DELTA State Governor,
Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has advocated a paradigm shift from dependence on
revenue from oil to revenue generation from knowledge-based development.
The governor dropped the
hint Monday (25/07/16) in Asaba at the public presentation of the Delta State
Innovation Hub (DS-HUB) cum commissioning of Innovation Hall of Fame and the e-Government
Academy.
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| Governor Okowa (left), welcoming Communications Minister, Adebayo Shittu, and Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh to his office. |
Communications Minister,
Barr. Adebayo Shittu, accompanied
by leading names in Information Communication Technology (ICT) world including
Leo Stan Ekeh of Zenox Computers, Ms Funke Opeke of Mainone, Prof. Pat Utomi,
Prof. Sola Aderounmu to Asaba for the programme.
According to the
governor, “Delta State Innovation Hub – from Oil to Knowledge-based Development
is important in our state because, innovation is critical for long-term
economic growth and sustainable development in both developed and the
developing world.”
He added: “It fosters
regional, national and global competitiveness, creates employment and helps to
address and resolve major social conflicts in any given society.”
“In moving away from oil
to a knowledge-based development, there is a comprehensive economic development
blueprint and strategy to build technologically based skill capacities, support
and empower entrepreneurs, generate new employment model for our youth, create
wealth and reduce poverty.
“In driving the state’s
economy, we are developing an innovation and science agenda as a key component
in bridging the huge gaps and deficiencies in our education, health, industry,
entertainment, governance, social and state security systems,” he stated.
Governor Okowa commended
ICT experts for their interests in partnering with his administration to
develop an innovation hub and create job opportunities, stating that the
“Innovation Hub - DS-IHUB - can attain noble heights if we put our minds to
work and in moving this project forward, we will rely on the support and patronage
of Delta State citizens at home and in the Diaspora, entrepreneurs, the
academia, students, industry leaders, stakeholders, and indeed, all friends of
Delta State, to ensure that this enviable knowledge venture is not only
successful, but significantly beneficial to all concerned and sustainable for
generations yet unborn.”
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| Governor Okowa in red cap with the minister and his entourage and the Deputy Governor and the SSG, Mr. Festus Agas. |
He specifically, called
for sponsorship to enable the state “establish a Delta State Innovation
Development Fund – IDF; encourage all youths to acquire computer skills and
encourage e-governance and digital literacy skills in the civil service and
other institutions; because it is worthy to inform you that we are having full
benefits of ICT as our land administration is being fully digitalized, with
greater ease of doing business.”
Those who spoke at the
occasion including, the Minister for Communications, Mr Ekeh, Prof. Utomi, Ms
Opeke, Prof. Aderunmu and others lauded the state government initiative in
diversying its economy through ICT, pledging to support the initiative and provide
the platform for the growth of ICT in the state.
The Director-General of
DS-HUB, Mr. Chris Uwaje had earlier said the innovation hub was in line with
Governor Okowa’s SMART agenda reiterating, “DS-HUB is a unique knowledge
factory with an enabling environment specially designed for originating
innovation, building inno-passion, developing creativity and promoting
information sharing for building functional new knowledge for the delivery of
all-inclusive technology solutions and support services.
“Our faculties includes:
e-government, ICT innovation platform, software & auto-card platform,
multimedia centre, business process platform, e-library, research &
e-learning centre, CBT practice & mentoring centre,” Mr Uwaje said.
The Minister for
Communications, Barr. Shittu Adebayo on arrival in Asaba paid a courtesy call
on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
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