ICT
By Chiazo Ogbolu
Lagos, Aug. 9, 2018 (NAN) An Information Technology expert, Mr Jide Awe, has urged the Federal Government to tackle challenges facing stakeholders for proper implementation of Information and Communication Technology Roadmap.
Awe, the Conferences Committee Chairman, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
NAN reports that the Minister of Communication, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu, had on July 23 in Lagos, launched the ICT Roadmap 2017 to 2020.
Its theme was: “The Role of the Private Sector in the Implementation of the Nigeria ICT Roadmap.”
Awe said that the roadmap was intended to create broad, but flexible pathways to reaches all nooks and crannies of Nigeria with ICT.
The roadmap would promote public/private partnership to attract investments in high quality infrastructure and services.
“When you have an ICT roadmap in a country, we need to understand that a lot of what government does has to do with regulation, policy and creating an enabling environment for stakeholders.
“The bulk of the work is on the private sector because they have industry that will create the innovative tools, software and technology that is going to be used.
“Government uses what they do to become more efficient, more productive and so the need to involve all stakeholders, civil societies, telecommunication operators, media, and everyone has a role to play to ensure its implementation.
“It also behooves on the government to tackle all challenges faced by stakeholders to ensure the smooth running of the roadmap so that it meets its objectives,” he said.
Awe said that investing in infrastructure was one of the roles the private sector should play; noting that without an enabling environment, there would not be headway for the roadmap.
“Other challenges that has to do with rolling out of broadband and getting forex for their equipment, which cannot be sourced locally, should be looked into,” he said.
Awe said that there was need for all stakeholders, people in software, development, local content and others to join hands with government to tackle all issues that would hinder the plan.
“If we want the roadmap to be very effective, some stakeholders having challenges in the industry means that government will not achieve its aim,” he said. (NAN)
CAN/GOK
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Edited by Olagoke Olatoye