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Participants in the information and communications technology, or ICT, sector examined emerging technologies critically at a two-day workshop hosted by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Abuja, in partnership with the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), and advised relevant policy makers in the sector to integrate them for future growth.
The participants, who included representatives from academic institutions, financial institutions, and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), among others, argued that Blockchain, for example, could serve as the cornerstone of innovation and economic growth if the appropriate authorities effectively implement the policies set forth in various regulatory guidelines.
The workshop’s participants included members of the armed forces, paramilitary organizations, the Nigerian Cyberwarfare Command, and the corporate sector. The workshop’s focus was “Distributed Ledger Technology (Blockchain) Ecosystem, Decentralisation and Adoption Methods.”
Speaking in turn at the workshop, the stakeholders expressed their profound appreciation for the NCC’s role in creating a dynamic regulatory environment for the digital space, for its outstanding contribution to the growth and development of novel and emerging technologies, and for its adoption of adaptive mechanisms that have improved emerging technologies in Nigeria.
The Commission hopes that distributed ledger technology (DLT), commonly known as blockchain, and other new technologies and services will continue to flourish and contribute to Nigeria’s growth and development. Good regulatory rules are the bedrock for innovation and progress.
The National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030 released by the federal government and regulatory initiatives by the European Commission, Director of New Media and Information Security at NCC, who delivered the opening speech on behalf of Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission Prof. Umar Danbatta, will contribute to the development of blockchain and emerging technologies.
In addition, Dr. Dasuki Arabi, General Director of BPSR, addressed the audience and urged the Nigerian government to work toward integrating new technologies with the public sector in a way that improves the effectiveness of the latter. I claimed to have done so. Additionally, he stated that the National e-Government Master Plan’s implementation will be heavily reliant on blockchain technology.