Omobola applauds AKS government on ICT

Akwa Ibom State Government has been applauded for putting in place projects and programmes that are ICT driven.

The Honourable Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson who made the commendation at the 2nd meeting of the National Council on Communication Technology held in Akure, Ondo State said that the Akpabio-led administration has taken steps on leveraging ICT for social and economic development of the State with the establishment of Information and Communication Technology infrastructure in the State. 

Mrs. Johnson also commended Ondo, Osun and Ekiti States for initiating ICT programmes, stressing that such initiatives have impacted on the socio-economic lives of the citizenry and therefore urged other States to establish institutional frameworks for coordinating ICT matters.

While highlighting the strategic importance of the National Council on Communication Technology towards facilitating inter-governmental consultations on ICT matters, the Honourable Minister called for synergy amongst all levels of government, national and sub-national institutions for the sustainability of the progress so far made in the ICT sector.

Declaring the conference open, the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko urged the Ministry of Communication Technology to concentrate on policy enunciation, setting standard and ensuring compliance by stakeholders and practitioners.

He also solicited for partnership between government and the private sector to ensure Nigeria transit from being a consumer nation to be productive in ICT software and tools given its vast potentials.

Goodwill messages were presented by the Chairman, House Committee on Communication, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, President of Computer Society of Nigeria, Prof. Adewumi among others.

At the end of the 4-day conference, a-16 point communiqué was issued with a call on State Governments to develop ICT policies that are aligned to the National ICT Policy among other things.

Honourable Commissioners and officials of Information and Communication Technology, Science and Technology and other related areas from 23 States of the Federation and FCT attended the Conference.

Delegates from Akwa Ibom State were drawn from the State Ministries of Information and Communications and Science and Technology.  They include the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. AniekanUmanah, Commissioner for Science and Technology, Engr. IboroEkanem, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr. EmmanAsanga, Director, Information Technical Service, Mr. Inyang Jameson, Mr. Dominic Essien and Mr. Aniekan Ukpopng.