Identity Day: Pantami bags Best Performing Digital Minister Award

The Nigerian Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami has been awarded by Abia State Government as the “Best Performing Digital Minister for the Year 2022.”

This is in recognition of his unprecedented performance in the Digital Transformation and National Identity programme of the Nigerian Government.

The Award, which was received on behalf of the Minister by Dr Agu Collins Agu, the Director of Research and Development, at the National Information Technology Development Agency NITDA, is to commend him on the good work he has been doing in the Ministry, especially in developing Nigeria’s Digital Economy through promoting the use of digital platforms.

The event is part of activities to mark International Identity Day 2022, organised by the Abia State government through the Office of the Special Assistant on National Identity Management Commission Ecosystem and Related Matters.

Professor Pantami applauded the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for the development of IT infrastructure in the State, and the priority being given to the private sector to integrate Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into the activities of different sectors of Abia economy.

He said, “I accept this award and extend my sincere appreciation to the Government and the People of Abia State and also to fellow Nigerians for this recognition. It is also a great pleasure that I am receiving this award on the day the world commemorates International Identity Day.”

“I commend the team that put this event together. Abia State, Aba, in particular, has a reputation of being a thriving commercial and industrial hub for different types of goods and services, and digital identity can greatly enhance commerce and industrialisation,” he stated.

The Minister recalled that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals provided the ambitious target that all people would be able to obtain a legal identity by 2030 Sustainable Development Goals 16.9.

He said that “the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa noted that Digital Identity and the digital economy are not only linked but are also, reinforcing, as digital ID is the basis for digital economy platforms.”

He said; “Digital identification can be an important catalyst for various development initiatives in the continent, impacting on trade, governance, social protection, financial inclusion, domestic resource mobilisation, as well as security and human rights.”

Professor Pantami said, “digital identity is the fabric of the digital economy and by expanding the digital identity database, Nigeria has positioned itself to reap the benefits of embracing the digital economy sustainably.”

According to him, “Nigeria recorded a significant increase in enrolment records from 41m in August 2020, when NIMC was put under the Ministry’s supervision, to about 89m as of August 2022, 48m additional enrollment in 24 months, a remarkable achievement in National Identification Number, NIN, issuance.”

He said the Digital Economy has also proven to be a veritable platform for the creation of jobs.

According to the Minister, in Nigeria, the digital economy has played a key part in developing the different sectors of our digital economy.

He stressed that the sector’s 14.70% double-digit growth rate played a principal role in supporting Nigeria to exit the recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic a year faster than experts predicted.

“The growth rate of the sector exceeded 4 times the next fastest growing sector of Q4 2020, which had a growth rate of 3.42%. I am also very pleased to let you know that the ICT sector recorded an unprecedented contribution of 18.44% to Nigeria’s GDP in Q2 ‘2022, and this is the highest ever contribution”

“I urge Your Excellency to take advantage of digital ID programmes and solutions to significantly enhance Abia State’s commercial and industrial output,” he added.

The Governor, represented by his deputy, Sir Ude Chukwu, appreciated the Minister for the support he provided to help the state achieve a lot within a short period.

He said the Ministry has assisted Abia State in the development of data collection of several people irrespective of their gender and age difference.

Chukwu said; “When were searching for means to develop various types of data, it was the result of what the ministry was doing that made us keyed into this programme. We know whatever the Ministry was trying to do would be comprehensive.”

“I thank the Minister for the support he is giving to us, and also congratulate him for receiving this deserving award from the Abia people,” he added.

Mercy Chukwudiebere