Minister lays foundation of NCS N450m digital secretariat

THE Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has laid the foundation for the digital secretariat of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) projected to cost about N450 million.

The building, which will be situated in Lagos, is expected, all things being equal to be completed in the next two years.

Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony, Shittu said the centre would champion significantly, the growth of technology in the country, adding that it is worthwhile that the project is achieved by the professional body so as to make significant impact under the President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration.

“Today, as we make history by laying the foundational cornerstone of this Technology Innovation Centre, I am persuaded that the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) is sending out a strong message which announces its robust buy-in and optimal compliance with Mr. President’s ‘Change’ agenda.

“Today, our post-colonial national revenue generation model of an oil-export-only economy has been clearly shown to be unsustainable in the 21st Century. The obvious solution, as experts have pointed out is to diversify the productive base of our national economy and urgently train and re-train our national workforce technologically and digitally.” he said.‎

The minister who further used the occasion to extend a hand of fellowship and support to practitioners in the industry by appointing the President of NCS Professor Sola Aderounmu, (First appointment in office as Minister of Communication) as Special Assistant on IT matters.

Shittu also called for total support for government in the bid to make the dream of the president for a new Nigeria in the class of technology-driven nation come to reality in no distant time.