The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami has declared that the Federal Government remains committed to digitalising the Nigerian economy, and that the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the need for the government to aggressively achieve a digital economy.
He made this statement at the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria’s (CIBN), 2020 Graduates’ Induction/Prize Awards day, which held virtually over the weekend.
Dr. Isa Pantami also disclosed that in the last 11 months, since he assumed the position, broadband penetration in the country has grown by 10 per cent, from an average growth of two per cent annually since year
His words: “In less than a year, when I came on board, the broadband penetration was a little higher than 30 per cent, from year 2000 to 2019. But, by the end of July this year, broadband penetration was over 42 per cent. We achieved almost 10 percent increase in less than a year.
“With all sense of humility and modesty, before we came on board, the penetration annually was averagely less than two per cent. But this year alone, the penetration is 10 per cent which is highly unprecedented.”
He, however, added that the growth of the digital economy was reliant on continuous innovation and entrepreneurship
At the event,the CIBN inducted 1,311 new members and awarded the best performing students in its different professional certification categories.
