FOR Nigeria and other African countries to play big in the emerging broadband space, the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) has urged African governments to focus more on the deployment of broadband infrastructure in the continent.Speaking through its Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Bashir Patel in Lagos at the weekend, CTO advised African governments irrespective of their belief and background to remove bottlenecks to broadband expansion in the continent, stressing that there was need to connect major cities with the facilities if the economy must rebound, stressing that there should be increase broadband and ICT plans and policies.Patel, who was the guest speaker at the Nigerian Academy of Engineering president's dinner, said though global ICT spending is estimated at about $3 trillion, growing at an average of 8.9 per cent per annum, representing 6.8 per cent of the global GDP, 'Africa presents a good investment outlet for investors. Investments in Africa have been the highest in the last 10 years. Africa is opening up.'The CTO COO said it has become highly imperative for Africa to look inwards to fashion out its own peculiar development strategy as it integrates further into the globalised economy. 'The continent should adopt its own home-grown policies. It is this inward economic agenda that has helped the Asian nation to transit from a third world country to the fastest-growing economy in the world. It is therefore pertinent that the continent rides on the current growth trajectory to launch itself into the take-off stage of development.'Acknowledging the impact Liberalisation has had on Nigeria's ICT sector, especially in telecommunications, the CTO chief noted that liberalisation has given the sector edge and subsequently allowed it to contribute to the growth of the economy.According to him, there has been increase in investment to the tune of over $18 billion in the last 10 years. He urged operators to embrace infrastructure sharing to further advance the sector's growth and contribution to the economy.Patel, who said the Nigerian ICT sector still has some gaps, which must be filled, noted that there should be a digital technology hub that will create opportunity for job creations.The gaps that must be bridged for a robust ICT sector, according to Patel includes; the illiteracy gap; access to content gaps; human capacity gaps among others.Moving forward, the CTO boss advocated opening up of policy and regulation; gradual move towards technological convergence; continued IP and mobile growth; growth of digital radio; increase in bandwidth deployment nationwide; national capacity development and others.To the outgone president, Dr. E. J. Amana, the country cannot grow without due focus and attention accorded technology in the country.Amana, who bemoaned the recommendation of Oronsaye's report, especially on the ICT sector, said implementation of such would take Nigeria back.According to him, for Nigeria to play big role expected of it in the emerging economy, the role of science and technology cannot be overemphasised.Meanwhile, the guest speaker, Prof. S. A. Sanni, who delivered the lead paper, noted that realising the economic goals require the country to have a world class research and people, 'without scientific and innovation, groundbreaking economic breakthrough is not achievable.'Sanni, who spoke on the theme: 'Management of Science Technology & Innovation: Change & Effectiveness', said investments in Science and Technology has been lukewarm, inefficient and badly managed in the country.According to him, any nation that wants to be part of the 21st century must speak its language, which is technology and innovation, grammar of which is science.Sanni, a former president of the Academy said the country needed to pay homage to knowledge, not wealth.While calling for concerted efforts towards promoting technology in the country, he described Nigeria as a follow up country, which should be leading others.The high point of the event was the investiture of Prof. Ayodele Ogunye as the seventh president of the academy and 10 others, including the immediate past president of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu into the fellowship category of the academy.
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