The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has highlighted the immense potential of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector to revolutionize Nigeria’s education system and create employment opportunities for the country’s growing youth population—if properly developed.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at a public hearing on two ICT-related bills organized by the House Committee on Digital and Information Technology, Abbas emphasized that the sector could play a pivotal role in addressing key national challenges. He was represented at the event by the Deputy Majority Whip, Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim (APC, Ogun).
The two proposed bills under consideration are:
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A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal Institute of Information Communication Technology, Idanre, Ondo State, aimed at providing full-time courses, instruction, and training in ICT; and
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A Bill for an Act to Promote Information Technology Education, Entrepreneurship, and Infrastructure Development Across Nigeria’s Six Geopolitical Zones.
According to the Speaker, “A well-structured ICT ecosystem can not only revolutionize our educational landscape but also drive job creation, youth empowerment, and economic diversification. It will help counter the twin challenges of unemployment and social instability by equipping young Nigerians with 21st-century digital skills.”
He added that these initiatives are in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of youth empowerment and employment generation.
The Speaker also urged relevant stakeholders to explore the transformative power of ICT in reshaping educational delivery—how learning is conducted, how knowledge is shared, and how institutions operate—emphasizing the importance of harnessing emerging technologies to modernize education.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Digital and Information Technology, Hon. Adedeji Olajide, noted that the first bill aims to establish a federal ICT institute that would offer full-time courses and award HNDs, ND certificates, diplomas, and professional qualifications in ICT.
“This institute will groom young Nigerians into globally competitive programmers and software developers,” Olajide said. “It will also equip them with essential skills and competencies needed to thrive in the global ICT space.”
He added that the second bill, which focuses on promoting IT education and entrepreneurship across all six geopolitical zones, recognizes ICT’s critical role in driving economic growth, innovation, and youth empowerment. “It is a step toward tackling unemployment and ensuring inclusive development through digital transformation,” he concluded.