NCC partners NITRA on ICT growth conference 4.0

As the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) prepares for its fourth edition of the NITRA ICT Growth Conference, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, is set to lead stakeholders at this pivotal annual roundtable.

Billed for Thursday, August 8, at the Citiheight Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, the conference will focus on the theme: “Impact of AI on National Development: Prospects, Policies, and Challenges in Nigeria.”

Dr. Maida will be joined by industry regulators and decision-makers from various ICT subsectors in both the private and public sectors to discuss strategies for fostering industry growth and positioning it as a key economic driver for the nation.

Commenting on the event, NITRA Chairman Chike Onwuegbuchi said, “This year’s conference theme is designed to complement the ongoing efforts by the government and private sector towards a digitalized Nigeria, particularly in the realm of Artificial Intelligence.”

The event aims to bring together ICT industry stakeholders to explore ways to accelerate the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry.

This initiative aligns with the federal government’s goals and policies, as outlined in policy documents by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the NCC, and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

These documents include NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2024-2027)2.0; the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content (NPPIC); The National Telecommunications Policy; the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025; and National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).

Under its “NITRA ICT Growth Conference”, which seeks to bring a multi-sectorial development agenda, NITRA is organising a multi-panel interactive conference that will look at the themes that include:

“Driving Sub-Sectoral Digital Growth with Artificial Intelligence”.
“Navigating the Dangers of AI in A Developing Economy: Role of Public, Private Stakeholders”.

Onwuegbuchi, while commending stakeholders for their support of the event and passion for the growth of technology in Nigeria, noted that the growth in the ICT industry will impact all other sectors of the economy positively.

“Specifically, the Forum will offer stakeholders the opportunity to reassess and reinvigorate some policies to make a maximum impact on the growth of AI in Nigeria. This is a growth conference, and stakeholders will be allowed to speak out on what the growth indices should be,” he said.

Expected to be at the event include the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida; the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi; CEOs of government and private ICT companies; the Media including the full membership of NITRA and other stakeholders in the industry, including COOs, CIOs, CFOs, CROs and CCOs.

According to the general secretary of NITRA, Chidiebere Nwankwo, industry associations will also make their inputs. They include ALTON, ATCON, and NiRA, among others.