The Nation Newspaper

Tag: digital economy

  • NITDA to train three million Nigerian youths to enhance digital economy

    NITDA to train three million Nigerian youths to enhance digital economy

    The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi has said that the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani has given his agency a mandate to train three million Nigerians on Information Technology across the 36 states and FCT in the next four years to impact digital economic growth.

    Abdullahi revealed this in Lagos on Thursday during a partnership parley with Africa Creative Market (ACM) Summit slated for November.

    Read Also: Obari Gomba wins 2023 $100,000 NLNG prize

    He said the training became necessary following the looming global talent deficit where only India will have a surplus, saying the gesture will give Nigeria the opportunity to fill the global gap.

    The DG who sought the partnership of private sectors to deliver the target, added that NITDA would also leave no stone unturned to create jobs for at least 50 percent of the youths after training.

    To derive value from technological innovation, the DG said his agency had rolled out nine policies, from blockchain, artificial intelligence, data, and broadband that await implementation and review.

  • Navigating the Future of Front-End Engineering in Nigeria: The Road to a Thriving Digital Economy

    Navigating the Future of Front-End Engineering in Nigeria: The Road to a Thriving Digital Economy

    By Owoseni Abdulhamid

    In Nigeria, the digital economy is rapidly expanding, offering unprecedented opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment. At the heart of this digital transformation is front-end engineering, an area that plays a pivotal role in creating user-friendly applications, websites, and digital services. However, while the demand for skilled front-end engineers is growing, the journey to establishing a sustainable and competitive front-end engineering field in Nigeria is not without challenges. From the scarcity of structured training to limited resources and an underdeveloped tech infrastructure, the road is complex. Yet, these obstacles also present unique opportunities to shape a digital ecosystem that meets Nigeria’s needs and showcases the nation’s potential on the global stage.

    A Rising Demand and the Skills Gap

    The need for skilled front-end engineers in Nigeria has never been more pronounced. Businesses are increasingly recognizing that a strong digital presence is essential to remaining competitive and accessible, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated digital adoption worldwide. As a result, front-end engineers—those responsible for creating intuitive, visually appealing, and responsive user interfaces—are in high demand.

    Despite this need, there exists a significant skills gap. Many Nigerian developers lack formal training in core front-end technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks such as React and Angular, which are essential for creating dynamic web applications. While some Nigerian universities offer computer science courses, they often focus more on theoretical aspects of software engineering and less on practical, industry-relevant skills. To close this gap, it is essential to create more specialized training programs and boot camps that focus on the evolving demands of front-end development, providing hands-on experience and exposure to real-world projects.

    The Growth of Self-Taught Developers and the Need for Structured Education

    In response to the limited access to formal tech education, many Nigerian front-end developers are self-taught, utilizing resources such as online tutorials, coding boot camps, and open-source projects. This approach has produced many talented engineers who are resourceful and capable of learning independently. However, the lack of formal mentorship and structured curriculum can create challenges in skill development, particularly in areas such as design principles, user experience (UX), and collaboration within large engineering teams.

    To support self-taught developers, it is crucial to establish mentorship programs, communities, and industry-led initiatives that can supplement their education. Platforms like Andela, for example, have made strides by connecting African developers to global tech companies. By expanding these types of programs, Nigeria can build a community of front-end engineers who not only have technical skills but also an understanding of the professional and collaborative environment in which these skills are applied.

    Bridging the Infrastructure Gap

    Nigeria’s underdeveloped tech infrastructure is another barrier to the advancement of front-end engineering. Limited internet access and high data costs make it challenging for many Nigerians to access the online resources they need to learn and work effectively. Additionally, power outages remain a recurring issue, hampering productivity and reducing the appeal of tech jobs for those who live in regions with poor electricity.

    Addressing these infrastructure issues will require both governmental and private sector investment. The government can incentivize internet providers to offer affordable data plans for educational use, while tech companies could partner with local communities to establish co-working spaces that provide reliable internet and power. Some initiatives, like Google’s Project Loon and Facebook’s Free Basics, have sought to improve connectivity in underserved areas. Building on these efforts with local solutions could help create a more inclusive environment for front-end engineers in Nigeria.

