The Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Kim Young-Chae, has disclosed that South Korea will share its development experience with Nigeria and Cameroun.
He made the disclosure at a three day workshop organised by Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica) in Abuja for Cameroun where the camerounian e-government delegation is expected to study the Nigerian e-government policy implementation.
Speaking to Journalists, the Ambassador said that Korea is the most developed country when it comes to ICT and that his country is going to share its development experience with Nigeria.
“As you know Korea is the most developed country in ICT, telecom sectors and e-government. Our government want to share our development experience on ICT, e-government etc with Nigeria because Nigeria is the most populous country and most economy in Africa. We have very strong relations with Nigeria for the past 10 years,” he said
Education and digital economy
According to Young-Chae, Korea will share their experience with Nigeria through education and digital economy.
“We are assisting Nigeria in two areas; education and digital economy. We are investing in smarter schools, and we are looking for seven schools within Nigeria (middle and high schools),” he said
He also said that Nigeria needed to have very good relationship with her neighbours because it is good for the country and the citizenry.
“Nigeria and Cameroon will build common interest, common understanding and common network to help each other,” he stated
The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Professor Isa Pantami represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bitus Bako said that Nigeria has benefited tremendously from the implementation of e-government project in the country.
“The country has benefited tremendously as a result of the implementation of e-government. Such benefits include cost saving efficiency in service delivery, enhanced transparency and accountability, improved public administration, growth of ICT sector, provision of employment opportunities and improved economic development of our digital economy,” he said.
The key note address speaker and head of the camerounian delegation
Tabod Jacqueline who is also the Inspector General, Ministry of public service and administrative reforms said they came to Nigeria to learn and that the knowledge sharing experience would enable her ministry to create a similar e-government training centre in Cameroun
“This experience sharing mission will enable the ministry of public service and administrative reforms to create a similar e-government training center. We have come here to learn the successful implementation of this project, to understand the challenges connected to its management and the solutions provided. This cooperation will continue to enhance.” he said.
Koica Country Director, Cameroon, Gyuhing Lee, said that Koica likes to deliver knowledge to both countries; it decided bring Cameroun to learn from Nigeria since they are about to start the first phase of e-government which Nigeria has successfully implemented.
“Koica like to deliver its knowledge to Nigeria and Cameroon. Nigeria has implemented the first phase of e-government and Cameroon is about to start the first phase. Since Nigeria has successfully implemented the first phase, we asked Cameroon to come and study that of Nigeria since they have similar culture,” he said
In addition, he said Koica would also spend eight million dollars on the first phase of the Camerounian e-government project.
“We are planning to spend $ 8m on e-government project in Cameroon like that of Nigeria,” he said.
KOICA-Nigeria program officer, Mr. Kayode Adebisi, while elaborating on the Digital Transformation projects in Nigeria, laid emphasis on the massive Nigerian governmental support received through efficient and transparent service delivery with a citizen centered approach in actualizing a Digital Governance structure in the country.
He noted the impact of Digital Education Projects in Nigeria, saying; “KOICA-Nigeria partnered with Universal Basic Education (KOICA-UBEC) to establish a multi-media model school in Abuja, this was aimed at improving the educational environment of Smart Schools and enhance the quality of public education in Nigeria through the utilisation of ICT.”
He added that the second phase of the digital education project on smart education by KOICA-UBEC is expected to cover six states across Nigeria namely: Kano, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Lagos, Edo, and Anambra States.
Lateefah Ibrahim
