By Emmanuel Antswen
Makurdi – Gov. Samuel Ortom on Wednesday said his administration would partner with Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) to improve digital education in the country.
Ortom made this known in Makurdi while declaring open a two-day North Central Zone workshop on “Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Utilisation and Sustainability organised by USPF.
The governor, who was represented by the Head of Service (HOS), Mr George Edeh described ICT as the sole key to economic successes worldwide.
He assured of his readiness to partner with any credible organisation for improved digital education of the people of the state.
He said that the people needed to understand that ICT was beyond chatting on social media because of its numerous economic benefits, pledging to do everything to ensure the sustainability of ICT in the state.
Ortom disclosed that his administration had already submitted a bill for the establishment of the state Information Development Technology Center and had provided land for the office accommodation.
In his welcome address, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta said that the workshop was to consult with beneficiaries of School Knowledge Centre Initiative from the zone.
Danbatta, who was represented by the Head, Strategy Corporate Performance and Monitoring (USPF), Mr Kelechi Nwankwo said that the aim was to promote innovation, investment, competition.
He said that the initiative would also ensure consumer empowerment in and on top of the communications platforms of today and the future.
“By doing this, we intend to maximise the power of the information and communications technology to grow our economy, create jobs and enhance national competitiveness through the deployment of broadband infrastructure.
“This infrastructure will facilitate the rollout of broadband services that will unleash opportunities and higher network quality service for all Nigerians,’’ he said.
The NCC boss said that the workshop included a capacity development session to enlighten stakeholders on global trends and national objectives of NCC programmes.
He said that the event was an opportunity for stakeholders to interact with Universal Service Provision Fund in identifying sustainability solutions for two key projects.
The projects are Community Resource Centre (CRC) and School Knowledge Centre (SKC).
The Secretary, Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), Mr Ayuba Shuaibu said the agency is the Federal Government body responsible for the facilitating the achievement of national policy goals for universal access to ICTs in rural, un-served and under-served areas in Nigeria.
Shuaibu said that the aim was for the people to contribute substantially to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) objectives on telecommunications and ICT.
He said that the ultimate objective of the system was to promote greater social equity and inclusion for the people of Nigeria and to contribute to national economic, social and cultural development on the nation.
“To achieve these objectives, USPF will continue to implement programmes to reduce the country’s Digital Poverty Status, which is the lack of means to access ICTs, lack of skills to use and adequate information about its usefulness.
“We also intend to deliver e-initiatives and other services to provide universal access to information and communication services in un-served areas, link communities, facilitate trade and commerce, and empower rural communities socially, economically and politically. (NAN)