    Creating a Thriving Community of Nigerian Front-End Engineers

    Nigeria’s tech community has seen remarkable growth in recent years, with hubs like Lagos becoming key centers for innovation in Africa. However, building a collaborative and supportive ecosystem specifically for front-end engineers could further accelerate this progress. Local meetups, hackathons, and workshops provide invaluable networking opportunities and a platform for knowledge exchange. Communities like ForLoop Africa, which connects African software developers, are already paving the way for this kind of engagement, but more focused communities for front-end engineering could enhance collaboration and inspire innovation.

    Creating a national platform or annual conference for Nigerian front-end engineers would not only showcase local talent but also encourage mentorship and collaboration across levels of experience. The presence of such a community would offer developers a stronger support system, enabling them to stay updated on the latest front-end trends and technologies while also sharing resources and tips on overcoming common challenges.

    Embracing Remote Work Opportunities

    One silver lining of the global shift to remote work is the expanded opportunities for Nigerian front-end engineers to access international jobs and gain exposure to advanced projects. This trend has opened doors for Nigerian engineers to work with global tech giants, startups, and companies seeking diverse perspectives and expertise. However, remote work also requires an understanding of virtual communication tools, time management, and the ability to work independently—all skills that need to be nurtured alongside technical expertise.

    To fully leverage remote work opportunities, Nigerian front-end engineers can benefit from targeted training that equips them with soft skills essential for thriving in a remote work environment. Additionally, the Nigerian government and local tech companies can support remote workers by advocating for improved internet infrastructure and providing digital tools, helping make remote work a viable and attractive option.

    Looking Ahead – Building a Sustainable Front-End Engineering Future

    The future of front-end engineering in Nigeria looks promising, but it depends on addressing current challenges and seizing growth opportunities. By investing in specialized training programs, improving infrastructure, and building a strong community, Nigeria can position itself as a leader in front-end development within Africa and beyond. This investment is more than an economic imperative—it’s an opportunity to inspire a new generation of Nigerian developers to contribute to and shape the digital future.

    Ultimately, front-end engineers are crucial in defining how users interact with digital platforms. Their work shapes the online experience for millions of people and plays a critical role in the success of businesses and public services alike. In Nigeria, building a skilled workforce of front-end engineers can drive the nation’s digital transformation, enabling it to harness the full potential of technology and create a more inclusive, accessible, and innovative society.

    The journey may be challenging, but with the right support and initiatives, Nigerian front-end engineers can rise to meet these challenges, turning Nigeria into a hub of digital creativity and technical expertise.

    About the author

    Owoseni A. is a front-end developer with 2 years of experience user-friendly digital product interface. He has experience building EdTech, FinTech, and PropTech products. A graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Akure.

  • CWG chief: digital economy way out for Africa

    For Africa to build a more viable economy which will ultimately turn the continent into a technology-driven knowledge-based economy, it must embrace digitilisation, a technology firm, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc, has said.

    Its Ag. CEO/MD, Mr Adewale Adeyipo who joined other leaders at the 7th Africa CEOs Forum, in Kigali, Rwanda, advocated for an inclusive ecosystem that can aid technological development on the continent, adding that Africa’s labour market is currently being disrupted as over 65 per cent of primary school children today are likely to work in the next few years in jobs or fields that do not presently exist.

    He said: “Africa is rapidly becoming consumer of digital services rather than creators in today’s digital economy and to change this scenario, we need to rethink the existing model and build a sustainable digital ecosystem and as well create more digital champions for our children of today.”

    Speaking further, Adeyipo urged the continent to create broader awareness about the deployment of a digital economy that can follow the ‘Integrated design approach’ to bring together specialisms usually considered separately.

    A report by the GSMA Intelligence Report, 2018, shows that the mobile economy in Africa will generate more than $150 billion (or 7.9 per cent of GDP) of economic value while 300 million people are expected to come online by 2025.

    “The question then is; would all these be enough for Africa to be ready?” he asked rhetorically.

    The Africa CEO Forum is the leading international conference dedicated to the private sector in Africa and hosts the continent’s top CEOs, international investors, experts and high-level policymakers every year with ability to mobilise, offer cutting-edge content and is committed to unlocking Africa’s economic potential by championing private sector-led growth, leading discussions around innovative public policies and sustainable business.

  • How Nigeria can achieve digital economy, by GSMA

    Modernising regulation and policy reform will be crucial to boosting Nigeria’s digital economy and accelerating internet access for millions through increased mobile broadband penetration, the Global System for Mobile Communication Association (GSMA) has said.

