Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani addressing the press
By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
The Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani has reaffirmed the National Council on Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy’s (NCCIDE) commitment to supporting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking during the council’s 12th regular meeting on Monday in Makurdi, Dr. Tijani said it was the federal government interest to achieve the desired global economy.
Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Engr. Faruk Yabo, the Minister said the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) in the last few years has taken various initiatives in Artificial Intelligence (AI) considering Government’s stance in achieving a globally competitive economy.
The Ministry, according to the Minister “has a dedicated National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), set up as a digital innovation and research facility focused on AI, Robotics and Drones, Internet of Things (IOT), and other emerging technologies, aimed at transforming the Nigerian digital economy, in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030.
“The ongoing nationwide talent development 3MTT, aimed to train three million digital talents, is justifiably positioning Nigeria as a global hub for the application of AI. Also, the recent effort of the Ministry to drive home-grown research through the provision of research grants to forty-five Artificial Intelligence starts-ups and researchers through the Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme (NAIRS) in critical sectors of the country is evident of emerging Nigeria’s talent and entrepreneurial ecosystem. “
He disclosed that the boundaries of Nigeria’s AI efforts extend beyond domestic lines explaining that 2023, Nigeria signed the Bletch-ley Declaration on AI, along with 28 other nations, including the UK and France, committing to AI development that mitigates risk.
Speaking further, the Tijani revealed that the country joined 18 different countries that adopted the United State-led coalition to ensure AI is secured by design.
The Minister insisted that the theme of the 12th regular meeting of the council, “accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence through policy and innovation for sustainable development in Nigeria” was apt adding also that the Ministry has ensured the provision of adequate infrastructure through the Right-of-Way (RoW) Policy where telecommunication operators pay to state governments to lay fiber optic cables that carry internet traffic on state roads. In 2013 the National Economic Council (NEC) agreed on a maximum RoW charge of N145 per linear meter, a policy meant to streamline the costs for telecommunication charges.
He noted that “January 2020 was a step in the right direction when the Nigerian Governors Forum accordingly resolved that telecommunication operators were to pay N145 in line with NEC’s approval. More than 10 states have either crashed RoW Charges to N145 per linear meter of fiber optic or completely eliminated the charges to zero.
“This year 2024, the Executive Vice-Chairman NCC stated that discussion with other state governments were ongoing to secure additional waivers on RoW Charges. Also there have been calls from well-meaning Nigerians on states to implement the harmonized RoW Charges for obvious benefits for the sector.
Declaring the event opened, the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Iormem Alia informed that Benue State Government was working towards digitalizing the Benue economy.
The Governor who was represented by the Deputy Governor Dr. Sam Ode noted that the Benue State Government would sustain it’s relationship with the Ministry to ensure the success of the programme in the state adding that about ten thousand youths of the state were being trained on ICT for the purpose.
Any nation that is not involved in digital economy is left behind, the Governor emphasised.
In his welcome speech, the Benue State Commissioner for Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy. Mr. Kwaghgba Amande who said the workshop was apt, appreciated the state governor for his stance on impacting knowledge on digital economy and called on all stakeholders to work hand in hand with the state government to achieve the desired objective.
A participant in the workshop who is a Director, Benue Public Service Institute Makurdi, Dr. Mark Nyitse who spoke with NATIONAL ACCORD on the importance of the workshop appreciated the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Iormem Alia for hosting the event saying, that a lol of benefits were derivable from the workshop which he opined would equally benefit the Institute.
