Africa most celebrated Information and Communications Technology journalist and President of the Center for Cyber Awareness and Development (CECAD), Dr Bayero Agabi has hailed 2021 as the year the ICT industry witnessed many first for individuals and corporate organisations.
Speaking for himself, he said he personally experienced another first in 2021 with the successful induction into the fellowship cadre of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) last month at this year’s National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA), becoming the first journalist to be inducted into the fellowship of NCS.
Nigeria Computer Society had bestowed on Dr, Bayero a Honourary Fellowship, which is the highest for any professional attainment for his distinguished personality, dedication and exemplary service to IT growth and development in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, going by the policies and direction of the present government with regards to ICT development, Dr. Bayero has predicted the industry will in 2022 witness double of what it witnessed in 2021.
In his own words: “Considering what I see today with regards to IT development, Africa will soon have a loud voice in tech and innovation just like music and entertainment has done. Just watch, ICT growth in 2022 will double what we witnessed in 2021.”
The Nigerian information and communications technology (ICT) sector had contributed a significant 17.92% of Nigeria’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2021. This is a 3.01% increase from the GDP contributions for the preceding quarter, according to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
But Dr, Bayero believes the year 2022 will experience significant increase with regards to ICT contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. He laced his argument on the fact that the licensing and auctioning of 3.5 Ghz spectrum for 5G deployment, where Nigeria is expected to receive $546 million will hugely boost the economic fortune of the country.
Other areas Bayero believes will experience massive is Fintech, where young Nigerians are chopping out cutting-edge technology solutions that are addressing the financial needs of Nigerians, especially the unbanked and under banked.
Dr. Bayero Agabi is one of the very few in the ICT industry, who has in the last twenty years make sure the telecom industry become what it is today by various advocacy.
He is known as one of Africa’s leading ICT broadcast journalists and remains the only African journalist to have won the prestigious UNECA/AISI (United Nations Economic Commission for Africa/Africa Information Society Media Awards) twice for best African ICT reporting, research and local content.
Agabi is a member of the national committee on data harmonization, member National Broadband Council and member senate cyber security expert advisory group. Agabi is the Vice President of Nigeria Internet Group and President Centre For Cyber Awareness and Development (CECAD).
A Pan African advocate for digital economy, Bayero Agabi pioneered technology broadcasting on television in Nigeria over two decades ago with well over 100 local and international awards to his credit. An alumnus of PAU, UNIJOS, LASU and Commonwealth University, Bayero has transverse the world reporting and speaking on ICTand technology issues as it relates to Africa development.
With a degree in Mass Communication, a diploma in Computer Science, PGD, Public Admin, MPA and Doctoral in Public Policy, Bayero Agabi has certifications in business and enterprise management, Telecomms, computer science and public relations.
Agabi is a professional member of the institute of Public Relation Chattered, fellow of Institute of Management Consultancy FIMC, fellow Institute of Information Management Africa FIIM and member Institute of Data Processing Management IDPM.
He presently pioneers ICT broadcast in West Africa with Digivation Network and other running business ventures.