Some selected achievements since assumption of office as the Honourable Minister of Communications & Digital Economy include:
- Unprecedented 17.92% highest ever contribution to the country’s GDP
by the ICT Sector in the 2nd Quarter of 2021. Having also accomplished
increased in the growth rate of the ICT sector to 14.70% in the 4th Quarter
of 2020 making it the best performing sector of the economy that
contributed to Nigeria’s exit from recession. This is 4 times more than
the Agriculture Sector which came next with a growth rate of 3.42
- Redesignation of the Ministry to the Federal Ministry of
Communications and Digital Economy to further expand its mandate to
capture the goals of digitalisation of Nigeria for sustainable growth.
- The laying of solid foundation for security enhancement in the country
by successful validation of improperly registered 9.2 million SIM Cards
that were found to be improperly registered in September 2019.
- Completion and launching of the Emergency Communication Centres
(ECC) all over the country for the first time. 24 Centres are functional as
at October 2021.
- The increase of broadband penetration to over 45% indicating 10%
increase in growth per year from the previous 1.7% growth per year.
- Developed and secured approval of the Federal Executive Council for the
National Policy on Fifth Generation (5G) Networks for Nigeria’s Digital
Economy.
- Successfully supervised the auctioning of the 5G spectrum and its
subsequent release by the National Frequency Management Council
(NFMC).
- The successful transformation and restructuring of NIPOST for effective
service delivery. Two companies were established: Properties and
Development company and Logistics and Transport company.
- Anchored and secured Federal Executive Council’s approval for the
Nigeria Startup Bill to harness the potential of the digital economy
through co-created regulations.
- Establishment of 1667 ICT Centres in Nigeria through the intervention of
Parastatals supervised by the Minister of Communications and Digital
Economy
- Secured the approval and supervised the distribution of 6000 epads to
Nigerian institutions to promote virtual teaching, learning and other
scholarly activities.
- Secured a partnership with Microsoft to train 5 million Nigerians in ICT related and Emerging Technology Courses.
- Secured a partnership with HUAWEI that attracted free training for over
30,000 Nigerians and promoted the establishment of 300 HUAWEI ICT
Academies in Nigeria. MoU Signed on: 20th December 2021.
- Secured a partnership with KOICA that attracted a total grant aid of USD
13 Million for the Federal Government to support the Project for
Building Foundation towards Digital Governance in Nigeria in the 2nd
Phase of the eGovernment Project for Nigeria by KOICA. MoU Signed on:
5th August 2021.
- The successful hosting of successive e-Nigeria International Conference,
Exhibition and Awards. For the third consecutive time (24th November
2016, 7th November, 2017, 5th November, 2018 & 28th November, 2019),
the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal
Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, was in
attendance and declared the event open.
- The successful development and subsequent unveiling of the National
Digital Economy Policy and Strategy by Mr President, during the
Opening Ceremony of e-Nigeria International Conference, Exhibition and
Awards.
- Successful development of the National Broadband Plan (2020-2025)
and subsequent inauguration of a Presidential Committee tasked with
the mandate of crafting a new plan that will facilitate the attainment of
70% Broadband penetration by 2025.
- Secured approval for implementation of the National Information and
Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone (NICTIB-2) Project
which commenced in 2021.
- Secured approval for the deployment of SimBox and Unmasking
Regulatory Systems to promote Cybersecurity and increase revenue
generation.
- Led the Nigerian Delegation to Gulf Information Technology Exhibition
(GITEX), World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE 6th – 10th October 2019 and
presented papers as well as participated in panel discussions. Also, the
first time in the history of Nigeria’s participation at GITEX, a Nigerian
Start-up, Chiniki-Guard, won the first prize of $10,000 in the AI category.
- Successful increase in the number of Nigerians with digital identity by
over 400 percent (400%) monthly since January 2021 and automation of
the registration processes which led to the enrollment of over 30 million
Nigerians into the National Identity Database within 12 months
increasing number of enrolled citizens to over 71 million.
- Secured approval for the implementation of tokenization solution for
National Identification Number (NIN) to promote data privacy and
protect the personal information of citizens.
- Successful downward review and compliance of Right of Way (RoW)
Levy by State Governments to N145 per linear meter to promote
broadband penetration. (2019)
- Successful development of a National Policy that led to the
establishment and management of the First National Centre for
Artificial Intelligence & Robotics. (2021)
- Secured Federal Executive Council approval for the construction of the
National Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, Abuja to drive
NDEPS implementation and objects of the National Digital Innovation &
Entrepreneurship Policy. (2021)
- Secured Federal Executive Council approval for the construction of the
National ICT Park, Abuja to drive NDEPS implementation. (2021)