“The Government of Nigeria recognizes the urgent need to increase efficiency and transparency, improve and align processes, smart government and smart cities, attract new investors, bridge the digital divide and transform government services,”
-Adebayo Shittu, Nigeria’s Minister of Communication
The minister said this while delivering the keynote address at a one-day government conference focused on digital transformation in the public sector hosted in Abuja by Microsoft Nigeria in collaboration with Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).
According to the minister, the Nigerian government realising the importance of digitization to national development has put in place a plan focused on achieving the vision 20:2020 with the development of the ICT industry as a pivotal to achieving these objectives.
“In order to rationalize the work towards achieving Vision 20:2020, the Government of Nigeria has developed the new ICT strategic roadmap, it details how Nigeria will leverage ICT to become a knowledge-based, globally competitive society by 2020,” he added.
At the event, Microsoft, Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) reiterated commitment towards digital transformation of the public sector to make governance more accessible and more efficient for the benefit of the people.
General Manager Microsoft Nigeria, Akin Banuso said “Digital transformation has become the bedrock of most economies in the 21st century and Microsoft is uniquely driving the adoption across key strata of national development.”
According to him, digital transformation for the government is about making the government more accessible, efficient and transparent to people.
“It is also about unlocking insights from data. By understanding the data, government organisations can realize and increase the value of their information through digital transformation,” he said.
In his remark, the Director General of NITDA, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, noted that accelerating digital transformation is premised on effective regulation.
“Transformation will only take place if matched by regulation.” He spoke extensively on the role of NITDA in helping the government achieve its socio-economic agenda. He stressed that NITDA is creating awareness in the public sector, facilitating digital literacy, developing standard guidelines and framework for government agencies,” he said.