Digital economy will soon make up 45% of Nigeria’s GDP – Pantami

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

Pantami 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”, at the weekend.

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Dr Pantami said the broadband plan 2020-2025, which focused more on broadband penetration, stated that as at July 2020, the level of broadband penetration is 42.0% and at the end of the year, it will reach at least 50%.

“We are making use of the COVID-19 era to achieve digital economy development”, the minister said.

In his goodwill message, the Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, represented by the Director, e-Government Development and Regulation, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said the campaign to move government businesses online has now become a reality in the country.

He said there was no other choice than for government to deliver its services online which could only be achieved with corporate internet governance.

The NITDA boss revealed that the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation is set to formally approve and recommend virtual meetings, programmes and workshops for all government officials in the country in order to facilitate digital economy.

“A lot of people see e-governance as a bigger calamity but I see it as a bigger advantage for the sector”, the DG said.