The 33rd virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday approved N 8.9 billion for the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy to construct a National Information and Communication and Technology (ICT) park in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, who disclosed this to State House Correspondents, said when completed, the park would be able to coordinate public and private ICT hubs in the country.
He also revealed that the government would soon release the timelines for the smooth transition of Bankers’ Verification Number (BVN) with the National Identification Number (NIN) for bank accounts.
Pantami explained that a 4,200 square meters land has already been acquired for the establishment of the ICT Park.
He said: “The wisdom behind the ICT Park is for it to be a centre where public and private ICT hubs are going to be coordinated by the federal government of Nigeria, where young innovators with vibrant and developmental ideas will be mentored and all that they need to be provided for.
“We will provide the enabling environment for them to utilize and come up with innovative technologies. This is the first of its kind in Nigeria, we have so many parks and hubs but they are regional.
“This one will be central and will be a centre of job creation for our teeming youths. It will be a centre where technology will be developed and incubated. It will play a significant role in reducing unemployment and reducing the gap of unemployability.
“The Federal Executive Council has approved the memo and we are going to start establishing it in Abuja and we hope Abuja is going to be another Silicon Valley in Nigeria.”
Pantami disclosed that a billion naira has already been provided for the project in the 2020 budget, which is still very active, a take-off grant for the project.
Aging Policy
Also speaking to Journalists, Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouk, said the council approved a National Policy on Aging.
According to her, the objective of the policy is to ensure that older persons in the society are guaranteed security, independence anticipation, participation, comprehensive care, self-fulfilment and dignity.
“The policy covers a spectrum of issues and opportunities for older persons, older persons with disabilities, older persons who are internally displaced, older persons engaged in farming in Nigeria, in urban and rural areas,” she added.
PIAK
