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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has presented a recently developed National ICT Policy document to the Gombe State government as part of the agency’s drive to ensure that ICT is widely utilized as a key enabler for development in every sector in Nigeria,
The policy document was presented by the Director General, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, 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.
Gombe State Information Technology Development Agency (GSITDA) is ready
Maigari also announced that plans had already reached advanced stage for the creation of Gombe State Information Technology Development Agency, (GSITDA) to manage the north eastern state agenda to use IT for development.
Speaking at the presentation, Abdullahi 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.
Abdullahi added that ICT has become a household knowledge everyone must have and it must penetrate to the grassroot.
He noted that the agency has established an IT Hub in Gombe and hoped that the ICT Policy will aid in facilitating more ICT hubs to optimise potential in ICT.
The NITDA’s boss expressed optimism that cooperation between his agency and Gombe State in the area of ICT development will continue to grow in the overall interest of the country.
Maigari, expressed gratitude for the opportunity given by NITDA to have the ICT Policy document, adding 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 Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, had assisted Gombe state in the development of ICT innovations, and the state government has given approval for the creation of GSITDA, which will soon get an enabling law to be enacted by the State House of Assembly.
With the ICT Policy document, the legislative approval for GSITDA will be fast tracked so that Gombe State will begin its plans to replicate NITDA’s activities in the state, said Maigari.
