The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is seeking partnership with Nigeria to further drive the renewed IT-focused agenda of UNESCO.
The Nigerian Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Ms Hajo Sani stated this in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami.
Ms Sani outlined the relevant key areas of partnership to include; Creating Knowledge Societies, Infrastructure Investments, World Summit on Information Society, Inter-governmental partnerships and programmes, the Internet Universality Indicators, among others.
Support
She solicited the Minister’s support in ensuring that strategic engagements between UNESCO and the Ministry are deliberate and impactful.
Ms Sani also urged the Minister to facilitate the active involvement of UNESCO in the Nigeria Digital Economy sector for the benefit of the country.
In his response, Dr Pantami while felicitating with her on her appointment noted that the programmes and initiatives of UNESCO were in alignment with that of the sector and in line with global best practices.
He emphasised that ICT was the key enabler of every sector of the economy globally.
“If you explore the key of Digital Technology properly, you will open a lot of opportunities in Education, Science, Agriculture, Health and other sectors. The Digital Economy is not just a stand-alone sector, but the key enabler to limitless opportunities in every sector. It is commendable that UNESCO has identified and recognised the relevance of leveraging on digital technologies for development,” Dr Pantami explained.
The Minister noted that most of the policies established under the present administration to drive the Digital Economy have a direct impact on UNESCO’s key objectives.
He further outlined some of the policies which are; the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria, the Nigerian National Broadband Plan, the National Policy on Virtual Engagements in Federal Public Institutions, the National Policy on Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Core Skills for Nigerians, the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector, the Revised National Digital Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration, the National Digital Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Startup Policy.
Dr Pantami pledged the full support of the Ministry and the Parastatals under its purview, for the newly forged partnership between the two organisations.
In related development, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Ben Jones also paid a courtesy call on the Minister in Abuja.
Mr Jones says the High Commission is to explore avenues of expanding existing collaborations with Nigeria and forging new partnerships with the Ministry in the area of Enhanced Broadband Penetration (Right of Way); Regulation of the Digital Sector; Digital Access Programme; and Financial Inclusion.
Commendation
He commended the Minister for the Digital Economy drive, especially in the areas of Broadband penetration and capacity building.
“I am here today to discuss how we can encourage more progress in the Right of Way (RoW) agreement in order to enhance Broadband penetration and also to explore more areas of partnership with the Digital Access Programmes,” he said.
The Minister who expressed delight over the kind gesture reiterated the support and intervention of his office towards the resolution of any challenges inimical to broadband penetration in the country.
Dr. Pantami said the agreements reached with the Nigeria Governors Forum to peg the Right of Way (RoW) charge at a maximum of N145 per linear meter was already in full effect in almost all states of the federation.
He encouraged the Commission to expand the Digital Access Programme to include more states in the country and extend the programme to more beneficiaries.
