Shittu Lauds NITDA on Projects, Seeks Speedy Delivery

By Adedeji Fakorede

Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu has lauded National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA’s) projects and said he is fully in support of the Agency’s programmes and calls for speedy delivery of them.

He expressed his delight with the Agency during ministerial briefing of the Ministry of Communications held at the minster’s conference room featuring National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) been led by Mr. Peter Jack, the director general, and his management team.

According to the minister, the Agency has to put more efforts in the delivery of its programmes and services especially to the local communities for empowerment and economic growth of the nation.

Adding that IT penetration in the country will make the impact of governance felt among the people.

He however advised that, virtual library can be deployed to schools within the shortest time by tasking schools to provide the building where these equipments can be deployed. By so doing, the schools will be encouraged to key into the programme.

Barr. Shittu said, a schedule should be drawn for him to visit some of the RITCs noting that their presence there will awaken the people’s attention about the centre.

Earlier, the DG in his presentation highlighted the activities of the Agency to the minister. Stating that, NITDA was established by the approval of the National Information Technology Policy in March 2001 by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) while the enabling act was passed into law in April 2007.

He added that NITDA was created to set standards, guidelines, regulate, monitor, evaluate and verify progress of Information Technology sector in Nigeria which made it the clearing house of IT products and services in the country.

He further elaborated that, Information and Communication Technology 4 Development (ICT4D) is the development plan driving the activities of the Agency, focusing on the strategic plans namely:  e-government, e-agriculture, e-commerce and e-learning which will create a platform for each sector to monitor and organize its activities.

Jack shed more light into various developmental programmes for growth and national development.

The programmes ranging from Rural Information Technology Centre (RITC) now Public Access Venues (PAV) in 300 Local Government Area across the country, 194 IT Infrastructure in schools, now Knowledge Access Venue (KAV), award of scholarship to 296 for master degree and 30 for PhD, pilot solar kiosk and establishment of virtual libraries in schools e.t.c.

He further said as part of NITDA’s mandate on capacity building, it has trained unemployed youths, NYSC members, ICT Directors from MDAs and security personnel. Adding that NITDA will deliver more of its mandate if given the necessary support from the ministry.