As the industry media body, the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), prepares for its stakeholders’ engagement event, the 2nd edition of the NITRA ICT Growth Conference, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, is billed to lead stakeholders to the annual roundtable that x-rays the industry and how to chart growth path for them.
The event, which is scheduled to hold at the Lagos Oriental Hotels on September 29, 2022, has its theme as “Creating A Digital Ecosystem In Nigeria: The Hurdles, The Gains”.
Prof. Pantami will lead industry regulators and decision makers in the various ICT subsectors, both in the private and public sectors, to discuss issues that will engender growth in the industry, and further position it as the nation’s economy driver.
Speaking on the event, the Chairman, NITRA, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi noted: “The theme of this year conference is aimed at the various efforts by governments and private sector towards a digitalized Nigeria”.
The event targets to bring stakeholders in the ICT industry, both from the public and private sectors, to discuss and find ways of accelerating growth in the industry as a means of achieving laudable federal government set targets and policies, including those recorded in policy documents by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the NCC and NITDA.
These documents include NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021-2024); The Nigerian Cybercrime Act of 2015; the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content (NPPIC); The National Telecommunications Policy; the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025; National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), the CBN Monetary Policy, among others.
Under its “NITRA ICT Growth Conference”, which seeks to bring a multi-sectorial development agenda, NITRA is organising a multi-panel interactive conference that will look at the themes that include:
- The Role of Emerging Technologies in Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide
- Exploring Funding Options For Driving Digital Economy
- Digital Currencies And the Challenge of Regulation in Emerging Markets
- Infrastructure As A Ladder To Building A Digital Economy
Mr. Onwuegbuchi, while commending stakeholders for their support of the event and passion for the growth of technology in Nigeria, noted that the growth in the ICT industry will impact all other sectors of the economy positively.
“Specifically, the Forum will offer stakeholders the opportunities of reassessing and reinvigorating some policies to make maximum impact in the growth of ICT in Nigeria. This is a growth conference, and stakeholders will be allowed to speak out on what the growth indices should be.” he said.
Expected to be at the event, which will be led by Prof. Pantami, include the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta; the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi, The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele; CEOs of other government and private ICT companies, the Media including the full membership of NITRA and other stakeholders in the industry, including COOs, CIOs, CFOs, CROs and CCOs.
According to the National Secretary of NITRA, Mr. Chidiebere Nwankwo, industry associations will also make their inputs. They include NCS, CPN, ALTON, ATCON, ISPON, NiRA and ITAN.
As part of the event, special recognition awards will be given to some industry players that have played strong roles in the growth of ICT in Nigeria, and still contributing to the development of the industry. The Awards will also be for those companies and individuals, who through their innovativeness have revolutionized the ecosystem they play in.
