ICT Hubs will Generate Jobs, Boost Digital Economy – CITAD Boss
TECH DIGEST – The establishment of ICT Innovation Hubs in selected universities across the six geo-political zones will boost the digital economy drive and help create job opportunities for young Nigerians, says Dr. Yunusa Z. Yau, Executive Director, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD).
Dr. Yau made the assertion while speaking with TechDigest.ng on the importance of the National Centre for Digital innovation and Entrepreneurship (NCDIE) established by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Abuja.
He explained that the innovation hubs as important element of the ICT ecosystem would provide the youth new digital knowledge and skills to become job creators instead of job seekers.
He, however, said that more of such infrastructure needs to be developed while effort should be intensified to ease some of the difficulties confronting tech enthusiasts/entrepreneurs in the country.
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Dr. Yau said: “So yes, ICT Hubs provide spaces for young digital entrepreneurs, including, mentoring and co-working to unburden start-ups and we have seen a number of exciting products coming out from the NITDA initiative and supported hubs, but they would perform better if the challenges of the general ICT ecosystem in the country are addressed.
“Six centres can make contribution but they are not enough for a country with a population of over 200 million people. We need several of these hubs in each state of the federation as it can help many young entrepreneurs to find their feet in the slippery terrain of business survival’’, he added.
He also called on government at all levels, the organized private sector and development organizations to support the NITDA initiative by helping to replicate similar centres in institutions of higher learning across the country.
The CITAD boss maintained that such strategic partnership between the public and private sectors is necessary to ensure that the ICT innovation hubs contribute the desired impact for growth of the digital economy.
