Disciplines in Nigeria’s Post

The ICT Authority Bill 2024 negatively affects the ICT industry in Kenya. It cripples innovation by introducing bureaucratic barriers that will prevent great minds from entering the field. Additionally, the bill aims to create an entity that will provide ICT services to both the government and the public. This same entity will set industry standards and accredit other ICT service providers, which seems like a monopoly in the making. You can't be both a player and the referee. The Kenyan government should focus on creating an environment where innovation can thrive and remove all barriers that hinder it. The existing Communications Authority already handles much of this work. The bill needs to be scrapped altogether. My 2 cents.

Kenya's ICT Authority and the Kenya Network Information Center (KeNIC) have embarked on a transformative three-year partnership aimed at advancing ICT standards and increasing the adoption of .ke domains. This collaboration, launched on Wednesday, seeks to enhance public trust in government digital projects and accelerate the nation’s digital transformation. By combining their resources and expertise, the two institutions aim to drive significant progress in Kenya's digital landscape. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlines key objectives, including raising awareness about the benefits of using .go.ke email addresses and domains. The ICT Authority will promote the use of these domains within government ministries and state enterprises, while KeNIC will focus on educating the public and businesses about their advantages. This initiative is expected to boost domain uptake and compliance across various sectors. Stanley Kamanguya, PMP®, OGW, CEO of the ICT Authority, emphasized the importance of this collaboration in addressing strategic digital transformation issues. He highlighted the focus on skilling and reskilling staff, as well as enhancing digital governance. The partnership will also address security concerns, ensuring that .ke domains are secure and reliable for both government and private sector use. Additionally, KeNIC will provide training on the Domain Name System (DNS) and DNS Security to ICT Authority technical staff. This effort will extend to improving digital skills and literacy through cooperative training programs and awareness campaigns. This partnership marks a significant step forward in strengthening Kenya's ICT infrastructure and digital capabilities. #ICTAuthority #KenyaNetworkInformationCenter #DigitalTransformation #DomainSecurity #PublicSectorInnovation #KEdomains #DigitalSkills #TechnologyPartnership #Kenya

The E-Government Development Index (EGDI) is a composite measure of the readiness and capacity of national institutions to use information technologies to deliver public services. Central Asian countries—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan—have been gradually improving their position in the EGDI throughout 20 years. Kazakhstan has consistently led Central Asia in e-government development. It ranks highest among the five nations, reflecting significant investments in digital infrastructure and high human capital. The government launched its e-government portal in the mid-2000s, which has since evolved into an extensive platform offering a wide range of services. Uzbekistan launched a unified portal for public services and focused on modernizing its infrastructure and increasing citizen access to online service. As a result increased E-participation propelled its EGDI rankings. Kyrgyzstan's e-government development has demonstrated progress in areas such as digital transparency and the establishment of basic e-services. Due to limited internet access, especially  in rural areas, it aimed at boosting ICT infrastructure and e-government services. Despite limited internet penetration and ICT infrastructure Tajikistan improved its e-government position through programs aimed at increasing public access to technology and services. Turkmenistan e-government development has been slow due to limited adoption of digital public services, lack of access to the internet and limited ICT infrastructure.

Kenya is aligning its #ICT landscape with global trends; the last major reforms took place 26 years ago. #ICTpolicy

Discussing the Roles of the ICT unit in the Public Complaints Commission with Mr. Johnson Akoja [Head of ICT Unit, Public Complaints Commission] #ICT #lagos #insta #information #technology Public Complaints Commission Nigeria

Today on 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗕𝗖'𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵, we will look into an article published on TechCabal and written by Kenn Abuya on the ICT Bill in Kenya. According to the article, Kenya is trying again to regulate its ICT industry with the ICT Authority Bill 2024. This bill is a revival of the controversial ICT Practitioners Bill, which was first introduced in 2016. The main criticism of the original bill was that it would stifle innovation by requiring ICT professionals to have university degrees and by duplicating existing laws. The new bill proposes that companies offering ICT services need to be accredited by a government authority. This accreditation will involve meeting qualifications and experience standards set by the authority, as well as paying a fee. However, critics argue that the bill remains unclear on exactly what these qualifications are and what services are considered "ICT." This lack of clarity echoes concerns raised about the previous version of the bill. The article goes on to further explain how Kenyan ICT professionals are worried that the bill will prioritize formal qualifications over practical skills and experience. One expert in the ICT field, a computer programmer, highlights that clients are more interested in someone's ability to solve problems than their educational background. The debate over this bill is likely to continue, with some arguing for a more standardized industry and others emphasizing the value of a flexible and innovative workforce. To read the entire article, use the following link: https://lnkd.in/dsWn5rdN

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called on the judiciary to play a pivotal role in supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation, stressing the need for a collaborative effort to drive the country’s digital economy. https://lnkd.in/evX-B-e7 #NCC #DigitalTransformation

Kenya Charts Digital Future at KeIGF 2024 Eng. Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui, MBS, Principal Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy, outlined Kenya's digital vision at KeIGF 2024. He emphasized on the government's commitment to building an inclusive, secure, and innovative digital Kenya. Key highlights include: ➡️Digital Superhighway: The ambitious 100,000 km fibre infrastructure project to expand internet access. ➡️Economic Growth: The digital economy's rapid growth, is driven by ICT investments. ➡️Multi-Stakeholder Approach: The importance of collaboration for a successful digital future. ➡️Digital Literacy: Government's focus on equipping citizens with digital skills. Legal Framework: The role of legislation in protecting users and ensuring a secure digital environment. Investing in expanding internet access and digital literacy is crucial for inclusive digital growth in Kenya. He emphasized the need for robust cybersecurity measures and stressed the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors to unlock opportunities in the digital space. He also discussed the potential for Kenya to become a hub for global tech companies with local talent development centres established by companies like Microsoft and Amazon Web Services. Tanui called for continued collaboration between government, the private sector, civil society, and citizens to build a prosperous digital Kenya. "Building Kenya's digital future is a shared responsibility that demands active participation from each of us. The government must and is leading by example, the private sector must invest responsibly, civil society must ensure accountability and every Kenyan citizen must engage in this conversation. Together, let's embrace the power of collaboration." #KeIGF2024 https://lnkd.in/ermuV-tV

Last week, the Ministry of ICT, in collaboration with the telecom regulator and other government institutions, held a consultation meeting to discuss amendments to various Electronic and Postal Communications Regulations. These amendments aim to keep pace with technological advancements and cover areas such as Licensing, Quality of Service, the Computer Emergency Response Team and Online Content. The meeting included participants from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). The new licensing framework in Tanzania offers an opportunity for MNOs to partner with satellite providers in order to improve connectivity in remote and underserved areas, ensuring more people have access to reliable communication services. Adopting this legal framework can lead to innovative solutions and better service delivery across the country. In addition, MNOs requested all licensing fees to be quoted and paid in TZS. However, MNOs expressed concerns about the proposed amendments to the Online Content Regulations, particularly regarding the restrictions on ‘Prohibited Contents.’ They found these regulations to be complex, broad, and open to multiple interpretations. MNOs requested that the regulator invest in systems and tools to block prohibited content, rather than leaving this responsibility to MNOs and Internet Service Providers (ISPs), who have varying levels of investment and may face challenges in timely blocking content or disputes with customers over content blocking. Dr. Philip H. Filikunjombe Stephen Chege Mosa Thekiso Clara Rubambe Philip BESIIMIRE Esther Wangui Zuweina Farah Ramadhan Ramadhan Emmanuel Luanda

++ Smart Africa and ICANN Partner to Strengthen Internet Governance in Africa ++ Smart Africa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), marking a pivotal step to enhance Internet governance capacity development across Africa. Through this collaboration, Smart Africa and ICANN aim to drive digital transformation by leveraging each organization’s expertise and resources. "This collaboration with Smart Africa exemplifies ICANN’s commitment to ensuring that every community has the resources and knowledge to shape their digital future. Together, we are building a stronger, more secure Internet infrastructure that will help bring more Africans online, empowering communities and fostering economic growth across the continent." – Sally Costerton, Interim President and CEO, ICANN "The Internet is fundamental to Africa’s digital transformation, and this partnership with ICANN demonstrates our commitment to building a more secure, stable, and inclusive digital future for the continent. This MoU marks a strategic step in strengthening Africa’s Internet governance capabilities. Through this collaboration, we are equipping African stakeholders with the knowledge and resources needed to shape the future of the Internet." – Lacina Koné, CEO, Smart Africa #techafricanews #africa #internet #governance #internet #governance #capabilities #collaborations #stakeholders