In a bid to ensure that Information Communication Technology, ICT, is widely utilized as a key enabler for development in every sector in Nigeria, the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, presented a recently developed National ICT Policy document to the Gombe State government.
The policy document was presented by the Director General NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, to the Gombe State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Aishatu Usman Maigari, who led a team from the state on the visit to NITDA.
Speaking at the presentation, the DG NITDA said, it is the tradition every year to present the current Federal government ICT policy document to all state governments in order to enable them diversify their economy, moving from natural and resourced-based economy to a knowledge-based and ICT driven one. Mr Abdullahi added that ICT has become a household knowledge everyone must have and it must penetrate to the grassroot.
The DG further noted that the Agency has established IT Hub in Gombe and hoped that the ICT Policy will aid in facilitating more ICT hubs to optimise potentials in ICT. He also expressed optimism in the cooperation between NITDA and Gombe State in the area of ICT development which he promised that it will continue to grow in the overall interest of the country.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Commissioner for Science and Technology Gombe state, Dr Aishatu Usmam Maigari, expressed gratitude for the opportunity given by NITDA to have the ICT Policy document. She said that the state Governor, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, had promised to ensure that more than 20% of the state budget is focused on ICT initiatives.
She said that the Federal government through the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, FNCS, FBCS, FIIM, had assisted Gombe state in the development of ICT innovations, and the state government have given approval for the creation of Gombe State Information Technology Development Agency, GSITDA, which she said the enabling law will soon be enacted by the State House of Assembly.
Dr. Maigari further disclosed that, having gotten the ICT Policy document, the approval will be fast tracked and that Gombe State will begin its plans to replicate NITDA’s activities in the state as GSITDA, The Gombe State Information Technology Development Agency.