NITDA, TETFUND Form Partnership on ICT Intervention in Tertiary Institutions

The National Information Technology Development Agency NITDA and the tertiary education trust fund, TETFUND have concluded plan to collaborate to improve on the level of ICT intervention in tertiary institutions across the country.

Forming a synergy to work together at TETFUND headquarter in Abuja.

The two Agencies agreed that for the country to become knowledge driven economy, there is urgent need to positioning ICT as catalyst for Innovation, Research and Development.

Briefing t his host on the objectives of the meeting, Mr Peter Jack, director general of NITDA, said the mandate of his Agency is all encompassing and pervasive which requires collaboration with Agencies that proffers intervention projects in Nigeria's  higher institution of learning like the TETFUND.

The DG stated that, NITDA has been working with various MDA's to enhance the development and deployment of ICT tools in all facet of our national life, adding that, “our mission here today is to explore how we can form a synergy to work together and increase the intervention programmes the two Agencies are doing in Nigeria's Tertiary Institution.”

“Part of our mandates includes intervention in tertiary institutions and this makes the visit imperative.”The meeting is going to avail us the opportunity on how we can come up with memorandum of understanding that will spell out area of collaboration,” he said.

In his response, Prof. Sulaiman Elias Bogoro, executive secretary of TETFUND, described the meeting as not a mere “coincidence” as both Agencies need each other to deepen the level of ICT intervention in tertiary institutions. He noted in the 6 point agenda of the board of trustee of TETFUND, ICT was crucial and for this reason.

He noted that the TETFUND Board of trustee in “its 6 point made a crucial item that requires special intervention of the Fund, hence the need for collaboration with NITDA, An agency that has ominous mandate in ICT development.

“It is obvious that we definitely need NITDA, we could not afford to miss the opportunity to ensure that ICT stages our national life.”

“He recalled that in the last management meeting of the Fund, the head of ICT unit identified NITDA as an Agency that the Fund should partner with to advance its intervention programmes in ICT tertiary institutions.

Reflecting on the benefit the partnership would bring to the society at large; Prof. Bogoro stated that the end of the administrative frame of the MOU, the TETFUND would “take the liberty of our deeper thought to National University Commission for its contribution.

“We will define the parameter for the partnership and proceed further. The document will deepen our relationship to the advantage of our stakeholders.”

He commended the DG for leading a higher delegation for the courtesy call describing it as a sign of seriousness he attached to collaboration and partnership to move the nation ICT sector forward.

Meanwhile, the two Agencies nominated a 12 man committee to develop the framework for the partnership.