The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has praised the Bayelsa Government for its vision, plans, and facilities to run a world-class information and communication technology centre.
NITDA’s Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy, Mr. Dimie Wariowei, who led a four-man delegation on a courtesy visit to Gov. Douye Diri in Yenagoa on Tuesday, gave the commendation.
Wariowei described the structures and planning of the ICT Hub at the Central Business District, Yenagoa, as impressive. He said the team was mandated to assess the facility.
According to him, the visit was to determine the actual needs of the hub. “This will ensure a seamless take-off and sustainable operation. We had gone to the hub to have a first-hand assessment, as directed by my Director General, who earlier visited this year. We are quite impressed with the structures and planning. With what we have seen, we now know the specific interventions NITDA can offer the state,” he said.
Wariowei assured Bayelsa that the agency’s expertise would be invaluable. “We will go back, report our findings, and recommend specifics on how best to support this hub,” he said.
He further explained: “NITDA regulates IT nationwide. We have seen similar projects elsewhere and their shortcomings. We will guide Bayelsa to avoid such pitfalls. We will ensure our partnership is foolproof, meeting Bayelsa’s aspirations while also fulfilling NITDA’s national mandate.”
Responding, Governor Diri, represented by his deputy, Mr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, expressed gratitude to NITDA for its commitment to the project and for fulfilling its earlier promise of collaboration.
“We are happy for your visit and grateful to the Director General of NITDA for making good his promise. Almost everybody makes promises, but it is people with character that keep them. Clearly, your DG is a man of integrity and commitment,” the governor said.
He described the ICT project as a deliberate effort to create jobs for youths, promote computer literacy, and reduce crime to its barest minimum in Bayelsa.
“We are excited you have seen what we have on the ground at our ICT Hub. It is massive and quite mind-blowing. We want to use the hub to engage our youths productively, diverting their minds from social vices and crimes. So, we are ready to collaborate with NITDA to set up a joint working group on hardware and software requirements to operationalise the hub effectively,” Diri said.
