ICT Roadmap to e-Governance in Kaduna state

From SA on ICT in Collaboration with the Press Sec office, Kaduna

May 25,  2008

NAMADI ICT4D (Information Communication Technology for Development Action Plan)- www.kadunastate-ng.com

Most of Nigeria’s wealth and power comes from the control of physical assets - land, oil, iron and steel. But in the 21st century, this cannot continue to happen. The main source of value and competitive advantage in the new knowledge driven economy is human and intellectual capital, where knowledge, innovation and creativity are the main ingredients. For countries wanting to tap into the new ideas they most embrace the advances in information and communication technology (ICT), and embrace e-Governance as a tool for citizen’s empowerment. With a population of 140 million people and abundance of natural and human resources, Nigeria, in theory has the capacity to make a successful transition into a truly knowledge driven economy. By establishing a dynamic and successful ICT clusters: the enabling business environment, accelerated energy & water strategy, healthcare & e-health solution, farm IT convergence, small scale processing industry & businesses; and the creation of a Broadband Strategy, Nigeria can indeed leap from poverty alleviation to wealth creation. In Kaduna state, to meet these challenges and empower the people while meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Governor Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo founded a formula on how Public-Private Partnership (PPP) can work in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for economic and social development of the state. E-Governance is an integral part of Governor Namadi Sambo’s 11 Point Agenda; and a comprehensive strategy from plan to action, a roadmap for better integration of all sectors aimed at bridging the digital divide and application of ICT to the workings of government to serve the public more efficiently and transparently popularly known as Namadi's ICT4D Action Plan.

Namadi's ICT4D Action Plan is expected to integrate of all sectors of the economy in the state and to enhance the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Plan of Action of the World Summit of Information Society (WSIS) and Africa regional development initiatives as mapped out by the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). The thrust is to provide a compass with which the state could leapfrog its socio-economic and political structures using ICTs as has been the case with India and so many other countries.

The Action Plan is also anchored on achieving the Eleven Point Agenda of Governor Arc. Namadi Sambo in Kaduna state while supporting the Seven Point Agenda of President Musa Yar’adua who has called for more proactive approach at furthering Nigeria's development goals in order to adequately give her a place among the 20 leading economies by year 2020. Namadi ICT Strategic Plan of Action covers the various sectors of the economy in the short, medium and long term implementation. The idea is to set out a time-sensitive action plan with realistic targets and benchmarks for sectoral applications of ICT for the state of Kaduna, starting with capacity building hand in hand with the provision of e-infrastructure, provision of fully equipped computer labs with internet access at science colleges to the development of public awareness campaign and support for e-learning especially for youth and women; and the branding through the internet of the state, and to take full advantage of collaboration with the international communities in the area of ICT skills development.

The thrust is to create jobs, bring youth empowerment through skills development, create and support entrepreneurs, provide safe environment for everyone to live and work and apply the principles of “blue water” where people can begin to create wealth for themselves. The support base for all this is Energy and in line with this vision, the Executive Governor Arc. Namadi Sambo has already signed a contract in millions of naira to generate 1000 Mega Watts of electricity, more than required by the state and within this short period Operation Yaki was launched which enhances Peace & Security throughout the state. Railway, a forgotten means of transportation will soon be back with operations soon to commence; also among others, N70 million naira is being spent monthly for free treatment to pregnant women and children under five years, sum of N7O million naira in addition to an earlier N5O million naira disbursed to fourteen banks for micro-credit scheme to help unemployed youths and women with soft loan, Plans have been completed to provide additional 260 primary health centers, 4 Science Colleges with fully equipped computer labs. To boost agriculture, grains silo storage systems are completed with a Commodity Board soon to be commissioned, and the Governor has undertaking to provide farmers with N10, 000 and more to support farming. There will be Namadi ICT Center in Kaduna with e-library, Incubator and a Digital Control Nerve where all ICT needs of the state will be harmonized and control, which will house the state Database and R&D in Technology and under Science and Technology, the governor has accomplished the following:

1          Information & Communication Technology Development (ICT)

• Establishment of ICT Directorate and appointment of Coordinating Consultant on ICT activities
• The complete training of all Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and heads of Parastatals
• e-Governance Training for 8,000 Civil Servants in conjunction with the Office of the Head of Service
• Transformed the Kaduna state web site – www.kadunastate-ng.com

2          Technology Development

·         Skill Acquisition and Training of 147 Youths in Paint/Chalk Making Technology

·         Business Apprenticeship Training Centres (BATCs):

• Completion/commissioning of 3 BATCs  and establishment of 3 New BATCs
• Approval of 4 New BATCs (Kagarko, K/South, Giwa & Kubau LGs)
• Increase of Allowance to BATCs Students from N80 to N1,000/month
• Increased enrolment into BATCs by 40%

3          Science Education Development

• Production of step-by-step Questions and Answers Textbooks in English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Physics for sale to students at subsidized rate
• Winning of first position among participating States in 2007 National Science and Technology Exhibition
• Approval for the establishment of four (4) new Science Secondary Schools at Manchok, Koreye, Rigachikun and New Kaduna City

4          Science & Technical Schools Management

• Increase in number of teaching staff by 25% through recruitment
• Taking-Over of Technical School constructed by Abet Community in Zangon Kataf Local Government by the State Government
• Supplementing the feeding allowance of boarding students by 50% of what parents pay per term

5          Energy Development

• Establishment of Energy Development Directorate and commencement of Phase II of the Bio-ethanol (with Maize & Cassava as Feedstock) project

·         Signed a contract in millions of naira to generate 1000 Mega Watts of electricity for the state

• Identification of site for large scale cultivation of sugar cane for bio-ethanol feedstock production in collaboration with the NNPC
• Equipping of Ministry’s Headquarters Library with Computer and essential books/journals

6          Polytechnic Education (Nuhu Bamalli Poly Zaria)

·         Completion and commissioning of one block of 12 staff offices within the first 100 days in office

• Improvement of staff welfare through full implementation of the Harmonized Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (HATISS) within the first 6 months in office
• Enhanced budgetary provision for 2008 fiscal year to the tune of N276m (highest provision since inception)
• Completion of rehabilitation works and construction of additional structures in the School of Management Studies (Inherited Education Resource Centre’s Structures)

The Internet brings unparallel advantage towards building bridges between government and people. Today, Internet is the input factor or power to resolve human insecurities and create business incentives because it has formed the interacting spaces for groups to share knowledge minimizing space and time, which means that knowledge sources and impact communities are no longer separated from each other by geography or time or space. The Internet is a worldwide rapid distribution center and propagation of information; it brings together people from diverse walks of life, and makes it easier for these people to communicate. It brings them all together into the same virtual space and removes the impact or influence of first impressions. You physically live anywhere or in one country but you are in contact with much of the world via the global computer network systems (Internet). Government websites provide the medium in which communities can amass the quality and volume of information and synthesize the knowledge that would optimize development opportunities. This is the logic behind the new Vision of Governor Arc Namadi Sambo to revamp and re-design the Kaduna state web site (www.kadunastate-ng.com). The real strength of the Web is to offer its users up-to date, timely and accurate information about opportunities, information and the Governor’s activities including access to all Ministries and Parastatals all at a click of a button. Thus, the newly re-designed web site took into consideration the Open-Source Technologies and the Branding Strategy, which was crafted with local requirements and priorities of the Governor while positioning the site as part of a global network to be fully interactive. For more details visit: www.kadunastate-ng.com  

Governor Arch Mohammed Namadi Sambo is a true democrat, whose approach to problems is always humane and conciliatory he is a man of peace who patiently looked to the future with courage and hope. His commitment in the direction of transforming the state into a relatively better integrated and functional polity is continuing  with a mission  to create a stable  and cohesive polity capable of securing effectively the interests of the various communities and giving them the opportunity to develop and live in peace  with one another.

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