The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on Monday commissioned a multi-million naira Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Innovation Hub for the northeast zone in Gombe state.
The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the centre is saddled with the responsibility of harnessing indigenous ICT innovation and technology for entrepreneurship.
He said the hub would identify young, brilliant and talented Nigerians from northeast geo-political zone with innovative and practical ideas, products and services to solve challenges in any sector.
In his address, the Minister of Communication, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim, said the ICT Innovation hub is to create entrepreneurs in the sector and help create employment for jobless youth in line with the federal government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
“We have the talents and pool of enthusiastic young and vibrant technology innovators in ICT. I believe innovations coming from this hub will have significant impact on the transformation of our dear state and the country at large,” he said.
The minister also flagged off the training of 100 youths on GSM repairs, distribution of ICT facilities to 30 selected secondary schools across the state as well as laptop computers to 300 secondary school teachers.
On his part, the state governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, pledged to partner with the ministry to develop the ICT sector to make the state a centre of ICT in the northern region.