Digital Economy Will Transform Nigeria To Global Powerhouse, Says Pantami

Nigeria has the potential of critical mass of “digital natives” that could transform the country into a regional and global digital powerhouse, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, has said.

The feat can be achieved through diligent implementation of the digital economy agenda, he said at the commissioning of a ‘Digital Nigeria Centre’ at the Father O’Connel Science College in Minna, Niger State.

Pantami, who was the special guest of honour at the event, advised the school to effectively utilise the DNC.

“With the tools being provided through the DNC, creative Nigerians can play a key role in the creation of digital jobs across all sectors of the country. Such jobs are either based on or are dependent upon Information and Communications Technologies(ICTs),” Pantami stated in a statement.

Represented by the Director of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission,(NCC), Mr Reuben Muoka, the minister reiterated that the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy(NDEPS), 2020-2030, emphasises the importance of innovation and startup ecosystem, to the development of Nigerian indigenous digital economy.

The DNC project specifically target students, teachers and youths for skills acquisition in order to increase ICT literacy and provide a platform for accessing online educational resources.

It will equip students with ICT skills; facilitate ICT adoption in teaching and learning; and increase the pass rates in mathematics, English language and other science subjects.

The DNC is also made up of four components which include ICT Tool (40 desktop computers with embedded operating systems, server, printer, remote-controlled projector, high resolution scanner, and e-learning software); power structure, consisting of an inverter that comes with its charger; solar panels; and batteries and automatic changeover.

“There is also a connectivity component, made up of routers, switches, and firewall for network protection, modem, fibre/microwave radio or Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and bandwidth for internet connectivity. Lastly, there is a non-ICT component constitutive of the furniture, cabinet, cooling systems, and allied appliances,” Pantami added.

Formerly known as School Knowledge Centre(SKC), the DNC has an overarching objective to carry out the Commission’s statutory mandate of expanding the frontiers of universal access and universal service by ensuring service provision to unserved and under-served areas of the Nigerian economy.

Since the modification of the project from SKC to DNC, the Minna project became the second to be commissioned after the first DNC located at Ijesa Muslim Grammar School, Ilesa, Osun State, was inaugurated in January, 2022, the statement noted.