NCC boss, Dambata reveals how tech-driven telecommunications industry contributed $70bn to Nigeria’s economy

By Adeleye Kunle

Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Danbatta, said the technology-driven telecommunications industry has contributed $70 billion to Nigeria’s economy.

Danbatta made this disclosure in his Keynote speech at a Cyberchain event in Abuja while speaking on “Using Technology to grow Nigeria’s GDP”.

He noted that the impact of technology on the nation, indeed any society, has been tremendous.

Danbatta represented by the Principal Manager of Digital Economy, NCC, Mrs Ella Ehi, highlighted that Nigeria’s adoption of 5G, E-commerce, Fintech, and Big data have boosted the country’s revenue generation capacity.

According to him, “Nigeria’s adoption of digital technologies has enabled it to diversify its revenue and economy, created jobs, improved services and efficiency, reduced wastages, and optimised resources available”.

“Telecommunications has contributed over $70 billion to the Nigerian economy, provided over 500,000 jobs in the formal and informal sectors, and improved the lives of millions of Nigerians.

“Most Nigerians today cannot comprehend life without mobile phones. Presently, the liberalised telecommunications sector has brought with it, instant messaging, instant information, financial inclusion, telemedicine, smart farming, eCommerce, and virtual learning, however, the best is yet to come.

He added that “the benefits of technology are endless, and with technology becoming affordable, accessible, and available, these benefits will increase tremendously