    In its latest report titled: Spotlight on Nigeria: Delivering a Digital Future, it said research had shown that the mobile market in Nigeria made an important contribution to the economy.

    According to it, the mobile industry contributed $21 billion to gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017, representing 5.5 per cent of total GDP. It also said that the growth of the country’s digital economy created nearly 500,000 direct and indirect jobs.

    The report, which was launched in conjunction with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), brought together leaders from across the mobile industry with policymakers to discuss future regulation and how to enable the next-generation of 5G connectivity.

    According GSMA, growth in the adoption of digital services by government, businesses and consumers is having a positive impact on daily life in the country. It stressed that for majority of Nigerians, mobile broadband is the first and only technology for accessing the internet, enabling better access to health, education and commercial opportunities, amongst other public services. Smartphone adoption has already risen to over 53 million connections, and 49 per cent of the population are currently connected by mobile technology, compared to less than one per cent who have a fixed-line connection.

    However, the report concluded that there is still broad scope for the country to increase its mobile penetration. Although more Nigerians are getting access to mobile broadband, the country lags regional peers in 4G adoption. Helping to accelerate adoption would enable more advanced services and create bigger societal impacts, it said.

    With increased spectrum harmonisation and licensing reform, the country’s mobile penetration is forecast to rise to 55 per cent of the population by 2025, with 70 per cent having 3G connectivity and 17 per cent having access to 4G networks. Currently, only 44 per cent of mobile subscribers in Nigeria are using 3G technology and 4 per cent are using 4G technology, compared to over 18 per cent 4G penetration in South Africa and 16 per cent in Angola.

    Speaking on the report, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NCC, Prof Garba Dmabatta said: “In the world we live in today, mobile communication is a cardinal tool of economic development, growth and integration, and the mobile industry is a key enabler of productivity across economies and societies. The mobile industry is not only a significant contributor to the economic activities of Nigeria, but also towards the growth of other sectors of the economy. The Nigerian Communications Commission has been, and continues to play a key role in the development of mobile communication in Nigeria, and I am delighted to be part of this event today. This provides an avenue for regulators, operators, investors, and other relevant stakeholders to examine, share and constructively exchange ideas.”

    Also commenting on the report, Head of sub-Saharan Africa, GSMA, Akinwale Goodluck, said mobile connectivity has already improved the welfare of millions of Nigerians, opening the door to new digital possibilities and powering the country’s economic development.

    He said:  “For Nigeria to take full advantage of the next phase of its digital transformation, it’s vital that collaboration between industry and government enables the right policy environment for millions more to benefit from ultra-fast mobile broadband. If policies don’t keep pace with the needs of society and technological innovation, there is a risk that citizens will be left behind and productivity and competitiveness will suffer.”

    The GSMA has identified support for and release of harmonised spectrum and a modernised licensing framework as fundamental build

  • Fed Govt to achieve growth with digital economy, says minister

    The Federal Government has announced plans to achieve an all-inclusive economy by prioritising developmental efforts in the digital economy.

    Minister of Communication Adebayo Shittu said in Lagos at the weekend that the move by the Federal Government was to ensure that Nigerians had equal access to government services by using digitalisation.

    He said plans were on to establish a Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST) banking, real estate and insurance company to get Nigerians into a financial inclusive economy.

    Shittu, who spoke at a stakeholders’ conference on digital addressing system and address verification system, organised by NIPOST, said: ”We are looking at establishing a NIPOST property and development company to make use of NIPOST underutilised facilities wasting away. It is our plan as part of the general reform to ensure that most of the vacant and unused land are leased out to the public to establish property development. Some of the land will be available to build estates, event centres, garages and others to earn revenue for the Federal Government.”

    He said in two years, NIPOST would be the leading Federal Government agency in terms of its influence on the life of every Nigerian, adding that courtesy of its upgraded processes, it would help in bringing in the largest amount of money into the Federal Government’s coffers.

    ”There are communities, which are about 200 to 300 kilometres away from the state capital. With the help of these offices, people can access government services from their communities. By the time we conclude in establishing these companies, there will be no one who will not be affected positively by NIPOST multifaceted companies,” the minister said.

