Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, has advised the Federal Government of Nigeria to prioritise digitisation, noting that focus on a vision of digital Nigeria will help drive inclusive growth.
Ogunsanya who spoke recently at the second edition of the Nigeria Stock Exchange CEO Roundtable, said the mass adoption of connected digital services by consumers, enterprises, and governments, will emerge as a major driver and enabler of socio-economic benefits, driving inclusive growth across sectors.
According to him, implementing a vision of digital Nigeria will not only help diversify the economy for good but will also create massive employment opportunities and provide citizens opportunities and access to education, health, while opening up other sectors.
Illustrating the massive impact of digitization to economic growth and development, Ogunsanya said an increase in a country’s digitisation score fuels growth in its GDP per capita. Indeed, “ICT is important to every sector as it provides the right platform to drive the economy,” he noted.
Speaking further, the Airtel CEO also urged the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria to classify the telecoms sector under Manufacturing as this will enable players in the sector benefit from the current Foreign Exchange direction.
He noted that the sector manufactures recharge cards and also provide high end telecommunications equipment that helps accelerate growth and adoption of mobile Internet and voice services in the country.
Speaking to the theme of the event, navigating the changing landscape of business in Nigeria, Mr. Ogunsanya said Airtel has adopted a model that is focussed on innovation, cost optimization and provision of bespoke mobile Internet and telecommunications services to its consumers.
“The telecoms industry is a unique one because while prices are rising everywhere our prices are falling because we have been able to create innovative ways to meet the needs of our customers without increasing costs.”
