ICT: Akwa Ibom State Below the Standard
The 2020 Edition of the National Council on Communications and Digital Economy (NCCDE) is ongoing in Owerri, Imo State. The Minister of Communication Technology and Digital Economy and all other industry stakeholders are in the event. All states are represented in the event.
NCCDE is the highest consultative body on matters of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Nigeria.
The NCCT event is usually a platform where all States of the Federation through a representative make a presentation on the development in IT and IT policy direction in their respective states. It is also an opportunity where thought leaders, IT professionals, industry players and other stakeholders discuss and deliberate on critical IT roadmap for their respective jurisdiction.
Although I am not in the event, I have been briefed. Almost all the states of Federation are represented in the event and each state made a presentation on how they are faring with regards to ICT.
A friend who is attending the event, who has also read one of my contributions about IT development, where I mentioned the need for Akwa Ibom State to have a dedicated IT agency (Akwa Ibom State Information Technology Development Agency — AKSITDA), called me to inform me that he watches when Akwa Ibom State made a presentation and did not hear about AKSITDA. Whereas other states have mentioned their plan to set up State Information Technology Development Agency. He said he was surprised to note the Council had mandated all the States of the Federation in the previous editions of the event to begin the process of setting up SITDA in their respective states, and that some states have mentioned that they have set up SITDA.
I am aware that Hon. Kufreabasi Edidem, the member representing Itu State Constituency in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, sponsored a bill for the establishment of AKSITDA and that the bill passed the first reading. Since then, I have not heard anything about it again.
At the core of any development is the political will. The government of Akwa Ibom State must show the political will to align Akwa Ibom State with the trends in IT. In some states, SITDA bill is being sponsored as executive bill and given an accelerated hearing because of the urgency of time.
This writer calls on the government of Akwa Ibom State and the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to do all they can to ensure that Akwa Ibom State has State Information Technology Development Agency.
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), which is the federal government agency regulating the IT in Nigeria has declared its readiness to work with SITDA in all states of the federation to ensure that states’ IT policies and development programs are in sync with the Federal Government IT masterplan.
Akwa Ibom House of Assembly should as a matter of urgent importance ensure the proposed AKSITDA is passed into law. His Excellency, Gov Udom Emmanuel should not hesitate to sign the bill into law and give Akwa Ibom State, Akwa Ibom State Information Technology Development Agency — AKSITDA.
Destiny Young, CEng, MTECH, BSc(Hons), PGD, HND
Writes from Port Harcourt
