The Federal Government has given an assurance that it would not relent in its efforts at promoting Digital innovation and Digital Entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths.
The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, gave the assurance on Tuesday while commissioning an IT Innovation centre (hub) named after President Muhammadu Buhari in Katsina State.
According to him, this development would make the youths become job providers and contribute to the growth of the nation’s economy.
While retriating the importance of this development, the Minister said the world economy had moved from being dominated by those in the oil and gas sector to those in the Information and Technology, citing individuals such as Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates and institutions such as the Silicon Valley and the Massacheuttes University of Technology.
He stressed 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.’