Kaduna State Government says it will work with public and private sectors that will bring innovative ideas that will create jobs for the citizens.
The State Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, made the assertion during an official opening and commissioning of the Kaduna technology Hub on Friday in Kaduna.
The Kada Hive innovation technology which is an initiative of the Kaduna State Government and Bank of Industry seeks to increase technology innovation and adoption in businesses within the state.
“As a government, we are desirous of creating favorable businesses to clients that promote growths for business across the spectrum of economy along other initiative of the government,” Balarabe said.
According to her, the hubs will serve as an enabler in making the ICT entrepreneurs to tap the huge potentials of the global digital economy.
“As we continue to pursue our vision of making Kaduna State a destination choice for private business, we will continue to build the productive capacity of the youths, especially in ICT,” she stated.
Balarabe said that the Kada Tech Hubs has been designed to provide workspace, dedicated power supply, internet connectivity and other facilities for individual groups involved in the business of technology and innovation.
She said the initiative would also bring about increase in productivity and enable individuals doing business without office to pursue their dreams of creating productive service.
Balarabe said that the hubs would also improved the state technology and innovation efforts as well as build relevant skills for those involved in technological business.
She commended the bank of industry for partnering with the state government in providing and delivering of the Kada Hive and using its resources to promote technology innovation in Kaduna and the nation at large.
“Our vision is to make Kaduna state the leader in ICT hubs. We are committed to the establishment of various ICT technology villages across the state for the purpose of improving the capacities of the citizens and enhancing their responsiveness to grow more dynamic digital village,” the deputy governor said.
The Chairman, Bank of industry, Alhaji Abduraham Tukur, had earlier said that the initiative was part of the bank cooperate social responsibility Programmes targeted at promoting youths entrepreneurship, job creation in new technology and innovation among youths.
Tukur said the vision of the bank is to transform the Nigerian industrial sector by providing financial and business support.
He noted that the rising unemployment among youths is seen as a challenge, hence, the need for the adoption of high technology demographic as a potential enabler for national growth.
Tukur said the programme is designed for the young people in the state to enable them channel their creativity and hatch productivity to an impactful ends rather than engaging in social vices.
According to him, the hubs is aligned with the presidential initiative of lifting over 100 million people out of poverty in 10 years .
He said the bank is working with the national Small and medium Enterprises (SMEs) clinic in the presidency and has sponsored the setting up of a Tamatoes Processing Plant while N181 million has already been disbursed.
Tukur said that the plant, located in Maigana, Soba Local Government Area of the state, would be equipped with machineries capable of processing raw tomatoes into paste.
The State Commissioner, Business Innovation Technology, Mr Idris Nyam, called on cooperate organizations to come and establish more research centres so as to develop ICT in Kaduna.
“We appreciate the fact that govenment cannot do it all alone but organizations are coming to support the people of Kaduna State,” Nyam said.