By Etta Michael Bisong
Abuja
As part of efforts to improve knowledge in the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs), as well as create alternative sources of revenue generation in Plateau state, Governor Simon Lalong, has approached the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to help build human capacity and equip all the secondary and tertiary institutions across the state.
The governor, who approached the agency through his deputy, Prof. Sonni Tyoden during a courtesy visit to the cooperate head office of the agency in Abuja, described NITDA as an institution established by the federal government to superintend over the development and provision of ICT services in Nigeria, therefore, his visit was to brainstorm on possible areas of collaboration that would add value to government activities.
Some of the areas the state government is seeking collaboration includes – the introduction of electronic libraries (e-libraries) and capacity building for students to enable them get abreast with global trends in ICT development.
“We felt that we should come and interact with the agency and see what value it can add to governance and social economic development in Plateau state,” he said.
Lalong commended the agency for its various initiatives and provision of ICT infrastructure in the state and urged for more assistance in the development of manpower and skill in government.
In his response, the Acting Director-General of NITDA, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, commended the governor for his wisdom and humility in approaching the agency for the collaboration, adding that such action signifies the willingness of the leadership to move the state to the next level in ICT development.
One of the areas the Acting DG observed as paramount to the partnership is in helping to draft an ICT Policy that is in accordance with the needs and realities in the state.
Dr. Olatunji disclosed that NITDA had done much in the deployment of enormous ICT infrastructure both in education as well as other aspects to foster socio-economic growth in the state.
“We are on course to make Nigeria completely compliant, we have the national e-government master plan that has been developed and it is awaiting the final approval of the Federal Executive Council,” he said.
The NITDA boss also added that the agency have developed the National ICT road map under the current administration; which will be launched very soon.
He highlighted that there are so many other projects that NITDA is presently working on especially in the area of ICT local content and home grown solution development, as well as see how these innovations can be enhanced and commercialise as source of revenue for the country.
“We have been looking at and focusing on our start-ups to see how we can incubate their ideas, mentor them and take them to the level of commercialisation,’’ he said.
