By Michael Peter, The Sight News
Abuja-The Federal Government says it is doing all it takes to bridge the gaps existing in the nation’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.
This is just as it disclosed that it is accelerating the implementation of the National Broadband plan and promoting investments towards last mile access and improvement in the quality of existing networks in the country.
The minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu who made this known in Abuja, insisted that investments in Information Communication Technology, ICT infrastructure will always offer further economic growth and opportunity for the country.
The Minister also noted that in bridging the skills gap in the country’s ICT Sector, the Ministry will be partnering with the Ministry of Education to integrate ICT effectively into education curriculum through the use of smart devices, e-content as well as increase the uptake of ICT as a Subject.
“We will support educational Institutions with funding and facilitate training to faculty and to students. A detailed skill gap assessment will be done to devise strategies to cater for the market” he said.
He also disclosed that government in a bid to addressing the inadequate ICT usage by Businesses in the country, will come up with schemes to increase ICT uptake among businesses, especially small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
The Minister also assured that the Nigerian ICT will be prepared to also supply the demand for online workers by ensuring the employability of Youths in the area of e-commerce.
The Communications Minister spoke while inaugurating the Boards of Agencies and Parastatals under his Ministry.
The boards inaugurated are those of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST and Nigerian Communications Satellite, NigComSat Limited.
The chairmen of the Boards include; Prof Adeolu Akande, NITDA, Yahaya Memuda Abubakar, NIPOST, and Chief George Moghalu, NigComSat.
In his remark, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Abdulaziz Abdullahi, said the inauguration of the boards would speed up development in the ICT sector.
While accepting the appointments on behalf of the other boards’, the Chairman of NIGCOMSAT Board, Moghalu, said members were fully conscious of the enormity of the responsibility before them, promising to do their best to move the industry forward.
