Adebayo Harps on ICT in National Development

 
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (Alton), has lauded the effective role of information technology in national development. 
He said this at a one day telecom device forum organized by Nigeria CommunicationsWeek in conjunction with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) held in Lagos last week.
Adebayo stated that telephone, which ten years ago was regarded as elitist has become the first means of contact with many Nigerians irrespective of age, status, class, place of abode or trade and that by extension, telecommunication services have greatly improved our quality of life.
 “Telecommunication development in Nigeria is playing an integral role in our march towards a greater country by the year 2020. Over 80 percent of Nigerians have access to some form of telecommunication services, either as a direct user of telecom or through associated telecommunication supported services,”’ he said.
He also stated that Automated Teller Machine (ATM) has reduced significantly human interface in the banking system, and presently internet banking (e-banking) has taken the place of humans across-the-counter transactions in bank, adding that one can sit at home or place of work and manage his account, pay for goods and services, transfer money across accounts in any bank any where in the world.
Adebayo suggested that the government can drive the development further by putting in place appropriate policies vital to the sustenance of growth in the industry.
He said his association strongly advocates the independence of industry regulation, stating that the regulation must be free from political interference. “Multiple regulation is a bane of growth and government must continue to provide the right regulatory and policy environment without crisis-cross between various arms of government,” Adebayo said.