Buhari’s Minister Reveals How COVID-19 Increases Need for Digitalisation
- The minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Pantami, said that COVID-19 gave room for the increase in digitalisation
- Pantami made this known while making a speech during the virtual African Internet Governance Forum 2021
- According to him, the challenges the pandemic had brought to the fore had ensured there was an increase in the demand for Internet services
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FCT, Abuja - Isa Pantami, the minister of communications and digital economy, said the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for digitalisation as a means to respond to the challenges posed by the pandemic.
The Punch reports that the minister disclosed this during the virtual African Internet Governance Forum 2021, themed ‘Advancing digital transformation in Africa in the face of crisis.’
Source: Twitter
Legit.ng gathered that while speaking through a director at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), who also serves as his adviser on technical matters, Sahalu Junaidu.
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Pantami said the challenges the pandemic had brought to the fore had ensured there was an increase in the demand for Internet services.
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He said:
“The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the increased need to embrace the digital culture. So, as Africans, one of the ways by which we can respond to the challenge thrown by the pandemic is to accelerate our digital transformation.”
The minister said that the digital transformation strategy for Africa should be established on key foundational pillars, which must include an enabling environment, policy regulation, digital infrastructure, digital skills and human capacity, as well as digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
He added that critical sectors such as digital trade and financial services, digital government, digital education, digital health, and digital agriculture, are also underlining pillars of the transformation.
Pantami said the drivers of digital transformation include digital content and applications, digital identification, emerging technology, cyber security, privacy and personal data protection, as well as research and development.
According to him, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020-2030), and the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 are in place to address infrastructure challenges and enhance Nigeria’s migration to a more robust digital economy.
He said the recent successful auction of 3.5 gigahertz spectrum band for the deployment of the fifth-generation network in the country would boost broadband pene.tration in the country.
FCT imposes new COVID-19 restrictions on worship places
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) announced a new ban on nightclubs, parties and religious congregations with over 50 worshippers.
It was reported that the administration in a statement issued on Saturday, December 25, said the decision was informed by the current status of COVID-19 in the territory.
The administration, in a statement by the Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat, Abubakar Tafida, called on residents of the territory to take action to protect themselves and their loved ones against this pandemic.
Source: Legit.ng
