The executive vice-chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, has said the adoption and utilisation of information and communication technology (ICT) is synonymous with empowerment as it transforms processes efficiently and acts as an enabler of effectiveness in operations in every sector of the economy.
He made this assertion on Friday while delivering the 10th and 11th combined convocation lecture of the Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State.
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In the paper titled, “Empowering the Nigerian Youth through Information and Communication Technology,” Danbatta recalled the impact of ICT revolution in all parts of human endeavour across countries and continents, insisting that technology will continue to penetrate and foster qualitative and quantifiable changes in all aspects of life.
Danbatta added, “Uber, the world’s largest taxi company, owns no vehicle; Airbnb, the world’s largest accommodation provider, owns no real estate; Facebook, world’s most popular public-facing digitally-mediated social networking platform, creates little or no content; Alibaba, a leading global retailer, has little or no inventory, yet they have become signposts of prosperity riding wholly on ICT resources.
“Indeed, for over 10 years, ICT has consistently contributed more than 10 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“The telecom sector alone contributed 12.45 per cent to the GDP as at the fourth quarter of 2020,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the vice-chancellor of the university, Prof Olalekan Sanni, described Danbatta as an accomplished academician and administrator, whose wealth of experience was considered worthy of tapping into by the university community.
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