The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has described the information and technology sector as an area capable of revolutionising education and providing jobs for the teeming youth of Nigeria if properly harnessed.
The Speaker stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at a public hearing on two ICT bills, organised by the House Committee on Digital and Information Technology.
The proposed legislation included “A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal Institute of Information Communication Technology, Idanre, Ondo State, to provide full-time courses, teaching, instruction, and training in information Communication Technology” and “A Bill for an Act to promote Information Technology Education, Entrepreneurship, and Infrastructure Development Across Nigeria’s Six Geopolitical Zones.”
Represented by the Deputy Majority Whip, Isiaka Ibrahim (APC, Ogun), the Speaker said, “A robust ICT framework will not only transform our educational sector but also create fertile ground for job creation, youth empowerment, and economic diversification. It will serve as a strong barrier against the challenges of unemployment and social discontent, equipping our youth with skills that align with the demands of the 21st-century workplace.
“These initiatives align seamlessly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on youth empowerment and job creation.”
He called on relevant agencies to explore “how ICT can transform the way education is conducted, how students learn, how knowledge is transmitted, and how educational processes are managed. We must tap into the immense potential of emerging and future ICT technologies to revolutionise the education system.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman of the Committee on Digital and Information Technology, Adedeji Olajide, said, “The first bill, which seeks the establishment of a federal institute of Information Communication Technology, will provide full-time courses in teaching instruction and training in ICT. It will also award HND, ND, diplomas and professional certificates in ICT.
“This institute, when created, will train young Nigerians into world-class programmers and software developers. It will also give them the opportunity to acquire the relevant skills and critical competencies required to participate in the new global information and communication technology.
“The second bill, which seeks to promote information technology education, entrepreneurship and infrastructure development across six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, is in recognition of the transformative potential of IT in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and empowering youth across the country. This will provide job opportunities for our unemployed youth.”
