Private-sector participation key to establishment of ICT park in Nigeria —Shittu

Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, has advocated for private-sector participation in the establishment of an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Park in the country.

He made this disclosure in Lagos late last week at the Business Round-table Stakeholders Engagement for Financing and Sustainability of the Proposed National ICT Park at the Abuja Technology Village (ATV).

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Shittu explained that the industry has the key to national growth and development considering its youthful population and as a consumer nation.

“In line with this, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Communications, designed a programme to establish a National ICT Park to provide an enabling platform, where ICT knowledge can be acquired through appropriate initiatives.

“These include incubating technology ideas into viable startups, research and development, as well as testing and certifications of ICT solutions,” he said.

He also disclosed that a 6344sqm of land has been earmarked for the establishment of the park within the free trade zone owned and operated by the ATV.

He added that the project was part of government’s preparation for the fourth Industrial Revolution, which, according to him, was predicted to happen globally soon.

Shittu further noted that the establishment of the centre would encourage investments in the ICT sector and complement the proposed ICT University, which would also produce the required manpower for Africa to effectively participate in the fourth Industrial Revolution.

Also, the Chairman, SmartCity Plc, Ademola Aladekomo divulged that the realisation of the project may be an arduous task due to the country’s present economic circumstance.

“Investors are scared of government because it is never consistent when it comes to policy implementation and continuity,” he stated.

The former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Ernest Nduwke, who noted  that the move was strategic, opined that innovation is critical to Nigeria’s prospect of playing big in the fourth Industrial Revolution.