On February 16, Nigerians who are of voting age (18 and up) will be casting their votes in the 2019 General Elections indicating the gradual end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s first term as a democratically elected president. However, the communications ministry under Adebayo Shittu is only just recently talking about a new project – plans to build an ICT park at the Abuja Technology Village.
Addressing reps of the local ICT industry at a roundtable, Shittu said an ICT park can boost the nation’s economy, and (already), the park has attracted the interest of local and foreign investors.
Shittu said the park will “provide a supportive platform in which ICT knowledge can be acquired through appropriate means, including incubation of technology ideas into viable startups, research and development, testing and certification of ICT solutions.”
This ICT park is expected to house a cluster of technology companies in or near universities to help develop emerging technology industries, creating scalable talent pools. The ICT park will encourage the growth of existing technology companies, facilitate the growth of SMEs, attract large domestic and international companies, foreign investment, create world-class physical facilities and proactive support services
Adebayo Shittu, Nigeria’s communications minister
Meanwhile, the ICT minister who has always been vocal about his gubernatorial ambition has since been disqualified from running for the governors office in Oyo State on grounds of skipping the compulsory 1year National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) to which he responded with a suit on both the party, APC and INEC.
