OBSERVATION

1.     Internet is one of the primary influences on globalization and it is increasingly playing an important role in the ability of nations to participate meaningfully in the global economic activities.

 2.     All businesses today depend on the internet to reach customers, manage suppliers and conduct most internal and external business operations

 3.     Nigeria has a huge potential for digital dividends considering her high population density.

 4.     Mobile broadband remains the fastest growing telecommunications market segment, with continuous double-digit growth rates in 2014 and is growing fastest in developing countries

 5.     All regions continue to show double-digit growth rates but Africa stands out with a growth rate of over 40 percent – twice as high as the global average

 6.     Mobile broadband is the most dynamic market segment and stands at around 78 active subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in Europe and the Americas; Africa is the only region where mobile broadband penetration remains below 20 percent.

 7.     Nigeria has one of the largest and fastest growing telecoms market in Africa

 8.     Telecommunication is the 5^th most resilient sector in Nigeria.

 9.     Telecommunications constitutes a significant portion of the Nigerian economy and It contributes 8.8 percent to the nation’s economy as such, it should be supported.

 10.                        NCC has removed the barriers to market entry and now rely upon natural market forces and technology to ensure market sustainability

 11.                        IPv4 (the underlying architecture that has supported the internet thus far) is almost exhausted and is not nearly enough to meet the ever-expanding needs of the commercial internet.

 12.                        The rapidly growing numbers of internet users, network and connected devices require, more unique identifiers than IPv4 can provide.

 OBJECTION

1.     We, the participants at NDSF-Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum 2016, hereby condemn in totality the bill before the National Assembly for a 9 percent tax on all electronic services as this will further impoverish the teeming unemployed Nigerian youths, thereby making it more difficult for people to access and share knowledge which the electronic communication is made to abridge.

2.       The Federal Government should make Telecoms Infrastructure as a critical national resource to help in protecting online jobs and businesses

 3.     While we desire for a quick migration to IPv6, there is also the need to prepare for the challenges that come with it, as such the Federal Government is advised to be more proactive in providing the enabling environment for a smooth migration of the nation to IPv6.

 4.     Federal Government should focus more on the use of IT to create more jobs, create more wealth and also focus on building IT capacity of our youths.

 5.     The advantage of the ICT adoption in governance and ultimately Nigeria will stimulate transparency, productivity, efficiency and timely operations.

 6.     To further create opportunities for Nigerians, there is an urgent need to address the challenges of the industry and leverage on the opportunities. One of which is to continue to build communications infrastructures (satellite, terrestrial networks and telecommunications) to aid transition and lower the barriers to entry, which will further increase participation and eventually drive ICT

 7.     NCC alongside other government agencies should strive to achieve the broadband target of 30 percent Broadband Penetration by 2018!

 8.     There is need to encourage young IT entrepreneurs to learn through regular capacity building workshops and symposia to indirectly build IT soft skills and employment generation.

 9.     There is need to look inwards to get youngsters that will develop and maintain Apps for cost efficiency and effectiveness.

 10.                        There is need to migrate to IPv6 and the need to use smarter devices since the opportunities that abound in IPv6 are so vast such that you can operate your gadgets or devices at home from miles away.

 11.                        We frown at the poor quality of service caused primarily by network capacity constraints; the lack of physical and transmission infrastructure; scarce spectrum resources; unreliable power supply; disparity in telecommunications facilities between urban and rural areas; shortage of long term investment capital; skill shortages; security challenges; theft; transmission cable cuts etc.

 CHALLENGES

1.     Every challenge that comes your way is an opportunity for prosperity and innovation. Nigeria is not bereft of social and economic challenges so we should embrace challenges rather than rebuff them.

 2.     It is important to note that while having a large number of IP addresses will benefit companies from management point of view, it will also benefit cyber criminals. Not only will criminals be able to switch IP addresses frequently – making it difficult to track and trace them – but many existing security controls that rely on blacklisting malicious IP addresses will cease to be effective.

 OPPORTUNITIES

1.     Nigeria has rich cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge; tourism apps can come up to document these heritages for use by visitors coming to Nigeria. Development of social media in Nigerian languages is another opportunity, same with the gaming industry. There is also the opportunity to deepen citizen participation in governmental process and enhance public service delivery.

 2.     Nigeria should embrace the great potential in her human and natural resources and leverage on it to create services and products IPv6 compliance to address our local challenges.

 THE WAY FORWARD

1.      There is need for everyone to get connected to the internet.

     2.      There is need for network and content operators to make their networks and websites available over both IPv4 and IPv6 for the foreseeable future so that everyone can access the Internet whether they are using an IPv4 or an IPv6 address.

 3.      The internet is a public resource and people should be careful about what they post to avoid assault.

 4.      Stronger cyber laws should be enacted and implemented to prevent and curtail cyber crimes.

 5.      There is a great need to develop apps as well as capacity that help ensure cyber safety.

 6.      Government at all levels should encourage e-governance as this will help in tracking government activities through the social media; it will also give people access to participate in governance thereby encouraging transparency and efficiency.

 7.      Young graduates should realize they are the architects of their own future as such, they should learn early enough to take their destinies into their own hands.