The Cloud Network Foundation (CNF), a registered non-government organisation devoted to the growth, development and emergence of Telecommunications and ICT as the chief driver of the nation’s economy, has congratulated Dr. Bosun Tijani on his appointment as the Minister in the newly re-designated Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
The Foundation, a critical stakeholder in the Nigerian communications sector, while welcoming the new Minister, also assured him of its willingness and readiness to provide invaluable supports to make his tenure eventful and remarkable in the growth and development of the national economy.
Chairman of the Foundation, Mr. Abimbola Tooki, acknowledged the new Minister’s pedigree and “as a co-labourer for the emergence of information and communication technology industry as the money spinner, content and job creator for the teeming youths and masses in the country.”
This, Tooki said, is in line with the ambition of President Bola Tinubu to create one million digital jobs within the first two years of his administration as listed in his election manifesto and amplified in his inaugural speech.
He noted the fact that telecoms and ICT services remain the highest contributors to the nation’s GDP. As at the Q1 of 2023, the sub-sector recorded 14.13% contributions to the nation’s GDP.
The Foundation therefore challenged the Minister to place on the front burner, issues of insecurity as it impact on the wellness of the country’s investment climate. “This area requires urgent national attention and needs immediate remedies,” he said. “The deliberate disruption and destruction to this national critical infrastructure must be a major focus in your interactions with the government at all levels and the Security architecture of the nation.
“We also must call your attention to the challenges of multiple taxation, Right of Ways (RoW) row in the different states, spiraling inflation, excessive import taxes and the unstable policy environment which has continued to encumbered the growth and development of the economy. “
Tooki also drew the Minister’s attention to the issue of harmonized national database, which he saidhas been on the drawing board for a long time. “And if you are able to bring the matter to closure, your name will be perpetually etched in the quick sand of time when Nigeria is listed among nations of the world with reliable national database,” he said.
According to him, currently, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC ) is managing the National Identity Number (NIN), at the top of the pyramid. Other agencies also having custody of citizens’ biometric details are the Federal Road Safety Corps (Driver’s licenses), Central Bank of Nigeria managing Bank Verification Number (BVN), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in custody of the international passport and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in charge of the national voters’ card. “We hope that your intervention would ensure the harmonized national database under the management of NIMC,” he enthused.
On this strength of its convergence value addition, Tooki said the Foundation would “collaborate with the Minister as strategic stakeholder in the evolution of this industry for the overall good of our nation”.
“It is our intention to open doors of collaborative engagements with you. And this way, we shall bring our wealth of experience in the industry to assist you achieve your national mandates as the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy,” Tooki concluded.
