NAN-H-169
ICT
By Cecilia John
Abuja, Feb. 9, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to establishing Information Communication Technology (ICT) University and an ICT National Park to boost the nation’s economy.
Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, made this known to newsmen shortly after defending the ministry’s 2017 budget at the National Assembly in Abuja on Thursday.
He said that the ministry was aware of the economic challenges faced by the nation and pointed out that the only way out of the problem was not to get stuck in it but to keep investing.
“One will wonder the possibility of executing these two projects amidst economic recession.
“However, I want to tell you that the best option available now is to keep investing, ‘’ he said.
On advantages of the ICT Park in the face of the current recession, the minister said that it would serve as a hub where ICT experts across the world would gather.
He stated that Nigeria was a big market in ICT where Facebook experts and others would like to patronize.
“We have what it takes in terms of ICT market where people like Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and others would like to come.
“The park will create jobs and increase people’s ingenuity in ICT,’’ he said.
He was optimistic that the land which was volunteered for the Park by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would be released in good time.
He said that the proposed university would use digital bridge infrastructure spread across the six geopolitical zones. (NAN)
CJM/NNL/OPI/OPI
Edited by Olisa Ifeajika