‘Right Regulatory, Industry Policies ‘ll Encourage Investment In Digital Infrastructure’
By Olabisi Olaleye
The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission
(NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Aziz posited recently that right regulatory and industry policies will encourage Infrastructure In digitalization.
(NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Aziz posited recently that right regulatory and industry policies will encourage Infrastructure In digitalization.
Speaking at eNigeria conference organized by the National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA), he explained that government must “create a stable, predictable and sustainable policy/commercial environment that allows businesses
to flourish” a step that will help in unlocking the country’s digital market thereby allowing the economy to grow.
While identifying seven key conditions necessary to unlock opportunities and potentials in Nigeria’s digitalmarket, the NIMC DG noted that government needs to “encourage and implement digital services across all sectors of the economy,” and “establish economy platforms such as ecommerce, online markets, and entrepreneurship ecosystem” thereby encourage “tech-enabled businesses to turn creativity into value-creating online businesses.”
Aziz said the provision of “digital identity to everyone in the country ,proving ‘who is who’ is “germane to accessing services physically or electronically.” Adding that identification is the main responsibility and mandate of NIMC.
“We must introduce digital literacy in our school curriculum (primary, secondary, etc.) as this will bring about digital skill critical for digital interaction.”
Nigeria’s population currently at almost 200 million,
presents a huge potential, Aziz argues that government needs to put in place focused programmes to “stimulate demand for digital solutions through the promotion of digital skills, digital local content and support for local digital applications” for the opportunities to be fully harnessed.
presents a huge potential, Aziz argues that government needs to put in place focused programmes to “stimulate demand for digital solutions through the promotion of digital skills, digital local content and support for local digital applications” for the opportunities to be fully harnessed.
He reminded the audience that one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the United Nations set out as blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all, demands that nations provide legal identity for all including birth registration by the year 2030.