Digital Economy Media Support Volunteers’ (DEMS Volunteers’), a non-governmental group leading nationwide awareness/campaigns on Digital Economy, has commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), for the vigour and zeal he has shown towards achieving a digital Nigeria.
In December 2019, to foster the growth of a Digital Economy and to achieve broadband penetration by the year 2025, the Nigerian Government inaugurated the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NBP) Committee for the Development of the 2020-2025 National Broadband Plan for Nigeria.
The Director General, DEMS Volunteers, Prince Stan Okenwa, in a Press Statement at the weekend, noted that the recent submission of a National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 report in less than three months the steering committee was inaugurated is another confirmation that Dr. Pantami is on a fast lane hence the industry should rally round him to achieve the goals.
DEMS Volunteers also lauded the Committee Chaired by the MD/CEO, MainOne, Ms Funke Opeke and Co-Chaired by the former Executive Commissioner Technical Services at NCC, Dr. Bashir Gwandu, while NCC’s Executive Commissioner Technical Services, Engr. Ubale Maska, served as the Secretary of the Committee.
Prince Okenwa said that the Committee proved themselves worthy of the national assignment by ensuring the report was not delayed but delivered on record time.
“We followed up the progress report while the NBP Committee was on course for two months; deliberating on issues as they relate to the national broadband, with focus on how to penetrate the underserved and unserved areas in the country and drive the Nigerian digital economy. At some points, the Minister, out of his tight schedules, paid them visit, and took notes of progresses and areas of concerned raised. This is commendable.
Recall that the Minister was at the 2020 – 2025 National Broadband Planning Committee Meeting, which held on the 5th of February 2020 and on the 18th February 2020, the Committee submitted its draft report.
“This is commendable and shows that the Minister is not operating as an armed-chair executive, but a determined achiever. The NBP holds a critical place in the nation’s economic drives. Without adequate broadband, telemedicine won’t happen, smart transportation, seamless fintech, eLearning, ecommerce, eGovernance, and other multiplier effects would become mere thoughts on paper.
“Therefore, we call on the Minister not to relent, but to ensure immediate critical study of the recommendation for swift implementation. By doing that, we would have solved enormous challenges faced by the economy and further unleash new windows for multiple job creation and revenue generation in the country,” the statement concludes.
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