ICT ignorance ‘a threat to Vision 20:2020’
GOVERNMENT
By BiztechAfrica – Sept. 30, 2013, 8:14 a.m.
By Kokumo Goodie, Lagos, Nigeria
Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) says if the pervasive ignorance about information communication technology (ICT) in and out of government is not addressed, attainment of Vision 20:2020 of the Federal Government will remain a mirage.
NITDA is the clearing house for IT projects in the public sector with the mandate to bring government and its services closer to the people through IT. It was also created to implement of the National IT policy, which seeks to make Nigeria an IT capable country in no distant future.
The Acting Director General, NITDA, Dr. Ashiru Daura, said Nigeria is taking the back seat in global rankings as shown by the country’s position on the global e-readiness index. Daura said though ICT penetration was gradually improving, there is need to do more and occupy the front seat in Africa.
He canvassed for mass enlightenment and collaboration about ICT. “The Transformation Agenda and achieving Vision 20:2020 also require IT,” he posited.
Daura spoke while playing host to the delegation of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) in Abuja led by its new president, Professor David Adewumi, in Abuja.
He said NCS had been playing an important role in accelerating IT development in Nigeria and recommended that NCS and NITDA meet to create an action plan over the issue of ignorance, advising that both organizations should strengthen their relationship for better mileage and benefit for the nation.
The NCS boss solicited for strategic partnerships in programmes and projects relating to research and development (R&D), cybersecurity, IT-enabled employment generation, promotion of excellence and professionalism in the industry and IT policy formulation that are of immense benefit to the country.
Adewumi commended NITDA’s boss for not only sponsoring but also taking time out to attend NCS’s last conference at Iloko Ijesa, Osun State. He said the goals of NITDA are in line with the core objectives of the NCS.
