Nigeria building infrastructures to attract businesses — Communications Minister at NIGCOMSAT Stakeholder Breakfast Meeting
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The Minister of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy, Tijani Bosun, has said the government is developing blueprints and building infrastructure to expose the country to businesses.
The Minister stated this while speaking at the Stakeholders Breakfast Meeting organised by Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd. (NigComSat).
The Minister, speaking through his Special Adviser on Communications and Media, Osibo Imohoitsike, said the focus of the Ministry is on blueprints and infrastructure to open Nigeria for business.
“As we all probably have seen very clearly, our focus is around blueprints and has five pillars; we talk about knowledge, policy, infrastructure, innovation, entrepreneurship, and training.
“It’s great that we keep talking about being open for business; this is a great thing, and this President is pro-business, and every opportunity that we get to ensure that we do business, push and go”, he said.
On her part, the Managing Director of NigComSatt, Mrs. Nkechi Jane Egerton-Idehen, said in the past few years there has been an increase in the number of EdTech startups building technology-backed learning solutions in Nigeria.
She said the learning solutions “would provide schools with a bundled solution—access to affordable, reliable Internet connectivity and leveraging EdTech resources and interventions designed in alignment with the Nigerian curriculum.”
Egerton-Idehen said the project was targeted at bridging the digital divide and empowering schools to use EdTech to improve learning outcomes.
“While schools and governments are making efforts to advance the integration of technology into education by furnishing some ICT laboratories with computers, a second-class problem prevents the use of most of these devices in schools.
“Among other challenges, the lack of access to affordable internet connectivity has proven to be a major hindrance to the effective use of technology for teaching and learning.
“Many laboratories are under lock and key, and some others are used for basic computer literacy rather than exploring other learning opportunities,” she said.
According to her, every Nigerian child, irrespective of their background, deserves an opportunity to learn and thrive in the 21st century.
“In partnership with the private sector, Queue Edge, we are unveiling an EdTech solution targeting primary and secondary schools.
“The goal is to empower students, equip teachers, and provide resources and support to primary and secondary schools,” Egerton-Idehen said.
She further stated that these resources can benefit schools by increasing engagement and motivation in the classroom and promoting critical thinking and problem-solving.
Egerton-Idehen said the product has three main areas of focus, which are numeracy and literacy for primary schools, digital libraries for secondary schools, content creation for teachers, and a learning management system.
She said it would provide schools with a bundled solution—access to affordable, reliable Internet connectivity and, by leveraging EdTech resources and interventions designed in alignment with the Nigerian curriculum, a more equitable and effective education could be achieved.
Egerton-Idehen also unveiled a ‘customer experience and support solution for NigComSat clients and potential clients, adding that it consists of an AI-powered chatbot and a call centre solution.
The Executive Director, Marketing & Business Development, NigComSat, said NigComS has a new drive with its upgraded broadband and broadcasting capacity platform for Nigerians to utilise.
