By The contribution of the mobile communications sector of the Nigerian economy has the capability to increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product by about N67 trillion by 2028.
To achieve that there had to be intentional policy interventions and consistent implementation, according to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA).
Senior Director of Public Policy and Communications for Sub-Sahara Africa at GSMA, Caroline Mbugua, who spoke at the Nigerian capital city, Abuja during the launch of the Digital Economy Report, organized by the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA) with the theme: “Harnessing the Transformative Potential of Digital Technology for Nigeria’s Digital Economy”, harped on the substantial contribution of the mobile sector to Nigeria’s economy, accounting for 30 per cent of GDP in 2023.
The event had in attendance the Minister of communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as well as key players in the telecommunications industry.
Mbugua noted the usage gap as a significant barrier to Nigeria’s digital progress, emphasizing the need to address affordability issues surrounding smart devices stressing that the GSMA survey reveals that the cost of devices remains a key obstacle to mobile broadband adoption.
While stressing the importance of initiatives to make devices more accessible to Nigerians, Mbugua noted that gender disparities persist, with male ownership at 91 per cent compared to 86 per cent for females urging for targeted initiatives to bridge this gap and ensure inclusivity in digital access.
The GSM senior official who called on Nigeria to provide leadership in addressing these issues applauded suggestions, such as the export of locally manufactured smart devices, as potential solutions to affordability challenges not only in Nigeria but across the continent.
Early in his address, the Minister said that the launch of Nigeria’s Digital Economy Report marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s journey towards technological advancement, promising a future fueled by innovation, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making.
