By Ogaga Ariemu
…Pledges commitment to upscale gains recorded in ICT sector
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami has received Nigerian NewsDirect Newspaper Award of Excellence as “Economic Driver of the Year 2020”.
Dr. Pantami also reiterated his commitments to upscale the gains recorded so far in the Information Technology Communications(ICT) sector.
During the award presentation visit in Abuja, the Publisher of Nigerian NewsDirect, Dr. Samuel Ibiyemi said the recognition is predicated on the outstanding performance, remarkable successes recorded within the year 2020 by the Minister such as the unprecedented 17.83% ICT contribution to the GDP based on the Q4 2020 GDP Report by the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS).
The Publisher who was represented by the Bureau Chief Abuja, NewsDirect, Mr. Lare Asuni noted that the Minister has walk the talk in the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy(NDEPS), Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), National Data Protection Regulations (NDPR).
He emphasized that NewsDirect has been specifically thrilled by the careful implementation of the Eight pillars of the NDEPS which has birthed immerse trainings, jobs creation, ICT infrastructural developments and speedy resolution of sector-based challenges across Nigeria.
He said, “This is award is to appreciate the Minister for smoothly taking the country’s economy out of recession with the 14.70% recorded growth in the Information Technology Communications leading to 0.11% of the economy in the Q4.
“In a short time the Minister has successfully piloted the implementation of the Eight Pillars of NDEPS, Broadband Penetration Plan and more”.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Isa Pantami said, the award will encourage him to do more towards the betterment of Nigeria.
“I appreciate your award of excellent given to me it is indeed an encouragement. As I always say we serve our country to the best of our ability without anticipating any honour or award, that has not being part of the plan, but when ever an award comes up it encourages you to do more, even if it is not a plan definitely it is an encouragement meaning that your fellow citizens see your modest effort and achievement; they want to recognize you in that way, so it is indeed an encouragement for me to continue to do the best I can for our country Nigeria to be a better place.
“This award and I ensure you will go a long way in encouraging me to redouble my effort and to ensure that my today is better than my yesterday and my tomorrow is better than today. I will ensure you that this is what I planned to do, any improvement you see in the sector from now henceforth definitely you have all ought to be part of what has gingered me to do more and most importantly I am just surprised to discovered you have been following our trainings even yesterday we flagged up training in 12 states in Nigeria.
“We have recently launched National policies on VSAT, installation course, skills for Nigerians and also flagged up the training in 12 states which we hope it will continue in addition to many more on going trainings. I am also surprise that you have discovered even our Eight pillars that we have been implementing, so this is a cleared indication that you are not only a journalist per say but a researcher in journalism”.