Digital Economy To Contribute 21% To Nation’s GDP In Five Years -Minister
By Stella Enenche, Abuja
Nigeria’s digital economy is expected to contribute 21% to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030, from the current contribution of 14.19%,the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani has disclosed.
The Minister disclosed this on Thursday
at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), national digital economy and E-Governance bill stakeholders engagement in Abuja.
According to the minister,”In Quarter one of 2035, the digital economy contributed approximately seven trillion Naira to our real GDP, accounting for 14.19% of Nigeria’s 49.34 trillion GDP.This is highly remarkable. Currently, the sector contributes 16 -18% of GDP, with clear strategies to place it in place to increase this to 21% by 2030,” he said.
Tijani who was represented by the Permanent Secretary ministry of Communicatios, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr. Adeladan Rafiu, while speaking on the importance of the bill he said, “The National Digital and E-Government bill seeks to establish a robust legal and regulatory framework that will guide the implementation of digital governance in Nigeria.”
, “We can ensure that this bill provides the solid legal foundation required to drive digital identity, aid governance, and overall decision-making for Nigeria,” he added.
The Director General National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kachifu Abdullahi, said, “Everybody is contributing to see how we build a legal and institutional framework for our national digital economy.
“This will accelerate digitisation of the Nigerian economy, when all government services are digital, and also government is building infrastructure to connect the unconnected,
He also noted that, “government is doing a lot in digital literacy to educate our citizens to develop their digital fluency, so everyone will be part of it. And that will deepen the financial inclusion as well.”
The national Commissioner of Nigerian Data Protection Commission, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, in his goodwill message noted that the digital economy sector is the most consistent in growth.
“I stand to be corrected. I’m not sure of any other sector where there is consistent progress in a particular sector and contributing highly to the growth of our economy.
The Director General Galaxy Backbone (GBB), Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju said. “You can’t talk of a digital economy without a digital infrastructure and that’s where Galaxy Backbone comes in. To say that the government has invested a lot in terms of infrastructure and those infrastructure are there to support digital economy.”
