Gov. Idris Wada of Kogi said the government has commenced work, in partnership with South Korea, on the establishment of a technology training institute in Lokoja.
The governor announced this while inaugurating a Rural Information Technology Centre at Ejuku in Yagba West Local Government Area.
The centre was established by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Wada said the institute would offer diploma programmes in ICT, automobile and electrical engineering, welding and piping.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Olugbenro Jegede, said that the government decided to establish the institute to ensure the technological development of rural areas of the state.
He commended NITDA for establishing the centre, adding that this had underscored government’s belief that rural areas should be competitively developed with modern infrastructure.
He appealed to the agency to establish more centres in other rural areas of the state, saying that the infrastructure should be distributed to reflect the three senatorial districts.
The Director-General of NITDA, Prof. Cleopas Angaye, said the centre was set up to provide universal access to Internet and to develop information technology in rural areas of the country.
He also said it would provide a community-based platform for youth empowerment through e-learning and capacity building in ICT.
According to him, it will also enable the local government to work closely with NGOs to fully tap the potentials of the centre to stem rural-urban drift.
Angaye said the facility would give residents of Ejuku and its environs good access to a full range of information technology services and applications.
“Although, we have done our best to bring modern and life-changing technologies closer to the people of Ejuku, it will fail if the community does not own it”, he stressed.
He warned that the agency would withdraw the facility if it was convinced of clear cases of misuse, lack of maintenance, neglect or abuse in any form.
A representative of the local council, Adebola Adeshola, said seven officers, including two security men, would be deployed to the centre for its effective take off.
He promised that the centre would be protected from misuse, adding that the local government would embark on the training of youths from the area in ICT. (NAN)
