Confirming this to ITREALMS, the Deputy Director, Press & Public Relations in the ministry, Philomena Oshodin, said the ministerial prayer was answered to properly position and empower the Ministry to fulfill its digital economy objectives.
The Ministry, ITREALMS recalls supervises the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector and with this renaming would further expand its mandate to capture the goals of digitalization of the Nigerian economy in line with the Economic Growth and Recovery Plan (EGRP), which is one of the key agenda of the present administration.
Dr. Pantami was also quoted in a press statement available to ITREALMS as saying that the former name was not only limiting in pursuing the objectives of a digital economy, but obsolete as it did not reflect the trends as emphasized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
"ICT contributions to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at 13.85 per cent in the second quarter of 2019, he said.
Stressing that the change of nomenclature will propel the ministry to reposition its strategic objectives as laid out in the priority areas of this administration while accelerating growth and social inclusion.
Dr Pantami cited examples of global and African economies like Scotland, Thailand, Tunisia, Benin Republic and Burkina Faso among others who have adopted deliberate strategies and created Ministries of Digital Economy in line with global best practice, and especially the European Union which has a commissioner for digital economy.
In a letter containing his approval, the President noted that the request is in line with his administration priorities.
The approved name was proclaimed and adopted at the Federal Executive Council of Wednesday,, 23rd October 2019.
Chuks Egbuna/DoP
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