ICT Sector: Sidmach MD Commends FG, Calls for More Government Policy Statement

…Lauds Minister’s Efforts and Achievements so far

In the wake of the global shift prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, current Managing Director of Sidmach Technologies, Chijioke Eke has commended the effort of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy for his contribution towards the growth of Nigeria’s ICT Sector.

However, he said the sector in still in need of more attention from the government.

Eke who highlighted the challenges facing the ICT sector said the pandemic has shifted global focus to the technology sector as most activities are now being carried out via technological platforms.

According to him, COVID 19 pandemic has brought the world to the realization that technological advancement to the industry is what would give businesses the upper hand in maximizing the global pandemic for their benefits.

He, therefore, stated the sector needs urgent governmental policy statement.

In his words, “Many key issues are affecting the ICT sector and these issues affect the overall performance of all activities that go on the industry and these issues need urgent government policy statements to ensure that the ICT sector overcomes these issues plaguing their operations as this will accelerate the technological development of the sector and country at large”.

Eke made this call while speaking at the Titan of Tech Conference & Exhibition 2020 organized by TechTV Networks in collaboration with Tech Economy.

Lauding the efforts of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, he said “the present administration led by President Buhari has done fairly well in the area of ICT as it concerns national development but we cannot rest on our oars; a lot more needs to be done to make sure the ICT industry gets to the desired level of growth that we all envisage.”

Speaking on this, the Sidmach Boss stressed that internet penetration in most areas of the country is still very low, and next to nothing is being done to reach these unserved and underserved areas.

Eke said although Sidmach is already looking into an innovative way to solve this problem still, urgent Governmental attention is needed.

Addressing the state of the sector, he noted that sector is one that requires regular financing to keep up with the development, purchase, and installation of these communication technologies. Therefore, cost and funding is one area that needs governmental attention.

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Furthermore, he pointed out cybercrime as another critical issue affecting the ICT sector which requires government urgent policy statements as the issue of the rate of cybercrime.

“Nowadays, swindlers have retorted to making use of almost every ICT at their disposal to commit cybercrimes and rob people of their monies and this is an issue in the ICT sector that needs urgent attention. At Sidmach, we have partnered with one of the World’s top Security Experts in Sophos and together, we have been able to successfully do a lot in security of national data but Governmental regulations would go a long way here also”

However,  Eke stated that although, we are still hoping for a lot to be done in this regard, we cannot however, deny that some efforts have been made by the administration in supporting the ICT sector as part of reforms to aid and accelerate national development most notably led by our able Minister for Communications and Digital Economy.

For the first time in our history as a country, we are able to launch our own Unity Board, a novel technological piece that is able to encapsulate the next step in Nigeria’s technological advancement timeline.

“These are some specific key issues that affect the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector, and the biggest takeaway from the pandemic is that: Everyone must be ready for change – both saystemic and endemic.ElEle stated.