The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has commended the federal government’s approval of the Fifth Generation Network, commonly referred to as 5G technology, saying that it demonstrated the government’s commitment to the growth and development of the telecommunication sector and digital economy in the country.
Ambassador Ayo Olukanni, the Director General of NACCIMA, said yesterday that the launching of the 5G network would play a crucial role in expanding business opportunities for young tech entrepreneurs who are leveraging on technology to create innovative businesses and start-ups in the area of fintech, agrictech, smart-apps for farming services, and other sectors of the economy.
Olukanni said: “It is also worthy of note, that the 5G network will not only contribute to the growth of the Nigerian economy but will help to boost education, activities in the health sector as well as assist our security outfits to combat, crimes, banditry and kidnapping in different parts of the country.
“NACCIMA is also delighted that the 5G policy, which is a component part of the 2020-2025 National Broadband Plan (NBP) is now coming on stream. The association is, therefore, calling for full integration of the private sector in the implementation of that NBP designed for expansion of the digital economy.”
He added that the current National President of the NACCIMA Administration, Mr. J. Udeagbala, has made harnessing of information and communication technology one of his priorities and is therefore ready to work with all stakeholders to ensure that the new 5G policy and NBP truly becomes a platform to scale up business opportunities; especially for young people who see several opportunities in it and have decided to embrace tech entrepreneurship as a way out of unemployment.
“With the 5G policy Nigeria has truly taken a major step forward to significantly improve its Digital Infrastructure and the private sector must be given a key role to play to fully harness the potentials,” Olukanni said.