By Dele Ogbodo
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, has revealed that federal government through the ministry would facilitate 95% digital literacy skills by 2021.
He made the disclosure at the just concluded 7th regular meeting of the National Council on Communications and Digital Economy with the theme “Leveraging the Gains of ICTs in developing and implementing a digital economy strategy for Nigeria which held in Gombe, the Capital of Gombe State.
According to the Minister, to achieve basic, intermediate and advance skills in digital literacy in Nigeria, to bridge the existing gap, the unflinching support of all states governments would be required. He added.
He said, “This cannot be achieved alone by Federal Government, all the states must key-in to see that ICT literacy is provided to its indigenes. This is absolutely necessary for the implementation of digital economy”.
Pantami, pointed out that, this is why government is agitating and advocating for all states to ensure basic knowledge of ICT is mandatory from primary level to secondary as this would create enabling environment for children to grow up with knowledge of ICT.
The Minister urged the states to work towards changing the perception of their indigenes and residents and make them understand that today ICT is not about socialization and ease of activities but for economic empowerment which the world economists have predicted that the 60 percent of the world economy will be dominated by digital economy, he said.
According to him, “To have digital Nigeria means federal, states and local government areas must all be on board in order to achieved digital Nigeria, explaining, that is why it is very important to look at the national digital economy policy and strategy.
The responsibilities and implementations of the policy document should be borne by the federal, states and local governments”.
The minister said the policy document is not static and there is room for council deliberations to be accommodated and stressed the need for integration of observations, recommendations, comments, and constructive criticisms from stakeholders.
He reiterated that parastatals under the supervision of the ministry are regulatory bodies as such they are required to come up with development regulations that will provide enabling environment to support the sector and make digital economy strive in Nigeria.
“In the course of doing that they are not in any way urged or encouraged to come up with unnecessary restrictions but to ensure that these instruments are regulations that are to support the development of the sector.” He said.
The Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, in a remark, commended the ministry for the choice of the state to host the highest national advisory body on ICT noting that the body also provides platform for planning, implementation, directing and coordination of policies, programmes and activities in the ICT sector of the Nigeria Economy.
He said Gombe state is fully committed to partnering with the ministry in its current effort towards enhancing digital inclusion, connecting their people and opening up opportunities so that no community is left behind in the rapidly growing digital world.