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The Federal Government, this week in Katsina state, Northwest Nigeria, commissioned the Muhammadu Buhari IT Innovation Centre, as part of the national agenda to foster digital skills empowerment.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, while commissioning the project on behalf of the president, noted that the centre was established to empower the youths with the requisite digital skills, drive innovation and challenge creativity as part of the economic digitalisation agenda of the federal government.
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“There is a paradigm shift globally with emphasis on proven skills over certificates, there is also the need to diversify away from natural resources like oil and gas and Nigeria is no exception in the quest for digital capacities in the fourth industrial revolution. It is because of this we feel the necessity to establish innovation centres in at least every geopolitical zone in the country, identify existing talent, support and provide the enabling environment and mentorship so that in the next few decades, Nigeria can boast of its own Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos,” said Pantami.
He added that the leading economies in the world are innovation-driven and with the commitment of the present administration to digitalise the Nigerian economy, the inherent potential Nigeria is abundantly blessed with is achievable.
Also present at the commissioning were the Katsina state governor, Aminu Bello Masari, members of the State’s Executive Council, Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashif Inuwa Abdullahi, Chairman Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) Governing Board, Professor Adeolu Akande and a host of top public and private sector officials.
Earlier, the minister was at the Katsina State Talent Hunt Award Ceremony where prizes were awarded to deserving young innovators in various fields ranging from ICT to creativity in arts and entertainment.
