Mr. Bitrus Bako Nabasu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy recently received in audience the Ambassador-designate of Japan, His Excellency, Mr. Sadanabu Kusaote Umer and his entourage in his office in Abuja on a courtesy call.
The Permanent Secretary said it was a pleasure to have the Ambassador to interact with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy at a time it is working assiduously towards digitising the country’s economy. He noted that the economy of Japan is being driven by modern technology and that it will be of immense benefit for Nigeria to collaborate with the Government of Japan to develop her digital economy sector which will in turn increase her Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He said that the Digital Economy added to the Communications Ministry is to enable it to digitise the economy thereby enhance economic growth, create employment especially for its teaming youths and bring about better life for the people generally.
He reiterated that to partner with Japanese Companies on Technology Development particularly in digitalisation of Nigeria’s economy is a very welcome development.
According to Mr. Nabasu, Nigeria is a mono economy of which its main source of revenue is oil and that the price of crude oil is no longer attractive in the global market, therefore Nigeria can no longer depend on oil alone to advance as a nation. He stated that the time has come to “think out of the box” by diversifying our economy in digitalisation of the nation’s economy.
He said the Ministry is looking forward to a stronger partnership with Japan’s technology companies for employment generation for its people who are unemployed, especially its youths. He noted that Nigeria is very passionate about the digitalisation of the Nigerian economy and has been working assiduously to actualise that.
Speaking earlier, the Ambassador-designate said that the purposes of Japan’s co-operation with Nigeria are numerous; first; for the realisation of a digital Society in the country; introducing digital technology for more effective and efficient development cooperation in various areas; through infrastructure development for building a digital society; supporting spontaneous development through the spread of digitalisation; and developing a secure, free and open cyber environment to ensure Nigeria’s ownership of data.
He added that other areas of co-operation include existing projects and plans for the future.
