ICT: UNESCO, British High Commission seek stronger partnership with Nigeria

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is seeking partnership with Nigeria to  further drive the renewed IT-focused agenda of the 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.

She outlined the relevant key areas of partnership to include Creating Knowledge Societies, Infrastructural Investments, World Summit on Information Society, Intergovernmental partnerships and programmes, the Internet Universality Indicators, among others.

 

In a statement by the Minister’s Spokesperson, Mrs. Uwa Suleima, Ms Sani 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 are in alignment with that of the sector and in line with global best practices.

 

He emphasized that ICT is 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.”

 

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 policies which includes ,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.

 

Pantami pledged the full support of the Ministry and the Parastatals, under its purview, to the newly forged partnership between the two organizations.

In a related development, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Ben Llewellyn Jones, who also paid a courtesy call on the Minister, 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.

 

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 disclosed that the agreements reached with the Nigerian Governors Forum to peg the Right of Way (RoW) charge at a maximum of 145 Naira per linear meter was already in full effect in almost all States of the federation and encouraged the Commission to expand the Digital Access Programme to include more States in the country and, therefore, extend the programme to more beneficiaries.