Nasarawa State Government said it committed 30 percent of its 2020 budget to education and ICT, in order to encourage girl-child education and career in ICT.
Governor Abdullahi Sule made this known while delivering his goodwill message at the official flag off of a week-long ICT empowerment training and provision of tools for women from the North Central zone, organized by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in Lafia.
He said his administration places high premium on technology innovation, especially now that ICT has become a veritable vehicle to stimulate national economy through the provision of numerous opportunities for economic growth and self-reliance.
Governor Sule specifically mentioned the rehabilitation and furnishing of the ICT Centre as a pilot project, with arrangements concluded for the construction of technology innovation hubs in Lafia, Akwanga, Keffi and Karu Local Government Areas.
The Governor disclosed that already, 21 hectares of land has been acquired along Keffi-Karu axis for this same purpose, adding that, in order to consolidate on efforts towards knowledge and technology driven society, JAMB has provided equipment worth over N200m which were installed at the CBT Centre provided by Government.
Engineer Sule equally commended NITDA for donating 100 laptops for the Lafia ICT hub, as well as for approving the construction of computer laboratories in three of the state-owned educational institutions.
Earlier in his remarks, Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, disclosed that the training is meant to facilitate active involvement and increase the number of women participation in ICT, as well as provide them with digital skills for entrepreneurship.