Efficient digital infrastructure is catalyst for productivity – Ajayi
By Felicia Nwosu
John Ajayi, Publisher, MARKETING EDGE, Nigeria’s foremost brand-centric, and advertising magazine, has stated that efficient digital infrastructure in Nigeria, is a key catalyst to driving productivity and efficiency in all sectors of the economy. The veteran journalist made this disclosure at the 8th edition of the Information, Communication, Technology, and Telecommunications (ICTEL) Expo 2022 organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). The event was held from 31 August – 1 September, at Muson Centre, Victoria Island.
Leading the conversation and focusing on the overarching theme of the event “Ensuring Efficient Digital Infrastructure in Nigeria”, the publisher said that Digital infrastructure is not only important but critical to the delivery of services to remote areas. With regards to urban and regional cities, he noted that new technologies are being used to improve efficiency, sustainability, and services of infrastructure networks from transport to energy services. Adding that currently, almost all sectors of the Nigerian economy leverage digital infrastructure to increase efficiency, productivity, and performance which enables the sectors to contribute immensely to the growth of the nation’s GDP.
Ajayi urged all to exploit new technologies to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and effective service delivery, especially in the telecommunication and communication sector as this will positively impact every sector of the economy. “The Nigerian information telecommunication and communication environment is quite underdeveloped. Yet, it is very huge. To successfully operate and run a digital economy, no efforts should be left untouched to ensure that efficient digital infrastructure is made official and reliable.”
Quoting World Bank Report, he said “every 10% increase in broadband penetration will lead to a 2% to 3% increase in the employment rate. As such, the E-commerce sector alone can employ over 40 million Nigerians and instill billions of dollars to the Nigerian economy.”
Mr. Ajayi further reaffirmed that the digital economy is backed by the spread of information and communication technologies (ICT) across all business sectors to enhance productivity. While Digital transformation of the economy is altering conventional notions about how businesses are structured, how consumers obtain goods and services, and how states need to adapt to new regulatory challenges.
“In our world of the 21st Century, the new truism is that digital infrastructure is a country’s most precious asset. This is the prism through which we should look at and appreciate the developmental role of Nigeria’s Galaxy Backbone, GBB, agency. Galaxy Backbone is Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and shared services provider. It is an agency of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.
“The creation of Galaxy Backbone was meant to help government properly manage its IT operations and advance the ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, towards becoming a fully digitised government. In the last decade, the progress that has been made in digitisation could only have been possible because of this decision by the government to centralise its IT operations and empower Galaxy Backbone to perform its functions for the nation. “More people are now working online, and with the increase of online activity that contributes to the global economy, companies that support the systems of the Internet are more profitable”, he averred.
Digital infrastructure is useful because they help us make sense of the vast amount of data we are faced with. Today’s business that must achieve productivity, cut waste, minimize loss and optimize profit must of necessity be data-driven. The information technology space is huge. The interesting thing about this industry locally and globally is its fast pace of evolution and transformation. As customer requirements expand, the potential and possibilities of this industry that now powers all industries expand too.
He suggested that to ensure efficiency in digital infrastructure, those in authorities in different tiers of government should ensure a very efficient, reliable and dependable digital infrastructure if truly we want to take advantage of the digital economy and allow this economic age to permeate our national life in all ramifications.
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