Follow Us on Google
By Vincent Kalu
Recently, the Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti commissioned the Aba ICT Centre of Studies / GSM Mall.
Pastor Lazarus Muoka, General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Revival Charismatic Movement, Nze George Ezeibekwe, chairman of Abia GSM and Component Dealers Association, and some of the market excos
The ICT centre, located at Danfodio-Etche Road by Kent Street, was built by the Abia GSM and Component Dealers Association, under a Private Public Partnership (PPP) basis.
The governor used the occasion to highlight the massive infrastructural development he is carrying out in the state, especially in Aba, which he said was to bring back the glory of the foremost commercial town.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Science and Technology, Emmanuel Chima Oriaku, he noted that the four-lane dualisation of the Owerrinta -Waterside-Umuoba Road will commence very soon.
He further pointed out that his administration has awarded the construction of Port Harcourt Road, Aba, to construction giants, Julius Berger.
While commending the Abia GSM and Component Dealers Association for complementing his administration’s resolve to enhance the potential and ingenuity of Abia youth through technological knowhow, he reiterated that skills acquisition, poverty alleviation, job creation and capacity building remain the hallmark of his administration.
In his remarks, the President, Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Chief Jerry Kalu, eulogised the forthrightness of the association for erecting such magnificent edifice that will provide learning and training hub for the youth to equip themselves with knowledge and skills needed to ignite a wave of skills innovation and economic empowerment.
In his words of exaltation, the founder and General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement, Pastor Lazarus Mouka, who was one of the special guests, reminded everyone that any foundation without God’s approval will not stand. He enjoined everybody to always acknowledge God in order to succeed in life.
In his keynote address, the Chairman, Abia GSM and Component Dealers Association, Aba, Nze George Ezeibekwe, disclosed that the ICT centre is a diploma awarding institution that has the capacity to train over 5,000 youths in different fields of digital skills acquisition and learning.
According to him, the edifice is adjudged to be the best and the first of its kind in Abia and in the South East. Going back memory lane, he noted that the vision was conceived in 2009, an idea aimed at bringing all the artisans and dealers of GSM and its allied products into a cluster to promote their professional efficiency and bridge the gap in the acquisition of skill in Abia State in particular and Nigeria in general.
Their mission, he said was to, “explore and exploit the inherent skills, talents and potentialities in our learning youth through entrepreneurship, internship and apprenticeship without educational qualifications and to create global linkages for economic and social mobility that will enhance foreign exchange earnings for the state and national development.”
On how the project was initiated, Ezeibekwe said, the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), which was introduced in Nigeria in 2002, was quickly embraced by Abians and Aba in particular in 2004.
“So, as the business of ICT evolved, we discovered that it has made the world a global village and that it stands out to be the lifeline towards the growth and sustainability of the economy of any nation through job creation in the field of digital skill acquisition and trade.
“In 2014, we initiated the process of bringing the GSM dealers into a cluster by starting a building project of an ICT Centre of Studies and GSM Mall at School Road, under the leadership of the late Comrade Greg Ehiemere, but the project was later demolished by the immediate past government. But due to our unparallel zeal, determination, resilience and resolve to actualise our vision, we were not deterred by the tragic experience.
“In 2019, we initiated another process of actualising our dream by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Abia State government to establish an ICT Centre of Studies and GSM Mall on Private Public Partnership (PPP) basis, with the government donating the land, while we build the structure on the basis of Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT).
“To God be the glory, today we are all gathered here to celebrate the inauguration of the centre,” he stated.
He poured encomiums on Governor Otti for the massive infrastructural development that has started making positive impact on the ease of doing business in Abia, especially in Aba, and the appointment of seasoned technocrat as commissioners.
“We are grateful to the Commissioner for SME and Digital Economy whose consistent visits, motivations and encouragement have seen us through. We must solemnly thank our able governor; through the Commissioner for SME and Digital Economy, 10 of our members have been shortlisted for SME grant as financial empowerment,” Ezeibekwe said.
The chairman of the association further appealed to the governor to extend the rehabilitation roads to the ICT centre for easy access. He also pleaded for the provision of a security post in the complex.
On their plans to relocate to the new market, the chairman stated: “We have made available some substantial number of shops to support our members who could not make outright purchase to stay for one year without any payment to cushion the effect of the relocation exercise. Also we have organised ourselves to move into our permanent site by the first week of January 2023.”
The ceremony attracted the presence of the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assemble, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa; the Commissioner for Trade Commerce and Industry Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu; Commissioner for Digital Economy and SME, Mathew Ekwuribe; HRM Eze DN Emejiaka, and other top government officials and captains of industry.
