The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Mrs. Nkechi Ejele, has pointed out that the Federal Government places a lot of premium on using ICT to increase the productivity frontiers and achieve economic diversification in the country.

She made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the 6th National Council on Communication Technology (NCCT) in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

In her words, “The theme of this year’s meeting, which is ‘Leveraging ICT as a Veritable Vehicle for National Economy Recovery and Growth’, is relevant and timely coming at a time the nation is grappling with many socioeconomic problems.”

She urged participants to ensure that due diligence is done and ensure recommendations that can stand the test of time adding that it is responsibility of the experts in the meeting to discuss and advise council on how ICT can be leveraged to support government strategies for economic recovery and growth.

The Permanent Secretary noted that the council would be considering policy memoranda, information notes and presentations on various dimensions of ICT development which emanated from Federal government Ministries, Departments, Agencies, State Governments and presentations from invited private stakeholders.

Earlier, the Special Adviser on ICT to the Ogun State Governor, Mr. Bunmi Adebayo, revealed that Ogun State Government provided the longest 250-kilometre fiber optic layout in the country and is leading in the deployment of satellite-based ICT solution to deliver precision management to agriculture.

He noted that Nigeria can shift from oil-based to an ICT and innovation driven economy once the ecosystem realised the interpolation of all elements against working in isolation noting that a connected Ecosystem for ICT, all elements of the life-cycle has to be connected and work together.”