Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, said yesterday that Nigeria had become a major investment destination for investors in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Africa and around the world.
Shittu said this during the African Investment Summit, as part of events at the ongoing Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX 2016) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
He said that this was so because of Nigeria’s huge market and abundant resources.
According to him, Nigeria is the centre of economic and ICT development in the West African sub-region.
“Nigeria has a population of about 180 million people, which is more than the total population of the remaining 15 nations in the West African sub –region.
“Our nation is a huge market and the centre of economic activities in the sub-region as well as ICT development in Africa.
“Major investors in the ICT sector should not miss these opportunities of mutual benefits which Nigeria presents.
“There is abundant human and natural resources to drive ICT investment in the country,” he said.
Adebayo told the summit that over 140 universities in Nigeria offer ICT or Computer Studies courses, while 25 banks are offering world class services in the country.
“The nation has been making giant strides in ICT during international fora on ICT and we are going to do more as witnessed in the ongoing shortlisting of startups for GITEX 2016.
“We are proud to say that one of Nigeria’s participating start ups is among the five competitors for the final prize of GITEX 2016.
“These and many more are indicators that the nation has come of age in ICT activities,” Shittu said.
Also speaking, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, the Head of Service, Nigeria, said the nation had been going places in ICT development, adding that the world would soon begin to see greater ICT development in Nigeria.
“Nigeria’s participation in GITEX will really help the world to grow in ICT because we have other nations to compete with.
“I have no doubt in my mind that we will be among the best participants in the startup competition,” she said.
Oyo-Ita told the investors that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was ready to promote ICT development and deployment in the country.
In his remarks yesterday also, Dr Isa Pantami, the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), urged the investors and innovators to take advantage of the nation’s huge talents in ICT.
