The Ministry of Communication Technology has advanced
plans to hold its forum on the draft ICT policy on Friday, March 9, at the
Lagos City Hall.
A press statement made available to ITRealms Online by
the Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the Ministry, Mrs. Efem Nkanga,
noted that the Draft ICT Policy was released by the Ministry for comments and
suggestions from stakeholders and the general public on January 9 this year.
She
also said the Ministry since unveiling of the policy document has received
suggestions, comments and inputs from industry groups, companies in the ICT
industry and other ICT industry stakeholders both in Nigeria and abroad that
have been collated and the forum would provide a veritable platform for the
Ministry to engage stakeholders for robust discussions on the suggestions and
comments received by the Ministry on the policy.
According
to her, the Ministry had a few weeks ago met with industry groups like the
Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Association of
Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), institute of Software
Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Nigeria
Computer Society (NCS), Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Computer
Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) and National Association of
Telecommunication Subscribers (NATCOMS); who had sent in their inputs on the draft
ICT policy to discuss the comments and suggestions on the policy sent to the
Ministry.
The Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola
Johnson, was quoted in the press statement as having had an interactive session
recently.
"We have had various policies covering
the IT and the Communications industry but the convergence of technologies and
the industry have dictated the need for an integrated policy document,” she
said, adding that a committee was set up by the Ministry to harmonise all the
existing policies, reflecting new realities where necessary in order to provide
a working document and a take off point that could elicit robust debate and
discussion by stakeholders.
Mrs.
Johnson further described the policy document as a statement of intent, stressing
that once there was an agreement on the statement of intent, a country ICT
masterplan would be developed including an implementation plan with detailed
activities, timelines, milestones and funding requirements and options.
Additionally, Mrs. Nkanga recalled that
the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, had on the
25th of August 2011, set up an Adhoc Committee to harmonize all the various
policies for the different sectors in the ICT industry (Telecommunications,
Broadcasting, Information Technology and Postal Services).
The policy, she underscored, when
completed would be the overarching guide and platform for the overall
development of the ICT industry and will facilitate the creation of a digital,
knowledge based economy.
Remmy Nweke
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
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