Embrace Technology that Solve Everyday Problems- Shittu, Minister of Communications

The Minister for Communications, Honourable Adebayo Shittu, while speaking during the Microsoft Digital Government Conference held recently in Abuja, requested that ICT firms and others find a way to make ICT provide solutions for Day-to-Day challenges.

At the Conference, which was to empower the government to use and share innovative technology trends and solutions using Microsoft platforms, and improve the capabilities of the governments at all levels, Mr Shittu confirmed the need to deliver better services to the growing urban population, despite economic and environmental challenges.

"ICT Must Provide Solutions to the Day-to-Day Challenges Confronting Us" – Shittu

Link: https://t.co/I2m6rP5qnk pic.twitter.com/7gF7ogm0my

— ncc.gov.ng (@NgComCommission) September 23, 2017

According to the NCC, the Minister acknowledges that it is imperative upon governments, around the world, to optimise the benefits of ICT. He also commended the progress made by the adoption of ICT driven applications like the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information (IPPIS), Bank Verification Number (BVN), and the Budge Portal, among others.

The Honourable revealed that these services have positively altered the Government-Citizenship engagements and service delivery, and have also helped huge savings, efficiency and transparency in governance. He also said that bringing the existing ICT infrastructure into a common platform, 1-gov.net, the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), get to exchange data seamlessly, while still retaining individual independence and privacy.

GBB, Microsoft, NCC, & NITDA share thoughts at the just concluded Microsoft Digital Government Conference. pic.twitter.com/vjRsdyXiNw

— Galaxy Backbone (@Galaxybackbone) September 21, 2017

Nigeria is yet to fully embrace the innovative power of technology, and this lag affects our development in numerous, untold ways. Technology can do more than solving a problem, it can avoid problems. This statement, “ICT Must Provide Solutions to the Day-to-Day Challenges Confronting Us”, made by the Honourable Minister, if adhered to and improved upon, will drive the governmental achievement notches higher than they presently envision.

The various ministries should also make use of technology, seeing that technology is actually the future and any country reluctant to embrace it, and indeed invent new technological solutions, will be left behind. The Ministry should also enlighten the citizens to the fact that technology is more than spending time on the internet, but actually looking for innovative ways to make things less cumbersome and more time efficient. Technology is building a new way of life.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE 2017 MICROSOFT DIGITAL GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE HELD AT TRANSCORP HILTON HOTEL, ABUJA…https://t.co/dpKyrSeUmt

— Dr Adebayo Shittu (@HMAdebayoShittu) September 21, 2017

The Minister also the revealed, according to the document, that the Federal Ministry of Communications’ ICT Strategy Roadmap 2017-2020 is predicated on Smart Cities Nigeria Initiative; the establishment of ICT University of Nigeria; the establishment of ICT Development Bank; and the creation of ICT Parks and Exhibition Centres. He requested Microsoft and others to find accommodation in these programmes to collaborative with the Nigerian government.