SGF, Governors Okay Nicep as Knowledge Economy Platform

Galaxy Backbone Plc has been commended for its commitment to driving national development through the provision of ICT infrastructure and services to rural and underserved communities that would lead to the attainment of the benefits of digital inclusion and the achievement of the millennium developmental goals (MDGs).
This commendation was made by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), and state governments under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum during the 3rd Public Sector ICT Infrastructure Forum & National Stakeholders’ Forum on National Information Communication and Education Programme (Nicep), which took place in Abuja recently.
In the keynote speech delivered on behalf of the SGF via video conference by Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, permanent secretary, General Services, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed stated that the event, “is epochal as this will be the first time in the history of our great country that the SGF would be delivering a keynote address to such an important national forum using a video conference facility. At this juncture, I must commend Galaxy Backbone for this wonderful initiative which is a confirmation of the quality of its leadership.”
Alhaji Ahmed described the impact of ICT on human development over the past 10 - 15 years as dramatic, stating that societies around the world have rapidly developed, leveraging ICT as an enabler.
He said that governments of both developed and developing economies have been able to positively affect the lives of their people through the effective use of ICT as a tool for reforming their economies and enabling effective solutions for national development.
That, he said was precisely the reason for the incorporation of Galaxy Backbone Plc in 2006 by FG and the subsequent handing over of the implementation of Nicep to the company.
Alhaji Ahmed therefore called on state governments and the FCT authority to take full advantage of FG’s investment on Nicep to provide digital access to citizens in all locations, improve quality of education and healthcare, stimulate internal revenue generation, enhance government to citizen interaction, improve cost control and management as well as facilitate employment generation and poverty alleviation.
Dr. Bukola Saraki, chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum in his speech stated that the current political dispensation at the state level is committed to efficient and transparent governance for which ICT is a quick and effective enabler.
He expressed confidence that the various developmental initiatives in education, health, agriculture and economic empowerment undertaken by all the states of the federation can be accelerated by the application of appropriate ICT tools; reminding the state governments on the need to constructively partner with Galaxy Backbone Plc to develop and build their State Information Infrastructure (SII).
In his welcome address, Gerald Ilukwe, managing director, Galaxy Backbone Plc noted that FG through his company wished to partner with state governments in order to extend the reach of Nicep services to all state capitals and local government areas in the country.