National Information Technology Development Agency (Nitda) has inaugurated second software incubation centre at Tinapa in Cross River state.
Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River said at the ceremony that the centre was the first in the south-south geopolitical zone and represented a vision shared between the State and the Federal Governments.
The governor said the centre would encourage youths to showcase their capabilities and potentialities.
He added that the incubations centre was a component of Tinapa Knowledge City (TKC) and expressed the hope that the facility would turn around the state’s economy.
“It will provide young men and women with capacity and intellect to compete globally’’, he said.
The governor said that TKC was a product of an investment in an emerging economy of the nation which Cross River was determined to kick start.
He expressed the hope that the facility would drive the economy technologically and commended those involved with it for attracting a sustainable facility.
Imoke said the centre would be managed by the private sector.
Mrs. Nkoyo Toyo, member, House of Representatives Committee on Information Communication Technology, said the centre would contribute to the development of the state.
Dr. Asairy Daura, who represented the Ministry of Communications Technology, described the centre as a convergence of three visions.
According to him, the centre was conceived to create jobs and empower youth while Cross River established TKC as a vision of ICT in Africa and the world.
Daura, assistant director general of Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said ICT was the most important sector that generates job to boost the economy.
He said the centre was targeted at creating entrepreneurs out of young people, adding that more centres would be established to create job opportunities by 2015.