IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

This can only be done, if IT local content is given a special attention. How will Nigeria respond if the nation's Internet Gateway is hacked and disabled for 24 hours during a business working day?

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has highlighted key areas to focus on in 2018 in other to make the country’s telecoms and Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector a better one. The association has primed broadband, policy need and the need to attract more investment as key among other areas that should be given serious attention by both public and private players in the sector.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has said that the digital economy will contribute more than 45% to Nigeria’s GDP, as the contribution of the ICT sector alone is now approximately 17%.

The Minister made this known while speaking at the virtual Nigeria Internet Governance Forum 2020 (vNIGF) with the theme: “Achieving Inclusive Digital Economic Development in the Post-Covid 19 Era”.

Over 50 per cent of Nigerian cities will achieve ‘Smart Status’ by 2019, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has said.

NITDA’s Director General, Dr Vincent Olatunji, disclosed this in Abuja at the Nigeria Smart City initiative partners’ forum at the weekend.

Dr Olatunji said the agency would develop, deploy and manage smart (IT) solutions in the cities for the benefit of residents of the cities.

Technology solutions provider, Huawei disclosed recently that 53 per cent of Nigerians are yet to have access to the Internet.

Managing director, Huawei Nigeria, Mr. Frank Li, stated this during a media conference organised by the company in Lagos.

ACCESS Nigeria, supported by the World Bank, will tests youths in Nigeria against a sample of worldwide scores that qualify for global outsourcing jobs. The test thus reflects employability by competitive global standards. Besides testing, the ACCESS program in Nigeria aims to boost the employability of graduates and job seekers in high-potential areas by linking skills training to immediate market needs. ACCESS Nigeria includes a 10-week modular training in communication, cognitive and computer skills. After successful candidates are certified, they are linked to potential employers in the services sector who have endorsed ACCESS.

I have been working as an e-Government Advisor to the Nigerian government with the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMCoDE) since February 14.

Recently, I received rent from a store that I own in Korea and processed tax return and tax invoice issue with a smart phone here in Nigeria.

I was able to handle tax affairs right here in Nigeria without going to Korea’s tax office because Korea’s e-government system was well established.

As part of its Programme on AI and Digital Transformation for the Public Sector, UNESCO trained civil servants on AI and digital governance.

The world is increasingly digital. As technology reshapes societies, governments are accelerating digital transformation to better understand and serve their citizens. A 2021 UNESCO survey found that 90% of African countries, including Nigeria, wished for support for AI capacity-building for civil servants.

AAJIMATICS is a professional services and technology solutions firm and Ajiboye said the reason health would be interested is due to the complex and personal nature of the system.

“Healthcare delivery and administration is a complex system that presents numerous challenges,” Ajiboye said.

Last week in Lagos, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) gathered industry eggheads to discuss regulations regarding the full deployment of the Internet of Things (IoT) in Nigeria. ADEYEMI ADEPETUN, in this report, writes about the planned move.

Advancement in computing power and wireless Internet connectivity appears to be fast transforming the globe. It is fast making the world smarter! From America to Europe, Asia to Australia down to Africa, devices are getting connected and becoming smarter.

The three-day workshop, scheduled for September 27, 28 and 29, at 9am daily, is to take place at Merit House, Maitama Abuja.

Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu and the Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Prof Cleopas O. Angaye, will address the local government executives and their principal officers at an e-government workshop in Abuja.

The biometrics business continues as normal in parts of Africa. A new ePassport agency opens in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, despite closed borders and social distancing requirements. Idemia appoints a new East Africa sales director, soon after its good news in Kenya. Nigeria connects more bank accounts to national IDs, Malawi strikes off over 4,000 potential ‘ghost pensioners,’ and at the humanitarian end of the spectrum, the UNHCR is continuing its biometric registration work as it faces tens of thousands of refugees arriving in Niger.

The head of the civil service of the federation, professor Oladapo Afolabi, who made this known while addressing the management team of the Digital Bridge Institute, led by its president, Professor Raymond Akwule, in Abuja, said this would be the first step in the commencement of the e-learning programme.

Digital divide or technology gap, which is the gap that exists in various aspects, including internet access, computer literacy, and skills required to navigate the digital world, has indeed widened in Nigeria, due to advancements in global technology.

While developed nations are creating new technologies that will propel the digital age, Nigeria and other developing nations are having to play catch-up due to inadequate ICT infrastructure.

Specifically, the paper builds on the Broadband Section (7.9) of the policy which states that “It is widely acknowledged that broadband infrastructure is an enabler for economic and social growth in the digital economy.

With the launch of undersea fibre optic cable projects, many internet users like tope have more access to the internet and may well soon be enjoying remarkable high speed internet at a more affordable cost.

Some years back in Nigeria, one would need to visit a cybercafé to check an email or surf the net. “At times when you get to the cafe, there are long queues and the internet may not be working fine,’’ Tope said.

Speaking at the Nigerian eGovernment Interoperability Framework workshop, a World Bank representative at the workshop, Mavis Ampah said although about $12 billion had already been invested in the Nigeria ICT sector, the Broadband gap is very significant in the country.

The year 2008 was tagged, “The Year of Broadband” by the Nigerian Communications Commission, but the present reality of the declaration is far fetched considering the non-implementation of aiding projects at various levels.

President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to use Information and Communications Technology to drive the change agenda of his administration and diversify the nation’s economy, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Eng. Babachir Lawal, has said.

According to him, the journey had started with the use of ICT and the digital platform to fight corruption and insecurity in the country.

The initiative, which would be driven by banks, according to the CBN’s Head of Shared Services, Mr Chidi Umeano, would enable customers access e-payment services in areas where the over 60,000 activated Point of Sale (PoS) terminals are clustered.