  • Govt eyes $88b from digital economy

    The Federal Government said it is working hard to generate $88bilion from digital economy by 2028.

    If the opportunities in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) are properly harnessed, the government said the sector has the capacity to create three million jobs over the next 10 years.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals  (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire who spoke during the inauguration of the Digital Smart Classroom with ‘Achieving Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education for All by 2030’ as theme, said the Federal Government is working hard to make the economy knowledge-based.

    The Smart Classroom was donated to Pilot Science Nursery and Primary School in Abuja by a Chinese Digital Technology giant; NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited.

    She said: “The Nigerian digital economy will generate an estimated $88 billion and create three million jobs over the next 10 years. The Federal Government is working hard to actualise the dream of a knowledge-based and innovation-driven digital economy.

    “I recently visited Silicon Valley in the United States and engaged with CEOs of several global IT companies. Only recently we hosted Google executives who are working to provide free internet to 10 million Nigerians in key locations across the country.

    “Google, like several other IT companies, are establishing a strong presence in Nigeria not out of altruism but based on hard and rational logic of profit to be made and potentials to impact a large youthful market of 200 million people.

    Underscoring the importance of digital technology, she said: “As our world continues to evolve the way we work also continues to change.The industrial revolution of the 18th and 19th century caused a fundamental change in the way goods were produced from human labour to machinery.

     

  • SAP, Bluechip drive digital economy

    SAP and Bluechip Technologies have stressed their commitment to help the economy and local businesses discover ways to boost business processes, and engage their customers and employees.

    Chief Delivery Officer at Bluechip, Tope Ajao, who stated this at a cocktail held in Lagos, said the event was meant to boost the role that technology plays in driving efficiency through a series of presentations on business-relevant topics.

    He said more than 30 delegates attended the dinner, comprising customers, potential customers and SAP experts.  “One of the major problems that businesses are faced with today is complexity – from huge data sets, new technologies, increasing regulation, globalisation and increasing customer awareness and mobility,” Ajao said.

    “Organisation such as Apple, Google, Amazon and Facebook have proven that simplicity is the way forward. Hence, helping organisations simplify their IT landscape will tremendously lower cost and differentiate their products and services,” he added.

    Re-affirming its commitment to the West African Market as both strategic and innovative, the SAP Analytics event showcased how companies can unleash the power of digital innovation while finding a balance between maintaining their current infrastructure and innovating without disruption.

    “Information Technology is therefore faced with the challenge of enabling the business to analyse all relevant data for making decisions on time. SAP provides an end-to-end solution that enables smart decisions for people and applications within the window of decision opportunity,” Ajao added.

    The event also focused on ways of reinventing one’s business using analytics which was followed by interactive sessions on staying ahead of business in the current economic situation, and how business owners can take advantage of transformational business models, reinvented business models and new ways of conducting business processes.

    Despite the economic impact of low foreign currency supply, challenging commodity and oil prices, there is no doubt that enterprise businesses in Nigeria are ready to seize the opportunities in the digital economy.

  • Zinox chief to youths: ICT knowledge crucial to digital economy

    Zinox chief to youths: ICT knowledge crucial to digital economy

    Chairman of Zinox  Group Leo Stan Ekeh has advised the youth and entrepreneurs to embrace the numerous opportunities for wealth creation, which abound with the growing pace of digital revolution and the knowledge economy.

    He said with global shift to information communications technology (ICT), wealth had become a right for all in the 21st Century.

    Ekeh spoke during an entrepreneurship summit with: The ABC of wealth creation and sustenance in the 21st Century as theme.

    It was organised by the Imo State University and its alumni association in partnership with an e-commerce outfit, Yudala, at the University Auditorium at the weekend.

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha was represented by House Speaker, Acho Ihim; Vice Chancellor Prof. Adaobi Obasi, other principal officers of the university as well as several first class traditional rulers.

    Ekeh, who was the guest speaker, decried the attitude to quality education among Igbo youths, a generational problem which he traced to parents who erroneously assumed that education delays the progress of a man.

    He said: “The political leadership of the Southeast for decades has bemoaned the falling enrolment in schools. However, the mindset among many seems to be: Why do we need formal education when all we have to do is find the fastest way of making clean money? ‘Seek ye wealth first and all the rest shall be added unto you’ or drawn straight from the Bible in the book of Wisdom – ‘money answereth all’.

