By Sadeeq Muhammad Umar
The last two days have been quite engaging for a contingent of Zamfara government officials who participated in the 2022 Pan African Digital Initiative Summit & Expo with the theme, “Leveraging Right Policies and Technologies in Taming Insecurity & Cyber-Threats”, which held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria. Gov. Bello Matawalle who was invited as one of the Keynote Speakers at the Summit was represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jalaludeen Ibrahim Maradun. Dr. Maradun was accompanied by the Principal Private Secretary to the Executive Governor, Malam Lawal Umar Maradun and the Director General of Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency (ZITDA), Muhammad Yahaya Tambura.
During the Digital Government Forum session, Dr. Maradun talked about Gov. Bello Matawalle’s efforts in ensuring that the right ICT policies are in place in line with the core 2030 sustainable development agenda, highlighting how human rights, peace, security and development are deeply interlinked and mutually reinforcing. In the three years of the Matawalle-administration, ZITDA has been upgraded to develop and regulate IT for Zamfara State ICT sustainable development; ZITDA has been considered as the prime catalyst of transforming Zamfara into an IT-driven economy; the state government is already developing the needed ICT applications for all the state Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs); ZITDA is also creating awareness ensuring universal access to aid its diffusion and adoption across all sectors of life in the state and beyond. Furthermore, Zamfara has sustained a robust Public-Private Partnership with different organisations such as NITDA, NCC, FMoCDE, and several other public and private ICT institutions.
The Summit was closed with a glamorous Award Night chaired by the Chairman MTN Nigeria and Former Executive Vice Chairman Nigerian Communications Commission Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, OFR. The Titans of Tech Awards popularly called Nigeria Tech Industry Grammy was established in 2004 “as a platform to celebrate Hi-tech most important movers and shakers; pioneers, investors, men, women, organisations, and institutions who blazed the trail and used ICT to improve the way of life in our society”. It’s a recognition of overall excellence, of unflinching commitment, and a lifetime of efforts in the service of ICT and humanity.
In this 18th edition of the Titans of Tech Awards, Zamfara State was honoured with three prestigious awards, viz:
1. Zamfara emerged the DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION STATE OF THE YEAR
2. Gov. Matawalle emerged the DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR
3. Director General ZITDA Muhammad Yahaya (Tambura) emerged the OUTSTANDING PROMOTER OF DIGITAL ECONOMY
In his response at the event, Dr. Maradun, on behalf of His Excellency Gov. Matawalle, expressed gratitude for the recognition of Zamfara as the leading state in the area of ICT transformation and ICT human capital development. He explained that this has been achieved through strategic activities ranging from recruitment of young talents in ICT for incubation and necessary support; training of hundreds of youth in digital skills; and capacity building for the state civil servants among others. Dr. Maradun added that, “we see this recognition as a challenge to do more and more to meet the demands of new age and we shall not relent. We shall continue to build a stronger network of ICT communities for humanity”.
The Titans of Tech Awards is the authoritative yardstick that measures performance in the ICT sector. Congratulations to all the good people of Zamfara State and well-wishers on these achievements.
