Mr Sam Oni, a retired Financial Consultant with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has called for a digital infrastructure regime for the development of the nation’s economy.
Oni gave the suggestion in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti on Saturday.
The digital infrastructure refers to the digital technologies that provide the foundation for an organisation’s information technology and operations.
Digital infrastructure is also critical for delivery of services to remote areas.
In urban and regional cities, new technologies are being used to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and services of infrastructure networks from transport to energy services.
Oni said that such digital infrastructure if fully implemented and sustained, would not only be instrumental to developing the economy, it would stimulate the country’s industrial growth.
According to him, to compete favourably in the global economy space, technology is the best and surest way forward.
Oni underscored the need to go beyond the traditional physical infrastructure of roads and railways, among others, and invest in digital infrastructure.
“To ensure diversification of the economy through entrepreneurship development, there is urgent need for provision of digital infrastructure.
“There is need to increase efficiency of services and transform the economy as new businesses spring up around the digital technology.
“Today innovative technology is being used across most developed economy, Africa and more importantly, Nigeria should not be an exception.
“This is to improve living standards and also create new jobs as the dreaded COVID -19 pandemic still ravaged the world.
“Smart phones and other similar digital gadgets have become veritable tools to farmers in all segment of agricultural practices such as pest control.
“In parts of Africa drones deliver medical supply to hospitals in rural areas where the road network is poor.
“In other African countries mobile money provides access to financial services to previously excluded individuals,” Oni said.