    “This mindset should change to ‘knowledge answers all’. In the 21st Century, knowledge is your right and the most important capital before cash.

    “Wealth creation would always be about generating material values and accumulating same but the knowledge economy says to us that the processes must change. These tools are to be used to reorganise society and fire innovation. The knowledge economy has shrunk the global village even further and our aspirations must rise above the tripod of Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo battle for supremacy. The globe must be the platform for our operations and it has been since 1859 but we need to look inwards if we are to take advantage of the knowledge era.

    “The Igbo entrepreneur would have to take quality education more seriously as deficiency in this is already a minus to her intellectual capacity to sustain her enterprise.”

    In his opinion, innovation, which he defined as when an invention meets a customer,  represents one key success factor for many budding entrepreneurs who seek to enjoy digital wealth.

    “There are Igbo entrepreneurs, including my humble self who have made huge investments in Lagos, Abuja, the UK, along the East and West Coast of Africa who would have no choice other than make investments at home given the qualified manpower and irresistible innovations. The 21st Century venture fund would be delivered to innovations no matter where they are found – China, Indonesia, South Africa, Israel, Brazil, name it.

    “The point being made here is that the world needs innovations – answers to challenges confronting humanity – and the 21st Century Igbo aspiration should be to provide these innovations that are technology driven so that the products would be cost efficient and cost effectively reach more consumers world over,” he said.

    Urging the audience to embrace the ICT revolution, Ekeh noted that there is a clear and urgent need for training and re-training in a bid to reveal the potentials of ICT to all.

    “It is important that I make it quite clear that what I am advocating is not that everyone must be an ICT professional. What I am saying is that every professional or entrepreneur at least for selfish reasons must be ICT literate enough to ensure that every sector of the economy is ICT driven. It is accepted globally that only ICT can catalyse national development at the pace that satisfies the high expectations in good living of the 21st Century,” he said.

  • Sweden deepens Nigeria’s digital economy

    The Swedish business delegation which was in Lagos and Abuja last week, is taking steps to boost Nigeria’s digital economy and e-governance projects.

    The team is identifying business opportunities in Nigeria for Swedish companies by developing sustainable and smart societies in the country using Swedish innovations in finance, ICT, transport, energy, health and agriculture. These sectors were earlier identified by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as key in its plan to promote smart cities project through the cash-less banking initiative.

    The Swedish group, in collaborating with Federal Ministry of Communications Technology, wants to see how Swedish companies like Ericsson, would promote the country’s strong tradition in innovation and technology to different sectors of the Nigeria’s economy. The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Sweden are working together to improve business relationship between the two countries.

    Swedish Minister for Trade & European Union Affairs, Mrs. Ann Linde said the team would identify business opportunities in Nigeria for Swedish companies by developing sustainable and smart societies using Swedish innovations in ICT, transport, energy, health, agriculture and finance.

    In Abuja, the delegations met with government officials, representatives of trade and industry and other key decision makers, with the intention of strengthening trade relations, identifying investment opportunities and suitable business partners.

    Key Swedish companies like Ericsson, ABB, Scania and other partners showcased the Smart City concept and shared their experience of how smart solutions can change cities and societies.

    “We hope we would be able to share experiences on how collaboration can strengthen competitiveness and contribute to a sustainable development,” Mrs Linde said. “By bringing some of Sweden’s largest, most innovative global companies, we can together create an even stronger Swedish – Nigerian connection that will benefit both countries.”

    She said that Nigeria is the largest and fastest growing ICT market in the world and has the fastest growing middle class globally. “Hence, the need to strengthen commercial ties goes beyond single business opportunities and industry sectors, but extends to strategic collaborations with not only private businesses but also public sector and academia,” she said.

    Managing Director, Ericsson Nigeria, Johan Jemdahl, said “Ericsson is deeply committed to Nigeria, as it is one of the most important markets for us in sub-Saharan Africa. We recognise that the country needs to attract business and one key element that will facilitate international trade is access to efficient broadband service. This is one of the core areas we seek to support and offer our expertise.”

     

  • Nigeria’s march to digital economy on course

    Nigeria’s march to digital economy on course

    Information Communications Technology (ICT) tools are increasingly becoming indispensable in driving more digital economy. The Managing Director, Huawei Nigeria, Mr. Frank Li, says the technology firm has been at the forefront of pushing Nigeria’s digital transformation. He speaks on how the firm is collaborating with the Federal Government to improve the health and education sectors, among other issues. Lucas Ajanaku reports.

