Nigeria will soon become one of world’s leading digital economy – Pantami

Dr Ali Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy said Nigeria will soon be one of the world’s leading digital economies.

He said this at the Second School of Science and Technology, SOST, Bauchi Federal Polytechnic National Conference, Tuesday in Bauchi.

He said that the theme of the conference “The role of science, technology and innovations in a digital economy: towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, the SDGs” was timely and linked to the goal of the Digital Economy.

“This is quite important because our nation, Nigeria, is at a point where it is evolving into one of the nations that over the next two years will be seen as one of the leading digital economies in the world.

“It is the wish of the Ministry and President Muhammadu Buhari that all agencies under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the private sector and corporate stakeholders work on Nigeria’s digital economy.

“Science, technology and innovation, STI, are seen as the main catalysts for achieving some, if not all, of the SDGs such as ending hunger through Agrictech, eradicating poverty through to ICT, good health, among others, ”he said.

Represented by Professor Muhammad Abubakar, Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone plc, he said that the digital economy, driven by science, technology and innovation, plays a very important role in the Nigerian economy.

Mr Pantami pointed out that the digital economy is the economic activity resulting from billions of daily online connections between people, businesses, devices, data and processes.

The minister added that the digital economy is taking shape and undermining conventional notions about how businesses are structured, how businesses interact and how consumers get services, information and goods.

“Therefore, we cannot underestimate the huge role that science and technology play in digital economies and strengthening the SDGs,” Mr Pantami said.

Also speaking, Sanusi Gumau, rector of the Federal Polytechnic of Bauchi, reiterated the commitment of the polytechnic to maintain standards in scientific and technological innovations.

He said the polytechnic was ready to partner with government, individuals and business people to invest in technological innovations.

Professor Mohammmed Shuaibu, Dean of Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said in his keynote presentation that industrialization is widely recognized as the engine of economic growth and advanced development.

He stressed that industrialization would not be achieved without government, universities and industry, adding that these three arms must unite to achieve industrialization.