The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo disclosed this on Wednesday, while flagging off the 2016 DigitalAfrica Conference and Exhibition currently holding in Abuja.
Represented by Monisola Udoh, a director in the ICT Ministry, the Vice President said the Buhari led federal government had resolved to use ICT drive the Change Agenda of the administration since it has potential to create millions of jobs for the teaming youths across the country.
According to the Vice President, “The ICT sector has so much potential to be ignored in the ongoing diversification of the economy and promised that the federal government would give all necessary support to enable the ministry explore the benefits therein to boost the fortunes of the dwindling economy”
“The administration will not fail in using ICT to drive the economy. We have been doing everything possible in this direction. If we continue on this path, ICT should be contributing between 25 and 30 % to the country’s GDP in few years’ time. We will strive to make it happen.
Meanwhile, industry analysts suggest that the ICT Tools and Devices, Software, IT outsourcing and the e-commerce sector alone could employ over 40 million Nigerians and contribute billions of dollars to the economy.
In his submission, Adebayo Shittu also expressed confidence that the ministry has the potential to contribute 25 to 30 per cent contribution to the GDP.
He assured of his commitment in ensuring that the sector is made responsive to the demands of the nation.
On his part, the Chairman, DigialAfrica Global Consult, Evans Woherem said the ICT sector in Nigeria has blossomed over the last two decades in terms of computer and internet penetration but noted that a wide gap still exists between Africa and the rest of the world.
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