The Jigawa state government said it is considering the establishment of an Informational Technology Development Agency.
Gov. Umar Namadi of the state, dropped the hint during the dissemination session on sustainable and inclusive digital transformation project by Blue Sapphire Hub, supported by Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), in Dutse on Tuesday.
The FCDO, through Blue Sapphire Hub (Facilitator of Digital Acess Programme), has in the last two months engaged stakeholders in the state on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and other related desciplines.
The stakeholders, including the blue sapphire hub, developed five policies namely; Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, Jigawa E-Governance, Digital Jobs Playbook, Jigawa Broadband Plan and Reduction for the Cost of Write of Way.
Namadi, who expressed his happiness to receive the policy and strategy documents on Digital Access Programme, pointed out that it meant a lot to his administration, as it perfectly aligns with development agenda for ‘Greater Jigawa State’.
“As I mentioned in my declaration speech, we intend to develop and implement an integrated state ICT strategy through which we would actively promote e-governance and the gradual emergence of the state’s digital economy.
“About two years ago, an e-governance Master Plan was developed for the state with the support of NITDA, the implementation of which is, however, yet to actively commence.
“Therefore, today’s event and the various documents developed through the Digital Access Programme present a unique opportunity for the state to pursue its ICT development strategy,” Namadi said.
He also pointed out that, among the key mandates of the state’s Ministry for Higher Education, Science and Technology are; are facilitating the development, implementation and monitoring of an integrated state ICT policy and strategy to actively promote access and utilisation of ICT throughout the state to achieve e-governance, efficient public service delivery and gradual emergence of the state digital economy.
Also, the formulation, implementation and monitoring of government policies, programmes and programmes relating to the development of science and technology are part of the key mandates.
“Going forward, we would consider establishing an outfit to serve as the state Information Technology Development Agency to derive implementation of state ICT policy. I therefore assure our partners that the documents developed through the Digital Access Programme would be owned by the state and would have an institutional home to derive their implementation,” he assured.
The governor, who appreciated the support of the FCDO and Blue Sapphire, promised that his administration will continue to do its best to ensure the implementation and monitoring of the state ICT policy and strategy.
Earlier, the Blue Sapphire Team Leader, Habitat Maryam Gwadabe, who presented the five developed policies to the governor, urged the state government to set up an agency or directorate on digital economy.
