36,000 Nigerians get I T skills in FG’s virtual institutions as Kogi varsity gets first North Central incubation hub »

The Federal Government of Nigeria has said a large proportion of the 36,000 Nigerians who enrolled for Information Technology (IT) skills acquisition in the virtual institutions it established have completed their training and since been certified.

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami stated this on Tuesday in Abuja during a virtual meeting to commission eleven projects executed in that regard by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

One of the projects virtually commissioned was the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)’s Information Technology Innovation Park at the Kogi State University, in Ayingba which the first of its kind in the North Central Geopolitical zone of the country.

The virtual digital institutions were established during the early stages of the COVID-19 lockdown.

The minister noted in his address during commissioning that the government collaborated with IBM, Microsoft, among other international IT firms to train selected participants on emerging technology such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, internet fibre optics, among other key Information Communication Technology (ICT) marketable areas.

The project is the “Second Phase of the Virtual Commissioning of Projects,” executed by National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) and the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).

Some of the virtually commissioned projects include Tertiary Institution Knowledge Centre (TIKC), in Delta State University, Abraka; School Knowledge Centre (SKC) at Government Day Secondary School, Hassan Central, in Gombe State; and a Health Data Sharing Centre, at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), in Bauchi State.

Others are Virtual Examination Centre in University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID); Information Technology Innovation Park at the Kogi State University, in Ayingba; and Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) at Ilorin and Calabar, in Kwara and Cross-Rivers States, respectively.

Dr. Pantami further explained that the projects are not only related to the eight pillars of digital economy, but the three cardinal agenda of Mr. President’s administration.

He said the ECCs will greatly support the security agencies to swiftly nip crimes in the nip.

The Minister added that the IT Incubation Centres being championed by NITDA will go a long way in promoting and supporting FG’s economic diversification agenda.

He said: “Some of the projects related to e-governance will also go a long way in fighting corruption. Because the more our activities are digitalized, the less of physical financial transaction, which lead to fraudulent manipulations”.

Governors Yahaya Bello of Kogi State was remotely at the meeting through his Chief of Staff, while Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya and Senator Hope Uzodinma of Gombe and Imo States, and Ministers, among other eminent guests attended commissioning ceremony physically.

In his message, Governor Bello thanked the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari for considering Kogi for such humongous project, adding that it would go a long way in giving birth to many businesses and encourage innovative thinking for the socioeconomic growth of the entire state.

He urged the government to continue to think of Kogi state in such ventures as the present administration is committed to ensuring the state witnessed positive economic turnaround through Information and Communication Technology and entrepreneurship among its citizens.

Speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Marietu Tenuche who did the physical commissioning on the minister’s behalf like her counterparts in other states where the projects were cited, expressed gratitude to the federal government, the state government and those who contributed to ensuring the success of the project.

She paid special gratitude to the minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Pantami for considering the institution as part of the drivers of President Muhammadu Buhari’s digital transformation agenda, adding that she was committed to making the project a model to others in the country.

The VC stressed the gratitude of the visitor to the university, Governor Yahaya Bello who is determined to make the state one of the frontline states in the area of I T and innovative thinking in the country.

She said her leadership of the institution has completed arrangements to making sure there is an improved teaching and learning facility in the university, including making arrangements with one of the national telecom carriers in the country to have free internet services for students of the institution.

She appealed for the support of funding agencies to come to the aide of the school in this regard as it is capital intensive and would require all the support that it could get, urging the NCCUSF, NITDA and others to help the institution.

She therefore requested the minister, Dr Pantami to wade into the matter on behalf of the University.