Mr. Jide Awe, the Chairman, Conference Committee, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), has said that only sustainable development can help improve the level of broadband penetration in Nigeria.

Awe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) had grown in an unprecedented way.

He said that only sustainable infrastructure and development could help enlarge its scope.

Awe said: “Internet penetration indicates the percentage of internet users in a country. The internet is critical to the national growth and will enable more people to gain access to opportunities and benefits of ICT.

“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

The NCS official urged government to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation in policies.

He also urged the government and stakeholders to be stronger and committed in monitoring, evaluating and reporting on targets and implementing corrective action where required in the sector.

According to Awe, mobile phone penetration has significantly helped the telecoms market and had transformative impact on the economy and society.

Awe, who is also the Managing Consultant, Jidaw Systems in Lagos, noted that the Nigeria National Broadband Plan had bridged the country’s broadband infrastructure gap.

He said further that the plan had launched the country toward achieving its broadband penetration target of six per cent to 30 per cent by 2018.

The NCS official called for incentives, which would encourage network development and infrastructure sharing in rural areas through subsidies and public-private partnerships.

The NCS committee chairman said the plan was to use ICT to promote development concepts and practices, especially in social and environmental sustainability.

Awe added that IT penetration in rural areas would promote digital literacy, specialist skills development and development of relevant IT tools that addressed local needs and language content. (NAN)

•Photo shows Jide Awe.