The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, has advocated for the fourth industrial revolution in Nigeria.
This, he said, brings with it the potential to connect billions of people to digital networks and dramatically improve the efficiency of organisations.
Danbatta gave this advice in his virtual keynote address at the 3th discourse series of the Advocate Law practice held on Thursday, April 29.
He highlighted the historical perspective to the revolutionary trends which, he said, have brought humanity to its present position.
The NCC boss noted however that the three previous industrial revolutions have liberated mankind from animal production, made mass production possible, and brought about digital capabilities to billions of people.
He said that the ongoing trade war between China and the United States is a testament to this reality.
The African nations, according to him, must strive to reposition their various economies for digital prosperity and abundance to drive efficiency, productivity and create jobs.
This, he said, will afford the tsunami of her youth population to deploy their creative energy for African economic development.
He said: “The fourth industrial revolution brings with it the potential to connect billions of people to digital networks and dramatically improve the efficiency of organisations.
“It is one we must approach with the strongest resolve, and with the full cooperation of all critical stakeholders in order to ensure that ‘no one is left behind’ in the evolving digital future.”
He added: “We must take drastic and deliberate measures by reawakening our consciousness to the power of technology in this 4th Industrial Revolution, where technologically advanced nations are the ones dictating the pace of the global economy.
“The ongoing trade war between China and the United States is a testament to this reality.
“As African nations, we must strive to reposition our various economies for digital prosperity and abundance to drive efficiency, productivity and create jobs for the tsunami of our youth population to deploy their creative energy for African economic development.
“We can only harness the opportunities of the 4th Industrial Revolution as a nation if we put in place effective guiding frameworks to address the various aspects of the digital ecosystem and ensure their effective interworking in the national interest.”
The NCC’s Strategic Management Plan (SMP 2020-2024 or “ASPIRE 2024”), Danbatta said, was consolidated on the vision articulated in the Strategic Vision Plan.
These strides, he said, will enable the telecommunications sector to provide the infrastructure backbone for powering the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Nigeria.
“We have responded to the policy goals highlighted above to harness the immense socio-economic benefits of ICT for national development; to ensure that ICT infrastructure is up to the standard necessary to provide ubiquitous broadband services in Nigeria.
“We have also aligned the Commission’s regulatory efforts with the aforementioned Policy Instruments, as well as the growth strategies of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), to ensure Growth, Inclusiveness, and Sustainability,” Danbatta said.
