<html>
<head>
<style><!--
.hmmessage P
{
margin:0px;
padding:0px
}
body.hmmessage
{
font-size: 10pt;
font-family:Tahoma
}
--></style>
</head>
<body class='hmmessage'>
<H1 class=headline>Nigeria: ICT, The Fulcrum for National Development - Govt</H1>
<P class=reporter>Golu Timothy</P>
<P class=date>30 July 2010</P>
<HR class="thin clear">
Abuja — Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has identified Information Communication Technology as the fulcrum for national development.<BR>
<DIV id=google_inset_a class="google_ad float-left"><!-- open google_inset_a div ---><!-- Display Google AdManager Ad for 'AllAfrica_Other_InsetA'-->
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript>
GA_googleFillSlot( "AllAfrica_Other_InsetA" );
</SCRIPT>
<SCRIPT src="http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?correlator=1280751039515&output=json_html&callback=GA_googleSetAdContentsBySlotForSync&impl=s&prev_afc=1&pstok=7EXX3MNBcpQKBRD05cMJ&client=ca-pub-2420009840005975&slotname=AllAfrica_Other_InsetA&page_slots=AllAfrica_Other_Leaderboard%2CAllAfrica_Other_InsetA&cust_params=Language%3Denglish%26PageType%3Dother%26Topics%3Dbusiness%252Cict%252Cinfrastruc%252Curbanissue%26Countries%3Dnigeria%252Cwestafrica&cookie=ID%3D149b1601d2e12ad8%3AT%3D1280749933%3AS%3DALNI_MafX36XprwguHgqYcINgQrTQFFL0A&ga_vid=1203134228.1280749695&ga_sid=1280749695&ga_hid=2032418256&ga_fc=true&ga_wpids=UA-230539-1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fallafrica.com%2Fstories%2Fprintable%2F201008020423.html&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fallafrica.com%2Fstories%2F201008020423.html&lmt=1280747675&dt=1280751040326&cc=48&biw=788&bih=404&ifi=2&adk=4085057720&oe=iso-8859-1&u_java=true&u_h=800&u_w=1280&u_ah=770&u_aw=1280&u_cd=32&flash=10.0.42.34"></SCRIPT>
<DIV id=google_ads_div_AllAfrica_Other_InsetA><INS style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; POSITION: relative; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline-table; HEIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><INS style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; POSITION: relative; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><IFRAME style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; POSITION: absolute; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; LEFT: 0px" id=google_ads_iframe_AllAfrica_Other_InsetA onload=GA_googleSyncAdSlotLoaded(this); height=0 marginHeight=0 src="about:blank" frameBorder=0 width=0 allowTransparency name=google_ads_iframe_AllAfrica_Other_InsetA marginWidth=0 scrolling=no></IFRAME></INS></INS></DIV></DIV><!-- close google_inset_a div --->
The vice president disclosed this during a meeting of stakeholders he convened to brainstorm, and galvanise the effective utilisation of ICT as a tool for effective governance. Arc. Sambo said that he viewed ICT as a tool for attainment of e-government as it has the advantage of reducing duplication of effort and ensuring the efficient maximisation of time. He stated that, "I consider ICT in the same category as power" and agreed that political will was required to ensure its full implementation.<BR>
He emphasised the need for the development of a master plan with a road map for immediate implementation. He posited that the need for experts and stakeholders to serve in a committee to harmonise the Vision 20:2020 to aid its implementation could not be overemphasised.<BR>
Furthermore, the Vice President said that the federal government was ready to invest in ICT as a lot of funds exist all over the world to be accessed by governments towards such project of urgent national importance. He noted the indiscriminate sighting of masts, especially in residential areas which experts say may be hazardous to health.<BR>
Accordingly, as part of the need to improve efficiency and timely provision of government service, he set up a committee comprising the Ministry of Science and Technology which is to chair the committee.<BR>
Others include, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Ministry of Information and Communications, Office of the Vice President, National Bureau of Statistics, Galaxy Backbone, Nigeria Computer Society, Computer Negotiating Council, National Population Commission, NIGCOMSAT, Nigeria Information Technology, Development Agency (NITDA), head, e-Government strategies, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and Identity Management Commission, amongst others.<BR>
He charged the committee to look at all the components and come up with bright ideas to aid implementation.<BR>
<BR>
Source : LEADERSHIP<BR> </body>
</html>