Business
IBM Urges ICT Stakeholders On New Strategies
The External Relations
Leader, IBM West Africa, Mr Charles Moyela, has urged ICT stakeholders to adopt the three new strategic directions for the sector, recently released by the World Bank, to improve the industry.
Moyela said in Lagos that the three new strategic directions included Connect, Innovate and Transform (CIT).
“The strategy’s Connect pillar focuses on expanding connectivity infrastructure and promoting stability and predictability in regulatory systems.
“If these three directions are taken, it will improve access to affordable connectivity, including broadband, transform delivery of basic services, drive innovations and productivity gains, and improve competitiveness,” he explained.
Moyela said for the three new strategic directions to have an impact on the ICT sector in the country, key challenges have to be urgently addressed.
“Technological infrastructures, affordability, access and awareness are some of the major challenges that need to be promptly addressed,” he said.
According to Moyela, the three strategic directions, if properly implemented, are capable of improving affordability, in order to reach the population in the country that currently lives beyond the ICT networks.
“It will also widen access to more advanced, affordable ICT services such as broadband for high-speed Internet,” he said.
Moyela said it would also leverage existing and new ICT infrastructure, to improve the delivery of services and build on it as a source of economic growth.
“ICT networks now constitute a far-reaching service delivery and a citizen-participatory platform which can contribute immensely to national growth, if infrastructure and these three strategic directions are implemented,” he said.
Moyela, therefore, urged stakeholders and relevant authorities to make reforming the ICT sector a national priority, so that the benefits can have a national impact.
“ICTs can be used as a vehicle to increase accountability, and to transform and extend the reach of service delivery to the under-served, in an innovative, fast and cost-efficient manner,” he added.