Kalu Seeks Partnership With ITC To Boost Nigeria’s Digital Economy

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has expressed the parliament’s readiness to collaborate with the International Trade Centre (ITC) to enhance Nigeria’s digital economy.

He also hinted  the establishment of food processing centers across the five states of the South East region through the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P).

Kalu made these disclosures in Abuja while hosting the  ITC delegation at the National Assembly, acknowledging the organization’s significant contributions to Nigeria’s economic development and the West African region.

He highlighted some ongoing projects, including the EU-funded WACOMP program, the GIZ-funded ECOWAS Agricultural Trade (EAT) program, and the upcoming nationwide expansion of IDEAS in 2025.

The Deputy Speaker emphasized the existing partnership between PISE-P and NigComSat in building community digital hubs in the South East. However, he expressed concern over the region’s insecurity, which has impacted businesses and incomes. He stressed the need for non-kinetic measures like education, agriculture, and infrastructure development to restore peace and stimulate development in the region.

This partnership aims to boost Nigeria’s digital economy, enhance agricultural trade capacity, and improve food security. The collaboration is expected to provide technical assistance to the agri-food e-commerce ecosystem across the country.

As we look forward to the nationwide expansion of the IDEAS program in 2025, we express a strong interest in the ITC collaborating with PISE-P as a key partner. PISE-P’s work in addressing socio-economic challenges and
promoting peace and development aligns perfectly with the goals of the IDEAS program. Together, we can create a more resilient and inclusive digital economy, particularly in regions facing significant challenges.

“It is essential to bridge the digital divide to ensure that all Nigerians have access to the opportunities presented by the digital economy. The disparity in digital access between urban and rural areas must be addressed to foster inclusive growth.

“We believe that through the combined efforts of the ITC, PISE-P, and the House of Representatives, we can implement effective strategies to provide digital access and literacy to underserved communities, ensuring no one is left behind in this digital transformation journey,” Kalu added.

Speaking earlier, the ITC delegation led by Natasha Aniekwu said the agency jointly owned by the World Trade Organization and UN aim is to promote trade, specifically across developing economies.

Commending the Deputy Speaker on his several interventions to empower local businesses, she informed him of their program focused on making E-commerce more accessible and beneficial for SMEs, particularly in disadvantaged areas and the agency’s interest in partnering with his office.

Aniekwu said: “We are an agency jointly owned by the World Trade Organization and UN, we are based in Geneva Switzerland and our primary aim really is to promote trade, specifically across developing economies, this means that We work a lot in Africa, in Asia and in the Middle East. In Nigeria, we have a project office, currently situated within the ECOWAS commission. Our primary reason for coming is to speak to you about a Nigeria-focused program.

“We ran a pilot of this program for 6 months using Imo state as a pilot location, we got a lot of support from the Ministry of Trade. The major focus of IDEAs is to make E-commerce more accessible and beneficial for SMEs or business communities, particularly in disadvantaged areas or vulnerable locations.”

Oduyemi  Odumade,Edited By Shakirah Alabi