In an effort by the Ministry of Communications to deepen the penetration and administration of the Information Communication Technology in Nigeria, various stakeholders were invited for a sensitization workshop. The focus was on the role of the Private Sector.
The workshop was moderated by the CEO of TLDS, Principal Partner on Local Content Diplomacy (LCD). The new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry welcomed the participants to the workshop and highlighted a few points on the need for the workshop.
The Minister of Communications delivered his keynote address and the official launch of the Roadmap. He invited the stakeholders and participants to engage the ministry on the need to develop policies, guideline and ensure that the spirit of the roadmap is achieved on or before the year 2020. Recall that the document was muted and conceived in 2016 at a Sector Retreat, which identified seven (7) key lessons. The Roadmap is expected to be galvinesd by four (4) pillars to achieve the objectives of the ICT Roadmap.
Major stakeholders called on the need for government to address a policy on reduce the tax on local content service-providers and create initiatives to promote low price with global standard. Key request was the creation of a Standing Order to protect all ICT Infrastructure as Critical National Assets.
ICTLOCA called on ICT Local Content Members to report any erring MDAs to enable it fulfill its mandate on monitoring the implementation of Local Content from a Private Sector Perspective and ensure that Private Sector Companies who deal with government comply with the guidelines for Local Content Development in ICT 2013 and other similar legislation of government.
The Minister called on stakeholders to take advantage of his open door policy to digest available documents on the Ministry website (www.commtech.gov.ng) and send their responses to the secretariat for action.
Adebunmi Akinbo
