Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy professor Isah Pantami has advised state governments to establish ministry ICT and Digital economy and leverage on the potentials of the sector for economic growth.
The Minister gave the advice when he paid a courtesy call to Governor of Oyo state Seyi Makinde at his office in Agodi, Ibadan.
The Communications and Digital economy minister is in Oyo state to chair the 10th National Council on Communication and Digital Economy.
His visit is to intimate the Governor of Oyo state on the role Information Communication Technology and Digitalisation has played in the country’s growth and why they should invest more in the sector.
In his address professor Pantami noted that the ICT sector has driving the country’s economy significantly, contributing over 18percent to it’s GDP in the second quarter of 2022.
On his part, Governor of Oyo state who was represented by the Secretary to the state government says the state would synergize with relevant agencies to ensure it’s potentials are fully utilised.
The Minister was received by the Secretary to the Government of Oyo State and other top Government functionaries.
The issue of creating the right environment for a Digital Economy to thrive is one that has agitated the minds of experts in the Sector who have worried about the continued harassments of Youth who are the primary players in the Sector by gun toting Police officers who extort them at every little chance.
This has made the Sector and players in it wary of the failure of Government and its agencies to address the issue and failing to invest further or moving outside Nigeria to launch their ventures.
With the charge by the Federal Government to States to create ICT and Communications Ministries, it is hoped that the States will put their mouth where there money is by protecting players whose activities are mostly within the purview of States.
