Yusuf Oketola
A bill for the establishment of the Institute of Information and Communication Technology, State of Osun, has been approved by the Nigerian Senate.
The bill, which was sponsored by Senator Adelere Oriolowo of Osun-west Senatorial District, was passed for first and second readings on July 22, 2020 July 7, 2021 respectively before a public hearing was held on December 16, 2021 as mandated by the Nigerian Senate to the Committee on ICT.
The endorsement came following the presentation and consideration of a report on a bill to establish the Institute by the Committee on ICT and Cyber Security.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Oseni Yakubu (Kogi Central) while laying the report before the senate last week Tuesday, said the bill which consists of 25 Clauses and 1 Schedule, seeks to establish the Institute to provide full-time and part-time courses of instruction and training in Information and Communication Technology and other related fields of study, and to make provisions for the general administration of the Institute.
According to Yakubu, “while the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) vehemently opposed the bill, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy opposed it on one hand, but conceded that should the bill be passed and assented to, the institute should be domiciled under its supervisory authority.”
“However, all other stakeholders supported the bill, opining that the establishment of the institute would not only be of immense economic advantage to Nigeria, but also alleviate the challenge of inadequate manpower in the ICT sector, and thereby make room for improved job opportunities and employment generation.”
The bill was thereafter passed after consideration by the Committee of the Whole.
