On Friday, 5th Jan. 2018, possibly the first Information and Communications Technology (ICT) event held in Nigeria in 2018, the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) held their Colloquium and Annual General Meeting (AGM). These events which had top Nigeria ICT personalities held at Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) Office Complex, 8 Funsho Williams Avenue, Surulere, Lagos. Notable amongst the participants were the Honourable Minister of Communications Barr. Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, President, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Ms. Oyeronke M. Oyetunde, NIG Chairman Board of Trustees, Mr. Olawale Ige MFR, Immediate Past President NIG, Mr. Adebayo George Banjo, former ATCON President, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, and host of others.
The theme for this Colloquium was “The Nigerian Internet Today: Issues and the Way Forward.”
Goodwill Messages were received from ICT stakeholders to support the event. Top speakers at Colloquium were representatives of Professor Umaru Garba Danbatta, EVC/CEO, Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, DG NITDA, and Revd. Sunday Folayan, President, NiRA.
The Honourable Minister Barrister Adebayo Shittu in his Opening Address expressed his delight and privilege for being at the occasion. He spoke of the importance the Ministry attaches in engaging with the Organized Private sectors and Interest Groups on issues of ICT ecosystem. He spoke on how the Internet continues to make the world a global village with easy access to information and communication.
The Honorable Minister further stated government plans for the ICT industry for 2018 to include:
- Broadband penetration in the country to rise above 30%,
- Investment in a national backbone infrastructure that will carry and distribute data capacity from the shores of the country to the hinterland,
- Ensuring that Nigerian terrestrial bandwidth is patronized to boost economy and operators’ confident,
- Strict Implementation of the local content policy.
The Honorable Minister concluded by commending the organizers of the Colloquium, and the National Executive Council of Nigeria Internet Group and other stakeholders collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Communications and promised that Ministry will articulate various submissions emanating from the colloquium and put them into use.