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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has described technology as an indispensable modern age accelerator for development and the gateway to the opportunities of the 21 Century.
Otti who stated this while declaring open the State-level Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Reforms Enabling Digital Transformation (SPRIRET) programme in Umuahia, charged stakeholders to identify ways of leveraging digital technology to solve community challenges.
Governor Otti, in his speech titled, “Partnership and the Dreams of Tomorrow”, charged stakeholders to share thoughts on how the technology regulatory architecture can be re-engineered to cut down structural barriers and stimulate private sector investments.
“My charge to all of us, as I declare this event formally open, is to identify ways of leveraging the possibilities of digital technology to solve much of the real problems confronting our communities with particular attention to security challenges, unemployment, post-harvest losses for agro produce, urban property rentals, environmental degradation and other challenges that threaten our economic and social wellbeing.
“This is the age of knowledge where wealth is tied to the capacity to create solutions that enrich the human experience. The task for us therefore is to identify the operational vehicles for harnessing the opportunities that have been offered us by the genius of technology and the limitless capacity that it holds for our social and economic transformation,” Gov. Otti stated.
“The general idea is to liberalise the gains of the digital solutions revolution for expanded benefits. The State-level Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Reforms Enabling Digital Transformation (SPRIRET) initiative has been set up by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK FCDO) to support States to develop robust policy frameworks, create resilient systems and build critical institutions that are foundational to the development of connected and accountable digital economic ecosystems”.
He said that the commitment to technology development, particularly Information and Communication Technology, has spurred unprecedented growth of the tech ecosystem in Abia.
“The government, through the TechRise skills acquisition programme, has sponsored the training of more than 2,200 young people on a wide-range of in-demand ICT skills. The focused training programme offered at TechRise has opened for several beneficiaries, the door to local and international job opportunities, collaborations and new ventures Otti revealed.
The Governor commended the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Jonny Baxter, and the immediate-past British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, for their interest in Abia State.
Speaking, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Baxter said the United Kingdom is pleased to partner with Abia State on the initiative, describing digital technology as an important tool for improving public services, creating economic opportunities and strengthening government effectiveness.
Mr. Baxter said the partnership reflects the shared commitment of the UK and Abia State to building a supportive digital environment, adding that meaningful progress requires leadership, collaboration and active participation of the private sector, civil society, academia and the wider technology ecosystem.
He disclosed that the UK has already supported about 450 civil servants in Abia to upgrade their digital skills, while community-owned connectivity hubs are being developed to expand affordable access to digital services and improve digital literacy.
The Chief Information Officer to the State Government, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe said the programme would assess the State’s digital ecosystem and identify areas for improvement across government, the private sector, civil society, the technology ecosystem and digital inclusion.
Ilukwe noted that the State has made progress in digital infrastructure, connectivity, e-health services, digital public administration and support for technology entrepreneurs, adding that the administration is pursuing a whole-of-government approach to ICT to promote efficiency and avoid duplication.
He disclosed that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), through its Digital Access Programme, is supporting five Nigerian States, including Abia, to undertake policy, regulatory and institutional reforms for digital development.
