The Nigeria Computer Society, made up of many affiliate computer organizations, has singled the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi as the man to be emulated by those in authorities if they are serious in making Nigeria ICT compliant. They made this known through their President, Professor David O. Adewunmi, during their 25th Annual Conference which concluded yesterday at Nike Lake Hotel, Enuguwith a Special Recognition Award to Mr. Peter Obi for what they called his “massive and revolutionary deployment of ICT in Anambra State.”
While regretting the lackluster attitude of some people towards the ICT, Prof Adewunmi said that it remained the future of the world and must be embraced by all countries or organizations desirous of competing with the rest of the world, by equipping its people with the knowledge and competence to function in the digital era.
The President who recalled that Obi rejected the award when he was the Governor, saying he preferred awards after he had served his term, enumerated the reasons that made him qualified for it. His words: “On assumption of office, the former Governor embarked on the computerization of schools and offices in Anambra State. Today, all public offices in the State have computers unlike before him, when manual typewriters were still in use. He purchased more than 30,000 desktop and laptop computers for secondary schools in the State. The last purchase was 22,500 units of laptop computers from HP at the ratio of one computer to 10 students the largest for computer purchase for school in the entire African continent. The laptops were equipped with complete NECO curriculum, syllable and texts that students use. He provided Microsoft Academies in Public and missionary schools in the State.”
The President of the Nigeria Computer Society, Professor David O. Adewunmi (right), with the former President, Mr. Tunde Ezichi (left), during the presentation of Special Recognition Award to Mr. Peter Obi(middle), as part of the activities to mark our 25th National Conference at Enugu, for his massive deployment of ICT to Anambra State.
Continuing, he said: “Today, under him, all the public and missionary secondary schools in the State are connected to the INTERNET. He provided generators to the schools with one year free service warranty for them to power the facilities. Under him, Anambra State employed, trained and has continued to re-train over 200 computer teachers to teach in different schools in the State. Under him, the computerization of the operations of the State government were commenced. He did not only make Prof. Kenneth Dike Library, the first library built by him since Anambra State was created, an e-library, he also upgraded the Onitsha Library to an e-library and connected both of them electronically. They are therefore the only Public e-libraries in the entire South East region.”
Speaking at the event, Mr. Peter Obi thanked the society for the award. He said he was able to save the Billions he for the computer revolutions as well as other achievements credited to him by cutting the cost of governance, and shunning offices such as that of the
First Lady that constitutionally were not supposed to exist. He said that the federal Government had the capacity to provide one laptop each to students in the Nigerian universities through careful planning. “We have about 110 universities in Nigeria and about 500,000 students. With N35 Billion naira, which is even less than monthly cost of subsidizing fuel, the Government can provide computers to students in tertiary institutions as part of securing the future of the country in a digital world”, Obi said
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Courtesy – M. Adeniyi, Mazi Odera, Naijaintellects
