Lagos, July 16, 2019 (NAN) The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Tuesday said that the Fourth Industrial Revolution(4IR) would be driven by the convergence of digital, biological and physical innovations.
The NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, gave the assurance at the fourth edition of the Information Communication Technology and Telecommunications (ICTEL) Exhibition, organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured the unveiling of made-in-Nigeria mobile phones and tablets by Afrione company.
According to Danbatta, in the current era, new technologies are being created and have the capacity to enhance every facet of life, not just the workforce.
“Like the first industrial revolution’s steam-powered factories, the second industrial revolution’s application of science to mass production and manufacturing, and the third industrial revolution’s start into digitisation, the fourth is rapidly changing the way humans create, exchange and distribute value.
“These industrial revolution technologies are listed as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, robotics, cloud computing, big data, over-the-top, blockchain technology and others.
“More importantly, this revolution will be guided by the choices people make today; so, there is the need to invest and deploy these powerful new technologies,” he said.
Danbatta said that the effect of 4IR would come in the area of increased automation and optimisation and constant monitoring (as almost everything could be monitored in real-time), personalisation and customisation and others.
He said that all the technologies that characterised the 4IR would ride on robust telecommunication infrastructure and pervasive broadband networks.
He said that, being conscious of these realities, the commission had proactively embarked on promoting the rollout of licensed infrastructure companies to complement existing infrastructure of mobile networks.
He added that the NCC was working tirelessly to collaborate with stakeholders across different levels of government to remove impediments to telecoms investment in Nigeria
Earlier, Mr Babatunde Ruwase, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that Nigeria must narrow the gaps between technological potential and required policy framework to be actively involvement and benefit from the 4IR.
He said that it had become more pertinent for the nation to focus on exploring innovative approaches to harness the benefits of technological advancement in the ever-changing world.
He said that, to do this, engagement of key stakeholders would be urgent.
“Reaping the benefits of new technologies while maintaining trust, requires the collaborative effort and of government, business and other stakeholders in the society.
“Recent technological advances have the potential to fundamentally redefine the economy and, this presents ample opportunities that need to be explored for the present generation and future generations.
“In order to catch up with the fast-growing trends in the Information and Communications Technology, therefore, the country needs to address necessary policy challenges in data flows and new technologies,” he said.
He said that there was the need to develop the digital skills of Nigerian youths in order for them to respond to the challenge posed by the digitisation of the labour market, education and other spheres of life.
He called for design and implementation of agenda that would promote a digital transformation with modern regulations, infrastructure and digital education.
Unveiling made-in-Nigeria mobile phones and tablets, the Chief Operating Officer of Afrione, Mr Rajan Nahal, said that the phones and accessories were in line with Federal Government’s policy as regards local assembling.
“The journey started two years ago and we want to ensure that rich and excess of technology are in the hands of consumers; the youths are the main focus.
“We are setting up a mobile lab in the Lagos State Polytechnic where students will be trained on how to manufacture mobile phones,” he said.
