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The Cisco Africa Team this week, during a virtual meeting, expressed desire to partner with Nigeria to help drive its evolving digital economy sector and assist the federal government accelerate the digitalisation process.
While commending the achievements recorded by the ICT sector under the purview of Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Cisco said the unprecedented landmarks has caught global attention.
“We have keenly followed your progress and would very much like to be a part of your vision in driving the sector and are opened to partnerships in that regard,” said Cisco’s Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Governmental Affairs for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia, Ms. Pastora Valero.
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The virtual meeting was initiated by Cisco, an American multinational technology conglomerate headquartered in San Jose, California.
“Pantami’s policies were in line with global trends and the potential for development in Nigeria cannot be ignored. The leadership that the Honourable Minister has brought to bear in the sector is highly commendable and Cisco is willing to be a part of this journey,” remarked, Cisco’s Senior Director, Policy and Governmental Affairs, Africa, Charmaine Houvet at the virtual interaction.
“We are championing a paradigm shift in the country leveraging on technology to give preference and priority to proven skills over paper qualifications. Particularly, digital skills,” Pantami responded.
The minister drew the team’s attention to the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) Document particularly, pillars No.2 and No. 7 centred around digital literacy and skills as well as digital societies and emerging technologies, with the objective of capacity building through digital skills acquisition.
Pantami identified the need for partnership in the areas of training and urged Cisco to “establish training academies across Nigeria, especially in underserved areas in order to empower citizens with the requisite skills required to maintain global relevance”.
As a fallout of the meeting, a technical team has been set up by the minister to draw up a Memorandum of Understanding to set the agenda for the partnership.
