The Director General, World Trade Centre, Dr Nogozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Aliyu Pantami, the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment (FMITI), Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Honourable Minister Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (FMWASD), Mrs. Pauline Tallen, OFR and Afrexim Bank President, Prof. Benedict Oramah among dignitaries to attend the maiden edition of the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) conference and Exhibition in Abuja.
The Conference and Exhibition with the theme, “Promoting a Vibrant Digital Economy: A Catalyst for Economic Growth in Nigeria” geared towards promoting a vibrant digital economy in Nigeria is scheduled for Tuesday 31st January, 2023.
The conference to be declared opened by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR would amongst other things expatiate on the strength and quality of the technology for economic development.
The National President NACCIMA, Ide John Udeagbala, NPoM, KSJI who is the organiser of the conference in a press release ahead of the conference stated that the digital economy, allows us to share information and communicate beyond our borders, technology is fundamental to the digital economy.
He said NACCIMA has made harnessing technology and digital economy one of the key areas of focus of the Association stating that in carrying out its mandate to promote the interests of the private sector through advocacy; the Association is organising this conference to bring together public and private sector stakeholders in the digital economy.
“This is geared towards intimating NACCIMA members and the general public on the existing and pending policies that affect the digital economy, identify challenges, proffer solutions, and establish a roadmap to implementation.”
He stated the aims of the conference to includes; to bring together public and private sector stakeholders in the digital economy and brainstorm, to establish the potential of the digital economy to promote job creation and increase foreign exchange earnings through existing and new platforms such as accelerators, incubators, digital hubs and others and to identify challenges currently faced by the tech ecosystem and the policy gaps that exist, to identify existing government policies that promote the growth of tech ecosystems and the challenges impeding their effective implementation.
Udeagbala stated that the digital economy is a form of ‘transaction’ driven by the public and private sectors as well as individuals to produce, adopt and innovate digital technology and services related to socio-economic functions and services to enhance wealth, productivity and quality of life.
He said in this technology age, nearly all of us communicate via internet especially through various social networking platforms such as; LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook, WeChat, others, thereby making information needed to be at our fingertips.
He added that internet or the digital economy should not be limited to conversation to how fast information can be channelled online but also quality and coverage of broadband services, the availability of digital infrastructure and the strength of the digital workforce.
“The conference is to look at the challenges of digital economy and ways it affects businesses in Nigeria and to charge a way for effective use of the internet to facilitate business growth for the development of economy.
“The entrepreneurial community, especially those running Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) rely on this platform to grow their businesses effectively. The digital economy provides them the opportunity to close the marketing gap and even expand their market. Providing solutions to the challenges of internet facilities would go a long way in addressing most issues facing the SMEs sector in Nigeria.”
He further stated that business owners view the internet not just as a means of communicating with their customers, but also as a medium to broaden their profits in a larger market, because the internet offers immense potential in numerous fields particularly in commerce.
The conference would attract stakeholders in the ICT sector to brainstorm on how to achieve greater result for the business community for the development of the economy.
The conference is schedule to hold on 31st January, 2023 at the Trade and Convention Centre, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Abuja.
Signed:
Olayemi John-Mensah
ACCI Media/Strategy Officer
