World Telecom Day: Minister wants stiff measures to bridge standardisation gap
Minister of Communications Dr Abdur-raheem Adebayo Shittu has called on all stakeholders and government at all levels to put up stiff measures that would bridge the standardisation gap.
The minister said this Friday at the commemoration of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) with a theme: Bridging the Standardisation Gap.
Represented by director of radio monitoring and survey Engr. Kilyobas N. Binga, the minister stated that the WTISD is to raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the internet and other information and communication technology can bring to societies and economies as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide.
“Setting standards is a fundamental pillar of ITU’s mission as the specialised agency of the United Nations for information and communication technology. ITU standards help accelerate ICT for sustainable development goals.
“The overarching goal of the bridging the standardisation gap programme is to facilitate increased participation of developing countries in standardisation to ensure interoperability and ensure that developing countries experience the economic benefits of associated technological development, and to better reflect the requirements and interests of developing countries in the standards-development process to open up global markets and spur innovation and growth,” he said.
He stated that, “The BSG is a fundamental part of ITU’s mission to connect the world. It will also address the disparities in the ability of developing countries, relative to developed ones, to access, implement and influence ITU’s international standards.
“It is on this basis that I want to join the ITU body in calling on ITU member states, industry members, small and big companies and academia together with UN sister agencies, programme for the prosperity and well being of all.
