Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Abbas Tajuddeen, says the 10th House is working towards developing a robust Information and Communication Technology (ICT) framework to enhance job creation, youth empowerment, and economic diversification in Nigeria.
He made the statement in a message to a one day public hearing on a bill to establish the Federal Institute of Information Technology in Ondo State which took place at the National Assembly complex Abuja.
Represented by the house Deputy Chief Whip, Ibrahim Isiaka, the Speaker explained that the proposed legislation, was designed to serve as a strong response to the challenges of unemployment and social discontent.
Dr Abbas Tajuddeen, who enjoined stakeholders at the hearing to support the initiative, expressed optimism that if passed into law the bill would help equip Nigerian youth with digital skills aligned with the demands of the 21st-century workplace.
“Such contributions will not only guide lawmakers in shaping effective legislation but also offer valuable insights into the likely impact of the proposed bills,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman House Committee on Digital and Information Technology, Mr Adedeji Olajide, said the objective of the public hearing was to gather expert’s input and public opinion to be used in guiding the legislative process.
Sponsor of the bills, Hon. Festus Akingbaso, from Ondo State confirmed that the initiative was part of plans to bring Nigeria to the global standards in technology development and economic advancement.
On his part, the Director General National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, assured the the committee that the agency was determined to support moves aimed at promoting digital literacy across Nigeria.
He emphasized that NITDA, has full support for the bill, as it aligns with its mandate to advance technology and digital development nationwide.
COV : TSIBIRI
