A group of experts in the world of ICT has called on world leaders (and African leaders in particular) to develop policies that will promote digital economy for sustainable development. They made the call at the panel on digital economy and sustainable development at the World Summit on Information Society, (WSIS+10) review side event held recently at the United Nation headquarters in New York.
One of the experts, Dr. Jimson Olufuye, a Nigerian and the past President of Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN), articulated that “unless African leaders imbibe the culture of transparency and accountability, and promoting digital economy, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) may not be achieved.
Sharing his view during the interactive discussion, Eng. Hossam Elgamal Egyptian small business owner and ICC BASIS Officer said: "We need competitiveness, transparency, security and openness to encourage investment and bring the next billion online."
Making known his stand during the event, Dr Siyabonga Cwele, Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Service, South Africa, said: "If we really want to bring a new agenda of how the use of ICTs helps us to step up our efforts, to equalize and create a sustainable society, we have to deepen our conversations as partners and as to what responsibilities we bear, and how we measure the commitments."
Co-moderators of the session, Joseph Alhadeff of Oracle and Chair of the ICC Commission on the Digital Economy, and Moctar Yedaly of the African Union, sensitized the participants on the impacting efforts the ICTs have contributed to realize several Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), assuring that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will not be an exception if ICTs are well channeled to it.
Chaired by ICC Secretary General John Danilovich, the event also featured Moni Udoh, Director of ICT Ministry of Communications, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nermine El Saadany, Under Secretary for International Relations Division, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
The approved WSIS Outcome Document can be downloaded here.
