SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE 10TH SUMMIT OF AfICTA - AFRICA ICT ALLIANCE ON 8TH OF DECEMBER, 2022
PROTOCOLS
I would like to congratulate all the stakeholders that are with you and the participants in this historic annual event of the Africa ICT Alliance AfICTA and also thank you for the honour of the awards presented to the Presidency and the kind invitation to be the special guest of honour at this 10th edition of your annual Summit.
The list of achievements of AfICTA in the past 10 years and the impact that your team has made so far are important indicators that a vision that is well articulated must surely come to pass. Most importantly seeing how AfICTA has grown from just 6 African Nations (Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, The Gambia, Kenya, and Tunisia) when it started, to over 38 Nations in the last decade is an assurance that as Africans we can certainly get things done when and while we unite and put our hearts to it.
I want to heartily congratulate all of you and particularly congratulate our own Dr. Jimson Olufuye, the CEO of Kontemporary Konsulting, who is also the Founder, First Chair, and Current Chair of the Advisory Council of AfICTA for the leadership provided for this alliance and the role played in ensuring that the realization of AfICTA’s vision which is “…to fulfill the promise of the digital age for everyone in Africa”, is fast-tracked.
It is heartwarming to note the outcome of your first-of-its-kind research, sponsored by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, titled "Connecting Cyber Security to Development in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, this is something that is clearly unprecedented and I am told that the Report indicated that a 10 percent increase in cyber security majority in any African country produces between 0.66% and 5.4% increase in GDP per capita. Likewise, I am told according to a report that a 10% increase in Internet penetration produces between 1 and 8.2% increase in GDP per capita. Now, these are very important and significant findings that the research that you have conducted has brought to us. Now looking at the Nigerian data it is indeed worthy to note that with commendable growth in our ICT Sector and the effort that is being put in by President Buhari's administration aiming for the transformation of Nigeria economically, we can see that Nigeria's economic performance remains in positive territory and clearly there is a positive trajectory.
The successful management of the COVID-19 challenges has also enabled us as a Government to recover quite quickly from the recession that was occasioned by the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020. This is why we, therefore, welcome the research effort led by Dr. Jimson Olufuye and we also commend the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa for their Work on Strengthening Africa's cyber security in our common fight, against cybercrime.
Today as we celebrate, we also must commend all of the partners of AfICTA (African Union, UNECA, ITIDA, ICANN-BC, IGF, NITDA, Galaxy Backbone, NCC, ICC-BASIS…) for the established collaboration, and encourage other purposeful organizations to align with AfICTA which is a private sector led ICT organization. It is important, to stress at this point that as we have always said “the Role of the Private sector, and individuals in the transformation of any sector of the economy cannot be overemphasized”. This is why we commend the efforts of your alliance.
Let me also appreciate Engr. Hossam Elgamal the former Chair for his vibrancy, unique efforts, and initiatives introduced to enforcing the vision of this alliance. Also important to mention is the current Chairman of AfICTA, Mr. Thabo Mashegoane, the Former President of the Institute of IT Professionals of South Africa - IITPSA, and his entire cabinet for running with the vision and keeping the flag of this alliance flying. Kudos to you and good job indeed.
To all the Stakeholders of AfICTA (the time would not permit me to mention you all) let me say congratulations to you for your inventions your time, your response, and your Intellect in the vision which is important to elevating the African continent the pedestal of unprecedented success, economic prosperity which we all believe is imminent.
In addition, I also appreciate and recognize all the resource persons that have spoken to commemorate the 10th Anniversary and I believe that the outcome of this event would not only chart a pathway for AfICTA in the next 10 years but also positively impact the continent in major fronts such as economic vibrancy, prosperity, the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs and Africa Union 2030 Digital Agenda.
Taking into consideration some of the challenges that Nigeria encountered right from the days of the COVID-19 Pandemic, which led to an economic lockdown and the global increasing inflation rate joined with the current Ukrainian war, it could have only been a great determination that brought about the 6 Fintech Unicorns emergence. Tackling recession twice during the administration was another situation that Nigeria had to face. Irrespective of all the odds, it is the vision of the administration to achieve 100% broadband coverage in Nigeria by 2021, and working with the vibrant Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami has generated a lot of positive energy in the digital sector within the years.
As I conclude, Let me also appreciate everyone’s commitment to the vision of the alliance and as well encourage us to keep at what we do because that would eventually translate to a future with bigger accomplishment which isn’t limited to the Alliance, but also the entire continent’s promotion, prosperity, and welfare. On behalf of the Buhari-led administration, we thank you for the recognition and the honour done to us. Thank you so much!
