By Gloria Ikibah
Speaker of the House of Representatives,Rep. Tajudeen Abbas has reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th Assembly to developing strong ICT legislation aimed at improving education and creating job opportunities.
Speaking on Tuesday, during the flag-off of a public hearing on a ‘Bill for an Act to establish the Federal Institute of Information Communication Technology, Idanre, Ondo State, to provide full-time courses, teaching, instruction, and training in Information Communication Technology and to provide for the appointment of the Provost and other Officers of the Institute to carry out the administration and the discipline of Students of the Institute’, as well as a ‘Bill for an Act to promote Information Technology Education, Entrepreneurship, and Infrastructure Development across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with Atisbo as the hub for the South-West Zone’, organised by the House Committee on Digital and Information Technology (ICT). 
The Speaker said the planned framework would support youth empowerment, help diversify the economy, and drive innovation in the country’s education sector.
He also noted that the House is focused on using technology to address real challenges, especially in areas like learning, employment, and digital skills development.
Represented y the Majority Deputy Whip, Rep. Ibrahim Isiaka, the expressed delight over the intendment of the bills, averred that a “robust ICT framework will not only transform our educational sector but also create fertile ground for job creation, youth empowerment, and economic diversification.
He said: “It will serve as a strong barrier against the challenges of unemployment and social discontent, equipping our youth with skills that align with the demands of the 21st-century workplace. These initiatives align seamlessly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on youth empowerment and job creation.
“It is imperative for us to explore how ICT can transform the way education is conducted, how students learn, how knowledge is transmitted, and how educational processes are managed. We must tap into the immense potential of emerging and future ICT technologies to revolutionize the education system”.
Abbas who urged stakeholders to make robust inputs into the provisions of the legislations, expressed optimism that “the success of these bills transcends legislative processes. It requires a collective commitment to implementing policies that will redefine the role of technology in our national development narrative.”
On his part, Chairman, House Committee on Digital and Information Technology, Rep. Adedeji Stanley Olajide explained that “the bill which seeks to establish federal institute of Information communication technology will provide full-time courses in teaching instruction and training in information communication technology.
“It will also award HND, ND, Diplomas and Professional Certificates in ICT.
“This Institute when created will train young Nigerians into world-class programmers and software developers. It will also give them the opportunity to acquire the relevant skills and critical competencies required to participate in the new global information and communication technology.”
The second bill which seeks to promote Information Technology Education, Entrepreneurship and Infrastructure Development across six geopolitical zone of Nigeria is in recognition of the transformative potential of Information Technology (IT) in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and empowering youth across the country, will provide job opportunity for our unemployed youth.
