At the just concluded Nigeria ICT Impact CEO Forum 2021, Themed: “Data the New Oil of the Digital Economy, stakeholders in the industry have made projections and recommendations on the benefits of data in a digital driven economy.
The stakeholders while speaking at the annual event held via zoom, made 10 recommendations and projections, that formed the Communiqué of the summit, which they believe will set the country’s digital economy quest in a positive light.
Organisers of the event said the essence of the Summit, was to brainstorm the place of data in an emerging digital economy like ours and also interrogative the state of what we have on ground, as well as proffer solutions on how we can get it right for the fourth industrial revolution.
The following building blocks have being recommended for implementation if we want to make data the new oil.
1. We must build a work force with ICT knowledge and skills especially content development and cyber security
2. We have to Implement policies that will lead to embracement of digital services across the country
3. The current disconnect between the ICT industry focused government agencies and the non ICT industry focused government agencies needs to be resolved.
4. Government must provide core infrastructures for a data based digital economy to be put in place.
5. To make data the new oil in Nigeria, the use of data must be used more by things “IoT”
6. Data security is key when Nigeria goes full digital
7. Multiple taxation and attempts to fund government operations through telecom services should be discouraged.
8. Disruption of telecom services by state, local governments should stop.
9. High ROW cost and introduction of new charges by state governments should stop.
10. Government should provide adequate power supply and other enabling infrastructure.
