Now that the bill seeking the creation of Information Technology Ministry has been approved by the National Assembly following the recent announcement by the presidency for the creation of the ministry, there appears to be jostling among core IT professionals over who becomes the new Minister of Information Technology.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo had earlier said that the Federal Government was planning to create a Ministry of Information Technology on the occasion of the 27th Convocation ceremony of the University of Port Harcourt to boost technology in the country.
Sambo had said that there was a need to create the ministry in order to tap the potential of many talented Nigerian youths in information technology.
The Secreatry to the Federal Government, Chief Pius Anyim, (left) exchanging pleasantries with with IT Professionals during a visit to the Presidency last week in Abuja
The IT Professionals had last week during the IT Professional Assembly visited the Secretary to the Federal government, Pius Anyim where both professionals and the Presidency traded ideas on why an IT Professional should become the Minister of IT.
The creation of IT ministry when fully implemented, according to keen observers may collapse other agencies including Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, among others.
Keen watchers who have been clamouring for the creation IT ministry believe that it will go a long way to compel government to take IT issues more seriously for the challenges ahead.
Many IT experts in the industry who have thrown their weight behind the creation of IT ministry noted that the nominee for the ministerial appointment must be software expert who will take Nigerian IT sector to the next level.
Leading voices who spoke on the need for the creation of IT ministry noted that much may not be achieved in the sector unless IT ministry is created so as to give room for accelerated development in the IT sector which could give more money than oil.
While the IT professionals have insisted that a core software expert must head the IT ministry, the President of the Nigerian Computer Society, (NCS) Prof. Charles Uwadia had said that IT ministry needs to be created in order to give IT better coordination and more attention that it was receiving.
“The ministry of IT will lead to the removal or reduction of the dependence on petroleum. It will empower our youths and create wealth. It will serve as engine for social, political and economic growth of the country.
“The Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Pius Anyim has insisted that the Federal Government wanted the ministry to be headed by an expert in the ICT industry.
In the next few weeks or months we will see the creation of an IT ministry by the Federal Government. When this happens, we can hope to begin to use IT to make an impact on the lives of the people. The ministry will open a new vista for the ICT industry,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment