The 14th Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Lecture/Awards will take place this Saturday, May 27, 2023, at the Oriental Hotels, Lekki, Lagos, with Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, serving as special guest of honor.
The keynote addresses on industry regulation will be given by Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and Prof. Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), at the event, which is thought to be the largest gathering of ICT stakeholders. The event will be chaired by Engr. Ike Nnamani, group managing director of Medallion Data Center.
The theme of this year’s lecture is “Digital Transformation and Cloud Services as New Order.”Cloud services play a critical role in accelerating digital transformation and delivering essential public services.
To achieve the next stage of digital transformation and enable countries to reap the benefits of the global digital economy, governments must prioritize the adoption of cloud services where feasible. Cloud technologies offer cost savings, the ability to scale rapidly, access to advanced cybersecurity features, and big data processing using AI.
According to Ken Nwogbo, CEO, of Communications Week Media Ltd, organisers of the ABoICT Distinguished Lecture/Awards Series, “Prof. Isa Pantami since appointed minister of Communications and Digital Economy has brought about positive changes in the sector among them are linking of NIN with SIM which has reduced the use of mobile phones for nefarious activities, digital transformation in the public sector as well as laying the foundation for a digital economy.”
Under the supervision of Prof. Isa Pantami ICT sector recorded an unprecedented 17.92% highest-ever contribution to the country’s GDP in the 2nd Quarter of 2021. Having also accomplished an increase in the growth rate of the ICT sector to 14.70% in the 4th Quarter of 2020 making it the best-performing sector of the economy that contributed to Nigeria’s exit from recession.
Another accomplishment is the formulation of the Nigerian startup bill which was finally passed into law by the Senate on the 20th of July, 2022. The Nigerian Startup Bill (NSB) would help address more than 90% of the challenges confronting technology innovators in the country.
Past speakers include Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, then executive vice-chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC); Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, former Director-General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC); Biodu Omoniyi, Managing Director/CEO, VDT Communications; Ayotunde Coker, Managing Director, Rack Centre Limited; and Peter Adedayo Arogundade, managing director and chief executive officer, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited, among others.
The events drew top politicians and government functionaries as well captains in the ICT industry as well financial institutions.
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