FG to partner Ireland on ICT innovation

THE Minister of Communications, Barr Adebayo Shittu, has said that Nigeria is a country with great potentials in ICT/Telecom Industry, stating the country’s readiness to partner with the Government of Ireland.

He disclosed this in his office during a meeting with International Development Ireland (IDI) led by the Ireland Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Sean Hoy.

The Permananent Secretary, Abdullaziz M Abdullahi, who represented the Minister enumerated some of the areas the Ministry would need Ireland intervention to include the establishment of ICT University, the Smart City Project, ICT Hubs Centres and ICT Parks, which he said were some of the components of the National ICT Road maps, adding that the actualisation of the second and third Nigeria Satellites in orbit would need the support of foreign partners.

Ambassador Sean Hoy, who led the delegation, said they were in Abuja to seek for areas of collaboration with the Ministry, especially in Smart City Innovation and ICT Parks which his country had earlier established in some African Countries like Ghana, Gambia, Gabon, Sudan etc.

Making their presentation, Greg Hogan of International Development Ireland (IDI), said his team are practitioners who were involved in extremely successful economic transformation in some countries, adding that the team also specialises in prompt projects, capacity building and implementation.

He said the key drive is to partner with the country’s investment promotion agency that would have vital role to play in the establishment and implementation of National ICT Road Map.