF), a registered non-governmental organization dedicated to fostering the growth, development, and prominence of Telecommunications and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as the primary driver of the nation’s economy, extends its warm congratulations to Dr. Bosun Tijani on his appointment as the Minister in the newly revamped Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
As a crucial stakeholder in Nigeria’s communications sector, the Foundation enthusiastically welcomes the new minister and pledges its unwavering commitment to providing valuable support to ensure his tenure becomes a momentous and remarkable period in the advancement and expansion of the national economy.
Mr. Abimbola Tooki, Chairman of the Foundation, acknowledges the new minister’s outstanding credentials and recognizes him as a fellow advocate for the emergence of the information and communication technology industry as a lucrative sector that generates content and employment opportunities for the country’s youth and the general population. This vision aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s aspiration to create one million digital jobs within the initial two years of his administration, a commitment outlined in his election manifesto and emphasized in his inaugural address.
Tooki emphasizes the noteworthy contribution of the telecommunications and ICT services sector, which remains the highest contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As of the first quarter of 2023, this sub-sector accounted for a substantial 14.13 percent of the nation’s GDP.
The Foundation earnestly encourages the minister to prioritize addressing issues of insecurity, recognizing their impact on the country’s investment climate and overall well-being.
“This area requires urgent national attention and needs immediate remedies,” he said. “The deliberate disruption and destruction to this national critical infrastructure must be a major focus in your interactions with the government at all levels and the Security architecture of the nation.”
“We also must call your attention to the challenges of multiple taxation, Right of Ways (RoW) row in the different states, spiraling inflation, excessive import taxes and the unstable policy environment which has continued to encumbered the growth and development of the economy.”
Tooki said the issue of harmonized national database too has been on the drawing board for a long time.
“And if you are able to bring the matter to closure, your name will be perpetually etched in the quick sand of time when Nigeria is listed among nations of the world with reliable national database,” he said.
According to him, currently, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC ) is managing the National Identity Number (NIN), at the top of the pyramid. Other agencies also having custody of citizens’ biometric details are the Federal Road Safety Corps (Driver’s licenses), Central Bank of Nigeria managing Bank Verification Number (BVN), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in custody of the international passport and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in charge of the national voters’ card.
“We hope that your intervention would ensure the harmonized national database under the management of NIMC.,” he said.
On this strength of its convergence value addition, Tooki said the Foundation would collaborate with the minister as strategic stakeholder in the evolution of this industry for the overall good of our nation.
“It is our intention to open doors of collaborative engagements with you. And this way, we shall bring our wealth of experience in the industry to assist you achieve your national mandates as the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.”
