Technology Critical To Economic Growth – Pantami

Prof. Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy has said that the government needs to focus more on revitalising technology because it is essential to the virile development of the nation.

Pantami made the comment at the Relevant Technology Old Students Association (RETOSAsecond )'s annual general meeting in Jos while being represented by Prof. Mohammed Bello, the managing director and chief executive officer of Galaxy Backbone.

He added that vocational training would solve unemployment in the nation and that functional relevant technological education would have an impact on how individuals acquired the necessary skills.

“Technology remains the pathway to sustainable development; it is the way for the digital transformation of people in society.

“Relevant technology mixed with Internet Information and Communications Technology (ICT) will move many out of poverty in Nigeria.

”Technology holds the key to sustainable development because it has the potential to fully transform our society,” he said.

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure's (NASENI) Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive, Prof. Mohammad Haruna, blamed the decline of essential technical education for the shortage of specialists in the construction industry and other crucial industries.

“The deteriorating condition of relevant technology is the reason we have an incompetent workforce in our building and construction sector, industries and even ministries responsible for service provision,” he said.

Speaking on the topic of "Reposition Relevant Technology Centers for Sustainable Economic Development: The Role of Stakeholders," Prof. Emmanuel Garba of the University of Jos argued that the government needed to resurrect relevant technology education.

A functional, pertinent technology, according to don, would guarantee capacity building, which would speed up the pace of social progress and development.

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau affirmed that the state had implemented measures to enhance relevant technological education in the state and added that it had authorised the hiring of extra teachers for centres throughout the state.

The governor announced that a board had been established to advance relevant technology in the state. The governor was represented by Benjamin Jang, the state's Commissioner for Science and Technology.

Lalong continued by saying that the government had ordered all departments, agencies, and contractors to patronize the centres by purchasing their goods in order to make them self-sufficient.

Similarly, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule stated that his government has made significant advancements in the development of talents while being represented by Alhaji Abdul-Hakeem Bala, Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs in the office of the Secretary to the State Government.

”We have a functional incubation centre, skills acquisition centre and have not only renovated our technical colleges, but equipped them with modern facilities.

”We took these steps because we believe in skills development as a tool for national growth,” he said.

The Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Gyang Buba, stated in a message of goodwill that a working, pertinent technology would lessen poverty and insecurity because it would divert young people's attention away from crime when they had skills.

He pledged that we would support the traditional institution and all government efforts to enhance vocational education in the nation.

The National President of RETOSA, Caleb Yiljura, stated that the organization's 2022 convention's theme, "Repositioning Relevant Technology for Sustainable Economic Development," aimed to encourage reflection on the sector's contributions to resolving the problems the country is currently facing.

If correctly utilised, the relevant technology, according to him, may make better contributions to the fight against unemployment and economic growth.

Participants in the event highlighted that the government should properly consider the importance of appropriate technical education for the expansion and development of the country's economy.