RSG To Establish Best ICT Centre

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre being built by Zenith Bank Plc near Air Force Junction, on Aba Road in Port Harcourt will, on completion and handover to the Rivers State Government, be equipped to serve as one of the best of such facilities in Nigeria.

This indication was given by the Special Adviser on ICT to the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Goodliffe Nmekini, during a chat with media men in his office last Tuesday.

“We want to make it one of the best ICT centres in the country,” he said, while stating that the centre will be run by the state ICT Department and will provide training for members of the public at an affordable rate.

On the ICT training being organised for civil servants in the state, the SA said it is aimed at preparing such workers for the ongoing automation of government work process and to enhance the pursuit of transparency in the conduct of government business.

He further disclosed that among the 1,640 civil servants so far trained by the ICT Department since its inception in April 2008, are permanent secretaries, heads of government agencies and parastatals, including Directors of Finance and Accounts (DFAs) each of whom has since been issued with either a laptop or desktop computer by the state government.

The department is also planning to implement an Active Directory which will enable it manage resources from a central point and serve to secure any sensitive government information.

Another programme that is in the offing is the Electronic Document Management System which, according to Nmekini, will facilitate the sharing of information between government ministries and departments, especially where it concerns the tracking of files and other documents.

Five pilot centres have already been designated for the take-off of this project. These are, according to him, the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Justice, Rivers State House of Assembly and the State ICT Department.

Ibelema Jumbo