Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa-Ali Pantami, has said Nigeria can tackle its pressing challenges, particularly insecurity and unemployment, through the effective deployment of technology, strong policies, and reliable power.
Speaking yesterday during the launch of a compendium detailing 241 transformative legacy projects and over 700 employment opportunities executed between 2016, as Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and 2019-2023, as minister from Gombe State.
Pantami stressed that the world is now in the era of the fourth industrial revolution, driven largely by digital technology and artificial intelligence.
The cybersecurity expert said: “This era is all about technology, particularly digital technology and most importantly, artificial intelligence. “I strongly believe that there is a solution to each and every challenge we have in Nigeria in technology”.
He explained that while in office, he initiated technology-driven projects nationwide aimed at empowering youth and strengthening key sectors such as education, security, and the economy.
Pantami noted that the establishment of digital centres has enhanced surveillance and crime detection, citing an example in Gombe whereby security agencies can monitor activities remotely in real time. “From that office, you will be able to see whatever is happening without going there physically. It allows you to track criminals and arrest them when necessary”, he said.
On employment, he highlighted the vast opportunities in emerging tech fields, particularly artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. “In cybersecurity alone, we have millions of job opportunities. In artificial intelligence, there are over 87 million new jobs globally. This shows we can address unemployment through technology”, he added.
The former minister said his record in office reflects his commitment to national development, revealing that he executed over 241 projects in Gombe State and contributed to more than 4,600 projects, programmes, and policies nationwide.
