By Na’ankwat Dariem
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has expressed delight as the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector increased contribution by
17.92% to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2021 (Q2 2021).
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated this in the ‘Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product Report’ for Q2 2021 released on Thursday in Abuja.
The Minister, in a statement signed by his Technical Assistant, IT, Dr.Femi Adeluyi, noted that It was noteworthy that the ICT sector contributed 17.92% to the total real GDP in Q2 2021, 20.54% higher than its contribution a year earlier and in the preceding quarter, in which it accounted for 14.91%.
This, Dr Pantami said was the highest contribution of ICT to the GDP and truly unprecedented.
According to NBS, “Nigeria’s GDP grew by 5.01%(year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2021, marking three consecutive quarters of growth following the negative growth rates recorded in the second and third quarters of 2020.”
“The negative growth was triggered by COVID-19, not only in Nigeria but also globally. Even within that period, the ICT sector in Nigeria continued to experience positive growth.
” The oil sector contributed 7.42% to total real GDP in Q2 2021, down from figures recorded in the preceding quarter, where it contributed 9.25%. The non-oil sector grew by 6.74% and contributed 92.58% to the GDP,” the bureau further disclosed.
The Minister noted that the growing contribution of the ICT sector to the GDP was as a result of the commitment of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to the development of the digital economy.
Pantami explained that the 16 National Policies developed by the Ministry, the 1,667 projects and programmes, the large scale digital skills and general capacity building efforts, stakeholder engagement and creation of an enabling environment had all played an important role in this achievement.
According to him,”the support of President Muhammadu Buhari,has contributed immensely to the impressive developments in the sector”
“The unprecedented contribution of ICT to Nigeria’s GDP can also be attributed to the dynamic and results-oriented leadership of the sector, which has been acknowledged and appreciated by a wide spectrum of the stakeholders in the sector, both locally and internationally”
“For example, Mr Houlin Zhao, the Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) commended the Minister for Nigeria’s “accelerated digital transformation”. Similarly, the Chairman of the United States-Nigeria Council (USNC) also commended him for the “commitment to diversifying Nigeria’s great economy through digital technology and innovation,”he said.
The minister added that “the GDP Report has shown how critical the ICT sector is to the growth of our country’s digital economy and, by extension, the general economy.
He renewed his call to all sectors to take advantage of the Federal Government’s new focus on the digital economy to enable and improve their processes through the use of ICTs adding that ” this would enhance the output of all the sectors of the economy and boost Nigeria’s GDP.”
In another development, the Board, Management and entire members of staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have commiserated with the family of the immediate Past Chairman of the Board of the Commission, Distinguished Senator Otunba Olabiyi Durojaiye, who answered the call of God on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at the age of 88 years.
In a condolence letter to the family in which the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Professor Umar Danbatta described the late Durojaiye as a Patriarch, grandfather and great-grandfather.
In a statement by the Director, Public Affairs,Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC, Danbatta extolled his life-time of service as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Banker, Lawyer, Economist and evergreen Administrator per excellence.
The NCC Boss said that “the deceased was a renowned fighter for freedom, a consummate statesman, an honest, courageous and hardworking man during his life time”.
Born in 1933 in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, late Durojaiye, represented Ogun State at the Senate from 1999 to 2003 and was a member of the Constituent Assembly from 1988 to 1989.
He served as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Commission from November 2016 to January 2019.
According to Professor Danbatta, the Commission, will forever, remember him for the diligent conduct of the Businesses of the Board and for his notable achievements during the brief period he served as the Chairman.
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with the entire family at this grieving period as we pray for his soul to continue to rest in perfect peace. May the Almighty God in His infinite mercy grant the entire family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”, he added.
