Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami has projected Ogun state to develop over the next years as Nigeria’s Silicon Valley. This prediction is a result of Ogun state’s adoption of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiative which is set to be applied in all of its governmental sectors. Silicon Valley is located in the San Francisco Bay area in California State, USA, popularly regarded as the home of numerous global start-ups and technology-based companies like Apple, Facebook and Google.
Prior, Ogun state’s governor, Dapo Abiodun had been making efforts to inculcate the state as a technological hub. He commenced by the unveiling of the Ogun state portal that helps with linking youths with job opportunities. Since, other measures to improve the state’s technological development like the laying of over 5000km of fiber optics cables to further increase the internet connectivity. The state also launched an open living lab and pre-incubation space, a technological hub scheduled to improve creativity in the state.
Computer Society to hold their international conference in Abeokuta.
Pantami made this statement in his visit to Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun with the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS). The president of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Professor Simeon Sodiya also noted that while the visit aimed at informing the state’s governor of the society’s international conference which is themed “Smart, Secure and Sustainable Nation”, and is scheduled to be held in Abeokuta. He highly praised the governor’s policies at developing Information and communication technology in the state.
The Ogun state government have inculcated technology to improve the areas of finance, land administration, ICT hub and job portals and other sectors. Professor Sodiya further asserted that the society’s members have seen huge signs from the government that indicates the improvements in the information and communication technology development by implementing programs that will enhance the growth in the state. Thus, the conference is set to reward the society with immense opportunities to brainstorm ideas that will further help in developing the state.
Administration using technology to improve their business environment.
Information Technology of the state, Governor Abiodun in response, stated that the state was working on further developing the technology level in the state. He asserted that he had seen immense improvements in the learner certificate number, when the digital curriculum infrastructures in education were completed. Recognizing the impactful place of Information Technology in changing the world, the governor asserted that his administration was putting in place, infrastructures and mechanisms to create a conducive environment for business by the use of technology.
One of the mechanisms initiated by the administration was the idea of “The Governor’s Challenge”, which was introduced at the Ogun Tech-up to pick out tech prospects. He also alluded this initiation as an opportunity to inculcate youths with technology knowledge and divert them from indulging in negative practices. On how the state was engendering technology with its affairs, Governor Dapo Abiodun stated that technology is used in all the state’s economic sectors.
NCS to initiate ICT programs that will be accessible to Nigerians.
Further outlining the state’s accomplishments with technological advancements the governor noted that a technological paradigm, which they regarded as Ogun Teach was used during the pandemic to reach out and aid children’s education in the state. He also stated that technology has helped globalize Adire, one of the state’s leading economic product. He however praised the Nigeria Computer Society for choosing to host their conference in Ogun state, charging them to introduce ICT programs that would be impactful and more accessible to Nigerians.
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