    How technology chaging business  in Nigeria

     

    In the previous times, the gross domestic product (GDP) was rated based on the traditional industries’ contributions. However, nowadays, the global connecting index report shows that every 20 per cent increase in the Information Communications Technology ICT industry leads to over one per cent increase in the GDP. We do see that the ICT domain is globally driving the digital economy. Before now, raising capital was the focus for businesses, because it is critical in value creation. However, today, capital will become of no effect without knowledge. Knowledge fertilises capital for growth. For example, our lives have changed since the advent of mobile Internet. Yesteryears, we walked outside to flank down taxies, but look at what companies like Uber, jiji are doing. With your smartphone, it got easy to book for a taxi through an app; sell and buy online, thereby saving costs and time. This is the way the digital economy has totally changed our lives. It is a typical example of how the ICT industry changes the whole system in Nigeria. There is the ‘direct project’ that connects the Galaxy Backbone and the data centre for the Federal Government. If we focus on the farmers at the rural areas, we will see they lack access to predictions about the future economy – the kind of period to farm or carry out their functions. With the kind of projects Huawei is collaborating with the government on, these challenges are being solved. Suffice to say that ICTs have become business enablers for government to become e-government. Now, governments can have the e-platform in rural areas for farmers to have access to the Internet. That means, ICT tools create more job opportunities, values and enhance lives. Our innovation and experience centre is also a response to the Nigerian government’s call on driving digital economy. Therefore, we are assisting the government and our partners to create that ecosystem to build a better connected Nigeria. It will not be long for the initiatives to begin to yield even more results and grow the GDP.

     

    Innovations to improve critical sectors of the economy

     

    In education, for example, we saw that many teachers are limited by facilities at their disposal.  There is knowledge out there, which they would want to share from others in developed economies, but it has not been easy for them. This is part of the reasons we established the innovation and experience centre in Lagos. The digital platform offers users connectivity to technologies and innovations across the globe. This platform also enables the users to have first hand practical knowledge about their field and even exchange their own ideas, thoughts, visions and motivations with the outside world. Looking at some rural areas; the classrooms to be specific, it is not easy for our teachers to have access to sufficient resources. Now, with what Huawei is doing through cloud technology, the company can remotely access the contents. In other words, they can remotely access the e-education, tap into the knowledge, and better equip the students with the latest technology. If we took a flash back to when President Muhammadu Buhari visited China, we would recall that there were 20 students who joined our e-education programme and they shared their experiences with the President. They were excited about the platform, and they told the President that at home it was impossible.

    E-health gaining traction

    In the health sector, there are issues with the doctors still attending to health matters in the ‘traditional’ way. It has not been easy for them. Thus, we are initiating an e-health programme so that one can remotely access health solutions. Presently, a patient will first visit the hospital, obtain a card and join a very long queue. This can be transformed digitally; leveraging mobile phones to attend to health documents and other matters. The interesting part of the solution we are bringing is that through video chat, you can remotely book an appointment with the doctor and not be there physically. This will increase efficiency and quality, reducing cost of services too. It will enable the government serve the people more efficiently. Huawei’s major focus is on building a better ecosystem for our clients and mostly, offering quality services to the citizens of Nigeria while working with the government.

     

    Leveraging Huawei’s products, services for development

     

    To me, the government should not relent on working with Huawei and other partners to understand the principles of digital economy. The government should not discontinue in its quest to understand what is digital transformation, digital economy and the benefits. Another thing is having the policy to encourage partner-companies to form an ecosystem, because Huawei cannot do it alone. For example, if there is such policy to encourage more enterprises to embrace the technologies we have, then more private and public organisations will open their doors to more innovations.

     

    Place of talents in driving innovations

     

    Talent is also key in this industry. We believe that government can open more channels to develop the ecosystem. Huawei believes that the innovation centre we launched will go a long way to highlight the technology we have to as many that would want to improve on their skills. We are focused on practical realities. That is why we are collaborating with universities like the University of Lagos. With government’s support, we have more programmes to train ICT-inclined individuals for skills development in the industry. In this transformation time, the sector needs more time and support to rave up the economy.