ICT University receives support from global IT giants
The proposed ICT University of Nigeria, the first of its kind in Africa and one of the pet projects of Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, has received the support of Facebook and other industry giants at the just concluded World Summit on the Information Society tagged WSIS FORUM 2017, in Geneva, Switzerland.
Shittu, at a side meeting with Facebook Robert Pepper, a resource person at the conference, was assured of Nigeria’s readiness for the ICT University take off.
The university which is to be run on a multi – campus basis in six locations across the country at Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) with headquarters in Abuja and others in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Yola and Asaba, will robustly address the dearth of adequate training of technocrats in the industry to meet international standards.
Mr Pepper, who was elated by the Minister’s disclosures, promised the full involvement and support of Facebook, saying it falls within the confines of Facebook vision for Africa.
In other interactions with representatives of Google, Access Partnership, Microsoft Group, AT&T and other investors targeting the African continent, the Minister was able to convince them that Nigeria, going by her population and strategic position as the largest economy in that region is the best investment destination for wise investors.
Meanwhile, many resource persons and Smart Cities investors have been invited by the Minister to attend Nigeria’s Smart Cities Summit 2017, to be held in Abuja by the first week of August.
No fewer than 70 Ministers, including Nigeria ‘s Minister of Communications attended the week long summit. During the week, over 133 educative sessions were held with participants from across the member countries of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
