The launch of the Tech Experience Centre by TD Africa is an ambitious move that will ultimately boost the Digital Nigeria pursuit, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami has said.
The Minister stated this while speaking as a Special Guest of Honour at the formal unveiling of the Tech Experience Centre located at the high-rise Yudala Heights on 13 Idowu Martins, Victoria Island, Lagos last week.
‘‘I am delighted to be here today to witness the commissioning of this landmark project. ‘We are happy to see this huge technology initiative become a reality as it shows the private sector has bought into our visions for Nigeria,” he said.
Dr. Pantami also stressed that achieving a Digital Nigeria is not the responsibility of government alone, explaining that the role of government is to come up with the right policies and create an enabling environment while the private sector also supports the efforts of the government.
“This Tech Experience Centre is very strategic to the seven pillars of our digital economy strategy which include: Digital Literacy and Skills Development; Service Infrastructure; Solid Infrastructure; Digital Services Promotion and Development; Soft Infrastructure; Digital Societies and Emerging Technologies and lastly Indigenous Content Development,” he added.
The Centre houses a convergence of globally renowned tech giants such as Cisco, HP, Microsoft, Dell Technologies, Zinox, Schneider Electric, Samsung, Apple and Bosch, among others, all under one roof to create an immersive experience of the latest technologies.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh has commended the Federal Government and the Lagos State government for their increased emphasis on the technology sector.
Ekeh, a serial digital entrepreneur, described the renaming of the Ministry of Communications by President Buhari with the addition of Digital Economy as a masterstroke, even as he heaped praises on Dr. Pantami for his sterling leadership.
The Zinox boss, who revealed that technology is the currency of new wealth in the 21st Century, revealed that the sector holds the key to the future of Nigeria’s digital wealth. Consequently, he called on the Federal Government to empower the youth, especially in ICT, noting that Nigeria is the only place in the world where tech guys are among the poorest.
“Government needs to encourage the youths by empowering them as most of them work in that sector. Also, many youths are equally interested in developing the country through technology so they need to be empowered,” he said.
The Tech Centre is widely expected to boost Nigeria’s relevance in the global technology race and shore up the country’s march to technology independence.
For the first time, Nigeria will play host to the latest global technologies including those not normally available in Africa, offering all classes of visitors a first-hand experience of new gadgets, solutions and infrastructure that would have previously required a visit abroad, thereby saving corporate organizations, government establishments and individuals money or scarce foreign exchange expended on these trips.