FUNKE Opeke, Chief Executive Officer, MainOne, a telecom services provider, on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to provide digital infrastructure to facilitate digital inclusion.

Opeke made the appeal at the 27th National Conference of the Nigeria Computer Society in Ibadan.

The three-day conference had the theme: “Digital Inclusion: Opportunities, Challenges and Strategies”.

She discussed “Infrastructure and Disruptive Innovation: Connecting the Unconnected’’.

Opeke said that lack of infrastructure was limiting Nigeria’s advancement in technology.

“Without infrastructure necessary to digitally transform the economy, we will be left behind.

“With adequate infrastructure, the country has the potential to transform and create new opportunities that will develop the economy.

“Some of the new opportunities will come in form of job creation, access to market, both local and international,” she said.

Opeke said that digital inclusion would require policies intended to support local content.

She said that deployment of broadband infrastructure, provision of incentives by the government to operators, and wide adoption of e-commerce services and solutions would also aid digital inclusion.

“There should be focus on internet access because statistics have shown that broadband penetration has stagnated between 21 to 22 per cent.

“The continued deployment of 2GB and 3GB which, pulled down from the market as against the 4GB and 5GB, is not good for the industry, and our aim to be digitally included.

“There should be more emphasis on broadband infrastructure, and the telecoms industry should not be viewed as cash cow but an opportunity to provide work.

“Right of Way which still poses as a major obstacle as regards broadband penetration should be looked into,” she said.(NAN)

Jul. 18, 2018 @ 12:09 GMT |