Omobola Johnson
(NAN) The Minister of Communication Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson, on Thursday said Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) were instrumental to the containment of Ebola Virus in Nigeria.
Johnson made the observation in a policy statement at the at the ongoing International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference 2014 (PP-14) in Busan, Republic of Korea.
A statement made available to newsmen in Lagos quoted the minister as saying that the use of Android app, Facebook and Twitter assisted Nigeria’s fight to contain the virus.
According to her, with Ebola, time was very important, hence the phone app helped in reducing reporting times of infections by 75 per cent.
“Test results were scanned to tablets and uploaded to emergency databases and field teams got text message alerts on their phones informing them of the results,’’ she said.
The minister said the combination of the internet and mobile cellular phones had opened up tremendous opportunities for countries like Nigeria.
She said that the steep increase in mobile use was driven by a number of factors, particularly the additional ways in which mobile phones were being used in Nigeria.
According to her, beyond conducting voice conversations, mobile phones were often the preferred channel for receiving data and for conducting transactions in Nigeria.
She said that it had made phones an indispensable tool used as cameras, wallets, shops, music players, movie screens and information or service centres of Nigerians.
Johnson said that Nigeria’s policy focus was in step with the reality of the mobile internet revolution spreading across the globe.
She said that the Ministry of Communication Technology was looking to create a viable environment for the proliferation of lower priced devices.
The minister said the ministry was working to create increased investment in network infrastructure and availability of spectrum for mobile broadband.
She said Nigeria had seen mobile subscription increase from 87 million active SIM cards to more than 131 million in the last four years.
“Mobile internet subscription stood at 67 million as at June 2014.
“The ICT sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP is growing and was about ten and a half per cent (10.44%) in 2013.
“The sector also indirectly impacts GDP through its influence on other key sectors.
“For example, in the 2013, ICTs were responsible for twelve per cent (12.05%) of the value added by the Finance and Insurance sector to GDP.
“In terms of social growth, ICTs are helping Government to meet health objectives and are amplifying benefits in the education and agriculture sectors.
“’The ITU’s growth priority of enabling and fostering access to and increased use of telecommunications/ICTs, therefore, resonates with Nigeria both economically and socially,” Johnson said.
She said that Nigeria was using telecommunications and ICTs to build a more inclusive society.
The minister said the broadband initiatives were in line with the ITU’s priority of bridging the digital divide and providing broadband for all.
She said that the initiatives were cognizant of the needs of women and girls as well as other groups of the Nigerian society.
Johnson said that the ministry’s policy framework was in line with the ITU Strategic Plan for 2016-2019, particularly since it identified goals and targets of growth, inclusiveness, sustainability, innovation and partnership. (NAN)
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