As part of its resolution to establish Information and Communications technology Hub across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) yesterday commissioned an ICT Innovation Hub in Katsina State, the home state of Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari.
According to a statement signed by Mrs Hadiza Umar, Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations Unit at NITDA, the federal government whose part of its mandates is to build capacity said it decided to start with Katsina because it is one of the most populous states in the North Western region of Nigeria.
Apart from that, katsina has a high number of productive youths, and the State also has given adequate attention to the ICT sector in the past through increasing commitment to exploit the latest trends in ICT for the development of the State.
The statement quoted the Director General of NITDA, Isa Pantami, as saying that Katsina State has been providing enabling environment that encourages strategic partnerships on initiatives that attract investments in ICT and other sectors of the economy.
Pantami cited the establishment of Kastina State Institute of Technology and Management (KSITM to drive technological innovations in the State and environs; the MTN Livestock Tracking Solution; and the Mobile Electricity Service as informing the choice of Katsina State and KSITM to host the Hub.
The Executive Governor, RT. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, who was ably represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Mustapha Mohammed Inuwa, noted that Katsina State has long recognized the importance of ICT and in the pursuit of using ICT for national development, the State has established Kastina State Institute of Technology and Management (KSITM) to offer training in national diploma and degree certificates for Katsina State indigenes and Nigerians at large.
KSITM, which hosts the ICT Incubation Hub has been given unrelenting attention to champion the buildup process towards ultimate e-Governance in the state through Research and Development to become a veritable platform for socio-economic upliftment of the teeming unemployed youths who will venture into competitive global entrepreneurship in ICT.