Barrister Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communications, has scored the Nigerian telecoms industry high in its contribution to the economy.

Shittu said that with the upsurge in telephone density cutting across the technology platforms, the telecoms industry has enabled other industries and growth strategies to the Nigerian economy and society.

He said, ICT is the only sector that has recorded a positive growth of about 10 percent in the first quarter of this year and it has become a major contributor to the nation’s GDP.

Delivering a keynote address on the theme, “Mobility, Technology and the Nigerian Economy” at the 2016 Information Communication Technology & Telecommunication Expo (2016 ICTEL EXPO) organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Tuesday, the Minister said, the Smart Digital Nigeria project is suitable ICT platform for diversification of the Nigerian economy.

According to the Minister, the mobile ecosystem currently contributes over $10 billion in  value add to the Nigeria economy and that mobile services have the potential to enable Nigerians benefit from the exchange of information for business and social needs for increase productivity.

Shittu said the global quest for ICT for development is enormous to both developed and developing countries because ICT skills are critical to the success of enhancing national development in a globalised era.

“In this regard, our government is focused on creating opportunities for citizenship participation in ICT training, knowledge and skills acquisition, and general application and usage of ICT tools to solve problems, promote their wellbeing and enhance national growth.

“No doubt, with the dwindling revenue from the Oil and Gas sector, the Federal Government has realized more than ever before that Telecommunication and ICT are amongst the main drivers for the social and economic development of Nigeria and play a vital role in enhancing access to basic services in all sectors of our national life”, he added.

Charging the organisers of the event, the minister said, “I want to enjoin the President of LCCI, our tireless and quintessential Mother- Dr. (Mrs) Nike Akande, to continue to connect businesses and create opportunities for Nigerians in the ICT sector as the nation strives to diversify its economy from the non oil sector”.

He stressed that the theme for the Expo is apt as the platform will encourage conversations and the sharing of opinions on innovations and trends as well as providing an excellent networking opportunity for business decision makers, innovation managers, start-ups, ICT academics, OEMs, venture capitalists, and other players in the Nigeria ICT sector.

Shittu assured that the government will provide the needed enabling environment for the ICT and telecommunication sector to thrive through enactment of relevant legislations, saying ”With the e-Government Masterplan implementation, government’s attention on e-Governance as the nucleus to drive other automation and IT agenda is assured under my very watch. I want to also charge you to continue to connect businesses and create businesses and opportunities for Nigerians in the ICT sector”.

“The Change Mantra of this administration comes in different colourations. We in the ICT sector have a responsibility to put the nation on the path of growth. This can be easily achieved when partners like LCCI key into the SMART Digital initiative.

“There is no doubt in my mind that this ICTEL Expo 2016, will further offer a platform for corporate organisations seeking to build partnerships for enhanced profitability in the sector. It is also a veritable opportunity for government and private sector operators to meet and articulate policies that would boost the productivity of ICT sector in Nigeria and create more jobs”.

Dr. (Mrs) Nike Akande, president of LCCI, earlier in an address, said that the choice of the exhibition theme was to underscore the place of ICT in lifting the nation’s economic from present conundrums.

According to her, ICT has transformed banking (e-payment), trade (e-commerce), education (e-learning, smart school), communications (mobile phones), health (e-health), agriculture (e-wallet for fertilizer distribution), industries (robotics and automation), among other critical impacts of the industry across sectors.

Akande said, ““There is no better time to harness benefits of ICT than now when the Nigerian economy is in dire need of diversification. ICT is strategic in driving productivity and efficiency in all sectors of the economy. Today, virtually all sectors leverage ICT for optimal performance. This is evident in the financial services sector, where electronic banking is now the vogue; the agricultural sector, where government now allocates fertilizer through mobile phones to farmers; the consumer goods sector where online and e-commerce has brought an incredible transformation to retail business; and many more. 

“The aim of ICT Expo 2016 is to encourage conversations and the sharing of opinions on innovations and trends as well as providing an excellent networking opportunity for business decision makers, innovation managers, start-ups, ICT academics, OEMs, venture capitalists and other players in the Nigerian ICT sector.

ICTEL expo which ends on Thursday offers three days of inspiration, innovation and information.