By Flowerbudnews
Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State says urgent need for the diversification of Nigeria’s economy from mono oil economy can be achieved through the emerging information technology.
Mbah said this Wednesday while inaugurating the South East Zonal Office of the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) in Enugu.
The governor said that there was compelling need to diversify the economy which he believed that “investment into the Information Technology space would do the magic.”
He also said that the gesture of opening NITDA office in Enugu would open more horizon for the teeming Nigerian youths and move the country closer to their dream of diversifying the economic stream.
“The need and urgency to diversify our economy, both at national and sub-national levels, has never been more compelling than now and there are few sectors that hold the opportunities for us to accomplish that like the Information Technology space,” he said.
He said that merely having the opportunities without bringing them to fruition would not bring about the desired need to diversify the economy and the new NITDA office was a move in the right direction to actualise the dream.
“It is an opportunity for our teeming youths to have a platform to improve themselves to a life long skills set that will prepare them for the dynamic global world space today and tomorrow,” he said.
Speaking, Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, said that the Enugu Zonal Office would serve as
“a permanent bridge between national policy and local potential.”
Tijani said that inauguration of the NITDA Regional Office in Enugu was more than the opening of a building; adding: “It is the establishment of a permanent bridge between national policy and local potential.”
According to him, this in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President to reposition Nigeria for economic fortunes.
“It is a strategic move under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu – a commitment to decentralising opportunity, deepening inclusion, and unlocking the full power of Nigeria’s digital economy across every region.
“By placing NITDA closer to the people right here in the South-East, we are saying clearly: no region should have to wait for innovation to reach them. Innovation must grow with them,” he said.
The minister explained that the NITDA office would serve as an engine room for digital skills development, through programmes like the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative.
“There will be support for startups and indigenous tech solutions; regulatory advisory, to help businesses thrive within the frameworks that protect Nigerians, and closer partnerships with state governments, academia, and the private sector,” he added.
