Abuja — Nigeria has urged African countries to foster greater collaborations to boost the continent’s digital economy.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Nadungu Gagare made the call at the 7th Special Session of the African Telecommunication Union (ATU), Wednesday, in Abuja.
Gagare, represented by a director in his office, Mr. Ahmed Alsukun, emphasized that regional co-operation was necessary to build Africa’s digital economy.
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“We emphasize that regional collaboration is crucial if Africa is to build a strong, inclusive, and innovative digital economy to empower our growing youth population,” he stated.
“Through joint efforts, we can expand connectivity, enhance digital infrastructure, promote skills, strengthen cybersecurity, protect data, and generate opportunities for our people,” he added.
A united Africa, he noted, would wield greater influence in international decision-making and better safeguard continental interests.
The ATU Administrative Council Chairperson, Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani, highlighted in her speech that economic resilience must be a deliberate regional strategy leveraging ICT.
“The Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), encompassing digital identity and electronic payment systems, serves as a catalyst for secure regional interactions,” she explained.
“Our collective commitment remains steadfast to continue building our organization and maximizing its effectiveness to shape Africa’s digital future and drive development,” she concluded.
She commended Nigeria’s digitalization of public institutions and encouraged other African nations to emulate this approach.
Earlier, the ATU Secretary-General, Mr. John Omo, stated that the special session was vital for statutory preparations for the conference.
Omo emphasized that the ATU’s authority depends on transforming proposals into enforceable legal documents and ensuring their implementation.
“Progress during this period has been achieved through collective effort, and we now bear the responsibility to finalize this work,” he remarked.”