The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami has called for relevant technology mixed with Internet Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to move many out of poverty in Nigeria.

The Minister also said technology remains the path way to sustainable development and the only way to digital transformation of people in the society

Prof Pantami who was represented by Prof. Mohammed Bello, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone, stated this at the second annual general meeting of the Relevant Technology Old Students Association (RETOSA) in Jos.

He explained that functional relevant technology education would impact the necessary skills on the people, stressing that vocational training would address unemployment in the country.

Pantami is also of the view that functional relevant technology education would impact the necessary skills on the people, noting that vocational training would address unemployment in the country.

According to him “Technology remains the path way to sustainable development; it the way for the digital transformation of people in the society.

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

Prof. Mohammad Haruna, the Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), attributed the dearth of professionals in construction industry and other critical sectors to the collapse of relevant technology education.

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

Plateau state Governor, Simon Lalong revealed that the state government had put modalities on ground to improve relevant technology education in the state, adding that the government had approved the recruitment of more teachers for centres across the state.

The governor, represented by Mr Benjamin Jang, the Commissioner for Science and Technology in the state, said that it has constituted a board  that would boost relevant technology in the state.

The governor said his government had mandated agencies, ministries and departments, including contractors, to patronize the centers by buying their products to make them self-reliant.

In the same vein, Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, represented by Alhaji Abdul-Hakeem Bala, Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, said that his government had done a lot in terms of skills development.

”We have a functional incubation centre, skills acquisition centre and have also renovated our technical colleges” he said

Prof. Emmanuel Garba of the University of Jos, who spoke on the topic ”Reposition Relevant Technology Centres for Sustainable Economic Development: The Role of Stakeholders”’, said that there was need for government to revive relevant technology education.

The university then noted that a functional relevant technology would ensure capacity building that would in turn expedite the spate of growth and development in the society.

In a goodwill message, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Gyang Buba, said that a functional relevant technology would reduce poverty and insecurity because when young people have skills, it will take their minds away from crime.

He promised that traditional institution would support all that the government would do to advance the course of vocational education in the country.

Mr Caleb Yiljura, the National President of RETOSA, said that the theme for its 2022 convention “Repositioning Relevant Technology for Sustainable Economic Development”, aimes at reflecting on the values the sector plays toward addressing the challenges currently facing the nation..