The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, on Tuesday, assured that the Federal Government would not relent in its efforts at promoting Digital innovation and Entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths.
He insisted that doing so would make the youths become job providers and contribute to the growth of the nation’s economy.
The minister gave the assurance while commissioning an IT Innovation centre (hub) named after the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), in Katsina State.
Pantami said the world economy had moved from being dominated by those in the oil and gas sector to those in the Information and Technology.
He cited individuals such as Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates and institutions such as the Silicon Valley and the Massacheuttes University of Technology, insisting that the ambition of the federal government was to have individuals and institutions that would attain the same greatness and wealth through Information and Technology.
According to him, Nigeria needs to create a conducive environment and mentorship that would encourage talented youths in the IT sector, adding that this informed the Federal Government to build the IT centre in Katsina state.
The minister said “ Digital Innovation and Digital Entrepreneurship are the prerequisites for Digital economy. Leading nations today in Europe, Switzerland, Asia, South Korea and the United States excel in Digital innovation and Digital entrepreneurship have a strong economy.
“Nigeria cannot and should not be left behind. That is why this kind of IT hub where our youths’ needs in Information Technology would be monitored while we shall continue to mentor them so that they will end up being job providers and successful IT individuals such as Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates of this world.
“A centre like this will help the federal government and the state government to discover our talented youths and mentor them so that they will become job providers and contribute to the nation’s economy.’
The minister had earlier while speaking at the prize presentation ceremony for the winners of just concluded Katsina state National Talent Hunt Challenge, revealed that the state was blessed with a lot of talented youths who need to be encouraged to realize their potentials, especially in the Information Technology sector.
Speaking at the event, the Katsina state Governor, Aminu Masari, also assured that the state would continue to encourage youths in the state to embrace Information Technology.
The governor said the newly commissioned IT hub would be put into good use under the state Institute of Science and Technology.
