The Minister of Communications, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, said he was ready to work with officials of the ministry to use Information and Communications Technology, ICT, to lift 50 million Nigerians out of poverty.
The Minister urged officials and staff of the ministry to brace up with the challenges of meeting the target handed over to them by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said President Buhari had set a target for the ministry to lift 50 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next few years by leveraging on the vast opportunities in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.
The Minister said: “The challenges facing Nigeria are well known to all of us. I do not need to itemise them. However, we know the role ICT can play to reduce these challenges significantly. I am therefore urging every one of you to sit up and work.
“I agree with the Permanent Secretary on the directive given by Mr President that we must lift 50 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next few years. It is our duty to do so. And I believe we can achieve this target.
“There are lots of challenges in the ICT sector, and there are lots of opportunities as well. Therefore, we will do our best to live up to the expectations of the President.”
