NIGERIA: Digital Economy Agenda Boost for GDP, says NCC Boss

NewswatchNigeria can report that more developments are unfolding in the ongoing effort to revamp and reposition the architecture of the Nigeria’s telecommunication regulatory structure and operational dimensions, as a new department in the Nigerian Communications Commission saddled to implement framework and drafted policies on National Digital Economy Agenda championed by the Federal Government has been created.

In a signed statement made available by the commission, the new department which was structurally placed under the Office of Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, was recently created by the governing board of the commission with mandate to strategically accelerate FG’s Digital Economy Agenda nationwide.

It was gathered that the commission had move its Broadband Implementation Unit placed under the Special Duties Department to the newly-created Digital Economy Department and that all staff of the Unit, have been redeployed.

Recall that, a National Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) document was unveiled by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2019 to add the needed impetus to the actualisation of the Federal Government’s Economy Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) from the telecommunication sector which hinge on digital economy.

Already, Engr. Babagana Digima, an Assistant Director in the Special Duties Department has been redeployed and designated as the pioneer Head of the newly created department.

Danbatta had affirmed that, apart from infusing new dynamism into the existing digital economy function, the creation of the new department amplifies the Commission’s ‘Regulatory Excellence’, which is one of the five pillars of its Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024.

“placing the newly-created department under the Office of the EVC also underscores the importance the Commission places on the need to successfully drive the overall national digital economy strategy of the government through ensuring its effective monitoring and supervision,” said Danbatta.

Recall that the digital economy policy document has eight pillars, which include: Developmental Regulation, focusing on effective regulation of the ICT and digital sector in a way that enables development; and secondly, Digital Literacy and Skills, which speaks to the provision of policy backing for massive training of Nigerians from all works of life in order to enable them obtain digital literacy and other digital skills.

This pillar will also facilitate the training of Nigerians.The third pillar is Solid Infrastructure, which has to do with the deployment of fixed and mobile infrastructure to deepen the broadband penetration in the country; while Service Infrastructure is aimed at supporting Government Digital Services and the provision of robust digital platforms to drive the digital economy. The Soft Infrastructure element focuses on strengthening public confidence in the use of digital technologies and participation in the digital economy.

Digital Services Development and Promotion is the sixth pillar, which addresses the development of a vibrant digital ecosystem that supports Innovation-driven Enterprises (IDE) and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in a way that engenders innovation.

The seventh pillar is Digital Society and Emerging Technologies, focusing on tying the development of the digital economy to indices of well-being in the lives of the ordinary citizens; mentoring startups on emerging technologies and deploying their solutions.

The eight pillar of NDEPS is Indigenous Content Development and Adoption, which pivots on the provision of a policy framework that gives preference to digitally-skilled Nigerians for government-funded projects in line with the Executive Orders 003 and 005 of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

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