LAGOS: Nigeria's federal government has stated its interest in developing a holistic ICT master plan for the fast-growing country. The government promised that as soon as the aggregation of comments and suggestions on the draft Information and Communication Technology policy for the country has been discussed, they would embark on the process. The master plan will include details on timelines, activities, timelines, hitches and funding requirements and the options available for ICT sector. Arrangement has however been concluded by the Ministry of Communication Technology to hold the stakeholder's forum on the country's draft ICT policy in March in Lagos state. According to statement from the ministry, since the unveiling of the policy, it has received suggestions, comments and inputs from various industry groups, companies in the ICT industry and other ICT industry stakeholders home and abroad. The comments and suggestions have also been collated and the forum will be expected to provide a veritable platform for the ministry to engage stakeholders in robust discussions on the suggestions and comments received regarding the policy. It said that the ministry, ahead of the March stakeholder's forum, had met with industry associations a few weeks ago such as the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, Nigerian Computer Society, Information Technology Association of Nigeria, Nigeria Internet Group, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria and the National Association Telecoms Subscribers. The statement also revealed that the associations had sent their inputs on the draft ICT policy to discuss the comments and suggestions on the policy sent to the ministry by the associations. The Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson said in an interactive session held recently that a committee was set up by the ministry to harmonize all the existing policies, reflect new realities where necessary in order to provide a working document and a take off point that could elicit robust debate and discussion by stakeholders. She further commented that the country had various policies covering the IT and the communications industry, adding that the alliance of technologies and the industry have impose on us the need for an integrated policy document. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/h8bMr Tags: ICT Industry, Nigeria Section: Africa, Business, Latest News
