The Federal Executive Council presided over by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday approved the name change for the Ministry of Communications.
The decision was communicated in a post on Twitter by the personal assistant to the President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad.
He said, “The Federal Executive Council has approved the change of name for Ministry of Communications, now to be called Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.”
In a letter containing his approval, President Muhammadu Buhari noted that the request is in line with global best practice which will further reflect the priorities of his administration. The approved name has been announced and adopted by the Federal Executive Council today, 23rd October 2019.
Commenting on the development, the Honourable Minister of Communications Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami FNCS, FBCS, FIIM, said the former name was not only limiting in pursuing the objectives of a digital economy, but obsolete as it did not reflect the the trends as emphasized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). ICT contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at 13.85% in the second quarter of 2019. The change of nomenclature will propel the Ministry to reposition its strategic objectives as laid out in the priority areas of this administration while accelerating growth and social inclusion.
Dr Pantami cited examples of global and African economies like Scotland, Thailand, Tunisia, Benin Republic and Burkina Faso among others who have adopted deliberate strategies and created Ministries of Digital Economy in line with global best practice, and especially the European Union which has a commissioner for Digital Economy.