DS-ICT Innovation Hub established for ICT, knowledge creation- Uwaje

As Nigeria cruise into the 21st century, its wealth and international competitiveness will be meaningfully harnessed by her ability to develop and exploit intellectual capital (IP) by harnessing the power of information technology (IT),

This is the fulcrum  of the vision to establish Delta State Innovation Hub (DS- IHUB)  which was to create a smarter Platform, international destination and national centre of ICT innovation and knowledge creation, according to Chris Uwaje, director-general of the Hub.

Uwaje, while unveiling the slogan, “We create and innovate”, said the management is on a mission to develop the Innovation Hub as a world-class knowledge factory.

“The Hub is accredited through peer review, as the first Knowledge-Innovation and Science & Technology Park in the South-South of Nigeria, and aims to positively disrupt the existing status quo. It is located in Asaba – the capital city of Delta State.

“Applying a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) development model we aim to strategically harness all knowledge attributes, potentials and ICT processes in and beyond the Delta State Region as the core accelerator for leadership, public policy, inclusive governance, state security, entrepreneurship, youth and women empowerment, creativity, innovation and wealth creation.

“The Hub aims to be a well groomed platform for timely harnessing critical knowledge and accelerating the translation of ideas into functional products and services,” he said.

The DG DS- IHUB added that ‘Institutional Knowledge’ sustainability is at the core of the above mission and values.

“We would make every effort to ensure that knowledge, idea and creativity consistency becomes and remains our strategic compass for the sustainability of institutional culture for science, technology and innovation at all levels of our development – incorporating the engagements of the following challenges: the rapidly waxing population which pose immense challenges to Governance Leadership, Institutional Peace, State Security and Climate Change; and explore complex social and economic problems which challenge policymakers to provide new and more effective responses to the policy needs and demands of their citizenry.

He highlighted that the Hub will also focus on National, State and Peoples security – especially at the digital platform – which demands urgent social inclusion solutions; examine responsive strategies for successfully engaging the above challenges; intervention strategies for acknowledging that effective, successful and sustainable 21st century development resides in well-structured innovations and creative IP development; building responsive capacities and capabilities for disaster recovery and sustainability.

“Objectives: Our focus amongst others is to build High-Technology Innovation Capacities, encourage disruptive technology processes, retool the workforce and develop a creative capacity of new-thinkers and skillful doers: empower leadership with critical knowledge for impactful governance; providing Go-to-business Innovation mentoring to support start-ups and entrepreneurial aspiration in the commercialisation of new ideas and products; create standards to improve confidence and trust in Stakeholders, ensure effectiveness and job security and improve efficiency, service quality and customer satisfaction, among other objectives,” he added.