The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Ali Isa Pantami, has urged state governments to create a digital economy ministry to boost economic growth.
Pantami stated this in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, yesterday, during a courtesy visit to Governor Seyi Makinde in appreciation of his decision to host the ongoing 10th National Council on Communication and Digital Economy in Ibadan.
The Minister, who was hosted by the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, thanked Governor Makinde for his support in the session and for encouraging the state to establish a ministry of digital economy.
He affirmed that the digital economy has greatly contributed to economic development, job creation as well as increased revenue generation in the federation than any other sector and cannot be neglected under another ministry.
The minister who further said that the Federal Government will implement the key policies from the memorandum submitted after the 10th General meeting, revealed that Oyo Sate was chosen to continue the tradition of expanding the sense of assets. in every zone of the country.
“We have shown that the digital economy can greatly support the traditional economy. The contribution of the digital economy to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) and its role in making the economy resilient to adverse events such as of the COVID-19 pandemic are two good examples of the impact of the digital economy on the traditional economy.
“This is important because our country Nigeria is at a point where it is developing into one of the countries that in the next few years will be considered one of the leading digital economies in the world.”
Also Read: A Taste Of Lecturers: Prepare Students To Become Employers
“It is the desire of the Ministry and President Muhammadu Buhari that all agencies under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, private sector and stakeholder companies work towards Nigeria’s digital Economy.”
“Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) is seen as the main enabler to realize some, if not all, of the SDGs such as ending hunger through Agrictech, zero poverty through ICT, good health among others,” he said.
Responding, Governor Seyi Makinde, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, disclosed that his administration understands that ICT is critical to the development and impact it wants to make since its inception in 2019.
He revealed that his administration knows that investment in the digital economy is essential to the expansion of the state’s economy, which is one of its strategic points, and has put ICT policies and frameworks in place by digitizing everything state processes.
Makinde affirmed that his administration will consider what can be done about the creation of a digital economy ministry, as requested by the minister, because it is clear that ICT is the future.
Relevant
