By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Bauchi State Government has declared interest to key into the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, a 2020-2030 plan to enable the state be a leading player in the global digital economy.
State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed disclosed this at the formal presentation of certificates/starters packs to the pioneer beneficiaries of the ICT training organized by the North-East Development Commission held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Bauchi.
Bala Mohammed hopes that the strategy would be quickly stepped down to the subnational levels for the country to experience speedy transformation in critical sectors of the nation’s economy.
He said the advent of information technology has changed all aspects of the world in the third millennium to a great extent and entrepreneurship in particular and believed that, ICT can transform agriculture, education and other sectors.
He also said that his administration since its inception, has been entrepreneurship, empowerment and development mainly focused on promotion and strengthening of micro, cottage and small enterprises with the needed technical and financial support.
He said that, “I must commend NEDC for coming up with ICT initiative, Bauchi State Government will work with you in this very important project to ensure its execution in our state.”
The Governor added that, “My administration is improving ICT in governance and skill acquisition in order to advance knowledge driven interventions and will continue to initiate ICT policy to improve performance.”
The Governor said that the state government is ready to work with critical stakeholders in the information technology sector to strengthen its technology entrepreneurship ecosystem.
On the distribution of learning materials to public and private primary schools, COVID-19 preventive items and Agricultural inputs to organized groups as well as security agencies in the state, the governor assured of continued partnership with the North East Development Commission to enable the state benefit maximally from its projects.
He said that, “Let me thank His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari for the establishment of this Commission which is working towards addressing our challenges in the North East as well as improving the living conditions of the people of the region.
On his part, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf commended Bauchi state government for working in synergy with the North East Development Commission and assured of the support of the National Assembly for the development of the North East sub region.
Earlier, the Managing Director of the North East Development Commission, Mohammed Alkali said the overall objective of the Commission’s ICT programme is to improve access to information technology resources within the North East zone and empower the population with the necessary vocational education, skills and tools that will make them self reliant.
The Managing Director said 176 participated from the ICT training from Bauchi state sponsored by the Commission adding that, already 1200 candidates have been selected to participate in the second batch of the training.
“Your Excellency, it is my pleasure to congratulate our ICT training beneficiaries. I am optimistic that they are now fully equipped with ICT skills of computer graphics and cell phone repairs.”
“To mark the successful completion of the training, each of you will be kitted with a free starter packs and the sum of twenty thousand naira to enable you hit the ground running.”
Meanwhile, Governor Bala Mohammed after the presentation of the certificates and starter packs at the Government House Bauchi, commissioned an ICT Resources Centre initiated by the North East Development Commission at Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi.