By Paul Effiong, Abuja
Member representing Jos/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau State, Daniel Asams has emphasized the importance of Information and Communication Technology, ICT, in the country, urging government to fashion out strategies toward closing such gap.
The lawmaker, who made the call at the weekend during the closing ceremony of a summer lesson programme organised by a firm, Teen Ambassador Foundation in collaboration with Net Access Communication Ltd in Abuja, disclosed his readiness to push for a legislation that will address young people’s curiosity in information technology.
The lawmaker also commended the management of the foundation for putting up a free ICT training for young Nigerians, adding that most Nigerians are heavily endowed with multiple talents.
He also listed some factors such as implementation fatigue, basic infrastructural dilapidation across the country, widespread corruption among others as some of the major challenges working against ICT development in Nigeria.
He, however, expressed optimism that efforts are being made by government across all levels to address most of the aforementioned challenges being faced by the ICT sector in Nigeria.
The lawmaker also highlighted the essence of introducing young Nigerians to computer science, as well as science and technology development, stressing that most Nigerians whether young and old are loaded with talents.
He also emphasised the need to redirect the energy of young people, including those involved in online scam, towards positive uses of technology.
According to him, “today, Artificial Intelligence, AI, has taken over everything. Literally, I will tell you that in the near future, computer and technology will take over the world. I have children and I will only be fair to my kids if I introduce them to computers now.
“I have to introduce my kids to STEM. I have to introduce them to technology that has to do with programming, computing and every other thing. I don’t care what my child is going to learn. If you want to be a doctor, if you want to be a lawyer, but I will have to give you a background, a deep, very solid background of computer science, before you can reach any other profession.
“I don’t want my child to have a profession that one day he/she will be shortchanged. And I will tell you in Nigeria as a whole, technology is the hope for the world. Silicon Valley today is made up of people from the ages of 16 to about 40.”
In an interview, the founder of Teen Ambassador Foundation, Paul Adiwu, advocated for early childhood exposure to Information and Communication Technology, adding that early exposure is a major step to ensuring adequate development, as well as national economic growth.
The CEO of TEEN Foundation equally emphasized the urgent need for training on ICT, stressing that technological training in the digital era could help combat various vices in the society.
He maintained that many young Nigerians have ICT potentials that the country should harness for effective management.
During the event, all beneficiaries of the free summer training commended the Foundation for the opportunity extended to them.
