OPENING REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT, LAGOS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (LCCI), ASIWAJU DR. MICHAEL OLAWALE-COLE, CON AT THE 2023 ICTEL EXPO HELD AT THE LANDMARK EVENT CENTER, LAGOS, ON TUESDAY 25TH JULY 2023.
OUR SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR
EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN, NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (NCC)
PROF. UMAR GARBA DANBATTA
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
MR. KASHIFU INUWA ABDULLAHI
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, NITDA
PROF. MUHAMMAD BELLO ABUBAKAR
MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO, GALAXY BACKBONE
THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT, LAGOS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
MR. GABRIEL IDAHOSA, FCA
VICE PRESIDENTS AND HONORARY LIFE PRESIDENTS OF THE CHAMBER
OTHER DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER
THE DIRECTOR GENERAL
DR CHINYERE ALMONA
OUR VALUED SPONSORS AND PARTNERS IN THE ICT AND TELECOMMUNICATION SECTORS
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I am most delighted to make some opening remarks at the ninth edition of the yearly information communication technology and telecommunication (ictel) expo organized by the trade promotion board of the lagos chamber of commerce and industry.
The 2023 ictel conference & expo with the theme “tech disrupt: transforming industries with innovation” creates a platform for key players and stakeholders in the nigerian information, communication & telecommunications industry to share perspectives on emerging issues and trends in the digital economy.
This theme suggests that this year, the ictel expo will not end at the close of the event tomorrow, but will activate a learning journey of the technologies disrupting business, academia, and even lifestyles. We are determined this year to follow the theme through and ensure follow-up initiatives that would make the resolutions and learning from our robust interaction at this event a working manual for relevant stakeholders.
With technology having more relevance in the business world, the sector is fast becoming the fastest-growing sector in the non-oil sector of the nigerian economy. Information and communication technology (ict) has continued to disrupt the practice of agriculture, healthcare, learning, and manufacturing. We are presently experiencing innovative solutions driven by artificial intelligence (ai), automation, robotics, and wearable technologies. Recent data from the national bureau of statistics (nbs) revealed that the tech sector in the first quarter of 2023 recorded a growth rate of 10.32% in real terms, year-on-year, and contributed 17.47% to the real gross domestic product (gdp) in the first quarter of 2023, higher than in the same quarter of the previous year in which it represented 16.20% and higher than the preceding quarter in which it represented 16.22%.
Distinguished ladies & gentlemen, the digital economy is evolving and impacting more areas of life and business because of its multifaceted and dynamic nature and due to the transformational power of digital technologies. The digital economy or the internet economy enables and supports various business, social, and government activities through electronic commerce, lifestyle apps, and e-government platforms, respectively. By this, the digital economy is considered the single most important driver of innovation, competitiveness, and growth.
The digital economy has continued to play a very critical role in building resilience against disruptions from risks, pandemics, and natural disasters. The ict sector, for instance, remains one of the most resilient sectors that thrive even in economic recessions and disruptions.
By means of innovation, the ict sector or the digital economy powers many sectors today, driving competitiveness, cost-efficiency, and resilience in supply chains. Innovative disruptions are emerging in agric-tech, health tech, edu-tech, e-government, etc. The digital economy has become more relevant in many spheres of our lives. With sound regulations, policies, and governance, the digital economy can create new possibilities and economic opportunities for businesses and investors. Governments and organizations must leverage technology for innovation, competitiveness, and resilience in the face of risks and uncertainties.
As an advocacy pressure group and a lead promoter of small and medium enterprises (smes), we appreciate the significance of this sector to business growth and sustainability and we are ready to lend necessary support to the actualization of the goals set out by the government to build and sustain a robust and supportive digital economy. We have assembled eminent speakers whom we are confident will do justice to various issues as they reflect on the theme of this great event and the expectations of all of us.
By strategic design, this year, we are working with the most relevant regulators, operators, and critical stakeholders in nigeria’s digital economy space. We are pleased to announce our collaboration with credible institutions like the federal ministry of communications and digital economy, nigerian communications commission (ncc), the national information technology development agency, (nitda), galaxy backbone, nigeria internet registration agency (nira), lagos state employment trust fund (lsetf), open access data center, rackcenter, etc. We are proud to have worked with these institutions in planning and hosting the 2023 ictel conference & expo. Let me use this opportunity to urge the government at various levels to formulate policies that create a vibrant innovation ecosystem that support the deployment of more technology and the creation of more jobs in the technology sectors.
I wish to use this opportunity to express my profound appreciation to our various partners, sponsors, speakers, and participants. Your valuable contributions to the success of this virtual expo and conference are highly appreciated by the leadership of the chamber. We look forward to sustaining these partnerships in subsequent editions.
Once again, i welcome our guests and participants to the 2023 edition of the ictel expo and conference.
I appreciate your kind attention.
ASIWAJU DR. MICHAEL OLAWALE-COLE, CON
PRESIDENT, LAGOS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
TUESDAY 25TH JULY 2023
