From Esther Akaa, Lafia
Nasarawa State government says it would continue to improve its economy through infrastructural development, industrialisation and digitisation of processes and use of Information, Communication Technology (ICT) for economic prosperity of the state.
The Director General (DG) Nasarawa State Bureau for Information Communication Technology (BICT), Malam Shehu Ibrahim, stated this at a press conference organised by the bureau, in collaboration with the state Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, as part of activities commemorating the 2021 Digital Nigeria Day which is celebrated every October 24, held on Friday in Lafia.
According to him, Governor Abdullahi Sule was working round the clock to transform the economy of the state through digital economy, hence his nomination for the 2021 Information Technology Governor of the Year award by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), holding in November this year.
He said the vision of the present administration is built on the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS) document, describing it as a blue print to put the state among the top three most competitive in Nigeria by 2023, in terms of sustained accelerated growth, increased economic opportunities, and improved quality of lives of the citizenry, among others.
“This year’s theme is “Digital Transformation: A path to Sustainable Digital Economy” which is in line with the vision of Nasarawa State.
“The Digital Nigeria Day will provide an opportunity to identify and promote success stories and leading lights in the expansion of Nigeria’s Digital Economy.
“It will focus on all strata of society, including young innovators, the elderly, people living with disabilities, internally displaced persons, etc.The activities surrounding the celebration will also incorporate a robust media enlightenment campaign.
“ICT has been one of the key areas that this administration has focused on, through regulating, training, restructuring, re-equipping, developing and making an enabler for the economy, through keying into the digital economy and digital service delivery,” he said.
The DG congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to the growth of digital economy, which according to him was a continuous drive towards repositioning the non-oil sector to take the centre stage in driving the growth of Nigeria’s economy.
He commended the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami for making digital literacy the pathway to success and the key to securing the nation.
He, therefore, called on the people of state to continue to support the administration of Governor Sule in its efforts, aimed at developing the through youth development and the use of digital technologies to enhance visibility and eliminate inefficiencies, with necessary tools for digitalisation of the economy.
He also called on the people of the state to vote for the governor for the National Information Technology Merit Awards.
The Voice reports that Governor Sule has been nominated for the award alongside the Governors of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Muhammad and Enugu State, Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the voting for the IT Governor of the year began on October 20, 2021 and will end on November 16, 2021.