By Christiana Ekpa
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, has thrown his weight behind two transformative bills aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital and information technology landscape, as the House Committee on Digital and Information Technology (ICT) held a public hearing today.
Speaking at the hearing, Speaker Abbas emphasized the importance of ICT in modernizing education, combating youth unemployment, and driving economic growth. The two bills under review include:
A Bill to Establish the Federal Institute of Information Communication Technology, Idanre, Ondo State (HB.783) – to provide full-time ICT training and award professional certifications, diplomas, and degrees.
A Bill to Promote Information Technology Education, Entrepreneurship, and Infrastructure Development Across Nigeria’s Six Geopolitical Zones (HB.1360) – with Atisbo, Oyo State, proposed as the South-West hub.
“These initiatives align seamlessly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on youth empowerment and job creation,” Speaker Abbas noted. “ICT has the potential to revolutionize how students learn and how our education system functions.”
The Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Adedeji Stanley Olajide, described the proposed institute as a “pipeline for world-class programmers and software developers,” stressing that the bills are designed to provide young Nigerians with the skills needed to thrive in the global digital economy.
He also highlighted the role of public hearings in democratic processes, calling for active stakeholder engagement. “Please feel free to make your contributions,” he urged. “I assure you, they will never be in vain.”
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