Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta has stated that the commission was pursuing the national broadband agenda with vigour and zeal
He also said that Nigeria is well positioned to achieve the 30 per cent penetration target by 2018.
The Executive Vice-Chairman said said this yesteday at the 5th anniversary conference of Waka About Africa magazine in Lagos.
Delivering the key note address on the topic, “ICT and Finance as catalyst for tourism and culture in a diversified economy”, Danbatta pointed out that more broadband penetration would promote the culture and tourism industry.
The NCC boss, whose speech was read by the Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations, Mr. Reuben Muoka, reiterated that many Nigerians now have access to mobile communication with the current national phone subscription of over 152 million as at March 2017, with teledensity of over 108 per cent,adding that “nternet subscription is about 90 million”.
According to him, “Smartphones, which can enable easy flow of all types of data or visual communications, are currently being adopted in Nigeria. Nigeria ranks 17th country among those that love smartphones with eMarketer of Nigeria estimating 23.1 million smartphones in use, projecting a rise to 34 million in 2018. As may have happened in similar projections, the fast growth of ICT adoption may surpass this figure by 2018.”
He continued, “In recognition of these potentials that abound in broadband environment, the Nigerian Communications Commission is currently pursuing the broadband agenda with vigour”.
ICT,he said has the potential to improve culture and tourism potentials in the country as the Federal Government refocuses attention on the sector.
In his words, “ICT may not have played very visible role or made significant impact as this audience may have expected, simply because of current level of development in the sector; nonetheless, application of ICTs has the potentials to push up our mark”, he said.
NCC ,he stated was working on the issue of unsolicited messages and that very soon the agency would embark on camapaign against unsolicited messages
Earlier , the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Mike Ahamba, SAN, called on the Federal Government to market tourism now so as to make it future revenue earner for the country.
He said each and every individual must begin to promote and market the hdden culture and tourism potentials in their respective communities, adding that most of the tourism potential have not been taped.
The legal giant added that the conference would not have come at a better time than now, especially with the theme, “ICT and Finance as Catalyst for Tourism and Culture in a Diversified Economy.”,which he said was apt.
Speaking at the event, the Publisher/Editor in Chief of Wakaabout Magaizine, Chinyere Ogidi ,commended every one who have been suporting the Wakaabout project in the past five years, adding that with the tremendous support it has received , the magaizine will continue to grow .
She however, said that the magazine still need support especially now that there is recession to survive.
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