While the Nigerian economy experienced a reduction in growth rate in the first quarter of 2016, the country's telecoms sector achieved 5% growth within the same period - up from 3.49% growth in Q1 2015.

The Nigerian Telecommunications (Services) Sector Report for Q1 2016, released by the country's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the telecoms sector contributed NGN1.4 billion or 8.83% of Nigeria's GDP - an increase of 0.5% points compared to Q1 2015.

"The share of telecommunications in total real GDP had declined throughout 2010 to 2014, but for the last five quarters growth in telecommunications has been higher, meaning the trend has reversed," the report stated.

Despite growth, the sector is yet to attain the 30% target set by government.

Vice President Ayo Osinbajo said, "This administration will not fail in using ICT to drive the economy. We have been doing everything possible in this direction. If we continue on this path, ICT should be contributing between 25 and 30 percent to the country's GDP in a few years. We also have plans to create ICT-focused university. We have discovered that many youths lack requisite skills to compete in the international market."

Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has agreed and said the target could be reached by 2020 by intensifying government's efforts to improve the economy via an ICT-driven smart government initiative.

The first step towards achieving this, he said, is achieving 30% broadband penetration by 2018. "With ubiquitous internet, many IT savvy young Nigerians would also be able to work from their homes and even create employment."

Two years ago the country's then ICT Minister Omobola Johnson reiterated the need for cooperation from stakeholders to contribute towards the country's national broadband strategy and roadmap.

In 2014 broadband penetration stood at around 6% and the plan was put in place to achieve a five-fold increase.