The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, on Thursday, commissioned an Information Communication and Technology, ICT Innovation Hub in Katsina State.
In a statement, the Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations Unit of the agency, Hadiza Umar said the Hub is one among the six to be established by the NITDA in all the geo-political zones of the Country.
According to her, the hub which is situated at Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management, KSITM, is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to tackle unemployment among youths.
During the commissioning, Governor Aminu Masari, noted that the state has long recognized the importance of ICT, hence the establishment of KSITM to offer training in national diploma and degree certificates for the state indigenes and Nigerians at large.
Mr Masari, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mustapha Inuwa, added that the institute, which hosts the ICT Incubation Hub had been given unrelenting attention to champion the buildup process towards ultimate e-Governance in the state
According to him, Research and Development becomes a veritable platform for socio-economic upliftment of the teeming unemployed youths who will venture into competitive global entrepreneurship in ICT.
While delivering his keynote address, the Director General NITDA, Isa Ali-Pantami, stated that the state had been providing enabling environment for a strategic partnerships that attract investments in ICT and other sectors of the economy.
According to the DG, the establishment of KSITM, the MTN Livestock Tracking Solution; and the Mobile Electricity Service are some of the strategic partnership that will transform the State.
“All these efforts of the state government informed the choice of Katsina State and KSITM to host the Hub,” he added.
The DG further stated that the country under the leadership Mr Buhari is seeking to minimize her dependency on oil by diversifying the economy to evolve entirely new industries and enable the existing ones.
He said: “The main driver of these industries is ICT. Therefore, we must encourage and empower our pool of young talented youths to take advantage of the digital era.
“Innovation Hub is a social work space and research centre that provides the subject matter expertise on technology trends, knowledge and strategic innovation management.
“It is also an avenue to enhance learning and research through digital access to academic resources in educational institutions.
“The Hub is designed to increase digital penetration, provide youths with access to digital and online content through eLearning applications for effective learning and self-employment.”
