ComTech ministry holds third stakeholders forum tomorrow

June 22, 2013 THE Ministry of Communication Technology has concluded arrangements to hold a Stakeholders Forum tagged “Connected for Growth – Moving from planning to Execution”. The forum, according to Efem Nkanga, Senior Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, will hold at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, tomorrow, June 20. The event, which serves as an avenue for interaction between the ministry and industry stakeholders will provide the opportunity to assess progress in key areas of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Industry. The ministry since creation in July 2011 has been holding regular forums with industry stakeholders in fulfillment of the pledge by the minister, that she will work hand in hand with industry stakeholders to transform the ICT sector. The proposed forum is the third of such forums with stakeholders. At the first forum, the minister presented her roadmap and vision for the ICT industry on September 22, 2011, at the second forum on March 9, 2012 the ministry collaborated with stakeholders on the Draft National ICT Policy, which was approved in principle in August 2012. The ministry also held a stakeholders forum with post stakeholders on January 17th this year with the minister presenting the National Addressing Policy to generate valuable inputs from stakeholders towards the actualisation of a standard addressing system for Nigeria. The ministry has achieved a number of milestones since creation and latest was the presentation of the work of the presidential committee on Broadband Strategy and Roadmap to President Goodluck Jonathan. The ministry also has the National ICT Policy, which identifies ubiquitous and affordable broadband for all Nigerians as one of its several priority areas. The target set by the national ICT policy is to achieve a five-fold increase in broadband penetration to 30 per cent over the 2012 penetration rate of six per cent. The policy aims to achieve this by accelerating the penetration of reasonably priced broadband internet in the country, foster broadband usage for national development and ensure the rapid development of a broadband policy support and implementation framework. culled from Guardian news