President Muhammadu Buhari has called on world leaders to come up with proposals to create a digital world that is accessible, inclusive and safe to all.
According to a statement by the President’s spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja, President Buhari gave the challenge in his keynote speech at the 2019 Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) in Dubai on Monday.
The president said a certain level of regulation was needed to preserve the integrity of the digital economy.
The theme of the summit is: “mapping the Future of Foreign Direct Investment: Enriching World Economies through Digital Globalisation.’’
While acknowledging that digital globalisation is transforming the world almost every day with innovations and transformative ideas, the Nigerian leader cautioned that the cyber world would remain a constant threat if left unregulated.
The president decried the use of the cyberspace to manipulate elections, subvert the democratic rights of citizens as well as propagate violence.
He also lamented over the steady rise in fake news and cyber-crimes, particularly when platforms were hijacked and manipulated by criminals.
President Buhari, therefore, called for collective efforts led by both public and private sector leaders to address the emerging threats of digital globalisation.
‘‘Today, we have a cyber-world that is intangible but real. This borderless world is powerful, and it impacts the lives of billions of people, no matter how remote their physical locations are.
‘‘People work in it. People socialise in it. And people invest in it. This presents enormous opportunities. But it also remains a constant threat if left unregulated.
‘‘On the one hand, it has made the human race more productive and more efficient. Today, we have digital banking, virtual currencies and many social platforms that connect people and cultures.
‘‘On the other hand, we have seen platforms hijacked and manipulated as evidenced by the steady rise in fake news and cybercrimes.
‘‘More recently, we are also witnessing the use of the cyberspace to manipulate elections, subvert the democratic rights of citizens as well as propagate violence,’’ Buhari told the ninth edition of AIM, attended by world leaders in both the public and private sectors.
According to him, the digital world has become the new frontier for both good and evil.
He, therefore, maintained that the challenge for world leaders must be to ensure that “this space is inclusive, accessible and safe’’.
The President used the occasion to reflect on the digital revolution in Nigeria, buoyed by impressive statistics on mobile phone penetration, technology hubs and the advent of young entrepreneurs attracting investments of over 100 million dollars to the country. (NAN)
