Galaxy Backbone Limited, Nigeria’s information and communications technology services provider, especially in the areas of internet connectivity, telecommunications services, hosting services, among others is not resting on it oars to realise a “Smart Nigeria.”
As part of the efforts to achieve this noble goal aimed at economic diversification and prosperity of the country, Galaxy Backbone last week led Nigeria Smart Africa Alliance Working Group to a courtesy call on the new Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.
Galaxy Backbone is the Focal Agency representing Nigeria in the activities of the Smart Africa Alliance.
Nigeria is a leading member of the Smart Africa Alliance which is an innovative commitment of the African Heads of States and Government to transform Africa into a Single Digital Market.
The Nigeria Smart Africa Alliance Working Group was inaugurated in April this year in the twilight of the administration of the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari.
The group consists of 12 members and is chaired by Dr Nasir Shinkafi, who is also the General Manager of Information Security & Business Continuity Services at Galaxy Back Bone. The 12-member Nigeria Smart Africa Alliance Working Group has membership drawn from Nigerian Ministries Department and Agencies as follows: the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (as known then), Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Central Bank of Nigeria, Galaxy Backbone limited, Nigerian Communications Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency National Identity Management Commission, Nigerian Communication Satellite limited and Nigeria Data Protection Bureau.
The Smart Africa Alliance is an alliance of 30 African heads of state and Government that aims to take advantage of affordable access to broadband and the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in Africa to establish a knowledge economy.
The Federal Government had approved Nigeria’s participation in Smart Africa in September 2022 and also approved Galaxy BackBone Limited as the coordinator for Nigeria.
Smart Africa is an innovative commitment from African Heads of State and Government to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent, ushering Africa into a knowledge economy through affordable access to Broadband and usage of ICT.
The then Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami had advised the group to ensure that Nigeria attains the maximum benefit of joining the alliance and not just superficially.
“We have the largest digital economy in Africa. When it comes to performance, Nigeria is leading in Africa, and there is no doubt about this. Just two months ago we were in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with a Nigerian team to participate in the LEAP 2023.
“There were six global winners where well over 10,000 Young Innovators participated from over 80 countries. In the end, Nigeria won two global positions out of six, Nigeria is the only country globally with two winners.
“Through the Alliance, we will support member countries to develop their own startup act and also promote our indigenous solutions to secure funding on their behalf,” he stated.
The Coordinator of the Nigeria Smart Africa Alliance Working Group, Dr Shinkafi, the Chief Information Security and Business Continuity Officer of Galaxy Backbone Limited had said in an interview that with Nigeria as a member of the Alliance, Africa stands to benefit greatly as a result of the successes recorded so far in the digital economy sector.
“The highly unprecedented successes and excellent performance recorded in the digital economy sector from August 2019 to date, under the
supervision of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, are worthy of emulation by our sister African Countries.
“This initiative will further confirm our position of leadership in the African digital economy ecosystem which will bring numerous digital transformation benefits into Nigeria. This is owing to so many factors, such as, appreciable number of uniquely identified citizens through the National Identity Number, young and skilled population, the market size, broadband and cloud infrastructure, fintech proliferation and startups, enabling environment provided by the Government, and so on,“ Shinkafi stated.
The Nigeria Smart African Alliance Working Group was and is expected to drive initiatives that will propel the country’s reputation through collaboration, capacity building, talent and knowledge transfer, job creation, wealth creation and sourcing for startups financing and investment opportunities through the continuous support of the coordinating agency and focal point under the supervision of the Minister.
To further live up to these expectations, the group led by the National Focal Point, Chairman and Coordinator of the Working Group, Shinkafi of Galaxy Backbone were in the new Communications Minister’s office.
The Nigeria Smart African Alliance Working Group briefed Tijani about the activities of the group and also presented the concept of the Nigeria Flagship Project which is aimed at realising a Smart Nigeria and the upcoming Ministerial meeting scheduled for Kigali next week in the week.
They informed him about their Strategic initiatives targeted at job creation and economic growth across Africa.
The Minister was highly excited to hear of the group’s strategic initiatives targeted at job creation and economic growth across Africa and assured them of support and partnership.
– Minister Tijani is a member of the Council of ICT Ministers and Steering Committee which are key Governing Organs of the Smart Africa Alliance.
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