She made this restated this in her office at the signing of MoU between an Agency under the Ministry’s supervision NITDA and the Cross Rivers state government. Johnson said that the MoU marked a milestone in the efforts to develop a vibrant software development industry that would serve the Nigeria and International Market.
Johnson also added that the creation of the knowledge city would incubate and foster spin off and start up ICT firms and help to commercialise academic research in Information Communication Technology’s (ICT) and also facilitate the growth of small and medium scale ICT businesses through creative fiscal incentives and support programmes.
The minister said that “central to all of this is the creation of sustainable jobs in the ICT industry through entrepreneurial efforts”. She expressed the hope that other state governments, Nigeria and foreign entrepreneurs and investors will partner with the Ministry to roll out knowledge cities, IT parks and the more traditional IT parks across the country.
She stated that ‘’In December last year the Ministry inaugurated a joint committee of the public and private sector experts in the fields of software development, business incubation, venture capital, entrepreneur development, to develop a fit for purpose model and framework for IT incubation centres in Nigeria that can be replicated across the country. The Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort with its world class infrastructure, attractive location, proximity to a number of tertiary institutions will host one of the pilot IT incubation centres that will be rolled out this year.
“IT incubation Centres will facilitate the creation of an eco system of innovators, developers, investors, and IT entrepreneurs that are required to make the development of a local and internationally competitive software industry a reality”.
Johnson also added that a comprehensive e-government strategy that will improve government’s engagement with citizens, reduce the cost of governance and increase transparency in governance is being articulated.
She stressed that the Ministry will be challenging ‘’our indigenous software industry to develop innovative, creative and robust applications to facilitate the implementation of this strategy’’.
Responding, the Special Adviser on IT to the Governor of Cross River State, Odoh Effiong said he was excited that the signing of this MoU had come to reality. He said that they had identified partners who would help in the IT incubation city.
He solicited for the cooperation of all in making sure that this project work for the good of Nigeria. In his closing remarks, the Director General, NITDA, Cleopas Anganye said that the signing of the MoU would translate in providing research, software testing, training of youths and incubation of IT sector in line with the transformation agenda of this government.
The MoU was signed on behalf of the Ministry/NITDA by the DG of NITDA, Legal Advisers of the Ministry and NITD while the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Attah Ochinka, SA (IT) and SA Governor’s office signed on behalf of the Cross River State Government. Present at the occasion included top management staff of the Ministry and NITDA and other representatives of Cross River State Government.