…as broadband penetration hits 42.79%
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, has told the global digital community that Nigeria is recording phenomenal growth in its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry, thus enabling socio-economic development in Nigeria and across the African continent.
The minister gave this hint during the tea break at the sidelines of the 2022 International Telecommunication Union’s World Telecommunications Development Conference (ITU-WTDC) which commenced penultimate Wednesday in Kigali, Rwanda.
Pantami, who was represented at the forum by the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC’s) Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr. Ubale Maska, told the delegates that Nigeria had continued to record impressive growth in its ICT sector and acknowledged the support of the ITU in Nigeria’s strides in ICT.
He enthused: “Nigeria has utilized ICT as a driver of socio-economic development not just for herself, but also for the benefit of the sub-region and continent, given its role as a founding member and strategic sponsor of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA).”
The minister further disclosed that in the last 20 years, Nigeria had achieved robust growth in its telecoms industry which grew from less than half a million connected telephone lines to over 200 million active mobile lines as at April, 2022 even as the broadband penetration had risen to 42.79 percent.
According to him, as a country, Nigeria has grown from Second Generation (2G), to 3G, 4G and now the 5G is about to come on board after conducting a globally-acclaimed transparent auction and awards of two 5G licences.
Pantami said many achievements of Nigeria in the area of ICT development had been possible through the successful launch and implementation of policies that foster use of ICTs across all sectors to enhance a digital economy.
Similarly, he also told the delegates that as a long-standing member of ITU Council, Nigeria had been playing remarkable roles in ITU, such as its chairing the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2022; chairing the World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC) 2015; and chairing of ITU Council Standing Committee on Administration and Management (SC-ADM) in 2019 and 2022.
He also recalled that Nigeria had also chaired the Ad-hoc Committee on ITU Regional Presence; served as chair and vice chair of several study groups; and provided financial support to the ITU headquarters.
The minister assured the participants that Nigeria remained hopeful to continue to serve in the forthcoming ITU Council cycle (2022-2026) even as he commended the government of Rwanda for hosting this year’s edition of the conference on behalf of the African continent.
In his speech during the brief event, the ITU Secretary General, Houlin Zhao, extolled Nigeria’s role and contributions as a member of ITU Council and used the opportunity to seek the support of the other member-countries for Nigeria’s membership in the 2022-2026 cycle.
The tea break was attended by senior officials of the ITU, including the Secretary General, Houlin Zhao, and representatives and heads of delegations from different countries.
