The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy has commissioned a digital device project tagged Project 774 Local Government Connectivity.
The project which was commissioned on Wednesday 8 of May, 2024 at the Local Government Secretariat is an initiative of the Ministry under the Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani and aimed to enhance governance, increase youths’ technical engagement and productivity at the grassroots levels.
While addressing salient reporters during the commissioning, a representative of the Nigeria Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT), Engr. Adewale Bello said,” This is a Federal Government project, an initiative of the Honorable Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Hon. Bosun Tijani and anchored by two parastatals under the ministry. The project is about digital economy, e-services, and e-government. The government is trying to promote technology across local governments and especially, to engage the youths who don’t know much about data analysis, cybersecurity, robotic science, and artificial intelligence, the purpose is to make the youths ICT-inclined.”
Speaking further, Engr. Bello said through the 774 local governments connectivity project, the local government can leverage the opportunity to have a training session with all the youths in the local government to learn about technology which is digital economy, e-services e-government, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
On the benefit of the digital facility, he added that a particular local government can connect to another local government through the facility. He also said the chairman of the council can hold a conference meeting with other executives or make upward communication through the facility.
In his reaction, the Transition Implementation Committee Chairman, Hon. Jare Olatundun commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving priority to technology advancement in Nigeria. He applauded the Honorable Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy for the initiative geared toward achieving a tech-savvy society to solve problems.
According to him, “It is a great honor for Offa as a community to witness the official handing over of the digital technology device, which is the first of its kind in any Local Government since the inception of Kwara State.
“What is happening today is a testimony that we have a government that is responsive to the party manifesto. We appreciate Mr. President for approving this kind of project to come up at the grassroots level.
“It is one of the ways to curb social vices and curb the youths to go into waywardness is by putting them through this kind of digital economy program.
“We also extend our appreciation to our performing, highly transparent Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq. Being made Chairman of the Governors ‘ Forum is not by error, he has all that is required. If the governor’s forum did not approve the initiative through his leadership, probably, this would not have come to fruition.”
Also speaking, Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President, Alhaji Tosho Yunus Alabi thanked the Honorable Minister for choosing Offa as one of the pilot local governments in the first category. He assured the Government of judicious utilization of the facility to enrich the youths that form a larger percentage of the population in the local government.
While the Provost, College of Health Technology, Offa Dr. Abdulrauf Aliu appreciated the government on behalf of Offa Local Government.
” I appreciate the President, Governor, and the Honorable Minister who initiated this project. This digital facility will form a means of engaging our youths meaningful, and it will also serve as a means of enhancing security through a strategic communication mechanism,” he said.
