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The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, will publicly unveil two of his recent books at the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Emerging Technologies, coordinated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The Forum will take place on Thursday, the 14th of July 2022, at the Sheraton Hotel, Maryland, Lagos.
The first book is titled “Datafication of Society to Foster an Internet Economy” and the foreword was written by the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Mr. Houlin Zhao. Mr Zhao has had a long distinguished career at the ITU and has served as the Secretary-General since 2014. The International Telecommunication Union is the oldest UN agency and is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for many matters related to information and communication technologies.
The second book is titled “Cybersecurity Initiatives for Securing a Country”, with the foreword written by the President of International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), Professor Mike Hinchey. Professor Hinchey is a professor of software engineering at the University of Limerick, Ireland and was previously Director of the Software Engineering Laboratory at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland, United States of America. He was the leading graduating student during his undergraduate studies and he had his post-graduate studies at both Oxford University and Cambridge University.
Emerging technologies are playing a vital role in the development of digital economies around the globe. The 2 books of the Honourable Minister emphasize key aspects of emerging technologies, namely datafication and cybersecurity. With respect to datafication, it shows how data- its generation, processing and use play a critical role in determining success in the digital economy. The book on cybersecurity discusses the importance of cybersecurity in protecting data and infrastructure to secure the digital economy of countries. Mr. Zhao and Prof Hinchey, both renowned global ICT personalities will serve as special guests at the public presentation.
The presentation of the books will take place during the Annual Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Emerging Technologies. Professor Mike Hinchey will deliver the keynote address at the event. Other speakers include Dr. Soglo of Intel, United States of America (USA), Levin Born McCall of Regent Square Group, USA, Engr Richard Ogbuji, Chrema Technologies, Nigeria and other notable speakers.
Signed:
Reuben Muoka Dr. Femi Adeluyi
Director, Public Affairs Technical Assistant (Research & Development)
Nigerian Communications Commission to the Honourable Minister of Communications
Nigeria Identity Management and Digital Economy
July 13, 2022

The Federal Executive Council approved an Enterprise Licensing Agreement for Microsoft Products and the clearing up of C-band Spectrum, in order to accelerate the deployment of 5G services in the country. These took place during the meeting of the Council on the 29th of May, 2022. This followed the presentation of 3 memos by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami).
The Government-wide Enterprise Licensing Agreement for Microsoft products is a software acquisition cost-reduction strategy for government and it will be implemented by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMC&DE). This agreement is part of the Federal Government’s efforts towards keeping the cost of IT projects within sustainable levels.
The Agreement will give the government access to discounted prices and other cost benefits, as well as reduce project duplication across Federal Public Institutions (FPIs). It will also guarantee proper technical support for Microsoft products and services, thereby ensuring protection against cybersecurity threats, which will guarantee availability and reliability of government IT services .
The Enterprise Licensing Agreement will provide a projected savings of a minimum of 35% of Governments current investment in Microsoft Products and Services. This will not only substantially reduce the cost of license procurement for FPIs, it will reduce and simplify licensing complexity, facilitate accounting and cash flow predictability and monitor utilisation and impact of Government investment. The Council directed all FPIs to key into the Agreement in the procurement of Microsoft licenses and services.
Council also approved the request of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to clear part of the C-band spectrum within the country’s telecommunications industry of any encumbrances and migrate the current users on affected spectrum, towards the successful roll-out/deployment of 5G technology in Nigeria.
Furthermore, with seven and a half (7.5) years before the end of the lifetime of NigComSat-1R Satellite, operated by Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), which currently operates C-Band services on the 3.4 – 3.9GHz spectrum range, NCC and NIGCOMSAT have come to an agreement to relocate/migrate the operations of NigComSat-1R C Band service to another frequency (Standard C Band) and release its current frequency for immediate deployment of 5G in the country.
The approved memos will accelerate the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), especially the pillars on solid infrastructure (broadband) and service infrastructure (platforms). The Ministry will continue to promote initiatives that will transform Nigeria into a country with a sustainable and thriving digital economy.
Dr Femi Adeluyi
Technical Assistant (Research & Development) to the
Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy
30th of June, 2022

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), had a meeting with Rwanda’s Minister for ICT and Innovation, Her Excellency Paula Ingabire. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which took place in Kigali, Rwanda.
At the meeting, both Ministers discussed the implementation of their similar mandates and commended each other on the strides they have made in the development of the digital economy in both countries. They also explored areas of partnership between Nigeria and Rwanda and they identified areas such as developmental regulation, policy formulation, digital identity and cybersecurity, among other things.
Prof Pantami and Her Excellency Paula Ingabire were joined at the meeting by the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria- Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE. Others at the meeting included the Director-General of Rwanda’s National Identification Agency (NIDA), Mukesha Josephine, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), Innocent Muhizi.
As two of the leading digital economies in Africa, the Ministers also discussed ways of strengthening partnerships across Africa in order to achieve a vibrant digital economy across the continent.
Dr Femi Adeluyi
Technical Assistant (Research & Development) to the
Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy
28th of June, 2022



