Dele Ogbodo in Abuja
The management of the National Information Technology Development Centre (NITDA), on Tuesday commissioned a fully equipped Information Communications Technology (ICT) Centre, otherwise called Knowledge Access Venues (KAV), for serving youth corps members in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
At the commissioning of the centre in Kubwa, FCT, the acting Director General of NITDA, Mr. Vincent Olatunji, pledged the agency’s commitment to establish additional 36 ICT Centres in all NYSC orientation camps across the country.
He said the essence of establishing the Centres is to align the country to the shift of using ICT knowledge and tools to drive economies of the world.
According to him, the development is a paradigm from people and government relying on resource to create jobs and wealth for the citizens.
The DG, expressed optimism that the agency will cover the entire within the next three months, adding that the need to equip the orientation camps was the outcome of a survey it carried out in 2000 on the state of ICT infrastructure in schools across the con try.
He said: “The expectation of NITDA is that these Centres will become a knowledge centre to be used by the Corpers for self and capital development that will help in advancing Nigeria to knowledge economy.”
In a remark, the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier Sule Zakari Kazaure, commended NITDA for the assistance and partnership to develop the youths through ICT.
He said: “That the NYSC has the biggest collection of the youth segment capable of transforming the country cannot be overemphasised.
“Therefore, technological investment in the scheme by critical stakeholders such as NITDA is very important.”
He promised that the agency will guarantee its fair use and maintenance for posterity and national development.
While urging the management of FCT NYSC to make use of it, he added that the agency will provide broadband access to the venue for 365 days after which the centre will be expected to sustain itself.
In another development, Olatunji while also commissioning another KAV at Abaji Council, urged the Local Government Chairman, Mr. Abdulrahman Ajia and the traditional ruler of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa, to make the venue accessible to the entire community.
According to him, the tenacity of the traditional ruler in demanding for the facilities coupled with the interest of Ajia, no doubt, contributed to the speedy delivery of the facility made of 15 desk top computer, printer, photo copy machine and a large wall monitor.
They expressed happiness that the facility will improve the knowledge of the community, adding that citizens can access its programmes and projects now on its website.
