Pantami bags prestigious ‘digital economy driver’ award

The effort of positioning Nigeria’s digital economy sector on the path of sustainable development has once more been brought to the spotlight as the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami was conferred with the ‘Digital Economy Driver’ Award.

The Ministry in a statement said, the accolade was presented by the National Body of Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) to the Minister at his office during a familiarization visit to introduce its new exco on Wednesday.

According to NITRA, the Award was in recognition of the Honourable Minister’s efforts in the formulation and implementation of policies to accelerate the digitization of the Nigerian economy.

These efforts led to an ICT sector that had the highest growth rate in the 4th quarter of 2020, at 14.70per cent, as attested to by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its Q4 2020 report.

It also led to an increase in broadband penetration to and unprecedented 45.07per cent, as well as a significant drop in the cost of data.

The Association also acknowledged how the Minister has given priority to inclusive digital literacy and skills programmes to empower unemployed youths, artisans, women, Persons Living with Disabilities, Public Servants, Farmers, and Community Leaders, among others.