Yemisi Izuora
The Federal Government in partnership with Certified Computer Manufacturers of Nigeria (CCMON) has established a Pilot Computer/ICT Devices Service Centre in Abuja.
At the commissioning of the centre at the OSGF Conference Hall of the Federal Secretariat Complex, the Minister of communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Nkechi Ejele said the project is the first of its kind in the country has automatically remedied the challenges of short lifespan of computers in the country particularly those owned by and used for government activities.
According to Shittu, the Service centre will support all computer systems bought in the Public Service to provide after-sales service support which would ensure proper and effective maintenance of computer systems bought by the government.
Shittu who said the centre would end the culture of a breakdown of computer systems used for government activities promised that the gesture would be replicated in every MDAs to ensure that Computer systems bought for the government institutions henceforth stand the test of time by constant maintenance and servicing.
He disclosed that the solution centre would equally serve as a skill acquisition centre for staff that will provide maintenance services to various MDAs which would minimise the cost of yearly procurement of government IT infrastructure.
Dr. Shittu revealed that the project is a brainchild of the resolutions reached at the 2017 National Council on Communication Technology (NCCT-2017) in Katsina where a proposal to establish a service and repair centre for locally made computers bought by Federal MDAs was assented to.
In his words “the Ministry of Communications identified CCMON and sought a partnership for the execution of the project as one of its beneficiaries which it (CCMON) embraced, as the value proposition of the centre aligns with and would be beneficial to CCMON in particular and the nation as a whole”.
He explained that the collaboration with CCMON is intended to transform and build the capacity of the workforce in Digital literacy and in preparation for a full implementation of the national e-Government master plan, ICT roadmap and also equip benefitting tech-savvy youths with entrepreneurial and job creation skills.
Shittu, therefore, pledged the Ministry’s unflinching support to CCMON and other equipment manufacturers in the area of providing policy direction to create a more enabling environment for as many that wish to set up assembly plants in Nigeria.
He also promised that the Ministry of Communications would include policy direction in the ongoing National ICT policy review, saying that establishing an assembly plant in Nigeria is highly coveted as it is capable of job creation and boosting the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
While commissioning the Project, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Nkechi Ejele lauded the project and thanked the Certified Computer Manufacturers of Nigeria (CCMON) for partnering with the Ministry which led to the successful execution of the project. Nkechi expressed hope that the project would achieve its purpose of cutting high cost in governance and Promoting local production and Patronage.
In a remark, the President, Certified Computer Manufacturers of Nigeria (CCMON), Mr. Bode Pedro Lauded the Ministry and the Federal Government for conceiving what he described as a strategic partnership between the Ministry and his organization.
He said the CCMON’s Support and partnership for the Project were necessitated by its quest to ensure a thriving local content in the Nigerian ICT market.
According to him, “the project is a testament of the Federal Government direct interest in promoting local content, Job creation in Nigeria, and promised the group’s determination to deliver quality products and services to the government and the populace”.