CommTech Minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson has been assigned to lead other dignitaries in the sector to the 2013 edition of the annual e-business conference of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), a non-profit, non-governmental organization promoting the Internet in Nigeria in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). 

The two–day event with the theme, “E-Business: Broadband Technology, an Important Tool for Accelerated Growth & Development” is scheduled to take place at the Golden Gate Restaurant, Lagos on December 12-13, 2013.

In a statement signed by the President of the group, Engr. Adebayo Banjo, the group indicated that the conference will examine critical success factors to e-business adoption in Nigeria such as improved broadband penetration, pervasive e-payment services, skilled manpower, appropriate legal and regulatory framework and the political will of government to implement the right policies among others. The conference will attracts experts from in and outside the country.

Engr. Banjo said the e-business is simply an internet technology driven business and has continued to be a catalyst to accelerated economic growth in many countries globally. With so many developments in the Nigeria information and communication technology sector (ICT) sector, Nigeria is set and has already joined the rest of the world in driving its economy with e-Business.

He pointed out some of the most significant developments in the sector which include the African mobile phone personal computers and liquid crystal display (LCD) manufacturing plant set up by RLG, a $10 million factory that will be sited in Osun State, and would be opened before 2013 closes. When completed, aside from being the first in the country, it would attract about 120 million active telephone subscribers.

“This is cheering news because major foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) has consistently shunned the idea of citing assembly plants in Nigeria, blaming infrastructural deficit as a major challenge”, he noted.

NIG President said that the Public Security Communications System (NPSCS), $470 million NPSS project, a multi-faceted high tech infrastructure for e-policing and public safety built for the country by the Chinese equipment vendor ZTE, which enhanced the capacity of the police to fight crime in Nigeria as acknowledged by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar during an official visit  by  the Chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of the People’s Republic of China, Zhang Dejiang, to the main switch centre of the NPSS at Abuja, indeed is a giant stride in the sector.

Banjo also said the major achievements previously recorded in the sector include the sale of 2.3 GHz spectrum, re-delegation of .ng TLD, the budding e-payment services, emerging international fibre cables from MainOne and Globacom. These achievements, he said, are what ignited the strong desire in NIG to organize the important annual e-business conference 2013 in collaboration with the NCC.

Other Dignitaries include the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah and the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); Dr. Ashiru Sani Daura will both present the keynote address respectively.  NIG Board of Trustee members will also be among other dignitaries to attend this occasion.